A Nobody is Somebody

Recent Diary History

2012-01-31T20:26:00.000-08:00

February 25, 2001 to March 20, 2001

I am leaving this part of my diary out because it just reflects how bad everything in my marriage and my relations with my mother were. I finished packing some 72 boxes of junk and stuff and I loaded a U-Haul trailer (5'H X 8'L X 6'W) with everything.

This part of my life covers 10 pages of this diary notebook. Maybe one day I will reopen this part.

March 29, 2001

I have to recapitulate the happiness I feel since all the nasty times reflected in those entries.

Joan has decided to drive with me to California. So we finally pulled out of our driveway in Ferndale, MI at about 10:30 AM. We drove south on the I-75 to Dayton,OH and then west on the I-40. We stopped in Terra Haute, IN for the night. On Thursday, the 22ND, we proceeded west across Indiana and Missouri and stopped just outside of Kansas City, KS. Then on Friday, we made it to Elk City, OK. We continued on Saturday and drove down to Alamogordo, NM. On Sunday we drove to Tucson and on Monday we made it to Palm Springs. I was really worn out from the drive especially because I pulled that trailer the whole way. Upon our arrival in Palm Springs, we both sat down and prayed that it would be a new beginning for us. On Tuesday the 27Th, I walked a mile around the mobile park. On Wednesday, my mother called from her nieces home and said, "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, BECAUSE YOU ARE NO LONGER TAKING CARE OF ME! What was that all about. My prayers still go unanswered. I pray constantly that the bitch drops dead! This bitch has caused and is causing too much pain to stay on life. I have had it with her (mother dearest) and I will fight her to the end.

Today I saw a local lawyer to determine how I could get my mother declared incompetent.

Win or lose, I don't care! I just wish she would drop dead soon!

Old Flame and My Learning Curve.

2012-01-02T19:14:00.000-08:00

February 6, 2001

Yesterday I wrote and corrected some more of my memoirs. I have now finished about 324 pages and I am sure I will be able to write another 100 pages.

While surfing the Web, I came across the site, "Classmates.com". I entered Birmingham High School, Birmingham, MI and the class of 1956. Wow, up popped a whole list of people I graduated with. The second on the list was a girl I took to the Senior Prom. I went to her house to pick her up. Her parents were out of town and she really wanted to stay home and well, you know the rest of the story. I didn't, because I was still a virgin and didn't learn anything for a couple of months.

Then I learned quickly like everyone else.

I wrote her an Email and I believe I got a friendly reply, so I guess I didn't make too much of an impression on her at the time.

I sanded the ceiling over the shower/bathtub and will paint it before Joan comes home from her many errands.

California, here I come!

Ford Roof and Moving to California

2012-01-02T18:53:00.000-08:00

January 25, 2001

Currently I am still a roofing inspector for the Paragon Roofing Co. Right now I am watching over a 20 to 27 man roofing crew as they retrofit the roof over the Ford Engineering and Development building in Dearborn, MI. The work is really easy. I just stand in the middle and watch the work. Sometimes I even grab a broom and sweep up some of the old roofing debris.

I even allow myself a 45 minute coffee break and sit in the cafeteria and enjoy a hot cup of coffee. It snowed last night. It wasn't much, just a little under one inch. I am tiring fast of this Michigan weather, especially when one only has several snow shovels and a broken down snow blower. What fun is that?

Joan, makes more excuses about moving to California than "Carter" has Liver Pills. This is an old saying meaning too many excuses.

I am not good at telling jokes,

because I am a slow poke!

My jokes cause no one to wake,

because of my souls sake!

My baking a cake will awake,

only a mild headache!

Telling jokes is not an art,

so I must part and look

for another mart!

In December, seven real bad guys broke out of a Texas prison. They were immediately placed on the "Most Wanted" list. They murdered a policeman during a robbery and then they just disappeared. The other day they were arrested in Woodland Park, Colorado. It is funny because my Marine daughter owns some 20 acres of land in nearby Cripple Creek. No panic though, she is currently stationed at Camp LeJeune, N.C., where she is the First Sergeant of a Marine Infantry Training Company. She is the only woman Marine among 350 male "grunts".

Same Old, Day in and Day Out!

2011-12-24T19:59:00.000-08:00

December 28, 2000

The entry I made was very derogatory. I choose not to transcribe it here.

When and if my mother dies, I am moving to California. Not just because of the lousy weather but because this marriage is no more. There hasn't been one bit of sex for over eight years and I really miss some affection.

I just finished reading Johm Grisham's "The Runaway Jury". It was fair reading and very hypothetical about our rotten justice system.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2011-12-24T19:47:00.000-08:00

December 25, 2000

Merry Christmas! The last three days Joan, my mother and I have celebrated Christmas at Bob & Bonnie's beautiful home in Troy, Michigan. Bonnie is Joan's daughter and she is a world class hostess.

My mother now has her estate divided into four parts. She retains 1/4, her granddaughter Kimberly Sue Davis 1/4, Heike Irene Karr(my daughter) 1/4 and I have 1/4 share of her stock portfolio, which is now worth almost $1 million.

What I don't appreciate about my daughter is that she hasn't called her grandmother to wish her a Merry Christmas. It is now about 10 PM. If she doesn't call in the next two hours, I will get on her but hard.

Joan and I are still debating whether to buy a house here in Michigan or move to California. I have a list of about four houses here and will try and get Joan to look at them. If she then says NO and refuses to pick one, then I am gone!

My Wife is Driving me Up the Wall!

2011-12-22T20:34:00.001-08:00

December 21, 2000

Everything is becoming more and more stressful from day to day. My wife is really trying to drive me out. I started to pack all my old papers, books, records. collectibles and other junk. I now have 24 boxes packed and labeled.

