Experiences
What is an experience you would like to have, and don’t limit your imagination to reality. Would you like to appear on Survivor? Would you want to be invited to the White House? Would you like to climb a certain mountain? Swim with dolphins? Have a day without obligation to job, family, whatever? Soar like an eagle in a glider? Want me to stop making suggestions? OK, you got it! I'm outta here!
Well, I have had quite a few unique experiences. I have soared like an eagle in a glider. Belonged to a sailplane club back in the early 1960's, in fact.
Have had a couple of interesting helicopter rides. One, the VIP tour of Niagra Falls in a Bell jet helicopter and, two, a ride in a crop duster's Bell 'bubble' helicopter at the Minnesota State Fair. The pilot, of which, liked the way my wife screamed when he made it go up and down and turned on its side like a roller coaster. With me on the passenger side -- no door -- just a skimpy seat belt holding me in.
I've also flown in an ultralight aircraft and lots of private aircraft. Would have loved to attempted hang gliding.
I've cut a couple head of cows in practice while riding the Florida State Cutting Horse Champion. Wow! What a ride.
I've been chased my bulls while taking photos in (not just at) the rodeo arena and also in the woods and swamps of Florida while cow hunting with old Florida crackers.
I can work a bull whip. Want to hold a cigarette in your fingers while I cut it in two? And, I used to be a pretty good shot with a 22 using hand thrown 1 inch cube pieces of wood for targets.
One thing I haven't done that I'd like to: I would like to ride in a limo. Never have. But if I did, I'd probably ask to drive it.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Nicknames.....
What is your favorite pet name for someone, or that someone has for you. How did it get started?
My grandfather always called me "Butch" -- I assume because as a kid, I always had my hair cut short.
Then while I was starting out in the computer biz at RCA in West Palm Beach back in 1965, everyone started calling me "Tex" because I always dressed western. (Never lived in Texas in my life.)
Back then, the compture biz was pretty small, so no matter where I moved to or what employer I had, I'd always run into someone that knew me by "Tex", so it stuck for a long while. Even to KSC in 1980 and all of the time I was in France. In fact, to this day, all of my french wife's relatives and friends all call me "Tex."
My wife, Claudine, often gets called "Clo" by family (including me). The kids ended up with using shortened versions of their names. Brigitte goes by Bri; Catherine goes by Cathy.
About 1980, I started using just the initials "DC" because a) I was tired of Tex and b) no one has ever been able to spell or pronounce my given names of Darhl Caylor Stultz.
Of course, if someone yells loud enough that I can hear and understand them, I'll even respond to "HEY YOU!"
What is your favorite pet name for someone, or that someone has for you. How did it get started?
My grandfather always called me "Butch" -- I assume because as a kid, I always had my hair cut short.
Then while I was starting out in the computer biz at RCA in West Palm Beach back in 1965, everyone started calling me "Tex" because I always dressed western. (Never lived in Texas in my life.)
Back then, the compture biz was pretty small, so no matter where I moved to or what employer I had, I'd always run into someone that knew me by "Tex", so it stuck for a long while. Even to KSC in 1980 and all of the time I was in France. In fact, to this day, all of my french wife's relatives and friends all call me "Tex."
My wife, Claudine, often gets called "Clo" by family (including me). The kids ended up with using shortened versions of their names. Brigitte goes by Bri; Catherine goes by Cathy.
About 1980, I started using just the initials "DC" because a) I was tired of Tex and b) no one has ever been able to spell or pronounce my given names of Darhl Caylor Stultz.
Of course, if someone yells loud enough that I can hear and understand them, I'll even respond to "HEY YOU!"
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Have a pet peeve? Don't hold back. Tell us about it!
At age 70, I still program computers for a living. I design and code web applications for a defense contractor's local intranet web site. I try hard to not just meet the basic requirements that my in-house customers give me, but to exceed their expectations with their new applications.
And, my users send me gushing "attaboy" emails to thank me for my efforts quite frequently.
