Tom's Diary

Hey   [Fos]!

Things are going well. I’m now located in Philadelphia, PA, Dee’s hometown. Still working for the company in Ohio. But now, am working out of my home and visit the Dayton office about once a year. Been doing that for just over two years now and really enjoy the flex hours. As long as I meet my objectives, they generally do not care when I’m on the computer, although they like me to be available between the hours of 10 AM and 3 PM for phone calls. No problem.

It would seem that things are going quite well with you – new job and all. How do you like NY? I think at some point, I may end up living there. Have always wanted to experience that big city, at least for a couple years.

Well, going out book shopping today. So, take care and perhaps we’ll talk again soon.

Later.
Tom Hesley

Dear   [Lynn],

Well, you must be quite the “rare gem” then, who values responsibility and reliability in others and yet, is capable of exhibiting consistently, these qualities herself. One thing I WILL say about past relationships is that a few of them ended because the partner became unreliable and untrustworthy. Once I traveled 565 miles to meet someone for a weekend rendezvous whom I had been seeing for almost a year. But she never showed and I had to turn around, six hours later, and come the whole way home. Took her a month to come up with an excuse for her absence. And even then, it was a pretty lame one, chalk full of holes. It seems that people at large these days, have little regard for etiquette and doing “the right thing” rather than what makes them feel good. But, you know, …, another sign of the times I guess.

Well, enough of that. Time to bathe. I had intended to spend the afternoon writing in the park yesterday. But upon arriving there, I became so sleepy that, after 20 minutes, just had to come back home and take a nap. I suppose last week’s computer issues at work really wore me out. But today, I’m much more rejuvenated, and so am going to try the park again.

Enjoy your day.

Tom Hesley

Dear   [Lynn],

Sounds like you never stop working, even on the weekends, Honey Bee.

On Halloween: When I had the house, I got lots of trick-or-treaters. One year, almost 100 came by, although Miami Township was a budding neighborhood, so not many “big” kids came around. Most of the parents there were fresh out of college, and had been moved to the area by the company I work for and other local companies, and so were just getting started having kids. But those little kids could sure eat candy like the big folk.

Later,
Tom Hesley

Dear   [Lynn],

Oh yes, I did get the abbreviated gifts, with my birthday being six days before Christmas. Nowadays, we don’t do much gift exchanging amongst us siblings. However, we do buy for the children and Mom. But when we did do gifts, that single-gift-for-both-birthday-and-Christmas phenomenon was often the order of the day. But at least, mine is BEFORE Christmas. Having a Bday on the 28th like you, would be a bad time for gift harvesting I suspect. It has become less of an issue as an adult however.

Tom Hesley

Dear   [Lynn],

Well, let’s see. Common activities are:
• Visiting my Mom and siblings in Altoona.
• Walking around Center City, Philadelphia.
• Spending afternoons reading in the various parks around here.
• Dining with friends.
• Catching up on email.
• Mall shopping – there are 3 malls I visit often. However, this has become less of a favorite activity because they are so crowded these days.
• Health food shopping. The only store close to here closes at 6:00 during the week. But they’re open until 8:00 and Friday nights, and all day on Saturday. Called ‘Harry’s Natural Foods’, the place is one of those Mom and Pap establishments. Crowds are usually pretty small, and they’re always willing to answer questions and help you find uncommon foods. I love the miso.
• Doing small appliance and furniture repairs in the apartment (squeaky rockers, burned out light bulbs, drippy faucets, Etc.).
• Occasional bowling, roller blading, visiting friends, concert and movie going, miniature golfing, and just hanging out.
• And, whatever else comes up.

Later,
Tom Hesley

Dear [Lynn],

Hello there.

You must have had a hard week and needed the extra rest today.

No frost yet here. In fact, the temps will be unseasonably warm here today (high of 72 degrees). Definitely a day to spend in the park, which I will probably do at some point.

So, what is your official job title anyhow? Gardener? Grounds keeper?

