There's No Success Like Failure, & Failure's No Success at All

I had my appraisal the other day, & I didn't expect too much out of it. I know the things I do well & the things I could improve on. That's not to say that my boss couldn't teach me anything, but any positive or negative criticism he gives me usually come as no surprise to me. We didn't have a great year last year, but it wasn't too bad. The previous year was very good, & afterwards all I got was a 3% raise, so I figured that was the maximum I could expect this year. To my pleasant surprise, I got much more than that. Go figure.

I like the way this year has started. We are not as busy as I'd like to be, but I'm doing everything in my power to go out & get new business. I've had some decent success so far, & I hope it continues. My former partner in crime (who's now up in Ludington) & I have friendly competition to see who can get the most leads to our sales rep & other things. Believe it or not, it's kind of fun. I landed an apartment complex in Allendale yesterday & one in Spring Lake today. Tomorrow, I'll try to take on a couple of factories.

By the by, the title of this blog comes from one of the jewels of Bob Dylan's seminal album from 1965, Bringing it All Back Home. It's called Love Minus Zero/No Limit, & there's a great version from 1994 that could be found here.


Love Minus Zero/No Limit

My love she speaks like silence,
Without ideals or violence,
She doesn't have to say she's faithful,
Yet she's true, like ice, like fire.
People carry roses,
Make promises by the hours,
My love she laughs like the flowers,
Valentines can't buy her.

In the dime stores and bus stations,
People talk of situations,
Read books, repeat quotations,
Draw conclusions on the wall.
Some speak of the future,
My love she speaks softly,
She knows there's no success like failure
And that failure's no success at all.

The cloak and dagger dangles,
Madams light the candles.
In ceremonies of the horsemen,
Even the pawn must hold a grudge.
Statues made of match sticks,
Crumble into one another,
My love winks, she does not bother,
She knows too much to argue or to judge.

The bridge at midnight trembles,
The country doctor rambles,
Bankers' nieces seek perfection,
Expecting all the gifts that wise men bring.
The wind howls like a hammer,
The night blows cold and rainy,
My love she's like some raven
At my window with a broken wing.


Copyright ©copy; 1965; renewed 1993 Special Rider Music

On an unrelated note, I was looking through some pictures the other day & I came across a picture from Christmas 2005. Mom is holding Kaleigh, looking at her as though she's the most precious thing in the world, & Gramps is looking at the both of him, most likely thinking the same thing. It's something. If I had one of those scanner things, I'd post it for you. Oh well.

Five Favorite Songs of the Day

So Hard to Find My Way-Jackie Greene, American Myth

Folded Hands-Kevin Davis, Jazz Box Vol 1

Highways & Cigarettes-Son Volt, the Search

All Blues-Miles Davis, Kind of Blue

Windowsill-Arcade Fire, Neon Bible

Happy Thursday, friends...

andrew