Civil Service Reform Needed

An open letter to all candidates for public office, transmitted directly to candidates for the delegation from the State of Georgia.

Little Pieces Of Our Lives Slip Away Every Day

It wasn't just celebrities departing this life in the last few days. We look at them, think we know them, and mourn their passing as if they were integral parts of our daily lives - but they're not. On the other hand, every day, somewhere close, someone dies who actually is in some way integral to someone's life.

Self DIS-service Checkout Kiosks

I just got back from a shopping trip to Wally-world, as my children call it, and one of the worst-ever check-out experiences that I've ever had.

What is the opposite of xenophile?

My Honey suggests xenophobe, but I disagree: love and fear are not opposites. Love and hate, or at least dislike, come closer.

Anyway, whatever it is, I think I'm becoming one.

Visitation

I went back to visit my work friends today. Seems a little strange, having to be a visitor at the place where I used to work. It makes major changes in how you have to conduct yourself.

The next sound you hear...

... will be the air rushing in to fill the vacuum at my old workplace.

I got a call today from a friend and former co-worker, to let me know about a retirement luncheon for yet another former co-worker. My buddy, JimB came to work at about the same time I did, reaching his 30th year about three weeks ahead of me. He hadn't orginally intended to retire so soon, but he changed his mind recently.  In discussing it with him, he told me that the deciding factor is the length of his commute to work.

In 1985, he was transferred from his previous duty station to Atlanta. His family had deep roots in the home they already had, and he and his wife didn't want to move. As a result he has to traverse 75 miles each way, every day ever since. That is love, folks. The mystery to me is not that he tired of it, but why did it take so long?

JimB is an asset that will be missed.

Anticipation - or Anxiety?

Retirement!

By this time next month, I'll have been retired about 48 hours. How can one actually look forward to living on half his/her current gross annual income ? Fairly easily, actually, if you observe and remember that many people retire on even less - like whatever Social Security pays.