Conference 7.286::sports_91

    Take care Ninj and best of luck.  I'm glad I at least had the chance to
    meet you.
    
    Mike (formerly of 421 Wilson St.)

Ninj,


Best of luck to you Buddy.   Believe me, this is DEC's loss.


Since you ARE going to a (small?) software company, chances are you 
might be on the Internet.  If you are, by all means, PLEASE let one
of us know what your Internet address is...

That way, we can get you notices about upcoming Get Togethers!!!!!


Again, good luck.

We'll miss you,
'Saw

    Good Luck, John.
    
    The way things are going we won't have anyone left in this conference
    pretty soon.  :&(
    
    
    Joe

    Don't know if you'll see this but best of luck to ya John, twas nice to
    have met ya and enjoyed you're notes in here.
    
    (8^(*
    
    JaKe
    

    
    Best of luck Ninj, you will be missed.  Hope you are able to stick
    around a little bit longer.
    
    Brews

    Au revoir John. Hope you will at least make it to some get togethers.
    Good luck in your new job.
    
    The Crazy Met
    

    
    John, I have enjoyed your notes over the past couple years.  They
    are often quite informative and show a lot of insight.  I hope this
    skill has been transfered to your professional abilities.  May the
    people in your new company help ease the pain of moving and losing
    contact with friends.
    
    Marc

    Wicked bummer... good luck John...
    

    Ninj -
    
    Good luck, and sadly, so long.
    an inspirational voice or reason amid the chaos - that's you were.
    
    JD

       Best of luck to you John. You will be missed! You might get lonesome
    for all your 'Sports' buddies, but hey, you've still got the Pats!!
                                       Denny 8^)

    
    Good luck with your new job, you will be missed in SPORTS!
    
    
    
    Steve

 John,  Good luck man. Definately our loss. Will do ur best to keep in
 touch with you for the UMass/Depaul game 1/24.......

 mike

    
    	Best O' luck John.  
    
    Clay

    I'm still here and I hope to be for the next two weeks.
    
    My decision is driven by what's going on with this company right now,
    and for personal reasons.  My folks live a bit of a distance away, I
    live alone and I'm very lonely.  I need to get closer to where they
    are because I feel like I get left out of a lot of things.
    
    This is what I'll miss the most.
    
    John

    
    Best of luck, John!
    
    
    Cath

    
    	Good Luck John,
    
    		You will be missed!  Now who will we turn to for the
    	"correct" information?  
    
    		Hal

    Just spoke to my boss.  My release date is October 16.  I start my new
    job on October 19.
    
    John

    Sounds like an excuse for another get together to me.  Howzabout
    someplace with better beer prices?

    
    John, I'm proud to say I know ya.  I know you've been somewhat down
    in the dumps lately, and I hope the change does you a world of good.
    
    And I can safely say for Casey that she'll miss you too at the
    Patriots Day Game etc.  Hey, perhaps we'll see you there.  And
    we'll always be grateful for the Redskins tickets.  Best of luck.
    
    Dickstah
    

    Guys, guys, guys (and gals):
    
    This isn't an obituary.  I'm still alive.  I'll be with you in spirit.
    
    I still hope to come to the Patriots Day game every year.  I'm going to
    the hockey game in November.  Weeknight get togethers are going to be a
    bit tough.
    
    I was proud to wear the DEC badge for a long time and I'm still proud
    as hell to have been associated with this great company.  This company,
    however, has changed and not for the better.  It's not the same fun
    place to work anymore.  That's had me down for a couple of years.
    
    I stayed with the same group for too long and for the last couple of
    years, been working on a difficult (if not impossible) application. 
    I've also been doing too much of the same thing for too long.  
    
    I've been lonely for a long time, ever since the breakup of my last
    serious romance.  I go home alone most nights and stare at the TV
    and/or the 4 walls.
    
    I had to change.  I think of my mother, who's now 63.  3 years ago, her
    hospital went through a lot of the same changes this company has gone
    through and she's been miserable ever since.  She didn't make a change. 
    I believe that's why she got sick this summer.  I didn't want to be
    miserable for a long time out of inertia.
    
