Quick update. It seems 'things' have accelerated here on the job search front, and I have provided references to 2 small companies (one in Oregon and the other in Austria) for sales positions based here. Interviewed for a position with semi company in Pocatello, Idaho but despite low cost of housing and great hunting (VP took 2 elk this year), that's not really a consideration.

The Austrian job's VP and I were discussing how to 'split' the US between a guy on the east coast and potentially myself. I said he could have the rude and obnoxius customers on the east coast (where I grew up), but I'd gladly take the central region to cover Texas. The guy couldn't get over my wanting to reduce airfares with a Sat night stay, to hunt pigs with a bow and arrow.

When all that happened this week, my Friday afternoon had a meeting with NEC (second to IBM in total patents held, very large Japanese electronics firm) to spin-out a technology from their labs into a start-up. I assembled a management team (from my unemployed friends!) who just happen to be experts in this area, and I think it might happen! We were invited to visit their research labs in Princeton, and if we can pass muster on 1:1 meeting and reference checks, they have a venture capital fund committed to the $5 million to take the company from technology to a real product. It could be the way to get out of this rat-race by 50- my goal.

Keep me in your prayers guys.

Bill

My prayers are with you brother. This might be the opportunity you've been looking for.

Good luck Bill!!

Quick update from the 'Left Coast'. Going to church daily is seeming to help. We're to a letter of intent stage on the startup, which will allow us to hopefully get started in January, it's possible we might have initial $ funding as well. If I can pull it off, I'll be looking for a partner company to work with in Texas to get me to Austin on a regular basis.

Cut off a cab's roof in junkyard, Ryan's cab roof comes off today if it doesn't rain. Wish I had Rat or somebody who knew what they were doing for consulting and welding it back together.

Anybody going to be out west on 12/29 and 30, I'm getting a group of guys to hunt hogs at the US Army COE's Lake Sonoma. Com'on out! They've opened it to archery only hunting M-Th through the end of February becuase the pigs are doing so much damage to the trails. Can't allow them to cause erosion and get dirt in the water now, can we? Here's a link to a nice website with a panoramic view of Lk. Sonoma. Don't you see a hog or two under the trees opposite the Marina?

http://www.inetours.com/ImagesWT/panoLg/Lake_Sonoma_Lg.mov

Crazy DFG here is raising the price for resident pig tags (they classified them as big game) from $1.75 to $15.00 each in 2004. I want to invite Governator 'Ahnold' to hunt pigs and explain what needs to be done to open more areas for hunting.

Hope everybody's getting ready for Christmas, and in all the hustle, never forget 'The reason for the season'.

Bill

Hey Bill, glad to see that things seem to be improving on the work situation. I got your voice mail. I'll contact you tomorrow. I don't think I'll be going back there any time soon but you never know. I was in Miami last Tuesday, something I wasn't planning when I woke up that morning. Life is exciting!

Well, duck season ended yesterday (or us), and this afternoon for the rest of the hunters. We shot 4 teal and one mallard hen on the last day. Got to get to the smoke-house/butcher, I think he can made a couple salamis out of duck breasts.

Already the lawn's been fertilized, all the duck hunting gear washed (hasn't been in months) and the after some more cutting/ grinding, first test-fit of the roof of the Dodge done. I was thinking how Rat's doing in-country, I wanted to show our handywork based on his great instructions a couple months back. I figure one more day of cutting, grinding and banging/bending the driver side post back to where it fits the new roof, and it will be welding day in San Jose! Gotta get moving with the project, less than 6 months to archery deer season!

Looks like the new roof might work! Got to see Roz and Gage at the banquet today. Roz said that Rat is doing well and that he's having fun. I'm sure he'll be posting on his thread soon.

I was telling some of the guys about our hog hunt in Santa Cruz last year. I can't believe it was that long ago.