I really can't live much longer with her and I know she is tired of me too! Both of us get under each other's skin daily. We can hardly hold a decent conversation with one another. She has some traits I complain about everyday and I guess I have some that bothers her.

Tomorrow morning I am having coffee with my boss from the Census, Claude Brittingham and two other guys I worked with, Gus Constan and Dick Fuller.

Wow, is it ever cold out! The temperature is around five degrees and there is about 15" of packed snow. I hate it! I hate it!

Big Snow!

2011-12-22T20:25:00.000-08:00

December 12, 2000

Tuesday following what I call "The Big Blast", I shoveled snow and more snow. It started around 9 AM. I dressed up warmly and went out and shoveled two or three times. Each time the snow was more than 2" deep. My snow blower wouldn't start, so I had to shovel. I was so tired from shoveling that after the third time, I hired some young guys and paid them to shovel. According to Jerry Hodak, the weatherman, we will get another 2" to 3" tomorrow.

I had a telephone conversation with the finance broker for my mother. His name is Charles Kurrie and he is so full of it, I have a hard time holding back my anger. He has managed my mother's finances since her husband died and has done pretty good. He talks to me like I am something that the cat brought in. I don't like his attitude and I wonder if my mother has ordered him to be so or what?

Winter Weather and Snow, Snow, Snow!

2011-12-22T20:06:00.000-08:00

December 8, 2000

The weather is wintry. It snowed about 2" last night. It looks nice but how I hate shoveling it!

J. Fraile, the Minister at the Presbyterian Church here in Ferndale is moving to Cumberland, Rhode Island. He is taking a sabbatical vacation from preaching. He said, "I have been doing this for ten years and now I need a break". He is an example of the present day servants of God. They are all superficial and to a degree quite hypocritical. At the Luther College reunion in October, I talked to a fellow student of mine from back then. He went on after Luther and became a minister.

I corresponded with him and requested his help. I wanted to send him copies of some of the Bible essays I wrote back then and would appreciate an evaluation from him. Well, I sort of gave up because I never heard back. I waited and waited. No answer, then the other day he wrote and said he would find some time and read them. This cheered me up a bit!

Note: I never did get that evaluation or even a reply from him.

I even wrote the Registrar from back then asking for an explanation as to why she dropped me because of academic reasons, when I had already quit Luther on my own volition. I never got an answer from her or the Registrar's office either.

I have been writing this entry while sitting in the cafeteria of one of the Ford Motor Company

buildings on Rotunda Drive in Dearborn, MI. I am enjoying a 16 oz cup of coffee and a "slim Fast" chocolate bar. I will be going back up on the roof in a few minutes. It is cold up there but the job of supervising is very easy. The roofing crew works like fine clock work!

The Japs Attack Pearl Harbor, Jean Carson, Mastectomy

2011-12-12T16:40:00.000-08:00

I gave my mother the $1.00 she asked for and sold this car

three months later for $8,000.00.

December 7, 2000

Today, 59 years ago, The "Japs" attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and killed over 2400 Americans. This was the catalyst that forced the United States into World War II and by the end of this conflict, more than 100,000,000 people died on this planet. What a waste!

Three weeks ago today my mother called and pleaded for me to come to California and drive her back to Michigan. Being the loving son, I immediately called Southwest Airlines and book a flight for the next day. I left Detroit Metro at about 11:30 AM. I changed flights in Nashville and again in Phoenix. I finally arrived in Ontario, CA at about 7:30 PM(PST). I rented a small compact and drove to Palm Springs. For the first time in my life my mother hugged me upon arrival. I honestly believe it was meant. It was a hug with feeling. We sat and talked for several hours and then retired.

On Saturday, I visited her neighbor across the street, Jean Carson. She was a small time Hollywood actress in the 1950's and 60's. She coined that famous phrase in her sleepy bedroom voice, "HELLO DOLL!. She was one of those blonds on that TV sitcom, chasing the sheriff and his deputy, starring Andy Griffith.

I did some fixing up jobs around her place and then we enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at the Clubhouse. On Sunday and Monday I helped her pack her clothes and I service her car. On Tuesday we left Palm Springs at 9:30 AM in her 1991 Cadillac Sedan-de-Ville. I did the driving. My mother was really hurting. She was suffering from:

1. The radical Mastectomy she had to her right breast in 1999 and the subsequent "chemo" therapy, which has probably done her more harm than good. She is 90 years old and had it done last year because some quack discovered a small spot on her breast.

2. Her deep mental conflict she has in disowning her daughter.

3. Her loneliness and memory of her deceased husband.

Added to the above I have noticed that she is slowly shutting down, health wise. Her vision is failing along with her hearing and she is becoming weaker by the day.

The first day out, I drove over 700 miles to Albuquerque, NM. We stopped at a Holiday Inn and shared a double bed room. I have to admit that she was pretty alert the whole way. After we got to our room, I sat down on my bed because I was really shot. All of a sudden and out of the blue, my mother asked me if I wanted to buy her car. I answered that I sure would but I just couldn't afford it now. She answered, Peter, give me a dollar and it is yours. It is a 1991 Cadillac Sedan-de-Ville, white, blue leather upholstery and about 25,000 miles on the tacho. Wow!

The next day, Wednesday, November 22, we continued our trip back to Michigan and I drove to Springfield, MO. I even left the I-40 in Shamrock, TX to show mother the ruins of the motel we stayed in on our trip to California in 1953. I drove a little more on the famous route 66 too.

On Thursday, Thanksgiving, I hit the pedal and drove all the way from Springfield to Ferndale, MI and home. We arrived there at about 10:30 PM. Joan was really happy to see us safe and sound. The next days went real smooth. We took care of mother the best we could in our little ranch house of 695 SF. The first couple of nights , my mother slept in our bed and then I got down her roll away bed from the garage and she took over my little office which is about 7 feet by 8 feet, when one deducts the furniture, my desk and bookcase.

