Tom's Diary

Dear Steve,

Check out this site on the no refined carbs diet . . .
http://drmirkin.com/  

Dr. Mirkin publishes some books that talk all about the benefits of such a diet. There’s info about the books on this site and also some articles there which you can read as well. So far this year, I’ve managed 75 days without eating flour, pasta, doughnuts, and pretzels – anything with flour or added sugars. My goal for this year is 150 bad-carb-free days. I’m ahead of schedule. The stretch goal is 180 days. Last year, I had about 120 no-carb days. Hopefully, in the next five years, I can get the number up over 320 days.

Tom Hesley

Dear Steve,

Things are going well. I have my first official full-pay DJ gig coming up at the end of June. It’s a 16th birthday party for a local gal. I’ll be taking a 15000 song library there. I should have something she likes. Her Mom and I are working together to make sure I have all the music she wants.

The longer term effort, the writing business, is gong okay too. I’ve written four articles so far and had a couple of them reviewed at a writer’s workshop here in Bellwood, PA. They liked them. I want to build up a portfolio of about 100 articles before I really start looking for publishers. However, one publisher I definitely plan to hit is Readers Digest – the advice columns that they have. I’ll definitely keep you in the loop and let you know as soon as I publish something. Right now, I’m planning to begin searching for publishers in January, 2004. In the meantime, I’m going to build up the portfolio of letters, short stories, and self-help booklets.

Later,
Tom Hesley

Dean,

So sorry to hear about your illness. Hopefully you can live a number more years and enjoy your retirement that you worked so hard to reach.

It’s hard to know what to say to a good friend in times like this. Another buddy of mine I grew up in school with just found out that he has gastro intestinal cancer – terminal. My thoughts are with you both. Take care and stay in touch if you feel up to it.

Later,
Tom

Dear [Elstan],

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. You deserve it.

The business is going well so far. I’ve written about four articles already. However, I have to wait until next April to attempt to publish them, after the anti-trust agreement I signed with [the company I just left] expires. By then, I hope to have a portfolio of around one-hundred letters, short stories, poems, and such, and hope to persuade the editors at Readers Digest to include some of my works in their issues.

In the meantime, I have a little DJ business going to keep the bills paid until the writer ship comes in.

Later,
Tom

Dear [Tad],

On your board meeting: I have an event in Philly scheduled on June 14th. It turns out that Overbrook School For The Blind is having their alumni weekend then, and I’ll be attending.

Sorry I won’t be able to make the Pittsburgh board meeting. Oh well, perhaps I can come out this fall.

Tom

Dear [Tad],

I got your address and phone. I’ll be in and out throughout the weekend, but should be around later on Sunday.

Later,
Tom

Thanks, [Rick].

Put me down for the entire weekend. I’ll call you in a few days to make arrangements.

Tom

Dear  [Am],

I’m in Altoona now, and left [my job] on March 17th, 2003.

Tom Hesley

Dear [Morra],

Glad to hear that you’re enjoying your house.

Yes, I would like to get out there and visit you. But I probably won’t be taking too many vacations this year as I must keep travel expenses to a minimum until I establish a solid income from the new businesses.

Tom

Dear Chirag,

Well, I’m not writing for a single publisher. (I never want to have a single boss determining my career progress ever again ) Instead, I’m selling articles piecemeal to whoever will buy them. I’m spending this year learning the business, developing expertise in the topics about which I’d like to write, building an article portfolio, finding publishers interested in selling my content, attending writers’ workshops, and so on. In April of next year, I’m scheduled to begin selling what I have, whole-hog. By that time, I plan to have at least 100 articles, short stories, illustrative letters, poems, and song lyrics written to offer my customers. I have five of them composed already and also have begun writing my first book.

Initially, I’ll be writing to the shy people among us, helping them get over their fears of introducing themselves to people who they’d like to date. Then, later on, I want to offer the insights I’ve acquired through the years to help handicapped folks find ways to fit into and contribute to mainstream society.

But, until the writing business starts making money, I’m doing some disc jockey work now and then to keep the bills paid, the equipment running, and food on the table, so I don’t deplete my savings too quickly. That business front is called:
Tommy’s Tunes – Professional Disc Jockey Services
I use a Dell laptop computer to play the music on, and to date, have accrued 13,510 MP3 song files which came from my CD collection. I have two Crest Audio power amplifiers, each one delivering 1400 watts per channel into 2-Ohm loads. I also use 4 Community speakers, each one with 2 15” woofers, 1 6.5” midrange driver, and 1 1” horn tweeter. They really rock! When you turn this thing up, people can feel the bass in their kitchens five blocks away. This system can fill a large dance hall or field outside holding 2000 people or more, no problem.

It gives me a real workout as well. These amps are quite heavy (about 60 Lbs. Each).

I’ve done several shows so far and really love it. Much less stressful than software engineering let me tell you. Not as much money either. But one day, when the writing takes off, I should be able to replace my [old work] salary, and then some.

Well, take care, and do keep in touch. I’d enjoy hearing about what you’re up to these days. Oh, and yes, I’ll send you a copy of the first article I sell.

Tom Hesley