Out and About
I tried looking at “HomeAdvisor.com” but they wanted a lot of information about me before they would let me know if there was anyone qualified in the area that could help me. So, I’ve decided to tackle this project myself. I have two books now that I am studying, “The Complete Fix-it-Yourself Manual” and “The New Illustrated Do-It-Yourself Manual.” I figured that if could learn how to fix computers and work with computers by reading a book (in 1985) then I can learn to fix a toilet. Actually, I started Navarre Press by reading a book, “Strategic Newspaper Management” by Conrad A. Fink. I had never worked at a newspaper before Navarre Press except for my high school newspaper. I didn’t know anything about the design of newspapers, so guess what book I bought? “The Newspaper Designer’s Handbook” by Tim Harrower. I’ve met Tim three times since at newspaper conferences in Savanah, Panama City and Orlando. From there I hired a very talented typographer and we went point by point, chapter by chapter and picked out the body copy font, the headline font and all the styles. When our production manager, Dickie Williams came to work here fifteen years ago, he was very impressed with what we had done, which is saying a lot for Dickie. He usually doesn’t like what he hasn’t touched. However, we still have the same fonts today – and he has improved upon our design. And, it shows. We have won first place for graphic design and/or overall graphic design every year that he has been here. I’m not scared of a toilet. However, I will not try to fix it until the staff is gone because that would be embarrassing.
I also have a washing machine that has been broken for a month. The first guy that came out couldn’t work on it by himself. They have rescheduled three times, and I haven’t seen them since. I’m starting to get the message. I told the company today they were ruining my relationship with my daughter that lives in Pensacola because she keeps texting me to see if my washing machine is fixed and hasn’t been to see me since it stopped working. Today, I told her that I told the company that they were ruining our mother daughter relationship and her replay was, “Yea – that’s ridiculous.” So, is it ridiculous that my washing machine is still not fixed or is it ridiculous that she only texts me about my washing machine and hasn’t been to see me since it broke? She used to come once a week – to do her laundry and visit. I thought the laundry was just ancillary – but obviously it is the main event. Well, that and the items from our home that end up in her home. The other day I had to go in her shed and I noticed a bicycle tire pump that looks just like the one that use to be in our garage. I asked her via text if that was our pump and her answer was, “yea.” Don’t laugh – this could be your child one day – if it hasn’t happened already. The fact that she lives on her own, is working on her master’s degree and pays all her own bills but has an aversion to laundromats and buying bicycle tire pumps…I can live with that. However, I better hurry up and get my washing machine fixed – or I might forget what she looks like.
We really enjoyed working on the tribute for John Richardson and his body of work at Navarre Press for the past fifteen years. My belief is that he really hasn’t retired, he is just cutting back a bit. One of our subscribers read that John has Parkinson’s disease and brought me some information that he thought might help John. We are very blessed to live in Navarre. However, when you read this paper, you will notice that we have two stories about two different illegals from Honduras that have arrested for very serious crimes and they were both associated with or caught in Navarre. We need to be very vigilant about all crimes but especially those dealing with people that are in this country illegally. And yes, we need to build the wall. The sooner the better.
Where is there dignity unless there is honesty? Cicero Roman author, orator, & politician (106 BC – Assassinated in 43 BC) Sandi says, honesty can get you killed – but be honest anyway.