    Doing nothing would have been easy.  I could have said "well, I can't
    find a job in this market" or "my house will never sell, so I'm stuck
    here until it does."  That's the normal course of events for me because
    I don't take risks.  This time I didn't think I had any choice, because
    I think the unhappiness would have killed me.
    
    I have a new job.  It's a small, fun company.  Maybe it will make it,
    maybe it won't, but I'll be better off for the experience either way. 
    I've been here for 12 years.  I have a lot of friends, above all, you
    guys.  Cutting these ties is the tough part, but I had to do it.
    
    The job isn't straight applications work.  It's also going to involve
    helping sales people with sales calls, doing training seminars and
    participating in trade shows among other things.  Scared?  You bet your
    ass I'm scared.
    
    My house isn't sold yet.  I have to make the sacrifice of living with
    my folks during the week and living in my house on weekends.  That's
    going to tie me down some.  Sacrifice?  It sure is.  I'm not going to
    get what I paid for it, but money isn't enough to overcome my feelings.
    I haven't lived with my parents for 14 years.  While it's only going to
    be temporary and it won't be full time, it's a big change - for both
    them and me.
    
    My family is thrilled.  I can see them on a more regular basis, get
    included in spur-of-the-moment get togethers, be there for my parents
    if they get sick again and above all, watch my niece and nephew grow
    up.
    
    I'm sorry as hell to leave you folks.  You are my DEC family, more so
    than anybody else.  Despite our best intentions, the chances for us to
    see each other will narrow down.  Let's be honest.  That hurts.  It
    doesn't hurt as much as what I've been going through.
    
    Change takes courage.  I'm glad I had it when it mattered.
    
    John

Semper Fi, John.....

	As one who's had the pleasure of reading your notes for several
years, it's actually a pleasure to know someone has his priorities straight
and is willing to take a risk to make things allright. You'll make it, John,
because the move is for all the right reasons.

	Best of luck, and I hope to meet you one of these times,

	Jim M.

    
    Oh, well, there goes the mature male part of the Loonies.  First
    it's Mama A&W, and now Papa Ninj!  Pretty soon, all the adolescents
    will be running this place.  If that sounds appealing, could somebody
    turn a headhunter loose and sic'm on MtM?  ;^)
    
    Ninj, while I'm sorry to be losing you from the various notesfiles, and
    while it is an irreplaceable loss, I rejoyce that you stand a better 
    chance at happiness.
    
    However, bigger problems loom!  First, have you adequately prepared
    anybody to be the replacement for the 'Postraphie Police?  
    
    I remain,
    suprised but not shocked, saddened but joyous!
    Kev
    

    Best of luck, Ninj. You are a true voice of sanity in the conference.
    Its enocuraging to see that things happened so fast for you with the
    new job. At least *someone* is hiring. Also, it looks like whatever
    "risk" was involved was well worth it.
    
    Looking forward to seeing you (and other ::SPORTS Alumni) at the Patriots
    Day game, if not sooner. 
    
    All the best,
    
    Tom

Youl'l be mis'sed, John.   

Good'luck.

    John-
    
    I appreciate your contribution to this notes file, especially the
    research and well thought-out arbitration to disputes.
    
    Good luck in your new job.  Don't let the apostrophe's get you.
    

John (Ninj)

A class guy and a class noter, I have every confidence taht things will 
dramatically improve for you.  The move you are makig is indeed a courageous one,
thus we will all be able to revel in your success.

=Bob=

BTW - I'm sure Jake did this on purpose.          8^)

              
================================================================================
Note 278.4                         Ninj's Turn                           4 of 26
PFSVAX::JACOB "Where the Hell am I??"                 7 lines   2-OCT-1992 18:23
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Don't know if you'll see this but best of luck to ya John, twas nice to
    have met ya and enjoyed you're notes in here.
                            ^^^^^^                        
    (8^(*
    
    JaKe
    

>BTW - I'm sure Jake did this on purpose.          8^)
>
>              
>================================================================================
>Note 278.4                         Ninj's Turn                           4 of 26
>PFSVAX::JACOB "Where the Hell am I??"                 7 lines   2-OCT-1992 18:23
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>    Don't know if you'll see this but best of luck to ya John, twas nice to
>    have met ya and enjoyed you're notes in here.
>                            ^^^^^^                        
>    (8^(*
>    
>    JaKe





Ooooh.  Looks like we might have found a successor to the Chief of the
Apostrophe Police.