Yes, I owned a home in Miami Township, Ohio for almost 5 years, and sold it so I could move to Philly. At the time of the sale in 1997, I wanted nothing to do with another house, as mine had turned into a real pain in the … well, you know. But most of that came from the hardship of selling it. In that particular neighborhood, all the houses had immaculate yards. So, in order to look slightly better than the rest for salability, the place needed close to $1000 in landscaping (old shrubs hauled away, new mulch laid, weeds removed, Etc.). Then, while showing the house, the sump pump broke down on one of the rainiest days of the season, flooding the finished basement, and ruining the brand new carpet ($1200). Plus, it took almost 4 months to sell, and because of the basement flood, I had to take a substantial loss on it. I was not happy with home ownership then. Now granted, 4 months isn’t really a long time. But I was worried that my company would decide not to let me transfer to a home based office if I waited too long. So, that 4 months turned into an eternity. Then there was the continuous finagling with prospective buyers who seemed to want everything for nothing. One couple in particular wanted me to replace the water heater, the roof, the furnace, and the driveway, and yet, sell to them for my original asking price. I almost laughed in their faces when they came to check it out, but held my tongue because they had a baby with them. I told them, “Look, I’m not selling a brand new house here. This place is 20 years old, and the asking price accounts for that. If you want a ‘new’ house, then go down the street and pay $40000 more for the same size place as this one.” Well, they didn’t like that, but ended up buying the house anyway. I decided then that I would not buy a house again until I was ‘with’ a lover who could share it with me. Too much work for one person.

However, now, after dealing with all this noise from the neighbors down below, a house is beginning to look attractive. Interesting how recent experience tends to color our desires for things, ‘eh?

Yes, go for the Eudora upgrade. It’s sweet.

Well, heading for the bathtub. More later today.

Tom Hesley

Hi  [Lynn].

Just catching up on your email from days past.

No, haven’t read much British fiction lately.

*yawn* I am so sleepy. Almost time for bed.

What fiction is on the bedside reading table? Well, none. I used to own several books by Robin Cook (he writes tech horror fiction such as Coma, Fever, The God Player, and Harmful Intent), Stephen King, Robert Heinlein (Stranger in a Strange Land, Friday, and Starship Trooper), and Larry Niven (Ring World and Lucifer’s Hammer). However, I sold all these prior to the Philly move, to lighten the load. The books I have now are primarily web and computer-related. However, you’ll find some cookbooks, writing books, dictionaries, thesauri, and exercise publications around here too. I subscribe to Computer Shopper.

Thanks for the high tea explanation. Sounds like a healthier ritual over all, than the American ways of eating.

On Smith and female engineers: Well, if they can do the work, anybody should be allowed to engineer. Lots of competent ladies doing software engineering at the company I work for. Engineering and ladies seem like a natural fit to me. Women divide and conquer very well.

Well, I’m off to bed. Take care and talk to you tomorrow.

Tom Hesley

Good evening,   [Lynn].

Where are you tonight?

Just reading about an image editor (LView Pro) that I bought almost two years ago, but am only just now learning the finer points of. The wedding pics need a bit of massaging and this software should be able to perform the necessary modifications on them. Some of them had very pronounced red-eye. Getting the flash away from the camera should solve that in future pics.

Never did go out tonight – except to 7-11 for some milk. But will be out and about all day tomorrow. Dinner with friends tomorrow night.

Whatcha up to this weekend?

Don’t forget to set your clock back an hour on Sunday morning at 2:00 AM. Yep, it’s that time of year again. I bet, being as far north as you are, you have some really short days in December, and really long days in June.

Later.
Tom Hesley

Hey   [Lynn],

Variety, according to the old saw, is the spice of life. However, it can become a weakness, when, in order to maintain it, one becomes financially or emotionally overburdened. Nope, no weakness here.

Each one of those email readers has advantages that, in some situations make it really shine. Unfortunately, no one reader does it all.

Was going to visit the store earlier. But the ‘power nap’ turned into a 500000 megawatt marathon doze session, from which I’m only just now arising. Will probably just end up getting a fresh start early tomorrow morning, and shopping then.

Catch you a bit later.

Tom Hesley

Hi   [Lynn].

By ‘inline’, I meant a picture that appears along within the text of the email message, as opposed to a separate attachment file that you have to open in order to view. Microsoft calls these items ‘embedded objects’. And because these picture objects can appear alongside or with the text flow, you can make an email message that reads more like a newspaper or a web site. But I guess the email systems between us convert these objects to attachments during email transit. Ah well.

The hand is much better today. I must type very lightly though, until it fully heals.

You worked outside today. Lucky you. You must be an athletic sort of person.

On the scanner: Yes, I can wait.

Thought I might visit the book stores tonight. It’s been almost two weeks since the last visit after all. Not sure yet though.

I’m very sleepy today so I might take a power nap before leaving.

Enjoy your evening, and will talk to you again, soon.

Later,
Tom Hesley