One word seems to crop up often: "awesome"
But it seems at least half of those emails say, "Your awesome!"
And, it drives me up a wall. I can't really send back a missive correcting them. I mean, they are being nice and are appreciative of my efforts on their behalf. So, I suffer in silence, well, because I am awesome.
But, please, if you send me an awesome message, try to make it "You're awesome!"
I do have a couple more teeth gnashers that also give me heartburn...
Confusing their with there and confusing affect for effect will normally get a spoken "aaaargh" when I read them.
At age 70, I still program computers for a living. I design and code web applications for a defense contractor's local intranet web site. I try hard to not just meet the basic requirements that my in-house customers give me, but to exceed their expectations with their new applications.
And, my users send me gushing "attaboy" emails to thank me for my efforts quite frequently.
One word seems to crop up often: "awesome"
But it seems at least half of those emails say, "Your awesome!"
And, it drives me up a wall. I can't really send back a missive correcting them. I mean, they are being nice and are appreciative of my efforts on their behalf. So, I suffer in silence, well, because I am awesome.
But, please, if you send me an awesome message, try to make it "You're awesome!"
I do have a couple more teeth gnashers that also give me heartburn...
Confusing their with there and confusing affect for effect will normally get a spoken "aaaargh" when I read them.
Friday, March 12, 2010
What is an invention you would like to see become real?
The best one would be an over-the-counter Get Well pill.
Just imagine. You have a nasty cold. Stop at the drug store and pick up a Get Well pill. (Wonder what they will call drug stores when they no longer have pharmacies inside? CVS, I guess, will become an upscale convenience store.)
You have something more serious? No problem. Stop at the any convenience store and pick up a Get Well pill.
Obviously, the side effects of the Get Well pill will be many fold. Hospitals will be empty and converted into condos, no doubt. Doctors will have to retire and live off of their unreasonable gains acquired pre-pill. Health insurance companies will be lining up for government handouts -- keeping their lobbyists employed for years.
A whole industry will learn what it is to be the stuckee versus the stucker. Which makes for a smile inducing visual, eh?
The best one would be an over-the-counter Get Well pill.
Just imagine. You have a nasty cold. Stop at the drug store and pick up a Get Well pill. (Wonder what they will call drug stores when they no longer have pharmacies inside? CVS, I guess, will become an upscale convenience store.)
You have something more serious? No problem. Stop at the any convenience store and pick up a Get Well pill.
Obviously, the side effects of the Get Well pill will be many fold. Hospitals will be empty and converted into condos, no doubt. Doctors will have to retire and live off of their unreasonable gains acquired pre-pill. Health insurance companies will be lining up for government handouts -- keeping their lobbyists employed for years.
A whole industry will learn what it is to be the stuckee versus the stucker. Which makes for a smile inducing visual, eh?
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Why no college education
When I graduated from high school (Plant High, Tampa, FL, 1957), I had the grades to go to college, but not the bucks. The only university in the area at the time was Tampa University - an expensive school. Hillsborough Jr College, St Petersburg Jr College and the University of South Florida did not exist at the time.
After high school, I worked for a short time doing photostat work for the Clerk of the Circuit Court, then like any hot headed 18 year old, I quit when I disagreed with the boss. While I was looking for other photo job opportunities, I interviewed with a guy and he asked me, "What what you like to do besides photography?" "Electronics," I replied.
He noted my bad arm from polio and suggested I contact state rehab for counseling. He also saw that I wouldn't follow through and so he picked up the phone and called a friend there and made an appointment for me.
I took their tests and they paid my way to Tampa Technical Institute. It was a glorified radio and TV repair school, but they gave a so-called AA degree and that gave me an entry into electronics.
I spent five years as a technician for a company in Sarasota, before getting laid off and then getting a job testing computers for RCA in West Palm Beach. That was the start of 45 years in the computer industry. It has treated me well -- despite the lack of a degree. In fact, for the last 40 of those years, I typically have been the only non-degreed person in my department.
