Let me preface by saying that the supernatural really spooks me. I don't read horoscopes, I don't like to watch movies about psychics , hell, I am even scared of reading fortune cookies. It's probably the catholic upbringing and all of the stories about the devil.
I remember when I saw The Exorcist the first time. I was in Hobbs, N.M. on a business trip. I was staying at a Holiday Inn downtown and walked to the local theater. After the movie, I ran back to my hotel room, chanting "Hail Marys" and slept with all of the lights on in the room.
Well yesterday while I was at work at one of my pool customers, I lost my balance and fell down a couple of steps. I am usually very cautious but it was just "something" that caused me to fall.
After picking myself up and checking for any broken bones and wiping off a little blood, I resumed working. A few minutes later, I got a call from the person who promised to love, honor and bandage my wounds and what she told me just about sent me to the closest church.
At the exact same moment, Pattye was moving some boxes and she fell over backwards for some unexplained reason. She wasn't injured but just couldn't understand why it happened.
When I told her about my fall she said maybe she was trying to catch me.
Coincidence? I don't think so.
My crazy imagination? Probably not.
That special bond between people that causes them to think the same thoughts? You tell me.
It didn't scare me enough to start wearing garlic around my neck, but it reinforced those thoughts about not reading fortune cookies.
Man..........I hate when that happens
Aug 8, 2005
"Punctuation, Vocabulary, Syntax and My Worst Fear"
Hey, I've been through a lot. Maybe not as much as some of you, but a lot. War, death, marriage, divorce, IRS audit. You name it, I've been there.
But my scariest time came this morning when I opened my e-mail. I had a note from my highschool English teacher. SHE HAD READ MY BLOG!.
She didn't say it was good, she didn't say it was bad. There were no red marks correcting my spelling. No comments to the side of the page saying, "What do you mean by this?" No asking me if I had really read the book or was I using Cliff Notes.
I knew when I started this new blogging adventure there would be times that I wished I hadn't daydreamed in English class. Actually, it was one of my favorites subjects.
English, or rather Shakespearean English, was the only class I received an "A" in college. Well, I did get a "A" in Air Force ROTC, but that doesn't count.
I'll let the teacher go nameless, but I have to give credit to her for finding the hidden trait in my complex nature that has allowed me to put words on paper, or at least your monitor.
As some of you know, I am on a new mission.
I have had a life long dream to put the adventures I have had, tell about the people I have met, and release the dreams locked in my brain into a novel. I have the opening line and several pages already knocked out. It seems easier than I thought. We'll see when it gets into the copy editor's hands.
Is all of this the result of a dedicated English teacher who had the patience to put up with my smart- ass attitude?
She did make the comment in her e-mail which related to my profile on this blog page. She said I did have an opinion about everything back then also.
So here's to the ones who have made me what I am today. Here's to the people who thought this aimless youth might just might make a name for himself. Here's to the believers.
I'm richer beyond your wildest dreams. I have more treasures than the wealthiest sultans. I own the world. Not monetary goods, but imagination. For I have an imagination that allows me to travel the universe and I have the ability to tell others about it. All of this because I have friends who trusted in me and believed in me and who have had the patience to teach me how to communicate.
My thanks.
But my scariest time came this morning when I opened my e-mail. I had a note from my highschool English teacher. SHE HAD READ MY BLOG!.
She didn't say it was good, she didn't say it was bad. There were no red marks correcting my spelling. No comments to the side of the page saying, "What do you mean by this?" No asking me if I had really read the book or was I using Cliff Notes.
I knew when I started this new blogging adventure there would be times that I wished I hadn't daydreamed in English class. Actually, it was one of my favorites subjects.
English, or rather Shakespearean English, was the only class I received an "A" in college. Well, I did get a "A" in Air Force ROTC, but that doesn't count.
I'll let the teacher go nameless, but I have to give credit to her for finding the hidden trait in my complex nature that has allowed me to put words on paper, or at least your monitor.
As some of you know, I am on a new mission.
I have had a life long dream to put the adventures I have had, tell about the people I have met, and release the dreams locked in my brain into a novel. I have the opening line and several pages already knocked out. It seems easier than I thought. We'll see when it gets into the copy editor's hands.
Is all of this the result of a dedicated English teacher who had the patience to put up with my smart- ass attitude?
She did make the comment in her e-mail which related to my profile on this blog page. She said I did have an opinion about everything back then also.
So here's to the ones who have made me what I am today. Here's to the people who thought this aimless youth might just might make a name for himself. Here's to the believers.
I'm richer beyond your wildest dreams. I have more treasures than the wealthiest sultans. I own the world. Not monetary goods, but imagination. For I have an imagination that allows me to travel the universe and I have the ability to tell others about it. All of this because I have friends who trusted in me and believed in me and who have had the patience to teach me how to communicate.
My thanks.
