Day 2: The Meaning Behind Your Blog Name
What’s the meaning behind my blog name, Philosophical Meanderings? I had big plans for this blog. That haven’t materialized, and they are not going to materialize. I’m okay with that.
When I entered the Air Force, the only educational assistance program available when you left the Air Force was called VEAP (Veteran’s Educational Assistance Program). It was truly awful, and I chose not to participate. Around 1983, the military did away with the program, but they offered everyone an opportunity to put in $25 to create an account, which they could contribute the maximum amount to later if they wanted their benefits. I contributed $25 just to keep my options open.
Around 1998, the New GI Bill program opened up to prior VEAP participants — I think they wanted to cut the administrative overhead of maintaining two programs, and I was eligible to participate. I already had my masters’ degree by then, but I went ahead and contributed my $1200 (and got my $25 from VEAP back).
When I retired, I applied for a PhD program at Texas A&M University. I applied twice to the philosophy department. The first year, I was wait-listed for their Master’s program but didn’t get picked up (I understood this — I’d never taken a philosophy class in my life; I wasn’t the top candidate from their perspective). The second year, the results of the bad economy hit, and applicants flooded the school. I wasn’t even close.
I thought history might be a good way to go, but I needed undergraduate upper division history credits, which I could have gotten in one full-time semester. I applied as a non-degree-seeking undergraduate student to get the credits, and since I already had a degree, they turned me down.
I got tired of spending money for nothing, so I’ve abandoned PhD aspirations for now and have chosen to embark on self-study in history, leadership, and ethics.
I intended to explore various philosophical subjects via this blog. I have done a little of that, but not too much.
It’s a shame you weren’t able to get your Master’s Jean. To be honest while I adored the classes I took in both Sociology and Psychology anything dealing with Philosophy totally exhausts me! Leadership, history and ethics – those are things I can get behind. Always been fascinated by history and historical leaders. Somehow I didn’t have this blog on my reader so I’m getting ready to get caught up on your meanderings.
I have a Masters’ — Adult Education and all classes toward an Education Specialist degree (kind of half way between a Masters and a PhD), but I PCSed before I could do the project associated with the degree, so I abandoned it.
But, yes, I would have liked the extra credentials in history. Independent study works fine, and I probably don’t need anything more than that.
As for this blog, I don’t post to it often. I have search engines blocked and try some of my more potentially controversial views here. If you check the archives, the last post was in April 2011, so it’s best to follow this one in an RSS reader or something.