She got a phone call from her broker. This really surprised me. Her broker told her that she had to give away $50,000 because of taxes. She she sat down and wrote $10,000 checks to me, my wife Joan and her granddaughters - Kim Davis and my daughter Heike Karr. Then she said, because neither Heike nor Kim had called her, she wasn't going to give them a thing and I should have their checks. In the end, I got $49,000. I still didn't know anything about my mother's finances.

Today, Friday, December 7, I have to go to work. I am currently a roof inspector for the "Paragon Roofing Technology Co." in Shelby, MI. Right now I am inspecting the work of the Milbrand Roofing Co. totally refitting a roof on one of the Ford Motor Co. buildings in Dearborn, MI.

Right now I am taking a well earned break from my job. I am sitting down here in the Ford, restaurant (break room) enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee. I am finishing Frank McCourt's 2Nd book "Tis". I read his first book, "Angela's Ashes" about a year ago. It is more or less his autobiography. I know I can do better, but I don't know anyone so all I can do is say it and dream on!

Right now I am writing this in my fifth diary notebook. I really have more material as a basis. I have already written or copied 300 pages into my computer. This is just raw input. I know I will have to edit and change quite a bit to make it interesting. I am writing as candid as possible. With God's help and guidance, I hope to be finished in a year or so. That is my goal?

When I got home that evening and we sat together in our little kitchen for dinner, my mother remarked just so, "I am a millionaire!"

If you happen to be in Network Marketing, you should take a look at www.mypartnerinprofit.com/nobodyknows, it's FREE!

Wall Street - Jack Abramoff and Gordon Gekko

2011-12-12T16:06:00.000-08:00

December 12, 2011

I just had to write the following about Jack Abramoff and Gordon Gekko.

During the 1990's and up to 2005 (?), Jack Abramhoff was the MAN in DC. He is like that current lobbyist now who controls many of our lazy and worthless U.S. Representatives. Most of them probably couldn't even get a job at McDonalds. I just watched the Netflix movie, "Casino Jack". Most movie goers said no to the film because it really wasn't simple entertainment but was a real inside look at the way our government is run and how we, the people, are being cheated and the end effect will probably be the demise of this great country. Why? Only one word says it all! GREED!

GREED is the most important and loved word in the English dictionary.

How much longer will it take before America wakes up, is anyone's guess. I personally hope for some kind of revolution. Not a bloody one or one that will drive us into one of the failed ISMs, but a revolt where the status quo is equalized. A tithe of equal amounts according to earned income would be fair. If a poor person is living below the recognized poverty line, they should be exempt from a tax. A human being needs only so much to survive and live comfortably. If one is earning 1M, then they should pay accordingly.

I remember as a kid growing up during the 1950's. I remember listening under my pillow to "the Brown Bomber", Joe Louis fighting championship fights against fighters like Jersey Joe Walcott and Ezzard Charles. They announced the winner's purse to be $100,000. They then went on to say that 87% of that would be tax. Sure, Joe Louis didn't die a rich man but he didn't rebel against his government. He survived and lived because he had many friends, even his opponent, Max Schmeling can to his aid and supported him.

I am so sick of hearing about how bad the rich have it. I could really vomit! I live in southern California and here in the desert is a small town that has a shopping street just for the rich. A simple T-shirt there in one of the designer stores can cost upward to $2,000. Is this right?

I don't know what the people on the right are thinking. They think like a Gordon Gekko.

GREED IS GOOD! Is it really? In a way I am so glad that at 73 I am just drifting. I sure don't like the way this country will look like in 10 years? I hope I am wrong, but if GREED keeps

its grip on many in this country, look out!

Death Visits a Friend and Luther College Again.

2011-12-04T21:12:00.000-08:00

November 14, 2000

Life goes on? Yesterday, Shirley Rehn-Bush, 66, wife of James Bush, a guy I grew up with in the old neighborhood, died of cancer. Jim is such a decent guy.

Today in about an hour, I have an interview with that small company. I have prayed and prayed that God will look upon me graciously and gives me this job. It will take me out of the rut I am in.

I just read the first 50 pages of the book, "Stability and Change, Luther College in its second Century", by Leigh D. Jordahl. These first pages have verified and certified what I have always known about Dr. Gerhard Belgum. Through his dogmatic-pragmatic-orthodox theological Lutheran beliefs and teachings, my young life was partly ruined and it was impossible for me to get the education I sought at the time. I attended Luther from 1956 to 1959 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army.

The Election

2011-12-04T19:35:00.000-08:00

November 11, 2000

On November 7, 2000, the registered voters of this great nation, went to the polls and voted for everything from dog catcher to president. A lot of proposals, new laws and various officials were either voted into or out of office. That is, everything except the office of President of the United States. That vote has still not been decided. Neither Al Gore, the Vice President, nor his opponent Georgy W. Bush, the Governor of Texass has a majority. Al Gore leads in the popular vote, thanks in part to my wife and I. Bush is a close second and everything depends on the swampy and wet state of Florida. There, Bush is leading Gore by 327 votes with some 2,000 absentee votes still to be counted. Who will win is any one's guess? Whoever wins will have a very hard time in office because he really will not have a solid mandate.

I have started working on my autobiography again after a pause of about four months. Right now I am writing mainly from memory about my ancestry and childhood. I am editing some of the story about my failed years at Luther College. Since reading the autobiography of Knute Lee and a biography about Weston Noble, I have a more profound understanding about that time which I call, "The Dark Ages". That time in my life was a failure and a great part of the reason why I am and have remained a "nobody".

It is a typical Saturday here in Royal Oak, MI. It is cold but no rain! I am sitting here in a Tim Horton's, enjoying an apple fritter and coffee. I keep wondering, is it correct, an apple fritter or is it a apple fritter. At 62, my grammar is still pretty bad.

