Tom's Diary

Today’s Activities

• Shower.  DONE.
• Cat duty.  DONE.
• Do all 4 loads of pending laundry.  IN PROGRESS.

Log

09:45 AM: I’m up.

09:55 AM: We didn’t read any of the   Frankenstein   book yesterday, as we’ve been busy with numerous activities reserved for summer — swimming, lounging on the porch, visiting friends, and so on.  But hopefully tonight, we’ll read a few chapters.

10:00 AM: iPodded and Facebooked.  Friend count: 271,  and the fans count on my official Facebook page is now 48.  Interestingly, 37 of my friends like my fan page but the total people who like it is 48. This means, that 11 strangers (people who have not yet befriended me) have discovered and decided to like the page on their own; without any solicitation from me.  So with an admittedly small voice, my writing nonetheless is starting to speak people on its own; without my help; an encouraging development to be sure.

12:25 PM: We read more of the   Frankenstein   book.

02:15 PM: Heading out for an afternoon with sister Mary Ann.  We’ll return later.

05:40 PM: We’re back home again.

07:55 PM: We read more of the   Frankenstein   book.

08:30 PM: iPodded.  Today’s repeater song: Fly by Sugar Ray.  I skated to this song my first year living in Philadelphia in 1997 and 1998, at the Palace rink and the far northeast and the Wow Family Fun Center nearby.  Wonderful fun, and great memories.  I truly miss the Palace, the boulevard, and the Wow Family Fun Center.  Every so often, I get the urge to move back.  But as a writer who is only just now beginning to bud, my finances are too constrained at present for such a big change.  So for now, I’ll just keep dreaming.  I may go back someday.  I don’t know.  While my memories of Philly are sweet, I also realize that it’s quite the dangerous place to live, as I found out from my experience of being mugged down there in 1999.  Plus, Philly did not bring the women into my life that I’ve missed for so long; though I thought when I moved there that within a year, I’d be living with my dream girl.  So if I do decide to return there, I must be sure not to do so based on delusions.  Philly can only do so much for me.  It, in and of itself, will not fill the emptiness in my heart.

10:20 PM: Watched the 2010-07-09 episode of   Dr. Phil   on the DVR, about parents losing control of their households to their children.  He and his guests also discussed how to determine what you really want to do in your life.  Their Answer: Ask yourself what you would do if you only had 24 hours to live.  If you’re honest with yourself, the answer to that question is probably what you would want to do with much of your life.

01:30 AM: We read more of the   Frankenstein   book.

01:40 AM: Bed time.  Good night.

Tom Hesley

Received Mail and Shipments

• Misc. credit card account information for Mom.

Related Posts

• Book: Frankenstein
• Site Stats: 2010-07-31
• Today’s Diet: 2010-07-31
• Weekly Backups: 2010-07-31
• Weight Loss: 2010

11:44 AM: I spent $180 for fifteen flasks of stevia on Friday, to sweeten my daily tea and yogurt for a whole year. I prefer spending extra now to avoid sugar’s poisonous effects, over paying much more later to fight them once they surface and become permanent. After all, the cost of one heart bypass surgery would buy a lifetime supply of stevia for several people (at least). My motto: The earlier we solve a problem, the cheaper the solving of it is.

12:00 PM: I started chewing snuff as a boy to gain peer acceptance. But then, twelve years later, I had to quit, also, to get more acceptance. Ironic, isn’t it?

12:05 PM: Did   [Jack] ever tell you that he and I walked one time from his place to the Ritz diner just north of the Palace?  15.4 miles I believe it was.    What a wonderful Philadelphia memory that was.

Tom Hesley

Related Posts

• Snuff Memories
• Today’s Business: 2010-07-25

11:52 AM: Yes, that’s true. There’s nothing more frustrating than having a discussion with someone who knows not what they know not. In that situation, I don’t even bother trying to teach them; unless of course, they’re a boss or something. Then, it becomes necessary to cope with the ignorance. Grrrrrrrrr.

