And now for something completely different ... kinda, sorta ... but not really

Holy crap, it's been three and half years since I last posted?!?

What the what?!?

So, what's been going on with me?

Well, finally got divorced and since then married my best friend, Shari.

For our honeymoon, we went to Disneyworld and then to Nashville, TN, from where we went to the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg. An absolutely amazing time!

Joey is now 10 and a half ... just nuts. He's was diagnosed with ADHD and Asperger's in 2011 and is doing so well in school now. Awesome, awesome kid.

Last time I was on here, I was working at Progress Software as a technical editor. Was laid off in June, 2010, then worked at DRS Technologies, which is a defense contractor. Was laid off from there in March, 2012.

In June, 2012, I landed a job with Apex Systems, Inc., as a contractor, supporting their client IBM as a technical editor. I work from home and you just can't beat that with a stick. Love, love, LOVE working from a home office. Very spoiled but also very cognizant of how fortunate I am to have this job.

Life has been amazing these past few years. Going through a divorce sucked, but I've come out the other side a much better person and Shari is the most amazing person I've ever met. I've never felt so loved or loved someone as much as I love her. Just an amazing feeling.

I'm going to try as much as possible to post here more often. I've come to realize that I've missed the more creative aspect of blogging and I do like to write. So, we'll see.

Still, not sure anyone will read this or even care that I'm here but ... an outlet is an outlet, right?

As it's always been or a new way of life?

I live in a city of about 40,000 and it's not unusual to see people picking though trash looking for cans. Monday is trash collection day in my neighborhood so this is when you will see people walking up and down the street.

Usually it's two middle-aged men or an Asian couple who look like they're in the mid to late 40s.

This morning I saw this woman, whom I'd never seen before. She walked slowly up the street and spent quite a bit time at my neighbor's trash across the street.
Unfortunately for her she picked the wrong week to come to our street because next week is recycling pickup and there are much more cans and bottles to be had.

I couldn't help but watch her while standing in the shadows of my house. She worked slowly but methodically and what was odd was that suddenly I realized I was standing there hold my camera shooting a picture of her through the screen door. Honestly, I don't remember getting the camera, turning it on or even lining up the shot. It wasn't until I heard the first click of the camera that I realized what I was doing.

Standing there watching I wondered to myself about her circumstances ... the economy is still struggling, is she, too? Does she do this just to make a little extra money? Is it something she has to do to support herself ... her family?

I was struck with the urge to give her the $30 I have in my wallet and I'm not sure why I didn't ... I just didn't.

Watching her further I wondered how long she had been doing this. I would guess it's been some time because the wagon she was pulling just didn't look like something rigged together recently.

Not sure where I'm really going with this. I guess it's one thing to see people on a main city street picking through trash but it's another thing entirely to see it in your neighborhood.