August 18, 2011

• Nuclear Update

  

   

  I'm about half way through my Nuclear Operator Certification course. Should be done in April 2012.

  I'm also have quite a time of it, but still getting by. I'm not really distressed about not making it through, as there are other opportunities available, but I would like to finish what I've started. During this past week, I heard that one of the course instructors will be leaving by the end of the year. He has quite a bit of expertise, so it will be a significant loss. I then heard that one of the other instructors who had a stroke a year or so ago is still having problems. This means the group will be two certified  instructors short by year's end. Since it takes at least 18 months to grow a new one, and the industry as a whole is short-handed for these people, that's a problem.  I was speaking with one of the staff about it, saying that they might have to recruit one of the qualified licensed operators to come to training. He replied that they, too, are short-handed, so that would be unlikely.

  Hmmm .... so that means my value to the organization is improving!  I shared the above with a couple of my classmates, saying that it might not matter if I'm borderline successful or not - they're going to be motivated to get me through the course just for the sake of having another body!  One of them quipped:

  "Sounds like they're going to remove the filter from the path ahead of you and change it to a pump!" 

  We had a good laugh about that, speculating what sorts of things I'd have to be "pumped through" if I struggle with the rest of the course. 

  In other news ...

  I turn 50 next week. Hooray!  I'm excited about that. 

  I've had good fun with Angry Birds on Google+.  Haven't decided quite what to make of that social network, but I like the "circles" of friends better than everyone-can-see-you Facebook concept, and the Angry Birds is fun.

  
  

  • 7:56 pm
  • 3 Comments