Spring 2014 5 30 Friday

72 degrees this morning.  Not raining, but still humid and the patio furniture is still moist (nothing some old newspapers won't take care of, so I"m out on the patio again!)

Saw a "1 hitter" baseball game last night.  The Memphis Redbirds pitcher actually had a 8 2/3 inning no hitter and the very last batter got a hit.  What a disappointment, but a 1 hitter still isn't bad!  He did have a walk, so it wasn't a "perfect" game.  That was the furthest I have ever personally seen a no-hit game go.  One of those games where no one left early etc.  It was an interesting experience, you could see the team really pull together, the outfielders were obviously at the top of their game and the team was really backing the pitcher.  Of course, in keeping with tradition, the words "no hitter" were not spoken, although you could feel the interest rise as the innings progressed.  Probably the last two nights were the best baseball games I have seen.  If the pitcher had pitched a no hitter, it would have been the first no hitter in Memphis Redbirds history.  

I'm not quite sure why I like professional baseball, since I don't really care for any other professional sport that much.  I think it is the fact that it is reasonably deliberate and doesn't depend on one person (other than the pitcher) so much.  On the other hand, I almost never watch college baseball, but do like some college football and basketball.  I don't dislike college baseball, I just don't watch it.  Maybe because it seems that baseball is a summer game.  

Well it happened again.  The recruiter calls, says I am one of the top qualified applicants, after it goes to the hiring people, I get an e-mail that I'm not being considered anymore.  I realize there are a lot of factors that could be involved, but I have to think age is the primary reason, if not the only reason.  I comfort myself by thinking I wouldn't want to work for such close-minded people anyway, but it still just isn't right (or legal, but that would be impossible to prove.)  Just for fun, I have tracked the ages of the persons hired and it is all much younger applicants.  I even tried to bring in specific experience, but it was hard to document.  (For example, I can understand specific local situations where certain experience is desired etc.).  Fortunately, I can survive, but I don't know what people in less fortunate circumstances would do.  Of course, it is possible I am completely wrong, but the facts seem to say I am right.  I have discussed it with other persons and have found that it doesn't necessarily apply where highly desired technical skills are desired also, but as a general rule, almost everyone else has run into the same problem.  No one wants to admit it, like the huge pink elephant in the living room.  However, I feel overall it will eventually create a positive situation for me.

Saw a possum or possibly a raccoon this morning in the back yard when I came out to do my exercises.  (I do sit-ups and lift weights out on the patio after I walk).  I stamped my feet and it kind of gave me a dirty look and sauntered off.  It won't impressed.  I'm not sure what it was eating, probably some bugs from the rain.

Occasionally during my walks or when I am on the patio in the early morning (I am talking about from 3 to 4 am., so it is still dark),l I hear bowling and sometimes other sounds from the forest which makes my blood run cold (usually a sound that an animal has been caught by a coyote etc.).  I'm not  worried about it (I don't 'think they would bother a human being), but the sounds are still evidence that the violence of nature continues in the city.

Friday.  Don't have a lot planned today, catch up on some work and keep researching.  I sent some appreciation notes to China, thanking some people who really make our journey much nicer.  I used "Google Translator" hoping it didn't translate something I said as something I didn't mean.  I sent along the English translation just in case.  

i have a hard time believing it has been six months since I worked, especially the way it happened.  I liken it to the Coyote and Road Runner where the Coyote is running and suddenly realizes he has run over a cliff and is running on "air".  That is how sudden it was, from a full day with numerous e-mails, visits and phone calls to suddenly nothing, except what I generated myself.  I have kept busy for the past six months, and can't say I have necessarily unhappy, but I keep thinking it is a temporary situation (which it is), which makes a huge difference. 

I have observed, since I was in college, that major changes happen after I go through Kansas City.  I'm absolutely sure there is no relationship, but every job change has come after I go through Kansas City.  I went to Kansas City shortly before my job changed here.   I met my first wife (and Aliene) after a trip to Kansas City.  It is strange.  Maybe I need to go to Kansas City.  Or maybe not!

That's it for Friday, May 30, 2014.

Spring 2014 5 27 Tuesday

72 degrees this morning. Looks a little like rain.

Flat tire on my bicycle this morning coming up the final hill home. I know I ran over something and started hearing a "bump bump" and then then tire went flat. It doesn't happen often, thank goodness. I take my flats in to be fixed, so it is a little hassle, but not nearly as much if I tried to change my own! (I have tried, and I am just mechanically challenged).

I probably will go ahead and get the "Armadillo" tires or something like that, they are supposed to resist punctures well. One puncture and I'm ahead.

Maybe I will use this as an excuse to buy another bicycle so I have a backup!

Back to the apples. While I still can't bring myself to try apples yet after getting two packages of bad ones from Costco, I did take the bad ones I got Saturday back to Costco, if nothing else just to let them know. They not only refunded my money, they also refunded my money for the bad ones I had gotten the Monday before and threw away. When I returned the second package, I causally mentioned I had thrown away an earlier package (hardly expecting a refund) and she actually looked it up and refunded my money. A reason who Costco is so successful, I believe. However, I still can't stand the thought of apples, the last ones were so bad.

