The list... And other stuff

[John Esak]

Hello all,

Just wanted to say, I've been enjoying reading the list again these past few
weeks. I have never really stopped reading it, but have usually been too
busy or apathetic to answer anything or start up anything new.  I'll change
that a little as a pre-new-year resolution. 

I will have a little more time on my hands now that I have "retired".  I
used the word in quotes, because I've done it before.  About 7 or 8 years
ago I made an arrangement with the previous company I worked for to
"retire", but keep supporting the entire MIS (Management Information
Systems) operation from a remote home... As long as I promised to hire an
assistant to be on site all the time. That arrangement held for about 20
minutes... The first thing I did was go in and physically "live" at the
place for nearly a year (living under my bed and essentially wrecking my
marriage at the same time).  Well, I'm just kidding about that. My marriage
was pretty much strong and fine, but it's not something to joke about. By
taking my "work" too seriously and "eat-sleep-breathing) it for a very
extended time with nothing but some great vacations to Disney World
interspersed for some real "quality time" interludes... I kind of thought I
had it covered.  I can tell you for what it's worth, that doesn't cover it.
The quality time has to extend from minute to minute *throughout* the weeks,
months and years. You can not rely on the best intentions and the best
vacations for just "being there" instead.  The being there is what keeps
everything right. (I only bring this up because a good friend from the list
wrote me a few days ago and said he thought he had heard Karen and I had
separated.... But wasn't sure.)

So, I thought I would clear it up a little and tell people about it
specifically to clear up any misinformation, rumors, back channel chatter,
etc.  In any case, now that Karen and I have been apart for about two years,
we are each actually very happy. We see each other from time to time. She
lives in a different town then I do, but for various reasons we meet up.
She is doing all the stuff she enjoys and I am just recently starting to do
so, too. We both truly feel rejuvenated and it's as if we have fresh new
lives with no boundaries and lots of choices.  So oddly enough and against
everything either of us would have ever thought, getting divorced was a
really good thing.  Am I suggesting it as a course of action for anyone
else?  Good God, no. It is such a personal choice and depends on such
personal, unique reasons. I think it is sad that so many marriages end up in
it... And most do nowadays... But usually they break up quickly on, not
after 23 years and more. No, it is probably the very opposite thing a couple
in trouble should do.  In our case, it was just right, and we are both
excited and happy about our lives... And somehow managed to pull this off
still liking each other.

Okay, back to the nebulous word "retirement".  Yes, this time, I'm doing it
for real... Not because I've hit the magic "60", a year that if you decide
to retire in, everyone will constantly be asking you... "Why?", "How?",
"Will you have enough to live on?", etc., etc.  Well the answers are
"Because", "I just decided to do it." and "No, no one ever has enough
money!" But, the situation is this for me.  I am on the 1 year 11 month mark
of my 6th cornea.  None of the previous ones lasted more than 1 year and 6
months.  So, I have made the conscious decision to treat this one BETTER. No
working 24 hours straight... Something I probably did 3 or 4 times this past
year... And no just working 16 hours at the computer for that matter.  I
still work a lot, but now it is down to probably 60 hours a week.  Yes,
retirement, ahhh, what bliss!  :-)

Seriously, I went in and talked to Tim about it. He is a very good guy and
very understanding.  Truth is, his company has been hit very hard by the
incredibly bad economic situation. In the past year they have had to lay off
a handful, maybe even a dozen people, some I know as very good friends, and
it has been extremely hard on the whole place. Not to mention that Tim's
enterprise is far flung with offices and people all over the state of
Pennsylvania. Regardless, he has managed somehow, don't ask me how to
maintain most crucial people at all the various levels and is keeping the
organization positioned to survive the mess we all find ourselves in these
days.  I'm a pretty expensive guy after 30 years of this filePro stuff (on
that 100 hour a week basis... :-)  Anyway, it seemed like if I could see my
way to retiring now, it would free up a little money to keep some of the
other crucial types on board and working.  I suggested that I keep working
on the projects I'm writing on a contract basis to The Valar Group, or on
any other basis than as a fully salaried with benefits person. He wasn't too
quick to believe that this was best for me, but I convinced him that I need
to be backing off a little anyway, and just getting to work on the several
days I actually go in there is more of a hassle for me than the work itself.
I had been working from home a bit, but now I will be working entirely with
my slippers on... And it's clear that will benefit everyone. My personal
finances will change radically of course, but everything for me in the past
two years has moved to a different level anyway, and I *like* it. I got rid
of my very nice house at last (at an unbelievably HUGE loss unfortunately),
but I've had worse things happen in my life... Remember Scripsit?  I
probably lost a quarter of million bucks on that deal alone.... :-(   

