Does this mean war?

Recently, I was quite taken aback at the request to remove “Dr” from my name. According to the requestor, it did not align with their commission’s requirements. I politely declined to follow their recommendations. Instead, I pushed back against the entirety of the system, calling them out for pursuing administrative burden for job seekers. Not a battle, but a war.

And I’ll continue signing it any way I want.

With daylight saving time on Halloween (of all days), I thought we could all use a little reminder of what is important. My sanity! A sweet friend sends out daily emails with good news, funny jokes, and, my personal favorite, Wellness Wednesday. A recent email resulted in the graphic above and I have been sharing it far and wide. For the mental battles, of course.

Funnily, while she’s sending encouragement, I’m sending a Wednesday email about how to be a better leader, mentor, or coworker, with the title “From the Doc (not me, a different doc) -“. Send me your email address and I’ll add you to my distro.

For mini, Wellness Wednesday is the bane of her existence. She loathes it because it means running laps. At her young, sparky age, she has yet to embrace the coexistence of running with long-term fitness. But she’ll get there. Just another battle.

Aren’t we all fighting one thing or another.

____________________________

I ask you –

What battles are you fighting?

And have you won the war?

(The post Does this mean war? first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Hello, Fall!

This time of year is definitely my favorite. Afterall, it includes my favorite holiday: Thanksgiving. The bugs have finally all died and disappeared. The weather is perfect for running. And one can safely hide the extra pounds that may come from extra baking. Hello, sweaters!

Zombie Run 5k – Team Fitness

From the annual Zombie Run to some much-needed rainfall, Texas hasn’t started off too badly. I do believe it missed the fall memo though. We went from 90 degrees to 40 degrees. Fall typically lies somewhere in the middle but who am I to complain. I’ll take anything below 80 degrees. But, wouldn’t you know I felt like crap the first few days the weather was ideal for running. Figures. Nonetheless, I have hope this too shall pass and I’ll be out enjoying it soon.

tell me you have PMS in one photo

Soon, there will be posts of running, negative splits, and holiday baking. Those are my favorite!

____________________________

I ask you –

What does fall mean to you?

(The post Hello, Fall! first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

More Random Photos with Captions

It took nearly a year but I was finally able to overhead press 60 lbs. I can remember trying to do it the first time and being sorely disappointed when it became evident there was no way on Earth I could accomplish it at that time. It was ugly, it was humbling, and it became a goal I must achieve. Ta-da!

I’ve also taken a liking to Kachava, a protein powder-type of drink mix. I love to mix it with Core Power but it’s still good, albeit thin, when mixed with water. The chocolate flavor is my favorite, but Strawberry and Vanilla are also good.

The Ninja Thingy!

I bought this Ninja portable drink mixer doodad a few years ago. It has sat quietly in my office until recently, and now I’m rueing the days I had the opportunity to use it and didn’t. It’s awesome!

Spontaneous, I am not. Really no surprise. But, occasionally I get a great idea which must be accomplished near to immediately.

Mini has been talking about a Dancing with the Stars special menu at Paris Baguette since the new season began. She believed the nearest location was Pennsylvania, and happily exclaimed she was ready to pack her bags for a trip. Me, on the other hand, not so much. To compromise, I found one in DFW. 2 hour drive vs a flight. Sign me up.

Fast forward, the drink was beautiful. Presentation – spot on. Drink taste? Ehh, Mini wasn’t a fan. It was not the sweet, frothy creation she enjoys. The coffee flavor was incredible, in my opinion, but it may be because they use Lavazza, a coffee brand I am a huge fan of. Try it. However, the croissant was amazing! Crunchy yet soft – definitely her favorite part of the drink, if you don’t count the tiny mirror ball on the toothpick. It’s the details, you know?

____________________________

I ask you –

Would you (have you?) traveled a few hours for a special something related to one of your favorite shows?

(The post More Random Photos with Captions first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Sentence Per Photo

Wanted: 3-4 friends who want to learn how to play Mahjong with me.

Photo by Mahmoud Yahyaoui on Pexels.com

Love this team; I’m always amazed at what they accomplish!

3QTRCY2026 Team Award

Every puzzle should be glow-in-the-dark!

This irks me – it was going well until I needed the extra weight and it messed up the entire visual.

I know this is a very random post, but I hurriedly wrote it when I realized I had arrived near the end of the week and had no blog contribution for the following week.

I’ll do better next time. No, I won’t.

____________________________

I ask you –

Have you played Mahjong?

Name something that irks you!

(The post Sentence Per Photo first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Stormy Opinions, epilogue

Photo by Emilio Gonzu00e1lez on Pexels.com

On October 8, 2025, I published Stormy Opinions on RoF. Surprisingly, I wasn’t met with much pushback. The post chronicled the July 4th flooding along the Guadalupe River, where Camp Mystic and many other holiday-goers were enjoying family camping trips. It ended in tragedy, with 27 campers and 138 total lives being lost to the swiftly rising floodwaters. In a heartbreaking turn of events, I realized I knew one of the families and had worked with her when she and her family were stationed at Sheppard AFB. Cami had a huge personality and an even bigger smile.

While political offices debated who was responsible for such a devastating event, families spent days wondering where and when their children would be recovered. Sadly, this was not the first flood with negative consequences and it will probably not be the last. The most immediate question was why people were not warned, followed by what are the notification systems and what is required.

The ensuing litigation and demand for explanation made national news. However, one must really seek out the continuation of requests. The Texas Tribune has done an incredible job of telling the parents, neighbors, and other relevant residents’ stories.

