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There are two people from Litnet that I chat with on the phone lately. Andave Ya outed me awhile back. The other is a person I am quite fond of and comfortable with and No it's not who you think.

And I'm not telling. No real reason to but just want to give Litnet credit for bringing people into your life that add joy and insights and a break from the routine in my limited social setings. Logos once told me this was a community where people could make bonds of friendship but I was such a doubter and to be honest when Logos first shared that I thought she was a dreamer. I hereby publicly apologize for taking the easy cliche. My way of saying the Mods earn their chops around here and keep this forum from degenrating into a slugfest.

Logos has a standing offer to be the third phonepal but I finally got a hold of the Litnet Rules of Etiquette which explains the dead airspace in my PM folder.

"Thou shalt not talk on the phone with anyone unless they can read Beowulf in the original English translation with perfect pronunciation." Standards people standards.

Still looking for the loophole. Plus my rabid grizzley bear borrowed from B-Mental was turned back at the border. Its passport was not in order.

Anyh-o-o- I'm just back from break yesterday at AAA (around 5:30 or so) having caught up with the Litnetter when Tonya gives me a stare and a question that is going to set up the next phase of my life -- either a bump in the road or a major problem.

"Did you read Mr. H's memo yet?"

Mr. H. is president of the AAA Auto Club I practice carpel tunnel syndrome techniques for and eyestrain on a monitor who I see maybe three or four times a year. Usually in the parking lot. He will at least nod. He is a nice enough fellow but oh so incredibly boring to listen to. Each year I threaten to 'oversleep' the morning of the annual State of AAA Union Address meeting even though I can make mileage money for the extra trip--no points for the meal as fussiness outweighs fruit every day. Would it kill them to serve toast?

Now when I log in at work on the computer I post my time card then check for e-mail from within the club. The mail is easily identified by the name of the sender and all travel agents mail is deleted with the speed of snarkiness. Supervisors that may have some bearing on my job gets deleted also if I find the subject line having no connection to dispatch. One supervisor sends many many jokes and I quit reading them years ago.

Mr. H. rarely e-mails and when he does it's usually a report of the endless graphs and studies and statistics AAA runs. Again generally deleted unread. Rule of thumb--if I was a new employee TOMORROW would this mean anything THEN.

I note Tonya's expression and should have been warned that something was up but glibly said, "Already read the mail and didn't see anything important."

Tonya, knowing me quite well, is ahead of the game and hands me a printed copy. "You'ld better read this."

My life may be changing in a few months. It's three short paragraphs that say much without saying anything.

First the title, A Vision for the Future: Yep that would have been e-mail trash in one click of the mouse.

Paragraph 1 is the party line about with the present economy and the needs of our members. We need to think of ways to improve and grow with the times. So far a preview of the annual meeting and I'm looking for the date hoping it's a legitimate day off and I can claim immunity from attendance. 16 years and hasn't happened yet but hope blooms eternal.

Paragraph 2 begins the unsettling process. It is suggested that perhaps we might align our resources with another club. Now last year we lost an entire building to a fire and we have resources to go dating other clubs!!?? Hmmm. Talks about the Board looking for ways to keep our autonomy and decision making local. I'm not liking the wording of this at all. Red flags are raising.

Paragraph 3 gives warnings to employees to keep up with the news but don't get alarmed if you get 'incomplete' answers from supervisors. And that it's okay to be be fearful, excited (that word brought a burst of manical laughter) and uncertain.

There is no doubt in any of us here at AAA that something is up or the memo would never have been posted. Now we have known since a year ago our fearless but bland leader was retiring in August so I suspect I won't have to think about stuff til then at least. The favorite scenario is a buyout from a competing AAA Club. My guess is the Columbus OH club but Cincinnati is also a strong contender. Columbus has more counties and they are actively wanting to own the entire state. I'm hoping at worse a bloodless coup and a name change and business as usual. Much much too tired to job hunt in my mid-50s and still uncomfortably in debt with a monthly bill paid late once in a bit (not more then 2 weeks late) but God is still good and it certainly keeps life interesting.

Funny a week ago I was bored silly and wondering when I would free of this place. Retirement is closer then I desire as I definitely am not ready. I need Hollywood to discover this blog and get Jason Alexander to play me for a quickly cancelled TV series while I pocket the commission money--- I can be bought cheap.