04:45 PM: I got notified by [a big appliance store in Philadelphia] like that once when I ordered an entertainment stand. When I got there, they told me that I’d already picked the thing up. Well, we went around and around; to the point where the sales person and I were shouting at each other. I then called their main headquarters, and they instructed the store manager where I bought the unit to give me a new one; pronto. Then, when I went back again to finally get the furniture, that manager wouldn’t even speak to me; just stuck her nose in thei air and walked away while her subordinates carried it to the car. That happened back in 2001 and I never bought anything from them again; at least, not until this past February when I purchased my iPod Touch. Still though, they lost much business from me because of that fiasco in Philly.

09:41 PM: I think that books by self-described “average-looking” guys on how to seduce beautiful women, would be more believable if those fellows would include pictures of themselves. They rarely do however. That and their misleading tactics of trickery virtually destroys their credibility. Sure, they’re fun to read. But most  offer little practical value IMHO. Hmmmm. The things people say to make a buck.

Tom Hesley

Related Posts

• Today’s Business: 2010-06-28

12:00 PM: I’ve been experiencing some problems with my Facebook account (perhaps newbe problems).  Anyway, I’ll look into turning that feature on.

Anyway, I’m sorry to hear about your father.  Mine passed away in 1997.  I help out with Mom too.  In fact, I moved in with her when I returned home from Philadelphia eight years ago. Now, I’m her butler / handyman / caregiver.  I like being close to my family again.  I’ll probably never leave.  Dorothy had it right: There really is no place like home.

I write mostly about my pursuit of true love, from a philosophical perspective.  As you probably remember, I spent a lot of time working that issue while in Ohio.  I thought my experiences and insights gained might help people in similar circumstances.  Check out my work if you like at:

http://tomslovequest.com/

I also keep a journal at:

http://tomsdiary.com/

where I detail my day-to-day life, the hurdles with caring for Mom, weight struggles, technical reviews of the electronic appliances I encounter, and everything else that I feel I’d enjoy writing about.  When something occurs that produces any sort of emotional response in me, I’ll usually document the experience there.

Finally, whenever I have a strong opinion, I write it down at:

http://tomsviews.com/

This site is my soapbox. 

I’m working on getting business pages set up here on Facebook and other social networking places.  Keeping busy, for sure.

Tom Hesley

—

04:17 PM: Cut the grass today; for the fifth time this year. Hot. So I’ll defer the weed whacking part until tomorrow. Rest.

05:35 PM: It occurs after years of dating, that perfect tens only stay that way for an instant. Then they become as human and flawed as the rest of us. Makes one wonder at the long-term advantage of a ten; particularly once the novelty fades. Once it does, they’re just like fives and sevens; and twos sometimes.

Tom Hesley

Related Posts

• Today’s Business: 2010-06-19

08:57 AM: You’re pining for Friday already? This was a short work week too.

10:39 AM: Yep. I know days like that. In fact, I’ll be doing laundry this weekend.

11:10 PM:  Oh, I’m great, Barb! Things are very different now though. No more large-scale software development. Instead, I write full time, DJ now and then, and care for my Mom and her property the rest of my waking hours.

I’m so glad to hear from you. Always wanted to thank you for supporting my move to Philadelphia all those years ago, for that … See Moretransition really got me moving in the RIGHT direction. But now that you’re not my boss anymore, I must admit that I’ve always wondered whether you pushed to help me get to Philly so much because you really wanted to help me, or you just wanted to get me out of your hair. *smile*

So, what have you been up to? I see that you’re no longer in Ohio either. I hope you are well, and that you stop by any time.

Take care.
Tom

11:29 PM: Thanks for [the compliment], Barb. You were a great manager by the way. My problem was that I just didn’t like being managed — by ANY one. Then, by the time 2003 came around, I realized that this would never change. So I decided to get out on my own. There’s a lot less money out here at present. But I’m a hundred times happier, and that’s worth so much more than a fat paycheck. I have no regrets about leaving.

You’re RVing? Wow! That sounds like an awesome lifestyle. Enjoy yourself, because you deserve it. I hope you get some great pictures, and that you have a very long and healthy retirement; whenever that is, you decide to retire.

