Funny how your perspective changes based on circumstances. I still sit unemployed, with a car that is being totalled as we speak by the insurance company. The retail value of the 1992 Maxima is about $5000 and the insurance company is willing to close me out for about $4200 based on wholesale value of the car and sales taxes. I've asked that they put me in contact with a buyer who can replace the vehicle at a wholesale cost to me. They are working on that now, but I'm not about to accept the wholesale value of the car if I have to replace it at a retail cost to me. These insurance adjusters aren't used to dealing with someone who is insurance savvy. We'll see what comes of this.

The car problem on top of the employment difficulty has shaped my outlook and it has been down. I keep a Bible at my desk and read the Psalms and Proverbs to keep me up. Put your faith in the Lord and He will provide. Lin was supposed to meet with me last Tuesday. She was coming thru Sac on a vacation and we were to meet for lunch. She had her assistant, Bobbie, call me that morning and cancel. Lin was dressed in shorts and sandals and felt that it was inappropriate attire for a business meeting and that first impressions go both ways. I can see that, but was disappointed. My time frame as someone who is about to be unemployed is significantly different from hers. Anyhow, Bobbie said that Lin would call me on Monday and see if I was still interested in the job and, if so, they would arrange to have me flown down to the Los Angeles area and I could meet both Lin and her management team.

Well, Monday came and went and my brain began to form all sorts of scenarios. I called Lin Monday afternoon and was put off by Bobbie. I assumed that Lin would be up to her eyeballs in alligators after a week of vacation and I was right. I never did get a return call and my spirits plummeted. The Bible suddenly found its way to my desk on Tuesday as I searched job sites and made phone calls. I was tempted to call Lin again and say if she changed her mind just let me know so that I could move on. Darla counseled me to just sit tight and wait. The ball was in her court. I'm not a good "waiter". I don't frequent trendy restaurants and won't go to first run movies, because I can't stand lines. I don't even enjoy professional sports very often because of the crowds getting in and out of the venues. Sitting and waiting is not my thing.

Well, as usual, Darla was right. Bobbie called me yesterday afternoon and said that Lin is very busy, but still very interested in talking to me. Her whole team will be available next Thursday and I am flying down to Ontario airport where they have a car reserved in my name and I will spend the day at their home office. Hopefully, we can come to some sort of arrangement and I can transition from this job to theirs with little disruption in income or loss of brain cells. I'll let all of you know.

David is understandably chagrined at the loss of the Maxima and we will take his input on a replacement vehicle as he is buying it from us for $1000. We had just put in a new stereo and speakers and the car is all power with a 300 ZX engine. I'm sure we'll find an adequate replacement to suit him and move on. David is doing really well and was just named offensive captain of his Varsity football team. He will compete for the starting quarterback position this Summer and Fall, but I'd say this development is nothing but good news for him. He has gained almost 20 pounds since last year and is on a protein diet to gain weight. He takes a protein supplement called Mus-L Blast body building formula and is busy with Spring football practice and enrolled in SST, a strength training system run by several former NFL players locally. He also goes to a Skillz 'n Drillz camp twice a month on Sundays and works out with the other area high school football athletes. He is in the quarterback camp and his skills are really developing. I'm looking forward to the Fall and David's emergence on the varsity football team. Darla is an assistant to the team Mom and David's Dad is involved with fund raising for the team.

Daniel is in baseball and his team has only one loss all year. He is looking forward to the playoffs that start in three weeks. Daniel has struggled a bit with school this year and he is working on improving his grade point average as he begins Freshman football in the Fall, as well.

That's it for now, I'll let you know how the interview pans out. As always, PRAY for me.

"The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." Psalm 9, 9-10.