Kim is incredibly good at a very difficult job. Her coworkers and bosses at AT&T recognize it and heap praise upon her when they can. Strangely, those around her often totally miss how difficult her job is and what it requires.

Firstly, she is amazingly consistent and  responsible. She is worth her weight in gold to AT&T as being trustworthy as their representative.

Her job entails dealing with customers who have placed very expensive orders, but also salesmen with sometimes twisted, self centered perspectives, and technicians who often have weak social skills but require the specs that Kim must supply. On top of that, she must deal with managers from each element of the project, some of these have unknown skill levels when it comes to dealing with people and/or the technical project itself. Often there is much money in play, so nerves are often frayed before Kim ever makes first contact.

Then the bulk of the work entails the gathering of information and crafting it into database format in a form usable by all these unique types of workers. This she handles in such an efficient, perfectly coordinated manner. She is head and shoulders above her peers. This means that her manager often uses Kim for the most difficult assignments.

The most staggering thing to me is how Kim handles people. At first I noticed how she never fails to quickly calm the most irate people. Someone who starts with snarling, blistering anger over some issue or another, turns into a mewing pussycat and the conversation ends in laughter and friendliness. Lately, I am realizing that she calms the waters before they ever become turbulent. She is remarkable. It is a skill that is born of natural talent and polished by much experience.

She is teaching me to listen.

I am addicted to the growth she brings to my life.

Anyone who knows me, knows she has taken on a rather large task. Thank God she cares. I am blessed each and every day to be close to her. Bless her.

Love someone well today,

Bobby

When I was a small child, just old enough to play outside the house, I would sit on the ground and "play' with the dirt. Thing was, there was no dirt, just cement, asphalt, brick, stuff like that.

Now I find myself sitting on the ground and 'playing' with dirt for hours a day. Thing is, now it is soil, rocks, wood, stuff like that. I am soooooooo happy!

With gratitude to Kim, who along with God, has made this possible for me. She thinks I am strange, but then, who doesn't?

Love someone well today,

Bobby

I have radishes sprouting!

Yesterday was raining in the morning. The good news about that is I took the opportunity to turn the burn pile to ashes.

During the cold weather, I had all of the tools and paint supplies on the first floor. Most of it is now down the basement. Did a ton of laundry as well.

Was hesitant to blog as much of this is not very dramatic, 'cept the radish sprouts. Never having grown anything, it seems unreal to me. I sometimes just walk down to the garden to see them.

Today's plans include a lot of driving.

Love someone well today,

Bobby

Yesterday was spent mainly getting prepared for trash day. Unlike Philadelphia, it is not just putting whatever out by the curbside. I use a wheel barrel normally. Plus, we pay for trash pick up. There is a company that has a contract with the state. The limit is six bags and they must be tagged. Being somewhat miserly, I try very hard to put out six bags every week.

So each week normally has a project associated with it. Yesterday's was taking apart a playhouse in the yard. It was built out of normal materials, wood and nails. It was sort of sad for it had a history and memories. It was interesting however to see first hand how nature has the ability to take back its own. There was sign of termites, for example. It was also being 'eaten' by plants, and wind and water. It is gone now, at least as a structure; though I could not burn the bulk of debris as there is a ban currently on outdoor fires. Sigh.

We watched The Bucket List. It was sad. The acting was outstanding.

Looking forward to getting lots done outside today. Need to take advantage of the weather as there is much to do that will be harder in the summer heat. We have four out buildings. A tool shed. A wood shed. The original barn and a really big barn. Both barns are designed to harbor large animals though we do not have any at present. The property is basically horse heaven. Lots and lots of pasture, and friendly people too!

Love someone well today,

Bobby

Good Morning!

On Saturday, I got to clean the house somewhat, but mostly rearranged the basement. We have a four to six room basement that is about two thousand sq. ft. How you count the rooms depends on whether you stick strictly to using walls to count.

There is lots of stuff that we plan to either flea market or sell on ebay. Progressing towards getting that organized enough to be viable.

We went to a meeting Saturday night. It was a speaker meeting and the gentleman hooked my empathy with his growing description of beginning to get physically and mentally ill from continuously being drunk.

But his being in that awful state went on and on and on and on. I literally began to feel ill. It made me grateful to God that I was saved from more than just a short period of that condition. I am truly blessed.

Sunday was church in the morning. We first go to Sunday school and unlike the original Bobby, I can hardly keep my mouth closed. It is a blessing to have confirmation from Kim that what I am sharing is relevant and helpful.

The service is, um, (if you cannot say something good, say nothing at all).

I have been using the Wii Fitness Plus fairly regularly. All month I have been close to my Wii Fit Age, from fifty one to fifty four years old. My last two read outs are thirty six and forty one! My center of balance has improved dramatically as has my 'skate boarding' ability.

It is blissfully cool out. This is great timing as there is much digging yet to do outdoors.

On a trivial note. The yellow Ford 1940ish truck that decorated the yard was hauled away by its owner yesterday. The one that is in many photos.

Love someone well today,

Bobby

Good Morning!

I am Bobby reporting from West Virginia, more specifically, the Greater Potomac Highlands.

Spring is breathtakingly beautiful here. The richness of the new tree foliage is so alive it reaches into your soul like a vibrating hum- the same feeling you get when you first taste a rich chocolate cake. Then, like frosting for the mind, there are the flowers that the shrubs and fruit trees are bearing now. They seem to hover in the air- what a vast variety of color and shapes!

I love spending time outdoors. For one thing, I never get bruises from bumping my head. I spent a good bit of time kneeling on the ground yesterday "playing" in the dirt. I am taking out a grove of lilacs that is too close to the house. Have to get them down below the root so they will not regrow.

Then I played with the dirt in the garden. We have already planted two types of lettuce; radishes; spinach; spring onions; beets and cucumbers. Since this is my first time, I feel not only like an expectant father, but one who has never been pregnant before.

Last night we went to Winchester Old Town; to an A. A. meeting. I had deep thought about the topic, which was anger. The reading emphasized how anger is a luxury that alcoholics cannot afford (as in the price is too high). I was willing and wanted to share my thought at the meeting. I tried to share it at the meeting. I did not get a chance to share it though. Too many other people had too much to say. Such is life. I suspect that God was in control of this.

Not getting to share made me a tad angry (irony). But that just lead to deeper thoughts, which I wrote down instead. Kim approved my written sharing as valid, so I am content.

This morning the first thing I did was pet the nearest dogs. It truly is a pleasant event and I cannot remember the last time I did not wake up this way.

The second thing I did was come up with the name for this blog. It has great significance.

Love someone well today, k?

Bobby