12:00 AM:  Tom Hesley   attended his last Lions Club meeting, as he must now devote more time to writing. He wrote 2500 words, browsed around the Internet radio spectrum, laundered three loads, listened to Rick Astley’s hit song: Together Forever a total of eight times (it’s a great repeater song), followed the oil spill coverage on CNN, and reconnected with a former boss (so nice) here on FB. Now, he’s out of words. So he’s going to bed. He says good night to all, and that he’s looking forward to returning here tomorrow.

Tom Hesley

Related Posts

• Today’s Business: 2010-06-03

Today’s Activities

• Shower.  DONE.
• Cat duty.   DONE.
• Do two loads of pending laundry from yesterday.  DONE.

Log

08:00 AM: I’m up.  Good morning!

08:05 AM: My weight did not change from yesterday.  It’s still 173.5 Lbs.    See   here   for a summary of the progress on this goal so far in 2010.

11:00 AM: Recorded audio journal episode: AJE-2010-04-24-10-37.

12:30 PM: Transcribed the first four minutes of this morning’s audio journal episode AJE-2010-04-24-10-37,  into an upcoming post, titled:  Knowing Destiny Beats Fear.

01:30 PM: Outlined twelve new pieces about [Judy], a young woman I had good fortune to meet in the summer of 1997.

01:50 PM:  Posted the   Today’s Business: 1997-06-18   and   Garage Sale   pieces to this blog from my journal and email archives.  This information is an interesting part of the story of my moving from Dayton to Philadelphia in the summer of 1997.

04:50 PM: iPodded and Facebooked this afternoon, well protected from that cold and dreary weather outside. 

05:00 PM: Nap time.  I just love taking afternoon naps when it’s all dark and gray outside, and it’s certainly that here today. 

06:30 PM: I’m back up again.

07:10 PM: I have [Emmy] on the phone now, and the Pens game is just getting started.

10:35 PM: The Pens won the game in one overtime period, 4 to 3.

01:15 AM: Began work on the    Emailing Comment Authors    project.

01:20 AM: Read more of the book:  The Grapes Of Wrath   throughout the day, and will read some more tonight once I get into bed.

01:30 AM: Bed, here I come.  Good night, and I’ll post more later.

Tom

Received Mail and Shipments

• Flood insurance policy declaration page.
• QVC PIN update notice for Mom.
• Credit card offer from Chase Bank.  No thanks.

Related Posts

• Audio Journal Information Page
• Book: The Grapes Of Wrath
• Diary Revisions: 2010-04-24
• Emailing Comment Authors
• Garage Sale
• Site Stats: 2010-04-24
• Today’s Business: 1997-06-18
• Today’s Diet: 2010-04-24
• Weight Loss: 2010

This is a list of some of the significant dates of the most important events in my life that show why each date is so memorable to me.  Under each date, I list the things that I can recall that happened on that date, and the year in which they took place.  This is a living document, as I anticipate many additions to it as I recall more of my earlier life story.  When other posts exist to provide more detail about a particular event, I’ll supply the links to those as well below.

01-01: New Years day.

• Spent many of these days with nasty headaches from partying the night before.  But the pork and sauerkraut dinner Mom often cooked cured all that.  Only trouble was that dinner wasn’t ready until later in the afternoon so in the meantime, I just had to suck it up and endure that throbbing head.
• In 1980, Mom and Dad both drove me back to Pittsburgh.  I remember the trip so well because we’d just experienced a heavy ice storm and all the branches on all the trees going over Cressen mountain, Laural Ridge, et al, were coated with a clear, glistening shell of frozen water.  The sun came out intermittently as we rode, making for quite the pretty, wintry scene.
• In 1986, I stopped chewing snuff for good.  Haven’t touched it or any tobacco products since.  This New Years resolution is probably the only one I’ve ever been able to keep permanently.
• In 1991, [Hane] stayed the night with me at Betsy Ross Circle.  This would be the only complete night we ever spent together, though we dated for the better part of a year.
• Gram Hesley died on this date, also in 1991.

 

01-02:

• In 1980, I started back to trade school at Connelley Skill Learning Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

01-05:

• in 2006, on this date,   Uncle Jack Sargent passed away.

 

01-07:

• In 2010 on this date, June Dillon passed away.

