Path: mit-eddie!bloom-beacon!bu.edu!bu-cs!bu-pub.bu.edu!spacey From: spacey@bu-pub.bu.edu (Eva Chan) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Here's to a New Decade, new dreams, hopes and loves.... Message-ID: Date: 2 Jan 90 23:43:10 GMT Sender: news@bu.edu.bu.edu Distribution: alt Organization: Boston University Computer Science Lines: 26 Hello everyone....just a brief statement from me to all of you. "I have only been here at Callahan's for just a brief period of time. I hope to stay for a while if I can. I have heard many a tale about one's ups and downs in life. For some, the ups can be a big turning point for a person's life and the downs can put a person into a gutter. For those who are in theirs ups, I congratulate them. For those who are down, I sympathize with a caring ear and hope i can say something that might lift their spirits without making any offense." "For the coming decade I wish everyone good fortune and happiness. I know it seems kind of boring, but what more does one want out of life?" "Mike, refresh my drink please. I'd like to toast the New Year and to everyone here." "Here's to everyone's good health and future happiness." *GULP!* (pardon my sloveness[sp?]) **********C R A S H!********** -- Eva Chan spacey@bu-pub.bu.edu (e-mail is always appreciated) Cheers! And may you enjoy life! Path: mit-eddie!snorkelwacker!apple!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!fsdcupt.csd.mot.COM!jane From: jane@fsdcupt.csd.mot.COM (Jane Beckman x2637) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: To the New Decade Message-ID: <9001021607.AA01410@fsdcupt.csd.mot.COM> Date: 3 Jan 90 00:07:16 GMT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Lines: 41 Jilara listens to Luru and shakes her head. "The one thing I never found in the contract was the promise that life would be fair or untroubled. There is the old story of the woman who was mourning over what a parcel of trouble her life was. A mage/wise man promised her that if she were to bring him the shirt of someone who had never experienced sorrow, he would take away all her troubles forever. Well, she searched and searched, but she never found that person. Everyone had some secret sorrow. But in the searching, she gained some perspective on what the world was really like, and it made her own troubles easier to bear. Which of course was what the whole intent was, to begin with. I think that may be how Callahan's operates. "Well, we've got a new decade, and the search continues! I don't know about anyone else, but I can say (from the perspective of my three-and-a-half decades) that the past ten years has been very much better than the previous ten years. This isn't to say it's been any picnic, but it's been fantastic by comparison. I'm hoping things will get better, because I've done my time. "Things constantly shift: that's why we keep on. I'd like folks to keep in mind an observation of mine, from years back (that previous ten years, mind you, the one the last decade was better than). 99% of heroic tradition is pure, blind luck. Either life is very nasty and kills you, or you somehow survive, your wounds heal (no one said they wouldn't leave scars and disabilities) and you go on. If you manage to survive enough of these incidents (and that takes strength, resourcefulness, and LOTS of luck), you become a hero. That simple." She smirks slightly, knowing that there is no "simple" in any of this. "Therefore, let me propose a toast." She glances apologetically at the bar. "I know, Mike, I've got my drink already. I'll pay for my glass in a minute, okay?" Callahan snorts shortly. Procedures seem to always get broken, around here. "MY FRIENDS, TO SURVIVING THE '90'S AND CREATING OUR OWN HEROIC TRADITION!" She looks around the room and smiles at all assembled. "Because I want to see you all here when we toast the new millenium!" <<>> ---Jilara the Exile (I hope.) "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most." A. Brilliant (alternate identity may be jane@fsdcupt.csd.mot.com---don't you love computers with identity crises?) Path: mit-eddie!snorkelwacker!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!littlei!percy!parsely!bucket!leonard From: leonard@bucket.UUCP (Leonard Erickson) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: Bits and pieces (Re: Greetings Again) Message-ID: <1872@bucket.UUCP> Date: 1 Jan 90 08:30:55 GMT References: Distribution: alt Organization: Rick's Home-Grown UNIX; Portland, OR. Lines: 38 Luru, Eva... may I join you? First of all, this time of year seems to be a low point for many of us. As recently as a year ago being alone on Thanksgiving would have been a nightmare. Yet this year exactly that happened and it was no big deal. I can't tell you why as I'm not sure myself. Though I can guess... I won't mention her name 'cause she might get embarassed. Luru, a friend of mine had been very involved with a lady for even longer than your friend. They weren't living together due to her studies, and they were not sexually involved as she wished to wait until marriage. But they did everything they could together. I was there the day she told him it was over. He wasn't quite suicidal. Last year I was an usher at his wedding. He married a lady that he had been living with for a