I'm bugging out for a midweek ride. Too nice out to miss.
Everybody is pretty quiet this week. I'll try to spice things up with Frank and Melanie tomorrow.
Be careful out there.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Tuesday
Still stuck on non-fiction.
These short weeks always test my ability to keep my days straight. I spent much of my morning referring to tomorrow as Tuesday. I'm like most people in that I like the longer weekend, but unless I really work on my mental acuity, I have that tendency to think that the first workday of the week is Monday.
Monday was a successful day for me. Got to The Arsenal for the Memorial Day ceremony, then over to Rock Island for the Criterium for a while. Also was efficient at home and got my yard mowed, and had time to get out for a quick 15 miler before dinner (which gave me 23 for the day). The Arsenal deal was a bit of a drag. The increased security made it something less than pleasant. It was like they really didn't want people there, and certainly not a bicyclist. Somebody must have screwed up on a security exercise on the Arsenal in the past, and these MP's were definitely not going to let it happen again.
There has been one Momma's Boy left in my front tree from the robin's nest in my side tree. Mom continues to bring snacks, but she is really getting impatient. The nestling has moved from branch to branch several times, but he's having quite a time leaving home. Does this give an illustration of humans or not? He was still there late this afternoon, and mom was sitting on a nearby branch chirping and fluttering her wings as if to say, "Leave!"
Basso killed 'em in the Giro. 24 sucked in the Coca Cola 600. Not a good weekend for my fav's.
Today was the start of my "summer dress code." That now means that I wear shorts most days. Wasn't all that long ago that I was wearing suits everyday. Then it was "business casual" for the summer. Now this. It is what it is.
When I was in middle school and high school, this would have been prime baseball time. I think we only had a couple of games a week, but we practiced at least a couple of other days, and then later on when I played American Legion ball, it was everyday, and double headers on the weekends. And the hot days like we had last weekend were common. Parents had to die going to all those games. Sounds like Matt is still doing it.
So I hope you have all recovered from your weekend. Good luck to everyone in getting done their own agendas. It isn't always easy, but keep your eye on the ball.
Be careful out there.
These short weeks always test my ability to keep my days straight. I spent much of my morning referring to tomorrow as Tuesday. I'm like most people in that I like the longer weekend, but unless I really work on my mental acuity, I have that tendency to think that the first workday of the week is Monday.
Monday was a successful day for me. Got to The Arsenal for the Memorial Day ceremony, then over to Rock Island for the Criterium for a while. Also was efficient at home and got my yard mowed, and had time to get out for a quick 15 miler before dinner (which gave me 23 for the day). The Arsenal deal was a bit of a drag. The increased security made it something less than pleasant. It was like they really didn't want people there, and certainly not a bicyclist. Somebody must have screwed up on a security exercise on the Arsenal in the past, and these MP's were definitely not going to let it happen again.
There has been one Momma's Boy left in my front tree from the robin's nest in my side tree. Mom continues to bring snacks, but she is really getting impatient. The nestling has moved from branch to branch several times, but he's having quite a time leaving home. Does this give an illustration of humans or not? He was still there late this afternoon, and mom was sitting on a nearby branch chirping and fluttering her wings as if to say, "Leave!"
Basso killed 'em in the Giro. 24 sucked in the Coca Cola 600. Not a good weekend for my fav's.
Today was the start of my "summer dress code." That now means that I wear shorts most days. Wasn't all that long ago that I was wearing suits everyday. Then it was "business casual" for the summer. Now this. It is what it is.
When I was in middle school and high school, this would have been prime baseball time. I think we only had a couple of games a week, but we practiced at least a couple of other days, and then later on when I played American Legion ball, it was everyday, and double headers on the weekends. And the hot days like we had last weekend were common. Parents had to die going to all those games. Sounds like Matt is still doing it.
So I hope you have all recovered from your weekend. Good luck to everyone in getting done their own agendas. It isn't always easy, but keep your eye on the ball.
Be careful out there.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Monday
I forgot to put a "No blog today" entry on yesterday. I was in the office briefly in the AM, but just didn't get to the point of writing. Maybe thought that I would get back later, but never did.
I missed the girls. Still do And it was really warm. Not a very productive day at all. But I did get a few flowers potted.
So today is Memorial Day. I'll get over to the Arsenal for the ceremony. And The Criterium is in downtown Rock Island, so I'll get over there for some of the races. Hope to ride this afternoon, and I need to get my yard mowed. It will be a busy day.
The baby robins in the nest out my back door left the nest yesterday. It was facinating watching the last few hours of their progression. There had been a total of four. All had still been in the nest yesterday morning when I had left early for coffee. By my return mid-morning, the nest was empty. Then, later on, I figured out that one was on a branch higher in the tree, and a second one was in the tree in my front yard. The mother kept bringing morsels to these two throughout the day, and I think, kept encouraging each to get going. By evening they too were gone.
This day has been the historical start of summer for me, certainly since the girls were born. I'm not overly satisfied with my progress on my 2006 goals right now, but this is another opportunity to re-commit, so I will try to do that. The Blog has been one area where I feel like I have done ok. Biking has been ok. Around the house, a luke-warm ok. The office part needs work.
By-the-by, the attacking red-winged blackbird is still there. I watched it assault another rider on Saturday afternoon, and my buddy Pete called from the road yesterday to let me know that it had come after him too. A dog came at me Saturday on my ride, but I was too quick, and some stupid teenagers in an on-coming car threw an empty plastic soda bottle at me on the same ride. The bottle glanced off my front wheel. Really a pretty dangerous event. Life has not been dull on the road.
So I doubt if I get back at this today. Hope all my readers have a great day. Frank and Melanie should return tomorrow.
Be careful out there.
I missed the girls. Still do And it was really warm. Not a very productive day at all. But I did get a few flowers potted.
So today is Memorial Day. I'll get over to the Arsenal for the ceremony. And The Criterium is in downtown Rock Island, so I'll get over there for some of the races. Hope to ride this afternoon, and I need to get my yard mowed. It will be a busy day.
The baby robins in the nest out my back door left the nest yesterday. It was facinating watching the last few hours of their progression. There had been a total of four. All had still been in the nest yesterday morning when I had left early for coffee. By my return mid-morning, the nest was empty. Then, later on, I figured out that one was on a branch higher in the tree, and a second one was in the tree in my front yard. The mother kept bringing morsels to these two throughout the day, and I think, kept encouraging each to get going. By evening they too were gone.
This day has been the historical start of summer for me, certainly since the girls were born. I'm not overly satisfied with my progress on my 2006 goals right now, but this is another opportunity to re-commit, so I will try to do that. The Blog has been one area where I feel like I have done ok. Biking has been ok. Around the house, a luke-warm ok. The office part needs work.
By-the-by, the attacking red-winged blackbird is still there. I watched it assault another rider on Saturday afternoon, and my buddy Pete called from the road yesterday to let me know that it had come after him too. A dog came at me Saturday on my ride, but I was too quick, and some stupid teenagers in an on-coming car threw an empty plastic soda bottle at me on the same ride. The bottle glanced off my front wheel. Really a pretty dangerous event. Life has not been dull on the road.
So I doubt if I get back at this today. Hope all my readers have a great day. Frank and Melanie should return tomorrow.
Be careful out there.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Chapter Four Blog Date 052706
At 35,000 Feet Over Colorado 19April05 1100MDT
Anthony Carmondii, the plane's only passenger, took another drink of coffee from his paper cup. He glanced out the window of the private Citation 300 business jet at the snow-covered mountains below. In years past, he had often spent a Spring week in Aspen to sample the abundant apres' ski night life. But these last two years had just been too hectic at Cyberware to indulge in the fantasy life that had now made Aspen America's premier winter playground.
He checked his watch again. They were due to land in Cedar Rapids/Iowa City in another ninety minutes. Carmondii closed his eyes and recalled his conversation late yesterday afternoon with Aaron Ginsberg in a quiet corner of the men's grill at the Half Moon Bay Golf Links club house. They had been joined on the course by two other Equity Funding clients and there had been no opportunity for any significant business discussion during the round. It had been a subdued round for the foursome, with little of the normal banter usually present in weekend matches at the club. After settling the gentlemen's bets from the round over cocktails, the other two players had made diplomatic exits, leaving Ginsberg and Carmondii alone at the table.
"Anthony," said Ginsberg, "my sources tell me that you've been making some noise with the bond boys about an extension on that $300 million indenture that matures in June. And those same sources say that you deferred payment Friday on a sizable dividend to Melanie. Those aren't good signs for the payment you owe us on July 1st. Care to explain?"
Carmondii was not surprised that Ginsberg had been alerted to his inquiries of the investment banks regarding the refunding of the bond indenture. You sneeze in the same area code as one of those vulchers and you start getting calls from people you don't know about your vital signs. But by letting Carmondii know that he was already aware of the withholding of the dividend payment to Melanie, Ginsberg was making it clear that Equity Funding expected payment of the Cyberware debt on time.
"We're just checking out our options on that indenture, Aaron," Carmondii had replied. "And the withholding on that dividend for Melanie was her idea," he had lied. "She's trying to organize some not-for-profit thing out there and she didn't want the locals to think that she was going to be the sole source of funding. She thinks that a big balance in her investment account might put off some possible donors to the cause."
"You know, Anthony," Ginsberg had said in response, "we go back a long time, and we have made a lot of money together. The business at Equity Funding has always been fairly simple. We put money in up front, and then once the thing is up and running, we take a lot more money out on the back side. Our arrangement with you and Cyberware was designed the same way. I hope that you understand that while you and I have this very good history together, business is business, and July 1st is not all that far away. Eh?"
Carmondii had smiled, nodded, and said, "Aaron, I wouldn't have expected it any other way."
Later on Saturday evening, Carmondii had decided that he needed to meet with Melanie face-to-face to see if he could at least obtain a small reprieve from her on the special dividend schedule. He knew that she was probably going to get the lawyers involved next week if he didn't find some way to appease her. When he called to see if she would meet with him on Sunday, she was obviously angry about the dividend, but she also seemed otherwise upset and had no interest in an extended conversation. She told him that he could come to her place around three, but to call when he landed so that she would know he was on his way.
The Citation had been an extravagance that Carmondii had justified when airport security had become a full contact sport after 9-11. Cyberware co-owned the aircraft with two other corporations to obtain some additional efficiencies on the costs of ownership, but usage was heavily tilted toward Cyberware's Chief Exective Officer. Availability of the plane made unscheduled trips like this one nothing more than a call for a cab.
He must have drifted off to sleep because he was startled at a call from the pilot on the overhead speaker, "We've begun our descent, Mr Carmondii. We should be on the ground in about 15 minutes.
Anthony Carmondii, the plane's only passenger, took another drink of coffee from his paper cup. He glanced out the window of the private Citation 300 business jet at the snow-covered mountains below. In years past, he had often spent a Spring week in Aspen to sample the abundant apres' ski night life. But these last two years had just been too hectic at Cyberware to indulge in the fantasy life that had now made Aspen America's premier winter playground.
He checked his watch again. They were due to land in Cedar Rapids/Iowa City in another ninety minutes. Carmondii closed his eyes and recalled his conversation late yesterday afternoon with Aaron Ginsberg in a quiet corner of the men's grill at the Half Moon Bay Golf Links club house. They had been joined on the course by two other Equity Funding clients and there had been no opportunity for any significant business discussion during the round. It had been a subdued round for the foursome, with little of the normal banter usually present in weekend matches at the club. After settling the gentlemen's bets from the round over cocktails, the other two players had made diplomatic exits, leaving Ginsberg and Carmondii alone at the table.
"Anthony," said Ginsberg, "my sources tell me that you've been making some noise with the bond boys about an extension on that $300 million indenture that matures in June. And those same sources say that you deferred payment Friday on a sizable dividend to Melanie. Those aren't good signs for the payment you owe us on July 1st. Care to explain?"
Carmondii was not surprised that Ginsberg had been alerted to his inquiries of the investment banks regarding the refunding of the bond indenture. You sneeze in the same area code as one of those vulchers and you start getting calls from people you don't know about your vital signs. But by letting Carmondii know that he was already aware of the withholding of the dividend payment to Melanie, Ginsberg was making it clear that Equity Funding expected payment of the Cyberware debt on time.
