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Showing posts from June, 2024

Update

 Once upon a time , someone asked me if I would be happy working a job that was not at the university. Since my position at the university closed in 2020, I found myself doing exactly that— working in jobs not at the university. It has been a very difficult transition.  Recently, things shifted quickly and in unexpected ways. The short version is that I am leaving the hotel which I am currently working, having taken a position at another.  The longer version of the story is that I stopped by to see my good friend and former GM at his new hotel. While I was visiting with him, one of the owners came out and introduced himself and we got to talking. After a few minutes, he said he wanted me to meet his brother. Our conversation turned into a job interview and 48 hours later I accepted a new position as front desk, manager and assistant operations manager. After some negotiating, we reached an agreement and I start my new position on April 9. It’s a much nicer hotel and these...

Vincent and Family

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Sunflower, Nightflower

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 Playing with my camera settings. Taken around 11:15 pm

Big Hard Sun

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Why I Never Get Asked

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Rays from the Backyard Sunflower patch

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My Name

I  don’t know when I became aware of my name, but “Jamie” just never sat well with me. It just didn’t sound right though my mother, my Memaw and two aunts persisted. To this day, one of my aunts “slip,” but with a wink and a giggle as I shoot the side eye, letting her get away with calling me Jamie one more time. Scottish in spirit, but skittish to me. “ Jim” never connected with me either, until I worked with a professor from South Africa whose pronunciation made the name sound elegant. He’s the only one who never received a word of correction as I waited for him to say it again. There’s a aire of nobility when addressing Conrad’s young British sailor Jim or a Starfleet Captain Jim, but it does not sound as pleasant if I must answer to it. My paternal grandparents tried, but my recollection is they did not approve of “Jim” or “Jamie” either, and so called me by my given name, “James.” Perhaps they were the affectionate source of my awareness.  I am named after my father to th...

Welcome, June

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  There’s a song that starts, “June came upon us much too soon . . . “. I’ve posted it below. One of my favorites.  Time waits for no one. Once again, the month took off without me, ready or not. I’m not excited about doing a rush job on my calendar, but it’s done.  Had an interesting moment last week. During a routine doctor visit, my doctor did not like some things I was describing so he stopped what he was doing and sent me to the ER to check for heart attack. Long story short, nothing was found. I’m just overworked and tired. I hate I had to hire a guy to help me with yard work, but I gotta take care of myself.  Not getting much reading or writing done but doing what I can when I am able.  On we go.