As Life Plods On

Today was a good day to rest up - especially since it was a week when the ADA racket came front and center.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for disability access.  Remember, I pushed Rick's wheelchair.  What I don't like is the litigation disability mills that look for minuscule ADA violations and sue for correction in order to make a quick buck.  Those who are ambushed by these people think they are being screwed and no one is willing to fix it.

I see the same thing as California tightens up on who is an Independent Contractor.  That should make for a lot of litigation.

Glad to see attorneys are fully employed.

It's been a while

What can I say, I've been busy.

Let's start by answering an outstanding question.

It was a fool's errand.

The person who I was going to pick up in Houston wound up moving to Dallas with his family.  He told me of this plan upon my arrival to pick him up.

Needless to say, that made for an interesting week as I was processing that one.  It also put a damper on things and I am rethinking where I am going on this one.  Right now, I am really not interested in taking it to a higher level as I suspect he needs to grow up and stand on his own two feet first.  He's a nice guy, but the move he made went down like a lead balloon.  The official reason is that he could not get a housing situation set up in San Diego.  I wonder if he even tried.  I guess he just is going to have to figure out for himself what he has to do.

In the meantime, I was bombarded with work to the point where Karma fought back in the form of an Internet outage.  It resulted in a lovely morning and early afternoon doing laundry and having a very nice lunch afterwards.  Things got back to normal later in the afternoon and I got some work done.

What else.  Oh, yeah.  I went to Puerto Nuevo last Sunday for the Rosarito Art Fest.  It made for a fun afternoon.  I rode down and back in Mercedes - Benz comfort and luxury (Lots of buses made by them go all over Mexico.)  I also got to meet up with a friend, who I would not mind giving benefits to.

After Mexican Independence Day, it's back to the US to run errands.

More to come.

As City Fest approaches

I find it hard to believe that City Fest is coming up tomorrow.

Yes, I'm going, which means a return to the US.

Not really looking forward to returning to the US, but it's a bunch of duty dances.  When done, it's back to Mexico until my trip to Houston.

Should be a fun few days.

Rescue Mission or Fool's Errand

Well, I don't know.

I knew when I started dating someone that poor family dynamics on his end were an issue.

In spite of the fact they are poor, he decided to move with his sister and family to Lake Jackson, TX then Angleton, TX.  We all told him not to go, but he did anyway.

Well, it didn't work out as planned and his sister struck him.

Big no no.

So, next week, I'm going to pick him up and take him back to San Diego.

That is his Xmas present.

I told him the rest is up to him.  He says that he has everything set up.  I'm not so sure.

But we will see what happens.

Weekend Observations

Couple of things I noted.

I'm used to the fact after four years, when strangers call me on the phone in Mexico and are basing the call on something I filled out, they take the path of least resistance and call me by my middle name.  That is because it is Spanish.  I have gotten so used to it, I just laugh it off.  It was confirmed to me yesterday by someone out to sell me a condo that I was correct in the logic.

In real estate, it really is location, location, location no matter where you go.  That said, I noted the money I would save for a cheaper place would all go to a car.  Sigh.

I really need to do more stuff such as look at condos and shop for cars.  It's good for my Spanish.  Also good exercises are anything to do with fine arts and lectures.

After two mass shootings, I wonder if I am safer in Tijuana than in the United States.  Note that Tijuana is not known for being particularly safe.  I'll know more on the 11th when I return to the US.

I was busy

I just wrote out a bill and figured out why I felt like I was dealing with a client every time I turned around.

It was because I was!

The check will be nice.

Rescue Missions

I don't know if I should be running a fools errand, but someone wants to be rescued from a situation he doesn't like.

OK, I probably would not want to live in Angleton, TX carless as public transport to civilization (Houston) is nonexistent.  I get that.

He also did not want to leave San Diego.  Everyone who knew him said, "figure something out."

Did he?  No.