"We're just checking out our options on that indenture, Aaron," Carmondii had replied. "And the withholding on that dividend for Melanie was her idea," he had lied. "She's trying to organize some not-for-profit thing out there and she didn't want the locals to think that she was going to be the sole source of funding. She thinks that a big balance in her investment account might put off some possible donors to the cause."
"You know, Anthony," Ginsberg had said in response, "we go back a long time, and we have made a lot of money together. The business at Equity Funding has always been fairly simple. We put money in up front, and then once the thing is up and running, we take a lot more money out on the back side. Our arrangement with you and Cyberware was designed the same way. I hope that you understand that while you and I have this very good history together, business is business, and July 1st is not all that far away. Eh?"
Carmondii had smiled, nodded, and said, "Aaron, I wouldn't have expected it any other way."
Later on Saturday evening, Carmondii had decided that he needed to meet with Melanie face-to-face to see if he could at least obtain a small reprieve from her on the special dividend schedule. He knew that she was probably going to get the lawyers involved next week if he didn't find some way to appease her. When he called to see if she would meet with him on Sunday, she was obviously angry about the dividend, but she also seemed otherwise upset and had no interest in an extended conversation. She told him that he could come to her place around three, but to call when he landed so that she would know he was on his way.
The Citation had been an extravagance that Carmondii had justified when airport security had become a full contact sport after 9-11. Cyberware co-owned the aircraft with two other corporations to obtain some additional efficiencies on the costs of ownership, but usage was heavily tilted toward Cyberware's Chief Exective Officer. Availability of the plane made unscheduled trips like this one nothing more than a call for a cab.
He must have drifted off to sleep because he was startled at a call from the pilot on the overhead speaker, "We've begun our descent, Mr Carmondii. We should be on the ground in about 15 minutes.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Friday
No blog today.
The girls are gathering in Minneapolis tonight for the holiday weekend. I'm doing the bike thing. Roy and I will probably hang out some too.
The lives of Frank and Melanie will return tomorrow. Events will bring them together again, sooner rather than later.
Be careful out there.
The girls are gathering in Minneapolis tonight for the holiday weekend. I'm doing the bike thing. Roy and I will probably hang out some too.
The lives of Frank and Melanie will return tomorrow. Events will bring them together again, sooner rather than later.
Be careful out there.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Chapter Three - Continued - Blog Date 052506
Cedar Rapids 18 April05 1820
Melanie glanced in her rear view mirror as she exited the parking lot of Norm's Place and headed east on 5th Avenue. She saw Calhoun's Expedition turn down the alley toward 4th Avenue for what she knew would be a turn north onto I-380. What had begun as a perfectly enjoyable evening had ended quickly, and badly. Frank Calhoun had apparently been interested in her only for the information that she might be able to provide him on Anthony and/or Cyberware. She was completely stunned. How had he expected her to react? Did he think that she would just roll over and be his snitch?
Her part in the conversation following his plea had been brief and to the point; "Frank," she had said," I though I just heard you say that you were conducting a professional investigation of Cyberware for the NSTF, or whatever you call yourselves, and that you wanted me to be some kind of a source for information about dirty tricks in the company. Was I hearing things? Most of my dates just want to get into my pants or my bank accounts. I'd say that you are setting a new, lower standard for my social life."
"Melanie, please," Frank had tried to interject. "It's really not that way at all. I want to help you too. If Carmondii is actually working on a scheme to defraud the securities markets, you could be caught in the same conspiracy. Whatever part of your wealth that is still connected to Cyberware could be in jeopardy"
But Melanie could handle nothing further from Frank Calhoun tonight. She had stood from the table and said, "Thanks for dinner, Frank. Have a nice life."
Cedar Rapids 18April05 1822
Calhoun accelerated the Expedition onto the northbound entrance ramp of I-380. That went well, he thought to himself. Let's see. I gave up non-public information on a classified case. I burned my best connection to get new information on Cyberware. I pissed off, maybe forever, a woman who clearly has everything that I would want in a relationship. And I certainly complicated several other friendships. What more could a guy accomplish in less than two hours? Life sucks.
Melanie glanced in her rear view mirror as she exited the parking lot of Norm's Place and headed east on 5th Avenue. She saw Calhoun's Expedition turn down the alley toward 4th Avenue for what she knew would be a turn north onto I-380. What had begun as a perfectly enjoyable evening had ended quickly, and badly. Frank Calhoun had apparently been interested in her only for the information that she might be able to provide him on Anthony and/or Cyberware. She was completely stunned. How had he expected her to react? Did he think that she would just roll over and be his snitch?
Her part in the conversation following his plea had been brief and to the point; "Frank," she had said," I though I just heard you say that you were conducting a professional investigation of Cyberware for the NSTF, or whatever you call yourselves, and that you wanted me to be some kind of a source for information about dirty tricks in the company. Was I hearing things? Most of my dates just want to get into my pants or my bank accounts. I'd say that you are setting a new, lower standard for my social life."
"Melanie, please," Frank had tried to interject. "It's really not that way at all. I want to help you too. If Carmondii is actually working on a scheme to defraud the securities markets, you could be caught in the same conspiracy. Whatever part of your wealth that is still connected to Cyberware could be in jeopardy"
But Melanie could handle nothing further from Frank Calhoun tonight. She had stood from the table and said, "Thanks for dinner, Frank. Have a nice life."
Cedar Rapids 18April05 1822
Calhoun accelerated the Expedition onto the northbound entrance ramp of I-380. That went well, he thought to himself. Let's see. I gave up non-public information on a classified case. I burned my best connection to get new information on Cyberware. I pissed off, maybe forever, a woman who clearly has everything that I would want in a relationship. And I certainly complicated several other friendships. What more could a guy accomplish in less than two hours? Life sucks.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Wednesday
Frank and Melanie will return tomorrow. Promise. (That is not a threat.)
Enjoyed Denise's comments about my birding experiences. I hadn't thought of the feeding area thing. That would explain why the fence-sitting red-winged black birds also fly at me during the summer. But they've never come at me as determinedly as the one has at that Forest Grove site within the last week.
The heat turned up outside today. Should be an interesting ride tonight.
Had my bi-annual eye check-up today. The results were known in advance: they ain't getting any better. I've begun having trouble with the smaller print in the sports' page box scores and the numbers in the crossword squares. So I'm going to try bifocals again. The last time he prescribed bifocals, I traded them in within a month or two because it was too much of a nuisance. It was just easier to slide my single-lens glasses on top of my head for reading purposes. Now, with the smaller print not as clear, I may have to give up more ground to the aging curve.
My conclusions on the reality of optical stores remain unaltered. The advertising that they do with "2 pair of glasses for $100" or the like, is akin to the tourist trap that crows, "4 T-shirts for $10," and then has one rack of off-brands (some with holes covered with patches) at that price. All the shirts that you might actually wear are at regular prices. My bill at the glasses store today for regular and sun glasses; $433.
Of course some of you are sitting there and thinking about taking this to the Seinfeld level and wondering about the definition of "a pair of glasses." Shouldn't it really be "a set of glasses?" If you are getting a "pair" of glasses, are we talking about one unit of two connected monocles, or two units like I bought today? (This little discussion could go into the child care area as well, but a play on Southern phoenetics is a little further off the beaten path than even Jerry would want to go.)
Sorry about that. Just couldn't pass on the diversion into oxymorons. Or are we actually talking about a different figure of speech here? It could technically be a case of "antiphrasis." (You can look it up. I did.)
Then there's the aspect of the diluting of the eyes and driving home. But that part of the story will have to wait for another day.
So I'm off to my ride.
Be careful out there.
Enjoyed Denise's comments about my birding experiences. I hadn't thought of the feeding area thing. That would explain why the fence-sitting red-winged black birds also fly at me during the summer. But they've never come at me as determinedly as the one has at that Forest Grove site within the last week.
The heat turned up outside today. Should be an interesting ride tonight.
Had my bi-annual eye check-up today. The results were known in advance: they ain't getting any better. I've begun having trouble with the smaller print in the sports' page box scores and the numbers in the crossword squares. So I'm going to try bifocals again. The last time he prescribed bifocals, I traded them in within a month or two because it was too much of a nuisance. It was just easier to slide my single-lens glasses on top of my head for reading purposes. Now, with the smaller print not as clear, I may have to give up more ground to the aging curve.
My conclusions on the reality of optical stores remain unaltered. The advertising that they do with "2 pair of glasses for $100" or the like, is akin to the tourist trap that crows, "4 T-shirts for $10," and then has one rack of off-brands (some with holes covered with patches) at that price. All the shirts that you might actually wear are at regular prices. My bill at the glasses store today for regular and sun glasses; $433.
Of course some of you are sitting there and thinking about taking this to the Seinfeld level and wondering about the definition of "a pair of glasses." Shouldn't it really be "a set of glasses?" If you are getting a "pair" of glasses, are we talking about one unit of two connected monocles, or two units like I bought today? (This little discussion could go into the child care area as well, but a play on Southern phoenetics is a little further off the beaten path than even Jerry would want to go.)
Sorry about that. Just couldn't pass on the diversion into oxymorons. Or are we actually talking about a different figure of speech here? It could technically be a case of "antiphrasis." (You can look it up. I did.)
Then there's the aspect of the diluting of the eyes and driving home. But that part of the story will have to wait for another day.
So I'm off to my ride.
Be careful out there.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Tuesday
Non fiction day.
In another interesting element to my cycling, I've made acquaintances recently with a troubled red-winged black bird that resides on the south side of Forest Grove, just west of the Middle Road intersection (just south of the I-80 interchange). I've literally been attacked by the bird each of the last two rides, and both coming and going each time! It must be an overly-protective mother with a nest nearby. She's repeatedly pecked my helmet on these rides. She sits on the telephone or electric wires, sees me come by, and swoops down to drive me away from her turf.
Over the years of biking, I've had some trouble with dogs, both on the bike path and on the open road. There was one mutt on a farm on Utica Ridge that routinely came after us. I got pretty good at reaching for my air pump and using it as a weapon. In the last couple of years, there have been several deer along the bike path. One doe and two fawns spent most of last summer in the brush around Duck Creek Park. I'd see them most nights.
If you wanted to open the category of animals to road kill, I've seen a lot of species. But for the sake of those reading this at dinnertime, I'll save those items for another time.
My fave Discovery rider, Savoldelli, is getting killed in the Giro by Ivan Basso of CSC. Not even a contest at this point. Basso would have to crash and break something for another rider to win. The race wraps up Saturday.
I had a nice 21 miler last night around DCC. I get out there and do the triangilar loop twice. Good hills. I'm starting to feel stronger. My buddy Pete came by my house later on and we ended up on the deck at Gov's with Roy. Saw the Monday Night Ride riders and Pete and I may join them in a couple of weeks.
The Criterium is Monday in downtown Rock Island. I usually go over and check it out. I know some of the local guys who ride in age-group races, including this one. They're nuts.
Happy tax-tax birthday to Kate.
Good luck to the CC girl in IC.
The Investment Banker girl was through the office today getting her NY trip scheduled. One day of training in the Big Apple. In and out on the same day.
And the Art History girl has new shoes. I mis-took her for Jessica.
Be careful out there.
In another interesting element to my cycling, I've made acquaintances recently with a troubled red-winged black bird that resides on the south side of Forest Grove, just west of the Middle Road intersection (just south of the I-80 interchange). I've literally been attacked by the bird each of the last two rides, and both coming and going each time! It must be an overly-protective mother with a nest nearby. She's repeatedly pecked my helmet on these rides. She sits on the telephone or electric wires, sees me come by, and swoops down to drive me away from her turf.
Over the years of biking, I've had some trouble with dogs, both on the bike path and on the open road. There was one mutt on a farm on Utica Ridge that routinely came after us. I got pretty good at reaching for my air pump and using it as a weapon. In the last couple of years, there have been several deer along the bike path. One doe and two fawns spent most of last summer in the brush around Duck Creek Park. I'd see them most nights.
If you wanted to open the category of animals to road kill, I've seen a lot of species. But for the sake of those reading this at dinnertime, I'll save those items for another time.
My fave Discovery rider, Savoldelli, is getting killed in the Giro by Ivan Basso of CSC. Not even a contest at this point. Basso would have to crash and break something for another rider to win. The race wraps up Saturday.