Over the years, I have investigated getting the "piece of paper" a couple of times. The last time was in Melbourne. I visited with the computer science head at FIT. He looked at my resume and said, "If you had the piece of paper, I'd hire you to teach here. Getting the piece of paper will add nothing to your knowledge or your current pay check."
The secret, I think, is that I have never stopped learning -- it was just not in the classroom. The electronics theory I was taught was vacuum tubes, for Pete's sake! So the transistor theory I needed on my first job was all self-taught. I follow the computer industry closely. First by reading the trade publications and now by the internet. I know what the latest and greatest is and can pretty well figure out fad from must-learns.
Don't ever sell the non-degreed short. At Harris, I always mentored the recent college grads and it was always a hidden pleasure when they asked what college I graduated from. Their look of amazement when I told them "I didn't" was always a sense of satisfaction to me.
When I graduated from high school (Plant High, Tampa, FL, 1957), I had the grades to go to college, but not the bucks. The only university in the area at the time was Tampa University - an expensive school. Hillsborough Jr College, St Petersburg Jr College and the University of South Florida did not exist at the time.
After high school, I worked for a short time doing photostat work for the Clerk of the Circuit Court, then like any hot headed 18 year old, I quit when I disagreed with the boss. While I was looking for other photo job opportunities, I interviewed with a guy and he asked me, "What what you like to do besides photography?" "Electronics," I replied.
He noted my bad arm from polio and suggested I contact state rehab for counseling. He also saw that I wouldn't follow through and so he picked up the phone and called a friend there and made an appointment for me.
I took their tests and they paid my way to Tampa Technical Institute. It was a glorified radio and TV repair school, but they gave a so-called AA degree and that gave me an entry into electronics.
I spent five years as a technician for a company in Sarasota, before getting laid off and then getting a job testing computers for RCA in West Palm Beach. That was the start of 45 years in the computer industry. It has treated me well -- despite the lack of a degree. In fact, for the last 40 of those years, I typically have been the only non-degreed person in my department.
Over the years, I have investigated getting the "piece of paper" a couple of times. The last time was in Melbourne. I visited with the computer science head at FIT. He looked at my resume and said, "If you had the piece of paper, I'd hire you to teach here. Getting the piece of paper will add nothing to your knowledge or your current pay check."
The secret, I think, is that I have never stopped learning -- it was just not in the classroom. The electronics theory I was taught was vacuum tubes, for Pete's sake! So the transistor theory I needed on my first job was all self-taught. I follow the computer industry closely. First by reading the trade publications and now by the internet. I know what the latest and greatest is and can pretty well figure out fad from must-learns.
Don't ever sell the non-degreed short. At Harris, I always mentored the recent college grads and it was always a hidden pleasure when they asked what college I graduated from. Their look of amazement when I told them "I didn't" was always a sense of satisfaction to me.
Monday, March 01, 2010
First Memories
What is your earliest childhood memory? Is the memory really yours or do you think it comes from photos and family stories?
The first real memories that I recall were in Havre de Grace, MD. My dad was in the Army and was due to ship out soon for Europe. Mom and I were visiting.
And then WWII ended! Oh, the noise of all the car horns blaring. I didn't/couldn't understand at age 5 what the hell was going on, but I sure knew something big was happening.
Dad's mom then got some Congressman she knew to pull strings and he came home shortly thereafter. Like so much of my dad's happenings, I never learned the full, true story.
My mom kept in touch with the family of the little neighbor girl that I played with while we were there. She then set me up with a date with her when I was working in the Washington, DC area in 1961. We had one date: I took her to Atlantic City and we walked the boardwalk -- rather awkwardly, I have to admit. Never saw her again.
What is your earliest childhood memory? Is the memory really yours or do you think it comes from photos and family stories?
The first real memories that I recall were in Havre de Grace, MD. My dad was in the Army and was due to ship out soon for Europe. Mom and I were visiting.
And then WWII ended! Oh, the noise of all the car horns blaring. I didn't/couldn't understand at age 5 what the hell was going on, but I sure knew something big was happening.
