For two years in a row now I haven’t been able to get my Christmas Cards and letters out on time. Its all my fault; rest assured you all occupy the same places in my Will that you always have …
I made a major career change March 1, 2001—back into land surveys. I’m still with the State of California (Golden Manacles, you see), but with the Department of Water Resources. The change has been wonderful: I enjoy what I do; I like the people and they like me; I go to work and suddenly it’s 5:00 and time to go home. Currently, I’m chained to a computer and make maps all day using a graphics software called Micro Station. At some point, I’m assured, I’ll be assigned to the field— a welcome change after over 30 years in a bunch of stuffy offices.
The re- education (yes, it is possible!) and required studies have absorbed a tremendous amount of time. I endured a trigonometry final seven days before Christmas 2000 and just barely got ready for brunch at my house Christmas Day. Two courses in Fall 2000; two more in Spring 2001. For Fall 2001 I took it easy on myself and took only one course—a 4 unit course in Photogrammetry. The instructor treated it like a real college level course and I worked as hard as I might for two courses! At least I made straight A’s--much to Julie’s and Katy’s chagrin…
Julie passed a major milestone: on May 26, 2001 she walked the plank at Sonoma State and took a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, concentrating in Human Resources. She works at a little company called Next Level Communications headquartered in Rohnert Park. “Oh by the way, Dad, did I tell you Next Level is owned by Motorola?” She could do a lot worse than just stay right where she is!!!
Katy is in her second quarter at Hayward State where, she majors in—guess--Art!!! Still looking for a minor: Criminology looks interesting and so does Math… Katy lives at home with me so I know what she’s doing some of the time.
I find I’m less rabid about climbing mountains lately—I’ve climbed most of the Sierra peaks that I once thought I would never climb. I hope to pass a major milestone of my own Labor Day 2002: 100 Sierra Nevada Peaks, the esteem of Senior status and all appropriate honoraria. Then we’ll see. The routes I drool over these days are rock routes—The Snake Dike on Half Dome, The Southeast Buttress of Cathedral Peak, The Royal Arches in Yosemite Valley— all multi pitch technical climbs. Wish me luck.
Happy New Year---
John T. Dodds