I had a nice 21 miler last night around DCC. I get out there and do the triangilar loop twice. Good hills. I'm starting to feel stronger. My buddy Pete came by my house later on and we ended up on the deck at Gov's with Roy. Saw the Monday Night Ride riders and Pete and I may join them in a couple of weeks.
The Criterium is Monday in downtown Rock Island. I usually go over and check it out. I know some of the local guys who ride in age-group races, including this one. They're nuts.
Happy tax-tax birthday to Kate.
Good luck to the CC girl in IC.
The Investment Banker girl was through the office today getting her NY trip scheduled. One day of training in the Big Apple. In and out on the same day.
And the Art History girl has new shoes. I mis-took her for Jessica.
Be careful out there.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Monday AM
Just a little update. FFF last night with a cookout at Mom's with Susan, Mary and Charlie. Brats and dogs. Very low key.
Charlie was headed back to IC for her first week of work and class for the summer. There are some logistics to cover to get Mary and Susan to IC this week in anticipation of the three of them visiting Kate next weekend in the Twin Cities.
Biking over the weekend was less than perfect. Food poisoning while on my Saturday ride put me way off schedule. Never have quite had the same thing happen before. McCausland will have to be this week.
The tomatos are in. 4 plants. We'll see if I have any better luck than last year when my results were embarassingly bad. Also got my front stoop planters done with geraniums. Still have my deck planters to do this week.
Susan helped me pick up the trimmings in my yard yesterday from my work cutting back on various bushes and trees. She gets Daughter of the Day on the blog for her efforts.
Hope to get some positive things done this week here at Criterium. And will definitely add to the continuing story of Frank and Melanie.
Everyone have a good week. Be careful out there.
Charlie was headed back to IC for her first week of work and class for the summer. There are some logistics to cover to get Mary and Susan to IC this week in anticipation of the three of them visiting Kate next weekend in the Twin Cities.
Biking over the weekend was less than perfect. Food poisoning while on my Saturday ride put me way off schedule. Never have quite had the same thing happen before. McCausland will have to be this week.
The tomatos are in. 4 plants. We'll see if I have any better luck than last year when my results were embarassingly bad. Also got my front stoop planters done with geraniums. Still have my deck planters to do this week.
Susan helped me pick up the trimmings in my yard yesterday from my work cutting back on various bushes and trees. She gets Daughter of the Day on the blog for her efforts.
Hope to get some positive things done this week here at Criterium. And will definitely add to the continuing story of Frank and Melanie.
Everyone have a good week. Be careful out there.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Chapter Three - Continued - Blog Date 052106
Cedar Rapids 18April05 -1900
Calhoun and Melanie were sitting at a booth on the far side of the main dining room. The restaurant was busy and would-be diners waited in groups at the bar, patio bar and in the billard room where the table had been covered for the evening. It was a somewhat older crowd than what one might expect at a place near a college campus, but it was too early in the evening for the kids and the long-term loyalty of Norm's customers was legendary. Both Frank and Melanie had spoken to friends at several different tables as they had made their way to their reserved booth. It was a comfortable and engaging setting.
Norm's wine cellar was somewhat lacking and they had settled on a 2003 merlot from Napa Valley. Since he had been over-served in the wine department last night at The Italian Cellar, a reserve bottle from Tuscany may not even have registered on Calhoun's palate. Napa Valley would be just fine. And as a bonus, at just $16, the average unit cost for his wine consumption for the weekend took a nice downward move on the curve.
"I was a little slow on the draw getting up this morning," said Calhoun. "I'm pretty sure that the last bottle that Donovan ordered last night could have been put to better use by some other folks. Our waitress could have done us all a favor by closing out the tab when we said that the prior bottle was the 'last round'."
"You guys always have trouble leaving The Cellar," replied Melanie. "Remember St. Patrick's Day last month? It was a good thing you called a cab that night."
Calhoun grimaced at that memory. Was there a pattern here? He enjoyed the wine and an occassional beer. And the company of good friends. Could it be done without alcohol? He had definitely been over the line in the past, but he had never thought it was a problem. He might have to think about that going forward. But not tonight.
They dined on standard fare at Norm's, iceberg lettuce salad, blackened catfish and baked potatos. Through dinner they had talked about her running, his biking and the possibility of each training for a triathalon later in the year. They joked about Donovan trying on suits under Holly's watchful eye, and discussed the proposed shopping mall for a tract of farmland not far from her home in McKelvey Heights. All of these were 'safe' topics and Calhoun made no attempt to bridge over to her history with Anthony Carmondii and Cyberware.
As they finished dinner, their waitress removed their plates from the table and Calhoun poured the last of the wine into their glasses. "Cheers," he said raising his glass toward Melanie in a toast. She raised her glass to meet his and echoed, "Cheers to you."
Cedar Rapids - 18April06 - 1740
Melanie felt at ease with Frank Calhoun. The atmosphere at Norm's had been perfect for the evening. The casual dress code. Seeing mutual friends in such an under-stated yet well-regarded locale. His seemingly genuine interest in her. She wanted to know more about him. She thought that maybe this might be the time to ask him about what inquiring minds want to know.
"So, Frank," said Melanie with a little twinkle in her eye, "Are you ever going to be able to tell me exactly what you do for a living? I know that you work for the IDCI, or whatever that acronym is. But really, what do you do there?"
Frank had not expected this direct approach. He had to be careful, but maybe this angle of the conversation could lead to something about Cyberware. He knew that she was trying to open his book a little, but he wanted to go that way himself.
"You have the acronym right. It stands for the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation. In Iowa, everyone just calls it the DCI. But it's not like I haven't told you that before. And I'm sure Holly has given you that much information anyway. The DCI is the state's version of the FBI, the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They have juristiction on all criminal proceedings in the state of Iowa. Basically, they help out local law enforcement agencies, particularly when a crime involves more than one locality," explained Calhoun.
"My work was initially with the group that has oversight on the state's gambling venues, the race tracks and riverboats. History has it that crime tends to follow the gaming industry. There's just too much money to be made, and the operators of the casinos and tracks are heavily regulated. It was my job to make sure that the gaming houses followed the rules."
Calhoun then went on to say, "But that all changed about three years ago. After 9-11 and Enron, among other things, the DCI got involved with other state and Federal agencies in tracking money used for terrorist activities. I've been on loan to a Federal Department of Justice team for over two years now investigating money laundering and securities fraud. It's become even more complicated because of the internet and wireless communications. Sherlock Holmes would be lost today."
Melanie tried to see if anything that Calhoun had just said was truely new to her. She didn't think so. Men. They could talk for hours and not give up a dime. She decided to probe a little further. "Well, yes, Holly, or maybe even yourself, did tell me about most of that stuff. But how about that new Federal team that you are assigned to. Does it have a name? Do you get a handy spy-decoder ring? Do you get to meet James Bond?", Melanie teased.
Calhoun liked her sense of humor. He decided though that now was not the time to talk about his faux Ironman Triathalon wrist watch. "In a fit of literary genius, they decided to call my group the National Securities Task Force, the NSTF. And 'no' and 'no' to your other questions." Calhoun had still not offered up anything new to Melanie.
Melanie paused. She had been interviewed extensively at the time of the Cyberware IPO by both Federal and California securities agents. While she had not been an officer of the company, the trust's ownership of 50% of the stock had made her an interested party under state and Federal statutes. If Calhoun had been assigned to the NSTF for two or three years, he might even know the jerk from Washington who took nearly eight hours for her deposition.
"I had some exposure to security investigators in California at the time of the Cyberware IPO," Melanie offered, "And it wasn't that pleasant of an experience." She watched Calhoun for a reaction. He was stoic. "Do you ever get involved with anything like that? Would you actually know any of the agents who worked the Cyberware transaction?
Cedar Rapids 18April05 1755
Calhoun was now at the edge of the cliff. The big decision. He was unsure if he should just leap into the fray and face the enemy or take the course of less resistance and run for higher ground. But she really wasn't the enemy. And running would get him no closer to the secrets of Anthony Carmondii.
"Melanie," he said, "I've been participating in a deep investigation of Cyberware since last Fall. We think Anthony Carmondii may be structuring a securities scheme that will make Enron look like penny ante poker."
"And I need your help," said Calhoun.
Calhoun and Melanie were sitting at a booth on the far side of the main dining room. The restaurant was busy and would-be diners waited in groups at the bar, patio bar and in the billard room where the table had been covered for the evening. It was a somewhat older crowd than what one might expect at a place near a college campus, but it was too early in the evening for the kids and the long-term loyalty of Norm's customers was legendary. Both Frank and Melanie had spoken to friends at several different tables as they had made their way to their reserved booth. It was a comfortable and engaging setting.
Norm's wine cellar was somewhat lacking and they had settled on a 2003 merlot from Napa Valley. Since he had been over-served in the wine department last night at The Italian Cellar, a reserve bottle from Tuscany may not even have registered on Calhoun's palate. Napa Valley would be just fine. And as a bonus, at just $16, the average unit cost for his wine consumption for the weekend took a nice downward move on the curve.
"I was a little slow on the draw getting up this morning," said Calhoun. "I'm pretty sure that the last bottle that Donovan ordered last night could have been put to better use by some other folks. Our waitress could have done us all a favor by closing out the tab when we said that the prior bottle was the 'last round'."
"You guys always have trouble leaving The Cellar," replied Melanie. "Remember St. Patrick's Day last month? It was a good thing you called a cab that night."
Calhoun grimaced at that memory. Was there a pattern here? He enjoyed the wine and an occassional beer. And the company of good friends. Could it be done without alcohol? He had definitely been over the line in the past, but he had never thought it was a problem. He might have to think about that going forward. But not tonight.
They dined on standard fare at Norm's, iceberg lettuce salad, blackened catfish and baked potatos. Through dinner they had talked about her running, his biking and the possibility of each training for a triathalon later in the year. They joked about Donovan trying on suits under Holly's watchful eye, and discussed the proposed shopping mall for a tract of farmland not far from her home in McKelvey Heights. All of these were 'safe' topics and Calhoun made no attempt to bridge over to her history with Anthony Carmondii and Cyberware.
As they finished dinner, their waitress removed their plates from the table and Calhoun poured the last of the wine into their glasses. "Cheers," he said raising his glass toward Melanie in a toast. She raised her glass to meet his and echoed, "Cheers to you."
Cedar Rapids - 18April06 - 1740
Melanie felt at ease with Frank Calhoun. The atmosphere at Norm's had been perfect for the evening. The casual dress code. Seeing mutual friends in such an under-stated yet well-regarded locale. His seemingly genuine interest in her. She wanted to know more about him. She thought that maybe this might be the time to ask him about what inquiring minds want to know.
"So, Frank," said Melanie with a little twinkle in her eye, "Are you ever going to be able to tell me exactly what you do for a living? I know that you work for the IDCI, or whatever that acronym is. But really, what do you do there?"
Frank had not expected this direct approach. He had to be careful, but maybe this angle of the conversation could lead to something about Cyberware. He knew that she was trying to open his book a little, but he wanted to go that way himself.
"You have the acronym right. It stands for the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation. In Iowa, everyone just calls it the DCI. But it's not like I haven't told you that before. And I'm sure Holly has given you that much information anyway. The DCI is the state's version of the FBI, the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They have juristiction on all criminal proceedings in the state of Iowa. Basically, they help out local law enforcement agencies, particularly when a crime involves more than one locality," explained Calhoun.
"My work was initially with the group that has oversight on the state's gambling venues, the race tracks and riverboats. History has it that crime tends to follow the gaming industry. There's just too much money to be made, and the operators of the casinos and tracks are heavily regulated. It was my job to make sure that the gaming houses followed the rules."
Calhoun then went on to say, "But that all changed about three years ago. After 9-11 and Enron, among other things, the DCI got involved with other state and Federal agencies in tracking money used for terrorist activities. I've been on loan to a Federal Department of Justice team for over two years now investigating money laundering and securities fraud. It's become even more complicated because of the internet and wireless communications. Sherlock Holmes would be lost today."
Melanie tried to see if anything that Calhoun had just said was truely new to her. She didn't think so. Men. They could talk for hours and not give up a dime. She decided to probe a little further. "Well, yes, Holly, or maybe even yourself, did tell me about most of that stuff. But how about that new Federal team that you are assigned to. Does it have a name? Do you get a handy spy-decoder ring? Do you get to meet James Bond?", Melanie teased.