So, he is almost two years living there.  I'm pretty sure he didn't do anything to try to make it work, and that has set off alarm bells in my head.  I suspect he wants me to rescue and support him and that is something that cannot happen due to my precarious financial state.

I'll put it bluntly, after it blew up in the desert, I was glad to have Tijuana to come back to.  People know me here and I still am enamored with living in a neighborhood with a high walk score.  The fact that it is inexpensive to live here is incidental, but it does come in handy if you get hit with big expenses.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand.

I ask him how preparations for a return to San Diego are going?

I hear crickets.

Not good.

Let's see where we go from here.

Instant Gratification

Yes, I do understand why people want someone to wave a magic wand and rescue them.  I'm dating someone who is seeking just that so he can come back to San Diego.

I look at that through an intersting prism in that it took me 15 years from the time I decided I wanted to give SoCal a try until I wound up here.  During that time I did a lot of homework and planning.

As you may suspect, the original plan and what ended up happening were two different things.  Which means I am now in an agreeable neighborhood in Tijuana plotting my next move.

So patience may be a virtue after all.

Step One

In Alcoholics Anonymous, the first step is to admit,  "we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable." (The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, https://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/smf-121_en.pdf, viewed July 21, 2019.)

Today is a Facebook friend's second anniversary of taking that first step.  He showed a picture of the chip he got from AA celebrating two years.  More importantly he showed a pic of his mug shot which I presume was taken the day he took that first step.

Couple of things come to mind.

First, when I walk past AA meetings, it is not a rare sighting to see someone who could use help in dealing with their addictions outside looking in as the participants discuss their lives before and after they took Step One.  I suspect they know they have an issue, but are not for whatever reason ready to deal with it.

Which brings me to my next point, which I was reminded about the hard way.  I believe that no one can do Step One for someone else.  I may be fully cognizant that someone else has a problem even though they may not be a danger to themselves or others (that is another story,) but I cant fix things for them.

Of course, that brings a new challenge that I have to figure out how to deal with.  Again, that is another story for another time.

The last thing I was reminded of was the time I had to do Step One about something in December 1987.  I woke up after a three day drinking binge I engaged in after being thrown out by my parents in a stranger's bed.  I realized, that if I stayed in Houston, I would die a quick death.  I knew I had to leave in order to live and ended up starting a new life in Denver.

It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Not another screw up.

Well, yes and no.

I thought Comic Con was last weekend and dovetailed with Pride.

It's really this weekend.

Fortunately, I'm back in Tijuana while the sellout weekend continues apace.

I also spent two days in Vegas.

And I am going to make all of you jealous.

I won.

And I spent my ill gotten gains on adult slushie treats.

Calling it an early evening.

Will churn, burn and do laundry tomorrow.

And figure out the next trip.

Four Years Later

Four years ago, about when I am writing this (11.22 PM) I thanked a nurse who came to the apartment, declared Rick dead, arranged for the coroner to release the remains to me and verified that I faxed the paperwork for his cremation so that the ball got rolling on that.

So, I've been a widower for four years.  It's been an amazing journey.

So let's look at what went wrong first over the past four years.

• I could have planned my San Francisco exit better.  Although I got what I wanted and then some out of my landlady, I should have not waited until the deal was inked to get rid of stuff.  The reason why I waited was just as the deal was about to be inked, she had an, "emergency," and needed to go to LA.  I didn't trust the woman to go through with it and was ready for a fight.  Should have not worried about her and just gotten my act together and gotten out.
  
• I was in and out of a roommate situation for four years that I really didn't want to continue.  It was an interesting ride, but I should have gotten out sooner.
  
• I haven't done as good a job as I should have regarding the health issues that cropped up after five years of caregiving.  Part of it was being aimless, but a few things have cropped up and I have to get to work on getting back into reasonable shape.
  
• I have not gone to Guatemala to give the Amate the good bye he deserved.  Especially over the past three weeks, he has popped up in my dreams.  I miss him very much.
  