while. They are quite happy. I can't guarantee that your friend will be that lucky. But I see no reason it shouldn't. Now we come to motivation. I truly used to lack motivatation. It's amazing how much living hand-to-mouth for a few years will give you at least the motivation to do what you have to to get a decent job and keep it. I like to think I've got at some sense of personal honor, so that's another motivation. If I've promised to do something then I'll try to keep my word. Finally. If it feels good.... do it! :-) Of course this motivation does have to be tempered by practicality. (and legality). I don't think I can give you motivation. God knows enough people tried to motivate me before I did it myself. But maybe that was just me. -- Leonard Erickson ...!tektronix!reed!percival!bucket!leonard CIS: [70465,203] "I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters." -- Solomon Short Path: mit-eddie!snorkelwacker!usc!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!littlei!percy!parsely!bucket!leonard From: leonard@bucket.UUCP (Leonard Erickson) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: Callahans; Just in the nick of time Keywords: NONE Message-ID: <1873@bucket.UUCP> Date: 1 Jan 90 08:52:06 GMT References: <346@88opensi.UUCP> Distribution: usa Organization: Rick's Home-Grown UNIX; Portland, OR. Lines: 27 ed@88opensi.UUCP (Ed Anderson) writes: >He turns his head only to see that everyone in the place is staring at him, as >if expecting something. He turns back to Mike with a puzzled look. "They're >wondering what your story is pal, you DO have a story don't you?". Uh, em, ah >yeah sure... Before any newcomers get the wrong idea, at Callahan's the patrons may stare a bit at the unusual, but unless YOU wish to bring up your problem we won't try to drag it out of you. Callahans is first a safe haven and only second a place for support. You can come here to shut out the cruel world for a while with some friendly folks. You can listen to others and offer support. You don't have to open up until and unless it feels comfortable. That may be never, but it is always your choice. Personally, I plan on being careful as to just what I reveal for some time Those who've read my previous postings will understand. I don't plan on lying, but I may not mention things I'm not ready to talk about. But this paragraph is my ideas. The previous ones are what I find in Spder's stories. -- Leonard Erickson ...!tektronix!reed!percival!bucket!leonard CIS: [70465,203] "I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters." -- Solomon Short Path: mit-eddie!bloom-beacon!bu.edu!bu-cs!bu-pub.bu.edu!spacey From: spacey@bu-pub.bu.edu (Eva Chan) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: Callahans; Just in the nick of time Message-ID: Date: 3 Jan 90 05:42:03 GMT References: <346@88opensi.UUCP> <1873@bucket.UUCP> Sender: news@bu.edu.bu.edu Distribution: usa Organization: Boston University Computer Science Lines: 21 In-reply-to: leonard@bucket.UUCP's message of 1 Jan 90 08:52:06 GMT Yes, Ed. Callahan's is a place to release some of your anxieties, stress, worries, and even some excitement. As for myself, if I feel a bit under the weather but have a hard time finding a sympathetic ear or not feel like talking to someone, I turn to Callahan's. I also see what others are thinking or feeling, and if I can I'd give a little advice or an opinion. My ideas may not always be the right one, but it's all I can give at the time. So, here's to you Ed. I'm sure it took a bit of courage to say what you had to say. I dont know if I could have had enough guts to talk if something like that had happened to me. Therefore I salute you and wish you better tidings for the coming years. >>>>>>>>>>CRASH!<<<<<<<<<< -- Eva Chan spacey@bu-pub.bu.edu (e-mail is always appreciated) Cheers! And may you enjoy life! Path: mit-eddie!snorkelwacker!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!microsoft!peterdur From: peterdur@microsoft.UUCP (Peter DURHAM) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: Who is this guy anyway? Summary: Hope callahans can help... Message-ID: <10124@microsoft.UUCP> Date: 3 Jan 90 06:04:03 GMT References: <347@88opensi.UUCP> Reply-To: peterdur@microsoft.UUCP (Janelle c/o Peter DURHAM) Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA Lines: 54 The door swings quietly open, revealing a greyish blue sky, (no snow, no howling wind, no bitter cold... it's kind of funny to see all you people posting from colder climates than this... you always blow in from the blizzard outside! :-) Hey, I lived in those kind of climates for 22 years, and I must say I kind of appreciate 40-degree weather in January... and those are cold days!) and Janelle and Peter wander in. As Peter goes to get drinks, I walk over to Ed: In article <347@88opensi.UUCP> ed@88opensi.UUCP (Ed Anderson) writes: > (lots deleted) > - Your wife is divorcing you Mr. Anderson... Good Day." >"To make a long story short, I went to court, I was confused and grieved, I >"It turns out that my wife had been seeing another man for almost a year. >Within 6 months he was living with her in the house that had my name on the >rental agreement. My daughter screemed morning and night and I was often >called to comfort her, no one else could get