I was employed by the Federal Highway Administration from the mid 70s to 2008. I did work in many subject areas over this time but am probably known most for managing one of the big discretionary programs, for creating Interstate designation content and for research and management in the area of highway economic development.
I did other things over the years: e.g., taught people in the FHWA how to play the card game called "schafskoft", raised a family, served in the US Navy reserves, served on the board of various civic and religious organizations.
My daughter lives in Israel and the rest of the family have visited there many times.
Gate has been giving advice to the Obama transition team for a week now.
Gate is mostly concerned that 1. the future Obama administration understand the importance of habitat expansion for Alligators and 2. the Obama administration not be unduly influenced by turtles, pythons, crocodiles and other creature who share that habitat.
Our stuffed lobster, Lobby, was once considering going to medical school. He was going to follow in the clawpath of Dr. Zoidberg, of Futurama Fame (the doctor is the first image).
Coke Bear, who seems to be doing more and more consulting for our family stuffed animals, and I pointed out to Lobby that, notwithstanding his degree, Dr. Zoidberg has the job of staff physician to a small, capital starved and poorly managed delivery company. In the animated show, Dr. Zoidberg is always hungry.
After some internet work, which was difficult given his claws don't hold a mouse very well, Lobby decided to seek work advising the various Seafood Associations.
The Hedge Fund makes Graduation Bear go though dusty old folders that were placed in laundry baskets and look for receipts that they can use to pretend they were doing business when they were actually being entertained.
This is pretty bad for Graduation Bear especially because, as a salaried employee, he doesn't get paid for overtime. The Hedge Fund bosses have demanded he work both Saturday and Sunday almost every week since he started with them.
Uga (which stands for University of Georgia) was Surprised By the Letter
When Uga (a.k.a., George Dog) came to stay with us he had his mail forwarded to us also. The USPS apprised the Georgia Department of Family Services (GDFS) of the new address when the sent a communication to UGA's old address.
The Georgia Department of Family Services wrote to the Maryland Attorney General asking if the home UGA had chosen was a good home for a stuffed animal. The Maryland Attorney General then wrote to the GDFS that there was a sexual offender in the house, namely the cat, Soda. The GDFS then wrote to UGA. When UGA received the letter, his first reaction was total disbelief. Then he confronted Soda and asked him, "What's Up?"