  

Now, let's look at what went right.

• I got out of San Francisco.  I had wanted to for years and finally did it.  The uprooting was good for me and I don't have to deal with the effects of the economic cleansing of San Francisco.  I don't whine about being displaced in the least.  I'm happy I left for bigger and better things.
  
• I found a place that feels like home.  That place is Tijuana.  To an extent, I fell down when I quit the above mentioned roommate situation and this is the place that said, "Welcome home.  Glad you're back."  So I'm here.  I've picked myself up.  I've dusted myself off and it's on to the next round.  I've also revised my kitchen budget (Now MXN 12,500) and Washer / Dryer budget (MXN 20,000)
  
• I am catching up on the travel front.  Six trips to Texas, three to Las Vegas, Phoenix, Monterrey, Mazatlan, Mexico City (three times) and San Miguel de Allende (also three times)
  
• My new annual tradition is going to the LA Auto Show.  I might even do it on Thanksgiving Weekend.
  
• I've found I can date.  Kissed some frogs, but there may be a prince that came out of it all.  Stay tuned.

So, the adventure continues.  Let's see what life has in store for us.

As I Play Catch Up

This week has been nothing but playing catch up.

I should be done with it by the end of the week.

I'm also dealing with another issue

Comic Con

San Diego Pride is the same day as the start of Comic Con.  This means it's impossible to get a hotel room at a decent price.  If the situation were different, I would just do a quick trip to San Diego to pick up mail and skate.  However it's Pride and I don't want to miss it, so I will have to get creative on how I will do all the US stuff I need to do after I get my check.

Vegas maybe?

Who knows.  All I know is I won't go running back to the ex roommate any time soon.

Back to Square One

So, I am now back in Tijuana.

I'm not dealing with the lies

I'm not dealing with the untrustworthiness

And I'm not going back.

I'm sorry the dog is unhappy that I left, but even he knows the now former housemate is a louse and a screw up.

And the relationship drama hit a new low.  The former housemate and his boyfriend broke up.  Guess he couldn't handle the fact that the boyfriend is raising a kid with his ex.

And the former housemate wants me to come back.

I may have to go, again, to Palm Springs to sit him down and lay all the cards on the table. I mean it has hit the point where 30 seconds have elapsed and the act is not worthy of continuing.

GONG

In other news, Tijuana Pride was a success and I had some fun.  It was nice celebrating something for once, even if it was the fact I found a new bar to hang out in.

So, here is to more stories about good times.

OK crisis almost solved

OK, so unexpected expenses have happened due to a chapter of my life ending badly.  Oh well, it just means that we cannot be generous with money for three weeks, and I'm OK with that.

That said, not having to live with someone who wants to live the druggie life - PRICELESS!  My only regret is not making the decision in Houston not to go back to the BS.  Of course Karma immediately reacted by making absolutely sure that irrops would bite me on the butt.

But what's done is done.  Yeah, money will be tight for a little while, but it will work out in the end.

But I'm not dealing with someone who made the decision to live the druggie life with his druggie boyfriend.

In other news, I set up the GPS notification so the bank can track me down when I put something on my card.  That way, it will make life in Mexico much easier.

Anyway, coming soon is the revenge trip.   Should be fun.

Stay tuned.

Well, That Was an Interesting Aftermath.

So, I went back to Palm Springs on my birthday - and I was reminded that in February I should have decided on a bus in Houston not to head back as the housemate turned out to be untrustworthy and decided that getting back with his druggie boyfriend was just too important to pick me up from the Ontario Airport.

He said, he wanted to take me out for my birthday. I paid for it.

He complained he didn't see much of the druggie boyfriend while I was away.  I was surprised by that one.

While I was away, they only had sex once (I had daily sex with my date while I was with him.)

And when he DID come over he basically was passed out from a drug binge for 48 hours.

Oh what fun.

Then the roommate asked me to drive them to LA promising to pay for gas.  Yeah, I paid for it.  They couldn't even spring for a coke for me.  Too broke and too infatuated with each other.

