....WHEN LAST WE LEFT TED..... (INSERT DRAMATIC INCIDENTAL MUSIC HERE)

Hey, guys. Wow! I'm out of it for a little while and this place gets delusions of grandure! ( 5 stars to whoever gets from what movie that line that paraphrases!) Well, a LOT's been going on. I had told you guys that I found a new job, and how happy I was? Well, the job was not what I thought. It was a competition between me and another employee, and we had four days to prove ourselves. The other employee got it, and I didn't. Before that bomb happened, we took out two payday loans, Then, Patti's job started cutting her hours considerably. Our tv, internet, and home/cell services were cancelled. All of our jewlrey was in default at the pawn shop, and our landlord was two weeks away from starting eviction papers. We were in trouble.

A couple months earlier, a former HR rep from Patti's job had called her. Seems this lady was now working for a rival corporation as a recruiter, and wanted Patti to work for them. Patti didn't call. She has 7 years tenure at PRC, and did not want to change jobs. But in view of the sitution now, I said.. you better call her. Which... surprise, surprise... landed the both of us solid jobs!

We have one hell of a deep hole to dig ourselves out of. Patti had to take a paycut, and lost her benefits. Just in time for a week long stay at the hospital, after alll the stress had finally reached it's limit on her. Our current jobs are mind-numbingly simple, and boring as hell. But we are BOTH working. At the same call center, the same account, same hours/ days off. We even sit next to each other.

Just like old times. We met at a call center at the same account. Everyone concerned is willing to wait for us, so we've lost nothing , so far. In the long run, everything happens for a reason. Given what is going on all over the world, we are much more fortunate then many. Despite the stress level, I feel that we are indeed, both blessed.

...... CH..CH..CH..CHANGES.....

My vote? I don't like it! No, Sirreee Bob. I no likey it at all. If this site were going to invest it's money and time in changes to the site, I think we could all think of a dozen more productive things they could have done other than change the overall look! I mean, come on.. we aren't ALL that superficial! I think maybe.. just maybe, improving the system so less bugs show up would top the list. Maybe I'm too quick to complain. I mean hell, it does look cute.. who cares if it works properly, am I right? Huh?

......NEVER FORGET........

I've been away during the anniversary of September 11th. Otherwise, I would have posted this earlier, obviously.

Starting with the first anniversary, and for five years after, I have been building up my own video documentary on that tragic day. It was an unexplainable obsession which drove me to this, and in some strange way, it actually helped me to get through the grief of losing my mom, Grandmother, and childhood home a while back. The semi-completed project is made up of about 20 different documentarys on the day, and was painstakingly constructed and edited, creating a very strong you-are-there feel. It is very hard to watch, and almost 100 times as difficult to put together. But somehow, I think I needed to do it. To put my own grief and life into perspective. My best generic description of it would be "9/11, in your face, under a microscope, in slow motion". My original intent was to approach each one of the original filmmakers, to see it, and hopefully give their approval to release an official version, with all procedes going to the families of the victims of the tragedy. But I havent yet. Partly because, from various reactions, I felt it may have been too soon, and partly because I still don't have a finished project. There are a lot of redundancies which badly need to be trimmed down.. but for all the emotional toll it took on me to put it together, I haven't been able to bring myself to return to the project for about two years.

The reason I tell you this, is because now, 7 years later, it really infuriates me that a lot of younger people, if they talk about the day, just talk about the crashes of the planes, and the two buildings falling down. Most are so wrapped up in their own little dramas, that they couldn't even care to think about it at all. So as not to upset any young adults that are my friends, I HAVE found quite a few thoughtful individuals who are quite different. For the most part, I am speaking of the mostly ghetto-backround kids which work at my job.

But more people, adults included, DO seem to distance themselves from the day, and the tragedy.. so obsessed are they with the day to day problems of their own lives. I guess it just bothers me. Yeah, go on.. live your lives. But do taker the time, especially on the anniversary to reflect, and pay respect to the victims of that horrible day. I really got miffed that my company would not stop the dialer on our system for a moment of silence, at least once.

Maybe I should continue editing the project, and go ahead with my plans for a release. I'm starting to think that it would really do some good, for people who only remember the far away shots of the planes and the collapses, to see what it was really like in the city, on the streets, in the buildings, etc...close up. Maybe then they would make sure that they never forget.

Until we meet next...

Same Bat-Time,

Same Bat-Channel