Get Leaner

“Break from what you know and you will know more.” --as heard in the HK-China 2013 film, THE GRANDMASTER 

Here I am in the helmet photo.  Alan likes it but all I see is FAT.  I’m having coffee in Seattle but I am refraining from the chocolate croissants and walking a lot, so that will help me to trim down and get leaner.  Staying in-shape is a continuous effort.  It doesn’t just happen.  I will diligently work on this!   If you live too much of the good life the weight comes on easily, so I am to get leaner.  I have to make exercise and working out an actual part of the good life.

Alan seems to be having fun in Seattle but I’ll be arriving there on the 15th, so I’ll be able to check out things first-hand.  I’m excited to try SBC-Seattle's Best Coffee in Seattle.  Alan wrote again: 

July 11, 1995, DAY 3 

Michael, 

I miss you so much.  I just finished talking to you and wished that I owned MSFT and MOT (Microsoft and Motorola).  A little late, huh?  You’re always so RIGHT with your stock market predictions.  It’s amazing.  You don’t really know how much you really know.   

Art and I saw two STARBUCKS stores that were built like expensive restaurants.  This whole thing is getting very complicated and I’m beginning to understand how much work it really is.  I just am getting worried about the whole thing.  

Do you like this card?  CONGO was a great 3-hour drive audio book from Key West to Miami.  It proves that 3 hours with you in a car beats a movie.  Marketing made the movie work.  Marketing is what lacks at SBC right now.  That’s the one major problem.  

Love, 

Alan 

And Alan’s daughter, Lauren, sent me another card from University of Michigan at Ann Arbor: 

7/12/95 

Dear Mikey, 

Hi.  I’m sorry I haven’t written in a couple of days.  I know how excited you get when you get mail.  Oh, my mom sent me this stationery.  Isn’t it cool?   

What’s up?  Anything going on lately?  I miss you lots and lots. 

I talked to my dad last night and I don’t think he’s having fun in Coffee College!  But at least he can make us mochas and espressos when he comes back. 

Thanks so much for the computer card.  It’s so cool.  Are you having fun with AOL-American Online?  So, when are we going to the MADONNA concert? 

It’s pretty good here.  We went rock climbing last night and it was so hard.  Oh my!   Did I get a workout?   It wasn’t actual climbing on the mountains though.  It was in a climbing gym.  We’re going to Chicago this weekend and new people are coming on Monday.  I can’t wait; hint-hint.  

I Love You, 

Lauren 

I arrived in Seattle and I was excited to take pictures as you can see.  I wrote to mom, using a card of a guy who is swamped with paperwork.  I also sent a souvenir gift:  

July 15, 1995 

Dear Mom, 

To err is human.  To really screw up, you need a computer! 

This is why MICROSOFT is a long-term hold.  You’re right...better wait until it is $150 per share. Ha-ha 

MICROSOFT headquarters is right here in Seattle, WA. 

I didn’t have a postcard stamp, only regular 1st class stamps, so I had to find you a card to use this 1st class stamp.  I hope you like it. 

Here’s a token gift: “A” for ARMIJO coasters for you from Seattle. 

Love You, 

Michael 

I included a postcard in her card: 

July 15, 1995 

Dear Mom, 

I can’t believe I made it to Seattle!  It was so easy and so ‘spur of the moment’. 

Because of this visit I have an idea:  Let's you and I go to Hawaii in October to Shawn’s wedding!  Let’s not tell them that we’ll be there and it’ll be a pleasant surprise.  What do you say?  We’ll talk when I return. 

Seattle is a little bit like Napa, Lake Tahoe and San Francisco in different spots—and like Sacramento, too in a way.  The coffee is good, especially Seattle’s Best Coffee. 

Have fun in Vegas with Grandma and your bro (Raymond) and sis (Betty).  

Love, Michael  

Alan liked the Kirkland, WA area and I was telling him that my Aunt Lillian had lived there with her husband for a while.  He was there because of work.   The Seattle residents get a lot of rain so when the sun comes out they go out in droves.  I witnessed that.  

I had fun touring around Seattle with Alan.  We visited obscure neighborhoods.  We took in some cool views from the landmark Space Needle.  We schmoozed with Alan's real estate partner, Art, who is going to Coffee College right now on this potential franchise venture with SBC.   Art's friend, Todd, was around, too.  He seems nice enough but I don't know him very well.   

I took photos of the Pikes Market and the Post Alley and any bikes I could find.   I found a cool tree I liked and I had Alan take a photo of me in front of it.  

Alan wrote me another card.   Parts of it made me laugh:

Michael,

Want to play football or put your helmet on and let's play General?  I hope when you look at me you feel like you've got someone like him.  That's how I feel when I look at you. 

Today was not a good stock day.  MSFT $102, IBM $107, MU $60, INTC 73 1/2.  The support levels for these stocks are:  MSFT $91; IBM $97; MU $54; INTC $63.  They're worthy of a buy there!

When someone calls you, who has nothing to offer, that means they want something. --Nelson DeMille, THE LIONS GAME