Marian Allen:  

and also California State University at Long Beach for awhile, but I did not get a degree. I devoted my time to learning everything I could about computers at the VA Medical Center, both on the job, after work and on weekends, and thru VA training. I can remember staying at the VA until after 11:00 at night some evenings, determined to stay until I solved one problem or another, and that's how I learned the computer skills I stuck with for my work years. Workplace I worked for a few different places but my primary job was as an Information Technology Specialist at the VA Medical Center, first in Long Beach, California, and then in Seattle, Washington. I worked at the VA for 22 years and almost 3 years ago I took early retirement. I liked many things about my job but it was pretty hectic and there were a lot of office politics, and by leaving early I think I probably added a few years to my life. Retirement is a lot less stressful! Military I have no military background but was in a quasi-military environment while I worked at the VA, being involved with lots of veterans who were both employees and patients. Some of my best friends from work are former military, and at the VA I learned to have a great deal of respect for military men and women.