KelGPT

We arrived with eager anticipation to be poured into, perhaps with divine words, or at least something that made us go hmmmm. Our fearless leader would be imparting wisdom on our weary souls, granting us access to a much higher level of thinking, sharing some valuable insight into the other world of doers.

Instead.

Meh. Barely meh. Minimal meh. I should have known when it didn’t begin with any pomp and circumstance, devoid of proofreading, and dare I say cross-communication between party lines.

A swing and a miss implies they were there to play ball. I think the wrong sport was articulated. Something briefly Roman with a hint of cluster(you know what).

Additionally

First, we were encouraged to liberally use AI. “Just change a few words, you know” was the original instruction. AI generators appeared on our desktops, as if by magic. Suddenly, every program, bulletin, and advertisement looked exactly the same, as if copied from one main document.

But now? Instructions were issued to please stop using AI. The explanations: too lengthy sentences, repetitive wordiness, and glaringly obvious errors, much like copy+paste would indicate. Shocking. So tell me why a recent PowerPoint was “updated” using AI, rendering my work basically plagiarized. I am a published author in a journal, and have Dr. preceding my name. I don’t need AI to create a PowerPoint or any kind of paper, really. My way around words is well-documented!

If you’ve made it to the end of this tirade, the headings in italics are significant. AI tends to flag work that uses large descriptive words. The bad news is I’ve been using these words, appropriately, for decades.

Some call me KelGPT, a fitting compliment.

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I ask you –

Has your organization walked back the press for AI-use?

(The post KelGPT first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Still surprised!

For someone who doesn’t like surprises, occasionally it turns out well. But don’t get any ideas.

Throwback photo to the big book

In March 2026, I was contacted regarding publishing my dissertation in a journal. It’s a big deal to have your work peer-reviewed, selected, and published. Fast forward to 15 Sep 2026, my work is published here in the United States Public Administration Journal.

The truth is I didn’t actually downsize the thousands of pages to a manageable 50 pages until I had become so thoroughly disgusted with myself for blowing the opportunity. I waited. And waited. I kept telling myself I wasn’t ready to relive the writing experience again. I had excuses for not enough time, not motivated, not … (fill in the blank). Blah blah blah. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to. I just didn’t want to. Makes no sense.

All’s well that ends well, but I’m a poster child for procrastination.

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I ask you –

Name something that has surprised you!

(The post Still Surprised! first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

The longest 24 hrs

I cannot count the number of times I heard “it’s a privilege to do this”. This refers to the 24 hour run/walk vigil held annually to remember the more than 81,000 POW/MIAs across several conflicts. Indeed, it was a privilege to serve on this year’s committee to plan, orchestrate, and accomplish a ceremony that would do justice to our POW/MIAs. When I think about my long 24-hours, I am incredibly humbled by knowing many gave their every hour, their days, their weeks, and their very lives to our country. 24 hours is nothing compared to their sacrifice.

As if my team and I had nothing better to do, we also accomplished the 9/11 Run to Remember/Air Force Families Forever 1-mile event at the culmination of the 24-hr event. I need someone to pump my brakes.

Team Fitness

Parts and I have been going through a Bible plan titled “When serving leaves you tired”. Timely. One main point was admitting some days you will leave needs unmet. This was a tough notion for me because I ask myself each day have I done everything I could? And, it sounded like saying no, I haven’t is an acceptable answer. But it must be. At the end of the 24 hrs, I was exhausted, “peopled-out”, and craving silence. Looking back, I loved hearing the stories of new people I met and I hoped I was the listening ear they needed. Maybe some felt as if I didn’t meet their needs that day. And it’s ok.

But I think as long as I meet more needs than don’t, I’ve done all I can.

________________________

I ask you –

Do you require time away to regroup after spending your day being around people?

(The post The longest 24 hrs first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Trade Agreement

Latest and greatest Blue Bell offering –

Spoiler: it is really really really good! Not as good as the Chocolate Lava Cake, but very good indeed! Tastes like cold coffee which is probably what they had in mind. I’d like to see (ahem, taste) a chocolate coffee mashup. Maybe I can sell this idea.