A year later, there really aren’t any answers. Closure? What exactly is closure for families with wide-open holes a child once filled? Lest I forget my sweet friend Cami, her daughter, and family who were swept away. Her husband might be sickened on what should be a holiday tradition and is now a terrible memory. But the stories flow freely, just like the river. Some have a healthy respect for the river that giveth and taketh away. Some have returned to the water, enjoying its cleanse. Others have moved, vowing to never return to the heartache of what once was. The article shares the story of a landowner who found numerous bodies in his portion of the river. The effects are far and wide, much like the Guadalupe.

These are the stories we often forget, dulled by time, glossed over by the weight of grief. It reminds me of the stories shared by emergency management officials and public administration personnel at the Texas border while researching immigration. The river is part of their homeland, their very identity. Yet some will forever be scarred with visions of watching adults and children drown, unable to help, or, worse, instructed not to help. Please understand: this post is not saying the situations in Texas are the same; instead, it is saying humans are humans and the scope is not lost on me.

“Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it” – unknown author

Did the camp do its best? Were the necessary conversations regarding emergencies and protocols discussed in full? Some say yes while others disagree. There are many anomalies which do nothing to placate grieving hearts. This article reiterates the requirements for safety training.

The moral of the story is many tragedies can be prevented. It’s the same analogy for healthcare, weight management, and exercise. An ounce of prevention and all that.

Again, as I’ve written and rewritten this post, more information comes to light. From Texas Rangers investigations to more lawsuits to, now, a willingness to sell the property, we can’t forget the human aspect of this ordeal – grieving parents, hurting families, and a general unrest of faith and action. The powerful Guadalupe River gave and took away. For many, answers will forever be beyond reach. But, as an incredible friend always says, in times of tragedy, look for the helpers. As difficult as it may be, celebrate life at every opportunity. I’m sure these families would give anything for one more celebration.

_____________________

I ask you –

There’s no questions or quirky statements here. As I continue to follow the outcome of Camp Mystic and the work in that area, partially out of curiosity, but also as a dedication to Cami and her family, it’s important to focus on the good. Cami would have wanted that.

(The post Stormy Opinions, epilogue first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

I just can’t

A recent publication mentioned the inability to do nothing. It might have made this character trait out to be something negative, but I took no offense. Indeed, I am surrounded by many who also are ingrained with the inability to do nothing.

For example, the beautiful lady with me in the photos below. The left photo is semi-polished, “professional”, if you will. The right? Well, that’s our normal day-to-day ops. Laughing like hyenas. Usually while others stand back and watch the show. Typical.

Which brings me to my next point. Mini won student of the month for integrity. Super proud Mom moment. She, too, has an inability to do nothing, especially concerning righting wrongs. She is a loyal friend, a kind human, and a rule follower dujour. I am exceptionally proud – an “A” student, a book lover, and easily one of the most creative, bold children I know. She makes me proud, and laugh so loudly.

Course change.

For several nights, nightmares and sleeplessness plagued me. I dreamt my boss was the devil, my previous boss was seriously ill, and I kept hearing phantom knocking. Real exciting times, Kel. I wracked my brain for what could be bothering me, but arrived at zero answers. Perhaps it was just a bout of insomnia, or weather change, or general unspecified anxiety. It eventually passed. My only takeaway was this: some are frustrated where they are in life, professionally or personally, or both. I think learning to play the game is imperative, in whatever way it is for you. Some go on to live nomadic lifestyles, or expat themselves within another’s borders. That’s all well and good. But you can’t hate the game. It’s the game, it’s doing what the game does. You either learn to bend a little or you spend your entire life fighting it, most likely to succumb to death (like the rest of us) with frustration. No one is forced to play, and you certainly don’t have to like your hand, but if you choose not to change, then you can’t be surprised when the house wins.

____________________________

I ask you –

Do you have someone in your life who makes you laugh wildly?

Tell me – do you play the game or do you expend your energy fighting it?

(The post I just can’t first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Monthly Recap – September Edition

Not a humble brag, but I must share how funny it is to me when people act shocked I do strength training. My claim to fame – does infamous count – is running, not lifting.

For many years, I would run during the warm weather, then lift during the cool months. It was a cyclical balance and how I was trained. It worked so why not.

During last October’s 43-day furlough, who’s counting, I devoted more time to strength training, specifically employing a two-a-day method: a run/walk and a lift. For mental health, it was awesome! For physical health, holy crap! I got stronger, leaner, and the scale began to budge in incremental decreases.

When I added creatine this past Spring, I felt as if I unlocked the code for my body. Sure, there are days when I don’t have a lot of motivation. Creatine can’t fix that! But I regularly complete two-a-days, and I’ve now completed 8 strength training routines of 5-6 weeks each. I genuinely enjoy lifting, even if running is my true love.

So what else happened in September? I don’t know, I slept some? I completed a leadership cohort course, I was well on my way to death by heat, and I was selected for a fitness course slated to begin the end of October – the AF equivalent of a Navy CFL, which I was in my prior life. Definitely more to come on that subject.

I might have completed one puzzle in September, but I’ve picked it back up again. My closet collapsed – an entirely other ordeal of epic crap. I’m on a self-imposed shopping sabbatical. And I recall eating a lot of cake.

September was busy, but not as busy as the next few months, I’m sure. More to come!

____________________________

I ask you –

Tell me a few things about your September.

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

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.

____________________________

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.

____________________________

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.)