Dad's mom then got some Congressman she knew to pull strings and he came home shortly thereafter. Like so much of my dad's happenings, I never learned the full, true story.
My mom kept in touch with the family of the little neighbor girl that I played with while we were there. She then set me up with a date with her when I was working in the Washington, DC area in 1961. We had one date: I took her to Atlantic City and we walked the boardwalk -- rather awkwardly, I have to admit. Never saw her again.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Casino Tales
My first visits to casinos was in Las Vegas back in the early 1960's. Both were part off crosscountry treks via auto -- one a vacation, the other chasing employment. Both overnight stays in Vegas were profitable. In fact, on the vacation, after 4 weeks on the road, I came home with $300 more than I started with thanks to Vegas.
Some of that money came courtesy of George Burns. He was sitting next to me, smoking his trademark cigar for about an hour at the blackjack table. He lost, I didn't.
While I was working in Toulouse, France in 1967, I became a charter member of the Playboy Club in London. Since I was working at Sud Aviation and they had frequent flights to the English half of the airplane builder, I thought I'd be able to catch a ride up to London and go. That never happened.
But, when my time ran out in Toulouse, the company sent me to London to install a computer. Claudine, who was my girlfriend at the time, went with me. We ended up going to the Playboy Club for eats and the casino a couple of times. The last time, she was playing roulette and I was playing blackjack. I wasn't having any luck, so I stopped by to see how she was doing and if she was ready to call it quits too. She says, "Yeah, I am ready to leave, but I need to cash in these chips." My reply, "Oh, those chips are small, there's an easy way to get rid of them." With that, I pushed them all on black 13.
Wouldn't you know it. It hit. And there was more money in her chips than I thought. We won close to a month's salary on that one spin of the wheel!
My first visits to casinos was in Las Vegas back in the early 1960's. Both were part off crosscountry treks via auto -- one a vacation, the other chasing employment. Both overnight stays in Vegas were profitable. In fact, on the vacation, after 4 weeks on the road, I came home with $300 more than I started with thanks to Vegas.
Some of that money came courtesy of George Burns. He was sitting next to me, smoking his trademark cigar for about an hour at the blackjack table. He lost, I didn't.
While I was working in Toulouse, France in 1967, I became a charter member of the Playboy Club in London. Since I was working at Sud Aviation and they had frequent flights to the English half of the airplane builder, I thought I'd be able to catch a ride up to London and go. That never happened.
But, when my time ran out in Toulouse, the company sent me to London to install a computer. Claudine, who was my girlfriend at the time, went with me. We ended up going to the Playboy Club for eats and the casino a couple of times. The last time, she was playing roulette and I was playing blackjack. I wasn't having any luck, so I stopped by to see how she was doing and if she was ready to call it quits too. She says, "Yeah, I am ready to leave, but I need to cash in these chips." My reply, "Oh, those chips are small, there's an easy way to get rid of them." With that, I pushed them all on black 13.
Wouldn't you know it. It hit. And there was more money in her chips than I thought. We won close to a month's salary on that one spin of the wheel!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
41 Years Ago Today
It was cold and snowy in Minneapolis. A Thursday.
The site: an apartment in Bloomington belonging to a Minneapolis cop and his wife.
The others in attendance: a drunk Minneapolis judge, who was the cop's drinking buddy, and the judge's wife, who was his designated driver.
The occasion: a wedding.
The best quote during the 90 minutes the group was together: The judge's wife saying, "If you want him to say anything coherent, you'd better get the ceremony over quickly."
Quotes that followed: "I do." "I do."
The aftermath: The judge's wife drove him home. Claudine, DC, the cop and the cop's wife went downtown to a hotel to celebrate Claudine and DC getting married.
The song that DC remembers at the hotel lounge: "Up, Up and Away in your beautiful balloon."
The funniest thing: DC dropped Claudine on her butt two feet inside the door when he carried her across the threshold. (Her heavy fake fur coat was slippery as all hell!)
