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5/1/00
It is with heavy hearts that
I tell you of this news.
My dear friends,
Janie and Jim Pohlman, who brought much joy into my life by placing
Simba (the first chow chow) with us, lost their beloved pup Lexis,
to an accident. Apparently her lead slipped from the hand of Jim,
who was walking three of the chows, and Lexis took it on her own
to head to the house as the walk always ends. She ran into the
street, and into the path of a car. Fortunately, it was quick
and Lexis probably never felt a thing.
Janie, I only
wish I could tell you how sad I am that this has happened, and
that Lexis was brought to bring so much joy in a very short time.
the lexis as an itty-bitty.
4/31/00
Whoa...... whatta week!!!!!! This
week was a brutal one for your host. 87 hours of airport design
in 5 days, 150 in 10, I am so glad this deliverable is at the
printers and I can get some sleep. Mr. Barron has graced me with
his presence, fresh in from Cinci, by way of Medina (visiting
with the Robertsons and the fresh to the family Zack).
Amazingly, after
a bout of yard work (and a small spending spree on tools) a bar-b-q
ensued, attended by some distinguished Sigma Chi Alums, George
Perlic (plus sons, and a cameo by Missy), and Eric McAffee (go
to the re-opened Pickle Bills to see a whole load of Erics latest
masterpieces).
4/17/00
We're ba....aaack.. Thank god for
inventing vacations, snow, and the genius who thought of skis.
What a trip, spring skiing in Colorado with a powder day to top
it all off. We travelled on the airways officially sponsored by
Satan (TWA for those of you who didnt know) and spent some time
trapped in Purgatory (aka St. Louis) in both directions (I'll
post the scathing letter to TWA in the next week or 4). Anywho....
the skiing rocked, and big brother Marc made some superb suggestions
on lodging. A tune up day in Eldora (where I brilliantly forgot
my credit card with a call from mother nature whilst getting our
demo skis), 3 days skiing in Steamboat, and another 3 in Vail
in the back bowls, and the newly opened Blue Sky Basin. All followed
up with some shopping in vail village, then on to Wondervue for
some cocktails, grilling and stogies at 9600' with a scenic sunset,
before packing and travelling back to Cleveland. The trip could
have been perfect if not for the need to actually use a means
of conveyance, since not only did TWA suck, but we got rear ended
in Toms truck on the way home from dropping off Scott (yes that
is as in Scott Furman, who went on the trip).
Pictures to
follow.....
10/6/01
Yeah its been a loooong while. Well,
I am back and the web is being expanded if adelphia ever gets
there poo together. I'll post some of the old party pics soon,
I know, I know, I have been terrible about this. Lets see there
was the Cajun-fest, The Cedar Point coaster trip, Halloween 2K,
the New Years Eve 2K-fest, The Cinci coaster trip, and the New
Orleans trip. Now on to this year...hmmm got laid off back around
memorial, at least with my management position, I had a decent
severance package. The summer has been one of working on the house,
fixing this, ripping out that, stripping the other thing, and
installing this and that...sheesh. Now that its October, I am
prepping for halloween (as many of you know, also our anniversary)
by making as many new haunt objects
as possible. It should be sweet, and I expect as many of you out
there to make it a point to come to the party on the 27th!!!!!!
Please bring yer little folks, from 6-8:30, for trick or treating,
but they are banished from 8:30 on, as it will be adults only
time until you want to check out for the evening.
10/16/01
Happy B-Day mudder
10/17/01
Absolutely amazing, Leo and I finally
got the hot water to the attic working without leaks, so visitors,
the third floor is open for company!
What a PITA,
but its satisfying as hell to have it done, now I need to get
fixtures and a new shower surround for the claw footed tub up
there. Anyone know how to put in flooring? Had to make a few holes
thru the hardwood with the sawz-all to figure out what the hell
was wrong up there. Halloween decorations are coming along, but
with 9 days left until the party I am getting nervous about completing
everything. If you got time , please let me know, I can use all
the help I can get.
3/4/02
In other news,
imagine to my suprise when I get a call from TFR (aka Tom Robertson)
that our brother at large, Mr. Rick Barron (aka M-head) has once
again taken the plunge.
For those of
you that know, he has been dating Anita (found via a dating service),
and apparently popped the question and hastily wed her some 2.5
weeks later in Tennessee, without inviting, oh, any of us! Dick,
when you read this, I want you to know, I am going to torture
you for this slight. If not for the steadfast observance of Susan
Robertson perusing the barron homepage,
we still wouldn't know about this.
