A Conversaton with Elizabeth
1998
Re: Energy

From:          larry.m.Mixson@bvs.com (LARRY M. MIXSON)
To:            Elizabeth
Date:          Tue, 3 Mar 1998 09:41:00 -0800
Subject:       Re: Energy
 
No, I am not working full days, half to 3/4. I latest I get out is around 4pm. Even when I am at work about all I do is read journals and browse the web. I did actually do some work yesterday, I made up several purchase orders on the computer for some equipment that needed to be ordered, took be all of an hour. A week from Wednesday I start my new job and I am looking forward to having more to do.
 
I just turned 45 last December and my wife is 42. Although she is in great health I would agree, and am sure she does, that she is probably too old to have children. When she was in her 30's we discussed it more. Now it is more of "what if", "what would our lives be like if...".
 
Yes our daughter still lives with us. She was at school for four years in Blacksburg but when she graduated she moved back home. She hopes to move out later this year or early next year. Although we paid for some of her Vet school she had to get loans for $40K. She also had to buy a new car when she graduated. With the loan and car payments she can't yet afford to get a place of her own. Housing up her is very expensive. Her boyfriend is 31 and still lives with his parents, in the same room he grew up in. I think he has some problems with letting go of his parents but that is another whole subject. My wife and I don't much like him but our daughter has been with him for six years now, oh well.
 
Small aquariums can be self maintaining if done right with a few small fish. The aquariums the size of my daughters take a lot of work. Monthly water changes (about 1/3 of the water), PH, water hardness, nitrates, and many other water tests and conditioning have to be done on a regular basis. It can be worth it, there is something very relaxing to sit and watch the fish slowly swimming around. The super large aquariums are another experience. It sounds like you have some good ones down your way. We have a "Rainforest Cafe" here where you eat in a jungle setting. They have several aquariums that are 10 feet high and 10 feet in diameter. We also have the National Aquarium down in DC although it is not that impressive. What is impressive is the aquarium at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. It is a complete coral reef. You walk in a circular path that spirals around it up three stories. They also have a new dolphin aquarium/exhibit that I have not seen.
 
I know what you mean about getting to rest on a weekend. I also like to do that and do so every few weeks. Some weekends I spend just laying around taking naps, reading and watching TV, a total vegetable. I particularly need to do this after a couple of weeks of being away or being very busy. I know what you mean by living alone and being able to lead an aberrant schedule. When I was single I also did that and now when Julie is away for a few days I tend to revert to a more aberrant "schedule". This weekend would have been one of those times for Julie is leaving to visit her father for a few days. I say would have because Anne (our daughter) wants me to spend much of the weekend helping her take down her old 55ga1 and set up her new 90gal aquarium. Typically Anne spends the whole weekend at her boyfriend’s house.
 
I just got material from a university (University of Phoenix) that has a program in which you can get a master degree completely on-line. They have virtual classrooms in which the professor has on-line discussion, make on-line assignments and so forth. Looks interesting. I have been thinking about getting a masters for several years but could never figure out in what, computer science or management. There are three universities in this area that offer programs that cater to people that work full time but the on-line aspect really appealed to me. I will have to check it out more. I found a subject under Yahoo for "Educational MOOs", interesting.
 
Larry

At this time Bell Atlantic Video was shutting down, many people had been laid off or like my friend Rick, transferred to other divisions within Bell Atlantic, now called Verizon after the merger with NYNEX. See my story Laid Off Again.

Education