The next day: DC put in his last day at CDC, loaded a u-haul trailer and they set out for the east coast to start his new job with DEC. They stopped in Chicago to pick up his relocation money and then let the new company pick up the tab for their honeymoon in Niagra Falls on their way.
It was cold and snowy in Minneapolis. A Thursday.
The site: an apartment in Bloomington belonging to a Minneapolis cop and his wife.
The others in attendance: a drunk Minneapolis judge, who was the cop's drinking buddy, and the judge's wife, who was his designated driver.
The occasion: a wedding.
The best quote during the 90 minutes the group was together: The judge's wife saying, "If you want him to say anything coherent, you'd better get the ceremony over quickly."
Quotes that followed: "I do." "I do."
The aftermath: The judge's wife drove him home. Claudine, DC, the cop and the cop's wife went downtown to a hotel to celebrate Claudine and DC getting married.
The song that DC remembers at the hotel lounge: "Up, Up and Away in your beautiful balloon."
The funniest thing: DC dropped Claudine on her butt two feet inside the door when he carried her across the threshold. (Her heavy fake fur coat was slippery as all hell!)
The next day: DC put in his last day at CDC, loaded a u-haul trailer and they set out for the east coast to start his new job with DEC. They stopped in Chicago to pick up his relocation money and then let the new company pick up the tab for their honeymoon in Niagra Falls on their way.
Friday, February 26, 2010
This blog has only been lying dormant for 9 years. Guess it is time to dust off the cobwebs and get a fresh start.
For starters, that last link to a vanity domain is no longer valid. I dropped the domain long ago.
For now, if you have any warm weather, send it to Florida please. It's been one of the coldest winters on record and my electric bill is KILLING ME!
For starters, that last link to a vanity domain is no longer valid. I dropped the domain long ago.
For now, if you have any warm weather, send it to Florida please. It's been one of the coldest winters on record and my electric bill is KILLING ME!
Sunday, December 09, 2001
We've Moved!
We have purchased the dcstultz.com domain name and set up a little website there.
We're now blogging at http://www.dcstultz.com/blog/
Catch us there. (And bookmark it when you get there!)
We have purchased the dcstultz.com domain name and set up a little website there.
We're now blogging at http://www.dcstultz.com/blog/
Catch us there. (And bookmark it when you get there!)
Wednesday, November 21, 2001
Thursday, October 11, 2001
Tuesday, September 11, 2001
Friday, September 07, 2001
This 'n That
Morning Message Well, we have completed our first week back as the editor (and flunky) for the MM daily humor newsletter. Sister Dawn needed a break since the break she gave me lasted non-stop for some 20 months a a couple of weeks.
I needed retraining. But found I just needed to do it once to be able to say "Oh, right. That's how I did it."
You can check it out here. BTW, we also do a naughty humor newsletter that goes out a couple times a week. You can subscribe to either by sending a request to dc@darlcomm.com.
Bush in the Hand
Seems Bush's flunkies in the Justice Department have thrown in the towel on the Microsoft anit-trust case. Damn. The government never gave up on me when I owed a small amount to the IRS back when. The rich definitely get treated differently than the poor in this country.
Arm Chair Detective
How can you tell if your secretary has been using your PC?
From the White Out on your screen.
Morning Message Well, we have completed our first week back as the editor (and flunky) for the MM daily humor newsletter. Sister Dawn needed a break since the break she gave me lasted non-stop for some 20 months a a couple of weeks.
I needed retraining. But found I just needed to do it once to be able to say "Oh, right. That's how I did it."
You can check it out here. BTW, we also do a naughty humor newsletter that goes out a couple times a week. You can subscribe to either by sending a request to dc@darlcomm.com.
Bush in the Hand
Seems Bush's flunkies in the Justice Department have thrown in the towel on the Microsoft anit-trust case. Damn. The government never gave up on me when I owed a small amount to the IRS back when. The rich definitely get treated differently than the poor in this country.
Arm Chair Detective
How can you tell if your secretary has been using your PC?