Blue Bell also brought back the Cookies n Cream Cone flavor. Of course I bought it. I also found Kimberly’s Bake Shoppe sugar cookies which coincidentally taste just like their cupcakes. It’s not going well for me.

What else can I sell? All this crap that broke my closet at 0430 one Sunday morning. I thought someone was breaking in. Then I thought someone was dead. It was early, ok? After a purge, maybe a few tears, and Home Depot’s online ordering, I’m the proud new owner of a closet organization system. Rated for 1K lbs.

I have another fantastic idea! What if we nix all trade tariffs between us and Canada in favor of them sending us a polar cold front? We can call it La La Canada.

On the subject of training, ’tis NFL season again! I didn’t watch any preseason because a) what’s the point and b) my streaming services didn’t offer the games.

Go Bears.

____________________________

I ask you –

What is your favorite ice cream flavor of all time? As much as I love Blue Bell, my favorite is the Cappuccino Chunky Chocolate frozen yogurt from Braum’s.

Who is your team? The Bears, right?!

(The post Trade Agreement first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Only way is up

Recently, I encountered someone who stated, during the course of a conversation, that they didn’t believe in ceilings. Not the roof kind. I smiled politely but it struck a nerve. Obviously, this person has no clue what it’s like to be a woman in a male-dominated field. This person didn’t join the military. Admittedly, they had many jobs where they worked their way to the top. But to state you don’t believe in ceilings is unrealistic. I am no feminist. But I am a realist. And ceilings are real.

Taking a step back, I began to evaluate privilege. I am extremely privileged to have had some opportunities for career development, to have reached personal milestones, to live in the greatest country on Earth. Lest I ever forget my privilege, having a full (traditional) weekend off is numero uno. For years, I worked weekends and any other day I could to make ends meet. Attending church is a privilege. How many others forgo spiritual needs to work a shift that pays their bills? We no longer live in a place where weekends are sacred. It’s 24/7 ops, baby!

You know what else is a privilege? Feeling certain a brand new puzzle, straight out of the sealed box, will contain all the pieces necessary for completion. Ha. There goes that idea.

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I ask you –

Share your definition of privilege.

(The post Only way is up first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Random wo(man)

Rando #1. A man cannot claim to be self aware without having male friends. Part of self awareness comes from social cues. Look around. Any man with a close knit group of friends (even 1!) tends to be more self aware than a man with no friends. Trust me. And for the man who probably meant well when he saw me in the grocery store then said “Being as how you’re a woman, where’s the lemon juice in this place?”, I forgive you but you were very close to serious injury. Asshat.

Rando #2. Do you know what’s calming to me? Sweeping. I genuinely enjoy it, always have. In fact, a few years of high school I spent just sweeping. Down and back inside the huge shop. It’s monotonous, simple, and allows me to think through things. Some people like vacuuming. I like sweeping.

Rando #3. Early 2026, a PhD scholar and journal writer reached out to me about publishing a peer-reviewed article created from my dissertation. Fast forward a bunch of months, I finally dedicated about 4.5 hrs to reducing the ginormous manuscript to 50 pages. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be (fluff, anyone?). I slept on it for a few days, then submitted. More to come!

____________________________

I ask you –

What’s monotonous chore do you enjoy?

Share something random!

(The post Random wo(man) first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Monthly Recap

Let’s start off with the fun stuff, shall we?

Crickets.

I did a lot of things – runs, work outs, some volleyball. A few runs at the beach in the early part of the month. Creatine is still doing its thing with daily intake. I attribute it to less muscle soreness and an improved overall recovery time.

Apparently I missed a day. I remember it well – it was the Thursday before Hotter’n Hell and I was everywhere doing all the things but never hit the button to start an activity. I really think Garmin could do a better job with auto-starting activities, or at least asking if I’d like to. Maybe it does. Let me research this more.

courtesy of Strava highlights

The heat has been absolutely brutal. Not good for me, for my body, for anyone really. I woke up on September 1st, dreaming it was raining. I was wrong. No rain, no cool air. Just a repeat of every day prior, temps soaring over 100°, dry air that feels like a blow dryer. Despite daily electrolytes and staying out of the direct sun, I’m over it.

