My Autobiography: David Balleza K(C)atague: How Long is a Moment? Tea and Trivia at THD

Wednesday, November 26, 2025

How Long is a Moment? Tea and Trivia at THD

This blog is inspired from our recent Tea and Trivia Activity💚 here at THD. One of the 15 questions, we have to answer was:

How Long Is a Moment? My Personal Reflections!

I have been thinking lately about the tiny slices of time that make up a life. At our recent Tea and Trivia activity one of the question asked was, “How long is a moment?” It sounds simple, almost like something a child might ask during a long car ride. But at my age—and after the many chapters of living I’ve already turned—questions like this carry a weight far beyond their grammar.

If you ask a medieval monk, a moment is exactly 90 seconds. They divided every hour into 40 little units of time, as if life could be portioned out like communion wafers. But in the world I actually inhabit, the world of grandkids and great-grandkids, of flights between coasts, of hospital corridors and political chatter, a moment is never 90 seconds. It is either far shorter or impossibly longer.

A moment is the quick glance of a five-month-old great-grandchild on Thanksgiving morning, dressed in something both adorable and slightly tacky. It lasts maybe half a second, but the memory lingers in me like a warm light on a winter afternoon.

A moment is also the pause before a doctor delivers news that will bend the path of your life. That moment feels like an entire season, stretched so thin you can hear it hum. I have lived through a few of those.

Sometimes a moment is the space between hearing a hurtful comment like being told once that I could never be “truly American” because my citizenship came through naturalization and the breath I take before deciding not to let the words root too deeply. That moment has lasted decades, woven through all the places I have called home and all the contributions I have made to this country that sometimes doubts me.

Moments are not counted by clocks. They are counted by impact and achievements.

The first time I reported for duty at the FDA in Rockville, MD in September, 1990.
The early mornings after 9/11 when the world felt stunned and fragile.
The decision to keep writing, year after year, since 2009, letting my blog serve as a kind of time capsule for thoughts that arrive quietly but insist on being named.

These moments stretch far beyond their 90 medieval seconds. They are measured not in minutes, but in meaning.

So how long is a moment? Long enough to shape a life. Short enough to slip away if we don’t pay attention. And sometimes, long enough to stay with us even after we are gone.

💚Kudos to Elane Johnson, Newly Hired Activity Coordinator for excellent hosting of the Tea and Trivia Party last Sunday.

Meanwhile, here are some of the others Questions at Our Trivia and Tea Activity last Sunday. For Answers look at the bottom of the Page: ( If you answers correctly 10 of the questions, I salute You, You are a genius and a walking encyclopedia. You should try out for the Jeopardy TV show).

1. What Country Advertised itself as the Country of a Thousand Smiles?

2. What are the two Planets without a Moon?

3. What are the two States that do not have Daylight Saving Time?

4. What is the Biggest County ( Area wise) in California?

5. What are the the two name of Baby Owls?

6. How old is the Concord Pavilion in Concord, CA?

7. Where is the Earth the thickest?

8. Before it was called a mouse, what animal was the computer accessory named after?

9. How many languages are written from right to left?

10. How many Earths could fit inside the sun?

My Photo of the Day

Answers: 1-Thailand, 2-Mercury and Venus, 3-Arizona and Hawaii, 4-San Bernardino, 5-Owlets or Nestlings, 6-50 years. 7-Around the Equator, 8-The Turtle, 9-12, 10-1.3 Million

Finally the Top Global News (Nov 26, 2025)

