Down On Ferry Farm

Several years ago I was given a key fob with the company name on it. It's about the size of a 50-cent piece and twice as thick. I added it to my keyring and really hadn't thought about it much since then. It was just there. Today I went to the office to put in the backup tapes. I pulled the keys out of my pocket to unlock the front door. When I did, I dropped the keys on the ground and this key fob broke away from the keyring. I looked at it to see if I could put it back together but it was put together with a small screw that got pulled apart. There was no putting it back together. "Prophetic", I said quietly as I dropped the token in my pocket. Just thought I'd share that.

I remember years ago I was tasked with going to visit our 'sister' company up in New Jersey. It was the first time I would ride in a taxi by myself. Anyhow, I try to get a taxi driver to take me where I'm going and he says I need to see the 'captain'. Basically what happens is that the captain assigns a cab to each passenger. So I check in and he writes something down on a slip of paper and hands it to me. He shouts out something to the first driver in line and the driver walks over. He takes my luggage (one piece) and puts it in the trunk of his cab. I hop in and we take off from the airport. I haven't uttered a word to this man. As he turns the engine over his radio comes on. It is playing the vocal restrains of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Now, you wouldn't be able to tell by looking at me, but I'm a big LBM fan. I learned about them during the making of Paul Simon's "Graceland". It was Mr Simon's thumbing-his-nose-at-the-government reco

I went for a 2nd interview with this 'new' company today. I was offered the job. I told him I'd have to think about it. You know, there's something to be said for the safety and security of a job. When you walk in the door and everyone knows you -- and you know everyone. When someone explains their problems and you know the answer. There's comfort in that. I probably screwed myself the most by talking to my boss about it. She didn't really put up much of a fight, I must say. She left it up to me to decide. I told her that I was talking to her about it as a courtesy... I could have just handed in my resignation and said 'buh-bye'. But I didn't. "Where's your head at?", she asked me. I told her I didn't know -- which was the truth. I wane back and forth. The biggest problem with my current job is that I've been there so long I've seen the same problems come and go -- along with some really good people. I'm tired of solving

Dear Water, It was not too long ago that I was singing your praises. Why would you leave me? Imagine my surprise when I woke up this morning to find there was no water pumping to my house. I called the city's emergency contact number to be almost disrespected by the gentleman on the other end. He almost accused me of not paying my bill! It gets better: I had to drive to the courthouse area to get the issue resolved. When the lady confirmed my address, I told her the address she just read out was one street over -- with the same house number. Oh, water... you know I'd never do anything to make you leave me again. I realize it took them several hours to get back out to my house and join us up again but I never want you to leave me again. Okay?

I recently got back from a trip to one of our other remote offices. And when I say 'remote' I mean 'remote'. It's way up in the hills -- away from everything. There is no cell phone reception to be had (even by the locals). Anyhow, the trip out there requires not one, but two flights. The first flight from home went pretty well... nice big place and very little turbulence. It's that OTHER flight that's a killer. I used to like to fly. I couldn't wait to get on a plane. But now, it's all I can do to hang on. That second flight is a much smaller plane and you can feel every cloud that wafts by. DubDub has been very attentive recently. I'm not sure why. We went out to lunch yesterday and we ended up at my house for a little, uh... 'dessert'? Again, shocked the hell out of me. Work, in general, continues to be busy and a struggle. We have one particular client that is getting on everyone's nerves. He tries to call up and pull people out o

Well, it’s been a few months since I announced my “take 7 risks” campaign. It’s now May and I’ve just taken my first one. I did something today that I haven’t done in almost 17 years – I went on a job interview. I told the folks at work I had an appointment and that I’d be back sometime after lunch. Easy squeezy. The guy who would be my boss, if hired, gave me the interview. He seemed nice enough even though it would appear he’s under a lot of stress. He talked for a while about the company, its subsidaries and how everything all fits together. He had me fill out an application (my hands were still shaking from the nervousness I could barely write). He left me alone to fill out the paperwork and then came back when I was about halfway done. We started talking some more and then I finished the paperwork. He then took me on a tour of the facilities that were in the same complex. We toured the first building and then walked across the parking lot to the second. It was good – I don’t recal

Hour 1: You've been awake for an hour now and you're feeling okay. There is still sleep in your eyes but you know it will wear off soon. Energy = 2. Hour 2: After a nice hot shower, you're feeling pretty good. Eat some breakfast and you're feeling even better. You almost feel like you're gonna make it. Energy = 4. Hour 3: Adrenaline is now starting to kick in. When it subsides, you refresh it with some caffeine. You're really cooking now. Energy = 6. Hour 4: You've now begun whatever it is you've set out to do. You're in the throes of action and your body is humming right along. Whatever it is, you can handle it. Energy = 8. Hour 5: Hour 4 is now a distant memory and you wish you had that energy back. Your psyche is beating you like a rented mule and you wish people would stop bothering you. Why is that freakin' phone ringing again? Energy = 7. Hour 6: Where the hell is my secretary? Oh, I don't have a secretary. You're in big trouble now