 

01-10:

• [Cher] and I spent an intimate afternoon together in 1982, at the end of which, she announced that she was going to marry [Tad] and said that we wouldn’t be together again like this.  Well, she was right; we never were though we did try once in 1988, after her and [Tad] were divorced.
• [Emeebee] and I spent our   last intimate evening together   in 1994; we broke up this very day.

 

02-04:

• Uncle Ken Hesley died on this day in 1992.

 

02-08:

• In 1970, this day fell on a Wednesday and this was my   first day attending the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children (WPSBC).
• This date, also in 1970 was when I met   [First Love]   for the first time.  Read more about her   here.

 

02-12:

• Sister Jojo’s birthday.

 

02-14: Valentines Day

• Any year that this date found me pining for a girl, I nearly invariably sent her a Valentines Day card.

 

02-15:

• Mom moved on this day in 2011 from her home to permanent residence at a local nursing facility due to declining health.

 

02-22:

• Uncle Ray Hesley died   on this day in 2009.

 

03-05:

• In 1979 on this windy and chilly day, I   exchanged my first pillow kisses with a woman.  This was the first time I’d ever taken a woman to bed.  Well, more precisely, [Dawn] took me to bed.

 

03-17: St. Patrick’s Day

• Pap Jewel’s birthday.  He was born in 1905, and passed away on September 10th, 1977.
• In 2003, I   resigned from my software engineering job,  which I’d worked for nearly fifteen years, to pursue a writing career full-time.

 

03-31:

• On this day in 1983, I   moved from Jackson St. to Mellon Sreet.

 

04-09:

• In 1974 on this date,   I met my second love, [Molly].  Read more about her   here.

 

04-10:

• [Emmy's] birthday.  Read more about her   here.

 

04-15:

• In 1983, this was the last day I worked at University of Pittsburgh as an electronics technician.  Due to insufficient budgets, they said that they had to let me go.

 

04-24:

• Long-time, best friend [Mentat's] birthday.

 

04-30:

• In 1979, I   moved into my first apartment, on McKee Place, on this day.
• I received my degree in computer science from the University of Pittsburgh   on this day in 1988.

 

05-03:

• I played trombone in my first public musical performance, with the WPSBC band in 1973, in   my first spring concert.

 

05-04:

• My second trombone performance with the WPSBC band.  This night was the first that my parents had seen me play in 1973.

 

05-05:

• Dad passed away   at 11:30 AM on this date in 1997.

 

06-01:

• In 1980, I   moved to the Jackson Street apartment   on this day, from   the McKee Place apartment.
• In 1984, I   moved to the Craig street apartment   on this day, from   the Mellon Street apartment.
• In 1985,  sister Christine got married.
• In 1990, I moved to the Betsy Ross Circle condominium, from   the Hunt Drive apartment.
• In 1991, I moved to the Jamestown Circle condominium, from the  Betsy Ross Circle   apartment.

 

06-03:

• In 1977, I attended   my first high school prom   with [Shaina].
• In 1980, I   made love for the first time,  and I consider myself so blessed that my first time was with [First Love].

 

06-04:

• [First Love's]  birthday.
• On this day in 1977, the day after my prom date with [Shaina], I fell in love with her; it happened in a dream, and those feelings would follow me throughout the entire 1977 summer.  They came quickly, yet they endured.

 

06-06:

• In 1988, I   moved from Pittsburgh PA to Hunt Drive, in south Dayton, OH.
• Long time friend  [Jack's]   birthday.

06-07:

• In 1979 on this day, I   graduated from high school   at WPSBC.

06-12:

• In 1982 on this date, Richard Parker married.  I attended the wedding along with [Mentat] and other school mates.

06-13:

• In 1988, I   began my job as a software engineer   in Dayton, OH.

06-25:

• My   Tommy’s Tunes disc jockey business   was born on this date in 2001.  On this day in my last Philadelphia apartment, my accumulation of MP3 music files began when I   ripped my first CDs to the computer.