Of course, only the Ninj' can pass on the baton, but it looks to me
like the slot won't go unfilled....


'Saw    

    
>>BTW - I'm sure Jake did this on purpose.          8^)

              
>>================================================================================
>>Note 278.4                         Ninj's Turn                           4 of 26
>>PFSVAX::JACOB "Where the Hell am I??"                 7 lines   2-OCT-1992 18:23
>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>    Don't know if you'll see this but best of luck to ya John, twas nice to
>>    have met ya and enjoyed you're notes in here.
                            ^^^^^^                        
>>    (8^(*
    
>>    JaKe
  
    Now =Bob=, would I do something like that on purpose???
    
    You're damned right I did it on purpose, soon as I found out the chief
    of the apostrophe police was leaving, I HAD to do it, don't know why,
    but something made me do it.
    
    
    JaKe
      
    

Geez, I'm off hibernating for football season and I'm awakened from my deep
slumber for this?

Well, I'll be sorry to see you go, Mr. Hendry.  But it's good for this notes
file because we're tired of you dragging up our collective IQs.  It will be a
far, far better conference without your facts and objectivity :-).

Thought this would be a good opportunity to trot out the first note that you
signed with your new moniker.  Can I get it autographed?

j.

                 -< OURGNG::SPORTS - Digital's daily tabloid >-
================================================================================
Note 26.341                Official Get Together Note                 341 of 716
FSHQA1::JHENDRY "John Hendry, DTN 292-2170"           9 lines   3-MAY-1990 07:30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    For those of you who witnessed my out of character performance at
    the Sox game on Patriots Day, you'll be interested to know that
    I've been to 2 games in the past week - last Saturday and last night.
    In neither case did I get a beach ball though I did start foaming
    at the mouth when I saw them bouncing around.  They never came close
    enough to me so I never even had to be restrained.  Of course, maybe
    the beachballs are getting smart and staying away from me.
    
    The Ninja

    Needle,
    
    You got a copy of the old file or do you just selectively copy
    certain notes?  C'Mon now, fess up.  How'd you get that copy
    of Ninj's note?
    
    I gots to know!
    
    I remain,
    hoping you have a copy of the whole file I can copy
    Kev
    

Well, I've got one, but it bounces from place to place.  Right now it's at
VAXWRK::BACK$:[NEEDLE]SPORTS.  I just added a few ACLs to make it accessible,
but no guarantees on how long it's going to stay there.

j.

       I just tried copying it. No priv!
                                  Denny

    Just checking in from Aguadilla, P.R., and I'm shocked, to say the
    least. 
    
    But, I am happy that you've got your head on straight, and I'm sure
    that this will work out the very best for you.
    
    I'm proud to say that I was an eyewitness to Ninj's debut with the
    beach ball, and that Ive met him and got to know him better than
    possible over the net.
    
    I'll miss you, John, but I rejoice in your happiness. 
    
    Best of luck in all you.
    
    Lee

Lee, like Methusala, has seen them come and seen them go.....

    I really want to thank everyone for the kind words, both here and
    off-line.  I never really realized how many friends I have both in this
    conference and in other parts of the company, which makes it all the
    tougher to say good bye.
    
    What I've learned from all this is that I can put up with some degree
    of inconvenience (the house situation) in order to attempt to improve a
    part of my life that has been making me unhappy.  I've also learned
    despite the difficulty I have the courage to make a major change if I
    have to, and that's something I hope I never lose.
    
    I'm not looking forward to the inconvenience but I'm really starting to
    get excited about my new opportunity.
    