Venture Global inks 20-year LNG deal with Tokyo Gas — The U.S. LNG exporter signed a long-term supply agreement to deliver 1 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas annually to Tokyo Gas starting in 2030. Reuters+2Reuters+2
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv is ready to advance a U.S.-backed peace plan with Russia — Ukraine signaled willingness to move forward with a proposed peace deal, though sensitive points will require further negotiation with the U.S. and European allies. Reuters+2The Indian Express+2
Emmanuel Macron announces EU plan to finance Ukraine using frozen Russian assets — France and other EU countries are working on a financial support package for Ukraine, leveraging seized Russian assets to back reconstruction and security guarantees. Reuters+1
European Union (EU) pledges continued support for Ukraine with cash and weapons amid ongoing negotiations — The EU reaffirmed its commitment to helping Ukraine diplomatically, militarily, and economically even as diplomatic efforts intensify. Reuters+1
Global markets rally as investors react to geopolitical developments and central-bank signals — Markets saw gains after dovish indicators from central banks and renewed hopes for stability amid major international tensions. Reuters+1
Alibaba under pressure as China’s tech-commerce price wars overshadow AI gains — The Chinese tech giant’s aggressive spending on AI and cloud competes with losses in food-delivery and quick-commerce markets, raising investor concerns. Reuters
Shell accused by Venture Global of harming its LNG business in a years-long campaign — Amid legal disputes, Venture Global claimed Shell initiated efforts to undermine its LNG operations — highlighting tensions in global energy markets. Reuters+1
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) urges a binding agreement on nuclear safety for Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant if Ukraine-Russia deal proceeds — As peace talks advance, the UN nuclear watchdog warns that nuclear safety cooperation will be critical for any long-term settlement. The Guardian+1
NATO jets scrambled after foreign drones cross into Romanian airspace — raising regional security tensions — Reports of unauthorized drone incursion near Ukraine’s border triggered a NATO response, underscoring fragility in European airspace security. The Guardian+1
Major diplomatic meeting scheduled: Jean-Noel Barrot of France to meet Iran’s foreign minister over nuclear issues — Paris plans high-stakes talks on November 26 to press Iran to comply with obligations toward the IAEA and discuss broader regional concerns. Reuters+1

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Highlights of My Professional Career

In my more than 40 years of professional career, I have experienced both working rank and file, as well as supervising the work of subordinates. I have worked in four private firms and the Federal Government, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where I retired. I enjoyed the challenges and difficulties of both types of job situations. This is the highlights of my work experience story.

My first job after completing my doctorate degree was a Chemist for Chemagro Corporation in Kansas City, Missouri. It was a subsidiary of Bayer Corporation, a German conglomerate. I worked for the analytical chemistry department comprised of about fifty people; half that number was either chemists or biologists. My specific task was to develop analytical methods for the detection of pesticide residues in plant and animal tissues. I worked on my own, similar to six other bench chemists, and we all reported to the same supervisor.

The firm sponsored my visa conversion from a student to a permanent resident, and I was able to legally work and reside in the United States with my family. The company generously took care of its employees. At the end of each successful year, everyone received a 13th month salary bonus. The employees and their families celebrated wonderful annual Christmas parties in a downtown Kansas City hotel, with dancing and free drinks for the whole night.

Inasmuch as I enjoyed and loved working for Chemagro for five years, I found a new job which offered a substantially higher pay. Due to my exemplary work performance, my supervisor preferred and lobbied for me to stay with the company. I had to turn him down because they could not match the package presented by my new employer. It was also a chance for me and my family to move and live in the US west coast, where the mild winter climate is bearable compared to the Midwest.

My next job was at the agricultural research division of Shell Development Company in Modesto, California. I was a Research Chemist, and again I worked individually, same as five other chemists who all reported to a supervisor. My specific duty was similar to my previous job. I worked for them for five years, until the company decided to get out of the pesticide business. They closed their research facility affecting the jobs of more than 200 employees.

My third industrial job was with the agricultural research division of Stauffer chemical company, located in Richmond, California. I was a Senior Research Chemist doing the same project as my two previous jobs. I worked for twelve continuous years for the company, with outstanding annual job performance. I became a Principal Research Chemist, the highest attainable non-supervisory position.

One day in 1986, my supervisor informed me that my job had been eliminated, and I had one day to vacate the facility. It was the most dreadful lay off experience in my life. I felt anger, sadness and humiliation to be dismissed from work with one day notice, after all the years of hard work invested for the company. This was an unforgettable incident and was the gloomiest point in my professional career.
The company terminated sixty research employees, who were upset of the bad news.

One of the chemists was distressed and expressed his outrageous anger by threatening the company and its workers. He told his supervisor of his intention to bomb and burn down the laboratory. He was immediately escorted by the security staff out of the building and into his car. He was informed to leave behind his personal belongings; they will be mailed to his residence. He was warned never to show up again near the company premises or risk getting arrested.