Back to my autobiography. I have now finished about 284 pages on the computer. I will either write another 25 to 50 pages that will cover my life up to my departure from Germany or I will continue and include these last 13 years here in America. Thinking it over, I think I will stop where I left Germany and just write or summarize my life here.

I love to observe people and write about them. Here at Tim Horton's I just made another observation. The lady behind the counter is blond, about fifty and although very polite, she is pretty dumb or is very sick. I gave her my order three times before she understood. Very sad, but that is the way it is!

Next Tuesday I have an interview with a small company that does business with German companies. Traveling to and from Germany is part of the job. I pray that I am accepted and get the job. I want so much to see my estranged grandchildren.

Well, it is getting late. I have got to buy my lottery ticket as usual. I hope and pray some day to win. I honestly believe I could do so much good for others!

I want Gore!

2011-11-30T21:11:00.000-08:00

October 26, 2000

I am still out of work. Tomorrow I will go down and apply for unemployment again. I had to have a new windshield installed in my "Windstar" It cost me $200. i hope it holds? The election is getting close. Who will win? I am hoping for Gore! I don't trust Bush!

I finally realized today why my resume remains without many results. It is too general. It has to be written more specific and honed to each job or position I apply for.

Reunion at Luther College

2011-11-30T20:22:00.000-08:00

October 25, 2000

Last Wednesday Joan and I embarked on a trip to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. I wanted to attend my would-have-been 40Th class reunion.

Note: I attended Luther from September 1956 to June 1959. I finished three years and learned nothing.

We drove to Ludington, MI and stay at the Ventura Motel in town. At 11 PM, some dumb and ignorant "redneck" had to work on his broken down vehicle in the parking lot about 30 feet from our room. So much for sleeping!
I waited a bit and then I called management and they put a stop to his stupidity.

At 7:30 AM after breakfast, we boarded the S.S. Badger and sailed across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc, WI. The trip across was very smooth and we only ran into some fog about 20 miles from the Wisconsin shore.

We docked and drove off the ship and proceeded to Praire Du Chen, WI. I drove the whole way on secondary roads. There we stayed at another dive for the night. The next morning after breakfast, I drove the rest of the way to Decorah where we got a nice room at the Villager Lodge.

Friday evening, we attended an alumni banquet. There I saw and talked to some from way back then. I chatted with Kent Finanger who was the assistant football coach then. I also spoke with Ruth Rostrom (91), who wrote in my transcript, "dropped for academic reasons". Not true, I dropped out of Luther because I learned nothing and saw no future for me there.

On Saturday we walked around the campus and visited some of the old sites. I visited "Olson Hall", the men's dormitory when I was a Freshman. I also rediscovered the spot behind where the C.K. Preuss Gymnasium once stood. It was an overhang on the side of the hill, which was in those days a nice spot to take a girl. One day I was so lucky and took a fellow Freshman there. She was really "hot" but I was too nervous, so we just sat on the ledge and necked for an hour or so. Not because of me, but I never saw her again. I believe she dropped out of Luther the following week. I guess us Luther boys were not her type?

In the afternoon, I went down to the new football stadium and watched Luther beat Cornell College 35 to 24. I admired Luther's kicker. He wore number 2. He only had one arm which was also cut off at the elbow. He made all his kicks plus he made one key tackle.

As a Freshman(1956) and for the first time away from my dominating mother, I tried out for football. I wasn't in shape but I did weigh about 230 pounds. We exercised and ran around the field daily. I even suited up for the first game. I didn't play though. On one of the following days at practice, I was used as a dummy defense trying to stop the varsity offense. What a joke! Well those Seniors came right at me and smothered me. My right ankle got pinned somehow and I tore some muscles or ligaments in my right ankle. That was the end of my football career. I became a "water boy" for the next two seasons.

On Saturday evening, Joan and I attended my would-have-been 40Th alumni dinner banquet.

It was poorly organized and I was the only one who went from one to another to have them autograph my 1959 Luther yearbook, "The Pioneer".

Each of us then stood and related what we had been doing since our Luther days. I made my little speech short but most of them kept adding and adding stories and were real bores. I was the only one in attendance who had served in the military, except for a couple who after being ordained into the ministry, became Chaplains.

Joan and I retired early only to be practically thrown out of bed at 4:30 AM. A couple of animals in room 471 next door, were really f''en up a storm. The walls even vibrated and when she climaxed, it was as though she was giving birth. Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah -ah-uh-uh-uh-HA-HA-ha-ha-ha-ha and so on. This interruption continued until about 5:15. I had enough and pounded on the wall. That really scared them. For one or two minutes it was very quiet, but then they started up again. Only now they were in the bathroom and the noise was fainter.

On Sunday, we attended a concert of the Luther College orchestra - band and choir. It was terrific, especially to see Westen Noble direct.

After the concert, we left and I drove south to Cedar Rapids. On Monday we stopped at the Amana Colonies and then I drove half way across Illinois. On Tuesday I drove the rest of the way home (429 miles).

Herman Cain, bye - bye!

2011-11-29T19:46:00.000-08:00

November 29, 2011

The Republican Party (GOP - GREED OUR PROMISE), can't afford, permit, allow, condone or authorize the candidacy of a "black man" against a Democratic Party "black man"! Where and what would all those hypocrites and 98 IQ followers of the Republican Party think, if they can think at all?

The problem is that the American people are fed up with their country being controlled by a small pack of bigots and hypocrites. The 99% want this country back before it is too late.

I guess everyone has already forgotten the history of the Roman, Greek and Egyptian Empires.

Nobody with any intelligence can still believe that this nation will not follow the above unless there are some radical changes.

GREED is a disease and it is about to destroy my and your country.

