A good way to lose anyone who might stop by and read my musings on a semi-regular basis would be to fail to update this diatribe and I have managed to do that (or not do it, depending in what context you are reading this). Whatever. I am stepping up to update the life and times of an unemployed insurance manager. Being unemployed is a test of one's inner strength and faith. Thankfully I have a Life Application Bible which allows me to look up Bible verses based on topic (hopelessness, faith, weaknesses, need, anger, etc.) It has literally been a Godsend as I traverse my way through the journey of life.

Darla and I have been on an extended vacation, returning from our condo in Tahoe yesterday afternoon so that I could go on a second interview with Burns and Wilcox. Burns and Wilcox is a large national MGA (Managing General Agency) which handles surplus lines products. I had interviewed with them at the very beginning of my job search, but the timing was bad and the branch manager, Bill Souza, said that he'd keep me in mind for the future. Well, one of his underwriters gave her notice and left him last week and the timing had improved. Bill has offered me a job making about a $1000 a month less than I was making with an opportunity for an annual bonus in the $15,000 range. It is a tempting offer, but I would have to commute in to Sacramento and his office is in a bit of disarray. Bill was hired to clean up the problems in that office and I would be one of his first attempts to bring in some fresh talent. I've asked him for some concessions and he is mulling those over and will get back to me next week.

In the meantime, I have reached agreement with Nancy Dean at Richter Robb to open a Roseville office of Richter Robb (out of my house). I will be on 100% commission with Nancy, but she has agreed to a three-month guaranteed income after which I would convert to 100% commission. It will take me a couple of months to get my agents signed up and a flow of business established. I have agents ready to go as soon as my licensing is in place. Nancy is buying me a computer system and paying for my phones, DSL, business cards and marketing expenses. My commission with her is 35%, where Burns and Wilcox pays their underwriters who elect to go on full commission only 25%. I think the agreement with Nancy is in my best interest, but it is a little unnerving to go on 100% commission.

I have had contact with three other potential employers since I agreed to take a position with Nancy. I still consider myself unemployed because I won't actually begin my job until the licensing process is complete and I've taken the one-week pre-certification class and passed the property and casualty licensing exam AND I have the license in hand. Once I've taken the class and signed up for the test, I can begin contacting my agents and getting them signed up, but I can't solicit business or quote any business until I have the license in my hot little hand. I start the class tomorrow. I suppose that you can see that my loyalty is not 100% to Nancy as I'm willing to entertain discussions and negotiation with other prospective employers, but frankly if I were to fail the exam (which I won't), Nancy's commitment to me would be non-existent. Until I am actually on her payroll, I consider myself a free agent and will go to the highest bidder.

I had a great time in Carmel. We decided to arrive on Saturday and save ourselves the cost of a motel room on Friday night (it was because of that unemployment thing). Well, it saved us some $$, but it cost me a golf tournament. I drove three and a half hours and arrived at the Rancho Canada course in Carmel tired and uptight. It took me six holes to settle down and begin to get into a rythym. I was ten over in those six holes and ended up shooting a 94 and THAT was the easier of the two courses. I settled down on Sunday and shot an 84 at Poppy Hills. I won't do the drive three hours and play golf thing again. Live and learn.

Darla and I had a wonderful time in Carmel and stayed at the Carmel Bay View Inn on Junipero Street, a block up from Ocean Avenue and the Carmel Plaza. We went out to dinner with Bjorn and Tove Andersen, friends from the Roseville Golf Club. Bjorn and Tove are both in their early sixties and are immigrants from Norway. We had a blast visiting with them and hearing stories from their lives. Bjorn is retired from United Airlines. He got out and sold his stock before the airline went into bankruptcy. They lived in the Marin County area of San Francisco and moved to Rocklin last year. They bought a gorgeous home in the foothills above the Whitney Oaks golf course and we spent this past Super Bowl at a party at their home. We ate and drank Saturday evening away and then walked off our meal on the streets of Carmel. Darla and I were up early on Sunday and took a long walk down to the ocean and back.

Sunday night we drove five hours from Carmel to Lake Tahoe. The condo that we have is one bedroom with a living room and a HUGE jacuzzi tub in the center of the suite. Darla and I took a well deserved soak on early Monday morning when we arrived in Tahoe. Monday we ate a late breakfast at the Lakeside Inn and ended up spending a good portion of the afternoon at the casino. We had a large prime rib dinner Monday night ($7.99) and then played slots until about ten thirty. We stopped on an 800 coin win on 4 fours and went out for a late dessert of a chocolate brownie with ice cream and fudge. We drove back on Tuesday afternoon after again stopping for a late breakfast, this time at the Biltmore Casino in Crystal Bay, Nevada (3 eggs, meat, toast and hashbrowns for $1.99).

Darla and I will head back up to Tahoe this weekend to finish out our stay at the condo and spend some time relaxing. I will finish this later as the DSL installer is here now. Later.

The DSL is now installed, I've taken the Explorer in for a much needed oil change (5-20 oil for those who care), and picked up a roll of sod for the backyard. I used to stress about that little patch of lawn that the dog kills on a regular basis. I've since found out that Home Depot sells rolls of sod for $2.88 each and I can keep it alive by replacing the sections that he kills through urination.

Our weather has settled into the low eighties and upper seventies, cool for this time of year, but ideal for living in. I will step outside and replace some of that burned sod now. Be good to each other. Ciao.