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I ask you –

What’s on your August recap?

(The post Monthly Recap first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Government Strategy

I can’t tell you what prompted this train of thought, but I do know it left the station long before I fully considered the message. I recall thinking about how numbers related to government actions are ineffectively quantifiable and potentially misleading.

For example, I researched how much money the government intended to make (or save) through the recent DRP (delayed resignation program) and subsequent personnel downsizing. Some estimates indicate $11 billion while others point to a maximum of $15 billion. I guess the difference of $4 billion is peanuts. The problem with these numbers is calculating the cost of salary + benefits for those leaving the workforce through DRP versus the ones who were let go without a severance package, to speak of. Very wide fluctuations.

More importantly, there is no way to determine the experience, knowledge, wisdom, and manpower of the decline. I don’t know how to place a value on someone’s experience that left with them when they were laid off. Sure, I can count a body in a chair, but what about the restructuring of their workload? Inevitably, some jobs are never reassigned. The position, the work, the value, and the benefit die with the absence. How does an organization recover from this loss?

The dominant analysis states a decline of 12% of the federal civilian workforce. The alleged goal was 10%, with an estimated $350 billion savings over 10 years. Currently, the government states they have saved about $55 billion. Yet the cuts cost $71 billion in economic and administrative costs associated with the rehiring of some of the workforce necessary to comply with legal obligations. So we spent money to make the cuts.

I believe my issue is what happens when a new congressional, senatorial, and executive branch of leadership must address these issues? How easy, cost effective, and (bottom line) possible is it to recover from a RIF (reduction in force)? How long does it take to rebuild experience?

Seems like an appropriate topic on this Labor Day.

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I ask you –

Have you experienced the issue of valuable knowledge leaving the workplace in favor of budget cuts/RIF?

(The post Government Strategy first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Ice, Ice

45th annual Hotter’n Hell Hundred rolled through the city.

After 2 very long (12+ hrs) days of preparations + event, I couldn’t wait to just sit down on my ice throne. Then, after sitting, I didn’t want to get back up. This is one of my favorite parts of HHH – sitting in the ice. I look forward to it each year.

HHH cyclists at SAFB Rest Stop #15

I also made some time the same week to take part in the Blue Bell Tour 2026. Free samples of Blue Bell ice cream? Who can say no? They actually gave us 2 samples. Strawberry cheesecake was amazing. And, see photo below, is Cherry Vanilla, which was also very very good. I’ve been looking forward to this tour for months. Jury duty almost derailed my plans, as did HHH prep. Alas, the ice cream won.

Thinking cool thoughts. The thoughts aren’t helping my heat hives, but I’m doing my best to stay cool and dry. It’s difficult when it’s 90° in the shade.

Fall, I’m waiting for you.

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I ask you –

Anyone else in Texas able to participate in the Blue Bell Tour?

(The post Ice, Ice first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

The heat is most definitely on

Title inspiration: every July, we host a 5k titled The Heat is On. Fortunately, for the last several years, it has not been above 90° at the start time. Misleading? Maybe. Appreciated? Absolutely!

Fast forward to today, we’re on day 22? 23? of consecutive days over 100°. It doesn’t best the record 100 days in 2011, but I’m not really interested in setting any records for heat. In fact, I have developed a new heat illness symptom that my doctor wasn’t pleased with. Shade, under 85°, stay dry and cool. Considering I have the Hotter’n Hell in a few days, this might prove challenging. Always winging it.

even the squirrels seek a cool spot of concrete

Let’s switch lanes here –

The other morning, Mini shared how she believes the Titanic sinking was a conspiracy. Pretty sure my eyes lit up like a Christmas tree – I love me a good conspiracy! Her theory needs some finessing, but the fact she came up with it was insightful and fascinating.

In other news, I’m secretly thinking of ways I can exploit her conspiracy tendencies. Maybe she’ll join me in the moon landing conspiracy. I’ll give her a few years to come around.

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I ask you –

What conspiracy interests you the most?

How many days will this heat wave continue? Please let it be only a few more.

(The post The heat is most definitely on first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)