    John

John,

Think of life as an adventure, and you'll never be disappointed!


'Saw


PS  Don't forget to see if you're on the Internet.  That way we
    can send mail and still get important questions resolved!!!  8^)
    (REad that: We'll NEVER be out of your hair!)

�
�       I just tried copying it. No priv!

Don't copy it, Denny.  Just read it.  ADD ENTRY
VAXWRK::BACK$:[NEEDLE.NOTES]SPORTS

j.

    I guess I'm really starting to feel separation anxiety now.  My work
    here is virtually wrapped up so I'm here with really not much to do. 
    It's sinking in that I'm really coming into the last week of my career
    here at Digital.  I've really and truly done it.  I'm moving on. 
    That's a scary thought.  Everything I do next week for Digital will be
    the last time.  It will be sad for me and will get sadder as the week
    goes on.
    
    On the other hand, I have no apprehension or regrets about going to
    this new company.  I know how unhappy I've been with the working
    atmosphere and I need the change.  The change also fits into my
    personal priorities a lot better than staying here does, if only for
    the location.
    
    I talked to my new boss this morning because I want to go up there
    tomorrow afternoon to drop some things off.  She said the separation
    anxiety is normal and also the feeling of floundering for the first
    couple of weeks is normal.  Her goal is to get me trained as quickly as
    possible so I'll be busier than I know what to do with.  That's what I
    need right now.
    
    John
    
    PS - I'm glad I'm doing this on my own terms and as my own decision
    since I could have never handled being laid off

John,

I have JUST the cure for you.

Go out to the record store.  Find the "Harry Chapin -- Live" CD.


First off, listen to the tune called "Mr. Tanner".  It's a sad tune,
but there is an important message in there.


Then, listen to the tune "All My Life's a Circle".  Listen to it again.
It too has a message, but one that's very helpful....


Harry Chapin was one of my favorites.  I had the extreme pleasure
of seeing him live twice.   When I'm down he always picks me up....


'SAw

    I'll miss you, John.  Where are we going to get our multi-sport
    information, and the statistician's perspective?  But that's only the
    technical side; it's a whole lot more than that.
    
    Dig in and go at it; you'll be fine.  You're a leg up on most of us, I
    suppose.
    
    glenn
    

John,

find out if they had an address on the internet, and then we're
all only a mail message away!


'sAw

    Hey, I'm not completely down.  I know the sadness I'm feeling this week
    and next and the anxious times of floundering during the first couple
    of weeks on the job are the price I have to pay emotionally for what I
    know will be a happier future.  The feeling of being a nomad until my
    house sells?  Well, that I can live with.  When I had access to the
    family beach house (before my brother bought it), I would leave for
    there on Friday after work each week and come back on either Sunday
    night or Monday morning.  During my last truly serious relationship, I
    did the same thing.  I would just be sweating out the house sale but I
    can live with the inconvenience.  I just hope it's not too long.
    
    Going through this has been a valuable learning experience in a couple
    of different ways:
    
    1.  If you think you've made a mistake in your life, once you're sure
    it's really a mistake, cut your losses.
    
    I realized I was unhappy with the house I bought after the first winter
    I was in it.  I should have sold then but didn't.  The two reasons were
    being embarrassed to admit I made a mistake, and the fact that I might
    lose a little money.
    
    2.  Don't be so afraid of what might happen that it paralyzes you from
    doing something you really want or need to do.
    
    Ever wonder why a dog runs right up the edge of a cliff and looks over
    while a human will sort of edge there cautiously?  The dog isn't
    worried about what might happen.  It only wonders about the moment.  In
    my case, the breakup I refer to took place in the late Summer of 1989,
    right before football season.  I know I can handle just about anything
    during football season so I figured I'd ride things out until the
    season was over.  I was convinced that beginning the process of moving
    and job hunting was the right thing to beginning on January 1, 1990. 
    For a lot of reasons I didn't.  I was thinking "well, if you get a new
    job first, it means living with the folks and commuting home on
    weekends, but if you sell the house first it means a commute to Digital
    after you move."  In other words, I was so worried about the
    consequences of either alternative that I did nothing.  It has taken me
    5.5 years of unhappiness with the house and 3 years of unhappiness in
    my personal life to do something to correct either.
    