her to sleep or even feed her. >She was the hardest hit from all of this and it broke my heart to see that." > > I really needed to reveal this part of my life, in truth I've needed to do >this for along time. I am also alone like many of you, I have alot to give >and I also need alot of support. I couldn't have said this anywhere else but >at Callahans. Ed, I'm glad you found Callahan's. This is a great group of people, and I hope we can help you out with our support. When I read your posting, it felt like someone had kicked me in the gut. I don't know what to say other than that this is a horrible thing. I won't say I understand how you feel, because I can't imagine something like this. I won't tell you it will get better, because that always comes out sounding like "ok, it was bad, but now forget about it... don't worry, be happy, or at least don't burden me with it" All I can say is that we're here to hopefully lessen our pain through the sharing, and to increase our joy... I hope callahans can do both for you. And I hope system crashes don't trash any of Callahan's again. For you or anyone else... what a horrible thought, losing any of wonderful things that are said here in this group.. I give Ed a supportive squeeze and stand up and look around the Place. It's kind of empty these days with all you student types on break... it'll be nice to have you back. I go and collect my seltzer from Peter, and sit down for a second while I think about the toast I'm about to make.. - Janelle ... I just finished (re)reading all the Callahan's books, and _Callahan's Lady_. If these places really (physically) existed out in this area, I might actually become the type to frequent bars and (the parlor of, at least) houses of unique repute ... Path: mit-eddie!snorkelwacker!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!microsoft!peterdur From: peterdur@microsoft.UUCP (Peter DURHAM) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: The prodigal son? Message-ID: <10125@microsoft.UUCP> Date: 3 Jan 90 06:20:25 GMT References: <347@88opensi.UUCP> Reply-To: peterdur@microsoft.UUCP (Janelle c/o Peter DURHAM) Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA Lines: 72 I toss another dollar on the bar, collect another seltzer from Mike, and begin to ramble: Christmas was different this year, but good. It was the first year I spent away from my family in Wyoming... this was made easier by the fact that lots of people were able to come out here. (Mom, Dad, brother Alan and his wife Brenda, sister Jamie and husband John. All incredibly wonderful people!) I still missed some parts of the Wyoming traditions (I'm a sucker for Christmas traditions. I love for every Christmas to be lots like the last one, and I treasure the rituals), but I guess it's time to start working on new ones. If all our Christmases together are as good as this first one, Peter and I will be quite content. This year was really quite nice... The best part was that my brother Roger is slowly becoming part of the family again... that's my Christmas miracle. For background, Roger's never quite fit into the family as much as the rest of us. I love him dearly, but we slipped out of touch for a long time. He lived out here (Seattle area) while I was in school in Boston. I may have gone a couple years without hearing his voice. Not because of any conscious effort, but for the lack of conscious effort. Then Roger and his wife Jill went through a nasty divorce, and Roger removed himself from the family. Only through sheer stubbornness, my parents stayed in touch with him, but he wouldn't let them give his address or phone number to anyone else in the family. Over the next couple years, he was re-married, and moved around a lot. Since I never talked to him during this period, and only got bad reports through others, I was very angry with him, and very confused. Over the past couple years, he's been warming up more towards the family in general (when Peter and I came out here on his interviews last spring, we stayed at his place. I was very apprehensive, but when I saw him again for the first time in years, I started to accept everything that had happened and accept him as a brother again.) Peter and I moved out here 6 months ago, but had only seen Roger once until December rolled around. This holiday season, Roger finally decided that he was ready to be in our family again. We all got together with him several times right around Christmas, and even more amazing: most of them were his idea! He even invited Peter and I, Alan and Brenda down for Christmas Eve and day (everyone else had flown back home by then) And even better, by having him back in the family, I also get five nieces and nephews! All is not perfect yet. He stil doesn't speak to his ex-wife (all his arrangements for having the two children she has custody of down for Christmas went through their lawyers), or his grandparents which is kind of hard for us. They all live in the Seattle area as well, and Peter and I spend time with them, and consider them part of the family, although we don't mention this too much with Roger around... But this Christmas, me and my four siblings were all able to be together for the first time in about eight years! Roger is part of our family again, and he says maybe in a few months he'll be ready to include his grandparents too. His new wife and their children are wonderful people, and it was a joy to spend the holiday season with them. So my toast is TO FORGIVENESS, AND TO ACCEPTANCE, AND TO THEIR ABILITY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER! (CRASH, tinkle, tinkle) Smiling, I go hug Peter and sit down to listen. - Janelle ... so what exactly _is_ holiday glogg? ... Path: mit-eddie!snorkelwacker!