Other news!
I recieved a letter this morning saying I have been accepted as
a member of the National Ski Patrol and begin training on the
27th, which will at first consist of hillside first aid, then
next season I will start toboggan training.
For the curious,
I have as of yet to recieve an offer, but I have interviewed with
a company in Denver, Co. as an applications Engineer, specializing
in Land Development Desktop (autocad application), back in the
beginning of February. This got me a trip out west, so I spent
time with Mini over the weekend and got a little skiing in, and
tried the 4x4 Dynastars 197s I picked up of the web for a song.
Also interviewed with an engineering firm in Richfield, Oh. as
a Civil Designer. I should here from them this week. If
these dont work out, I have been offered a position as a Technical
Recruiter with one of the head-hunters who have been diligently
trying to place me. At least I have a fall-back.
The kitchen
is almost finished, I am currently replumbing hot water to the
2nd floor guest bathroom, then closing the walls back up and plastering
them.
Oh yeah, I am
finally going to start selling the old Innerspace stock off this
website, and E-bay.
4/2/02
I have started MCSE classes,
and National Ski Patrol training. Still waiting to here about
the Civil Designer position in Richfield, maybe today with any
luck. The kitchen is progressing, with stripping and painting
the windows and trim, and I have drywalled and plastered the areas
walls were removed from. Still needs mudwork and skimcoating,
but its moving along. Halloween prep has begun again, with new
projects on the drawing board, and on the shop floor. Inventory
of the old ISA merchandise is almost complete, and I have begun
listing items on ebay. Its been nice to reclaim space in the basement.
Sad news - Sarah
Gardner, took her own life last weekend, and we are saying good-bye
today. I once made her a promise to send her off with a stiff
drink, the good stuff, and I will honor that request. She will
be missed. To the parents, and sisters, I am so sorry, I will
always have love for her in my heart, as I know you have and will
always love her.
Good news -
Our favorite bum, Scott Furman, has returned relatively unscathed
from his trek out west skiing, sounds like the trip was a blast.
Other news -
The Barrons have by now completed consolidating their households
as one, taking residence in Anitas home, until said time that
Rick can ascetain that his position will continue to exist at
P&G. I think after that, they will consider a slightly larger
abode.
Yes, to all
you whom have received the "I killed my system" email,
I hadnt had my coffee when I did that, and am still kicking myself
in the ass for it. If you havent yet, send me your contact info
so I can re-add you to my listings please.
Oh, if anyone
knows how to reach Maria Valenza (from Livingston) let me know,
I have been wondering how she and hubby have been the last 10+
years. I recently heard from Jonathan Goldberg, rather a suprise,
to say the least, great hearing from you Jon.
Also, my brother
Gregg a few months back now, has gotten divorced from his now
ex-wife Becky, and bought a new house in the KC area.
I think that
covers just about everything, more if I think of it, and more
next month of course!
6/11/02
Well, its been an interesting
month, more, 2 to be honest.
Richfield spot, nada, I got strung along, word is I was the hiring
manager choice, but the principals were thinking with their wallets.
But I keep in touch hoping that something will work out.
I can say first
hand, the job market officially sucks, particularly for a civil
designer, so I have chosen to focus more on the IT side. Into
the third section of the MCSE program, which by the way has now
been paid for in full by the ULA via the AFL-CIO in the form of
a grant, so one less major financial burden to be concerned with.
Next I am officially
a basic patrol in the National Ski Patrol, hill testing and full
certification starts in August. So, if you get broken skiing,
dont come whining to me, you'll kill my buzz. Well you know the
truth, when HAVENT I been there to pick up the pieces????
More schooling
- I have completed a program to get more funding for training,
thinking of the transfer engineering program, CCNE and NNE certs,
I believe this is good up to 10G. l'll be filing paper work by
the end of the week to get that grant money too, if I cant work
I might as well be working on education.
Holy cow, Matt
Bauman and I just went to Bath, Me. for our 20th re-union at Hyde.
I never really expected to return to Hyde, but it was a good thing.
To those of you from Hyde seeing the website, I am working on
the pics, culling out the useless ones, they will be on the pics
pages shortly.
I cant think
of much more pertinent info, so back to your own lives, and how
about a note once in a while??? All you Hydites, email me with
contact info so we can keep in touch.
4/1/03
A lot has changed since I last
put up a posting here. Lets see, I have finished my MCSE and MC-DBA
training, now its a lot of reading and tests for the certs.