Calhoun liked her sense of humor. He decided though that now was not the time to talk about his faux Ironman Triathalon wrist watch. "In a fit of literary genius, they decided to call my group the National Securities Task Force, the NSTF. And 'no' and 'no' to your other questions." Calhoun had still not offered up anything new to Melanie.
Melanie paused. She had been interviewed extensively at the time of the Cyberware IPO by both Federal and California securities agents. While she had not been an officer of the company, the trust's ownership of 50% of the stock had made her an interested party under state and Federal statutes. If Calhoun had been assigned to the NSTF for two or three years, he might even know the jerk from Washington who took nearly eight hours for her deposition.
"I had some exposure to security investigators in California at the time of the Cyberware IPO," Melanie offered, "And it wasn't that pleasant of an experience." She watched Calhoun for a reaction. He was stoic. "Do you ever get involved with anything like that? Would you actually know any of the agents who worked the Cyberware transaction?
Cedar Rapids 18April05 1755
Calhoun was now at the edge of the cliff. The big decision. He was unsure if he should just leap into the fray and face the enemy or take the course of less resistance and run for higher ground. But she really wasn't the enemy. And running would get him no closer to the secrets of Anthony Carmondii.
"Melanie," he said, "I've been participating in a deep investigation of Cyberware since last Fall. We think Anthony Carmondii may be structuring a securities scheme that will make Enron look like penny ante poker."
"And I need your help," said Calhoun.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Chapter Three - Continued - Blog Date 052006
Cedar Rapids 18April05 - 1815
Melanie checked herself out in the mirror yet another time. This was the third casual top she had tried on in the last ten minutes. The slim cut designer jeans were fine. The black leather, one inch heeled ankle boots were both stylish and comfortable. The simple, brass buckeled belt went well with almost anything. She had thought that the first top, a crisp, white dress blouse looked a bit formal for Norm's Place. The second choice, an Italian silk floral number, needed a dress jacket, which was definitely out of place at Norm's. This long sleeved, finely knit cashmere sweater-top was a suitable compromise. She had always liked how she looked in burgandy, and the boatneck collar and form-fitting shape added some low-wattage sex appeal.
The house phone rang. "Hello?" she said. "Hi. It's me," came the reply. It was Holly.
"So ready for the big date?" asked Holly. Melanie could tell from Holly's tone that she was enjoying this bit of teasing. "Donovan tells me to tell you to take it easy on Frank," continued Holly. There was laughter in the background.
"I know that you see some humor here, but it's pretty thin. Did you find a suit?" asked Melanie.
"A light gray pin-stripe that will allow for lots of colors in the shirts and ties. Donovan can hardly contain himself," said Holly. "It was much easier than I had thought beforehand."
"Say," Holly continued, "We ran into Joe Reilly at the mall and he said that you had emailed him after lunch about getting in to see Denton on Monday. What's up? Is there anything I can do?"
Joe Reilly was Melanie's account manager at Capital Asset Advisor's and Denton was Denton Endicott, President, founder and sole shareholder of CAA. Joe handled day-to-day activities for the account, but since it was the biggest single account in the firm, Denton Endicott was always kept in the loop. During her review of the resume file, she had decided that she needed to review the cash flow projections for the account now that the special dividend from Cyberware was delayed. Joe could work up the analysis, but she knew that Denton would want to be involved in any withdrawal decisions. So she had sent the email to Joe to get CAA alerted to her information request before the typical Monday morning bustle.
"No," responded Melanie. "I just need a little analysis work done on my stuff early next week and I figured that if I gave Joe a 'heads up' today, my request would be first in line on Monday."
"Melanie," said Holly, "This may come as a surprise to you, although it shouldn't, but your requests are ALWAYS first in line at CAA! Surely you know that?"
"Well, I suppose I do, but I don't like to be that demanding client who waits till the last minute to ask for something and then complains when the results are not immediately available. This way, Joe can do his thing for me and not have to drop other projects that he might have otherwise started on Monday," explained Melanie.
"You're too nice, Melanie", said Holly. "But anyway, it may not matter. Just so you know, Denton may not be in on Monday. I think he has a meeting Tuesday in Phoenix and he may be leaving as early as noon on Monday to meet with one of his old college friends in Scottsdale on Monday night. He may not be able to meet with you until Wednesday."
"Hmmm," considerd Melanie. "I'll still want Joe to do his preliminary work. If I can't get together with Denton until Wednesday, that should be okay."
"Holly, I've got to go or I'll be late," said Melanie. "I know you'll want to know, so I'll call you tomorrow with a report on tonight. Thanks for calling. Bye"
"Bye yourself", said Holly.
Melanie hung up the receiver and quickly went to the garage. She had ten minutes to make the 4 mile trip to Norm's Place. It would be close.
Cedar Rapids 18April05 1833
Calhoun was sitting on a park bench in the patio bar at Norm's. He saw the Jag enter the parking lot on the South side of the restaurant. Melanie McDermott stepped out of the car and walked toward the entrance, waving at him when he caught her attention midway across the parking lot. Wow. She looked like a model. Keeping his eye on the ball, the business side of this meeting, was not going to be easy. He stood to greet her.
"Melanie! You look great. I know I have on jeans too, but I feel underdressed", said Calhoun in what he hoped was taken as a complimentary allusion.
Melanie smiled, pecked his cheek, and said, "Frank, don't be so modest. You look pretty good yourself." She reached and took his hand in hers. "Let's get inside and see if Norm has a dry red that's not sold in a box ."
Her hand was soft and warm and their fingers laced naturally together. Their many prior social meetings made them far from strangers. But this simple act of holding hands while going into Norm's gave a new feeling to Calhoun. This was going to get complicated.
Melanie checked herself out in the mirror yet another time. This was the third casual top she had tried on in the last ten minutes. The slim cut designer jeans were fine. The black leather, one inch heeled ankle boots were both stylish and comfortable. The simple, brass buckeled belt went well with almost anything. She had thought that the first top, a crisp, white dress blouse looked a bit formal for Norm's Place. The second choice, an Italian silk floral number, needed a dress jacket, which was definitely out of place at Norm's. This long sleeved, finely knit cashmere sweater-top was a suitable compromise. She had always liked how she looked in burgandy, and the boatneck collar and form-fitting shape added some low-wattage sex appeal.
The house phone rang. "Hello?" she said. "Hi. It's me," came the reply. It was Holly.
"So ready for the big date?" asked Holly. Melanie could tell from Holly's tone that she was enjoying this bit of teasing. "Donovan tells me to tell you to take it easy on Frank," continued Holly. There was laughter in the background.
"I know that you see some humor here, but it's pretty thin. Did you find a suit?" asked Melanie.
"A light gray pin-stripe that will allow for lots of colors in the shirts and ties. Donovan can hardly contain himself," said Holly. "It was much easier than I had thought beforehand."
"Say," Holly continued, "We ran into Joe Reilly at the mall and he said that you had emailed him after lunch about getting in to see Denton on Monday. What's up? Is there anything I can do?"
Joe Reilly was Melanie's account manager at Capital Asset Advisor's and Denton was Denton Endicott, President, founder and sole shareholder of CAA. Joe handled day-to-day activities for the account, but since it was the biggest single account in the firm, Denton Endicott was always kept in the loop. During her review of the resume file, she had decided that she needed to review the cash flow projections for the account now that the special dividend from Cyberware was delayed. Joe could work up the analysis, but she knew that Denton would want to be involved in any withdrawal decisions. So she had sent the email to Joe to get CAA alerted to her information request before the typical Monday morning bustle.
"No," responded Melanie. "I just need a little analysis work done on my stuff early next week and I figured that if I gave Joe a 'heads up' today, my request would be first in line on Monday."
"Melanie," said Holly, "This may come as a surprise to you, although it shouldn't, but your requests are ALWAYS first in line at CAA! Surely you know that?"
"Well, I suppose I do, but I don't like to be that demanding client who waits till the last minute to ask for something and then complains when the results are not immediately available. This way, Joe can do his thing for me and not have to drop other projects that he might have otherwise started on Monday," explained Melanie.
"You're too nice, Melanie", said Holly. "But anyway, it may not matter. Just so you know, Denton may not be in on Monday. I think he has a meeting Tuesday in Phoenix and he may be leaving as early as noon on Monday to meet with one of his old college friends in Scottsdale on Monday night. He may not be able to meet with you until Wednesday."
"Hmmm," considerd Melanie. "I'll still want Joe to do his preliminary work. If I can't get together with Denton until Wednesday, that should be okay."
"Holly, I've got to go or I'll be late," said Melanie. "I know you'll want to know, so I'll call you tomorrow with a report on tonight. Thanks for calling. Bye"
"Bye yourself", said Holly.
Melanie hung up the receiver and quickly went to the garage. She had ten minutes to make the 4 mile trip to Norm's Place. It would be close.
Cedar Rapids 18April05 1833
Calhoun was sitting on a park bench in the patio bar at Norm's. He saw the Jag enter the parking lot on the South side of the restaurant. Melanie McDermott stepped out of the car and walked toward the entrance, waving at him when he caught her attention midway across the parking lot. Wow. She looked like a model. Keeping his eye on the ball, the business side of this meeting, was not going to be easy. He stood to greet her.
"Melanie! You look great. I know I have on jeans too, but I feel underdressed", said Calhoun in what he hoped was taken as a complimentary allusion.
Melanie smiled, pecked his cheek, and said, "Frank, don't be so modest. You look pretty good yourself." She reached and took his hand in hers. "Let's get inside and see if Norm has a dry red that's not sold in a box ."
Her hand was soft and warm and their fingers laced naturally together. Their many prior social meetings made them far from strangers. But this simple act of holding hands while going into Norm's gave a new feeling to Calhoun. This was going to get complicated.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Friday AM
Sorry for the missed day. It was Susan's birthday and I left a little early to get in a ride before our little cookout. Had a good 17+ mile ride on the DCC hills. Very windy going North and then had to be very conscious of gusts from the side when going East-West. South was fun with the tail wind.
Good cookout too. Mom had bought some ribeye steaks that were easy to grill. Susan had a good evening, I think. Nominal presents, but with Biaggi's from the night before, and taking today off, she has had a little more than a one-time-event celebration.
State high school track at Drake this week. With boys and girls together, they now have a full day of events on Thursday too. A sophomore PV kid won the big school 3200. I liked it when it was just girls and you could get there Friday mid-afternoon and still see most of the pre-lims.
No big plans for the weekend. Yard and garden. Need to plant the tomatos. Also hope to do a McCausland 30+ ride tomorrow.
I'll be adding to Frank and Melanie later today.
Have a great day!
Good cookout too. Mom had bought some ribeye steaks that were easy to grill. Susan had a good evening, I think. Nominal presents, but with Biaggi's from the night before, and taking today off, she has had a little more than a one-time-event celebration.
State high school track at Drake this week. With boys and girls together, they now have a full day of events on Thursday too. A sophomore PV kid won the big school 3200. I liked it when it was just girls and you could get there Friday mid-afternoon and still see most of the pre-lims.
No big plans for the weekend. Yard and garden. Need to plant the tomatos. Also hope to do a McCausland 30+ ride tomorrow.
I'll be adding to Frank and Melanie later today.
Have a great day!
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Wednesday
I really hate to say this, but I'm not going to be able to blog today.
It's Susan's tax birthday and we are having a little FFF dinner at Biaggi's. That doesnt give me enough time to get into character for the blook. It will have to be tomorrow. Frank and Melanie have a non-date to discuss.
No ride tonight either. I DID get a brutal 20 mile ride in last night in the wind, pouring rain and cold. It looked a little cloudy to the north when I started out, then by the time I hit Forest Grove at Devil's Glen it had started to spit. At Forest Grove and Middle, it was a pretty steady shower. No prob. A mile later, it was pelting me sideways, and that's what I had to deal with most of the rest of the ride. I did two loops on the hills around Davenport Country Club to get in my 20+ miles. By the time I retraced Forest Grove over to Devil's Glen, the rain was done. The ride South was with the wind. But my fingers were so cold, I couldn't shift into the big chain ring. When I got home, I literally fell off the bike because I had no feeling in my feet and couldn't get out of the clipless pedals. It was a long hot shower for relief.
So I'm off to FFF.
Be careful out there.