Someone is not happy and commented about it.

Roommate's nose was out of joint, and he made it quite clear via text message.

So I ran errands in LA and learned my check was waiting in San Diego.  I wound up taking them back and I booked a ticket to SD to pick up the check and take care of a few things.

While in the Town and Country, roommate decided he didn't want to live with me anymore and I said, "Fine, I'll be by Monday to pick things up."

He then trash talks me.

I went to Palm Springs, attended to an eye doctor appointment, picked up my stuff and left.

His parting shot?  "I need $300 for utilities."  Note it was originally $250.

So, the dishonesty and lying are done.  I don't think he realizes he was cut off financially in the process as he did a $300 money beg yesterday.

So, what's next?

Well, Tijuana Pride is this weekend, so I will attend that.  Afterwards, I will plot my next move.

AND exact revenge.

Stay tuned.

Happy Third Anniversary

Of what?

Well, now that Shavout is over with this year, it is also marks three years since a self imposed period of not being serious about pursuing a relationship ended.

So where do things stand?

The person who I though was relationship material then is just a friend now.  I got involved with four guys and they have clarified what I want in terms of a relationship.  I guess what I want is a companion and a co conspirator.  I think I found someone who falls in that category.

I also know I don't want someone who thinks I am the money tree.  I got involved in one situation where that was how I was perceived and ultimately broke it off nicely.

So, what now?

I'm having adult conversations with someone about where our relationship is going and we shall see what happens.  I think we are both ready to go from him and I to we.

Details as they occur.

As I await laundry being done.

OK, the trip to Texas went very well. 

The date was great.  We saw my nephew graduate from college and went to the Van Gough exhibit at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts.  In between the two events, we hung out, learned about video games, went shopping and explored various haunts from my sordid past.

And now the laundry is done, soo, more later.

Greetings from Houston TX

Yes, I'm back in Houston, TX again for the second time this year.

Why?  Well, remember that trip I told you about in May?  I'm taking it now and it has turned into an extended date.  Overall great experience.

It also means I should discuss something about this blog.  One of the things I decided when I first started this blog is that it would end should I get married again.  Guess what?  That may be in the cards. 

I'm definitely in love and the string of dates I have been is leading me to believe I may have met my next husband.  We see eye to eye on many things and I think I can work with his tragic flaw.

The date will end on Tuesday, but I am looking forward to the next one.

Fingers crossed.

The end of the Octave of Easter (or is that the beginning?)

This week we are reminded that East is East and West is West as our Orthodox brethren start their Octave of Easter as the Western brethren finish it up.

Anyway, dealing with someone who is unhappy that 1) his relationship may have ended and 2) no one wants to join his pity party (or help pay for it.)  Solution?  What else.  A depression nap.

At least I got work done.

And I got my driver license renewed

And life overall is as good as it gets.

And the trip to Texas is coming up.

The only other thing I am doing right now is pondering if I want to go to Florida to unearth the awful truth as to how I was financially screwed.

Stay tuned!

Happy Easter Tuesday

Sooooo, we got through Easter.  HOORAY!

Well, not quite.  We are in the Octave of Easter as we head toward Pentecost Sunday and I was reminded about one of Rick's favorite accusations.  I'm not Catholic but he always said, "Your better at being Catholic than I am."

Maybe but it has changed over the years.  This infidel has been blessed by Catholic priests as a grown up.  Once, this infidel concluded that someone figured out what is going on.  What happened was, I got the word that one of my Uncles was about to die.  I learned of it at 6:00 AM, got cleaned up and dressed, and went to the 7 AM weekday mass at Mission Dolores.  Afterwards, the priest gave me a special blessing as if he knew I was there for a reason.

The other really interesting Catholic experience I had was when Rick was giving the Anointing of the Sick.  It was just me, the priest and him.  I stepped out during confession, and stepped back in.  The interesting part is that although the church does workarounds I was brought up in the era where non Catholics cannot partake of communion in a Catholic church.

