I’ve been sick all week long.  It starts each morning with a slight headache and before I leave the house its come to full-on nausea.  I haven’t really eaten anything since Monday but crackers and a grilled cheese.  I’ve lost a few pounds and can’t focus on anything.

A few years ago I worked as a customer service representative for an Accidental Death Insurance company.  It was basically a scam that banks participate in to create yet another revenue stream.  I got yelled at all day long by people who finally noticed the quarterly charge on their bill or, worse, people who were depended on the policy to bury their loved one and we weren’t going to pay.

While I was working there I developed really bad stomach problems.  I wasn’t able to hold down anything, wasn’t sleeping and was always on the verge of cracking up completely.  I started going to the doctor on almost a weekly basis to have more tests, try difference medications and to answer another round of questions.  Finally a nurse asked me what I did for  living.  When I explained my job the doctor said: “Quit.  Quit your job.  It’s killing you.”

So I got fired a few days later, just before they were going to do some minor surgery to see what they could see, and the stomach problems cleared right up. 

I’m scared to death that I’m back in that situation.

Some of you have had my instant messenger information in the past.  I was using Yahoo but work has asked that we all switch over to MSN.

During the day I’m normally logged on.  The screen name is jt_hohn [at] hotmail [dot] com.

Our work softball team played their forth softball game last night loosing 18 to 2 against the First Baptist team.  For the record, I didn’t play.  I generally don’t play sports at all but once uniforms get involved its become way too serious for me.  They’ve got shirts.

Even though 18 to 2 is a big loss its worth saying that thirteen of those runs occured in the top of the first and we had our “second string” starting. 

My favorite play occured in that first inning when ClientN threw the ball home where not one, not two but three of our infield players had gone to assist the catcher.  It looked like we were taking a fortress defense, the Red Rover stradegy.  When ClientN threw the ball, all four of the girls missed it bringing in not one but two runs as they chased down the throw.

I sat in the stands with DAS, JW and a few former employees.  We probably had a total of fifteen people in the stands, much more than the opposing team.  We screamed and cheered like it was a major league game.  I wanted to heckle but when you’re down by sixteen points you really can’t talk a lot of trash.

My sister was at the grocery store last Friday.  The girl in front of her in line was purchasing two cans of Skoal.  The clerk apparently knew the girl.

Clerk: You going to prom?

Girl: Yeah. That’s where I’m going now; just picking up the essentials.

Clerk: You wearing your boots?

Girl: Of course I am.  My dress won’t look right without them.

I love the American Southeast.