About that paper...

 Last time I worked on my compensation paper, I finished rewriting the research problem and got to the quantitative model. I do not want to change the model much (from my school paper). I need to work on it some more.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sharing

 There is much sharing on the internet. There is the sharing of personal experiences in blogs, on platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Bluesky, and X, on websites, and more. Even the daily writing prompt involves sharing personal information and experiences. A lot of people respond to the daily writing prompt. I like to review what's out there. Sometimes I am surprised by the information people choose to share. I've seen detailed information on health issues and detailed accounts of traumatic experiences.

Some sites seek volunteers to share their story. The stories assist others. An example is this story/post for an association: https://diabetes.org/blog/meet-leora. The contributor, Leora, described diabetes as the scariest thing of her life. I don't believe there are stories like mine there. I had pre-diabetes years ago and was on medication. I am now off of the medication and experiencing life as someone without diabetes. I like to think of these positive things from time to time.

Link to site: https://diabetes.org/blog/meet-leora

Post

 I saw a lot of negative posts about LinkedIn recently. People are complaining that the platform is no good anymore. I think the complaints will lead to changes. I do enjoy reading about people's experiences and lessons in the workplace on LinkedIn. I hope those posts continue.

Today, I found a post on developing the skill of presenting information to others. The poster shared that a graduate student once commented that he should never teach at the university again (an anonymous review). Four years later, he won a distinguished teaching award at the same university. He must be very proud of his accomplishment. Life is a lot like this.

Link to post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrewhchurchill_sharing-a-bit-of-my-own-path-here-%F0%9D%9F%AE%F0%9D%9F%AC-ugcPost-7421988831886872577-e2yJ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAABmvj0BFHeOpC8Es9eLm35HBYiDrkydyUo

 

Snow day

 Just as expected, there is a lot of snow out there! I believe schools and offices are closed today. Usually, I would be out there clearing the snow. I cannot. We will pay someone to clear the snow. That is how it is sometimes in this neighborhood.

Storm coming

 It is freezing outside. The weather forecast for our area is freezing temperatures with around 15 inches of snow! I expect that it will take several hours to clear/remove the snow from our front steps and driveway (I usually take care of snow removal in my household - it is difficult and exhausting). As I am unable to get the task done, I expect we will be snowed in for a few days. We tried to stock up on food.

I was afraid that the snow would affect appointments. Luckily, I do not have any appointments scheduled for next week.

I have other issues to deal with concerning appointments. I applied for transportation assistance at a PG County Office. My application was denied. I am looking into options.

I hope to resolve issues quickly. I am not at my best so I know some things will take a while. I hope my life is not affected in negative ways. 

People probably look at me and tell that I am not at my best. My tooth is a dead giveaway. 

My current research situation

 From time to time, I check my preprints for comments such as suggested changes or suggested new papers. I am very happy that some reviewers recommended the papers for others to read (and maybe for publishing). I am making a name for myself in research! Just for your information, my preprints were submitted to journals months and months ago. Publishing is taking a while.

My papers are different and creative. I like what I came up with during my PhD program and beyond. It was a lot of work. I believe people have a high opinion of me from my papers. Maybe there is no need to have the pinned/featured notice for information. I will leave it alone, however. 

Pet

 Wordpress prompt for today 1/22/2026: If you could make your pet understand one thing, what would it be?

I don't have a pet but I decided to respond to this prompt nevertheless. There were pets around the house when I was a child. I remember my mother had a black cat when I was about 7 years old. I remember that cat was quite intelligent. It would rub itself against your legs when it wanted something. I remember the cat liked the kittens to be in the bathroom sink area maybe because it was a nice area in secret. I would want that cat to learn tricks or enough to put on a performance in the circus. 

A Friend

 Question from a Facebook friend:

If you met yourself...

Would you like you?

Would you trust you?

Would you choose you?

I would like myself because I tend to be a good person with good morals. I talk to anyone. I would help out anyone in need especially a friend. I like to be fair and objective and that shines through. I usually make responsible decisions. Sometimes I am afraid to get too close. I give people their space. I prefer not to con people or to fight. This also means that I can be trusted. I am a good friend. I can work on some areas just like everyone out there. I am not about friends that lie and cheat.

Update

 I don't feel my best today. I am still to complete the form the Social Security Administration sent me. It is a lot of information to provide. It is a lot like working on a school paper.