It's Susan's tax birthday and we are having a little FFF dinner at Biaggi's. That doesnt give me enough time to get into character for the blook. It will have to be tomorrow. Frank and Melanie have a non-date to discuss.
No ride tonight either. I DID get a brutal 20 mile ride in last night in the wind, pouring rain and cold. It looked a little cloudy to the north when I started out, then by the time I hit Forest Grove at Devil's Glen it had started to spit. At Forest Grove and Middle, it was a pretty steady shower. No prob. A mile later, it was pelting me sideways, and that's what I had to deal with most of the rest of the ride. I did two loops on the hills around Davenport Country Club to get in my 20+ miles. By the time I retraced Forest Grove over to Devil's Glen, the rain was done. The ride South was with the wind. But my fingers were so cold, I couldn't shift into the big chain ring. When I got home, I literally fell off the bike because I had no feeling in my feet and couldn't get out of the clipless pedals. It was a long hot shower for relief.
So I'm off to FFF.
Be careful out there.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Tuesday
For those interested in Frank and Melanie, you will have to wait another day.
I'm headed out for a ride.
Be careful out there.
I'm headed out for a ride.
Be careful out there.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Monday
Another non-fiction day.
Hard to believe that we are now in the middle of May. Given everyone's schedule, this Summer will fly by in a heart beat.
Congratulations to the college girls for the completion of their school years. I look at it as the 75% mark in college education funding. With Mary now with a single year remaining, and Charlie with three, that total of 4 represents the last 25% of the 16 years between the four girls. As a parent, you are excited about the education of your kids. But as the college years begin to wind down, there is a certain financial relief that begins to come into view.
That of course ignores the weddings.
Based upon prior precedent set on these pages, Kate does get a Daughter of the Day award for her half marathon run last Saturday.
I did get another short ride in last night despite the weather. 16.5. Not much to brag about. I was telling a good friend/client today about how my calendar in my bathroom is a motivation tool because I write in my workout for each day, and blank days are bad news. He said one cure for the self-criticism would be to take the calendar down.
No ride tonight. I'm going to try to mow my hay field of a yard.
For the sports fans in the crowd, Ivan Basso has a lead of about a minute and a half in the Giro d' Italia. My favorite, Paulo Salvodelli of Dicovery is about 5th, over 2 minutes in arrears. And Greg Biffle won at Darlington Saturday under the lights when Ken Schroeder (laps down) wouldn't give my boy Jeff Gordon in the 24 car the space he needed to execute a pass on one of the final turns on the last lap. In both of these desparate sports, the winner of a long ride is often decided by a few seconds. (The stage in the Giro today was actually a photo-finish.) Then again, there are folks out there that may question whether NASCAR is a sport, and many more who are wondering what a Giro is.
Y'all be careful out there.
Hard to believe that we are now in the middle of May. Given everyone's schedule, this Summer will fly by in a heart beat.
Congratulations to the college girls for the completion of their school years. I look at it as the 75% mark in college education funding. With Mary now with a single year remaining, and Charlie with three, that total of 4 represents the last 25% of the 16 years between the four girls. As a parent, you are excited about the education of your kids. But as the college years begin to wind down, there is a certain financial relief that begins to come into view.
That of course ignores the weddings.
Based upon prior precedent set on these pages, Kate does get a Daughter of the Day award for her half marathon run last Saturday.
I did get another short ride in last night despite the weather. 16.5. Not much to brag about. I was telling a good friend/client today about how my calendar in my bathroom is a motivation tool because I write in my workout for each day, and blank days are bad news. He said one cure for the self-criticism would be to take the calendar down.
No ride tonight. I'm going to try to mow my hay field of a yard.
For the sports fans in the crowd, Ivan Basso has a lead of about a minute and a half in the Giro d' Italia. My favorite, Paulo Salvodelli of Dicovery is about 5th, over 2 minutes in arrears. And Greg Biffle won at Darlington Saturday under the lights when Ken Schroeder (laps down) wouldn't give my boy Jeff Gordon in the 24 car the space he needed to execute a pass on one of the final turns on the last lap. In both of these desparate sports, the winner of a long ride is often decided by a few seconds. (The stage in the Giro today was actually a photo-finish.) Then again, there are folks out there that may question whether NASCAR is a sport, and many more who are wondering what a Giro is.
Y'all be careful out there.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Sunday
Just a few lines today. Did church and Ross's this AM with Susan, Mary, Charlie and Mom. No plans for the rest of the day. Cool, rainy outside.
Got in the 27+ miles late yesterday to make my week's mileage. Not much fun.
Congrats to Kate for getting her half in. Sounded like lousy weather there too.
Susan did add her Top Ten list to the freshman year memories collection. Glad to see Roy and I made it for that plane trip. Good job, Susan.
So I may check in later. In the meantime, be careful out there.
Got in the 27+ miles late yesterday to make my week's mileage. Not much fun.
Congrats to Kate for getting her half in. Sounded like lousy weather there too.
Susan did add her Top Ten list to the freshman year memories collection. Glad to see Roy and I made it for that plane trip. Good job, Susan.
So I may check in later. In the meantime, be careful out there.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Chapter Three - Continued - Blog Date 051306
Cedar Rapids 18April05 - 1730CDT
Calhoun took a long drink from the can of Coors Light as he stepped from the kitchen to the three-seasons porch at the rear of his house. He sat in his Mother's oak and rataan rocker that allowed a line of sight to the plazma TV above the built-in desk on the opposite side of the kitchen. The sound was muted on the TV which was set to ESPN News. Scores from the afternoon baseball and NBA games streamed on the bottom of the screen. The soft beat of New Orleans Jazz played from Bose speakers on the bookcases in the adjacent family room. In a moment of contemplation, he thought, when you live by yourself, should you call it the "self room"?
His afternoon had been generally successful. There was no particular news on Carmondii, but his call with Raymond Marshall and his meeting with his cousin Mary Cosgrove had both been productive. After filling in Marshall about his preliminary review of the email, they had agreed that the investigation needed an elevated priority. Marshall had learned from NSTF operatives in California that there had been an increase in communications between Cyberware and various institutional bond houses regarding an extension on a $300 million dollar indenture that was scheduled to mature on June 20th. Even more interesting was the highly unusual meeting today between Carmondii and Aaron Ginsberg. Although the two executives had once been closely alligned, the meteoric rise of Cyberware had seemingly given Carmondii his own financial kingdom. They hadn't been seen in public together in years. Now they're golfing buddies? Something just didn't ring true.
Marshall was glad that Calhoun was extending his inquiry of Melanie McDermott. He had suggested to Calhoun last Fall that Melanie had to know more than she had let on to SEC agents who had interviewed her at the time of the Cyberware IPO. Transcripts of those interviews had been reread recently as part of normal procedures when an investigation stalls. Nothing new was discovered, and there had been no post-IPO events that conflicted with any of her responses three years ago. But Marshall's intuition kept Melanie on the front page of his personal leaderboard of conspirators for the case.
The topic of expense reimbursements had not been part of the conversation. Calhoun had decided to save that needle for another day.
Calhoun looked across at the scores on the TV. The Cubs had lost again to the Reds. April games at Wrigley could be brutal.
He took another drink of his beer and considered Mary's last comment from their meeting three hours earlier, "Cyberware's cash flow is down. I think that some analysts may be overestimating the company's performance for the next couple of quarters. Off the record, I think that the play now is to short the stock." Mary had grinned when she said this, knowing that Calhoun was doing some kind of an investigation and that he was strictly prohibited from trading in any securities.
Mary Cosgrove was the daughter of his Dad's sister. Aunt Margaret. Margaret had been a pistol, and as the saying goes, the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree. Mary's journey to her high position at the university had included stops at Harvard, a Wall Street investment bank, and graduate school at Northwestern. She had spent time on the faculty at Vanderbilt and then Carnegy Mellon. After a stint at London's School of Economics she had returned to Iowa City to teach and conduct further research on the impact of technology in efficient capital markets. She had been promoted to head of the Finance Department a year ago.
Mary had obtained a grant from the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) to do extrapolated trend analysis on market prices for new offerings during their first five years of trading. The grant had allowed her to employ two graduate assistants to help her with her research, and to lease time on the RX2 Chromax computer at the Center for Quantitative Research in Falls Church, Virginia. Mary had named her project Pollyanna.
"You want me to add what company to the test?" Mary had asked. "Or is it that you want a separate test on this one outfit?"
"The company is Cyberware," Calhoun had answered. "And I'm actually just curious if anything that you are doing with Pollyanna could give me some answers to questions that I can't even define for this company." Calhoun went on to describe some of his investigation. Mary was aware of his work with the NSTB and she understood that he was not able to lay the whole case out for her because of confidentiality reasons. So she didn't ask too many questions, but made notes as Calhoun recounted the facts that he could share with her.
"I know just a little about Cyberware," Mary said. "Originally, it was your classic garage tech company that went from nothing to millions in the late '90's. I think that the company's original name was something like "CompuThought" or "CompuConscious". I can't remember. Their software was good stuff at the time. Then they got caught with the bankruptcy of their major customer, and they had to borrow a lot of money while the courts held up the transfer of their contract to a user who could actually pay. Unfortunately, the tech bubble then hit and they just couldn't recover. I think Equity Funding may have come in to the picture about then and it got renamed Cyberware."
"Good memory, Mary," Calhoun had replied. "But actually, I don't think that Equity Funding was ever an owner in this scenario. Carmondii seemed to have made enough money on the Indigo deal, and earlier ones, that he was able to be his own boy with Cyberware. And he structured the deal to use the tax loss carry-forwards. Which muddied the picture because his lawyers screwed up on the purchase, like I said before, and Melanie McDermott became a 50% beneficial owner through the trust arrangement."
"I see," said Mary. "Tell you what. This is really consistent with the overall research that we have in process. Let me put one of my grad assistants on a little project to add data about Cyberware to a separate Pollyanna program and see if any exceptions appear in comparison to the control group findings. If anything pops out, we can go to the second stage protocol and drill down further with some simulations. Kristen Maxwell started with me last semester and she is very bright and efficient. She can probably get started Monday. How's that?"
"That's very good of you, Mary. Thanks," said Calhoun. "I have had such a hard time making headway on this case over the last few weeks, I need all the help I can get."
"Hey, no prob, Frank. What are cousins for?, she said with her dimpled grin. "By-the-by, did you know that Melanie McDermott has been down here quite a bit this year trying to drum up support for some health care initiative with the medical school? Those people at the medical school always fall over themselves when they smell somebody new with money on campus. Word around the Faculty Club is that she's ready to drop several million into the deal." This was news to Calhoun.
Mary had followed that bit of gossip about Melanie's charitable endeavors with the tip on shortting the Cyberware stock. After good-bye pleasantries, Calhoun had left her office feeling entirely inadequate.
Calhoun drained the beer, rose from his chair and walked over to shut off the TV. His body ached just a little from his late afternoon bike ride on the paved county rodes north of town. He had cut his workout down to 32 miles when his return from Iowa City had been somewhat later than originally planned. He made his way to the medicine cabinet in the half-bath off of the kitchen and grabbed the bottle of ibuprofen. He took 3 of the 200 milligram tablets and washed them down with a glass of water. "It's hell getting old," he said to himself.
The digital clock on the microwave flashed 6:10. It took just 10 minutes to get to Norm's, but he didn't want Melanie to have to look for him. And she was not one to be "fashionable late." He pulled his wallet from the microwave (that'll fool 'em, Frank), picked up his keys from the countertop and walked out to the Expedition which was sitting in the driveway. He could not deny to himself that he was looking forward to spending the evening with Ms. Melanie McDermott.
Calhoun took a long drink from the can of Coors Light as he stepped from the kitchen to the three-seasons porch at the rear of his house. He sat in his Mother's oak and rataan rocker that allowed a line of sight to the plazma TV above the built-in desk on the opposite side of the kitchen. The sound was muted on the TV which was set to ESPN News. Scores from the afternoon baseball and NBA games streamed on the bottom of the screen. The soft beat of New Orleans Jazz played from Bose speakers on the bookcases in the adjacent family room. In a moment of contemplation, he thought, when you live by yourself, should you call it the "self room"?