Which makes me stick out.

Anyway, enjoy your Octave of Easter.

First Quarter Update.

Well, we are about 3 1/2 months into 2019 and maybe it's time to check up on two things we noted at the end of 2018.

Lets first talk about things  where the jury was out at the end of the last year.

• I found out I cannot get on PreP because I flunked my blood test.  I have some kidney issues.
  
  I learned more about PreP than I ever wanted to when my housemate decided he wanted to go on it.  It seems the way I got evaluated was just not the way to go.  I DARED talk to my regular MD about it and that MD was in National City and not Hillcrest.  The PreP navigator was completely unglued that I would do something like that.  AND he just could not deal with the fact I have flunked my blood tests to take it.  That turned me off from considering it.  Did I mention I found out a 30 day supply retails for $2,000?
  
• I agreed to see if a relationship should be taken to the next level, which means I will be in Houston, TX at the end of January.
  
  The trip in January went well.  I'm going back in May as he will be my dream date to my nephew's graduation.  He's met my relatives, and there will be another round of that.  Should be a fun trip.  We are still dating, but have discussed marriage and what a life together would look like.

Resolutions for 2019

• Bill more hours
  
  Client is growing organically, so I am doing that already.
  
• Lose enough weight to go under the 200 lb barrier.
  
  Lost six pounds this quarter.  Need to lose more.
  
• Clean up my finances.
  
  Got a credit line increase and straightened a problem with the Franchise Tax Board out.

So, here is to the home stretch of Lent.  Have a blessed Holy Week.

Halfway through Lent

During this time of reflection,  I've gotten a more serene about the current situation.

I also realize that I may have been unrealistic immediately after Rick died thinking I would jump right back into the workforce and pick up where I left off.  I should have been more realistic and given myself the room to grieve and heal.  Ultimately that is what I did.

I'm also serene about the fact that it took nine years to wind up in the situation I was in when Rick died.  Now that I realize that getting back to the better position I was in in 2006 is going to take a little while.  What's good about that is I no longer kick myself for taking so long to get back to that point.

Guess the other thing I need to work on is realizing that I probably will wind up at a different point.  Sort of like a lateral move.

I'm going to take it easy this weekend and celebrate with a glass of Processo as I work on the issue of getting badly needed R&R.

Hopefully that will be fun.

Little Victories

After hearing someone I did work for got a withholding notice from the Franchise Tax Board saying I owe them money, I called them to find out what was going on.

It turns out they still believed that I worked in San Francisco and made an estimate that was incorrect by a long shot.  Ultimately, the notice got undone.  They also didn't realize that for several years I was so broke I didn't have to file a tax return (so I didn't)

So that little problem is solved on terms more favorable than expected (I don't have to do any work or submit documentation.)

And, that is some good news that I needed right now.  I'm exhausted and need a little non duty related play time.  And no, I'm not dealing with my housemate who expects me to take him and pay for all the drinks.  Not after his screw ups.

So, here is to more of Lent.

I gotta realize something took nine years.

The timeline between Rick being diagnosed with colon cancer and his death spanned nine years.  During that time I was not assertive in pursuing my career, took a significant amount of time to take care of Rick and took major financial beatings.

During needed Lenten reflection, I realized that I wasn't doing well for seven years after I got out of college and when I finally got a footing, it probably took that long to get back on my feet after being forced to run away from home flat broke.

I then concluded I am going through the same thing now and I didn't instantly snap back to where I was before all hell broke loose.  It'll be a marathon and not a sprint.

Hopefully I can enjoy the process.

Busy time

When it rains, it pours.

And that also applies to work.

It seems to have picked up for a while and I am glad for that.  I will definitely use the money in May when I go to Texas.

