Chapter 3

What's New

I have the strangest work hours.  I love them, but others may think is a bit strange.  I work from 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM give or take.  I got into these hours because, to make a long story short, over time I came to realize being awake during these hours reduced to almost zero, the number of migraine headaches I get.  If any of you get migraines, you know what I mean.  And an added benefit is that my team is in Poland and India.  It's like working their hours.  The whole project benefits.

In my last blog, I talked about my cruise to Aruba and Curacao.  It was definitely relaxing, and I needed it.  Interesting is that I got my first taste of Curacao liqueur.  Awesome!!!  My new best friend is the rum raisin flavor. 

I was cleaning up around the house, and I came across my day-times from twenty years ago.  It's one of those paper types you keep in a leather jacket pocket.  It looks like I may be able to tell you what I did any month for the last twenty years. Before you go through this, remember that for many years, I was a consultant in the computer business.  So much of what you'll see is following up on contract opportunities. In a sense, What's New is what's old.  Here is January for 20 years:

• 1993 -- 35 separate calls, appointments, interviews for various consulting positions.
• 1994 -- Working
• 1995 -- Working.  Attended technical training and started looking for a new home
• 1996 -- Working.  Taught a class in Lotus Notes and went to Gainesville to see my daughter at the University of Florida
• 1997 -- Celebrated Fyllis' birthday.  Fyllis is my (again a long story) life partner
• 1998 -- Working and played racket-ball twice a week (Maybe that's why I now have knee problems?)  Got a great contract with John Deere in Moline, Illinois
• 1999 -- Still at John Deere.  Started listening to classical music while working.  As I mentioned, my love of classical music has increased 100-fold since then.  It seems like the initial music was Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
• 2000 -- Flew from Times Square for the Millennium to my home in Florida and stayed for my older daughter, Adriane's wedding on Jan 16th.  Then, back to Moline on Sunday, January 23rd.
• 2001 -- Working at new contract in Dallas, Texas.  Imagine how a Philadelphia Eagles fan feels working in Dallas.  (If you don't know the rivalry, you won't know what I mean.)
• 2002 -- Attended several auctions and started making contacts for my next contract
• 2003 -- I had a procedure done that everyone over 50 should have done.  Suffice it to say that in preparation, I took a lot of laxatives.  'Nuff said.  Working at Citibank in Jacksonville.  Flew home once; took Greyhound once.
• 2004 -- Still at Citibank.  Spoke to cousins I hadn't talked to in 20 years.  After we spoke, it was clear why it was 20 years.  It will probably be another 20 years before we talk again.
• 2005 -- Several dozen contract contact and interviews.  Awarded contract in downtown Miami
• 2006 -- Working full-time at BankAtlantic
• 2007 -- Still at BankAtlantic.  Worked on my "mechanic's special" Mercedes.  Piece of junk! 
• 2008 -- Still at BankAtlantic.  Cut demo disc for our musical, State U.
• 2009 -- Still at BankAtlantic.  Went on a cruise.  Went to a shower in Tampa
• 2010 -- Still at BankAtlantic.  Spent a great deal of time trying to resolve our Homeowners' Association issues with our attorneys.  They weren't doing their job unless we "goosed" them along.
• 2011 -- Working at BankUnited.  Picking up my grandchildren every Tuesday
• 2012 -- Working back on contract.  Hosted our friends from Denmark, noted every song that I liked while listening to Internet streaming classical and jazz      

In summary, dozens of professional contacts, several contracts, 1 full time job, saw much of our magnificent USA, and had life events of a wedding and grandchildren.  It brings up an interesting point.  From now on, I will list only “important events” and be more specific about the date it occurred.

I wonder what surprises February has...

One other item for this issue -- I have decided that in January and July, I will mail all the cards for the six months that follow.  I'll note on the envelope, Open on your Birthday, or other relevant note.

Now for...

My Story

My father was a pharmacist in Coatesville, PA.  It was a true Norman Rockwell-esque pharmacy.  A soda fountain, Breyers Ice Cream, red counter swivel stools, and real 1930's Coke-style.tables and chairs.  The address was 24 North Third Avenue.  I still have the chairs.  Is the store still there?  I don't know.  I do know that I have sworn I will not go back to the area.  I don't want my wonderful memories of a long-gone simple and innocent era to be ruined by reality.

We lived in Coatesville until I was 5.  The home was on South Eleventh Avenue.  One day all the car horns were blaring.  I was frightened, until my mother calmed me down by saying, "The war is over!"  World War II had ended!

One other incident to relate -- Every kid had a pen-knife.  I was playing with mine and stuck it in a telephone pole in front of the house.  Somehow a policeman came and warned me I could make the pole fall.  I thought that was ridiculous,  but of course, I didn't tell the cop. 

Then we moved to Downingtown.  More on that in future chapters. 

Log Lines

Here is Chapter 3's log line idea.  It is actually partially true.  I won't tell you which part(s).  Check it out in loglines titled Obsession.   The log line is:

A gift from a dying friend becomes an obsession.

Feel free to contribute.  Let's see if we all can team up to create a helluva story!