His afternoon had been generally successful. There was no particular news on Carmondii, but his call with Raymond Marshall and his meeting with his cousin Mary Cosgrove had both been productive. After filling in Marshall about his preliminary review of the email, they had agreed that the investigation needed an elevated priority. Marshall had learned from NSTF operatives in California that there had been an increase in communications between Cyberware and various institutional bond houses regarding an extension on a $300 million dollar indenture that was scheduled to mature on June 20th. Even more interesting was the highly unusual meeting today between Carmondii and Aaron Ginsberg. Although the two executives had once been closely alligned, the meteoric rise of Cyberware had seemingly given Carmondii his own financial kingdom. They hadn't been seen in public together in years. Now they're golfing buddies? Something just didn't ring true.
Marshall was glad that Calhoun was extending his inquiry of Melanie McDermott. He had suggested to Calhoun last Fall that Melanie had to know more than she had let on to SEC agents who had interviewed her at the time of the Cyberware IPO. Transcripts of those interviews had been reread recently as part of normal procedures when an investigation stalls. Nothing new was discovered, and there had been no post-IPO events that conflicted with any of her responses three years ago. But Marshall's intuition kept Melanie on the front page of his personal leaderboard of conspirators for the case.
The topic of expense reimbursements had not been part of the conversation. Calhoun had decided to save that needle for another day.
Calhoun looked across at the scores on the TV. The Cubs had lost again to the Reds. April games at Wrigley could be brutal.
He took another drink of his beer and considered Mary's last comment from their meeting three hours earlier, "Cyberware's cash flow is down. I think that some analysts may be overestimating the company's performance for the next couple of quarters. Off the record, I think that the play now is to short the stock." Mary had grinned when she said this, knowing that Calhoun was doing some kind of an investigation and that he was strictly prohibited from trading in any securities.
Mary Cosgrove was the daughter of his Dad's sister. Aunt Margaret. Margaret had been a pistol, and as the saying goes, the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree. Mary's journey to her high position at the university had included stops at Harvard, a Wall Street investment bank, and graduate school at Northwestern. She had spent time on the faculty at Vanderbilt and then Carnegy Mellon. After a stint at London's School of Economics she had returned to Iowa City to teach and conduct further research on the impact of technology in efficient capital markets. She had been promoted to head of the Finance Department a year ago.
Mary had obtained a grant from the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) to do extrapolated trend analysis on market prices for new offerings during their first five years of trading. The grant had allowed her to employ two graduate assistants to help her with her research, and to lease time on the RX2 Chromax computer at the Center for Quantitative Research in Falls Church, Virginia. Mary had named her project Pollyanna.
"You want me to add what company to the test?" Mary had asked. "Or is it that you want a separate test on this one outfit?"
"The company is Cyberware," Calhoun had answered. "And I'm actually just curious if anything that you are doing with Pollyanna could give me some answers to questions that I can't even define for this company." Calhoun went on to describe some of his investigation. Mary was aware of his work with the NSTB and she understood that he was not able to lay the whole case out for her because of confidentiality reasons. So she didn't ask too many questions, but made notes as Calhoun recounted the facts that he could share with her.
"I know just a little about Cyberware," Mary said. "Originally, it was your classic garage tech company that went from nothing to millions in the late '90's. I think that the company's original name was something like "CompuThought" or "CompuConscious". I can't remember. Their software was good stuff at the time. Then they got caught with the bankruptcy of their major customer, and they had to borrow a lot of money while the courts held up the transfer of their contract to a user who could actually pay. Unfortunately, the tech bubble then hit and they just couldn't recover. I think Equity Funding may have come in to the picture about then and it got renamed Cyberware."
"Good memory, Mary," Calhoun had replied. "But actually, I don't think that Equity Funding was ever an owner in this scenario. Carmondii seemed to have made enough money on the Indigo deal, and earlier ones, that he was able to be his own boy with Cyberware. And he structured the deal to use the tax loss carry-forwards. Which muddied the picture because his lawyers screwed up on the purchase, like I said before, and Melanie McDermott became a 50% beneficial owner through the trust arrangement."
"I see," said Mary. "Tell you what. This is really consistent with the overall research that we have in process. Let me put one of my grad assistants on a little project to add data about Cyberware to a separate Pollyanna program and see if any exceptions appear in comparison to the control group findings. If anything pops out, we can go to the second stage protocol and drill down further with some simulations. Kristen Maxwell started with me last semester and she is very bright and efficient. She can probably get started Monday. How's that?"
"That's very good of you, Mary. Thanks," said Calhoun. "I have had such a hard time making headway on this case over the last few weeks, I need all the help I can get."
"Hey, no prob, Frank. What are cousins for?, she said with her dimpled grin. "By-the-by, did you know that Melanie McDermott has been down here quite a bit this year trying to drum up support for some health care initiative with the medical school? Those people at the medical school always fall over themselves when they smell somebody new with money on campus. Word around the Faculty Club is that she's ready to drop several million into the deal." This was news to Calhoun.
Mary had followed that bit of gossip about Melanie's charitable endeavors with the tip on shortting the Cyberware stock. After good-bye pleasantries, Calhoun had left her office feeling entirely inadequate.
Calhoun drained the beer, rose from his chair and walked over to shut off the TV. His body ached just a little from his late afternoon bike ride on the paved county rodes north of town. He had cut his workout down to 32 miles when his return from Iowa City had been somewhat later than originally planned. He made his way to the medicine cabinet in the half-bath off of the kitchen and grabbed the bottle of ibuprofen. He took 3 of the 200 milligram tablets and washed them down with a glass of water. "It's hell getting old," he said to himself.
The digital clock on the microwave flashed 6:10. It took just 10 minutes to get to Norm's, but he didn't want Melanie to have to look for him. And she was not one to be "fashionable late." He pulled his wallet from the microwave (that'll fool 'em, Frank), picked up his keys from the countertop and walked out to the Expedition which was sitting in the driveway. He could not deny to himself that he was looking forward to spending the evening with Ms. Melanie McDermott.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Friday
I feel like an excuse-maker, but I won't be adding to the blog today. I'm headed out to help with the District high school track meet. My pal Bill says that they need bodies. I barely qualify.
It was a good night in Iowa City. Amazing amount of stuff in Charlie's dorm room. Then again, Mary's apartment may set a new record for stuff in a confined space.
Frank and Melanie will return tomorrow.
I too enjoyed Martha's post. Where's Soo's?
Be careful out there.
It was a good night in Iowa City. Amazing amount of stuff in Charlie's dorm room. Then again, Mary's apartment may set a new record for stuff in a confined space.
Frank and Melanie will return tomorrow.
I too enjoyed Martha's post. Where's Soo's?
Be careful out there.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Thursday
The blog today is my real time trip to IC to help make Charlie's move out of Burge. Probably won't get back to this until tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Chapter Three - Blog Date 050906
Half Moon Bay, CA 18April05 1300PDT
Anthony Carmondii sat on the pool patio of his mansion looking out at the Pacific Ocean. He was enjoying the unusual warmth of the early Spring sun and the gentle breeze coming off the azure water. Samantha Lodgerton had left after brunch, thankfully. She was already asking for more money for clothes and jewelry befitting her position as his companion. If she had performed better in bed, he may have considered it. But she was a forgettable lover, and Carmondii had already decided to move on to a freshman Congresswoman from Menlo Park. At least she should be able to carry on a conversation.
Carmondii had a 2 o'clock tee time at the Half Moon Bay Golf Links Ocean course with Aaron Ginsberg, Chairman of Equity Funding Group(EFG). EFG was the venture capital firm that had provided all of the financial backing for Carmondii's empire. The relationship dated back to the mid-1990's when Carmondii was working his way up the hierarchy of Silicon Valley, moving from start-up to start-up, usually as the CEO brought in by EFG, and cashing in on stock options when the new companies went public. It had been an extremely profitable relationship for both Carmondii and EFG. The Indigo deal had been a goldmine.
The Cyberware business plan had evolved with the expansion of government and corporate emphasis on electronic security. Adeki Singh's programming skills had succeeded in attracting numerous contracts for installation and maintenance of various data processing systems. Revenue had been strong through most of 2004, but there had been a recent downturn in spending by some of Cyberware's key customers. Cash flow was down. Interest rates were going up. The war in Iraq should have been a positive factor for a company like Cyberware, and Carmondii was certain that what was going on now was nothing but a blip on the radar screen.
Wall Street considered Cyberware a "strong buy" due to it's healthy balance sheet and the attractive fiscal 2005 "pro forma" income projections. Even with operations from business generating less cash than in the past, Cyberware currently had over $500 million dollars in the bank. And the company's line of credit at the bank gave Carmondii access to another $500 million dollars.
But Wall Street didn't know that EFG was due $1.5 billion dollars on July 1. It was a hand- shake deal between Carmondii and Ginsberg. If Cyberware was unable to pay the amount when due, Carmondii was personally required to forfeit 10% of his stock each month until the debt was satified. Making the picture even darker for Carmondii was the fact that Ginsberg had made it clear at the time of the divorce (when it became public that Melanie had a 50% interest in the company) that he considered Carmondii as the 100% owner of Cyberware.
By not paying the scheduled special dividend to Melaine, he was already, in effect, borrowing from her. He knew that the conversation that he would have to have with her in the next day or two would not be pretty. And that was just one element of what was rapidly becoming a high risk juggling act. Somehow, he need more time from Ginsberg, more control of Melanie's shares, and an answer from Adeki on the code uplink to the Cayman accounts. What looked like a walk in the park six months ago had turned in to a clusterflock.
As Carmondii stood to leave for the golf course, his eyes caught sight of a gull as it swooped down and captured an unsuspecting fish at the surface of the water. It crossed his mind that, if Aaron Ginsberg was the gull, Anthony Carmondii needed to get to some deeper water.
Anthony Carmondii sat on the pool patio of his mansion looking out at the Pacific Ocean. He was enjoying the unusual warmth of the early Spring sun and the gentle breeze coming off the azure water. Samantha Lodgerton had left after brunch, thankfully. She was already asking for more money for clothes and jewelry befitting her position as his companion. If she had performed better in bed, he may have considered it. But she was a forgettable lover, and Carmondii had already decided to move on to a freshman Congresswoman from Menlo Park. At least she should be able to carry on a conversation.
Carmondii had a 2 o'clock tee time at the Half Moon Bay Golf Links Ocean course with Aaron Ginsberg, Chairman of Equity Funding Group(EFG). EFG was the venture capital firm that had provided all of the financial backing for Carmondii's empire. The relationship dated back to the mid-1990's when Carmondii was working his way up the hierarchy of Silicon Valley, moving from start-up to start-up, usually as the CEO brought in by EFG, and cashing in on stock options when the new companies went public. It had been an extremely profitable relationship for both Carmondii and EFG. The Indigo deal had been a goldmine.
The Cyberware business plan had evolved with the expansion of government and corporate emphasis on electronic security. Adeki Singh's programming skills had succeeded in attracting numerous contracts for installation and maintenance of various data processing systems. Revenue had been strong through most of 2004, but there had been a recent downturn in spending by some of Cyberware's key customers. Cash flow was down. Interest rates were going up. The war in Iraq should have been a positive factor for a company like Cyberware, and Carmondii was certain that what was going on now was nothing but a blip on the radar screen.
Wall Street considered Cyberware a "strong buy" due to it's healthy balance sheet and the attractive fiscal 2005 "pro forma" income projections. Even with operations from business generating less cash than in the past, Cyberware currently had over $500 million dollars in the bank. And the company's line of credit at the bank gave Carmondii access to another $500 million dollars.
But Wall Street didn't know that EFG was due $1.5 billion dollars on July 1. It was a hand- shake deal between Carmondii and Ginsberg. If Cyberware was unable to pay the amount when due, Carmondii was personally required to forfeit 10% of his stock each month until the debt was satified. Making the picture even darker for Carmondii was the fact that Ginsberg had made it clear at the time of the divorce (when it became public that Melanie had a 50% interest in the company) that he considered Carmondii as the 100% owner of Cyberware.
By not paying the scheduled special dividend to Melaine, he was already, in effect, borrowing from her. He knew that the conversation that he would have to have with her in the next day or two would not be pretty. And that was just one element of what was rapidly becoming a high risk juggling act. Somehow, he need more time from Ginsberg, more control of Melanie's shares, and an answer from Adeki on the code uplink to the Cayman accounts. What looked like a walk in the park six months ago had turned in to a clusterflock.
