• Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.

    There was a girl I went to high school with that absolutely amazed me. She was pretty enough but that is beside the point. I was mesmerized because she was a fantastic artist. She could draw and paint well. I found her skill set intriguing and somewhat unobtainable.

    Her artwork brought me joy. It took me awhile but I later on found the pure joy of creating artwork all my own. Some say I am good at. I tend to disagree, yet I find pure joy in creating art, similar to viewing her art.

  • Daily writing prompt
    What is your career plan?

    I am both proud and a little embarrassed that nobody ever discussed career plans with me. Actually, that’s not true, in seventh grade I decided I wanted, through some aptitude test, to be a truck driver and see the world. I never factored in that I don’t like to drive. I did miss the opportunity to go to Iowa.

    Dream Big

    My plans included not planning. I went to grad school because it sounded like the thing to do. I would love to read my entrance exams.

    I was at a run in DC and a friend asked me if I would like to interview with Oracle. Five weeks later I had an offer letter from Larry Ellison. I wish I would have kept that as well.

    My wife and I discussed me retiring a few years back. I did an interview while out on a run and have been on that job for a long time. I am rued to admit, I like it.

    I am not much of a planner.

    Iowa is the only state I have not been to. Maybe I should leave it that way.

  • Austin, Texas

    Daily writing prompt
    What was the last live performance you saw?

    We travelled to Austin to see the eclipse. My wife is not a music nut like me, yet she came up with the suggestions.

    We went to the Continental Club one night and it was one of my favorite music experiences. I go to many concerts to see a band I like, yet on this night I did not know the bands. And we had a ball. The music flowed and the people were all there for the same thing and that is to take in the music.

    The next night we went to the 04 Center to see The Secret Sisters. The church felt no different than the Methodist church we used to attend.

    Needless to say, I am now a big fan of The Secret Sisters and have a deeper appreciation for Texas (Abbottville) , despite its reputation.

  • Reflection

    wrote “I Love You” on a rock one night
    Threw it, never dreaming