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NOW

Wednesday June 4, 2003

Enlightenment

There’s a scene in the documentary “Let it Be” where George Harrison is interacting with Paul McCartney and George is being kind of a jerk.  It’s obvious that the tension level is high and Paul has really managed to get on George's nerves. I’m sure that professional rivalry and jealousy had a lot to do with it and years later George commented that when he saw that scene, it was a real revelation.  He said that he worked really hard at following the Eastern philosophies of peace and love yet there he was on the big screen, being a complete ass hole.  George was my favorite Beatle.

Today was my day for being an ass.  In my job I deal with private contractors and over the years I’ve had a big problem with the dichotomy of what they say and what they end up doing.  When I do the pre-job walk thru, they’ve just been awarded the contract and they’re in a good mood.  They promise everything under the sun, they’re cooperative and congenial.  When the job is over, the realities of construction work have taken a toll and their memories are cloudy on what they promised before.  At that point they just want to get paid and get off site.  Tempers flair and things can get ugly. 

This morning on a pre-job walk thru I decided to predict the future and anticipate what the conflicts will be when the job is done.  I came on with an attitude and I was abrupt and confrontational.  I have no doubt that I’d be embarrassed if I saw a film of that meeting.  Like George, I still have a lot of work to do in my quest for enlightenment. (And  I guess I'm not as polite as I thought I was.)

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THEN

April 17, 1967 - Monday

Well, it's been 1 year since I started taking these notes and I haven't given up yet.  My only regret is that I don't have more interesting things to put down.

When I look back I can see how I've changed and how I've stayed the same.  I can't say that I've improved myself by taking notes but it's sure interesting.

It's funny how last year at this time I was very insecure and wasn't sure how long I'd be staying in Coronado.  Now I couldn't be more secure as far as my future goes.  From the looks of it I'll be around Coronado for a while yet.

Today I got my first pay check.  For 24 hours I got $26.36.  This isn't too much but if I can stick with the job it should start adding up.

Just as a point of interest, on the day's I don't work I still get up at 6 o'clock everyday I have a test.  This gives me a little more time for studying geometry.  Funny that I got A's and B's in algebra but just can't get the hang of geometry.

Oh well, here I am starting out a new year of writing. I hope in the year to come I will be able to find more interesting things to put down though, it doesn't look that way.

April 23, 1967 -  Sunday

I spent today doing homework and sitting in the sun.  A little while ago I played volley ball with Kirk and Pat.  On Friday night I saw the movie "Night of the Generals" and it impressed me very much.

Next Sunday daylight savings starts and I'm really looking forward to it. When it comes it seems like summer is almost here.

After dinner tonight I went down to the Del Coronado just to see what was going on.  The place was quiet as a church with hardly anyone around.  It really feels strange walking around the hotel when it's like that.  Royalty, presidents and movie stars have come thousands of miles to stay at that hotel and on any Sunday in the off season I can walk around like I owned the place.  I sat on the promenade deck watching the sun go down over Point Loma.  It was such a beautiful sight it almost seemed a shame to waste it on me.