As Carmondii stood to leave for the golf course, his eyes caught sight of a gull as it swooped down and captured an unsuspecting fish at the surface of the water. It crossed his mind that, if Aaron Ginsberg was the gull, Anthony Carmondii needed to get to some deeper water.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Sunday
Beautiful here. Coffee first thing with Roy. Susan and I did church and Ross's. In Margret. Then I did my yard, a bike ride and am now checking email before grilling at my place with Susan. With the 22 I did today, and the 28 from yesterday, I had my first 50 mile weekend.
KC looks like a Thursday pre-noon departure from Bettendorf. For all of us. Arrival in KC around 5 or so. Maybe 6.
Anxious to hear details about Omaha.
More from Frank and Melanie tomorrow.
Be careful out there.
KC looks like a Thursday pre-noon departure from Bettendorf. For all of us. Arrival in KC around 5 or so. Maybe 6.
Anxious to hear details about Omaha.
More from Frank and Melanie tomorrow.
Be careful out there.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Chapter Two - Continued Blog Date 050606
Cedar Rapids 18April05 - 1145
Melanie flipped her phone closed. She was just finishing dressing after her post-work out shower when the call had come in. "Talk about out of left field," she said to herself. Frank Calhoun had just called her and asked her to join him for a casual dinner at Norm's Place, a neighborhood saloon near Coe College. Not that she was opposed to spending a little more time with Calhoun. She had been throwing not-so-subtle hints at him for months. But he had always pleasantly, and somewhat professional she thought, ignored her innuendos. Now this. Hmmm.
Frank did come clean and say that he had asked Holly for her number. Which made sense as Holly had herself been playing Miss Matchmaker with little disguise. Since her land-line and cell numbers were unlisted, and since he had certainly never asked her directly for her number or email address, Melanie had been caught off-guard by the call. But on the other hand, Frank Calhoun seemed to have an awfully lot of information on his personal hard-drive and Melanie doubted that small impediments to common information like phone numbers would deter a man like Frank.
Maybe tonight he would shed some light on his work. It was public knowledge that he worked for the State of Iowa. The Criminal Investigation department, or something like that. But conversations never went very deep in to exactly what his job was. And Donovan and Holly seemed to understand that it was something that he couldn't or wouldn't talk about. So the conversations always drifted toward other people's work, gossip or to the various avocations of those in the discussion. Calhoun definitely had that teflon gene that could nettle inquiring minds.
She was supposed to meet him at Norm's at 6:30. Was it a date if she met him at the restaurant? He had said that he would be down in Iowa City until mid-afternoon, then wanted to get a ride in on his bike after he got home, and it just might be easier to meet the dinner reservation time if they drove separately. It was Saturday night and if they didn't make the 6:30 sitting, the alternative was a much later time, or Baja Taco's. This was all very logical, but Melanie's intuition barometer suggested that there was more to the story.
In any event, she was looking forward to some one-on-one time with Calhoun. Perhaps it was his slight appearance of disinterest in her that she found appealling. She had had several other men make major efforts to attract her attention since the divorce. The wealthy gray hairs. The nauveau riche technology crowd. The young studs from Gold's. And one incredibly handsome heir to a Greek shipping company whose villa on the French Riviera set a new standard for the phrase, "going to the beach." But Frank had assets too, and she didn't think that he had much interest in her money, which automatically set him apart from most of the others.
For the afternoon, Melanie needed to work on the plans for her new charitable focus, Senior Living in Iowa. She was determined to make the Cedar Rapids program a blueprint for cities throughout the country, using a combination of private and public funding to completely address the financing of medical and residential care for the elderly. She was convinced that for-profit companies needed to allocate more resources to the health and welfare of their employees and the communities in which they were located. Melanie knew that many companies went to extremes to minimize these kind of expenses that did not directly contribute to their bottom-line profits. She knew that was the case at Cyberware.
She had had one of Donovan's junior associates draw up the incorporation and tax exempt status paperwork for Senior Living in Iowa, Inc. Ten professionals from the area had agreed to sit on the voluteer Board of Directors. She was now in a search for a full-time, paid, Executive Director and an assitiant to begin active, daily operations. She had funded a bank account with $100,000, but her ideas included first-year needs of several times that figure. Anthony's email saying that the special dividend was going to be delayed meant that she may have to look at utilizinging some of the assets in the CAA account to keep the SLI initiative on track.
Melanie returned to the downstairs library and sat on the comfortable wingback chair which looked out the windows to the tree-lined back yard. She pulled the folder of SLI resumes from the drawer in the side table and began to read the first letter from a woman in Oklahoma.
Iowa City 18April05 - 1150
Frank sat back in his chair and tried to assess his situation. Melanie had been very gracious on the phone and had agreed to meet him at Norm's for dinner. But he knew that her mind had been running full-speed while thay talked trying to figure out why he had finally decided to call her. He had skillfully (he thought) deflected a brief question from her to that effect. He determined that she had a slightly higher interest in doing something with him than she did in knowing with certainty why he chose to act today. By structuring the evening in a way that had them both driving to the restaurant, he had kept a certain distance from an intimacy with Melaniee which he both feared and, perhaps, desired. He knew that with the on-going investigation of Carmondii and Cyberware, that bad results could occur if he got personally involved with Melanie while delicately prying her knowledge for leads on the case.
Shifting mental gears, Calhoun decided it was late enough to call Raymond Marshall in Chicago, even if it was Saturday. He needed to give Marshall a full up-to-date report on the Cyberware case. After that, he needed to grab some lunch, check downtown with his cousin Mary who ran the Finance Department in the Tippie School of Business at the university, and then head back north to get 40 miles in on the bike before his non-date with Melanie. Mary was doing a study on new initial public offerings (IPOs), and he wanted her to see if she had seen any anomalies in these events which could somehow apply to Cyberware.
He put on his hands-free broker's headset and punched in the number for Raymond Marshall.
Melanie flipped her phone closed. She was just finishing dressing after her post-work out shower when the call had come in. "Talk about out of left field," she said to herself. Frank Calhoun had just called her and asked her to join him for a casual dinner at Norm's Place, a neighborhood saloon near Coe College. Not that she was opposed to spending a little more time with Calhoun. She had been throwing not-so-subtle hints at him for months. But he had always pleasantly, and somewhat professional she thought, ignored her innuendos. Now this. Hmmm.
Frank did come clean and say that he had asked Holly for her number. Which made sense as Holly had herself been playing Miss Matchmaker with little disguise. Since her land-line and cell numbers were unlisted, and since he had certainly never asked her directly for her number or email address, Melanie had been caught off-guard by the call. But on the other hand, Frank Calhoun seemed to have an awfully lot of information on his personal hard-drive and Melanie doubted that small impediments to common information like phone numbers would deter a man like Frank.
Maybe tonight he would shed some light on his work. It was public knowledge that he worked for the State of Iowa. The Criminal Investigation department, or something like that. But conversations never went very deep in to exactly what his job was. And Donovan and Holly seemed to understand that it was something that he couldn't or wouldn't talk about. So the conversations always drifted toward other people's work, gossip or to the various avocations of those in the discussion. Calhoun definitely had that teflon gene that could nettle inquiring minds.
She was supposed to meet him at Norm's at 6:30. Was it a date if she met him at the restaurant? He had said that he would be down in Iowa City until mid-afternoon, then wanted to get a ride in on his bike after he got home, and it just might be easier to meet the dinner reservation time if they drove separately. It was Saturday night and if they didn't make the 6:30 sitting, the alternative was a much later time, or Baja Taco's. This was all very logical, but Melanie's intuition barometer suggested that there was more to the story.
In any event, she was looking forward to some one-on-one time with Calhoun. Perhaps it was his slight appearance of disinterest in her that she found appealling. She had had several other men make major efforts to attract her attention since the divorce. The wealthy gray hairs. The nauveau riche technology crowd. The young studs from Gold's. And one incredibly handsome heir to a Greek shipping company whose villa on the French Riviera set a new standard for the phrase, "going to the beach." But Frank had assets too, and she didn't think that he had much interest in her money, which automatically set him apart from most of the others.
For the afternoon, Melanie needed to work on the plans for her new charitable focus, Senior Living in Iowa. She was determined to make the Cedar Rapids program a blueprint for cities throughout the country, using a combination of private and public funding to completely address the financing of medical and residential care for the elderly. She was convinced that for-profit companies needed to allocate more resources to the health and welfare of their employees and the communities in which they were located. Melanie knew that many companies went to extremes to minimize these kind of expenses that did not directly contribute to their bottom-line profits. She knew that was the case at Cyberware.
She had had one of Donovan's junior associates draw up the incorporation and tax exempt status paperwork for Senior Living in Iowa, Inc. Ten professionals from the area had agreed to sit on the voluteer Board of Directors. She was now in a search for a full-time, paid, Executive Director and an assitiant to begin active, daily operations. She had funded a bank account with $100,000, but her ideas included first-year needs of several times that figure. Anthony's email saying that the special dividend was going to be delayed meant that she may have to look at utilizinging some of the assets in the CAA account to keep the SLI initiative on track.
Melanie returned to the downstairs library and sat on the comfortable wingback chair which looked out the windows to the tree-lined back yard. She pulled the folder of SLI resumes from the drawer in the side table and began to read the first letter from a woman in Oklahoma.
Iowa City 18April05 - 1150
Frank sat back in his chair and tried to assess his situation. Melanie had been very gracious on the phone and had agreed to meet him at Norm's for dinner. But he knew that her mind had been running full-speed while thay talked trying to figure out why he had finally decided to call her. He had skillfully (he thought) deflected a brief question from her to that effect. He determined that she had a slightly higher interest in doing something with him than she did in knowing with certainty why he chose to act today. By structuring the evening in a way that had them both driving to the restaurant, he had kept a certain distance from an intimacy with Melaniee which he both feared and, perhaps, desired. He knew that with the on-going investigation of Carmondii and Cyberware, that bad results could occur if he got personally involved with Melanie while delicately prying her knowledge for leads on the case.
Shifting mental gears, Calhoun decided it was late enough to call Raymond Marshall in Chicago, even if it was Saturday. He needed to give Marshall a full up-to-date report on the Cyberware case. After that, he needed to grab some lunch, check downtown with his cousin Mary who ran the Finance Department in the Tippie School of Business at the university, and then head back north to get 40 miles in on the bike before his non-date with Melanie. Mary was doing a study on new initial public offerings (IPOs), and he wanted her to see if she had seen any anomalies in these events which could somehow apply to Cyberware.
He put on his hands-free broker's headset and punched in the number for Raymond Marshall.
Saturday
Mary, her friend Amanda, and a couple of male DNA carriers drove over to the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting in Omaha. The president of the company is Warren Buffet, one of the most well-respected investors in the country, even in the world. He's a very common guy. Known as the Oracle of Omaha.
Mom had bought some stock that allowed them to request tickets to the meeting. You can't get in without being a shareholder. The tickets didn't come in the mail until yesterday, so it was a rush to put the trip together at the last minute.
Mom had bought some stock that allowed them to request tickets to the meeting. You can't get in without being a shareholder. The tickets didn't come in the mail until yesterday, so it was a rush to put the trip together at the last minute.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Friday
No blog today. Frank and Melanie will return tomorrow.
Be careful out there. Especially those on their way to/from Omaha.
The Oracle of Iowa
Be careful out there. Especially those on their way to/from Omaha.
The Oracle of Iowa
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Thursday
No addition to the story today. I'm headed down to Ottumwa in a little while to put in an appearance at the visitation for my friend John W.'s mother who passed away Sunday. She and her late husband were good friends of Phil and Margaret. I hope to use the driving time to add some ideas to my outline on Frank and Melanie.
Mary had some nice pictures. I have mixed emotions about how much information is too much information from a parent's perspective. ND was a boys school, which made dating a little problematic most of the time. We had a curfew. There were strict rules on female visitors. And I was pretty clueless. No internet. It was a simpler time. For parents too.
Phil has arranged housing for Susan, Charlie and I for Carrie's wedding. In Incline, at a private residence, kind of B&B, I guess. We get there Thursday night, and return Sunday, leaving Reno for Chicago around noon.
Cousin Kevin completes his Phd work this month. He got part of his graduate work done at Western Illinois. His wife wraps up an MA this month as well. A very educated household.
