What I Do (did) for a Living

Today's LBC topic comes to us from the Old Fossil - Conrad.  Since retirement is not in the cards for me the choice is What I Do for a Living.

I trust the irony will not be lost on you when I say that I make a living as a copywriter/content specialist for the company from whence my nickname - shackman - comes from - RadioShack.  My handiwork - such as it is - is on display for all to see at  RadioShack.com  Irony you may say? Well - I am simply the worst typist in the world. Words don't bother me - typing is another story.

I've been with the Shack for over 28 years off and on.  It's where Fos and I first met and struck up the recently rekindled friendship we now share. At that time Fos was a teacher in our classroom and I was a peddler of computer equipment.  I was pretty good at it too but I hated it.  The selling part - although it had it's brighter points. I once sold a full computer system to a gent named Ralph "Sonny" Barger. Sonny is rather infamous in this country as the former president of The Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. It was a rather large sale, paid in cash and when I called our local delivery service to set up the delivery of the goods, the owner/operator went nearly apoplectic and I had to talk like the proverbial Russian racehorse to get him to make the delivery.  This all came about because as a store manager in Oakland I had cultivated a friendlty relationship with a gent namd Cisco - the VP of the club.  Cisco used to come into my store and buy parts for various projects and we talked electronics.  His day job about six months a year was as a lighting guy in the movies. He was an interesting guy. Ironic though - I played flag football for the Oakland PD one year - LOL.  Now that made things interesting as there were often cops coming by to visit.

My life at the Shack has included managing several stores (Manhattan Beach, Oakland Fruitvale, Oakland Telegraph, San Lorenzo), a computer center (Fremont) and a computer training and support operation (in Honolulu). Now that was fun. I spent 6 months in Hawaii sans wife & kids because Lynn chose not to come along.  Me and my Suzuki 550 had way more fun than we should have.  Every time the Mastercard bill hit home I'd get a phone call and a serious interrogation. I have no idea why - I mean the Banyan Gardens was just a place with a big tree in it and the Pearl City Tavern was - well - OK - a bar.  Ahem. But it had a huge glassed in place behind the bar with a bunch if monkeys in it and a great Bonsai display upstairs,  so who could blame me for soaking in as much local color as I could.  And I lived with a HS pal and his wife - Rick was the Chief Ranger on the Arizona Memorial.  That'd be Rick Smith - a real Ranger Rick. 

I also aquired a love for Hawaiian music while there.  Give this song a listen - you don't need to understand the lyrics to appreciate the melody and performance.

 I did pennance for years.  The photo is of my mom on a visit to Honolulu.  I always say the easiest way to make a Suzuki 550 look like a Honda 50 is  to put me on it.  I left the Shack shortly after my return (Xmas Eve 1986) and worked as a programmer at an Ins Agency and did some contract programming until the economy flopped in the early nineties.  I rejoined the Shack and moved to Texas and have been here since May of 1994. I have yet to aquire a love of the Dallas Cowboys or country music.

In the 19 years I've been here I've done computer technical support, Xenix/Unix support, consumer product support, been a supervisor in customer relations and for the last 7 years I've been what is called an Omnichannel Data Specialist.  In English, that's copywriter/content speialist. For the last 2+ years I've worked from home - the Shack has been very good to me that way and very understanding about my situation with Lynn.

So that's what I do.  Not terribly exciting but it's a living.  Check out the other members ofthe LBC - they're listed overthere --------->

National healthcare vs private multipayer

OK - blame this one on me.  It's my pick. As I am somewhat involved with healthcare on a daily basis this seemed a worthy discussion. In some circles civil discussion seems impossible on the subject.  I am counting on that NOT being the case in the LBC.

It's an admittedly large topic and I highly doubt anyone will change there mind on the subject after today's exercise, but it should be interesting.