May be rain today, an end to the beautiful weather. It was a good weekend, even if "every day is a holiday" now for me. Had some friends over, went to a friends house etc.

Getting my MacBook Air out of the Apple hospital this morning, or at least today. Hopefully I can get both of them setup so all my pictures are on a hard drive and I can work off that hard drive, hopefully resulting in less duplication.

Six months ago last night I officially (so to speak) became unemployed. I wrote some thoughts on it, but mothballed my comments for right now. I can always publish them, but I can't take them back.

I wasn't too worried, I figured I would get a job soon.
What I didn't expect was the overwhelming age discrimination (much blatant) in my search for employment. I don't really have a problem with people wanting someone younger, professionally I feel that a Board/Council should be able to select whomever they want as City Manager, but it really doesn't blunt my resentment or, sometimes, rage, to be targeted strictly on my age. However, it falls into one of those categories that I can't do anything about it, so I won't worry about it. However, if the opportunity to help persons who experience age discrimination ever arises, I will grab it. I don't have any desire to work somewhere with someone like that, so I don't worry about it. I know it is illegal, but proving it is something else.

I do plan to make a detailed summary of my job search (no names, I'm not out to get anyone), and hopefully someone will see themselves as discriminating or being discriminated against. Well, hopefully, but not likely.

I wish AAA had bike protection where someone would come out and change your tire. It would be worth the money. I understand they do have it in Portland, and a few other places. Not likely to come to Lakeland, where the spoiled brat politician mayor and board of fools turn down $1,000,000 for a badly needed bike and ped path.

Going to be one of those days where I wish Lakeland also had Task Rabbit or a similar service, taking the bike tire to be fixed, picking up the computer and a mismash of other small errands that take up time.

I am so glad Summer is here. I love my patio, especially sitting out here in the early morning and just Summer in general. I hate to wast time on non-productive tasks.

Some nibbles/bites on the house. We know we have to sell the house and get out of this town (even if it is just across the street), but we hate to leave our wonderful house. Life isn't always what you want, and it may be our next phase will be even better.

Spring 2014 March 25 Tuesday

37 degrees this morning.  We are in that S L O W period of warming up, where it seems to take forever for summer to get here, even in Memphis.  Some years it is mid-May before it has really warmed up.  I mentioned liking baseball yesterday, but we frequently avoid going to any games until early May, unless we are sure it is going to be warm, because it gets so cool at nights yet, too cool to just sit there and watch a game.  

One of the more fun parts of last weeks visit by Kali and Katherine (among many) was riding the bike with them.  Yesterday, at my afternoon ride, I missed having one of them riding with me.  I always ride my morning ride by myself.  (May have something to do with the time!)

The New York Times had an article about age discrimination this morning (even the old discriminate!)  Until 4 months ago, I wouldn't have agreed with it, now I definitely agree it is pervasive and there is little you can do about it, even when employers literally come out and say it is your age.  In a way it is strange since it is the discrimination that everyone (who lives that long anyway) will face.  It will definitely impact your life if you start looking for a job.  I guess it is a matter of that I wouldn't want to work at a place that views age in that way and go on with life.

Scheduled to work on the "MacBook Air" basics again (along with my iMac desktop) at the Apple Store.  The "one to One" program at Apple is certainly a huge benefit if you own any Apple products (although it is available at it's fullest benefit only for computers and laptops).   I always come away rejuvenated from the sessions and I always learn something.  (By the way, I am always pleased to see that, at least at the Apple Store, there is a wide diversity of "creatives" and "geniuses", with ages of all generations well represented, as well as all segments of society.  That is actually one area where someone could argue that age could be  a criteria, but I see no difference between the very young and the very old employees, they almost are all encouraging and informative, with only a few clinkers here and there.  There was one instance several years ago (when Facebook and Twitter came out) that one of the younger creatives couldn't hide his shock that I had a Facebook page.  This was well before it was commonplace, at least the general feeling was that it was for younger persons, but actually an older person helped me set it up, after I blundered around trying to set it up.

Spent a lot of time yesterday filling out the "Visa" applications for our China trip.  The highlight of the trip is the International City Manager Association (ICMA) International Summit, and a pre-tour Study Tour in Beijing.  We are going to spend a day or two on personal tours also.  I have the air flight,  the hotel reservations etc., but haven't finalized the personal tours.  We decided after a "private" tour in Washington D.C., it was well worth the money to take a short "private" tour of the highlights we want to see. I would never have seen Lincoln's Country Retreat on a regular tour and this gave me time to look at it in detail.

One of the more interesting tours we took in Washington D.C. was the "pedicab" tour, which was relatively inexpensive.  It also scared us at times, being the back end of a bicycle in Washington D.C. traffic.  However, it was fun and we saw things in a different light.  

The upcoming Tennessee City Managers Association conference is having a session on "Leadership lessons from Lincoln".  I am looking forward to the seasons since this has been a special interest of mine.

That's it for now.

Winter 2014 February 19 Wednesday

61 degrees this morning.