I received a call from an old friend yesterday. I was happy to hear from her. I planned to call her months ago but didn't because her number was stored on my lost phone. I didn't use Messenger at that time. Our friend's funeral was that same day.

Tired

 I had a hectic week. By the end of the week, I was tired from all the appointments. A lot of activity in the first 9 days of the year! I don't expect things to continue at the same pace. I now have to work on submitting requested information to the Social Security Administration.

Busy day

 It was a busy day. I had two appointments today. The first went very well. I met a new doctor who was just perfect. The second didn't go as well. I was told there is the need for eye surgery. I was disappointed. I wait for further information and will pray over the situation. 

My father helped me to get from place to place (he did not sit in the appointments with me). Between appointments, we stopped at Golden Corral for lunch. The appointments took all day. I have a few more appointments coming up.

Domain Modeling

 Just recently, I spent some time reflecting on 2025 and the improvements I want to make in 2026. I thought of research and my research career (there is a recent post on this) and I thought of other things I could be doing. Another area I could try to develop is domain modeling. I enjoyed the class on domain modeling and patterns during the Analyst training program I was a part of very early in my career. I created several of these models at work. I was surprised to use (related) concept maps for developing literature reviews during a PhD class. I quickly understood the maps and enjoyed creating them. Concept maps are similar to domain models. I excel in this area.

Living a life of purpose

 I really do believe that because I am alive when so many of my friends are dead, I should make the most of the time I have left (hopefully it is decades). I should try to use time wisely, live a good life, maybe carry on the important work others left behind. I must ensure that my living is not in vain. I have no children. I can ensure my living is not in vain in other ways. I found three interesting poems on ways to ensure your life is not in vain:

If I live my life fully and my purpose I attain, I shall not live in vain.
If I can inspire someone to rise and prevent them from falling again, I shall not live in vain.
If I can live without hurting anyone and ease someone's pain, I shall not live in vain.
If I can wipe someone's tears and make them smile again, I shall not live in vain.
If I can release someone from bondage and make them fly again, I shall not live in vain.
If I can live in a heart with a love that forever remains, I shall not live in vain.
If I can leave the world a little better from the time when I came, I shall not live in vain. - Jyoti Prateek 

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain. - Emily Dickinson (https://www.yourdailypoem.com/listpoem.jsp?poem_id=2330)

If I can help somebody, as I travel along / If I can help somebody, with a word or song. / If I can help somebody, from doing wrong, then my living shall not be in vain. / No, my living shall not be in vain. - Lyrics to song by Mahalia Jackson (https://www.daytondailynews.com/ideas-voices/voices-if-i-can-help-somebody-then-my-living-shall-not-be-in-vain/TM4CZOKUKZA7HALFVNNAPCSKGY/) 

I also found this interesting poem:

In Life's Garden
by
Dixie Willson

Count your garden by the flowers,
Never by the leaves that fall—
Count your days by golden hours,
Don't remember clouds at all.
Count your nights by stars, not shadows,
Count your life by smiles—not tears—
And with joy through all your lifetime,
Count your age by friends—not years. 

The Bible has this interesting verse on work that is with purpose (not in vain):

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV).

I am publishing a lot of articles and poems, and so on. I will be remembered for all of this.

Friend

 I was shocked to learn of the passing of one of my friends from high school. It is interesting how life goes. She was also from Linden. I remember we rode our bicycles to Watooka to play tennis on the courts there. I didn't have a lot of experience but I enjoyed it. I didn't see her when I was in Guyana.

Research

 Just recently, I got to thinking about research and my research career. I like that I am into research - I prepare research papers, I conduct business research, and so on. I like that staying objective and impartial is easy for me especially since I don't have a lot of "connections." It is not much of an issue to write the conflict of interest statements required for research. I can fill a Research Professor position at a later time. I need to think about this some more.

New Year

 This is my first post in 2026! It is a new year and I expect good things to happen. It is normal here in Maryland. I have little planned for today. I do have some appointments coming up so I would be getting dressed up for going out soon. I do need a few items - a tape recorder, underwear, and a few other things. I looked up the tape recorders available for sale online. I liked a few. There was a red one that reminded me of my tape player/recorder in high school. I need a tape recorder to record things especially interviews.