I Can See Clearly Now

The fog lifted and so did my spirits. Even though it's still sub-Arctic temps, it's amazing what a clear blue sky and sunshine will do for an attitude.

I've been blogging often since I've been task avoiding and staying inside, but don't get spoiled. I'll be working all day tomorrow on a GED course of study which I've been contracted to do. I went to ALPA (Adult Learning Programs of Alaska) to do research and found out quite a few new things. Any person over 16 who has withdrawn from school or over 18 who wants to pursue a GED (Graduation Equivalency Diploma) can go in there, pay $60 and take a TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education). That will earn you a printout of your academic level, an accurate predictor of your success on the test. Then, since you paid your $60, you get free tutoring to help you pass. The test itself is $25.

According to the hard-working staff at ALPA, the GED is more rigorous than the HSGQE (High School Graduation Qualifying Exam) for Alaska. To me, the two tests should be identical, although maybe the HSGQE is a minimum competency and it is assumed that actually attending classes would give you some additional untested knowledge.

All these acronyms and intialisms remind me of the AT and the Army. They define you as an insider.

If you have been in the Army, then you should know MOS, DO, ETS, TDY, AWOL, KP, QM, CQ, OCS, JAG, MIA, LOD, MP, NCO, and PT. I still remember all these after 31 years. It's crazy that some people who couldn't figure out when and what to eat unless their commander told them learned all these terms.

We've been learning the AT jargon, acronyms and initialisms, too. See if you can define NOBO, flip-flop, slack packer, blue blaze, trail magic, stealth camping, dirt bagging, gearhead, yoyo, yellow blaze, dry weight and commando. Not all these are in the listing!

Nothing but blue skies, from now on!

(The Clustr map site is down right now- it should come back or I'll reload it later in the week).