IMHO our healthcare system is seriously flawed.  My reason may surprise you but I think any system that begins with a new practitioner up to his/her eyeballs in debt because of loans required to get through medical school is doomed  to place an emphasis on profit first and care second. No matter how noble our freshly minted MDs and DOs may be - the magnitude of their debt is simply stunning. The next generation of U.S. physicians is being saddled with record debt amid a looming shortage of doctors needed to cope with a rising elderly population (that'd be me).  How does a median cost of  $278,455 sound? Two of my very best friends have daughters who have just begun their careers. I suspect they feel like they're carrying me around on their shoulders. Is it any wonder the number of GPs is declining? Their average $200,00 in annual earnings doesn't sound like so much when their expected incomes around $200K per annum.  Add to that the burden of fighting a myriad of insurance companies with different paperwork requirements and different rate scales to make ends meet doesn't sound so appealing. How many new doctors went into medicine to be business men and women? Is it any wonder the primary focus on their practice becomes the business of the practice rather than patient care?? Oh sure - some can handle the juggling act.

The question is should they have to? Wouldn't a single payer system make so much more sense? Clearly there is no perfect system but Canada seems to run fairly well and it's probably the most culturally similar country to the U.S.A.. Unfortunately I think there's more of a "we're all in this together" mindset in Canada and an "I'm looking out for me, myself and I " here in the U.S..

Rumor has it you might have to wait a couple of months to see your doctor in Canada for non-essential treatment.  Imagine that.  Oh - by-the-way - last time I made an appointment here with my GP I had to wait 6 weeks. Damn - that extra 2 weeks could be a killer.  My wife's uncle was a big-time chemist with Standard Oil in California but he spent half of his professional career in eastern Canada, Several of his kids were born there.  He had nothing but praise for the Canadian health system.  What do some American MDs think of the Canadian system?  Try this article American MD visits Canada.

Obviously there are two sides to the issue but you first have to be open for discussion on the matter and too many folks here simply are not.  It's somewhat similar to gun control. Sure you'll hear Canadians are flocking to the US for treatments.  Hmm - 99.39% don't.  A higher percentage of Canadian Doctors are happy with their professions than American.  Here's an article that debunks 5 myths about Canadian healthcare .  Check it out.

I have NO problem with anyone who can afford the price to pay whatever it costs to get whatever procedure they desire, I do have a problem with healthcare  being an exclusive club that forces uninsured folks to bury our emergency health system because in most places here an ER cannot turn someone away.  They are forced to treat everyone.  Any wonder ER rooms are closing all over the country? They aren't profitable it seems.  They have too many non-paying customers and I hate to rain on your collective parade, not all of those patients are illegal or members of a minority group.

I've barely scratched the surface of this issue and I can only say we need to explore single payer or some sort of hybrid system before it's too late. There's no time to dawdle.

Subtle eh? A canadian band closing out the post.  What do my LBC cohorts think? Check them out - some come from places far away and have single payer national plans - I can't wait to hear what they have to say.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow.  The only guarantee is that tomorrow will come.  Whether we will see it is unknown.  A crapshoot.

Don't count on tomorrow to fix things.  Don't wait until tomorrw to tell those you love how you feel. Don't count on tomorrow to let you apologize for your mistakes.

Everyone plans for tomorrow.  We all count on tomorrow. It's only natural for most of us.  As bad as today seems, tomorrow is another day. But today is yesterday's tomorrow. So how's that working out for you?



Best to not live in yesterday, but live for today and hope for tomorrow. Just remember - there are NO guarantees. Life's a journey - 

That's my take on tomorrow. Check out what my friends in the LBC have to say.

LBC topic - Saying Goodbye

Today's LBC topic comes to us via Padmum in India. Saying goodbye.

This week's approach is decidedly more light hearted than last week's post. In fact the topic is somewhat similar to the Letting Go topic 2 weeks ago.  Please enjoy this musical journey about saying goodbye. A couple of the tunes are actually quite meaningful to me.

Man up!

Adios job!!!

Goodbye Columbus

A Bev Bivens goodbye

A friendly goodbye

A poignant goodbye

A fun goodbye for the LBC gang

I hope you enjoyed some or all of this musical goodbye.  As I said - it is decidedly more light-hearted than last weeks post.  Time does that you see.  It lets you say goodbye to your anger and while I haven't entirely let go I'm no longer in a ranting mood.

And what do the other LBC folk have to say on the subject??? Well you'll just have to go check them out for yourself.  They're listed right over there =============>

Anger - LBC topic

Today's topic is anger, brought to us by the Old Fossil - Conrad. I make no apologies to anyone for my comments that follow - and be forewarned.  They are bitter and angry. They are me. If that bothers you, stop reading now.

