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Discover Mid-America — April 2009
Nice day dreamin’
 |
by Bruce Rodgers
It’s St. Patrick’s Day, the temperature is near 80 in our part of the world, partly cloudy, thousands throughout the city are drinking green beer, wearing green, everyone is claiming some Irish in their lineage somewhere … and we’re here, in the office, putting together this issue that you now hold in your hand.
Now given a choice what do you think I would have rather been doing?
If you chose I would rather be putting together the next issue of Discover Mid-America than toasting the green, then work is your life … or survival. Yes, I’m in that category much of the time. Such is the life of a small business in a recession. (Maybe I should have pursued an A.I.G. job after college.)
But hey, there’s always next year. The lure of the green always returns.
Still, it was a nice day. We cracked open the windows and took time to notice the blue sky. I encouraged the staff (all of three people) to take a walk when the mood struck. That suggestion went out to our new art director, Tim Nord.
To those of you who follow my soap-opera style of management, where panic and recollections of the unforeseen spill out into this column, please welcome Tim, a capable and talented replacement for Ron Johnson.
Ron has decided to go back to school, IT school. Knowing software wasn’t enough, now it’s about the hardware of a computer. He wants the motherboard to speak to him during times of computer malfunction.
I’ve lost count of the number of people who told me how easy it was to work with him. The steady stream of positive comments led me to wonder if what they were really doing was making a subtle comparison in how it is to work with me compared to Ron. I know I have my days. And Tim, like Ron, will maintain balance.
With that admission and the blending of spring-like weather, I’m thinking of travel. Nothing like going through the gears in my 10-year-old Tacoma on a two-laner, heading to a place I’ve never been to, to talk to a person I’ve never talked with, to write a story that I hope our readers will enjoy.
Early next week I’ll be in northeast Kansas. I’m thinking in May I might go down to Oklahoma. Arkansas is on the list and Iowa, maybe Illinois. I’ve got some ideas for possible stories that might fit Discover or maybe I’ll just go and hope I find a story. Never know. The Midwest is rich with interesting people, friendly antiquers and folks who embrace the history of their surroundings.
The best stimulus package is what people give to themselves in the things they love to do. On a nice day, fighting through making deadline, thinking of the next story, getting out and away occupies me.
I deserve it, to do what I like more than what I have to, and so do you.
Bruce Rodgers can be contacted at publisher@discoverypub.com.
> Refurnished Thoughts Archive — past columns
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