19th Nervous Breakdown

I must admit it is strange being in summer break with my children. It is not something you expect to do at 40. As is typical with children, it has to be on their terms. We've had a nice time just hanging out around each other. Today it was hanging out at the lake.
Based on Mrs. M's recommendation, I am reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad. The premise is that most of us do not appreciate how money really works. The premise is sound; the application of the premise is a paradigm shift. I've been reading alternative thought processes for a few years. As with a lot of philosophies, you have to take from it what you can apply. I will see how much of the ideas I can apply to myself, my family and my ideas of raising children.
There are a couple of placement opportunities in the works. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. The first opportunity is, by all descriptions, what I got into this industry for: hands-on, process improvement, relationships, travel, mature freedom. The second looks like a wonderful opportunity to help a couple with their entertainment and business needs. Both provide an excellent way to get into the industry and exciting location opportunities.
I have some other work that is keeping me busy. A few new accounts at GBL Software and another idea of my own. Next week, I will have to return to reality and start the temporary position job hunt. I will start in Milwaukee; I can expand from there if things get dire.
I will miss working on the deck up north in cargo shorts & Merrell's with a Blue Moon. Working on a tan and swimming with the kids, Sirius Alt Nation 21 as the soundtrack for the summer and hacking for 8-10 hours a day. Someone is going to show up with the reality train, any minute now. In the meantime, "Bartender, another Blue Moon."

The Back Porch

I mentioned in a previous post the "old" friends. Some have contacted me with no small amount of resentment (and a giggle and a smile). I meant the term as the highest form of compliment. These are friends that have traveled through space and time with me. They are "old" the way that favorite sweatshirt or pair of jeans are "old". I have waged wars and marched countless miles with these friends. I've already mentioned "forward" versus "straight" as a way for me to find new "old" friends.
Some may know that my music collection is modest by some measures. I had the pleasure of introducing a new "old" friend to an old story from Celestial Navigations. It is called "Back Porch". If you still need to understand our motivation, this story captures it in some of the most beautiful imagery I can imagine.

It seems like another person lived that life a great many years ago from now

If you are wondering what summers are like for ma chère and the Things, ma chère posted the pictures from our summer, so far. The Things are quite the ski bums in the summer even Thing 3 gets into it. Enjoy the show.

The Soul Train

I read a book where the main character believed it took extra time for her soul to catch up to her when she traveled long distances by plane. I will give Neal Stephenson though it could have been William Gibson. I took that to heart when I read it. I have traveled just enough to appreciate the "I am not quite all here, yet" feeling I get when first arriving at a destination. Sometimes the transition is quick, but the longer trips seem to take just a bit longer. I think my soul must have hitch-hiked/back-packed back from Denver. Today, I finally started to feel whole again. I can only hope it enjoyed the trip.
Ma chère's brother, his wife and family and ma chère's sister, her husband and family are all up north this weekend. Despite the trip we took to Twilight last night leaving us all a bit foggy today, we worked on the cottage today for a few hours. We broke for the day around 3 due mostly to a general lack of enthusiasm. More cold weather (60-65) and rain. How's a guy supposed to get a tan?!

On the road and hanging by a song

One of the things that will challenge ma chère and me is location. I know some of you have asked. At this point, we will be keeping our options open. To be honest, though, the prospects in Milwaukee, or Wisconsin even, are rather remote. Everything depends on where the principals are living or, in the case of multiple residences, home-based. Most of the people I would be working for are on the coasts or down south.
Dear friends of ours made a move a few years ago. They determined what they as a family like to do in their free time; they found a location; then, they found employment. We might not be able to go quite that far. Right principal, right compensation, right location. That's where we stood at the beginning; it is where we still stand.
I must admit, though, that I fell in love with Colorado in general and Denver specifically. I went to Denver not really considering the "where" of where I was going. I was, obviously, focused on the "what" I was going there to do. What I found, however, is a city with a young fresh feel to it. Denver struck me as confident. It seems much less worried about its image than I am used to from mid-western cities. We will have to see where this new exposure leads us.