07-04:

• In 1997, on the first day of the session at Beacon Lodge camp that I attended, I met [Judith], a woman who would claim my heart for the next nine months.
• In 2009, I traveled home from Philly by train after attending my second foot party.  Also on this day, I narrated my first fireworks display to the people on a public voicemail forum.  I took a little ribbing for this seemingly fruitless waste of time.  But people liked my descriptions for the most part.
• In 2010, I did not travel; but stayed in Altoona.  [Emmy] spent the holiday with me and the two of us went to sister Christine’s for an afternoon of great music, swimming, and lots of good food.

07-07:

• [Tad's]   birthday.

07-10:

• In 1997, I decided to leave camp Beacon Lodge before the session was actually over, because I had fallen painfully in love with [Judy].  The pain came because she was not permitted by camp rules to return my affection, and I sensed frustration from her that I did not understand and accept this better.

07-16:

• Richard Parker, a long-time friend / foe, more friend than foe actually, passed away after a protracted bout with gastrointestinal cancer.

07-19:

• I met  [Emmy]  for the first time at Beacon Lodge camp on this date in 2003, on the first day of the camp session.

07-20:

• Gram Jewell passed away   on this date in 1980.

07-21:

• This day in 1980 marked the beginning of the end of my romantic relationship with [First Love], for it was the last time I’d ever seen her be so warm, understand, and tender to me — in the wake of Gram Jewell’s death.  After this date, we didn’t see each other much at all until   [First Love] came back to Pittsburgh to resume college in September. By then, our drifting apart was quite pronounced.

07-28:

• In 2010, this was the last day Mom was able to walk and drive a car.  She contracted MRSA and VRE, and a diagnosed hematoma may have put pressure on her leg nerves so that she can no longer use them for much.

08-01:

• On or around this date in 1992, I   purchased my first Bible.

08-06:

• In 2000 on this date, I saw the pop jazz group, Blood, Sweat, and Tears perform at DelGrosso amusement park; I even got to shake the hand of their lead singer, David Clayton Thomas.

08-08:

• In 2000 on this date, at around 4:00 AM, Cubby the cat had kittens; she gave birth to Baby and Jasper, two black tuxedo kittens, which would become affectionate and highly-liked family pets around the house here for many years.

08-14:

• Boyhood friend Joey Moffa’s birthday.  However, he’s now deceased.

09-10:

• My grandfather Jewell passed away at 72 years of age, due to the deteriorating effects of diabetes.

09-13:

• On this date in 1973, [First Love] and I broke up, the first time.

09-21:

• On this date in 1980,   [First Love] and I broke up   for the second, and what would turn out to be, the last time.

 

09-28:

• On this date in 2008, uncle Bill Hench passed away.

 

09-30:

• In 1992 on this date, I purchased my first home on Copper Creek Court in Dayton, Ohio.

 

10-23:

• Mom’s mother, Mae Jewell was born on this day in 1910.

11-06:

• Sisters Christine’s and Diane’s birthday.

 

11-19:

• On this date in 2000, I moved from Altoona back to Philadelphia.  I  moved to Red Lion Road.

 

11-26:

• In 1988,   sister Jojo got married   on this date.

 

12-16:

• David Middleton passed away   on this date in 1995.

 

12-20:

• [Olga's] birthday.

 

12-22:

• [Emeebee's]   birthday.

 

12-24:

• Sister Mary Ann got married   on this date in 1990.

 

12-26:

• In 1993, [Emeebee]  drove here from Michigan to visit me.  She stayed for two days.
• Neighbor Brenda has her annual day-after-Christmas party.  I’ve attended this several times between 2002 and 2009.

 

12-28:

• In 1993, [Emeebee] and I drove back to Dayton when, she refused to turn the heat on in her car for me, because she didn’t like the noise it made.  That was an awful trip and because of that, it would become one of the very last ones I ever took with [Emeebee].

