RankFamily Archives: September 2003
There are not words to tell you all how wonderful Lourdes was. Joe and I had nourishment for our souls, or psyches, our bodies and our minds - it was an incredible experience. The sights and sounds of the sanctuary (Grotto and basilica areas) were just a blessing to experience. The town, with its many cafes and shops was delightful. We spoke french (or tried to) much of the time and the natoves were exceedingly polite, helpful and friendly. We did a lot of rosaries, masses and processions as well as plenty of shops, cafes and even a little mountain trail hiking in the Pyrenees. The whole trip was a great blessing for me. As soon as possible, I'll scan some pix of the trip and send them to Jeff to post. Au revoir!
Posted by grace @ 08:46 PM CST
"Ok, everyone with air conditioning, do some heavy lifting."
Well! It's a good thing my AC went TU, because I'm not so good at heavy lifting anymore! We think that the coils iced up (as they do from time to time) and since no one was home to turn off the unit, the blower motor burned out.
The good news is I get to deal with some GED-holder with bad grammer, prospects, and teeth who'll bandy about words like "condenser" and "compressor" in an attempt to be recognized as a shaman--the wise and mysterious keeper of the sacred secrets of residential heating and cooling. He will augur ominously about the cascade of catastrophies that awaits me when this part or that part goes bad (he "musta seen it a hunnert times"), and assure me that my $300 larva will metamorphose into a $2500 butterfly in the fullness of time. Wasn't this the same guy that came out for the garage door repair company when we called them? I suspect they have a shared pool of about a half-dozen of these guys for all the home repair shops in the whole city, and they just change out the hats and trucks as needed.
Joule is continuing in a modified fashion until the end of October, unless we get some revenue, in which case we roll forward business as usual. The choice everyone will have is to either accept 2 weeks severance pay and termination, or accept $1000 salary, a stock award (not a stock option), and continued benefits through the end of October. Again, the outcome of the meeting that is happening now in London could change that, as could the outcome of the meeting we have scheduled with Level 3 at the end of the month. I will have to crunch some numbers to find out what will work best for me, but we're all cautiously optimisstic that we will establish a revenue stream within a month.
I had some bad guts this weekend, and went to get a course of antibiotics to take to France in case my symptoms turn out to be what they're acting like (diverticulitis). I sure don't want to go to France with a case of diverticulitis. If I show up with two maladies, I might be cured of the wrong one! (Just a little Lourdes pilgrim humor there.) Apart from that, I'm doing fine. Will see dad on Thursday, and mom soon thereafter. Ain't life grand?
Posted by joe @ 11:55 AM CST
Okay - Thanks to Joe and a VERY detailed tutorial, I am with you again! Mucho gracias to John for sorting out the OTC meds maze and getting them ordered, and to the whole clan for financially making it possible. John and Tracy took some digital pix of the "Journey of Hope" painting and they should be posted on this site soon by Jeff. We'll want to know your preference for the cards. Joe's and my airline tickets for Lourdes arrived yesterday - the trip is finally starting to look like a reality! I had a little accident in the VW last night - I was on my way home from Tivoli after teaching there until 9:30 PM - on the deserted stratch of road between Tivoli and Holiday Beach a semi's tire came apart and flew off the truck and I collided with the debris. I was only going about 55 mph, but it tore the front of my little car up..grill and signal lights broken, undercarriage cover ripped and torn away, radiator punctured and fan broken - the car was inoperable. I got it to the side of the road, called 911, dad came to pick me up and the rest is just a blur of insurance forms and tow truck arrangements. My baby is now at Coastal Motorcars awaiting an insurance adjustor and rehabilitation. I am fine - just a little pissed off, and very grateful. Dad calls it a "lucky bad break." Joe, be sure to keep us up to date on the happenings at Joule. Love, and KTF, Ma
Posted by grace @ 08:56 PM CST
As you all should know by your e-mails by now, Joes OTC supplements have been ordered and the supply chain has started. Hopefully we can time this so he will never have to be without. I will make a flow chart to insure re-ordering before running out, so please keep me abreast of dosage and\or supplement changes. Other than that, Thanks to all who made the idea a possibility.
-JohnPosted by john @ 05:45 PM CST