Those plans are up in the air because after San Antonio I don't know if the next stop is Houston, Dallas or both.  I do know I want to stay until after my birthday simply because I can celebrate it with someone there.  The main reason for going (watching my nephew graduate college) is set and I have a date.  Woo Hoo.

And because it was acting up, I Passover Cleaned the freezer which was full of ice from a prior occurrence.

On to the next round.

Villain of the Day

Like a lot of people I am following the scandal in which the rich and famous allegedly engaged in schemes to get their Precious Little Angels into the right colleges.  I noted the guy who did all the work, Rick Singer, is a fellow Trinity University Alumnus.  He played baseball and basketball and wound up being a coach who got fired a few times before getting into the college admission business.

That is where he pushed the envelope and did extreme stuff to assuage anxious (and wealthy) parents that his efforts could get their Precious Little Angel into the right, high profile, college.

It reminded me of another Trinity Alumnus who got in deep legal trouble.  His name was Paul Rush.

I met him when I was a freshman and he recently graduated and worked for what was then known as Cullen/Frost - a large bank in San Antonio.  As he worked his way up the ranks, he also embezzled about $500,000.  He went to prison for 27 months for that.

You would have thought he learned his lesson, right?

Wrong.

It seems that he also stole money from a trust where he was the trustee as his business was failing.  He got 10 years for that.

When he was released, he got a job with a consulting firm and shortly afterward developed Stage 4 esophageal cancer.  He passed away in 2015,

A sad ending.

Why didn't he RTFM and figure out a legit way to be a power broker.

Next question - Will Olivia Jade Giannulli hire a crisis management firm in light of  her brand being damaged by all this?  Will she get kicked out of USC?

Time will tell.

But here's another thing.  If my life took a different path, I would be dealing with a kid pursuing their post high school life.  I wonder how they would feel if I said something like, "It's OK if you don't go to Trinity (undergraduate alma mater) or Boston University (graduate alma mater.)  Now, tell me which Claremont College you picked out."

Kid would probably rebel and declare that their first choice is Humboldt State or something like that.

Yes, I would be supportive so that I would have a happy kid.

On to the next round.

Ultimatum Delivered

I made it that simple.

If the niece sows up again, I'm outta here.

At least the drug smell has dissipated.

Between HR theory and a past relationship, I know that when it hits the point where someone tells someone else, "Shape up or else,"  The person making the statement had better be fully prepared to do or else.  Although I hope for the best, I'm ready.

Is part of it my bad?  Yes.  I'll own that.  But I have been in more than my share of bad situations and this one is nasty.

At least my dealbreaker is out there.

Today's plan

OK

I will admit it.

I uck fuped.

I made a mistake by returning to the desert in February.

I have unfortunately found out that my roommate is a pathological liar.

Even though he swore on a stack of Bibles that his beloved's niece was persona non grata after she pounded on the door to his room at all hours of the night. Guess what?

She was back with his beloved.

Twice

And the second time she pounded on the door all afternoon as I was trying to get work done.

Not good.

I'm keeping my base in San Diego.

Although I made the mistake, I will move on.

And maybe go to H town in a couple of weeks.

Life is Precious

Today, I learned that one of my classmates from High School passed away in Feburary.

I remember her because for some reason, she had a crush on me.  It was unrequited, but she and I were in the same homeroom for three years.  Anyway, she wound up graduating from UT Austin, was a Tri Delt, did Junior League, married twice and had four kids.

The whole thing reminded me that life is precious - and too freaking short.

Brief explanation.

With the exception of a trip to LA and one to Houston, I have been in the Desert since mid November.  It seems that the housemate who I did not intend to return to when I was trekking in Mexico got himself into some really deep shit.

It seems he used Daddy's credit card when he wasn't supposed to to buy Uber rides for his beloved.  As he was confronted by Daddy, he also hacked off a houseguest of his (good friend) and both he and Daddy wound up in the same car heading to Palm Springs.

Let the reading begin. 

