Monday, August 06, 2007

A Story from My Brother, Tommy

I called Tommy on my way to work this morning. He said he was shaving and thinking he would call me once he got in the truck. Then his phone rang. We do that a lot.

He said he was out fixing someone's DSL line the other day, an older couple out in Helotes, and the man invited him in to cool off after he was done. He talked with both of them for a few minutes and learned that the man had retired from the Fort Sam Houston fire department, and the wife said she'd retired from USAA.

He said his mom had worked at USAA and the woman asked what her name was. Tom said, "Well she retired a long time ago, in the late 80s. Her last name was Wente."

The woman got an odd look on her face and said, "Ruth?" You're Ruth Wente's son? I LOVED Ruth!"

He stayed another half hour while she told him what a wonderful person Mom was and how great she was to work with. When he got ready to leave, she said, "I need to hug you," and he said he was kind of sweaty, and she said, "I don't care. I can't let Ruth Wente's son leave without hugging him."

Tom said it made his day to meet that woman and hear about Mom. Mine, too.

Friday, August 03, 2007

Situation Normal: All F.... Up

Is that where the SNAFU acronym comes from? Someone told me that once. The good news is that I'm now six weeks out of chemo, feeling GREAT, getting serious about the gym again, and even have a little hair growing out. (I do look like Grandpa Charlie coming out of the mines, though. My head just looks dirty at this point.)

The bad news is that it looks like things are going south at Aegis very quickly, so I am getting serious about job hunting. I need 1) lots of money; 2) a good insurance plan; 3) a pleasant work environment, close to my house; 4) generous bonus and vacation programs. I will TAKE any two, although #2 is not negotiable.

My expectation is that I'll have a small Aegis severance package, and I can elect COBRA coverage, which is expensive but well worth it in my case, until I land somewhere else. Luckily Chuck has turned 65 and so he can go Medicare, although we are still not sure how one does that. We'll take advice from anyone who understands it.

We have gone on a new austerity program since returning from our Florida trip, business related of course, where we saw alligators, petted a giraffe, went kayaking, ate and drank like royalty, etc. My favorite part was my spa visit, where I had a cocoa-sugar body scrub: First the lady scrubbed me, then put me in the shower. Then she buttered me. I was SOFT.

But the best news, as I say, is that I feel great, and I'm very grateful for that. Having dodged the cancer bullet (well, only grazed), I have an appreciation for what's important, so I'm less panicked about the job thing than I might otherwise be. Funny how that happens.

Going forward, I have a herceptin treatment every four weeks through February. The reconstructive surgery is scheduled for September 12th. (Hooters party to be announced.) Most important, my sure-fire weight loss program works. It has three simple elements: 1) get in the gym six days per week; 2) stop eating like each meal is my last; 3) stay out of the wine. I can drop a half pound a day if I just do those three things. Wonder why they're so hard?

I've received several complaints about lack of regular posting, and I apologize to my audience. I will get back on it. I have some new funny stories which I'll post over the weekend.

Love to all.