I used to be a fairly pleasant guy.  That is no longer the case as I spend a good deal of my time angry.  Very angry. I am extremely bitter that the last 10 years and the remainder of Lynn's life have been stolen from her/us.  I am angry we will never have the chance to repair the damage done to our relationship by the evil that is HD. I am particularly angry her grandkids will only remember the raving, violent lunatic that dominates her waking hours lately. They won't remember the doting grandma she was. I am angry that our family - admittedly somewhat dysfunctional in the best of times may be permanently fractured because of HD. I am bitter there is a 50% chance each of our kids may have HD. I'm even more bitter that if either of the kids have HD there's the same 50% liklihood each of our 6 grandkids have HD.

Spare me the "when god closes a door he opens a window" saga.  If she/he opened a window for me it was to simply slam it down on my fingers just for giggles.  HD is not just a disease like cancer that decimates the body - HD destroys the essence of the individual - and does that early on, leaving a shell of what once was that person.  While it may have specifically different impacts on individuals, extreme anger and paranoia seem to be constants along with the destruction of human motor skills. So a once vibrant, attractive gymnast becomes a haggard old crone that screams, swears and yells abusive, vile  comments regularly at those with the challenge of caregiving.  The caregivers can become angry and disillusioned. 

She has no control over her bodily functions and is just as likely to try and kick/hit/bite the individual that tries to change her and clean her up as she is to be passive enough for that basic, necessary task to be accomplished. Nearly every door frame in the house is damaged due to the constant, repeated slamming of the doors.  There are door knob holes in every wall where there is a door.  They remain unrepaired until we move or her ordeal ends.  That is the day she dies. That may not be for another 10 years.

Trust me when I say I understand fully this is just the luck of the draw. I do not believe in any form of divine intervention in this matter.  In any way.  It's very difficult to think a so-called creator capable of the so-called intelligent design of the universe would spend the time to intelligently/intentionally design something as destructive as HD.  Or any of the myriad of fatal conditions/diseases.  Especially a so-called loving architect of all that is supposedly good and true.  I trust my use of the terms supposedly and so-called expresses my cynicism and sarcasm on the matter sufficiently.

There is a darkness in me only few know or have seen.  It is part of my natural makeup, a gift from the male sperm donor of half of my genetic makeup. That so few are aware of it is a testament to my ability to control it and keep it suppressed. Occasionally it bubbles up.  This commentary is a minor bubbling.  I am not looking for sympathy/pity - I am merely ranting a bit. As I've said - these are my cards, my hand in life and I am playing them to the best of my ability. I'm all in at this point. I just need to vent on occasion.

Check out what the other LBCers have to say on anger.  They're listed over there on the right.

LBC Topic - Letting Go

Long ago in a galaxy far, far away - well - not so far - Colorado to be exact - I learned to swim at a place we called The Steel Y.  You may ask why we called it that - the answer is quite simple, Colorado Fuel and Iron was a big deal in my home town - Pueblo. There was a time when companies  often provided things like recreational facilities for employees, their families and the community.  CFI provided a great facility  with a huge gym and if memory serves - an olympic sized pool. All this at a steel mill.  It was just as you'd find at any decent sized YMCA and so the calling it the Steel Y just made sense.

Strategically placed around said pool were large ropes hanging from the ceiling.  It is a little known fact that ropes thus configured are actually kid magnets. Like magic - the real stuff, no misdirection - a hanging rope - especially those near water - will have a line of kids waiting for a turn to swing out as far as possible on the rope and splash into the water.

Suddenly it's little (well - not really - little has literally never been a descriptor for me) Butchie Higgins' turn.  Now this particular rope was near the deeper end of the pool - 6-7 feet deep if memory serves.  You will recall I mentioned earlier that I was there to learn to swim.  You see the irony I hope in a swinging out to the deep end of the pool and not knowing how to swim.  Well fearless Butchie did - just as he was out over the water.  Self - he thought to himself - letting go here is not a good idea so lets sneak a return trip out of the one-way ticket that got me here.