Flowers and Monica and Tripp almost accomplished what they were paid for. They were paid by the Republican money people to concoct their stories which almost brought down a well meaning and better functioning president. They were paid big bucks to ruin President Clinton. Nothing was ever proven and where are they now?

Today, the Republican Party has hired a new batch of BITCHES to defame and destroy a good man only because he is "black". There is absolutely no proof and again the lies may succeed?

Who cares if they manage to destroy Herman Cain? I for one will vote for President Obama and nobody else! So you greedy Republicans, take heed, you will lose in 2012! You have my word!

The List of Jobs Continues

2011-11-28T23:30:00.000-08:00

This was the roof of a Sachs Fifth Avenue In Troy, MI. I was allotted

40 hours to clear the snow and repair the parapet wall around the whole roof. The snow was about 15" deep. I had no help. When I was finished, I received a call from the HRM witch

( spelled with a B), who terminated me because I didn't follow company procedure at another job.

Me, supervising a new coaltar(pitch) reroofing at a Detroit Edison Plant.

The new roof of the Senior Center in River rouge, MI

Rebuilding the rotten roof on an old building on Hamilton Avenue in Detroit.

Another new roof job. This one at the halfway house across from the old Michigan Central Railway Depot.

This was a new shingle job on the old Ford mansion in River rouge. This is now the auto Ford but the Wyandotte

Chemical CEO. I also had new copper gutters installed.

October 9, 2000

After the debacle at Home Quarters, I slowly got back on my feet after the operation and decided I would once again try my luck being self employed. I remained so until the end of 1995. During 1995, I did some part time teaching at the Berlitz School. I taught English to some German

engineers who were in Detroit working at the various auto plants.

In 1995, I also took on the job as production manager for the Nova Window Company on the East side of Detroit. That was a real joke. The owner didn't know one thing about his business. More production mistakes were made than good products.

Note; Here to I wanted to learn the business and I would post myself in the beginning at one of the production tables. The owner saw me and reprimanded me to stand back at least 10 to 15 feet. Another time, he had me cut glass for a series of windows. The glass cutting machine (similar to a machine you would find in any Home Improvement store) was not level and I didn't know how to level it. He ordered me to continue the cutting and not to worry. I did and every piece was out of line. I wonder at what dump he took the stuff.

Then I tried my luck at Multi Level Marketing (MLM). I was an independent sales rep for "Amerivox" prepaid telephone cards. I lost about $1000 with them when they went belly up! Oh, I still have a whole stack of prepaid telephone cards and especially a $1000 in cards from Amerivox.

Also in 1995, I took on "Amsoil" synthetic oil products. I really believe in the products and I have used the oil exclusively since then. The trouble I had was that the American auto driver was still stuck in the dark ages and would only use that 89 cent dinosaur poop in their vehicle.

Their grand daddy used it. Their father used it and so they had to use it.

Note: Turn the clock forward about 13 years and I would be O.K., because now synthetic oil is in common use even by the auto dealers.

In July 1996, my working life took a turn for the good. I was interviewed by a roofing company and they hired me almost immediately as estimator/salesperson. I started there in July 1996 and again I was let go in January 1997.

I then was hired for the same type of work at the Timberline Roofing Co. in Ortonville, MI. There I stayed just a short time from March to April 1997.

My next stop was as regional manager for the Duro Last Inc. in Saginaw, MI. I was interviewed by three officers of the company. Although two of them had a sort of negative opinion of me, I was hired and lasted three weeks.

After my short retainment at Duro Last, I was hired by the Affordable Roofing Company in Melvindale, MI as estimator, salesperson and project manager. This lasted from June 1997 to December 1997. The owner, Sam, sat the whole day behind his desk taking small sips of booze. He was half drunk or full drunk the whole day. I tried to reason with him but it was useless.

He was also armed to the teeth. I know he had a loaded 45 in his desk. I know hos wife had a 38 in her purse , but I can only surmise that they also had other weapons. I brought in over $700,000 in contracts but they too had problems getting them finished on time.

I never really hard any trouble getting a job. My credentials were in many cases, second to none! The trouble was, "The buck stops here!" I was a perfectionist and those I worked for were nothing but disorganized slobs. In the U.S. A., organization doesn't mean a thing. The only thing that counts is the bottom line.

Everyone of my illustrious employers had piles of usable merchandise in their warehouse but didn't care if it rotted or spoiled.

I learned my perfectionism in German and that is why they are so far ahead of us even today!

At Duro Last, even the owner took liking to me and wanted me to fly with him on an inspection tour of the West coast. Ten minutes before flight time, his daughter cancelled me!

The photos above show just some of the many jobs I sold for the Affordable Roofing Company.

I walked off the job just before Christmas because one of the sub contractors threatens me and I got absolutely no support or backing from either boss. Sam even sent the Ferndale police to my house to see if I was alright.

In February 1998 I tried to become a pressure salesman for Diamond Exterior, a subsidiary of SEARS. I trained there and lasted a little over two months.

My next stop was with the Bloomfield Construction Co. That was from April to May 1998.

Then in May, I became a roof inspector with PSI (Professional Services Inc.) That job lasted from May to July 1998 and then they just had no more work for me.

So I went to the Duane Smelzer Roofing Company. There I remained as assistant estimator for four weeks until August 1998.

My next stop, almost like one of those old "milk trains" that stopped at every farm, I was hired in by the Weather Tite Window Inc. as estimator/salesperson for residential roofing. That lasted

until the beginning of December.

Then I thought I got a real break when I was hired in by Pegnato & Pegnato Inc., a California roof repair company. They had roof repair contracts with some of the biggies, such as Walmart, Target, Office Depot, etc. My job was to answer the call of any manager at anyone of the store in Michigan an conduct a quick repair of leaks.

Note; Commercial roof leaks (flat roofs) can only be repaired by open weather, not when the roof is buried under a foot of snow. See photo taken in 15" of snow!

