It was good to see Bink at the finale of DTech, the Senior Banquet.  

While she feels this program wasn't all it was cracked up to be, and she wasn't thrilled with how it was run - I believe she simply found a path through life that she doesn't necessarily want to take.

I think the program is what you make it.  From silk screen printing, to 3D printing, to CAD design, woodworking, and a CNC machine, DTech is a place for the self-motivated.  Just like in an actual self run business.

You have to be motivated, and have an affinity for entrepreneurship to get much as much as possible out of the program.  

It's not about a grade, everybody is going to get a good grade.

It's about getting the big picture in mind about how the program works, what types of things are available to you, and finding your niche.

Bink didn't really like the self-guided "student run" nature of it.  I think she's a person who likes a plan.

Still, I think it was valuable in some ways, but in the end it just wasn't for her, and that's ok.

And there she is, her first real job experience.  After 6 hours of baseline training, the boss threw her into the fire to run the shop for 2 hours on her own.

When I got there she was organized truffles onto the display trays.

Cozy little place, perfect for Binks.  She made over $130 during the 7 hour shift that went 2 hours longer than expected due to scheduling issues.

I remember it took me a MONTH to make my first $100.  I thought I was rich.  I used it to buy my first computer.

Binky says she going to invest it into her portfolio. 

She's a lot smarter than I was.  But the computer definitely worked out. #followyournose

Super proud of this child.  She loves it too. <3

Today, I saw my daughter Binky run her last race as a high school runner.  After 4 years of struggling to improve, she started to break through when we found out it was her low iron levels making it impossible to improve. 

Anemia!

Since she has been put on iron supplementation every race she has run has been a PR.  

If we had only discovered this earlier, who knows what she would have become.

I think that's one of the things about this life sometimes.  It can be filled with what if's.  All sorts of what if's in an innumerable amount of different situations.

There's nothing that can be done, and wishing things had been different is a waste of time.

Approaching it with gratitude that we DID find out before the season was gone, and she was able to see the improvement she worked so hard for.

Breaking a 6 minute mile, after being stuck at 6:45 for almost her entire high school career.

We got to see her improve.  She got to feel that strength for herself.

There's gratitude and joy and accomplishment in that.

Sometimes hard work doesn't pan out the way you want it to, until it does.  Or until it does in a different way that you intended.

The world and life seems to go at it's own pace.  The world has it's own plans for you.

Secret plans.

And really, what we have is right now, and the possibility (but not guarantee) of so many more moments.  What if's are wasted time.

So proud of Bink and her 3rd leg 2:44 800m effort.  She ran strong!

So cliche, but how quickly time slips through our fingers. Today I drove Binky and Squeak to school so we could all get Starbucks together.  As I drove they both mentioned how they miss being driven to school.  We talked about the Poinsettia drop offs, listening to music, talking, and walking all the way to class from the nearby neighborhood where I'd park.

Kalea is graduating in weeks.

Just a stark reminder that a new transition phase is coming my way, and as with all things, it can't be stopped.  One must brace oneself for these times and carve a new path.

My firstborn, Binky, had her first training session at her first job today.  She drove there.  In her car.  Well, my car.

With her social security card, no less, that she somehow found in the files.

She met her coworkers, a trainer, and the owners over at the shop.

The discovered how to serve gelato, by serving each other.  And of course, eating it.

She mentioned she's fascinated with the process, and has a curious mind for why certain things are done in certain ways, and the business reason behind it.

Like, they give UNLIMITED samples. 

So... when some demanding person comes in for the sole purpose of sampling every single one of the 24 gelato flavors, you just have to grit your teeth and serve it up.

Anyway, she's excited.  It's cozy, warm, and inviting.  This is the culture, and it's perfect for Binks.

A great first job.  She gets customer service experience, gelato servin' experience, and barista experience.  Both transferable skill sets she can build off of in the future.

Kinda reminds me of my Checkers Frozen Yogurt days.  Just substitute barista'ing with multi flavored caramel popcorn makin', and that's the experience.  Though, it seems I was working with a bit more of a motley crew than Binks.

Rebels of the early 90's.

It was eye opening to say the least.

Anyway, go Binks!  Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings...