Heart With No Companion

I think I have stated before that ma chère and I use just about every technology available to stay connected. We have "land lines", mobile phones, web-cams, instant messaging, text messaging, blogs, even the occasional letter and card (I know, how quaint). I use these tools to stay in touch with just about everyone now days. As the commercial suggests, I am living in "Saint Quenver Milhattan". Welcome to my network.

I am getting to the point, however, where phone, web-cams, IM and SMS isn't enough. Virtualization is great, do not get me wrong. It does provide quick and near real-time communication with my family and friends. However, it is "virtual", a similarity of reality. I am losing my patience in pretending it is enough to stay connected this way. Eventually, I long for a face to face conversation with a kindred spirit. To touch, to smell, to relish in the other senses beyond sight and hearing.

The Ps try to help, bless them. But, I really cannot feed my need for companionship from them. My job is to be familiar, not family. They are wonderful people. I could hang with them for a long time. However, as long as I am their employee I cannot cross that boundary. That boundary is there for both parties' protection.

Title by Leonard Cohen

Long Time Comin'

I FINALLY hired 2 housekeepers. They both start this week. I really hope these two work out. It has taken 4 agencies, over 40 interviews, 10 weeks and 1 false start to get to this point.

Title by Bruce Springsteen

Early in the Morning

Some of you might be wondering what a day in the house is like. These are some of the Daily Tasks the staff must do each and everyday.

6:30 - 7:00 Breakfast prep and service for early risers
7:30 Walk the dogs
7:45 Feed the dogs
8:00 - 8:30 Breakfast prep and service for Mr. P
9:00 Walk the grounds
10:00 Clean coffee service
11:00 Confirm lunch plans
12:00 Walk the dogs
12:30 - 1:00 Lunch prep and service (if required)
4:00 Confirm dinner plans
4:30 Feed the dogs
5:00 Walk the dogs
5:15 - 7:00 Dinner prep and service (if required)
7:00 Take the trash out, close the gates
9:30 Walk the dogs

The rest of the day is filled with Administration, Housekeeping, Culinary, Clothing & Laundry, Entertainment, Maintenance, Property & Grounds, Travel & Transportation, Safety and Protection and Personal Care for the Ps, their guests and pets.

For instance, I market for each property once or twice a week (culinary). House bills are recorded and paid once per week or more (administration). The houseman is tasked with priority projects once per week (maintenance). You get the point.

Title by Robert Palmer

Thank You

Ma Chère,

I don't know the last time I stopped to say thank you.

Thank you for being my best companion through all our crazy paths.

Thank you for our wonderful children. Their love for you, their talents and their faith are all testaments to you, to your love and to your many many sacrifices.

Thank you for standing tall, shoulders back and facing our challenges not with a "why me?" but rather with a "how do?" attitude.

I love you for so many reasons in so many ways. You are intelligent, sensitive and caring. You are beautiful.

Most of all, thank you for being my wife.

TMTT,
Mr. S

Title by Dido

American Anthem

It is Veterans' Day. It is my favorite secular holiday. Independence Day is close, but that just celebrates a single moment. Granted, it is a great moment; however, Veterans' Day is a celebration of 30 million moments of commitment. 30 million men and women that had the conviction to do what is necessary to protect that one moment 231 years ago.
God Bless You All. Thank You.
Title by Norah Jones (check out the video, it favors the Ground Pounders, but is poignant none-the-less)

Birthday

It's pouring rain and 40 degrees. I heard somewhere that, "God is in the rain." I'm not sure what that means, but it is a reassuring thought.

It reminds me of a story. A Buddhist monk was challenged by a journalist to give an example of where to find the Buddha. The monk offered in response a challenge. He asked the journalist instead show the monk where not to find the Buddha. "The Buddha is in the rain."

It is my birthday and I am drinking, alone. It is every bit not as fun as advertised. No pity party for me, though. I did have a rather fun mobile text birthday party with 4 people. Thank you Mr B, Ms S, Ms L and ma cherè. It was brief, but very enjoyable. It sounds like all the girls took the challenge to the fullest and partied well into the night.

Title by The Beatles

Finest Worksong

Changing careers is a difficult task. It is easy to think that once you have stepped on the path, the rest of the trip follows naturally. In my case, that has been mostly true. There have been, and of course will be, points where I reconsider the decision to change careers. Like just about everyone else, I ask myself if I should be working at what I am working at. I am confident that the decisions made in April are still valid.
That is not to say that there are not difficulties in my work. Some people get confused when they hear me speaking of the challenges in my day to day. It is, after all, still a job. There will be difficult times, challenges, conflict, etc.
I also have to be careful to separate the work challenges from the challenges of relocation and separation. Am I having a bad day at work because of issues there or am I carrying too much of my personal life (or severe lack of it right now) to the job with me? This question is relevant for anyone that is working; however, up until now, I have been blessed with a relatively stable personal life.

Title by R.E.M.