After thirty-one months, my time at The Bank has ended. It’s been very eventful to say the least. It was very hard to say goodbye to a great group of co-workers, who just happened to be some really great people.  It is good that we are keeping in touch.

I miss the Bay Area. Tony Bennett sang a song about the place, and it hits home each time I think about San Francisco.

But, things change; and, as much as I dislike that fact, I must change with them.

I now work for a company called Paradigm Technology. I am a Project Coordinator for a utility company. The job is new to me; the processes are new to me; and, I’m trying to find my way.

But, the people at APS, are like the people at The Bank: very nice, and very good at what they do. I’ve enjoyed my time with them, up to the present, and the list of opportunity is long.

Onward. Upward…

It’s been an interesting twenty months, to say the least.

I’ve been working for a bank in San Francisco as a Financial Analyst/Project Coordinator for an IT PMO project.  I’ve met a lot of great, talented people, and made some good friends along the way.  Picked up some much needed experience, and have become an integral part of the goings on in the company.

San Francisco, is a great place.  The weather is fab, the food is the best I’ve ever had in one place, and the people are very laid-back and friendly.  It’s a big town, but it feels like a small one.  Space is a premium, and it is extremely expensive.  Phoenix seems like another planet in comparison, and when you step off the plane, your skin feels the change immediately.  Yes, I experienced my first tremor there.  I was in the john, when the floor suddenly went down, and I went with it.  Then, it kinda shifted a bit to the side, and so did I.  So, for that particular time, I was certainly in the right place.

Through it all, the traveling, being apart, and long hours of work, my family has been very supportive.  My wife and I, as well as our children, had to make some very difficult adjustments.  At times, it felt like we were losing touch with our children, as my wife went with me on the travel part.  Without her there, it would have been even more difficult.

As it was, we learned a lot about each other, and got a glimpse of what our life would be like with just the two of us; and, I have to say, there are no worries.  We evaluated what our needs might be, and found that downsizing things would not, if it came down to it, be the end of the world.  A 460 sq/ft apartment was more than enough, and some of the amenities, we can do without.  It changed my views on things, and made me realize I wasn’t so dependent on them.

While it seems a remote possibility, I could see us living in San Fran, if needed.  While I think we will most likely stay where we are, or move up north a bit, these past months have opened our eyes, and changed the way we view things.

Anyway, thanks for reading, and, as always, we’ll keep the light on…

Happy Father’s Day to my Dad.  I love you.

April 14th is such a special day for me.  It is the day that my wife celebrates her birthday.  In turn, I celebrate my wife.

Since the day that you entered my life, the world has been brighter; the days much happier; the future more purposeful; and, there was never a doubt in my mind, all these years later, that you were the wellspring from which all of these things came.

God has been very kind to me.

I hope you never know how much I love you, for it affords me the numerous opportunites to show you in every way possible.

Happy Birthday, Lvoe.

Yours always,

Mike

On this day in 1974, Henry (Hank) Aaron hit home run number 715 to break Babe Ruth’s long-standing mark.

I remember it because I was with my great-grandmother, “Nannie”, and just prior to the great event, she was trying to educate me on the proper time to say, “You’re welcome”, when the occasion called for it to be said.  Nannie was all about protocol, and did her best with the child she had to work with.

Nannie loved baseball, and we watched many games on NBC, particularly on Saturdays (as became the custom afterwards) when I stayed for the weekend.  But on this particular Monday night, 39 years ago, she said if Hank did what was expected, I wouldn’t forget it.

Aaron did, and I never forgot, Nannie.  I love you.

P.S.  I also got better at saying, “You’re welcome.”

I’m woefully deficient in hobbies.  Always have been, and I’m not sure why exactly.

So, I’ve decided to do something about that.

I was watching videos of the late Joe Pass, jazz guitarist extraordinaire, and some of his concert footage.  I was immediately struck with the idea that I could play music, and enjoy the guitar as he did.

As a young fella, I “played” guitar; much, the same way as I “play” golf.

So, I’m gonna take lessons, and I’m gonna learn chord structure, music theory, and other things.  I bought a Reverend Manta Ray HB, and I’m gonna play it until I puke.

We’ll see how far this goes.  Annette’s already said she’s looking forward to being serenaded.  I can be a troubadour.  Or troubledour; your choice.