From the White Out on your screen.
Tuesday, September 04, 2001
Bigger = Better?
HP is merging with Compaq. They will keep the HP name. Although I've seen several interesting combinations to tout the merger. Methinks that HPaq is the best of the lot.
I won't hold my breath about the merger. Bigger seldom equals better (unless you are a sumo wrestler).
Thousands will lose their jobs, of course. It comes with the territory. Only a select few will enjoy being separated from either company. Only those that will need and can afford Brinks trucks to haul their golden parachutes, will come out of this smelling like a rose.
What a lot of people don't know and the companies that are merging never tell you is that when the merger closes, all of the billions in the acquired company's bank account belongs to the victor. Selling out is the only legal way that the top brass of the company can lay claim to a good sized portion of that money.
That's what happened when About.com was acquired by Primedia. About had had a second successful stock offering and had $125 million cash in the bank. Primedia wanted (and needed) that cash bad! The chairman and CEO of About wanted to get his hands on that money too.
So he sold About. Primedia got the $125 million cash. The About CEO got a cushy salary and title and stock options. Only months later did the rest of the story come out. His contract guaranteed him $25 million for his PRM stock that he got in the sale. Last I heard, it was worth only about $9 million and Primedia is having to fork over the $16 million difference. Want to bet whether Primedia is looking to acquire another company with millions in the bank?
Sounds like a Ponzi scheme, doesn't it?
HP is merging with Compaq. They will keep the HP name. Although I've seen several interesting combinations to tout the merger. Methinks that HPaq is the best of the lot.
I won't hold my breath about the merger. Bigger seldom equals better (unless you are a sumo wrestler).
Thousands will lose their jobs, of course. It comes with the territory. Only a select few will enjoy being separated from either company. Only those that will need and can afford Brinks trucks to haul their golden parachutes, will come out of this smelling like a rose.
What a lot of people don't know and the companies that are merging never tell you is that when the merger closes, all of the billions in the acquired company's bank account belongs to the victor. Selling out is the only legal way that the top brass of the company can lay claim to a good sized portion of that money.
That's what happened when About.com was acquired by Primedia. About had had a second successful stock offering and had $125 million cash in the bank. Primedia wanted (and needed) that cash bad! The chairman and CEO of About wanted to get his hands on that money too.
So he sold About. Primedia got the $125 million cash. The About CEO got a cushy salary and title and stock options. Only months later did the rest of the story come out. His contract guaranteed him $25 million for his PRM stock that he got in the sale. Last I heard, it was worth only about $9 million and Primedia is having to fork over the $16 million difference. Want to bet whether Primedia is looking to acquire another company with millions in the bank?
Sounds like a Ponzi scheme, doesn't it?
Monday, September 03, 2001
Time Flies
Can't believe I didn't get any blogs up in the past week. Will have to work on doing that more often.
Busy week at work. Real busy. Nice project with HIGH visibility -- course that means we'd better do it right. And, it does look like it is working well.
Sister Dawn palmed off the Morning Message on me again. Been almost 2 years since she took it over. I'm still doing the naughty Castaways too.
Went to Orlando Saturday to daughter that was hosting a baby shower for the other daughter. Traffic was a dog on I-4 going over. Was relatively light on the way back.
Dawn and crewe went to the shower, then followed us back to Tampa Bay and stayed at our place while trying to find a house to buy. No luck yet.
BTW, Dawn is a lousy shot. She tried a half dozen times to hit me with a rubber band without success. And, yes, she started it!
Can't believe I didn't get any blogs up in the past week. Will have to work on doing that more often.
Busy week at work. Real busy. Nice project with HIGH visibility -- course that means we'd better do it right. And, it does look like it is working well.
Sister Dawn palmed off the Morning Message on me again. Been almost 2 years since she took it over. I'm still doing the naughty Castaways too.
Went to Orlando Saturday to daughter that was hosting a baby shower for the other daughter. Traffic was a dog on I-4 going over. Was relatively light on the way back.
