Countdown

Here we go... one week before vacation...

I can't tell you how long it's been since I've actually had one. OK - actually I can - 3 years! Even though we're going "home" and it's sometimes more work than I want to admit, it's still a great time... so many people to see and as always we won't be able to see everyone... We'll do our best, but it's going to be tight...

My mom's got stuff planned, my mother-in-law's got stuff planned, everyone has someplace for us to be...

The one thing I HAVE to do is get my dad alone for 5 or 10 minutes and thank him for the college education he gave me... story goes like this - during the winter there was construction across the street from our building and I watched those poor bastards freezing doing their work outdoors... my mom and dad gave me the opportunity to not have to do that for the rest of my life... I have to thank them for that...

I figure it will be over morning coffee sitting in the back yard or over a scotch or Jack Daniels on the front steps one night...

Hope I don't cry...

Damn - You Can Talk!!

Went to lunch with a friend today... one I used to work with pretty closely... damn can the girl talk!

Usual spot, usual conversation... I could typically listen to her for a long, long time... I still find myself getting lost in her words and just staring at her... she's so damn pretty to boot!

Normally that might turn people off (dominating a conversation) but with her, I love to hear about how she's grown into her latest role as a manager - something that should have happened a long time ago but didn't because of friction and politics...

Since she and I were close when I worked there, she never got a fair shake until after I bailed on the place... it hurt me to leave the company (financially and otherwise) but for me it was the right thing to do because I was in a dead end department... I didn't leave for her - I did it for me to go to what I thought at the time was a better opportunity... her success is hers and hers only and I'm very proud of her...

Can't wait to go out for drinks one of these nights with her and just listen some more...

Short Timer Syndrome

Getting set to go on vacation here soon... can't wait to see the boyz, the family and other friends...

It's been a long time since I've been back to NJ... it should be fun... Hoping to hook up with a couple of people I haven't seen in a very long time. Loading up the cell phone with numbers and will call when we get there... a beer here, a cup of coffee there...

No desire to get work done ... gotta stay focused

Happy Father's Day

Father's day weekend... should be relaxing.

A little yardwork, maybe take the little one to the pool, catch up on some reading...

To the boyz in NJ (Billy, Fatboy, et al) - Happy Father's Day!!!

ja

First Kiss...

So weird... dreamed last night of the girl that gave me my first real kiss... my first real girlfriend.

Pretty girl - DeeDee we called her... tall, dirty blonde and very fun. Not sure what brought that on especially since I haven't spoken to her in close to 20 years...

Maybe it had to do with the photo album found over the weekend (see previous post - http://jarandomstuff.blogspot.com/2008/06/past-came-back.html). Maybe it was me being nostalgic for the past - for the hockey team, for being at an age when it was OK not to give a rat's ass about a damn thing other than what you were doing that night, where you were hanging out and who was buying the beer... simple times.

I think we all need some of that from time to time. I think I'll go up and take another peek at that photo album and have another trip back in time...

'night all...

The Past Came Back

Over last weekend I was doing some needed cleaning in the basement when my wife came across a photo album that I thought was long lost. WOW - what memories came back...

College friends and parties, college graduation and some explaining about who was sitting on my lap at the fraternity Christmas party :-)

Hmmm - makes me wonder if it was "lost" on purpose...

???????

Music World Mourns

Another guitar hero lost... first was Jeff Healey earlier this year.

Now - Bo Diddley...

Both a great loss to the guitar/music world. Inovators, showmen, class acts.

Both will be sorely missed.