It was a day the accounting manager (Terri) will never forget… March 5th. We were gathered in a conference room, somber faces all around. The CEO, his staff including the CFO (Terri’s boss), myself as the new FP&A manager. I was sitting directly across the table from Terri. The CEO solemnly spoke directly to Terri,…
Month: February 2019
February 24th: Our day at the beach
A blizzard rages 75 miles north. But not for us. We have been spared the snow this time, so today we enjoyed our beach. Wind and waves. Ice hills and lighthouse visible without the wind-born blinding white. Someone with the State of Michigan made the extremely popular decision to keep the gates open, and road…
February 22nd: Blue soon
Bright blue skies again. Donning sunglasses we ran around town, doing our errands… oil change, grocery store, by the clubhouse for free beverages and to hear the latest news. Everyone was a little happier today. You could feel it in the air. The sun had returned. We were of course extra happy. Our last destination…
February 21st: Should we stay or should we go?
We spent much of the day in Muskegon, of course visiting another beach, but also looking at where we might live come May. One of the many positives in no longer owning a house… we can just pick up and move. The move is also made easier by the minimalism and simplification we adopted last…
February 19th: The Joy of Eating
It is official. We have enjoyed Old Boy’s Brewhouse more than any other eating and drinking establishment in our lives. We have eaten almost the entire menu, some items several times. Then they change the menu every six months. And every week, the have specials. Something special, for a few days, and then maybe never…
February 14th: Nineteen seventy-five
I met my wife to be at a Le Mars, Iowa grocery store in 1975. Months later, we began dating. Then off to college… “hometown honeys” never last they said. Against all odds, we married after college. Holland, Michigan was our first stop in a journey that crossed the country. Four children born in four…
February 13th: Leave No Trace
What makes for a great movie? A few can grab you emotionally. You are surprised, inspired, joyful, scared, angry, horrified, challenged. Maybe even a roller coaster ride of those emotions. Locked in for the entire movie. Then there comes a movie that is stunningly subtle. Telling a powerful story without monsters, evil people, natural disasters….
February 12th: Where do we go from here?
Ninety days and our lease is up. Where do we go from here? I have read some articles on great places to live in Central and South America. Beautiful, safe, fun, cheap. But not this year. Florida or Arizona? No thanks. We so love Western Michigan and have much to explore within hours of here….
February 11th: Where did the ice go?
Where did the ice go when the winds blow from the east? A half a foot, to a foot deep, all the way to near the horizon. With ice piled into walkable hills along the shore. And yet now today, a different story. I wonder if the ice is floating in the middle of the…
February 9th: “I don’t like the beach”
My wife said, “Would you please get a haircut, you’re embarrassing me?” – as we walked into our favorite brewhouse. One of the great things about not working for someone is haircuts and shaving are optional. In 2018, I cut my hair only three times for the entire year. After my last haircut in November,…