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!uwm.edu!lakesys!davek From: davek@lakesys.lakesys.com (Dave Kraft) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: A few toasts Keywords: 3 toastsa Message-ID: <1503@lakesys.lakesys.com> Date: 3 Jan 90 05:45:52 GMT Organization: Lake Systems - Milwaukee, Wisconsin Lines: 49 He walks in, plops down 3 one dollar bills, and asks Mike for 3 Rum and Cokes. Hi all.. Though I'd combine three toasts in one message. Here goes.... [1] I'd like make this first toast to the new year and decade. It is hard to beleive that it is already 1990. I'm glad it is a new decade. Time to wipe the slate clean, and start over, but, let us also remember the old decade. TO 1990, WITH IT'S HOPES, DREAMS, AND FEARS! [2] The next two toasts are a little more complicated.. first, my grandmother, who will be 85 on the 6th, is facing the probability of having to have her leg amputated (due to poor circulation, etc.). This will be her second amputation. Once this is done, we are not sure what to do with her. She has lived alone ever since she has had her other leg amputated, and now, will either have to live at home with us, or in a nursing home. She is not that rich, and so, it looks like she will have to live here, which will make demands and changes on the whole family. I am not really sure what to toast to this, so, if anyone could help me, I'll be sitting here, with this rum and Coke, please feel free to make suggestions. [3] Lastly, I have finished college (for now), and should get my Associate degree in Business Data Processing sometime in February. Now, if I could only find a job in my field! I have sent in resumes and thie like for at least two doezen jobs, but, nothing ever comes of them! Sometimes, I have an interview, but, I usually either don't hear from them again, or get a 'thanks but no thanks' letter or phone call. This is most infuriating. I have looke outside my career as well.. even my local McDonald's wont take me! It feels like whenever I go into an interview, I subconciously send out these "don't hire me" messages. Now, my dad is making noises like 'if you don't get a job soon, you'll be out of here [home] on your ear'... what to do? TO JOB SEARCHING! MAY I SOON FIND ONE! [if someone (preferrably in the Milwaukee area) is looking for a programmer (C, COBOL, SQL, dBase III+, RAMIS II, RPG II), please call me at (414)476-2763] Dave P.S. I have recently finished reading the first book in the Callahan's series. and, I love it! Now I can identify with the Place a little better. -- davek@lakesys.lakesys.com uunet!marque!lakesys!davek ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Empathy is sort of like telepathy's kid brother" -- taken from "Stardance" by Spider and Jeanne Robinson Path: mit-eddie!snorkelwacker!usc!bbn!granite!Mandel From: Mandel@granite.cr.bull.com (Mark Mandel) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: A few toasts Keywords: 3 toastsa Message-ID: <1990Jan3.142500.3363@granite.cr.bull.com> Date: 3 Jan 90 14:25:00 GMT References: <1503@lakesys.lakesys.com> Reply-To: Mandel@granite.cr.bull.com (Mark Mandel) Organization: Bull HN Information Systems Inc. Lines: 25 In article <1503@lakesys.lakesys.com> davek@lakesys.lakesys.com (Dave Kraft) writes: > Lastly, I have finished college (for now), and should get my Associate >degree in Business Data Processing sometime in February. Now, if I could only >find a job in my field! I have sent in resumes and thie like for at least >two doezen jobs, but, nothing ever comes of them! Sometimes, I have an >interview, but, I usually either don't hear from them again, or get a 'thanks >but no thanks' letter or phone call. > >[if someone (preferrably in the Milwaukee area) is looking for a programmer >(C, COBOL, SQL, dBase III+, RAMIS II, RPG II), please call me at >(414)476-2763] Get WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE, current edition if you can. It has the best damn job-hunting advices, ways, self-questionnaires, organizing techniques, etc., that I've ever seen. I probably owe my job to it. (Speaking of which, I'd better step out of this warm [in at least two senses!] bar and get my ass back to work. The guy with 50-50 black and silver hair stands up, punches Dave lightly on the shoulder, and leaves.) -- -- Mark Mandel (InterNet: Mandel@granite.cr.bull.com) /* My employer is not responsible for anything I say, do, think, or eat. */ Path: mit-eddie!wuarchive!uunet!mailrus!rutgers!ucsd!ucsdhub!hp-sdd!hplabs!hplred!egly From: egly@hplred.HP.COM (Diana Egly) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: A Scot? Message-ID: <20940023@hplred.HP.COM> Date: 2 Jan 90 17:34:49 GMT References: <148@boston-harbor.lucid.com> Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA Lines: 1 Mike's an Irishman... Or something else.