My supervisor was kind and allowed me to take my time to pack up my belongings. It took me two days to clear up my workplace, after toiling for a long period in the same jobsite. We were provided clerical help and office space, in preparation to look for another job, such as updating our resumes, and using the computer and copy machine. We were given six weeks of separation pay plus benefits.

Fortunately, with the help of a friend who is a Church parishioner, I found another job thirty days after leaving Stauffer chemical company. He hired me as a senior research chemist and as a group leader with two technicians to supervise. It was in the same field as my expertise in my previous three jobs spanning the last twenty one years. My new employer was Chevron Chemical Company, and which was located in the same area as my former employer.

This job gave me the introduction and basic knowledge of managing the work of subordinates. I worked for Chevron Company for four and a half years. The company decided to consolidate their research facilities in Texas, and lay off all its research employees. This time I had enough distress and agony from working, and eventually getting laid off from several private companies. To avoid going through any more miserable layoffs, I made a vow that I would never again work for a private company.

In my work experiences, there were noticeable and unavoidable jobsite occurrences. One can never miss the office romantic relationships between co-workers, both illicit and permitted. Though it was frowned upon, there was a boss and staff relationship, which was used as a ploy to get ahead in the company. Some relationships had chemistry, no pun intended, but some never worked out. Oftentimes, there was a sense of distrust among bench chemists for some workers who unjustly obtained preferred work assignments.

Some employees resorted to bribing superiors to get special privileges, such as being able to attend choice conferences and meetings in exciting venues or locations. Likewise, politics was always present at the worksites. It was during an era when various forms of harassment, equal opportunity and discrimination laws were not yet enforced in the workplace. Occasionally, an unexpected chemical explosion happens in a laboratory setting, where luckily no one got seriously hurt.

In the three private companies I worked for, I was able to publish scientific journals for some of the research studies and analytical methods which I developed for the respective companies of Chemagro, Shell Development and Stauffer.

After deciding and making a vow to avoid working in the private sector, I made my new goal which was either to work for the state of California, or the Federal government in Washington, D.C. Four months after I lost my job in Chevron, I was lucky and joyful to be hired by the Food and Drug Administration as a review chemist in the fall of 1990.

In 1994 I was promoted as an Expert Research Chemist with a GS-14 rating. My expertise was on Anti-malarial and Anti-parasitic drug products. In 1997, I was again deservingly promoted to Chemistry team leader, supervising the work of six Chemistry reviewers including five with doctorate degrees.

As team leader, I was responsible for prioritizing, assigning, and assuring the technical accuracy of all chemistry, manufacturing and control issues for all new drug applications submitted to the Division of Anti-Infective Drug Products, Center of New Drugs.

It was part of my responsibility to give advice, instruct and promote high morale and teamwork in my group. My work in the FDA is confidential, until the drug patent on the products I worked on has expired. There are manufacturing supplements that I have approved that are now open for the public in the Internet.

In 1998, I won the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Award. The citation reads, “For outstanding accomplishments in fostering the objectives of the EEO Program by hiring minorities and encouraging their professional growth while providing excellent leadership.” I have received numerous certificates of appreciation, awards in leadership and communications, commendation for teamwork and excellence in the accomplishment of the FDA mission. I have also received several letters of appreciation from private industry for my review work.

There are many good things working as rank and file while enjoying doing one’s job individually. It is a humbling, satisfying and productive experience, if one can work in harmony with one’s immediate supervisor. Working individually develops one’s skills in goal setting and scheduling. But in general, the financial rewards are less than a person who has supervisory responsibilities.

Managing the work of others has its challenges. Moreover, it develops one’s skill in handling and developing people, and the compensation rewards and benefits are better. Due to additional duties, responsibilities and leadership, supervisory work can be more stressful than working as a subordinate. However, supervisory jobs give one more personal growth and satisfaction, based on my personal experience. My work in FDA as a team leader managing the work of six scientists had been the happiest and rewarding work experience in my career in Chemistry. You might also like:

Wednesday, November 26, 2025

How Long is a Moment? Tea and Trivia at THD

This blog is inspired from our recent Tea and Trivia Activity💚 here at THD. One of the 15 questions, we have to answer was:

How Long Is a Moment? My Personal Reflections!

Finally the Top Global News (Nov 26, 2025)

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