So back toward the edge of the pool went Butchie - ignorant of the fact that the pendulum wanted to take him as far back passed the starting point as it had taken him out over the water. It was Butchie's first George of the Jungle moment -

only it was a wall and not a tree.  And yes - it did smart a bit but nowhere near as much as the guffaws and raucous laughter from the line of kids. 

Now Butchie was in a quandry - pride wounded, embarrassed and humiliated. What to do? Only thing to do was get back on the rope and do it again - only this time let go of the rope. Salvation and the return his rightly respected position in the local kid hierarchy would be his. So off he/I went to perform the heroic (stupid) feat of dropping into the deep end from the rope. To cheers of Go Butchie! he/I got up a head of steam and swung out over the pool - knowing full well that a second failure would decimate the remainder of his/my childhood and leave us sitting alone in my room forever as surely none of the guys would want to play guns or ball with such a failure. So at the peak of my flight over the water I twisted myself so that I was facing the edge of the pool from whence my stuck-on-dumb act began and I let go. I was free as a bird, falling through the air and into the water.  When my feet touched bottom, I let my legs bend and pushed myself toward the edge of the pool.  Shortly thereafter I was climbing out of the pool to cheers and backslaps all around, once again reclaiming my position in the kid hierarchy.

The moral of the story is actually quite simple -  letting go may not be the easy route but it's the smart one. Life's too short to worry about the past. Don't let yesterday take up too much of today (old Cherokee proverb). Or, if revenge is your motivator, just shoot the bastard and then let go and move on. Quickly.  To another state. Maybe another country. ;-)  Remember -

And what do my LBC cohorts think of today's topic??? Take a look - I know I will be - they're listed over there on the right.

A cool music list

My blogger friend Ramana has this interesting post  and from it I have learnt a little more about him. I decided to try my hand at this game and here goes. I found it interesting to do and I hope that some others will do too.

Thus was I challenged by Rummy - and I resopond here becauise at the moment I cannot access his website so here are the 30 queries and my responses - Rummy are there any here you guessed? Any surprises??? One change from my email to you as well.


1: A song you like with a color in the title Orange Skies - Love

2: A song you like with a number in the title: One - Three Dog Night

3: A song that reminds you of summertime: Summer in the City Lovin Spoonful

4: A song that reminds you of someone you would rather forget about: Don't You Write Her Off - McGuinn, Clark & Hillman

5: A song that needs to be played LOUD: Any Way You Want It Dave Clark Five written by my mate Ron Ryan

6: A song that makes you want to dance: Do You Wanna Dance - Beach Boys

7: A song to drive to: Taking Care of Business - Bachman Turner Overdrive

8: A song about drugs or alcohol: Mothers Little Helper Rolling Stones

9: A song that makes you happy Glad All Over Dave Clark Five

10: A song that makes you sad/: California Bloodlines - John Stewart

11: A song that you never get tired of I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better Byrds or Gene Clark

12: A song from your preteen years: Bernadine Pat Boone

13: One of your favorite 80’s songs: Africa Toto

14: A song that you would love played at your wedding Wedding Song Paul Stookey

15: A song that is a cover by another artist Positively 4th Street by Johnny Rivers

16: One of your favorite classical songs Canon in D - Pachelbel

17: A song that you would sing a duet with on karaoke Taxi by Harry Chapin

18: A song from the year that you were born Ghost Riders in the Sky Vaughn Monroe

19: A song that makes you think about life: Circle by Harry Chapin

20: A song that has many meanings to you Changing Changing Ed Ames

21: A favorite song with a person’s name in the title Denise - Randy and the Rainbows

22: A song that moves you forward: Changes in Attitudes Changes in Latitudes - Jimmy Buffet

23: A song that you think everybody should listen to Impossible Dream by Ed Ames

24: A song by a band you wish were still together: I Will The Beatles

25: A song by an artist no longer living: New Yorks Not My Home Jim Croce

26: A song that makes you want to fall in love How to Handle a Woman - Richard Harris (King Arthur)

27: A song that breaks your heart Tears in Heaven Eric Clapton

28: A song by an artist with a voice that you love: Softly as I Leave You - We Five & Bev Bivens

29: A song that you remember from your childhood: Ballad of Davy Crockett - Fess Parker

30: A song that reminds you of yourself Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For U2