So good luck to the college girls with finals, and luck also to the student teacher.
Y'all be careful out there.
Mary had some nice pictures. I have mixed emotions about how much information is too much information from a parent's perspective. ND was a boys school, which made dating a little problematic most of the time. We had a curfew. There were strict rules on female visitors. And I was pretty clueless. No internet. It was a simpler time. For parents too.
Phil has arranged housing for Susan, Charlie and I for Carrie's wedding. In Incline, at a private residence, kind of B&B, I guess. We get there Thursday night, and return Sunday, leaving Reno for Chicago around noon.
Cousin Kevin completes his Phd work this month. He got part of his graduate work done at Western Illinois. His wife wraps up an MA this month as well. A very educated household.
So good luck to the college girls with finals, and luck also to the student teacher.
Y'all be careful out there.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Tuesday
Just a few lines today. Was planning a ride this afternoon, but work interferred. I'm now headed home to mow my yard.
My efforts with Frank and Melanie continue to be enjoyable. But the additions don't come easily and it has been interesting to make the committment to write. I guess that over the years I have always been able to devote enough time to my business responsibilities, but it makes you wonder what life may have been if I had the natural enthusiasm for my work that I have had for my avocations. For my readers, make sure that you find that balance in finding that career that allows you to live to the desired economic standard while at the same time it gives you that internal thrill to welcome the day.
Off to the yard. Go Bulls!
Be careful out there.
My efforts with Frank and Melanie continue to be enjoyable. But the additions don't come easily and it has been interesting to make the committment to write. I guess that over the years I have always been able to devote enough time to my business responsibilities, but it makes you wonder what life may have been if I had the natural enthusiasm for my work that I have had for my avocations. For my readers, make sure that you find that balance in finding that career that allows you to live to the desired economic standard while at the same time it gives you that internal thrill to welcome the day.
Off to the yard. Go Bulls!
Be careful out there.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Chapter Two- Continued Blog Date 050106
Iowa City 18April05 - 1045
Calhoun had spent the last two hours doing further research trying to unlock the Byzantine maze that had shrouded Carmondii's movements dating back prior to Indigo Research Corporation. This was hardly the first time that Calhoun had conducted such research. The cabinet contained several folders with names of Carmondii-owned entities or NSTF code-named operations that had shed precious little light on what was becoming for Calhoun (and the whole NSTF) a serious professional challenge.
This morning's effort had actually been mildly enjoyable to Calhoun. About once a month, he had done simple internet searches on Carmondii, starting with Google and then branching out based on any new trails that may have developed since his prior search. Calhoun was amazed at the voracious appetite of the entertainment media at all levels. If there was a Hollywood party or a New York cultural event, mainstream print and video enterprises had details of the celebrities or notables in attendence within minutes. The bloggers would jump in and on-line one-upsmanship would spread like wildfire.
The kind of details that emerged from these more frivilous accountings were not often critical to the investigation. However, Calhoun had learned a number of interesting factoids about Carmondii through this somewhat trailer-trash methodology. Good 'ole Anthony had a strong preference for full-bodied Tuscan red wines. He drove fast when not being whisked along in one of his luxury limos, and had a string of tickets in the Bay Area from cops who didn't like his attitude. He liked the social limelight and would stage press conferences for his frequent gifts to the Carmondii Education Foundation which benefited numerous academic and health research entities. And like most men in powerful positions, there was no shortage of beautiful women following his paths.
Last night, Carmondii had been seen and photographed at the Lakers' game in LA, in a court-side seat just down from Jack Nicholson. There was a stunning blond sitting next to him. The posting on BloggingLALights had her name as Samantha Lodgerton, age 31, modle/actress, with a Newport Beach address. Ms. Lodgerton had the same look as the last three companions who had been on Carmondii's arm over the last six months. "I wonder what happened to Bimbos 1, 2, and 3?" mused Calhoun. In a moment of self-interest, he thought to himsef, "Glad the Lakers lost. Never liked Showtime. Then or now."
Other than the name and address of Carmondii's latest feminine diversion, Calhoun's search had yielded no new relevant information on the man or the case. He was certain that there was a timeline event that would occur in the next few weeks, but he had been stalled since Christmas on a trail that was now almost stone cold. He knew that the connection with Carmondii and Singh was the key. Their history was too intertwined. And there was way too much money at stake representing the interests of Indigo, Cyberware, and possibly Equity Funding Group, the venture capital firm that had been mentioned in the email.
Calhoun made a troubling decision. He picked up his cell phone and called Holly Logan. She answered on the third ring.
"Hello."
"Hi Holly," this is Frank. "Are you free to talk?"
"Frank. What a surprise. Sure. What's up?" said Holly.
"Well," hedged Frank, "I think that I want to ask Melanie out for dinner tonight. What do you think?"
Holly was totally caught off guard. "Frank, you know Donovan introduced me to you, what, seven or eight years ago? In all times that you have called me since then, you have never called for anything except to ask me where Donovan was, or why we were late. This is a little off script."
Frank grimaced. Oops. Maybe the call-the-friend approach was a little obvious for his style. "I guess I was hoping for a more encouraging response, Holly," said Frank, grimacing some more. "Really. What do you think?"
"I love 'ya Frank, but you are truely an idiot," said Holly. "She's really too nice for a Cro Magnon sort like you, who has NOOO functioning brain matter!"
"Say what?" asked Frank. "Do I detect some sarcasm there?"
"Look, Frank. Everyone in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City has been trying to reach whatever those cells are between your ears for the last year for you to ask her out. Are you actually that dense?"
"That's a bit harsh," was all that Frank could offer in response. "Remind me not to call you for a peptalk the next time I have questions about my social life."
"You called me. I call 'em like I see 'em. So are you going to call her? I know that she's not that busy. We were maybe going to do lunch, but I have to go with Donovan the Neanderthal to help him buy a suit for the family thing next week. Do you have her number?"
"Actually, my main reason for calling was to get her number. I didn't realize that I was in for a lecture. I was just making conversation when I asked you what you thought of the idea. Do you know that that Mars and Venus thing is real?" Calhoun was suddenly exhausted.
"Geez, Frank. I was mostly kidding. But I like that sensitive side. So will Melanie." Holly finally gave up the number and rang off saying that she was late for her rendezoux with Donovan.
Calhoun went to the breakroom and took a Coke from the refrigerator. Calling Melanie McDermott was a big step. He had to make sure that the business side of the connection took precedence. He was troubled by the personal feelings that he had developed for her. But the first rule of almost any investigation is to "follow the money." And with no other leads working, Melanie's ties to the Carmondii money tree could no longer be ignored.
He took the final drink from the soda can and dialed.
Calhoun had spent the last two hours doing further research trying to unlock the Byzantine maze that had shrouded Carmondii's movements dating back prior to Indigo Research Corporation. This was hardly the first time that Calhoun had conducted such research. The cabinet contained several folders with names of Carmondii-owned entities or NSTF code-named operations that had shed precious little light on what was becoming for Calhoun (and the whole NSTF) a serious professional challenge.
This morning's effort had actually been mildly enjoyable to Calhoun. About once a month, he had done simple internet searches on Carmondii, starting with Google and then branching out based on any new trails that may have developed since his prior search. Calhoun was amazed at the voracious appetite of the entertainment media at all levels. If there was a Hollywood party or a New York cultural event, mainstream print and video enterprises had details of the celebrities or notables in attendence within minutes. The bloggers would jump in and on-line one-upsmanship would spread like wildfire.
The kind of details that emerged from these more frivilous accountings were not often critical to the investigation. However, Calhoun had learned a number of interesting factoids about Carmondii through this somewhat trailer-trash methodology. Good 'ole Anthony had a strong preference for full-bodied Tuscan red wines. He drove fast when not being whisked along in one of his luxury limos, and had a string of tickets in the Bay Area from cops who didn't like his attitude. He liked the social limelight and would stage press conferences for his frequent gifts to the Carmondii Education Foundation which benefited numerous academic and health research entities. And like most men in powerful positions, there was no shortage of beautiful women following his paths.
Last night, Carmondii had been seen and photographed at the Lakers' game in LA, in a court-side seat just down from Jack Nicholson. There was a stunning blond sitting next to him. The posting on BloggingLALights had her name as Samantha Lodgerton, age 31, modle/actress, with a Newport Beach address. Ms. Lodgerton had the same look as the last three companions who had been on Carmondii's arm over the last six months. "I wonder what happened to Bimbos 1, 2, and 3?" mused Calhoun. In a moment of self-interest, he thought to himsef, "Glad the Lakers lost. Never liked Showtime. Then or now."
Other than the name and address of Carmondii's latest feminine diversion, Calhoun's search had yielded no new relevant information on the man or the case. He was certain that there was a timeline event that would occur in the next few weeks, but he had been stalled since Christmas on a trail that was now almost stone cold. He knew that the connection with Carmondii and Singh was the key. Their history was too intertwined. And there was way too much money at stake representing the interests of Indigo, Cyberware, and possibly Equity Funding Group, the venture capital firm that had been mentioned in the email.
Calhoun made a troubling decision. He picked up his cell phone and called Holly Logan. She answered on the third ring.
"Hello."
"Hi Holly," this is Frank. "Are you free to talk?"
"Frank. What a surprise. Sure. What's up?" said Holly.
"Well," hedged Frank, "I think that I want to ask Melanie out for dinner tonight. What do you think?"
Holly was totally caught off guard. "Frank, you know Donovan introduced me to you, what, seven or eight years ago? In all times that you have called me since then, you have never called for anything except to ask me where Donovan was, or why we were late. This is a little off script."
Frank grimaced. Oops. Maybe the call-the-friend approach was a little obvious for his style. "I guess I was hoping for a more encouraging response, Holly," said Frank, grimacing some more. "Really. What do you think?"
"I love 'ya Frank, but you are truely an idiot," said Holly. "She's really too nice for a Cro Magnon sort like you, who has NOOO functioning brain matter!"
"Say what?" asked Frank. "Do I detect some sarcasm there?"
"Look, Frank. Everyone in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City has been trying to reach whatever those cells are between your ears for the last year for you to ask her out. Are you actually that dense?"
"That's a bit harsh," was all that Frank could offer in response. "Remind me not to call you for a peptalk the next time I have questions about my social life."
"You called me. I call 'em like I see 'em. So are you going to call her? I know that she's not that busy. We were maybe going to do lunch, but I have to go with Donovan the Neanderthal to help him buy a suit for the family thing next week. Do you have her number?"
"Actually, my main reason for calling was to get her number. I didn't realize that I was in for a lecture. I was just making conversation when I asked you what you thought of the idea. Do you know that that Mars and Venus thing is real?" Calhoun was suddenly exhausted.
"Geez, Frank. I was mostly kidding. But I like that sensitive side. So will Melanie." Holly finally gave up the number and rang off saying that she was late for her rendezoux with Donovan.
Calhoun went to the breakroom and took a Coke from the refrigerator. Calling Melanie McDermott was a big step. He had to make sure that the business side of the connection took precedence. He was troubled by the personal feelings that he had developed for her. But the first rule of almost any investigation is to "follow the money." And with no other leads working, Melanie's ties to the Carmondii money tree could no longer be ignored.
He took the final drink from the soda can and dialed.
Monday
Stay tuned for the next episode of Frank and Melanie.
In other news, sounds like everyone has a pretty full life these days. I'm just kind of headed down the same old road. Trying to do a few things with Criterium.
Did get in the rides this weekend. Even in the rain. Taking today off. Will hit the trail again tomorrow. Trying to do 4 days a week for now.
Also got some yard work done. Trying to get some grass to grow in my front parking. We'll see. Had reasonable luck with the Thursday-Friday-Saturday NY Times crosswords. But it sure takes me a long time to get there.
Am enjoying Charlie's posts.
Good luck to all.
In other news, sounds like everyone has a pretty full life these days. I'm just kind of headed down the same old road. Trying to do a few things with Criterium.
Did get in the rides this weekend. Even in the rain. Taking today off. Will hit the trail again tomorrow. Trying to do 4 days a week for now.
Also got some yard work done. Trying to get some grass to grow in my front parking. We'll see. Had reasonable luck with the Thursday-Friday-Saturday NY Times crosswords. But it sure takes me a long time to get there.
Am enjoying Charlie's posts.
Good luck to all.
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