The Longest Journey

The longest journey begins with a single step, not with a turn of the ignition key.
-Edward Abbey

Twenty-five years ago today:

December 3, 1986
Wednesday

Today did not begin very well at all. There was an accident on the Oakland-Bay Bridge which kept me at a standstill for a good twenty minutes. I turned off my motor and when it was 'okay' to go again my car would not start!
"Ahhhh," I thought, "it's panic time!"
I tried to remain, cool and collected. I got out of my car and walked to a phone booth, calling work since it was 8:25AM already. Luckily, I wasn't smack in the center of the bridge. Then I learned that the CAL TRANS tow truck was on the way to retrieve my car. And so, I returned to my car and 'lo and behold' the engine started-up! I took off and made it to my office at nine o'clock. Lucky me!

Right when I arrived at work I had a couple of customers calling-in for me. It was a busy morning. I didn't even get to my follow-ups until later that afternoon.

I had lunch with Pearl and Laverne (from my old office) because Carla went home. I happened to bump into Pearl and Laverne while I was at The Pizza Boat. It was nice to see them. I had a wine cooler. I felt it was necessary due to my hectic morning.

Work is going smoothly. I feel I am the most together and knowledgeable in the group. In fact I'm much more together than a few of the managers! In my opinion I am competitive with, Nikki Bovee, the second line-manager. I truly feel I override everyone else in experience and knowledge of the job and Pac Bell's network.

I tried to call Anne Alberti while at work today. She wasn't available. I left a message but she never returned my call.

I telephoned Julie of Ask Mr. Foster and spoke to Sue Myers.
I said assertively, "Just process my loss of my airline ticket claim.  It hasn't turned up!"

At one point in my day it was nice to hear my boss, Steve Adams, say to me, "Hi Ya Champ!"
I liked that. I wondered if he had read my most recent evaluation and saw how much training experience I have completed. I began to wonder if I could get promoted out of this unit. If I did I think I may take advantage of it. Hell…why not?

I did go to the gym on this evening. Dave and Mark were there. The longtime, old regular Bob showed up. He shook my hand and we rapped a bit. I noticed his gut wasn't as tone and trim as it used to be. He still looks in good shape though. I did a fair workout and made it home by 8:40P for DYNASTY.

I munched on cheese and crackers, a diet 7-up a strawberry-banana yogurt and a whole banana. I guess I can say I eat well. (Ha-ha).

I hit the hat at 10PM but I woke up mid-morning (at 3:20AM). I hate when that happens. It's hard to fall back to sleep.

Every day when I leave my office building in San Francisco there's a Filipino boy selling newspapers. He's a nice lad. I had a dream last night and he was in the dream. I ought to buy a newspaper from him one day.

I saw my second line manager, Nikki Bovee, briefly today and said, "Hi."

We haven't been able to chat between ourselves. I'd like to converse and get to know her better. I don't mean 'in that way' but for career advancement possibilities.
I thought, "Ah heck...I don't know. I think I'll just shoot for field sales. Time will tell…again as I often say."

"Someone receives a promotion, gets an important assignment, makes a major discovery, or moves into the president's office. ''He's lucky',' an envious person remarks. ''He gets the breaks; they're always in his favor'." In reality, luck or the breaks of life had little or nothing to do with it. So-called ''luck'' usually is found at the exact point where preparation meets opportunity. For a time, an individual may get ahead by ''pull',' but eventually someone with push will displace him. Success is not due to a fortuitous concourse of stars at our birth, but to a steady trail of sparks from the grindstone of hard work each day."
-Kenneth Hildebrand