Tom's Diary

Dear Love Bug,

Thanks [...]. I’ll keep you in mind. I hope to visit Philly several times a year and perhaps one of those times, I’ll come visit you.

On the weight loss, check out the following site:

http://www.drmirkin.com

Yes, being at the right weight does wonders for the appearance and self esteem, not to mention how good it makes you feel physically. I truly hope you can be successful.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin specializes in health and fitness, and has lots of articles and sound bytes the teach you how to diet without feeling too hungry, and he talks at length about what foods to avoid or limit. He’s helped me lower my cholesterol and reduce my weight by more than 30 pounds. And I’ve been able to keep it off (except of course during the winter months, when I gain five to ten pounds). But come spring, I take it off in a couple weeks.

Dr Mirkin has a radio show that used to be carried in Philly but I don’t think it is anymore. However, you can listen to it on his web site. Enjoy.

Tom Hesley

[KC],

All is very well here. Preparations for the career change we discussed a little while back are ahead of schedule. I hope to begin writing full-time early next year. I had planned to resign my current position in January of 2004, but the calling to make the switch sooner is growing quite loud in my mind’s ears, and is proving to be quite a distraction in the computer work I’m doing this year. I might even make the switch earlier than December, 2002 if I can save up enough money.

There are a few more expensive projects I want to accomplish around the house here before I give up the compensation I’m currently enjoying however. Let’s see: New roof, new windows and new exterior doors. And I must finish the insulating project upstairs (about 1/3 done with that). Oh yes, and probably a new microwave, and some modern lighting for the home office. And once these are purchased, something else will come up I’m sure.

The scary part of all this is coming to terms with the notion that once I leave [the company], I will likely never make as much $$$ as I am now. But in giving up the $$$, I’m confident that I’ll be gaining the individuality and recognition that I’ve missed in recent years as a software engineer. In April, I’m going to practice living on $500 a month and put the rest in savings, just to see how hard it is, and to learn to become more frugal. I’m just so thankful that I’ve been a saver ever since I took this job 14 years ago. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to afford this switch.

Back to your letter: Hope you have a wonderful Easter as well.

Should you see [Tad], say hi to him for me. I’ve been out of communication with him lately – hectic schedules and what not. But I hope to call him sometime in the next month or so.

Went to Philly this past weekend to attend the Overbrook School For The Blind Alumni Spring Dance. They treat me like I’m one of theirs. Lots of nice folks went to that school. It often surprises me when I think back to the days at WPSBC that we didn’t have a greater affiliation with Overbrook. I don’t even think we wrestled them in the 70s. But anyway, they seem to be a much more tightly knit group than us “Western Penners” – that’s what Overbrookers call the WPSBC graduates. The dance was wonderful. I’ll be attending their alumni weekend activities this June.

That reminds me. [Vanna] and I correspond in email these days. She apparently is quite active on her computer, which is her primary means of staying in touch with her Overbrook friends. She found my address in the Overbrook mail list and surprised me with a note in January. We’ve been corresponding ever since. Perhaps you’ll remember that she graduated from Overbrook in 1956. She is doing well, seems to be healthy, and is high-spirited. She was quite a strict teacher as I recall. Sometimes, I’d be afraid to go to her classes. But today, I’m so glad she was that way back then. Probably helped keep (if not put) me on the right growth track.

Well, nice hearing from you. More later.

Tom Hesley

Dear   [LoveBug],

I send the original message this past Monday morning.

Oh, you’ll probably see me again. I’ll be attending the Overbrook Alumni weekend in June. Already looking forward to it.

Hope your move goes well. Moving is such a pain. I’ve done it all too frequently and sometimes, really miss Philly. But if my plan goes even close to as expected, I’ll be able to afford a place here in Altoona as well as Philly. But I’m just dreaming.

Don’t cut your hair. ‘tis one of your most charming features.

Later,
Tom Hesley

Dear   [Vee],

Things are wonderful. The trip to Philly last weekend was grand. Nice to see old friends.

Tom

Dear   [LoveBug],

This is Tom Hesley. Nice seeing you at the Overbrook Alumni Spring Dance this past weekend. It was great being back in Philly again, albeit for just a weekend.

Let me know if you get this.

Later,
Tom Hesley

Dear   [Vee],

Having a good day. Just being lazy. Going to my sister Joann’s for spaghetti early this evening, and then later on, visiting my sister Christine and her family. Spending the night there, so that Mom and her boyfriend can have the house here to themselves. Plus, it gets me out of the house. Then, tomorrow, I hope to get a few hours of work in on the insulation installation project. That effort is taking a long time, and is really starting to turn into “The Project From Hell.”

Tom Hesley

Dear   [BB],

Well, initially, I’m going to write to help men who are shy, or otherwise uncomfortable asking women out, to start dating their dream girls and to stop getting involved with better-than-nothing-but-not-too-great relationships. Then, I believe that there are many myths surrounding relationships that really impede folks’ ability to have happy ones. I want to write at length about those as well.

Yes, I have lots written / recorded in my journal. I write there daily.

Have a wonderful time in CA. I have a friend who lives in Pasadena, who just moved there last August. And he just loves it. 60s to 80s during the day, all the time just about. Hopefully, it won’t rain on you too much out there. There’s an El Nino brewing in the eastern pacific, that might interfere with your good times outdoors. But hopefully, it won’t be too bad.

Later,
Tom Hesley

Dear   [BB],

Sorry it took me so long to respond to this note you sent last week. But things at work have been hectic all week and are only just now starting to slow down a bit.

Anyway, yes, I’ve written some poems, but not recently. I may try my hand at it again, once I get into it full-time.

Nice weather we have here today – mid 60s and sunshine. If it stays nice over the weekend, we may go to Rails to Trails and ride our bikes, or in my case, walk. I may buy a bike, but typically prefer walking. Easier to contemplate and create new ideas for writing while walking, than while riding.

Best wishes for success in the change in major that you’re thinking about.

More later,
Tom Hesley

Dear   [BB],

Good morning.

Well, on your decision to discontinue pursuing your engineering studies: It’s good that you learned that this is not for you now, before you would have spent lots of money and time on it. Perhaps you’ll be able to tap into more of your creative side, as opposed to your scientific side, by studying computer graphics technology.

Many folks find artistic work more pleasing and fulfilling than the rigors of engineering. So, don’t be discouraged over deciding to change careers, because is unusual these days, for people to stay in one career their whole lives. In fact, many folks, as they learn about themselves and what really makes them happy, switch to different disciplines several times while in college. I myself have changed careers once already and am working on a second change now. Started off as an electronics technician in the early eighties, then moved into computer science and software engineering in the late eighties, which is what I’m doing today. But now I’m working on becoming a freelance writer. And who knows? Before it is all said and done, I may end up doing a few more things with my life. I kind of like being a handy man around the house.

So, the point is that such changes are routine these days, and it’s good that you have the courage to do this in your own life. Changing when necessary goes a long way toward making one’s life more fulfilling as well as fulfilled.

I’ll say nothing to [that guy you like] about your decision, or to anyone else for that matter. Getting the word out is entirely up to you.

[All the family is] doing well. Christine is having a birthday party for Grant this weekend. He turned seven years old this past Tuesday. All of us will probably be there.

Diane was just commenting the other day that she liked talking to you. So, send her some email if you have some time. I’m sure she’d really like that.

More later,
Tom Hesley