Hey Joe

The magical mystery tour is coming to take you away

Friday – July 31, 2009 - All around me today I hear the pull and tear of packing tape; boxes being sealed and readied for shipping to Chicago, the August 3 start date practically upon us. All those who have chosen to relocate have either gone or are currently saying their good-byes. I have mixed emotions about it. I'm not one who normally handles change very well, and I've been experiencing a lot of it lately. Some people I will miss, most though in all honesty, I won't. I haven't made a lot of friends here. Ours has not been a very social group. The ex-pats tend to keep to themselves and each other, the misanthropes just to themselves. Largely it's a socially inept group, and it's been difficult for a social jackass like me not to have many fellow asses with which to hang.

It was this corporate culture that played a part in my decision not to relocate. For me, a big part of being "in love" with a job or a company is the people. I've had jobs that I've hated and yet enjoyed my co-workers, which kept me around longer than was healthy. This wasn't one of those companies, and while there were many reasons I chose not to go, my lack of love for the vibe was a large and definite factor. I'm extremely grateful – let me repeat that, I am extremely grateful - that I was given the opportunity to break into a new field, particularly at my somewhat advanced age. Writing and communications beats insurance adjusting all to hell, and I pray that I can land a similar gig and continue to improve my skills and my income. But I've known for awhile that "the company" and I would not be celebrating any tin or aluminum anniversaries. While I'd hoped to at least get wood, (hee) I've been forced to settle for leather. Such is life.

So there's supposed to be some sort of local, impromptu reunion for Lisa's high school grad class tonight a local watering hole. Actually it's for the class before hers, but the word has been passed around to others as well. Anyway, we'll likely drop by and check it out, have a drink and check out the inevitable train wrecks. Good times.

Have a swell weekend.

Aging gracefully

Birthday beers at Mudville.

Joe looking sweet – kicking it in his $8.00 Raley's hat.

Lisa just looking sweet.

Blogging au naturale

In honor of my birthday I am writing this post – and will spend the rest of my day – in the way God sent me into this world.

My apologies in advance to the more weak-stomached of my co-workers.

You like hair with your pie?

So yesterday, with the "official" closure of our office looming at week's end, we were served up the equivalent of the condemned man's last meal; the farewell office lunch. Pizza was consumed, and a few farewell, "thanks for the memories," speeches were delivered. I ate pizza and kept my mouth shut, except for when I unintentionally outed a friend of mine.

Just another boring office lunch.

Welcome to God’s Tree House. Watch that first step - it's a DOOZY.

New post up at UpTake. Go check it out. Now. NOW. What are you waiting for?

Step right up, there’s a winner every time

So as I mentioned, last night we took the kids to Circus Circus and Lisa to Staples. Actually, I should say Lisa took US to Circus Circus and Staples because my neck has been freakin' killing me for the past 24-hours so I've been letting her do the driving. I've been OD'ing on Motrin and yet, still my neck hurts.

Anyway, we went to C.C. Here's a picture of Lisa after she won the 200 ticket jackpot (the equivalent of the $1,000,000 prize) playing a video game version of Deal or No Deal.

JUST LIKE THE REAL THING, except without that annoying, and now creepily bald, Howie Mandel. You do get the "briefcase models," complete with either an excited or disappointed expression.

Here's the boy after winning a 450 ticket jackpot on some sort of virtual jump rope game, and on the first try too.

Never could duplicate his success, but he did give it at least a dozen more tries. Seriously.

See?

Big hearted kid that he is, he gave the bulk of his tickets to his sister so that she could get a stuffed bear that was apparently making a eyes at her from the shelf of the prize booth. The boy got himself a yo-yo and an assortment of other junk that's probably already either broken or lost.

Yours truly left with a case of second-hand Emphysema, so we ALL got a little something to remember our visit. That's what we in Corporate America like to call a WIN-WIN. We also like to "reach out," "dialogue" and "utilize," but I will not bore you with talk of work. Hey, I'm on vacation!

Blogging with sand in my crack

So it's Tuesday and we're currently enjoying the pine scented breeze and the sandy shores of Lake Tahoe. The above picture was taken just this morning, so that it would be almost like being there. Can you feel the warm sand under your feet, the cold drink in your hand? No? That's a shame, truly.

Anyway, we've been here since Saturday and we're having a swell time, thanks, though I do wish I was getting a little more time to read. I know, can you believe it? But the boy has just been go, go, going.

"Dad, come swim with me."

"Dad lets skip rocks."

"Dad lets jump off the dock."

Well the boy and the fact that I left my book at the house today. Idiot!

It's about 5:15 PM. I think we're going to bolt some dinner and take the kids over to Circus Circus. Lisa has been pushing to go to Reno since we got here, ostensibly for the kid, but by coincidence Staples is currently have its 1-cent sale, and with school starting up soon, well she gets kind of excited about those sales.

On Thursday, KC and Jenny and family are coming up. As KC said, I think we can expect them to "kick things up a notch." Should be fun.

Almost forgot – new post up at UpTake. Go check it out.

R.I.P. – Frank McCourt

Frank McCourt

1930 - 2009

Bestselling author, Frank McCourt, died today in a Manhattan hospice from M&M. McCourt had been battling both meningitis and melanoma, the latter of which finally did him in.

McCourt is best known for his Pulitzer Prize winning autobiographical novel, Angela's Ashes. The novel details McCourt's terribly impoverished childhood in Ireland.

See ya suckers

R.I.P. - Walter Cronkite

 

Walter Cronkite

1916 - 2009

I'm sorry to report that veteran newsman Walter Cronkite, and yet another piece of my childhood, has passed away in Manhattan at the age of 92. The cause was reported as cerebral vascular disease.

Cronkite came to be known as "the most trusted man in America," while anchoring the CBS Evening News from 1962 to 1981.

And that's the way it is, Friday July 17, 2009.