Time and Memories

I received my current watch as a Christmas gift from my brother-in-law a number of years ago. My mother was visiting from Florida at the time, and pronounced it - in private - the ugliest watch she had ever seen. The following August, when I came to visit her in Stuart, Florida, she hadn't changed her mind. One day when we were walking in the Treasure Coast Mall, we passed a Walgreen's Drug Store and she announced that she was buying me a new Timex watch, and to pick one out. I wore that watch until it gave up the ghost years later. I only then started to wear the "ugly" watch again. Last April I was wearing that watch when I lost it in Oakwoods Cemetery in Chicago, taking photographs on the "Confederate Hill." This place is the mass grave of 5,000 Confederate soldiers who died from disease and neglect at the nearby Camp Douglas prison camp. I didn't realize I had lost it until I was driving away. I thought about not going back for it, but finally decided to turn around and look for it. The gates to the cemetery were closed for the night by the time I returned. However, the next morning the watch was still there, right where I had dropped it. Now I wonder if the watch might be haunted. One of these days I expect to see one of those long dead Confederate soldiers looking back at me where the clock face should be. In any case, I recently had to replace the watchband and two batteries, at a cost of $85 (the price of 3 Timex watches!). As a natural cheapskate, I hesitated to pay it for a minute, but then told myself the memories were worth the cost.

Free Day!

Today was a free day at the Denver Art Museum. The placed was packed with my fellow cheapskates, taking in all the new modern art on display in the Hamilton Wing. There was a time when I didn't care much for modern art, but over the years I've changed my mind. It is by far the most original and thought-provoking work being done these days, not to mention just a lot of fun to look at. But where have all the photographs gone? Put them back!

Nina is Still Positive!

I had lunch with Nina today. She is enjoying her job at the DU Bookstore very much, and still looks forward to going to work each day. She is an inspiration to us all, having such a positive outlook on life. It makes me, a pessimist by nature, and counting the days until retirement, ashamed of myself. Still, I think of the fun I might have had in the French Foreign Legion, enjoying the warmth (115 degrees at noon), the camaraderie (ex-cons from every part of the globe), and the beautiful scenery (desert as far as the eye can see). Oh well, I can do all that when I retire.

Penrose Library

It was recently announced that the University of Denver's Penrose Library (behind the pretty fall trees in the photo above) will undergo a $30 million dollar renovation starting this coming March. The plans are to remove all those dusty, pesky books and make Penrose into an "Academic Commons," a gathering place for DU students, staff, and faculty. The university intends to store all those obsolete books off-site. Anybody who wants one can simply place an order, and they can have that obsolete object from the past within months. You gotta love progress!

Marty Settles In

Marty has settled into his new job as the DU Bookstore's General Merchandise and Textbook Manager and is diligently working on his spreadsheets. He, along with the rest of the Bookstore's Managers, are currently preparing for the quarterly meeting with the Vice Chancellor. It is Marty's job to reverse the declining sales trends at the Bookstore and make sure we begin to see sales increases from this point forward. Hopefully the University will not dismiss the sale of medical marijuana completely out of hand.

Noah Returns!

Noah, the Stockroom Coordinator, has returned to work after approximately 20 weeks of parental leave. He will take his remaining 20 weeks of parental leave starting in January, by which time child number three should be coming along. Talk about sitting in the catbird seat! Welcome back, Noah!

Jamie is Back!

Jamie is back at work a week after an emergency appendectomy. Jamie insists that this was not an elective surgery. In any case, I told her if she wants a week off, next time she should just fill out a vacation request.