Aug 2, 2005
"When Marriages Go Wrong"
I'm sorry to inform all of you by way of this blog, but Pattye has filed for divorce. She said that she has given everything that she could to try and make the marriage work, but she just got tired of banging her head against the wall day in and day out, and things just seemed to get worse.
She's not bitter. Although I am.
She knows that she has always been honest. She has never cheated. She has never lied.
She and I have both worked at it day and night for over 10 years.
She says she had her good times and has no regrets.
She wants to remain friends but I don't.
She has a lot of memories and memorabilia and has made a lot of friends during the marriage.
She just wants to go on with her life.
She wants a new beginning. Me too.
Times change and what seemed like a great marriage at one point in time, suddenly finds you unable to speak with each other.
Everything becomes an adversarial relationship.
She has received some notes from people and has been told that she is making the right decision.
They wish they had the courage to do what she has done.
But I know she'll survive.
I know that she will be a happier person and get to enjoy a life that she richly deserves.
And, I know I'll be right beside her all of the time.
............Oh, she's not getting the divorce from me. No, I hope I didn't confuse you.
Pattye has decided to leave the Dallas Morning News.
Her relationship will end on a professional note.
She doesn't want me to voice my anger in this blog and I will respect her wishes.
She will always remain a honest, dedicated and forgiving person.
I wish I could say the same for myself. I am honest and dedicated but no, I can't forgive. I guess I don't have the character that she does.
She's the best.
She's not bitter. Although I am.
She knows that she has always been honest. She has never cheated. She has never lied.
She and I have both worked at it day and night for over 10 years.
She says she had her good times and has no regrets.
She wants to remain friends but I don't.
She has a lot of memories and memorabilia and has made a lot of friends during the marriage.
She just wants to go on with her life.
She wants a new beginning. Me too.
Times change and what seemed like a great marriage at one point in time, suddenly finds you unable to speak with each other.
Everything becomes an adversarial relationship.
She has received some notes from people and has been told that she is making the right decision.
They wish they had the courage to do what she has done.
But I know she'll survive.
I know that she will be a happier person and get to enjoy a life that she richly deserves.
And, I know I'll be right beside her all of the time.
............Oh, she's not getting the divorce from me. No, I hope I didn't confuse you.
Pattye has decided to leave the Dallas Morning News.
Her relationship will end on a professional note.
She doesn't want me to voice my anger in this blog and I will respect her wishes.
She will always remain a honest, dedicated and forgiving person.
I wish I could say the same for myself. I am honest and dedicated but no, I can't forgive. I guess I don't have the character that she does.
She's the best.
Jul 19, 2005
"Another crossroads in time"
At times like these I feel like I am the luckiest man alive. The person who promised to love, honor and help me make decisions and I are discussing whether to choose another path in our continued search for life's enjoyments.
As the work environment continually changes we find ourselves either needing to adapt and compromise our integrity or choose a different source for income for our next couple of decades.
Fortunately, we both are hard-working and intelligent enough that whatever decision we make shouldn't have much of an economic impact should we decide to seek out another challenge.
My first choice would be to seclude myself and write that "Great American Novel". That has actually been suggested by Pattye, much to my surprise. Okay, anyone out there care to give me about a $100,000 advance?
Didn't think so.
Next, I have made a proposal to a certain individual to become his property manager and manage his estate while he involves himself in his celebrity career and numerous travels. Should that endeavor come to fruition our next set of choices becomes very desirable.
As some of you know, we have been developing a consignment business, Gathering Eggs .
Pattye would like nothing more than to spend her days buying and selling vintage and new collectibles. She has gotten the buying part down real well as evidenced by the daily arrival of new inventory and the selling part is coming into its own.
We recently made a commitment to expand our operation and decided to have one more sit-down together before we embarked on this project. The next morning after our discussion, we found that we had one of the best days so far in sales. Hmmmmm, I hope that is a good sign.
My biggest desire is for the chance to cut our workload to about 60 hours a week. No, I'm not exaggerating. That is about what we both put into our present situation. That's 60 hours each!
I long for the day when we can actually take a week-end off and travel to find more treasures to provide to the public, ( at a comfortable mark-up of course).
And yes, we could actually spend a Thanksgiving or Christmas without getting up at midnight.
Hey, I'm not complaining. We made the choice to do what we have been doing for the last 15 years, but the time has come to reassess our decision and do what is best for us, not for the one-sided thinking corporate structure.
And we always have our old faithful, Blue Sky Pools. And we have Free Obits . And we have accepting an offer with UPS . And working out of the house for American Airlines .
So don't be dismayed. We aren't.
We are thrilled that we have a chance in this great country of ours to do whatever we choose. All it takes is hard work and a little bit of intelligence and you can be successful. We have proven that time and time again.
So that's why I am the luckiest man alive. I have choices, I have friends, I have good health and I have a willingness to work hard. Doesn't get any better than this.
