On today's calendar...

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. David Taylor CTS event (David Taylor Customer Abuse center)

Tuesday planning meeting(s)

As I've moved forward here these last few weeks, I've been reflecting on what I do well, and what I enjoy doing, and what would be required to make that all come together for myself in the next year.

I've also been looking at the things I get involved in that don't support me, and that make me feel unsuccessful.

So, more from column "A" and fewer from column "B," clearly.

Two great meetings already today to advance that formula. More good stuff going on today as well.

And, I think Judy is buying the Christmas tree train. Good thing, since it's in the back seat of the car again.

This morning, my power went out for about three minutes. Again. Makes me crazy. I walked outside as soon as it went off - it was about 6:50 this morning. The neighbor's power was still on. I guess this means I probably have a breaker box issue. The power goes out about every fifth day for long enough to reset all the digital clocks.

Now, a quick update on office conditions:

* I used the suggestion of the guy from whom I bought the desk and applied Old English yesterday, as I mentioned. This morning, the vapors were still strong.
* Today, I used orange oil and the vapors were visible.
* A client came in, wearing the perfume counter from Dillard's. She closed the door.
* I have a headache.
* My furniture looks great
* Now I want the Rocketeer poster framed and on the wall PRONTO

And I need better chairs.

Nathan (from eons ago) contacted me today. I haven't heard from him since .. 2002. Or early 2003. I don't know. He's probably in the blog archive.

I'm either nuked on the vapors in here, or tired. Or both. A heavy evening in front of me still, too.

Monday, Monday ver. 1201.01 - Veteran's Day Edition!

We'll start with some good ol' Republican sentiment on military preparedness and weapons accumulation.

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals. It is some fifty miles of concrete pavement. We pay for a single fighter plane with a half million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people. This is, I repeat, the best way of life to be found on the road the world has been taking. This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron. […] Is there no other way the world may live?

–Dwight David Eisenhower, “The Chance for Peace,” speech given to the American Society of Newspaper Editors, Apr. 16, 1953.

Things are crazed here today. People are carrying on like it's a party or something. I did get the desk Old English'ed and it looks fabulous, but I'm daffy on the fumes.

I had lunch with Joseph. Oh, my God. It's been eight years since I've seen him.

I've made my calls, and it's time to go pick up the mail, gas up the car and drive home. Once there, I am going to work on the front garden "patch" some, and see about cleaning the floors.

Inspiration

Last night, in the middle of a date that was so abhorrent that it reminded me of my date with the guy Madeline set me up with back in 1988, when the guy grabbed me across the front seat of his blue Cadillac and tried to mug down on me, I saw the movie "Michael Clayton."

The move was awesome. George Clooney's character is a "fixer," a jack of all trades who is an expert in many areas and can resolve nearly any situation.

I loved his haircut. And his black Mercedes S550. And his clothing. And his demeanor.

I talked to Rosita about it today, and we decided to go watch the movie together next weekend.

John informed me on Friday that Joseph is wanting to come back to work with us. Joseph.

Joseph.

Holy cow.

I just am sort of speechless.

I have to work on so many things tomorrow; it's a Federal holiday. I'm not sure who all is coming into the office tomorrow. Hopefully, there will be very little traffic.

I found a Corby Pant press online here in town this weekend - I've wanted one for YEARS. I'm going to meet up with him on Tuesday to buy it.

I actually got the dead water heater out of the attic. I got all of the Christmas, Halloween, gift wrapping and other nonsense organized into Rubbermaid tubs. I got all of the client records bagged up in sealed plastic and up into the attic, giving me a lot more room downstairs. I got Christmas set out in the dining room, which made Bram very happy. Next weekend, I'd really like to get some touch up painting done. And some carpet shampooing. And floor cleaning.

I ordered a new rechargeable flashlight for the car that's just like the one that VW equipped the Phaeton with. And, I ordered some Fabulair t-shirts, as they were on sale at 20% off the base price.

Yippie!

Busy busy week this week.