Whew.  Finally catching up with the group.  My job with a large multinational 
insurance and finance conglomerate anchored in Columbus, OH, got sent to India 
when they outsourced most finance and accounting jobs.  It turned out to be the 
best thing that ever happened to me.  I had 35 years in (started at 17) and 
qualified for the "package" to encourage me to retire.  The package was a lump 
sum of half my annual salary, unemployment for 18 months, and a pension that 
mimicked what I would get if I was 55 and retiring, starting immediately.  We 
sold a large home in a historic district, and bought a small ranch in a 1950 
subdivision with the equity, so there is no house payment. I managed to actually 
sell a house for a profit.

I saved well in a 401k (which I cannot touch until I am 59 1/2) and I would 
reccomend the retirement thing.  I am really into this not working thing. 


While unpacking I noticed that Independant Film Channel was running Freaks and 
Geek , along with Arrested Development. several times a week in the afternoon. I 
started watching F and G because I had not ever seen it when it was on real TV.  
I was pretty shocked and amazed by what I saw.  I had no idea that all those 
cast members worked on this show and then went on to do such amazing things, 
post F and G.   And then realized that it was a Judd Apatow production.  It 
suddenly made sense.  


I must not have had my head in the right place, the few times I did catch 
Arrested Development, because I was trying to relate it to reality or some 
version of it.  What strikes me now is that this is completely a farce in the 
truest sense.  I have been enjoying the heck out of it. 


The pop connection:   Bones is now in syndication on several cable channels.  
The kid from F and G that is now playing Dr Sweets on Bones is a popper!  One of 
the Bones episodes that I caught was a season finale which took the shape of 
dream, while Booth was in a coma.  Everyone in the cast got to play a completely 
different kind of role in the dream story of Gangstas and Night Clubs.  Towards 
the end, Dr Sweets plays a member of a band auditioning for the night club.  The 
sing a short clip from a very poppy song about summer and love.  I found out in 
the Bones music form,  that the band on the show was an actual band that in real 
life the Dr Sweets actor is the singer and songwriter.  The Name of the Song is 
Never Ending Summer and the group is Dayplayer.  Day player I beleive is  
hollywood for most performers with supporting speaking roles hired on a daily 
basis without long-term contracts.  I got a MP3 of the song off of some blog, 
but it may also be on the bands My Spacebook.f*** site. 


And no,  I am not spending my time watching TV,  and yes,  I go to the movies 
during the day, at least once during the week. 


I highly reccomend retirement as soon as possible.  Not working is so cool. 

Settled In,  Tom