Prepared statements for my 30th high school reunion

So what are you doing for work these days?

For the last 20 years I've had my own consulting company, working with clients from YouTube to Del Monte to ADP, helping to make, manage, and measure their training better. Right now I'm working with the National 4-H Council to scale up their online learning, and make STEM skills more engaging & accessible for kids.

Do you still have the yo-yo?

I still have a few hundred of them, yes! They don't get as much exercise these days, but I usually have one handy. Didn't bring one here tonight though, did you?

Did you keep singing?

Yes, I had a solo a cappella & beatbox act as The One Mouth Band for many years. I sang with other vocal groups, produced stage shows, released albums, won awards, and I toured and taught all over the world. Dream come true, and a helluva lot of work. It was great!

And your Dad, wasn't he a musician?

Yep, he's still at it! Just played the Hopmonk here in Novato with his band last month. He's not producing Grammy-winning albums or touring like he used to, anymore. But at 74, he's about as busy as he wants to be. I went on the road with him last year for a couple months, supporting Bonnie Raitt all over the US & Canada. His usual roadie couldn't do it and I jumped at the chance to spend time with my Dad. Well worth it!

Do you still perform?

Post-pandemic, not really. I still love singing but I'm not trying to live my life around it anymore. These days it's more about family priorities.

I heard you were on sailboat or something?

Yes, I did live on sailboat in Emeryville for a few years. It was my home base while I was mostly out touring. I learned to sail here in the SF Bay, and loved it! I do miss that. The sailing is not as good where I live now.

Where do you live now?

I moved to Utah nearly 10 years ago to be with Denise. Originally to Salt Lake City, but then about 2.5hrs south of there, right in the middle of the state, not really close to anything. We're there caring for her elderly mother.

Do you have kids?

Nope! Just a rebellious 88 year old mother-in-law who's addicted to her phone, and that's enough for me thanks.

Do you still keep in touch with anyone from high school?

Just saw my buddy Ryan in LA last month. Talk to our friend David pretty often still. Keep in touch with Chris. So a handful of folks, sure.

Are you on Facebook?

Used to be all over it! And on Twitter, on Insta, on Prancer & Vixen, all the things. Got off the socials in 2020 though. Things got too toxic for my taste. Still on LinkedIn for professional purposes. And I do blog on my sam-rogers.com website too. But that's about it. After all it's an algorithm's world these days, and we're just living in it.

How about this AI thing, huh?

I know, isn't it great?!? I keep up on it all and have been training and tweaking a few of my own local LLMs for a few years now, but I'm still stunned by what's possible like every other week! Happy to dive into the weeds on that topic if you want.

What do you think about this election?

Oh, I try not to, thanks! It just makes me uptight. I'll keep on voting like it matters, even though I know better. For 20+ years now I just examine my choices the day before and try to tune out the drama in-between. It's not that I don't care, it's that I care too much. Now if anyone wants to talk solutions, I have plenty of ideas on almost everything! I've thought it all through, and I'm quite sure I have all the answers! But pretty much no one who can affect change cares what I think. And it kinda breaks their brains when I talk to them.

What's your plan for retirement?

I'd be surprised if Social Security is still there for us in 2042, and since I plan to live to the ripe old age of 123 anyhow...lemme get back to you on that in another 30 years.

Where are you staying?

We drove out here with our travel trailer, so we're staying at the only RV Park in town! And it's kinda fun, actually. Not as much of a dive as it was back in the day. Everything around here seems more upscale now, doesn't it? This town used to be kinda funky-podunky, and now it's all yoga pants and Teslas.

Do you remember when...?

No. No, I don't. I mean, I wish I did, but I wasn't there. I was one of the weirdos, remember? Weirdos don't get invited to many things. I'm still a weirdo, in fact I'm kinda surprised they even let me in here with all the cool kids! But don't tell anyone, okay? I'm actually having a good time :)