Ski season has
ended for the year, I got in almost 90 days of skiing, and around
750,000 feet of vertical, lost 6 inches off the waist, and
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stayed
a solid 210. Also became a Basic Ski Patroller with Boston Mills/Brandywines,
and now am getting on towards the Senior status, by becoming a
trainer.
Rick and Anita
are trying for kids, Marc and Cori are due in June, Anne and Ted
had the latest a few months back, as did Tom and Nike.
The soon to
be ex Lisa finished her SA/ST training, we separated shortly in
September, and again for good in December. after a very short
attempt at counseling she stated the Beckyism "I'm Done"
- so its splitsville for us, divorce impending, hopefully we can
get by with a dissolution and try to be amicable.
Somehow I am
making a living enough to get by selling the old Innerspace inventory
on ebay, holding my head above water until I land a new position,
I am getting sick of job hunting, but so far in this market, the
auctioning is keeping me from doning a hairnet and saying welcome
to McDonalds.
Been working
on the house, we had a little water issue, came home one night
to find it raining in the living room and the office, so that
was a fun evening. Plasterwork has been repaired, but I have been
ripping open walls to insulate around the house, making me do
more plastering! Guess I get to strip lots of wallpaper and do
a lot of painting soon.
I will hopefully
get a few tenants in here by summer as well to help with the bills
and mortgage.
Cant think of
much else at the moment, except that I am trying better living
thru chemistry (little prozac) at my counselors advice, seems
to do NOTHING.
6/15/03
Things are ever evolving, finished
5 of my cert tests in mcse, 2 in mcdba, getting closer everyday
now, lots of studying to be done, and the last 2 months thats
been tuff. Had been working in the Cleveland Municipal School
District as a contractor consultant for dell installing a few
thousand computers, of which the latest phase of the intall completed
friday past. Also been working at Dicks Last Resort, as
a barback/bouncer/doorman on weekends, its fun, but tiring. At
least I can be my usual loud sarcastic self without actually offending
anyone (its the point of the bar), so is right up my alley. Have
run into folks I havent seen in years, and I guess this would
be as good a time as any to say I have been gettting compliments
on trimming down. Slim 200 and loos change these days, working
the 12 pack back to a 6 pack, and feeling really good.
Been moving
the divorce forward, Lisa and I are being amicable, for the most
part, with an argument or 2 here and there, hoping to file this
next week and get that court date asap.
Only eBaying
on occasion while working, too much time doing jobs to mess with
it, but I like to try to clear out the rest of the stuff from
the old innerspace and regain some shelves and basement space.
Kitchen has
been put to back burner for the most part (clearing violations
from the city), so been working on the exterior as weather permits
(very rainy this spring).
Been dating,
and I can say its been good, maybe some day I will find the right
woman and you all can meet her.
About better
living thru chemistry, glad to see it does almost nothing, but
I seem to be in the best spirits I have been in a loooong time,
and I finally have started to sleep 7-8 hours at a clip, I forgot
what it was like to feel refreshed when you wake up.
Al passed away
6 weeks back, the poor kitty just got too old and he died peacefully
with me caring for him all night, his last act as Al, was to crawl
to the most inaccessable spot in the house to pass away, the brat.
Had to rip open a wall to get him out, hes buried up front now,
and he can haunt the yard on halloween and feel right at home.
The balance of the beast are well and good, tho Desi is in heat
right now and she has the devil in her, what a goofy dog.
7/12/03
Well well, I am a lucky SOB
if I can convince this lovely woman I met that what we are developing
is real. She is everything I have sought in my life, the companion
that I never knew existed. With good fortune, and a little faith,
she will begin meeting all of you as the next few weeks, months
and (I hope it doesnt take me this long to get to see many of
you) years unfold. Anyhow, Here is the woman that has captured
my heart and soul, its my pleasure to introduce Brenda
(last name being withheld to protect the innocent), she is on
the left, her sister Ann Marie on the right.
9/5/03
Scratch the
last remarks regarding the Bren, I was a bit presumptuous. Why
are they all crazed? More news coming soon.
11/17/03
OK, I get
an invitation to my sister Lisa' wedding in Vail in January via
email, not exactly traditional, but what do I expect, hell, I
had only learned a few weeks before that she was even seeing anyone
these days....
Lets
See, Birthday was good, had my first date with Jasmine,
who I have been seeing since, so we are just over 2 months together
now. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for my cousin Cindy,
who suddenly passed after elective surgery, leaving behind the
love of her life Jay, plus their daughter and son in the wake.
Cin, we will all miss you, I hope you are in a better place.
