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September 30, 2003

Shadow and mist ...

You have seen fairy tail stories of secret groups of people who move in shadow and control the world. These dark figures with mysterious purposes and their cunning ways few have ever seen. For what I about to tell you may sound like fantastical. I have met them… they call themselves Methodists and they belong to an organization called a Nominating Committee.

Two of their number had a conversation about me this week. It started this way…

Dark Figure J “ It seems Dan is back…” idly to dark figure T.

“ Yes … “ Said Dark Figure T, drumming his figures together. “ We need to find a way to for him to express his … ‘gifts’”

“ Hummm… yes let us see what we can find…” Finished Dark Figure J, raising his eyebrow.

Latter there would be more talking and then some food… because well we are Methodist.

You see I have been going back to my church. I have made about 6 weeks in a row. Some very dear friends of mine have started to help me volunteer for things. It started a couple of weekends ago when I was meet at the door of the church by the nice lady organizing the Christmas play. I am now both an announcer and a towns person.

I cannot enlighten you to their way or hope to escape because you see… I did it to them before.

September 29, 2003

Run faster and jump higher

I was at the haunted house this weekend and one of the kids asked me were I got my energy. He is 16 years old about 5 something and on a good day may weigh 120lb. We call him animal and he is not very out going, but I think he is a good guy. But back to me, my answer was this energy is a choice. When he ask I had been running back and forth around a 5 acre plot of land checking on my 15 or so actors, stilt walkers, techs and drivers. It had been the third night that I was doing this and not going to get to bed before 3 or 4am and got be back awake before 9am. I was worn out. He did not understand my answer.

You see now that I am older I know something I did not know when my body was could do all this with out hurting for a week. That thing is … someday I will be too old to run. Someday I will not be able to out run a wagon full of people with paintball rifles. Today is when I can. So you do, even when it hurt or when you are tired, you run.

Animals responds was he was afraid. Afraid to make that decision and face the pain. Now before you think less of him for that attitude, let me tell you this. I was much older then he is now before I over came that same fear. Only when I realized that someday I would not be able to run, would I let go of that fear and do it. When I started to fear not being able to run.

I spent sometime today soul searching about things. Fear drives us most of our lives. Most of what is useful about my faith are the things that help me deal with fear. Fear of pain, things that hurt more then aspirin can fix. I am proud of my leaps of faith in the face of fear. Because someday even I will not be able to leap.

September 18, 2003

Team

Well I have a million things to talk about. In general I need to do a Heydan update.

On the employment side, I am no longer unemployed. I got the scary job. But only after I started as a contractor with MS. I cannot tell you how bad I feel for leaving a job I was at for only two weeks. This was made all the harder by the fact I got to know some really great people. Let me tell you about them (in no particular order.)

Doug: This is all Doug’s fault. Doug is the trainer for the class all of us new people were put in. In name the class is suppose to be a technical training class. But it is Doug’s company (MS belongs to Doug just ask him) he teaches team building. He is one of the best trainers I have ever seen and remember I have spent of the last 15 year around people training other people to do something.

Kit: He and I have similar senses of humor and I have a great respect for his technical knowledge and people skills. It did not take long to see we were going to be friends.

Perry: Being around Perry is like being in high school, but everyone knows as much or more about computers as you do. He is one of those people who charms classmates by ribbing them, filling their lockers with shaving cream and telling off color jokes. Personally think he is a great.

Ronny: Our little group had lots of talented people. Not just in the world of computers. Ronny is a musician. I would link to his web site but for the life of me I cannot remember it. He is also a nice guy, relaxed and layed back. He ability to look at something for what it is amazes me.

Gary: He is a force of chaos, as bright as they come and with a ton of energy. He and Perry made up the greatest practical joke threat modern time have seen. I really hope they never band together or start a practical joke war on each other.

Frank: New kid on the block. Frank is an old IBM geek. Mainframes and all Frank has seen everything. This is a new world for him. Now when I first meet him I thought he was going to be timid about the technical aspect. I was wrong, Frank jumped in with both feet. You see he is an old New Yorker and they do not get scared.

Charity: She is a girl. This alone in the world of computers is a rare thing. But What I was not prepared for her level of technical skill. She is solid in a very wide range of subjects and can handle people. This is very rare in any technical person. Oh and she has this laugh that make you smile thinking about it.

Steve: He is a leader. Not an A type personality who demands people listen to him. But a quite intelligent man who can help. I envy the balance he has in his life. He has two daughters in release and a son in Beta. He is confident and willing to serve others.

Curtis: He is a no nonsense get it done person. He is another leader, no ego what do we have to do and lets get it done. He has a great humor and is a rock of stability. If you have lots of passionate people you need Curtis’s.

John: He is highly intelligent and eager to help but Eeyore has nothing on John. John lives life under a rain cloud. You still cannot help but like him. I am positive John could solve any problem. He is that focused.

David: Another very talented person both technically and in many other areas. He has an intense curiosity about the world. He understands how things work, most of the time much better then I do. I have learned a lot for being around David.

Chad: Very bright young man. He has this passion for learning that reminds me of a younger me. His energy level is infectious. People around him get hipped up about what he is doing.

Tyler: This kid is cool. Just starting his trek into the tech world. He is layed back and a really good guy. He is another rock. He is here to do the job. He is not the best yet, but he it is obvious he is going to work until he is.

Rob: Would make a great net admin in company in the world. But he would be bored in a week. Here he is in his element a smart person, surrounded by smart people. He walked in the first day like it was his home. The surprising part is he has no ego about it.

These are the people I have spent the last two weeks with. I will miss them as much as any group I have worked with. With them goes all the luck I can wish.

September 07, 2003

deceptively simple

There are songs that run though your mind.. and you know why. Dylan or Cohen songs can be that way. You can look for hidden meaning or deep metaphors... but you will miss why it is running though your head... it is so simple you could miss it.

I was born in a beauty salon
My father was a dresser of hair
My mother was a girl ....