Tag Archives: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

What You Need

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Another rainy day. I had better not hear anything about a drought this summer, I tell you. So yesterday was a busy day work wise. I had errands to run and even had to return to Wanker Banker which is no more so I can actually call it Putnam Lovell. We had deals going on which from what I heard went well. Now that Moe Stooge is out of the picture somewhat I have to rename the other two, so Allen and Rossi will do. Marty Allen was working on some reports that had to be printed in color, and then they had to be bound.

Well we ran out of Cyan ink, which is the fancy name for Blue, and we ran out of clear plastic covers for the reports. I scrambled, making phone calls trying to get these items. I was able to get the ink, a bargain at $100.00 including delivery, to the office by closing time. Marty Allen was going to have to stay and print out what he needed. I made a phone call to the great Gazoo, my friend Gazi who is the IT guy at Putnam Lovell.

He sort of hooked me up with some plastic covers. I knew they had them since I used to order them when I worked there. They were probably still in the same place. Gazi hooked it up and I chatted with him for a spell. It’s still a ghost town on the 34th floor. Saw Diane W who I tried to introduce to Martha G, since both work in film, Martha looking for financing and Diane looking to finance. But one of them never got back to me so the ball was dropped and my producing career went down the drain. I just don’t know anyone in the building except for the cleaning staff and one or two other people besides Gazi.

Even though I didn’t have to do all that running around, I did it anyway as a way to perhaps me look good. A sterling job as the CEO of Omnicom told me when I worked for Wolff Olins. Of course that compliment didn’t sustain me that long. The CEO’s like me mostly, Don Putnam liked me and offered me a gig in San Francisco when I went out there in 2004, Brian Boylan from Omnicom telling me that I was doing a sterling job, Greg Stevens always looking out for me. I’m in a fortunate position through some sort of providence I suppose.

Thisclose to finishing God Is Not Great but it was due back at the library. The head librarian, Diane likes me and was able to extend my second renewal for another week. So Christopher ‘Love him or hate him. Most people hate him’ Hitchens gets a week’s reprieve. Bill was here last night and we watched The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. I saw it initially in the theater and it was really a movie unlike any other. It certainly deserves to be seen and I think Bill was glad that he was able to see it.

Still an amazing movie, great acting all around and great cinematography. The book was even better, it had me choked up outside the library as I read the final pages before returning it. Spoke with Billie in DC last night. He’s recovering from a bout of bronchitis as well as really bad allergies. With a compromised immune system it threw him for a loop, with all the coughing he was doing he pulled a muscle in his chest which hurt when he laughed. And unfortunately I always make Billie laugh.

I think my sister made it out to Cleveland today, and I think my brother in law’s procedure is tomorrow. I’m crossing my fingers as I type.

Just found this….

A Day In The Life

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Well it’s Wednesday and I think I’m finally getting into the swing of things at least at work. Last night I actually watched the Presidential debates. Not much was on otherwise. It was on but the volume was on low since I was on the phone a bit last night. Drama going on everywhere it seems. Gas prices expected to go up to 4.00 a gallon, perhaps by summer. That’s been showing up in the supermarkets and bagel stores, the price of gas reflected in the cost of delivery, more money for products. Yes, I think we can safely say we’re in a recession. I know I’m watching my pennies.

Today was an odd day, saw Julio as I was leaving which I hardly ever do. He was surprised I didn’t stop to chat, only offering a ‘Hey Dude’ before continuing down the stairs. I had to explain that I don’t work around the block like him, I need to catch a bus and cross state lines.

And that’s what I did, immersing myself in a really good article about Joel and Ethan Coen which went unfinished since we arrived at the bus terminal on time. Nice walk across town, not too chilly though the temperature would drop considerably a few hours later.

Tom Chin was out of the office, and Vivek was scheduled to return from India today. I was busier than I was yesterday. A few errands to run which was fine, just keep moving outside, not letting the cold get the best of me. One of the errands brought me in the vicinity of Wanker Banker. The IT guys have been after me to stop by and today I did. Groucho and Harpo were out so I hung out with Chico for a while. It was a nice visit, catching up.

It was a bit weird though since where once sat 100 employees, now there were only 4. Someone is paying a lot of money to maintain an empty office but not me. After that quick visit I bade Chico a farewell and came back to my office where I saw Tom Chin. He was frantic as ever, but only passing through. I didn’t care since it was time for me to go home.

Bill went to work today and I met up with him outside a sandwich shop on my way to the bus terminal. It was nice, and he needed to unload. A nice short walk back to his office building. He’s having some difficulty getting through this but that’s why I’m here.

On the bus home I was able to continue reading The Diving Bell and The Butterfly which I finished standing in the cold outside the library and I got more choked up finishing the book than I did at the end of the movie. Such an inspiring book. I think it would make a great gift for various people so don’t be surprised if at some point you get a copy in the future. Oh go ahead, be surprised.

Lawrence King report on CNN. He was the 15 year old boy shot by a classmate a few days ago.