UAP sighting

 Last night, when I was in the hot tub - 10/28/2026 at 8:06pm, the sun was down, and I was looking east and observed Saturn in the sky at approximately 26 degrees above the horizon to my east-southeast.  When I saw an equilateral triangle of what I originally thought were stars, but these were very bright. Brighter than planets even.  I observed that these lights weren't moving like aircraft, which is very common for the skies above my home.  In fact, at the time, there was a series of fighter jets flying overhead as they traversed towards the western desert of the Great Salt Lake.

I often see jets flying overhead, either passenger jets flying southward towards SLC International, or Hill AFB fighter jets flying to my south heading west towards the Great Salt Lake.  These were not aircraft; they were hovering and moving clockwise around a central point, but they also shifted from a triangular formation to a flatter one, with the top light moving downward between the two lower lights. 

I quickly went to my camera app on my phone and captured this image, which I originally wanted to be a video, but it captured an image instead in nighttime mode, so it wasn't able to capture an iPhone "Live" image, which is a short video.  You can see Saturn below and to the right of the three lights above the tree.  These lights were brighter than any star, planet, or satellite I've seen.  And their movement reminded me of a drone light show, but given their location compared to Hill, and the fact that the lights simply disappeared, it makes me skeptical of them being drones. I realize drone lights can be turned off, yes. But that can be the only logical explanation I can come up with.  But I'm not ruling out any other possibilities either.

My observations of these lights during this sequence of events were approximately 15 - 20 seconds max.

I went to capture a video; when I looked back, the lights were completely gone.  

Here is the video where I attempted to capture the lights: https://youtube.com/shorts/llZ5K1r5_uU?is=eEf6uZIF5699Fvx9

Here is my report to Enigma (which I originally wasn't able to add the image to): https://app.enigmalabs.io/sighting/337819?from=map&b_tl_lat=41.08863885&b_tl_lng=-112.09037177&b_br_lat=41.04887062&b_br_lng=-111.99727634

My Salesforce Journey

 I realized now that I haven’t documented my final months working for Salesforce. 

At the end of July I had a One on One meeting with my manager Steven Butt. He shared some feedback that he alleged people had shared of their experience with me. Much of it focused on my weaknesses and not my strengths. At that point he chimed in that he didn’t see any positive way forward and that he didn’t believe there was a way that my future could be corrected and advised me to start looking for a new job.

This hurt me in several ways:

• When a manager throws up his hands and gives up on me without suggesting concrete, measurable ways to improve, it makes me realize that style of leadership is pathetic and uninspiring.
• My coworkers focusing on the negative. Instead of the ways I was doing well.

My boss didn’t have my back. I felt that there was no loyalty.  I had spent 26 years of my life after college to work for the same company that got eaten up by a bigger fish, and then another bigger fish which didn't care about my journey, or what I could bring to the table.  Admittedly, they were likely paying me more than my peers, but I don't know for certain.  I did suggest that I take a pay cut, but that apparently wasn't an option. 

I took this news extremely hard. I looked. For jobs and was in a state of despair, finding that many comparable jobs were requiring other languages and experience with technology that I had not been exposed to. I even found and applied for a couple jobs with the church which didn’t even result in an interview. I especially took that very hard. 

It took a long time for Salesforce to process the “Quick exit” package. They approached me with a proposal to work on a high priority project saying “If you stay for this project and help with it, we will postpone your exit until November, after which you can get the six month severance package instead of the six week package".  

The damage had been done, and I felt like they were putting a gun to my head in a sense and wanting me to just hold out a little longer until they pulled the trigger.  I was embittered by this whole situation and left immediately. 

Some Emergency Preparedness

 Recently there was a storm in Virginia that stranded hundreds of drivers on the freeway where they couldn't move.  I don't know why, but they were stuck there on the road for hours.  Some without food and water I presume.  That got me to thinking.  Is my vehicle outfitted properly.

Or what about a situation where we have an Earthquake, or society has really gone to pot and zombies are out in the roads going for people. 

Not likely, but anyway if something really bad happens, even at home, do you have a place where you have some emergency items stashed away?  What better place than in your truck, where if you needed  a quick getaway, it's already in there.  And if you're home and your vehicle is just out front (and not in the garage where if there was a really bad Earthquake and buried), you can climb out front and get to it.  

