I Think

I don't always let them know what I do. The valve for instance.

They would draw the line with me buying things.

IMHO, any property owner should feel privileged to have you as an employee. I suspect that you're not going to be comfy hearing that level of praise but that doesn't change the facts. Your work ethic and giving them more value than they might be aware of is praiseworthy.

Corporations these days are often about how much profit they can yield and the number. Their focus typically is on younger workers thinking that's who they should reward and bring along.

Sorry...that's an aside. I know you like the specific challenges that job offers you.

Ragman, You have it spot on! I agree with your assessment about good employees. Had my share of trying to supervise bad employees, and challenging management often for their decisions.

You've certainly been a very important person ci. Was it really so trying? You certainly don't repress the memory of it.

First class middle management is very important. Even in Roman times.

We have had some great people pass through here and some real yo-yos. The key to my own success, I strive to give satisfaction for both customers and staff. Beyond all that, I consider these apartments my tutor and my proving ground. Prior to working here, I was more than a bit clumsy dealing with others and conversing. I am still not Mr Smooth, but I have become very comfortable in this setting.

The threads that constantly challenge one's right to be religious or atheist or other no longer hold much interest for me. No amount of persuasion can alter a perception of what's real. My atheism is strongly influenced by CG Jung and Phillip Wylie, but in the end does not rely on thoughts expressed by any person. I am as incapable of religion as my friend Jim ___ was of atheism. The world does not care what humans think anyway.

On a forum that gathers home remedies for fleas, one responder put, "I combined several methods in one." But disappears without giving a precise recipe. Another post deep in the thread states that a poster has come up with the following combination of the same ingredients listed by the first responder:
In a spray bottle cover bottom with salt about one inch deep. Next add two inches baking soda. Add sixteen ounces apple cider vinegar.
Gullible person that I am, I proceeded to follow the instructions, except I mixed it in a quart size canning jar. When I got to the part where I poured in some vinegar, it triggered an instant foaming action that overran the jar. I tried pouring some more and then holding a hand over the jar to keep the stuff inside. The pressure forced my hand up and foam spilled into the sink. I tried this a couple more times, no longer expecting to have a product I could use, but curious to know if the ingredients would ever stabilize in the jar. Each time I poured in the tiniest amount of vinegar foam erupted. Each time I did this, the level of salt and baking soda went down. Finally I washed it all down the drain, feeling the fool, imagining the good laugh the author of that recipe must be having.

What you say is true; even my siblings - when their prayers aren't answered, will continue to pray. When my sister's husband passed away after many years of care and praying, she lost "faith" for about a year, but went back to being "religious."

They all believe that their prayers are the reasons our family has done well in our professions.

I see that as myopia; many religious families with similar professions have suffered untold tragedies in their family.

From my POV, it's more "luck" than the praying.

We read about how sensitive people become over the internet. The slightest inattentiveness is cause for feelings of personal insult. one case of this happened last week, to me, but it's not the only instance I could come up with. I became facebook friends with somebody over a year ago and the person's avatar was always displayed for friends available for chat. But I never saw the little green box that signals the person to be actively on line. Last week, the friend suddenly caught me on chat and we had a fairly long, uneventful conversation, one that petered out quickly, but we kept typing. Next time I went on facebook the person was actively on line. I did my usual quick perusal of new newsline posts and moved on to a different web site. The friend possibly felt slighted, because after that time the avatar vanished for the first time in a year and the person does not respond to any of my messages.

sometimes there are technical reasons (unintended) for such scenarios. However, with all of these new-fangled ways to contract one another, there are also new potential ways to get feathers ruffled and/or have these slights. sometimes it's with people who you don't really know their emotional situation.

In one case, I have a formerly VERY close friend of mine of 45 years who/whom I see log onto Skype every day. We had at one time used Skype a few times to chat but now...we haven't been in touch in over 10 months. The contact has been sputtering for the last few years but at one point we got together weekly for 25-30 yr.

I don't even know why that is happening because we never had a an angry word...or disagreement. I've a choice... I could say, '**** happens' or simply call him ..on the phone.

At any rate, I have determined to post as I will and let the chips fall as they may. I rarely set out to alienate a friend. Persons I don't want to rub elbows with are put on ignore or unfriended. I don't do this that often and it is not from spite, but for my peace of mind. I am actually fond of a few a2kers I have on ignore.

I had hit on a game in Angry Birds Star Wars, Death Star edition, that I could not master. #16, it is. Then, in the weekly tournament, I made the discovery that if you point the figures that are gunners away from the target and then click on the target it will "shoot" in areas it cannot otherwise touch. I went back to #16 and tested it there. Sure enough, unmakeable shots became simple, with a bit of practice. Many "tough" games are now simplified for me.

I didn't know that! Tnx, I'll try it.

The 70% threat of severe weather for today has been amended to 30. And that's mostly to the south of us. In fact, I see sunshine out there. Think I will put the top down on my Ranger.

The last atheist in a fox hole made for a very uncomfortable fox.

Perhaps if people would switch from the rhetoric of gun "control" to gun "regulation" the sound might be less jarring on the ears of gun worshippers. Probably not.

Happy Mothers Day

My cancer is kicking up again. I will be changing my strategy for dealing with it as soon as I get my stuff by mail. I intend making a journal and posting it or parts of it. So, no questions for now. All will be explained in due time.

I wonder if snood still peeks in from time to time. Hi, snood.

edgar, Sorry to hear about your cancer flareup.

Today was a rather hot day, but while working in my yard, a bee stung me on the ear. My wife couldn't see it, so I just put some ice in a plastic bag and held it by my ear. Then, when I walked into the family room, she asked me if I saw the bee sting. (Behind my ear.)

Gotta love nature.

Hey Edgar,

Sorry to hear about your cancer. Scary thing to have. I've had two brushes with it in the past, then in the past couple of weeks had a skin cancer removed from my nose. Not a lot of fun when you hear the diagnosis! Let us know how you get on, please.

I started a journal, which I plan to post in time. Meanwhile life goes on as normal. I am about to get ready for work.

Punky the dog still digs on an almost daily basis, but she is no longer particularly destructive. I am attempting to grow new plants where in the past she wouldn't let me. I set out four roses and plan to fill the beds with mulch and put in some other plants. Maybe I can have a nice yard this year.

I finally got the trim up on my back porch. All that's left outside is two corner boards and some odds and ends trim and caulk, before I finish the paint job. All but the roof. That will be major. I have to put rust converter on first and then roll on the silver colored paint they make for mobile homes. If the weather gets too hot, I may delay until autumn.

My coworker is out for a few days. He went to some festival in Nacadoches and ate food not approved for Crohn's patients. It will require an operation to clear three or four blockages of undigested food. He is an interesting person to work with and one of the best I have known. Last week he was accosted by a knife wielding man outside a local business. Almost reflexively, he socked the man in the face. Then he kicked him in the crotch. But he went on home before deciding to call the law. By then the hurting criminal was gone.

Talk about service. I ordered my MMS product Friday night (used PayPal) and received it on Monday, for a flat postal rate of $7.50. (MMS is my present satanic unAmerican alternative health program) Now I have to change my eating habits to accommodate. No highly alkaline dishes. No supplements, particularly vitamin C. Seems this kind of stuff neutralizes MMS.