The Terrible Catsafterme

After the busy weekend cram-packed full of activity that I had just enjoyed, it seemed as if my vacation was ready to be ending rather than beginning a brand new week with six full days ahead of me! Nevertheless, I awoke bright and early to a phone call from one of my service providers at work informing that some files were not staged for a pinpad upgrade they were performing that morning in one of my stores. This was my fault, so I had to make a few early phone calls. I then shuffled my way out from the guest room couch of my friends the Wileys for breakfast of bacon, eggs, and jellied toast courtesy of Kris. She always takes good care of me. Read the rest of this entry »

The name John Tyler doesn’t typically evoke images of the greatest of our American Presidents, but his Presidency was unique in at least one way: he was the first President ever to assume the title following the death of an incumbant. And from what I’ve learned, it wasn’t a job that was easily ascended to. William Henry Harrison (remember Tippecanoe and Tyler Too – the slogan for the Harrison/Tyler ticket?) died just 31 days into his term, leaving the country without a President for the first time ever. Whig leader Henry Clay hoped to run the government and leave Tyler (who was living in Virginia at the time) as a ‘figurehead’ President only. Tyler would have none of that, and thus established the traditional succession of Presidents when he became our country’s tenth from 1841-1845, serving for nearly an entire term.   Read the rest of this entry »

It was early in 1986 when I first began to feel that I was somehow emerging from the cocoon of the awkward age. The pre-teen fat seemed to be melting off as I began to sprout upwards slightly. There was still some geekiness about me (as there always will be I suppose), but as far as my appearance goes, I didn’t feel completely alienated any longer. Another huge change at home was that Dad moved back into the house within a few months after the New Year. I think that being together with his family for the holidays inspired him to make the effort to reconcile. Read the rest of this entry »