My job listing goes on and on. I really wish I had remained and continued to suffer in West Germany. Here at home there was no place for me. I am really not a bad guy nor am I a bad employee. Sure I have failures but name me one who doesn't! I just seem to fall in the shit every time I start a new job?

Remembering Fred Meijer , 1920 - 2011

2011-11-27T15:20:00.000-08:00

This article was in the Desert Sun, a Gannett newspaper

published in Palm Springs, CA

This was the meeting my wife and I had with Fred Meijer and his wife Lena

in front of the Gerald Ford Museum. Mr. Meijer just finished looking thru

my photo album of the Berlin Wall. I walked the complete wall from south to

north in September 1963.

Fred Meijer and me in front of the piece of Berlin Wall he

had donated to the Gerald Ford Museum

November 27, 2011

In 1989 when I was in manager training at one of his stores, I was helping a delivery person unload some packages. I told her that the trick I was showing her to make things easy, I learned in Germany. I noticed someone standing right next to me while I was kneeling. A voice said, "Sprechen Sie deutsch". I was sort of surprised hearing those words. I stood up and answered in German. That person saying that was Mr. Fred Meijer himself.

I had seen a photo of him and realized right away I was standing there talking to my boss. We carried on a conversation in German for about 15 minutes. All I can say is WOW! He was a real gentleman, scholar and a fine boss. Too bad others working for him were just a bunch of "peter principle" freaks.

Several years later, my wife and I drove to Grand Rapids to attend a forum at the Gerald Ford Museum and Library. I wanted to attend because Helmut Schmidt, the out of office Prime Minister of Germany was there. Afterward, we saw Mr. and Mrs. Meijer outside. I immediately approached them and showed them my photo album of the "Berlin Wall". Fred Meijer was very impressed and we stood there in front of the piece of the wall he had donated to the museum. Once again we chatted for about 15 to 30 minutes. He invited my wife and I to a dinner that evening, but we had to decline because we had to hurry back to Detroit. I was on the night shift at store 54 and had no way of excusing myself.

He was the only boss I had during my working career that showed me he had an interest in me and wanted to help. It is very seldom that you will run into such a leader and humble person.

Note: He told me to send him my resume and he would sent it on to the right person. Now he was the sole

owner of Meijer Inc. At that time, 1989, there were about 90 super stores, mainly in Michigan. Today, 2011,

Meijer Inc. Has more than 185 super store in five or six Midwestern states. Well, I mailed him my resume and several weeks later I was reprimanded by some jerk in Human Resources that I was never to bother Mr. Meijer again.

A short time later, I was placed on a "BLACK LIST" by the Meijer mafia. Advancement and/or promotion became something out of reach for me. The saying is very true. "It isn't what you know but who you blow!"

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My Pink Slip and My List of Jobs!

2011-11-25T19:32:00.001-08:00

October 9, 2000

Note: I already wrote this before, but I have to repeat it.

My wish about SEARS finally came true last Friday. Larry Hoerner, Regional asshole, called me at about 11:45 AM, saying, "we have a problem!"

I answered, "so!"

He answered, "one of our installers has complained that you are competing against SEARS. Do you have a business?'

I answered, " Yes, I have a small business but I haven't done anything with it since working for SEARS!"

He didn't buy that and said, "We will have to let you go because of a conflict of interest."

What a lie. There was no sub contractor in the whole bunch employed under contract with SEARS that knew about my little business. They concocted this when they found that business card I had given my boss so he would know where to contact me.

I was really happy but I couldn't understand how a company like SEARS could bend so low to

rid themselves of a good employee.

I know I have listed my employment failures before but I want to do it in a chronological order.

When I returned to the United States I was 49 years old and everyone knows that at such an age, a working person in American society is nothing more than drift wood and can be thrown on the fire at any time.

Here goes!

My first job was as Assistant Manager in training at Taco Bell. This was from February 1988 to August 1988.

Note: My propagator(?) was a retired business owner in Detroit. He refused to help me, his son(?) in any way, shape or form. He knew a lot of people in the Detroit business community and one word and I could have had a decent job. He totally ignored me and my desire.

My second job was with Nickola Foods in Waterford, MI as a route salesperson for restaurant type frozen food. I had high hopes and after a four week training, I was assigned to sell filet mignon steaks, shrimp and lobster in a "blue collar" neighborhood. I only thing I could sell them was a box of "chicken fingers" My loving(?) sister, with all her millions, lived in the suburbs and was a customer of Nickola Foods, but refused to buy from me! I lasted there about two weeks after the training. I read an ad in the paper about a fastener company in Redford, MI. I went down and applied. I was given an interview by the president of the company. She also gave me one of those psychological and mathematic test. I passed both with flying colors. She asked if I wanted to go into outside sales. I answered I would like to, but first I would like to work in the warehouse to learn the business and products. Her father was still in the business and had the final say. He needed a salesman immediately and hired a young "kid". He spent hour after hour training that "kid". Then one Saturday, he called all the employees into his large office. I think we were about 15 to 20. He gave us a reading test. Everyone could read but his young "kid" couldn't. It became clear that he was illiterate. I remained there from November 1988 until June, 1989. My starting pay was $6.00 an hour and in April or early May of 1989, I was given a 25 cent raise.

I was in dire need of a decent salary. My apartment rent exceeded $400 a month, so I went out to a Meijer store and applied there for a part time job. I was immediately hired in December 1988. So now I worked full time for the fastener company and maybe 20 to 30 hours a week in the evening for Meijer. My work ethic and performance soon found me a mentor. My job at Meijer was only part time then.

In June 1989 when I quit the fastener company and tried my luck selling mobile homes. This was during the summer months and in three months I sold old lousy single wide and earned a $750 commission.