Dawn and crewe went to the shower, then followed us back to Tampa Bay and stayed at our place while trying to find a house to buy. No luck yet.
BTW, Dawn is a lousy shot. She tried a half dozen times to hit me with a rubber band without success. And, yes, she started it!
Tuesday, August 21, 2001
White Dots Keep Falling on my Head
People who know DC know that he is a practical joker. That means that he gets blamed for things that he doesn't do, as well as for those that he has done.
It turns out he is not the only one.
The background: A couple years ago, DC's coworker, Paul Wagner, left his umbrella unattended in his cubicle. DC opened it up, filled it with the dots from the 3-hole punch and secured the strap again. And forgot about it, since Paul didn't raise a ruckus about it.
A month goes by. Paul arrives one morning shouting, "You! You! It had to be you!"
DC's reply was "Huh?"
Paul then tells what happened the day before. He'd taken his umbrella and put it in his car. And it had been there for a month and not used. The day before, for the first time in months, his wife used his car to go shopping. And it rained. And she opened the umbrella and had white dots in her hair, blown in the car, every where. And she blamed Paul for the adventure.
Fast forward to last week. I brought my umbrella in to work one morning when it was drizzling. Didn't wrap it up tight since it was wet; just hung in on the wall of my cube. And forgot to take it back out to the car for a couple of days.
Paul walks by and smirks and remarks that it is a good target for chad.
I look in it and sure enough it was loaded with white dots. So I calmly walked next door to Paul's cubicle and opened the umbrella over his chair. There were dots everywhere.
I thought it odd that Paul didn't try to stop me. And his "Oh no!" when he saw the blizzard of dots falling did sound sincere, but it HAD to have been him, right? He claimed it wasn't him and he admitted he couldn't think of anyone else to blame it on either. Paul caught a lot of flack for all the dots on the floor of his office -- even our manager stopped by and asked if it was his birthday.
Last Friday the culprit confessed to Paul On Monday, Paul told me he knew who did it, but that he wouldn't tell me because "you'd never believe me!"
Monday, the culprit confessed to me.
No, the butler didn't do it. It was our manager!
In the six years I've known him, he has never pulled a practical joke. Never.
Something tells me that with the success of this initial effort, he may strike again.
People who know DC know that he is a practical joker. That means that he gets blamed for things that he doesn't do, as well as for those that he has done.
It turns out he is not the only one.
The background: A couple years ago, DC's coworker, Paul Wagner, left his umbrella unattended in his cubicle. DC opened it up, filled it with the dots from the 3-hole punch and secured the strap again. And forgot about it, since Paul didn't raise a ruckus about it.
A month goes by. Paul arrives one morning shouting, "You! You! It had to be you!"
DC's reply was "Huh?"
Paul then tells what happened the day before. He'd taken his umbrella and put it in his car. And it had been there for a month and not used. The day before, for the first time in months, his wife used his car to go shopping. And it rained. And she opened the umbrella and had white dots in her hair, blown in the car, every where. And she blamed Paul for the adventure.
Fast forward to last week. I brought my umbrella in to work one morning when it was drizzling. Didn't wrap it up tight since it was wet; just hung in on the wall of my cube. And forgot to take it back out to the car for a couple of days.
Paul walks by and smirks and remarks that it is a good target for chad.
I look in it and sure enough it was loaded with white dots. So I calmly walked next door to Paul's cubicle and opened the umbrella over his chair. There were dots everywhere.
I thought it odd that Paul didn't try to stop me. And his "Oh no!" when he saw the blizzard of dots falling did sound sincere, but it HAD to have been him, right? He claimed it wasn't him and he admitted he couldn't think of anyone else to blame it on either. Paul caught a lot of flack for all the dots on the floor of his office -- even our manager stopped by and asked if it was his birthday.
Last Friday the culprit confessed to Paul On Monday, Paul told me he knew who did it, but that he wouldn't tell me because "you'd never believe me!"
Monday, the culprit confessed to me.