Now, about that advance, would you settle for maybe $50,000?
As the work environment continually changes we find ourselves either needing to adapt and compromise our integrity or choose a different source for income for our next couple of decades.
Fortunately, we both are hard-working and intelligent enough that whatever decision we make shouldn't have much of an economic impact should we decide to seek out another challenge.
My first choice would be to seclude myself and write that "Great American Novel". That has actually been suggested by Pattye, much to my surprise. Okay, anyone out there care to give me about a $100,000 advance?
Didn't think so.
Next, I have made a proposal to a certain individual to become his property manager and manage his estate while he involves himself in his celebrity career and numerous travels. Should that endeavor come to fruition our next set of choices becomes very desirable.
As some of you know, we have been developing a consignment business, Gathering Eggs .
Pattye would like nothing more than to spend her days buying and selling vintage and new collectibles. She has gotten the buying part down real well as evidenced by the daily arrival of new inventory and the selling part is coming into its own.
We recently made a commitment to expand our operation and decided to have one more sit-down together before we embarked on this project. The next morning after our discussion, we found that we had one of the best days so far in sales. Hmmmmm, I hope that is a good sign.
My biggest desire is for the chance to cut our workload to about 60 hours a week. No, I'm not exaggerating. That is about what we both put into our present situation. That's 60 hours each!
I long for the day when we can actually take a week-end off and travel to find more treasures to provide to the public, ( at a comfortable mark-up of course).
And yes, we could actually spend a Thanksgiving or Christmas without getting up at midnight.
Hey, I'm not complaining. We made the choice to do what we have been doing for the last 15 years, but the time has come to reassess our decision and do what is best for us, not for the one-sided thinking corporate structure.
And we always have our old faithful, Blue Sky Pools. And we have Free Obits . And we have accepting an offer with UPS . And working out of the house for American Airlines .
So don't be dismayed. We aren't.
We are thrilled that we have a chance in this great country of ours to do whatever we choose. All it takes is hard work and a little bit of intelligence and you can be successful. We have proven that time and time again.
So that's why I am the luckiest man alive. I have choices, I have friends, I have good health and I have a willingness to work hard. Doesn't get any better than this.
Now, about that advance, would you settle for maybe $50,000?
Jul 11, 2005
That sixth sense, with a little added technology"
How did our parents seem to have a sixth sense about them and knew where we had been and what we were doing particularly when we were doing something wrong? I mean other than the tell-tale signs of muddy shoes from the river bottom, or the aroma of cigarette smoke we tried to hide with Sen Sens , or as we got older the smear of pancake makeup on our collar.
My mother had this way of trying to get a whiff of my breath as I would come home, late as usual, on a Saturday night after drinking a couple of quarts of beer with my buddies during my hell-raising highschool days. I always got busted so I immediately admitted to having just a sip while my eyes tried to focus and my stomach churned waiting to expunge the contents of my evening's escapades.
The didn't have caller ID, they didn't have GPS, they didn't have eyes in the back of their head, although we often suspected that to be true. But they did have that sixth sense about them. They knew. And, it was that scary feeling that usually kept me somewhat along the straight and narrow path.
These days teenagers don't have a chance. With pagers and cell phones and picture phones, Mom and Pop can find their kids immediately. One companyTeen Arrive Alive can track your steps within 20 ft. of your location with GPS satellites. Even your dog can't wander off in the middle of the night without your finding him with new "chips" that can placed in their collar from Pet Finder
All this techno stuff I'm sure has a "back door" that can allow someone to cover their tracks. Even though you think you are getting away with something, you're probably going to get caught.
So the best advice that I can give you is: "If you don't want to get caught, then don't do it. Or at least wear clean underwear because people can see right through you".
My mother had this way of trying to get a whiff of my breath as I would come home, late as usual, on a Saturday night after drinking a couple of quarts of beer with my buddies during my hell-raising highschool days. I always got busted so I immediately admitted to having just a sip while my eyes tried to focus and my stomach churned waiting to expunge the contents of my evening's escapades.
The didn't have caller ID, they didn't have GPS, they didn't have eyes in the back of their head, although we often suspected that to be true. But they did have that sixth sense about them. They knew. And, it was that scary feeling that usually kept me somewhat along the straight and narrow path.
These days teenagers don't have a chance. With pagers and cell phones and picture phones, Mom and Pop can find their kids immediately. One companyTeen Arrive Alive can track your steps within 20 ft. of your location with GPS satellites. Even your dog can't wander off in the middle of the night without your finding him with new "chips" that can placed in their collar from Pet Finder
All this techno stuff I'm sure has a "back door" that can allow someone to cover their tracks. Even though you think you are getting away with something, you're probably going to get caught.
So the best advice that I can give you is: "If you don't want to get caught, then don't do it. Or at least wear clean underwear because people can see right through you".
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