I got my natural gas bill a few days ago. The previous one was $70. This one was $240.
I paid it. Then I turned my heat off. Not down. OFF. Then I bought three electric heaters. Ran one in my bedroom last night and was relatively comfortable. When I came downstairs this morning, it was 51 degrees in my living room.
I spent the week after Christmas with Cy and T in their Vermont home. It was 65 in their house with the heat turned off. What’s up with that?
But hey. “Rudy” is on television this morning, so I’m happy. I really need to buy that DVD. It’s a good football fix during the offseason. So is my Playstation. I’m currently the head coach of the LSU Tigers in my third season of “Dynasty” play. During season 1, I coached Furman University, had an 11-1 record, beat LSU in the Sugar Bowl, and my QB won the Heisman. I was immediately offered a job with Washington, which I took.
In season two, my Huskies won the mythical national championship, beating Georgia in the Rose Bowl by a score of 246-6. My halfback won the Heisman.
This season, I’m undefeated with an average win margin of over 100 points. My wide receiver is in the driver’s seat for the Heisman.
I said “mythical” national championship because the I-A division of college football doesn’t really have one. They just get voted in. In I-AA, it’s different. There’s a 16-team playoff, which – if you’ve read any of my previous posts – should be somewhat familiar to you. My last entry here was written the week prior to Furman’s game at Appalachian State.
True to all of the games between those teams over the last several years, this one was a nail-biter. It ended somewhat controversially when Furman’s QB fumbled the ball in the last minute of the game while driving for what would have been the winning score. Replays showed pretty clearly that the fumble was a forward pass. Them’s the breaks. Appalachian State went on to win the championship the following week. Furman went home to start planning for next year. Between then and now, I’ve got 9 months of watching football movies and playing playstation.
And, of course, going to a bowl-a-thon (to raise money for the athletics programs) next month.
BellSouth announced just before Christmas (in their best Grinch voice) that they’ll be laying off 1,500 more management employees between February and April. For those of you unfamiliar with my job history over the last 15 years, it goes something like this:
1990: Quit job in Greenville, moved to Atlanta, started temping.
1991: Hired on full-time with NYNEX.
1992: NYNEX acquired by ComputerLand, massive layoffs follow. I survived.
1993: ComputerLand sells off most franchises, becomes Vanstar. Massive layoffs follow. I survivied.
1994: Quit Vanstar. Began contracting. First job with BellSouth. Hated it so much, I swore I’d never work for them again.
1997: Convinced by my boss to take “a very short-term” gig with BellSouth (1 week). After that, I went on to Coca-Cola for 6 months. During that time, BellSouth twice called me to offer me my current job. I turned them down. The third time the job was offered – at a substantial pay raise – I took it.
2000 – BellSouth puts emphasis on DSL, cutting my affiliate (cable TV) with every conceivable cutting tool. In 3 months, we went from 1800 employees to 250. I survived.
2002 – BellSouth reacts like every other company after 9/11, beginning several rounds of massive layoffs. I survived.
2003 – More layoffs. I survived.
I think the target’s on my back this time around. I’ll be holding my breath for the next few months. I’m not overly concerned. I’ve made tentative plans for how to handle things should the axe fall, and my boss keeps insisting that I’m safe – although I may end up working for a different affiliate. But if I *am* shown the door, I’m ready to start over again. This time at 40 years old instead of 25. Maybe I can do it again when I’m 55!
So now everyone should be fairly caught up on my life. Hope you all have a great 2006!
TWD