Charlie Central

I haven’t seen any posts about how hot it is or how cold it is or how much snow there is or how much rain lately … I’ve been waiting on this for awhile. Here goes – Summers are notoriously hot and many times there are T-storms and loads of rain which can cause flooding. Summers typically have a number of hot days in a row. Winters are cold and often can produce snow storms and they can also produce day after day of freezing temps. There are other natural processes like tornados and hurricanes along with simple, average days. It is called weather. God created it and maintains it, not ‘Mother Nature’. The processes cleanse our earth and air, knock seedlings to the ground, produce new growth and create oxygen. It is a known cycle. Thank you.

I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

Laugh at your problems, everybody else does.

Fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity.

I didn’t say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

If winning isn’t everything why do they keep score?

This girl rang me up one time, she says “come over, nobody is home”, I went over, no one was home!

Depression is just anger without enthusiasm.

The shinbone is a device for finding furniture in a dark room.

Before you insult a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you insult him, you’ll be a mile away, and have his shoes.

We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don’t have a good partner, you’d better have a good hand.

Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling.

Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather.. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

Abbey,

The dog park is amazing! It has an agility course, 4 different sections and a walking track. I walked around the track 4-5 times as Scoops and Jaloops frolicked – it was great. All grass too and cool people (today at least). It is next to the interstate which gave it a Bronx zoo/urban nature feel – very nice and relatively close to my house.

I cleaned the dang fridge and it is okay, so I bought some basics. Brewed beans yesterday and made coffee this morning, I am about ready to head to the beach for awhile. I really feel at home here in this area – it is weird! Like coming home to a place I loved in a previous life.

This morning I did a dry run of my workday – set the alarm for 6:00 and was up by 6:15. Dogs out to pee. Fed them. Dogs out to Doo-Doo. Then we walked the neighborhood – I was back by 7am after a good long walk. 7-7:20 I drank coffee and watched TV (would have showered and dressed) – then would have left for work by 7:30am. Feeling good with the routine so far.

The neighbors are snooty around these parts – one told me last night I could not have trash in my can that did not allow the lid to close, so I have it in my garage. Not a big deal – I actually do not mind all the traffic and people – loads to watch and many interestingly odd.

Pops loves you! I am so glad (and proud) about your promotion – like there was ever a question? How did James’ interview go?

I love you!

dad

Most of my adult working life, I had fantasized about finding a companion who would one day pull the financial load and let me take a year or two off to do whatever.  Well that never transpired.

I have worked my ass off since the age of 16.  I worked full time through high school and ever since.  My annual earning statement sent from the federal government does show one year that I earned zero which is true, but that was the year Ivan was born (1992) and I worked delivering furniture (paid under the table) and collected unemployment for a number of months.  Other than that – work, work, work.

My descent at News 14 Carolina really began in 2006 after being ridden hard and put up wet with a struggling yet very successful launch, a fight for your life merge with Charlotte News 14 Carolina, expansion into the Triad, limited staffing and the daily duties of running an aggressive 24 hour news operation.  It was time to give notice.  I crafted my resignation letter and delivered it to my boss, Alan.  I believe he was a bit unnerved because he was more on the editorial side and relied heavily on me on the technical side.  Plus I am a hard and effective worker – unlike the general work population.  I have always advanced amazingly quickly due to delivering more than I get paid for.

He asked if there was anything they could do to keep me, but I held strong.  I was burnt to a crisp!  After a few weeks of letting it settle in, I think he was okay with it and we were moving ahead to hire a replacement.  I recall vividly the morning Alan came into my office and closed my door – he asked …”are you sure there isn’t anything we can do to keep you from leaving”.  I told him again, I was set, but I would take the weekend to think it through.  Money was not my objective, mental health and well being were.  I did think it through and came up with some terms that would allow me to stay – Director position and perks, hire a new head count as the IT Manager doing what I did and elevating myself away from the daily grind.  Done deal.  I was promoted, given a pay increase and car allowance and increased my annual bonus possibility.  The pressure was off, I didn’t have to turn the kids world upside down just yet and the advancement gave me the opportunity to really grow in my position.

I hired Chris Bell who was an outstanding and better IT Manager than myself and Bill Stiehle the chief engineer was as good as they get – I was in great shape making great money and it was enjoyable again.  I spent the next 3 years researching replacement systems and actually life cycling all News 14 Carolina facilities.  However, the fun eventually faded.  The facilities and systems were running optimally – equal if not better than when we launched.  All the equipment was new, so minimal stuff was breaking and my two generals were completely polished professionals.  Chirp.  Chirp.  Chirp.

The only saving grace was the possible expansion into South Carolina and upgrading to HD.  I moved forward with the SC expansion, had quotes, had an approved budget but we were put into a holding pattern …

Hold.  Hold. Hold.  Hold. Everything running perfectly.  Hold.  Hold.  Hold.  Nothing to do.  Hold.  Hold.  Boredom setting in.  Hold …

Finally the news came – we were merging with the NY1 group.  Good guys, but they definitely did things different than we did in the Carolinas.  My boss was okay with the take over – not sure why but I had to really evaluate where I stood.  It had been almost 9 years of fantastic opportunities.  A great team too, but it was time to leave.

In January, I posted on face  book that 2010 was going to be my year!  And sure enough it was, here is why.