Just
before mid-month October, I got called back to the CMSD installation
project and have been working on that since, and was called in
to work on a multi-year project for Moen as a Pro-E designer consultant.
Its good work with a very flexible schedule working via telecommute.
I
was able to tell mom I would be working full time again as a birthday
present. Speaking of which I went back to NJ for the second time
October (the first time was for Cindys funeral) for moms 75th
birthday. We (the brothers and I, plus Rona and Lisa) planned
a gather at the Star Tavern for pizza and booze as a suprise party
for mom, inviting the family to come.
Every
one in the family (and some friends of course) did a fantastic
job of lying thru their teeth to mom, telling her they all had
different plans and would meet up with her sometime in the next
week or so to have little birthday lunches, dinners, cocktails,
etc. when in reality they were all planning to attend this gathering
we organized. Mom was completely suprised, and absolutely loved
the whole thing.
Halloween
was awesome. It was Jasmines first true halloween (she is from
China only having been here for 4 years) and she really enjoyed
the whole production, and took some great pictures which I will
post soon in the pictures section of Minions
Web. We got 333 kids and about 150 parents this year for trick
or treating, a new record for the haunt. The party was a blast,
tho I did sack out early being so beat from the week setting up
the hunat short 2 weeks from having been out of town so much this
month, but the party went on with me dead to the world!
November
so far, pretty uneventful, preparing for turkey day (hope you
all have a moist gobbler and fluffy spuds) and probably spending
part of that weekend in Pittsburgh meeting some of Jasmines friends.
Figure I should be in for a dose of Ikea for some items for the
house. Gonna see if the Robertsons are going to be down that way
that weekend, and try to hunt down my old room-mate Joe Glascow
for a few cold ones and some shits and giggles.
December
looks to be fairly calm, considering a weekend back in NJ/NY at
X-mas so Jaz can see her cousin, hit up Rockefeller plaza for
some skating, FAO Schwartz for giggles, and to check out the neighbors
holiday displays to see how huge its grown (only been 10 or more
years since I have seen it last). Plan to be back before NYE though,
dont want to miss the appliance toss.
Thats
all I have for now, more as things progress.
3/1/04
Once
again, no real news, but better to write a little than nothing.
Jaz and I are still together, and talking about a future. Work
is slow but I have had calls for interviews, cross your fingers,
maybe a real job will finally happen. More house repairs, a little
at a time, Lisa is almost all the way out, I will move her last
belongings to the garage with the next warm-up. The Cromes are
looking for a new home, and have filled half a bay of the garage
with furnishings while getting prepared to place the house on
the market. Have some new irons in the fire, making new halloween
props of course, started up a halloween prop business (check out
the products pages), Jaz wants to start
importing from China and selling on eBay (we will be doing test
auctions this week). Pretty much covers it, more later.
4/29/05
Long
time no update! Lets see, al ot has occured. another halloween
come and gone, with another great load (600+) of ToTers. Jaz and
I are still together, very happily and are officially living together
as of Sunday (we emptied the apartment of the last items today).
Her mother is staying with us, on a 6 month visit from China....been
almost 2 weeks, and I am not sick of chinese food yet, can she
cook!.
Great
news! after all this time I was offered a position back in February
and have been working the last 10 weeks as a Content Engineer
(think of web content but in a medical context) for a Medical
Software company that produces what is called an EMR (electronic
medical reporting). Now to get the house back to snuff, the bank
account rebuilt, and all my debt repaid.
The family all
gathered in KC for Greggs 50th b-day, and it was a great time,
god I love you guys!
The ex finally,
finally after over 2 years got the last of her sh....stuff out
of here, so in theory I have my house back, but its now filled
with different stuff (Jasmines).
Since you are
on the website, by now you know that MinionsWeb produces some
halloween products these days, guess you cannot kill the entreprenuer
in me. Much to my suprise the biz is doing far better than anticipated
and saved me from absolute bankruptcy. Granted its seasonal, but
orders are already trickling in this year.
The Cromes'
have gotten their new home in Mentor, and its great digs, they
have settled in quite nicely.
The aplpiance
toss was great this year, tho personal participation was limited
thanks to a sprained ankle as a result of a day of banging the
bumps and jumps, skiing with Joel.
Skiing, ah,
yes, back to patrolling, now that I can afford the gas to get
there! It was a pretty good season, no out of town trips, but
40 days local was very nice. Even managed to teach Jaz how to
ski all the way to parallel in one season.
Everyone plan
on coming over for the cajun party this summer, I will put
out word when in the near future.
Til next installment,
be great!
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