 

12-31:

• In 1975, my sisters and I went next door for a party that the two oldest boys hosted.
• In 1978, [Mentat] and I attended a party at a local radio DJ’s place.   We got very drunk, and this was the first time I’d ever experienced severe dizziness in bed (the bed spins); wanting more than living itself to make it stop but totally powerless to do so.
• In 1984, our family had a party at Third St. in Bellwood.
• In 1985, sister Mary Ann and I went to the Philadelphia area and stayed with her boyfriend.  The three of us went to a night club called Pulsations, located in Media, PA.
• In 1986 and 1987, I attended the celebrations at the K&M Bar and Grill in Bellwood PA.
• In 1990,  [Hane]   and I spent our first and last night together at my   Betsy Ross Circle   apartment after appearing at a New Years eve party that was hosted by one of [Hane]‘s   coworkers.
• In 1993, [Emeebee] and I went to a mutual friend’s house for a New Years eve party.
• In 1998, [Kar] and I spent New Years eve together, first at a bar/ restaurant in Bensalem, PA, then it was on to her apartment.
• In 1999, I worked Y2K duties at my software engineering job in Dayton.
• In 2000 and 2001, I spent this New Years eve at Christine’s house, though I didn’t DJ much; just played CDs on a boom box, and gave   [Beetee]   foot massages.
• In years 2002 through 2009, I’ve spent every New Years eve, DJing at my sister Christine’s garage.

 

Tom Hesley

Log

08:00 AM: I’m up.  Executing my daily morning chores.  It’s the twins’ birthday today.

10:00 AM: Added several posts from personal email to the blogs from 1997.  These outline my reasons for leaving Ohio for Philadelphia.

12:30 PM: Wrote 800 words into the   My First Pillow Kiss   post, which is upcoming. 

12:35 PM: Nap time.

03:00 PM: Decided on a metal halide fixture to buy for the   Christmas lighting, 2009  project; if I buy some at all that is, and that’s not yet been decided for sure.

04:15 PM: Sister Diane stopped by with her dog, Mia, to let Mom see her.  They just came from the grooming shop.

04:45 PM: Then, sister Christine came by.  She and Rich are meeting another couple and going out for dinner.  Today’s the twins’ birthday. 

05:30 PM: Then, nephew Tyler and two of his friends stopped by.  They’re going to the restaurant down the street in a little while and thought they’d come and visit their grandmother for a few minutes.   Wow, lots of visitors today!

07:45 PM: Wrote 900 more words into the upcoming   My First Pillow Kiss   post. This gives a total of 1700 words for today. 

08:40 PM: Watched today’s episode of   The Young and the Restless.

10:30 PM: Talked with [Emmy]. 

11:00 PM: Got a note from [Vee], which is discussed in more detail   here.  Though I have no plans to respond, her email did inspire me to go through all the posts in the   Tom’s Love Quest   blog that pertain to her, and make sure they show up in the search results when someone searches for [Vee].  I’m also changing every mention of [Vee] in each and every one of those posts in that blog, into a link that runs the said search. 

01:50 AM: All the [Vee] work is complete.  Now, I’m off to bed.  Good night.

Tom Hesley

Related Posts

• Christmas Lighting, 2009  Project
• Diary Revisions: 2009-11-06
• January, 1997 Done
• Mom’s Status: 2009-11-06
• Tom’s Love Quest –> Heard From [Vee] Again
• Tom’s Love Quest –> My First Pillow Kiss

04:15 PM: While riding the train back home from Philly and the most recent foot party, I grew famished.  So I purchased two garden burgers.  They’re a good size, pretty filling, and taste delicious.  I load mine up with lots of mustard.  Unfortunately, they have no vegetable condiments on the train.  But mustard really spices them up.

Total cost: $7.50

 

Tom

Got up at 8:00 AM, packed, ate breakfast with [Jack], and headed for the train back to Altoona.

I arrived at 30th street station, Philadelphia, at around 11:00 AM. The train departed at 12:42 PM and arrived hare in Altoona at 5:06 PM. My nephew met me there and drove me home.

Signed up for an account on a telephone-based social networking site that [Jack] told me of.

Watched Friday’s episode of   The Young and the Restless   on the DVR.

Wrote a new   Love Quest   post that summarizes this weekend’s foot party.  Click   here   to read it.

Mom not feeling well. Blood sugar was 594. Apparently, she hasn’t been regularly measuring this, and so hasn’t been giving herself the correct doses of insulin. She did feel better as this evening progressed. Now, she’s down in her favorite chair sleeping.

Tom Hesley