Letter Never Sent

Weird. I got a phone call tonight from some market research company who wants to pay me 75$ to come in for an hour for an interview next week. It had to do with retirement plans, so I figured it was at the behest of my current 401k provider. In fact, I asked who they were doing it for and the guy said he didn’t know, but then when he was doing my pre-interview questions he asked my education level, my age, my race, and then… if I was or had ever been an employee of Principal Financial Group so that pretty much told me who they were working for. They also asked if I minded if the interview was videotaped for internal use, which I don’t. It might actually be a fun thing to do, but then I like being interviewed.

Tomorrow Phillip, Courtney, Sab, Jody, and I are supposed to go walk down and check out the Christmas lights at Zilker Park. That reminds me that I need to put our Christmas lights up around the house this weekend. Maybe I can get my brother to come do some male-bonding with me while we do it together. It’s a lot of fun once the house is lit up and I know my landlord / neighbor, Joyce, really likes it too. I’ll have to borrow Mr. Bergstrom’s ladder to do it. He’s the elder neighbor with the pale blue eyes who worked at the university during the 50’s hand-lettering signs, door glass, etc. He’s a very interesting man, and Sarah the cat loves hanging out with him and his wife. He’s 87 years old and could teach you a lot about how to live. If he’s not out in his front yard cutting his own grass once a week then something is wrong. He is always dressed in starched khaki pants with plaid shirts and his hair is always combed. He has a lot of neat stories and is a very kind man, although sometimes I think he doesn’t remember who I am exactly. Every time I talk to him he likes to talk about what a different sort of cat Sarah is, and how she’s so friendly. Apparently, she goes over and hangs out inside with him and Mrs. Bergstrom. Sarah could teach you a lot about how to make friends since she seems to know everyone around here on an intimate basis.

This site has been entertaining me for the past few minutes.

Two very important people in my life are in the process of launching their own businesses. My father just started a security company in San Antonio called Intrepid-PI. He basically gets contracts from hotels and businesses to provide security. I should have a website done for him here soon.

My friend, Sab, is starting his own hair salon down on South Congress. It’s going to be called Primp Salon and it will be located just south of Magnolia Cafe, which I think will be a great location. If you live in Austin you should give him a try. He’s a good man and thorough.

Anyway, I’m proud of both of them and it provides an inspirational example to us all. Here’s one of my favorite quotations on the subject and it popped into my head today when Sab was telling me about how he went down to the AG’s office to incorporate:

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.

Here are some photos from Breen’s Graduation / Birthday / Getting-a-cool-job-right-out-of-school-and-moving-to-San-Francisco Party. I would’ve put them in my gallery, but it is busted at the moment, and I’m in no position to mess with it. It was a lot of fun and, honestly, we’re all really proud of Breen. He will be sorely missed.

Here is Breen, Rodney, and I, all current or ex-fedexers.

Here is Scott, Jody, and Gloria. Scott is my brother.

Here is Daniel and Sarah. Notice the little flags in Sarah’s hair. Ad hoc cuteness.