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likewise. I am getting more and more judgemental in my old age. I look to the Bible, and it says, “Hey, don’t judge if you are the same way.” So here’s what is cheesing me off lately. Parents…get off your cell phone when dropping off and picking up you child. See them off to school with your full attention and greet them the same way in the afternoon. Truth in advertising…The Hoveround ads always show slender, healthy looking octogenarians riding their product. Go to wal-mart…I think those things have a weight limitation and it is being exceeded. Political extremes…I work in an industry of polar opposites. We have the hippies/road dogs who ran with Kiss on their first world tour on one side and the “Obama is killing the working man” contractors on the other. So I get an email for an organization of the latter railing on the “liberal agenda” and how I should join them at a dinner to help “stop the capitalist tide”. That really makes me want to join your group. Way to think about your audience before firing off a letter that offends half of them. As my grand pa used to say, “you better check yourself before you wreck yourself.” Internet drama… I guess until you have lawyers and job threats thrown around, you don’t understand how stupid online drama is. It just amazes me that social networking allows adults to remain 12 mentally. Don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t say to someones face…cause it will get there eventually. and now…your moment of zin… Well…I’m not going to my 20 year reunion. It’s the money really, plus the sports star has his opening day festivities for football that day. And it’s 200 miles away. So it really wasn’t feasible. Oh well. But thanks to Facebook, I have gotten in touch with most of the high school friends that meant the most to me, so I feel like the reunion would just be an excuse to show off how awesome I have become and rub that fact into the faceof every woman who turned me down in high school. And by “turned down” I mean “didn’t notice”. Plus I would have my trophy wife on my arm, which would not be fair to the men in the room. AND those guys who have come out since High School…can’t touch this. So really, just the lesbians would really not be threatened by my presence…but would be jealous that my wife doesn’t play for their team. So best I don’t go. I will miss it…Hope everyone has a good time.
1994 I was in my first apartment out of college. A little efficiency apartment in Midtown Atlanta. I was working backstage at the Alliance Theatre and loving it. I helped a friend move into a basement apartment, and he found a surprise. The former pot head tenant had left his cat…a little white/muddy colored kitten named Friday. He didn’t want/couldn’t keep the cat, so I figured, What the hell. He was skinny and eaten up with fleas. I hate fleas. His first day with me he got a bath. That’s when I found out he was mostly fur. He looked like a drowned rat and hated me for the rest of the evening. 16 years later and Friday has been a part of 2 marriages, helped raise 2 little boys, lived in 2 time zones, and set on 47, 348 laps…making friends with each of them.
He guarded Jack and Tony when he came home from the hospital.
He snuggled with any one who would let him…human, cat, or dog.
But cats can’t live for ever. Today we had to say goodbye to Friday. He had a great life…after that pothead douche canoe left him…but I’m glad he did. I love you Friday…and thank you. In Chattanooga. Last week, Tuscaloosa. Week before, Wisconsin. All those hotels were nice with big beds, but I had trouble sleeping cause I missed you. I missed the way you breath at night. I missed playing footsie with you. Mostly, I missed playing with your hair and rubbing your back. I was watching a movie today, and there was the romantic “first night” at her house. They fell asleep, and she was gone when he awoke. I remembered ours. I didn’t sleep. I lay there all night, afraid to go to sleep. Worried I would miss something you did in your sleep. A sigh. A breath. I was enamored with you. (I was also scared of your room mate.) I laid there all night, and watched the room slowly lighten with the rising sun. I did that this morning. We slept a few minutes late. I woke up, and took in the room. Different house. Different zip code. But I still try to steal those moments…when the house is asleep…the air is moving through the room…and your breathing is quite and even. You saved me and help me find myself. Not a day goes by that I don’t remember that. I’m a very lucky man because of you. I love you.
I watched “Glenngary, Glennross” while traveling last week. What a great film. Mamet is a genius. His book on acting is amazing. He sees acting as a job, not some metaphysical plane of altered consciousness crap. “If you start to believe you have become the character, you should seek professional help.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_and_False:_Heresy_and_Common_Sense_for_the_Actor Anyway, as a salesman, this film talked to me. I sale theatrical lighting, if you didn’t know. If you haven’t seen it, you should. It,s about real estate salesman. They are slimy liars. They use tactics that are barely legal. I was physically tired after watching the movie. It was a great movie, but as a salesperson, it pissed me off. I guess I am more of a consultant salesman. I want my customer to be informed and happy with the sale. I want to continue to sell to them, years down the line. Of course I want the sale, but not by any tactics. To see this very true portrayal of the sales market just hurt me. But it also reminded me that I don’t want to be those guys. The Jack Lemon character broke my heart. He’s an old salesman who is past his prime, and living on his glory days. His daughter is in the hospital. He can’t sell anything. In one scene, He stands in a phone booth in the rain talking to a customer. He is pretending to talk to his secretary and tell her to book flights to other countries. All staining by himself in this phone booth. He reminded me of a ex sales guy where I work. In his last few years he was a shadow of his former self. A hindrance to our sales team. It was sad to watch. If I ever get like that, someone please tell me. So, I have a renewed vigor in my sales. Truth and integrity. Like I have always approached it. I,ve been the customer. I know what it’s like on the other side of the check book. I won’t be the snake oil salesman. I’ll continue to be who I am, help people out, sell some lights on the way, and sleep well at night knowing I did no harm. Hey, mister, I’m only in town today and do I have a deal for you! One day only! I found out this weekend that the parent of one of Jack’s team mates had passed away. Peggy was an amazing parent. I only knew her through the ball park and a couple parties that Jack went to at their house. I wrote about one of these parties here. This also will give you a little insight about her and her son. She was in her late 60’s and had adopted D. when he was very little. Miss Peggy always cheered for Jack, or any of the other kids on the team. Even when Jack and her son weren’t on the same team, she would cheer just as loud for him. She brought D to all the games, and set patently by while he ran around the ball park and played with the kids. She would talk with all the parents and probably knew more about each family than anyone else at the park. She was never in great health, but I never really heard her complain about lugging all his stuff around or the ever present heat at the ball park. Her life revolved around that little boy. It really was a special relationship. My heart broke when I heard the news. Mostly for D. and the family, but also for everyone that had a special place in their heart for Peggy…like myself. She really was a special lady and she will be missed. |
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who said what…