Brian Sipe:  

Hey y'all. I just went to the 50th and got to catch up with some old friends. I realized I wasn't in the 1975 annual or graduation list. Some history: I graduated early so I could join the Army, took the GED but still got a Karns Diploma signed by HB Jenkins! While you guys were enjoying graduation, I was getting my fill of basic training in Fort Knox. I only stayed in for 3 years, but spent 2 of them in Germany. After Army life, I got more education with degrees in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, and a MBA in Business Management. I have mostly worked in Nuclear related fields, developing PET scanners, Cyclotrons, Nuclear Medicines, Centrifuges, Nuclear Power Plant Controls, Nuclear Reactor Fuel, and more. I'm semi-retired at the moment. I have traveled to 9 countries and 41 states. Hobbies have come and gone, included restoring motorcycles and cars, fixing up and drag racing cars, travel by motorcycle and RV, camping, NASCAR, fixing up and flipping a distressed house, and more. I've been married 3 times, have 2 stepkids and 3 grandkids. I guess that's enough for this post. It seemed like most classmates at the reunion were doing ok, except those on the "in memoriam" list. I'm hoping to stay off of that list for a long time! OLDER POSTS FOLLOW Haven't updated this in awhile. I'm back in the area, working in Oak Ridge. Not ready for retirement yet, I tried it for a few months and got bored. Not that there weren't plenty of projects to keep me busy, I just needed more of a technical challenge. I left NFS after 5 years and went back to nuclear pharmacy, managing a site in Gray. It was a high stress position, so after a couple of years I went back to NFS as a contract engineer. After 3 years I finished up a design project there and found something in Oak Ridge. I still have both houses, so it's easy to work or visit either place. Tri-cities is really nice, less traffic and crowds, mountain views without the weather problems from snow. It seems like 2-5 years is about it, then I need a new job challenge. Sometimes it's internal, sometimes I bounce. Finally sold the motorcycle, couldn't ride much because of carpal tunnel. It was hard to give up after having a bike for over 40 years. Updated in 2012: Started the new job at NFS in Erwin. Moving to tri-cities....Kept the old house instead of selling in this depressed market and taking a beating... It seems crazy taking out a 30 year mortgage at this stage of life. Loving the new job. Got laid off from USEC in their cutbacks due to budget gridlock in Washington. USEC got me started in the nuclear fuel industry, so that opened doors for my new job at NFS. I guess I was lucky to be in the first round of layoffs. Took swimming lessons this spring, I guess it's never too late, even at 55... Been working out for a couple of months during the layoff, I'm probably in better shape now than I've ever been. Johnny Long has a great fitness program. Recently spent a lot of time finishing up projects at Mom's house and mine too, since I won't be around to take care of stuff at a leisurely pace. Too bad I gotta move on, so soon after reconnecting with a lot of the fellow Karns alumni. As Ahnold said... "I'll be Back"... Been helping out Mom, back in the old 'hood. Funny how we come full circle sometimes. Growing up the house was too small but now it's too big... Not much travel these days: Had a great trip to DC last year for 2011 New Year's, spent a few weeks up there working as a consultant prior to joining USEC. Recently made a trip to south Texas to do some consulting and training of a newly hired engineer late February 2012. What I've been up to lately (2011)... Got a local job in Oak Ridge as an engineer at USEC, done with the travel nonsense for awhile. Very exciting career change. It was a long stretch between jobs, anybody who doesn't believe the job marke...Expand for more