When that didn't work out and I was still employed at Meijer, I asked my mentor if I could be considered for a management position. He didn't hesitate one minute. He was a zone manager. Later he was promoted to the corporate headquarters and made a specialist. He said, "tomorrow, I want to to start training!" I trained for about four to eight weeks and became a full time manager. At first I was placed in the furniture department, then in the stationary and then in the cosmetic department.

It must have been the beginning of 1990 and I was put in charge of the automobile department. I cleaned the department up and received one thank you after another.

A position opening came up for another store(early 1992). It meant more responsibility and more pay. I applied and was accepted. That turned out to be another mistake in my life. The store manager (Ms. Reno), was totally unqualified and had it in for me from the start. It got so bad, I was forced to seek the help of a psychologist. Meijer Inc. paid for the treatment. Everyone knows what a shrink does. He sat across from me in three or four sessions and listened. He then said, "There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. You are caught up in a totally dysfunctional setup and unless you resign quickly, I can't take any responsibility for your sanity." So in May 1993, I resigned my position with Meijer and looked for a new home.

Note: About six months after I resigned, Ms. Reno was fired! She was allied very closely with the regional VP, also a woman. Ms or Mrs M. Revlon! had it on so thick, she really looked pathetic. How she climbed the corporate ladder, I don't want to speculate. After I resigned, she was not shown the door but was demoted back to store manager.

I was then hired by Autoworks Inc as Senior Assistant Manager. This job last less than three months, mainly because the store manager and regional manager demanded that we work two to four hours off the clock everyday. Later I joined what is called a class action suite against the company and was awarded a small amount. My time there was from June to August 1993. My position there was damned from the beginning. The whole store setup was one of a company on the brink of going under. Auto works did go under a few months after they let me go!

Then I read another ad, this time from AD Cart Inc. They were looking for independent sales people. I went to the office as directed and there were about twenty others like myself. Well, I gave it a try. This is the company that has those ads on the grocery shopping carts. I believe I managed to finish one deal. A deal was selling so many ads for a certain store. I don't remember what the commission was? It wasn't much! I was there for maybe four weeks. I learned some more but again I was out on the street.

Then a break came along, at least I thought so at the time. Home Quarters Inc., a subsidiary of the Hechinger Hardware chain on the east coast was breaking into Michigan with home improvement store. I was hired as customer service manager. I was put in charge of deliveries.

I gave it my all but soon I hurt my back and was out for several months. When I returned, my job had been given to another and I was demoted to gofor. I was there from September 1993 to April 1994. I was at their cost operated on my L4 and L5 and that was the end of that career. I even filed a discrimination suite against them. It went nowhere but they had to put out a nice chunk of change to deflate my accusations. I didn't win either because of the "peter principle" advocate at the Fair Labor Department who was assigned my case.

After my operation, I was put on short term disability and stayed at home doing my homework for my college degree, which I successfully finished and graduated in 1995 with a BA in Human Resource Management. Again I was bamboozled. There were no openings for MALES in human resource.

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I Want Out!

2011-11-25T19:20:00.000-08:00

October 5, 2000

If I only could? I would kick myself so hard and so repeatedly in my ass that it would travel upward inside my damn body and choke my heart to death. Once again I am in a very depressive state of mind. Life is so lousy to me. I am picked on from morning until night. My wife doesn't do it purposely,but only because she can't help herself. The last ten years of married life like the 27 years of marriage in Germany have been the biggest mistakes of my life. I should have stayed in Germany and continued to suffer. At least there I knew I was not wanted. Here I try so hard and still I am not wanted.

How much longer my life at SEARS will survive is unknown. I wish daily that they would give me my "pink slip". Everyday is unbearable. Tonight I will have to take another PM in order to sleep.

I am tired of the whole mess and I really want out. I have too much to live for and just can't see ended it. I just want out of this confinement, this bigoted and hypocritical society, this racist and anti human environment. This anti Christ way of life. I want to go someplace where I can be of some value to someone. I want to breathe again.

Still There!

2011-11-24T19:30:00.001-08:00

October 4, 2000

I can't sit on my patio and write in my diary anymore, because it gets dark too early and the evening air is getting a bit too cool. I am sitting here in my garage amount the collected garbage, writing this. In the background, Elvis is serenading me!

Yesterday while driving on the M-15 by Clarkston, MI, a "red neck" in his ford 150, just ahead of me was having a nice blow job by his black girlfriend. I even got hard and wished I could have changed places with him.

I am still at SEARS. I know it is coming to an end. Everything is coming to a Head and I refuse to play their ignorant games. They still demand that we work 10, 12, 14 hour days without a break. The pressure broke a bit today when I told the two to give me my "pink slip". They back off immediately. Tomorrow is another day?

Job change Again!

2011-11-24T19:03:00.000-08:00

September 26, 2000

It is happening again. I am at a fork in the road on my present job. I have been with SEARS Home Improvement for almost five months now and I will probably quit very soon. I wrote already about the boos I had. He is roughly 28 years old with a load of bull shit in his head and he himself just a pile of shit. He has caused more problems than he is worth. Last week he was gone. I say Rich Lenkiewitz was fired. His boss said, he quit because of personal reasons.

Note: All lies! He was fired because he embezzled several checks from some of the sub contractors and they finally caught him.

His boss, Larry Hoerner and Larry's sidekick, Bob Smith, will have to work here at least a month to get things back in order. They are very unreasonable too! They expect everyone in the office to work 10,12-14 hour days without a break. I am the only one who said, f... this mess! Physically, I can't take the stress either.

Then to top everything off, they don't consider me qualified for the project coordinator position. They have insulted my intelligence one too many times. Larry wants to put an ad in the local newspaper and told me last week, face to face, that he couldn't place me in the position

because that would mean, "I would be programmed to fail." Well, he can stick his SEARS up his ass and light it. Monday I am gone or they will have to come to some agreement with me.