I crafted a deal with TWC and News 14 Carolina to receive a severance.  It was in their best interest to eliminate a highly compensated employee and it was in mine so I could remain sane – I could not have been more bored.  It was very close too – day by day – I was ready to walk in and resign with nothing.  I finally struck the deal to get severance and it was sweet!  I received over 30 weeks of pay, half my annual bonus and they kept me on thge payroll for a few months until the severance kicked in.  Also, I had already taken 2 of my vacations prior to my departure on April 23rd, 2010.  A full boat Key West trip was one.  It had been a pretty easy year thus far.  One last deal I struck was to be able to get unemployment which I needed for a few months at the end before I got my next gig at Univision.  When all was said and done, I had earned close to $160,000 in 2010, traveled, had a year off and remained current on my bills.  Like I said, at the end I ran short and had to F my mortgage and I owe the state of North Carolina $3800 in taxes – but that was still an exceptional year.

I didn’t have the woman who could pull the load and let me take a year off, but I had Time Warner Cable.  They are needless to say a first class organization in my book.   The offered me a great career opportunity and an excellent exit strategy.  I finally got my year off in life that I always fantacized about and it was supurb.  I’m good now, don’t expect it again and could not be happier.



Monday 10.20.2003

I ran across a site last night by a girl in San Antonio named Mellie. She has a great log going and I spent about 3 hours late in to the night (morning) reading her words. Her writings have inspired me to begin my own online journal. I am going to follow her lead about being honest and true and not ever pandoring or editing to ease the blow about my thoughts. I mean really, that is the best plan. If a thought comes in to our head and we validate the thought then it can be written without worry and does not ever ‘need’ to be defended – it is what I think. Period!

Saturday, I had to work with our chief meteorologist Gary Stephenson at the North Carolina State Fair. He was the talent from our news channel and we were on display inside the Time Warner Cable booth. He signed autographs and we all put News 14 and Road Runner tattoos on kids of all ages. It was fun, but I was glad when it was over. I was tired – being fat and all. After our stint, Ivan and I ‘hit’ the fair. We ate all sorts of junk, checked out the livestock and then he road alot of the rides. Fairs are such a rip off! I think that I could have as much fun getting a bunch of dollar bills and lighting them on fire, one at a time. I dropped $100 and we came home with nothing in our hands. When I was explaining things to Ivan he stopped me and said, “but dad, we have memories”. Kinda sappy, but he was very cute and I shut up.

Last night we ran to the store and I asked Abbey to go in and get cookies. I said to get 2 bags of Pepperidge Farms. She came out with some fudge and mint Oreos and swore they did not have the others. I finally had to make a point that they are simply BLIND! so I pulled back in and went in myself. I not only returned with 2 bags of the pepperidge Farms, but also some Keeblers she had wanted but couldn’t locate. In the end I dropped about $15 bucks on cookies, pretty stupid.

Ivan is my buddy. He and I frog each other viciously. My arm is in constant pain from this little shit. He is really strong and will one day be able to kick my ass. So, in the meantime, I am getting my licks in now while I can. He will start across the room and charge at me full speed, jump on me and start wailing on me. I can take it! He is eleven and weighs more than 100 pounds, so it’s not like a little kid jumping on you.

We went to Moe’s for dinner tonight, good Mexican! Then Ivan and I went to Wal-mart and got him some jeans – 16 Huskies! He came and told me about the fish aquariums – he said there was 5 or 6 fish dead and floating. Mellie wrote a bit about this issue. Wal-Mart needs to get its act together here.

Abbey and I just finished watching Punch Drunk Love with Adam Sandler. I have to give it a 5 out of 10. It wasn’t that great period. She and I always have hopes when we pick a movie and give each other ‘the look’ half way through, like this really sucks ass! But it is fun just hanging with her. She is growing like a weed – 15 soon and will be in college and on her own in no time. I am really starting to re-focus on spending the quality time with the kids. I want to be close with them throughout their lives and I think we will.

Rainy is the cutest dog EVER!

I am smoking Marlboros again – why?

I am morbidly obese – why?

I have hair growing in places it SHOULDN’T!

I get FREE cable TV, FREE pay per view, FREE premium channels, FREE AOL, and FREE Road Runner high speed internet. Why? because I work for Time Warner cable, that’s why!

People that irk me: Britney Spears, Madonna, the pope
Things that irk me: my answering machine, running out of money before the next pay check, over eating
Things that please me: my kids, my dog, my job, my faith in GOD, my sharp mind

I just watched a video of  half time at a professional basketball game.  They had a dance cam spotting people in the crowd.  It centered on an old man with moves and a young boy.  As the camera scans over to the young kid (age 5 or 6) – it shows him doing the move where he is violently simulating fucking someone from behind.  The crowd loved it of course and they gave a big round of “Baaa Baaa”

Looking back, I have had a ‘blessed’ life for sure.  Not everyone has a blessed life and not everyone who says they have had a blessed life has!

TBC …

I like seeing her struggle with the pleasure

The shooting tragedy in Arizona this week is sad.  However, it never ceases to amaze me that the famous, young or popular are reported on – the others don’t matter.

For example – the “congress woman” and the 9 year old girl are all that get reported in the news yet there were 6 people killed.  The others are probably fat, old, ugly or male (maybe even minority?)

What make one person’s life more valuable than another?

What causes a 600% increase in autism in the past 20 years?