October 2025

Harold Combs
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I don’t know where to start.

Politics

So the US Government shut down at the end of the fiscal year, midnight on October 1st. Auspicious beginning, that. Both sides blame one another, and I’d give a slight edge to the R’s blaming the D’s for refusing to pass a continuing resolution. Neither side has its stuff together, particularly, but at least one side was going to keep public employees…well…employed.

Our infant-in-chief has done other things since then but it’s more “flood the zone” crap. Demolishing part of the White House to build a gaudy ballroom named for himself on donated funds from those who bent-the-knee. Canceling negotiations with Canada (Canada?) because they ran an ad he didn’t like. Blowing Venezuelan boats out of international waters because we feel like it. Shelling California from the sea during the 250th Marine Corp Birthday, causing traffic on I-5 to back-up. Threatening to “cancel NASA”.

Honestly, it’s day to day or hour-to-hour with this jackhole. Just chaos. This year has felt like a decade.

Newest “fun” realization–Food stamps (“SNAP benefits”) will start running out on November 1st. We’ll see how the masses will react to going hungry. Likely, it won’t be passive.

Work

In the corporate intrigue department, my Vice President “left to pursue opportunities outside effective yesterday” on 9/23. Then on 9/14, they announced a re-org. Havign been through approximately 127 reorgs in my 26 years, I can tell when it’s a transitional not a “final” one. This one was very transitional and intrigue continues.

More broadly, there are Layoff Rumors. My next stock vest is Nov 15/21, so one just hopes to make it past there. My vests for next year are garbage because of 2 years of bad ratings (one year was earned, tbf). We’re learning to live on less at my house.

For the actual WORK I’m doing, I’m loving it. I have six sharp developers on my team, ranging from Junior to Senior, and another Senior Engineer who’s been working closely since April. We’re making headway and there are more good days than bad. What we’re doing is customer-facing work with thousands of customers satisfied every day. I’m mentoring another manger who’s coming up as a peer, and my local group of managers is a neat team.

Colleges are falling like leaves.

So, M’s first choice remains Abilene Christian University. It’s odd, in that we first visited there when she was a Sophomore and we concluded it was a “meets needs” school (middle ranking between a “reach” and “safety”). Since then it keeps coming back into the discussion, particularly now that she’s looking to get into the Honors Program. As it stands, between her 529 and the scholarship money they’ve already offered, she can go to this private school with $0 in loans.

After spending a week there in a summer program, she loves it and already has 6+ people committed to go.

This month we visited Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas. If the world came to an end, Lubbock wouldn’t know for approximately 3 hours–it’s that remote. The water is terrible and the air smells (depending on the wind direction) like the world’s largest cattle feedlot or the oilfields from Post, TX to its South. There are frequent dust storms, and it’s in Tornado Alley at the bottom of the panhandle.

But still, the school seemed intriguing. It’s a state school, with lots of programs, beautiful architecture, successful sports team, and it doesn’t give out that “culty” vibe like Texas A&M. Honestly, M was intrigued.

Then we showed up.

Basically she and Whitney had allergic reactions to anywhere that had food. There were supposed to be allergy-free, dietition-approved meals, but airborne allergens prevented us from getting anywhere near them. All of the afternoon sessions the day we went were in the Student Center, and neither M nor W could approach the door.

So, Tech was out.

Next us was TCU. Apparently they used to “Texas Christian University” but they dropped all that and they’re just “TCU”. Whitney and Maria went up last Sunday and Monday to Fort Worth to tour the campus. I don’t have firsthand knowledge, but from my understanding it’s a no because they just don’t offer the STEM stuff M is looking for, and it’s the “rich kid” school that we’d understood from its reputation.

As we sit the “In the Clubhouse” list is:

  1. ACU
  2. Baylor (supposing a miracle happens and we get tons of scholarships)
  3. Southwestern in Georgetown, TX

Roughly, that seems to be the order of precedence.

This has been a very fun process and I’m excited to see what M chooses. I’m glad the “visitation” portion is coming to a close.

Relationships

Dad has found someone. I’m glad for him. We’re coming up on 1 year since Mom died and it’s better he’s not alone.

I’m lonely these days, but it is what it is.