ABSILVER's World

Are you with Me? I sit here on a Thursday, in Longview, Texas at the Silver Grizzly having coffee, wondering when we the People and all global citizens will say “Enough already!” First, a bit of history. The British citizens of the original 13 colonies fought the revolution to be freed from the oppression of a remote monarchy that ruled over and taxed the colonies while providing little value for those taxes. The colonists had no ability to represent themselves to the monarchy. Generations of immigrants risked their lives to cross oceans to gain religious and personal freedoms that this country's founding fathers encapsulated into the US constitution; a constitution focused on personal freedom, privacy, and considerable concern to limit the power of a government and the majority to oppress minority citizens.   We live in an unprecedented time in the USA, where the ‘president’ and many elected officials are more concerned about their own well being than that of th

I have been a satisfied AT&T wireless customer since car phones were installed in your car.   When we moved, it  was easy to recommend them to Frank for our new home…   Frank and I decided about 3 months ago to make a move in our lives.   We sold our house in Austin and the plan is to split our time between closer to family splitting our time between Longview, TX where his family lives and mine in Savannah, GA.   The house is very nice, about 1800 sq. feet and close to Frank's Mom who has been very welcoming and helpful in our move. This email is about something simple, that went off the rails, all we wanted was to setup TV and Internet service at our new home in Longview.    In the last few years due to changes in homes from Florida to Austin, and now to Longview we have done this more times than most so you would think this would be easy?   Well, not so... we chose AT&T as what we thought we would be a reliable service and DirectTV for TV service.   My p

I have written starts and stops of a New Years blog. From the personal to the political and yet none of it was interesting enough to get out of my laptop or phone. My Top Ten lessons Learned in the Previous Decade. Nothing energizes my soul more than the sun rising over the ocean. Sunsets would come close but I am a morning person. My road traveled has led me back to Savannah and Longview . After living up and down the east coast and central Texas, we are home. A cat has shown me more about the importance of actually meeting diversity in person. I didn’t like cats cause I never had one to love. Quality and results of good work are more important to me than titles and money. Top ten days start with a walk early in the morning, plenty of good coffee and hanging out with Frank and our four legged family. Nice it happens every day. I have traveled around the world and lived near some mighty pretty places, but Tybee in the winter and Savannah are right at t

There are memories in your life that shape your life, but at the same time you keep quietly in your past.   You know, as you age, we say we have gotten past difficult times and learned our lessons and hope have moved on.   This is one of those days where you realize not all that is in the past has moved on. There have been two incidents at the University of Georgia about Swastikas painted on walls in the dorms.   https://www.redandblack.com/uganews/uga-student-groups-condemn-swastikas-drawn-on-students-dorms/article_44e68002-0c7d-11ea-8e1a-3f65d9769be9.html?fbclid=IwAR0ZMDV58hRz08VpvPi2g4auhF5D-re-CKNy3mKvcaV-CjV0LYqXPeUf4lE This is horrible, and certain anyone could see the hatred and wonder how in our modern day these kinds of incidents would happen.   Let’s be clear, someone or group has painted these swastikas in busy dorms where one would think there was at least one witness, but so far there have not been any witnesses to come out and share what they saw or part

There are moments where if is not the right question ... the right question. Is when.    I sat yesterday on a flight to Atlanta.    It is a cold day in Austin. I decided to go home, to Savannah, yesterday.  See, there are times when family and love of family trumps all.    Work takes a back seat.    House and home are in transition with much to do, but the question of if to go home to Savannah was never the right question.    It was how, when, and for how long I can stay.  Yesterday my Aunt Fay passed away.    We are lucky in my family.    The women in many ways showed the light and direction for their children, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren.   Aunt Fay was one of those strong women who not only showed the way with her own strength but her love as well.  When I started to think of Aunt Fay’s legacy.    I start with the recent.    I remember a few years ago her meeting Frank, and with her beauty and love they hit it off right away.    She showed pictur

Honestly, when it comes to digital assistants, my top three tell me the time, weather, and play some music. I woke up this morning, got in my car and said "OK Google" forgetting the only device in my car is my iPhone and Siri, and Google is in the house… but habits are habits and I had not had a cup of coffee yet. I like having my music on Google because - guess what – the devices I have at home are part of the Google Assistant family.   And, as someone who likes to learn new things, I would love to invest in an Alexa device or two, but heck do I really need three digital assistants competing for my time? The beginning of my IT career was way back in the 80’s.   At the time, all computer vendors used a common standard.   You buy a server, the terminals (displays with keyboards that connected directly to the server for you younger folks), printers and as much of the supplies as you can from us, and it will work perfectly.   When I started at IBM, they had branded s

How does m y cooking Chicken Soup , drive business discussions?  How do they relate, and not talking about ingredients and instructions, but how can they help progress business and personal relationships? These business discussions on golf courses, ball games, and entertainment venues help progress business relationships as well as personal ones.    But what if you don't play golf?   or sitting through a professional baseball game makes you root for the winning team just to get out sooner?   or what if you want a more quiet and friendly environment to get to know your colleague that isn't the usual bar or loud restaurant?   Well, one avenue less discussed, is inviting these colleagues and friends to your home for a dinner.  It may not have the same "excitement" of a Steelers' Box seat, or a seat in the stadium of the US Open watching Serena Williams play.  But, in our hustle and bustle world, a simple meal at your home can be a unique approach to