I will be glad to say "goodby" or at least "see you in six months" to my winter walking clothes.  It is strange, many of them I have had for years and literally never worn until this winter, when I have worn almost all of them at some time.  It will be so nice this Spring and Summer to simply put on a t shirt, shorts and my bandanna "hat" and go to a walk and bike ride!  

Went to the Doctor yesterday for normal appt.  I always feel a sense of relief when I leave without being advised I have some dread disease or major problem.  Actually, the nurse took my blood pressure (100/68) looked at my lab results (all within limits) and asked "what was I doing here!".  The Doctor (who is a great Doctor) went over everything and of course, suggested I watch out for low blood pressure.  He explained as I lost weight (which is very slow now, but at least decreasing), my blood pressure also went down.  If I started feeling dizzy when I got out of a chair etc., it could be low pressure. 

Applying for Medicare, a stage of passage, I guess.  It has been rather bewildering even for me, and I am used to regulations.  I made the mistake of filling out an on-line questionnaire for information and got 10 phone calls and 5 e-mails in 10 minutes.  The phone literally ran 30 seconds after I made the mistake of hitting send, putting my phone number on it.  In fairness, all the calls were polite and non-pushy.  Since I am enrolling under a special exception (I didn't apply at 65 since I had employer coverage), I had to call and couldn't enroll over the internet.  When I finally got through, the representative was courteous, knowledgable and courteous, but I still haven't gotten the information I need to fill out and send back by February 28. I at least understand my options, thanks to Consumer Reports and the information provided by Medicare.

Still thinking about starting a private business.  The more I think about it, the more I like it.  I have a lot of self-initiative and can work independently.  I am brainstorming now.  I get so angry when I hear about some of the people who are discriminated against because of their age that I feel I ought to try to do something in that area.  Oddly enough, I don't resent it as far as I personally am concerned, at least for City Manager positions.  I feel the elected officials should be able to hire whom they want, if my age is a problem so be it, that is their problem.  Some of the other stories I hear (being laid off right before retirement, led on and then laid off etc. just infuriate me.  While it isn't legal (age discrimination) it is very hard to prove and most people don't want to file complaints or lawsuits for that or even very overt hostile worksite situations.  

Watching Richard Engel (NBC Foreign Correspondent).  It is amazing where he turns up, I really wonder what kind of life he has.  I really admire him for the work he does.  I don't believe I would want to do it (maybe 40 years ago).  He turns up everyplace.  

Reading "The Circle" and trying to decide if I am going to continue.  So far it has kept my interest, but I hope it doesn't degenerate into complete fantasy.  I don't mind fantasy (I loved "Snowcrash") as long as they don't degenerate into one of those things that "I can't describe it,but I know it when I read it"!  One of my secret vices is "Jack Reacher" novels (Lee Child), I devour them as soon as they come out and frequently listen to the audiobook also.

Winter 2014 February 18 Tuesday

37 degrees this morning.  I am so ready for Spring and Summer.

Thought I had lost a "wallet" I carry as kind of a supplemental wallet since I don't like to have "thick" wallets.  I looked all day yesterday and even checked at places where I had been .  Even though it didn't include my drivers license and my "main" credit cards, it did include gift cards.

While walking this morning, I though about it and concentrated on my movements.  When I got home I walked to may favorite chair and there it was! Just for the heck of it, I checked the contents and was surprised to discover it had over $200 in case (I NEVER carry that much cash!), about $200 in gift cards (Barnes and Noble, Outback, Starbucks etc.), my AARP Card, an American Express Card and a Discover Card and my car insurance verification.  And about $260 in uncashed checks.  I don't even want to think about the time involved in chasing everything down if I had lost it.  

I carry my Drivers License and main credit cards in my cell phone case, which works well.  Except that several weeks ago, we were about to leave for a plane flight and I realized I didn't have my drivers license.  When I drive to the gym (raining etc.), I take my Drivers License out and I had left it in my exercise clothes pocket.  I'll never do that again!  I could easily have driven tot eh airport and not had it with me and not noticed it until I was at the airport.

I am thinking of starting my own business.  I am still applying for jobs, but the thought of being in business for myself is rather alluring.  It is the perfect time for it and I could afford to start slow and build it up, if I could find the right business model.  I've thought about it all my life and I will never have a better time than now.  Something to think about.  I have several applications out, but it appears my age is going to be a barrier.  Something I found no one talks about until I mention it than I suddenly get a torrent of words about similar (age discrimination) experiences.   In some cases it has been overt and even used as a reason, so it is not hidden, and it is definitely out there.

Oddly enough, I hadn't even really thought about my own business much until after I went to a "1 to 1" training at the Apple Store yesterday.  The "Creative" who helped me was so positive and supportive, I had the brainstorm (this morning actually) that that may be a viable alternative.  There isn't any direct relationship, but somehow what we went over (actually it was on the iPad), I think it somehow unleashed my creative thinking patterns?  Or something like that.

I am now in the throes of thinking about specifically what type of business I'd like to start.  Of course, I"d gladly exchange the thoughts for a challenging City Manager job in the right place!