Note: On that Monday they called me in and fired me because there was a conflict of interest? What had happened is, I had given my boss an old business card of mine so he would have my address and telephone number. The card was one I made on the computer and was for the self employed business I had. Gutters, roof repair, etc. I swore I had never used it while in the employ of SEARS.

It is getting cooler out and the days are getting shorter. Right now George W. Bush and Albert Gore are campaigning here in Michigan. Some say that Michigan will decide the presidential election.

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Working My Tail Off!

2011-11-22T20:42:00.000-08:00

September 2, 2000

It is late Saturday afternoon, and as usual I worked my ass off in the backyard. I started a new project and that is I want to lay insulation on the dirt floor of the crawl space under our little shack. The main problem facing me is the ground water level is to high. The dirt surface is close to being mud. I will install a thick plastic sheet and then the insulation over. So first I have to get it a bit dryer under there, so I have set a large fan in the opening.

I pulled weeds in my garden and I doubt if I will plant next year. I have a feeling that the ground there is worn out, so I think I will give my garden a rest for a year.

I put all the tools away, took a shower and I am now relaxing on my patio. I dream constantly of moving to Alpena, MI, but I am sure I will just dream on?

No Changes In Sight?

2011-11-21T11:43:00.000-08:00

August 7, 2000

August 20, 2000

August 29, 2000

On the seventh we had one the nicest days of the year. The Sun was out. My gardening for the year is almost over because of all the rain. I harvested very few tomatoes and only about five pounds of strawberries.

On the 20Th. I wrote, I turned 62 last Wednesday and still see no real changes in my damn life. Same old shit, day in and day out. I have nothing to show for being here. Yesterday I walked over four miles to and from the "Woodward Dream Cruise". It is getting bigger every year. More and more people are attending every year. Yesterday there were over 1.4 million on the side of Woodward.

Last Saturday and Sunday I was in Alpena and again the nostalgic obsession of living out my life there took control I stood on the shore out at Partridge Point and was really taken back to those years of happiness as a child.

August 29 - Summer is slowly drawing to an end. The weather has been rain, rain, rain! My garden drowned before it had a chance to survive and grow. Because of the wet weather, I have had a lot of trouble with allergies, especially hay fever.

Next Monday is Labor Day. I chatted with Heike last night. She is a very good Marine and very indifferent to me. I hinted that we would like to come down to Camp Lejeune (Fort Johnson) for a visit. We would like to see the grandchildren, especially Michaela. Heike responded with very little interest. She is more worried about being a success as 1St Sergeant in the Marine Corp., than seeing her father. I guess Joan and I will take a trip out to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, for the homecoming.

I was down in the "hood" again in Detroit today. I will never understand those n's. Some of them might be poor but that is no excuse for living like pigs and being lazy. Some of them have a total disregard for the life of others. They hate life, limb, others property and cleanliness of their surroundings. I wish we could get an Adolf here. A house cleaning would not hurt.

A Tiger Woods is momentarily the greatest golfer in the world. He really knows the game of golf.

Hating My Job Again!

2011-11-21T11:29:00.000-08:00

August 3, 2000

Speaking of jobs, I am still with SEARS Home Improvement and hating every minute. I really don't know what I am still doing there. They just use me as gofer, cleanup and telephone answering. They, that is the current leadership; Larry Hoerner, and Richard Lenkiewitz (or some pollack name very similar) have absolutely no organizational skills and spend their whole working day putting out job fires at the various sites. The reason being, they hire anybody off the street to do the work.

Note: One two man crew had just got off the boat from some European country. They didn't even know what vinyl siding was but were given several jobs. I had to go out and instruct them in the correct way. They really made a mess of things.

Richard L. aggravates every customer we service, mainly because he himself doesn't even know what vinyl siding is or how to install.

Note: The following is a sort of confession about how I feel.

Nothing new on the home front. Joan remains stubborn and lives in her own little world of telephoning and wasteful shopping. She is deaf and dumb to my desires and wants. In fact, she could care less about me and to be honest, I could care less about her. I only wish I could get away from here.

His Ninety First!, George's Memorial, Family and Weather

2011-11-21T11:03:00.000-08:00

As assistant project manager at Sears, I visited all the building sites where the "tin men" aluminium siding was removed and new vinyl siding installed. I cut the pieces in shorter sticks, loaded them in my SUV and drove to the recycling center.

July 31, 2000

My mother asked me on the 25Th if I knew what day it was? I answered quickly, "It was DAD's birthday and he would have been 91 if he was alive. I said that in one breath and regretted it inside. He was never my Dad, but maybe a very distant father who never cared about me and was very jealous of my continual campaign for independence.

I just made two sets of concrete "Big Feet" and inscribed them, In memory - George J. Hresco, b. 7/18/1929, d. 5/25/2000. He was my wife's brother-in-law. He died of cancer.

On Sunday, my daughter called from her Marine Post in Japan. She is leaving there probably next Wednesday and will return to the U.S.A. She related to me that my grandson, Kevin, age 11, is very depressive and is suicidal. He has already made two attempts to kill himself in the last year. Right now he is on a very strong anti-depressive medication and Heike is positive that he will come out of it when he returns to the states. I sure hope so!

This summer we have really had a lot of rain. It reminds me of Germany. Over there it only rained twice during the whole year. It started in April or May and ended in September/October.

One's spirits really got soggy.

I should be sitting at the computer looking for a job. I really would like to find one to tide me over until I can retire, which probably will never happen? To subsidize my my wallet, I have been recycling a lot of aluminum scrap. See the photo above. So far this year, I have made over $500. I wish there were more ways I could earn some extra cash on the side.

Once again I am pressuring Joan about the addition to the house. If the answer is NO again, I am then almost sure I will pull up stakes.

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