So I spent some time researching, and thinking about what I could do to get set up.  First off, the dogs.

I had a Dog Couch in the back, but they had chewed it up and it needed to go.  So I built a platform that rests along the inside edge of the truck bed, and supported that way, with an additional leg on the inside.  Then got a sled and some quality containers to store emergency items.  Instead of me describing what's in there here are some videos of the complete setup:

 

 Food Items:

Clothing and other survival items:

And here is a video I did a while back on how to make your own quick and easy firestarters:

My name is on Mars

 Perseverance Rover landed today, and onboard is a microchip that contains my name.  Here is my boarding pass:

2020 was honestly one of the best years I can remember

2020 by many has been considered one of the worst years in their lives.  For me, it's actually been the opposite.  I consider the many blessings of my life this year.  Here are some things that came in 2020 that I am so grateful for!  Not in the order of importance, but more in terms of chronological order.

1. Jack - the best dog ever came into our lives
   
   
   
2. Working from home - eventually to become a permanent thing.
   
3. Jacob's Marriage to Ashley.
   
   
   
4. Lucy's Wedding to Cody.
   
   
   
5. No Hugs, or handshakes

   

   Not a fan.

   
   
6. Church@Home

   

   Having married kids is the best. And spending Sundays
   at home and doing home church is awesome!

   
   
7. Sea Doo Fish Pro

   

   What a fun thing we started this year. Jetski fun
   with the family.

   
   
   
   
   
8. Pickleball!
   
   
   
   
   
9. Bear

   

   Bear joined our family a little later in the
   year, but Jack would consider his
   life here much more fun with a little brother.

   
   
10. Swimming (New 10 Mile PR @ Deer Creek)

    

    Swam across Bear Lake a couple times.

    

    New swim support crew.  No need for a kayaker!

    
    

    
    
11. Cathi and I more in love than ever!

    

    Quality family time in St. George.
    
    

    

    Making a coffee table with Cathi.

    
    

From the closing of the SLC office, and me getting more hours in the day (1.5 hour commute per day), and having my best friend hang out with me all day. Then taking a lunch break to go one a walk with Cathi, to playing pickleball with the kids, and swimming in the back yard.  Having two kids get married in 2020 despite the "pandemic".  Lots of great things happened this year!

I love not feeling obligated to give hugs, or shake hands for that matter when I never cared for that crap anyway. I've loved having online FHE with the extended fam. One of the best years ever!

Amazon Prime Wardrobe is a ripoff

So Amazon Prime Wardrobe is a service where you can have clothing items shipped to you to try on, and if they fit and you like it you keep it.  If something isn't right, you go back online and initiate the return.

I did all that, printed the return label for the one item that didn't fit, and had it shipped back.  But now I get an email a few weeks later saying that they haven't received the items yet and I'm going to be charged.  

So not only do I not have the unwanted item, but they are going to take my money for it.

Sounds likes a scam to me.  

I'm never going to use that service again.  Amazon's customer service on returns has typically been awesome, and I've never experienced them not getting a return, but this wardrobe try-before-you-buy thing seems flawed.  Lesson learned.

Order of Man - Gordon Gridley's principles of purpose

 As a subscriber of the Warrior Poet Society Network, I discovered this Order of Man podcast. I've watched and re-watched the first three episodes, and wow is that inspiring stuff!  

What are 7 virtues that I value and strive to employ in my life?  What are the principles that give me purpose in my life?

• Dedication
• Being true to my beliefs. Staying committed to family, friends, and my decisions.
• Generosity
• Putting others and their needs at the forefront. This corresponds to being a provider, and presider.
• Mastery
• The world is full of mediocrity. Being an expert takes discipline, and getting in the ring. Those who have experience can best share their skills and wisdom.
• Thoughtfulness
• Slowing down, analyzing the world around me compiling facts, testing ideas and sincerely trying to enhance the lives of those around me.
• Responsibility
• There are many who are called, but few a chosen.  Those who follow through win the prize. 
• Helpfulness
• Sincerely providing help where help is sought, without regard for return.
• Fearless
• In conjunction with gaining knowledge, able to discern risks and courageously take actions that demonstrate a willingness to overcome the natural man and self-serving comforts.