So, anyway, I've made and lost fortunes.  We all have.  My intention now is
to stop trying to make any more fortunes and enjoy the one I have now... No,
it isn't made up of lots of money and easy street. But, it is enough... More
than enough really, as I plan to write the rest of my books.... Yes, I have
a few in the can already.  I plan to write some more music... Yes, I have a
pieces of that stuff in other cans.... And I plan to enjoy the very cool
little town I now live in as much as possible.  I have a plethora of
restaurants to enjoy for breakfasts, lunches and dinners... (I can barely
cook water... :-), but I do have one of those cool little one-cup Keurig
coffee makers to help me with that deficiency. :-)  I go to a really good
church where the people are so nice, and real, and seem to love me as weird
as I am. I have joined the choir... Well, not a choir really, that is the
group of people with robes and books. The group I joined does 3 or 4 songs
every Sunday and has a drummer, piano, bass and a couple great singers.
Now, they have 3 great singers. (:) I haven't yet told them I am a drummer
and play some keyboard and guitar as well yet.... It's not what I do best.)
However, for that penchant in my life, every Wednesday night about 3 blocks
from my apartment is an "open mic" blues night... Where I do have a drum
set, and where I have put a guitar amp and some other stuff to add to the
stuff I found there already.  Periodically, when the right players come
along, I get to jam and have what I consider a really great time.  Last
Wednesday I did Aint No Sunshine When She's Gone for what was supposed to be
a quick shot... It lasted for 30 minutes, and I must say, we rocked the
place out for every second of it. (You all know that modesty is not one of
my big points, eh?  :-)  

Seriously, I'm having a wonderful time, wish you were here... Sort of life,
and though I am pretty much on a very fixed income for the duration. I'm
right where I want to be. I'll be putting something "new" on the net during
the next year, similar to the FilePro Room but way cooler.  You'll hear more
about it if and when it actually happens.  For now, I do hit the FP Room
every night around 11pm Eastern, with a guarantee to be there at 10pm
Eastern every Thursday night.  Everyone welcome as always. The url is on the
Valar site somewhere near the top right corner.

I hope I've sated everyone's curiosity without being too ... Whatever.  My
best wishes that all of you transcend these horrible economic times, and the
incredible stuff that is happening to our country.  My suggestion if you
care... Watch Glenn Beck's show.  Doesn't matter which one... Just pick a
day and watch. I don't ask you to think any way at all, or believe anything
at all, accept anything said at all... Just watch and listen. You all (the
ones I know anyway) have good clear minds. Use them. Make decisions and
choices that you think will help. That's all any of us can do.

Take care,

John 

P.S. Christmas is coming up. It's certainly not like I have remembered every
year.... But I do try and send Bill Campbell some money once a year for
taking care of this list and making sure it is always here when I want it.
Bill doesn't even use filePro, and he keeps this list as up-to-date, clean
and professional as anything out there.  Jeez, I haven't touched a thing on
my own web site in months.... We owe him a debt of gratitude... And hell,
while we're thinking about it... Why not just call it a debt.  No one else
does anything for nothing but his good intentions in this world, not many
anyway. Bill *is* one of them, so why not send him something you can afford.
I think there are still probably a hundred of us lurking out there...
Reading this list whenever something comes across it.  If all of us sent him
even a small check it would, I'm sure, be very meaningful to him.
Incidentally, none of you can possibly think Bill would ever put me up to
this... I hope not anyway. This request is the definition of unsolicited,
and so is the check I'm going to send him. For that matter, if you need help
putting up a web site, or more, bigger... Being an ISP of your own servicing
other people and your own companies.... Give him a call.  That used to be
his specialty. But if not, use this address I'm going to look up now to send
that check. As you will see it will be a very old filePro record. If it's
wrong, I hope he, or someone will correct it.

Bill           .
Campbell       .
Celestial Software
6641 East Mercer Way          .
P.O. 820                      .
Mercer Island            .
WA.
98040     .

Everyone take care. Have a great Thanksgiving if that comes before your next
visit here.

Incidentally, you may see my 21st Century Appraisals signature once in a
while. I'm going to keep my office at Tim's, and I intend to be there
periodically. So, I might as well still use the email... :-)  I will also
still keep Valar Group and email going. 

John


John Esak
21st Century Appraisals, Inc
1801 Oberlin Rd, Middletown, PA 17057
717-985-0200 x 1141
john.esak at 21appr.com