When Daddy returned, he told housemate he, "needed to learn how to behave," and threatened to put a For Sale sign on the house.  Mommy intervened and as a result I was asked to move back in as a minder.  Against my better judgment, I agreed.  Result?   His posterior was saved.

Anyhoo, he was doing his thing with his beloved until right before Xmas, when they broke up.  He then went to Dallas to visit his family and returned early.  All in all, his behavior was acceptable.

I then planned a trip to Houston and got flight deals out of the Ontario airport making the 60 mile trek worthwhile.  I asked if I could get a ride to and from the airport from him and he said, "Yes."

Well, guess what.  He changes his mind because his beloved is back in the picture.  Sooo, while he is engaged in whatever he does with someone who I only see passed out in his bed recovering from a drug induced stupor.  I had to trek on my own to the Ontario airport.  The trek back was especially miserable as the train between Pomoma and Palm Springs was three hours late.

I was not a happy boy.

To make things works, the roommate has made representations related to his beloved that just weren't true.

Time to look for a new living arrangement.

Life is too short to deal with this fecal matter.

Lent

Today is the first day of Lent.

It is also the 21st anniversary of my dad's death.

A lot of reflecting going on.

All I know is this.  I now predicate any prayers for my father with one that goes along the lines of

Dear G-d, As you know my father was not a good parent and the only reason why I pray for him is that you have given a commandment to honor one's parents.  Please give me the ability to forgive, and if you fail at that, let the wounds heal with time.  Amen.

The wounds are slowly healing.

More postings to come.

You Mean This Isn't a Cosmo Quiz?

No, but I stumbled on this little ditty from HuffPo titled "9 Questions to Ask On A First Date, According to Divorce Lawyers." The article has nine questions posited by divorce attorneys as well as rationale for answering them.  Here is a summary, along with my answers:

Question	What the Question is REALLY Asking	My Answer
When was the last time you talked to your siblings or parents?	How close are you to your immediate family?	I’m an only child and my dad is no longer amongst us. Unfortunately, I am estranged from my mother, and have been for a long time. That said, I do communicate with my extended family mainly via Facebook.
Do you believe in happily ever after?	Will you do the work in a relationship?	A qualified yes. It takes quite a bit of work to get to that point and it is not a given.
Are you married?	Are you married? Seriously, there are a lot of people out there seeking new relationships when they SHOULD be putting their energy in winding up old ones that have reached their expiration date. Also there are the players out there who have a spouse at the home you may wind up wrecking if you continue.	No, I’m a widower.
What do you love most about your job?	Are you a workaholic? Do you hate your job?	Mainly that I have a little flexibility in my life. I would not have been able to go to San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato three times this year if I was stuck on a schedule. Yes, I did have to drag some work down, but I was there and not trapped in some cubicle.
Where did you go on your last vacation?	How did you pay for your last vacation?	I spent a weekend hanging out in the Westin Bonaventure in LA and going to the LA Car Show. I always wanted to check out the hotel, and when the Priceline Express deal revealed that one, I jumped for joy in Union Station
Do you know who Johnny Carson is?	How old are you?	Can we talk? I’m sorry he didn’t make up with Joan Rivers.
Do you consider yourself a good communicator?	Do you consider yourself a good communicator	I hope so. I’m paid to deal with irate people all day and figure out how to solve their problems.
How did your last relationship end?	Was the ending of your last relationship your fault, their fault or some combination of the above.	Death did us part.
If you could go back in time, what’s the one thing you would change about your life?	This can actually be a great conversation starter	I would have not wasted a year after I graduated from college remaining in Texas. I would have fled ASAP, probably for California. Texas was going through a hard time economically as oil prices crashed and I was having major problems finding work. I wound up moving to Colorado and, although that did not have a happy ending it did lead to my eventually moving to California where I have been content for 28 years come February.

Hmmm.  Interesting answers, no?  I hope I don't sound too flaky.

And now, back to work.

Happy 2019

Here is a special post to wish you all a happy, healthy, safe 2019.