No, the butler didn't do it. It was our manager!
In the six years I've known him, he has never pulled a practical joke. Never.
Something tells me that with the success of this initial effort, he may strike again.
Sunday, August 19, 2001
France By the Numbers
Our trip to France was not inexpensive, but it felt that way. The dollar was strong against the Euro and French Franc, which meant the best exchange rate for my bucks that I've ever received.
Historically, the exchange rate has always been in the 5 French Francs (ff) to the dollar range. Although, in the past, I've had to face less than 5 ff on previous excursions. In July, we received exchange rates from 7.04 to 7.40 to the buck.
That made the mental math one must do to compare prices (quick: if the price tag is 35 ff, what is it's cost in dollars?) a bit more complicated. You can divide by 5 by multiplying by 2 and moving a decimal point, but you can't do that with 7-something.
In the tourist areas (Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Paris) there are little hole-in-the-wall change offices everywhere. And they are fair. I can't say the same for airport change kiosks -- in the states or in France.
I thought about changing a few bucks at the Tampa airport before we left, but when I saw their rate of 6.65 ff to the dollar, I didn't. I didn't even try to exchange money at the Nice airport. We just got our rental car and drove to the wife's cousin's place.
After lunch and a much needed nap, I walked three blocks to a change office and cashed $500 in travelers checks for 3727 ff.
I must admit that travelers checks aren't used much anymore. The $1500 in TC's that I had cost me $15 in fees at my credit union when I took the money out of savings. I just don't like to carry that much in cash on me.
When we reached the small village where my mother-in-law lives, I cashed $300 in TCs at the local bank. That was where I got my worse conversion rate and the stinkers also charged me a 50 ff fee for doing the transaction.
I see from my credit card bill that the one night in a hotel that I spent was charged using 7.41 francs to the buck. So you get the good rates when you use your credit card. I didn't have to dip into the checking account via ATMs while I was away, but it should have been just as good. Except I bet my back would charge that damn $1.50 fee for not using their ATM.
You won't fare as well as I. I see the dollar has fallen since my return two weeks ago. You wouldn't get even 7 francs to the buck today.
Our trip to France was not inexpensive, but it felt that way. The dollar was strong against the Euro and French Franc, which meant the best exchange rate for my bucks that I've ever received.
Historically, the exchange rate has always been in the 5 French Francs (ff) to the dollar range. Although, in the past, I've had to face less than 5 ff on previous excursions. In July, we received exchange rates from 7.04 to 7.40 to the buck.
That made the mental math one must do to compare prices (quick: if the price tag is 35 ff, what is it's cost in dollars?) a bit more complicated. You can divide by 5 by multiplying by 2 and moving a decimal point, but you can't do that with 7-something.
In the tourist areas (Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Paris) there are little hole-in-the-wall change offices everywhere. And they are fair. I can't say the same for airport change kiosks -- in the states or in France.
I thought about changing a few bucks at the Tampa airport before we left, but when I saw their rate of 6.65 ff to the dollar, I didn't. I didn't even try to exchange money at the Nice airport. We just got our rental car and drove to the wife's cousin's place.
After lunch and a much needed nap, I walked three blocks to a change office and cashed $500 in travelers checks for 3727 ff.
I must admit that travelers checks aren't used much anymore. The $1500 in TC's that I had cost me $15 in fees at my credit union when I took the money out of savings. I just don't like to carry that much in cash on me.
When we reached the small village where my mother-in-law lives, I cashed $300 in TCs at the local bank. That was where I got my worse conversion rate and the stinkers also charged me a 50 ff fee for doing the transaction.
I see from my credit card bill that the one night in a hotel that I spent was charged using 7.41 francs to the buck. So you get the good rates when you use your credit card. I didn't have to dip into the checking account via ATMs while I was away, but it should have been just as good. Except I bet my back would charge that damn $1.50 fee for not using their ATM.
You won't fare as well as I. I see the dollar has fallen since my return two weeks ago. You wouldn't get even 7 francs to the buck today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
