The mind is racing this morning. Here is a sampling:
* Hopefully, my father and Marilyn had a safe trip going down to Florida yesterday. They will be returning to Arizona on the 9th.
* Looks like part of my "site survey" has already been completed. I am looking to move to the west coast, and haven't been able to get in contact with stepbrother Dave or his wife Rae. Talking to Marilyn two nights ago, though, she's already put forth the news that I'm interested. Their reaction seems to be very positive. Any trip will be after the New Year, of course, but I will try to talk to them before Christmas. Perhaps by March, I can be out there permanently.
I no longer have ties to Michigan as of this month, so what's the point of me being here? There's jobs in the writing field over there (wow, this blog will make good visual reference, hee hee...).
* What do these airlines want? First, Spirit goes to a la carte pricing (which means you pay $2.50 on a credit card to get water). Now, Steve's job is in jeopardy as Detroit is looking to cut 150 workers from Northwest. If Steve is not spared, he can go to another station, but would also have to move out of Michigan.
This leaves poor George, who just moved here. But his boss is giving him the "Spirit treatment" (I'll pay you when I'm good & ready). George has put applications elsewhere. He's as close to a certified mechanic as there is, and he needs a better place to display his know-how other than "Quickee Lube"... whose name by itself, uh, doesn't warrant being highlighted in boldface on a resume.
* Two weeks since the blockbuster Detroit Tiger deal for Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. For some reason, I am having difficulty liking the trade. We have the "win now" philosophy, but we paid Florida 3/4ths of our farm system. What does "win now" mean? That we're back to stinking in three years? I wanted us to be competitive for the long term.
Another reason that baseball is the hot ticket in town, and not hockey. Can't wait to see how this move pans out. But safe to say I need more convincing in order to like it.
* My answer to the baseball/steroids thing? Ban them all. In the case of Barry Bonds, erase his statistics. In the case of Roger Clemens, make him take a lie detector test on live television. And in the case of ex-Tiger OF Nook Logan, who was named in the Mitchell report and has a lifetime total of - what - 5 homers... a grocery stocking job is waiting somewhere. Americans DO want those jobs.
* We survived the ten-inch snowfall over the weekend. But it's still amazing how Michigan drivers can't adjust to the conditions, when they are conditioned themselves to know what weather is coming. Florida & Georgia drivers, I can understand. But we are the northern people! Why can't they show they can drive as such?
I only hope I can get Christmas off this year - it would be my first time in eight years!