I'm Just a Bill, Yes, I'm Only a Bill

I am spending the better part of the day getting our accounts back in order. Of course, I have taken plenty of ADD breaks in the form of MySpace, YouTube and MTV2.
I have Ms. L to thank for reintroducing me to the joys of music videos. Just what a recovering music junkie needs, more input! At least this is cheaper than buying more CDs.
I found a sweet live version of "Fake Plastic Trees" that I set on replay until the Things complained "Dad, change the song!" I am not sure what it is about that song that makes me so happy and melancholy at the same time. Rumor has a new Radiohead out this year. It will be interesting to see how they change their sound this time around.
Anyway, the bills are no longer on the hill; they are the hill. I moved us into this career change with a bit of a backup, but we are moving through the liquid and credit assets rather quickly. Believe ALL the advice about keeping 4-6 months salary in backup. The transition can be done with less, but it only adds to the stress. Instead of looking at an opportunity with objectivity, you might find yourself worrying whether it is the last offer for a few weeks and getting hungry. My advice, stick to your guns; it has to feel right, and then worry about the compensation.
On that note, the placement team is looking at some opportunities. Nothing will likely move this week, but things should start moving next week.

What's In A Line

I woke up this morning thinking about more lines from Training. Here, for my fellow students are some of our regulars.

• "I said FRENCH!!"
  
• "Get in the ~!@#@$ VAN!"
  
• "Are you still (Morman), (allergic to soy), (lactose intolerant), (a nanny)?"
  
• "Get my chews, my chirt, and my chihuahua..."
  
• "China tomorrow."
  
• "I will cut you."
  
• "FAH!"
  
• The sodomized poodle sound.
  
• Master the moment
  
• "It is what it is."
  
• "Yuummm"..."Uhnhua"..."Whorrah"
  
• Ms. EP
  

Please feel free to chime in with others. I am sure there's a bunch more.

Did It In A Minute

With formal training behind, it is now time to focus on a new position in my new career. The school provides lifetime placement services for its graduates. I intend to continue to "trust the process", at least for the time being. I have been asked for my feelings on a number of placement situations since early in June. Unfortunately, little has come about. I will be calling in Monday afternoon to see what has developed.
Money is getting tighter. I could pick up some IT contract work, if push comes to shove. Though, I really do want to leave that behind. I just might start looking for part-time work up north to cover some of our more pressing expenses. I would just as soon tend bar than do Q&A work.
It is good to be home. It will be a bit of a transition from attached single life back to family life. Add to that the silly vernacular that developed over the 8 weeks with the team (Yes, I have my chews, my chirt and my chinchilla in the chower. No, I will not cut you. Yes, she is still allergic to soy. Anyone up for "FAH"?) and fitting in gets to be a bit of a challenge. The littlest things bring on the giggles and I suddenly find that I am laughing all by myself. Nothing like absolutely no context for an inside joke to break a mood.
With today's weather in Milwaukee, I really miss Denver's low humidity. However, it does feel good to gulp lung-full after lung-full of heavy oxygen.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

These "fishbowl" experiences always stretch me so thin. It started at Deer Park Lodge when I was in college where 30 or so college students worked, ate, drank, slept at the resort for 11 weeks. Think "Dirty Dancing" without Patrick Swayze. We called it the "fishbowl". The guests would move through our lives, but we were so wrapped up in the NOW that it really mattered little.
The 8 weeks at Starkey were similar. We were so pushed and pulled by the day to day, it was easy to loose focus on what was really important. Suddenly, the parlor being out of hand-towels was cause for argument. Suddenly, someone sitting on a breakfast stool out of the way of the culinary team was disruptive just because they were there. Suddenly, the fact that the flags were not brought in before 7 p.m. was an example of someone's inability to be effective.
However, as was pointed out to us by our instructors, we persevered as a team. We, mostly, stuck together. Our differences annoying to each of us the way way your kid brother bugs you. You know you love him, but do always have to like him?
At the same time I felt myself getting "thinner". As with my DPL days, I built myself a temporary support team here. I found kindred spirits; people that despite geography and age spoke the same language with the same sarcasm and wit. Like me, these spirits drive forward, never straight. Old friends will know why. I found great joy here meeting friends that I have been chasing around the sun for many years. It is a blessing to finally catch up to them, even for a few weeks.
I miss ma chère and my boys. There are 24 grueling and cruel hours left until I have them in my arms. I am so so home-sick.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Congratulations and best wishes to the Starkey Certified Household Manager class #92!
Press-tige!

Congratulations and best wishes to the Starkey Certified Personal Assistant class #2!
Second to None!