    Unfortunately, it took the decline of Digital to push me over the edge
    and get it done.
    
    3.  Money can't buy happiness.
    
    John

    I went to visit my new company on Friday afternoon.  I met everybody
    and did the paperwork - insurance, the whole bit.  All of them were
    excited and happy to hear I've joined them.
    
    It's going to be nice to be working in a company that's growing, where
    the atmosphere is positive and upbeat and above all, the morale is
    good.  They are also expanding their facility.  I walked out of there
    feeling really great about my decision and now firmly believe I did the
    right thing.  I won't feel 100% great until I get my house sold, of course.
    
    Now the bad news.  They are not on the internet.  All of their
    development work is done over in England and this here is a technical
    support and sales office.  Within the company, there isn't enough
    justification for a network.  There hasn't been enough justification
    for external hookups though I will probably ask the customers "If you
    could send us mail, would you?"  I can probably borrow my
    sister-in-law's PC and get my own account, like Bob Hunt has done, but
    that won't be for a while yet.
    
    Incidentally, there is a trip to England in my future, sometime within
    my first year in the company, and the folks over in England are rugby
    fans.  I'm looking forward to that.
    
    John
                                          

    I'm on my way, but in case I don't get to buy you a coke, Ninj' I
    figured a tune in your honor would be a nice gift...
    
    
    nananananananana
    nananananananana
    STATMAN!!!!
    nananananananana
    nananananananana
    STATMAN!!!!
    (repeat twice)
    nananananananana
    nananananananana
    STATMAN!!! STATMAN!!! STATMAN!!!
    nananananananana
    nananananananana
    nananananananana
    nananananananana
    STATMAN!!!
    
    Now if only I could think of a tune to go with it...

Walt, you slay me man, you slay me....


'Saw


PS  Anybody heard from DreadTom lately?

    re last
    Hey SawMon, I'm still here, but I haven't been in notes too much these
    days. Work is slowing down in my group in Marlboro, so I'm not in the 
    office as much. What used to be about 35 hours a week is down to less 
    than 10. Fortunately, I've got some non-DEC work to keep me going...
    
    Catch yunz around
    
    Tom

    Good luck Ninj'...  We've had our differences especially over
    the lowly Patsies but I've always enjoyed your informed and 
    knowledgable comments.  Tough making the "Jump" but it will be 
    good for ya...  Trust me !!!
    
    BG

    Well, I'm now heading into my lasted 24 hours as a Digital employee. 
    It's a weird feeling.
    
    I've been through the exit interview and am leaving on good terms, for
    what that's worth these days.  I'd much rather leave on good terms than
    bad.
    
    I'm genuinely excited about my new job and looking forward to my new
    responsibilities.  I'm looking forward to being able to spend more time
    with my parents and the rest of my family.  I'm not looking forward to
    living like a nomad and I'll be worried about selling my house until I
    actually go through the closing.
    
    In retrospect, I was overdue for a change.  I should have either made a
    move inside the company or even gone outside sooner than I am.  On the
    other hand, if I had moved sooner, there would have been some
    experiences I wouldn't have gotten and above all, people I never would
    have met.  I'm especially sad to be leaving this special group of
    friends here in this conference and hope there'll be some way to keep
    in touch.
    
    I'll be around tomorrow.
    
    John

John, it's a clich� we use a lot in here, but in reading about you saying
"well, if I had left sooner I'd have missed this, vs staying etc"  all I can
do is repeat those immortal words of Buckaroo Banzai:


	Whereever you go, there you are.


'Saw

    And those is some immortal words, `Saw...  
    
    

>                     -< Mike JN says he misses ya all !! >-
>
>    And those is some immortal words, `Saw...  


Hey!  You tell that Toofless Mountain Main that he all owes the Chainsaw
a letter!

I writed him one back in the summer and I ain't heard diddley.  


Tell him he's breakin my heart!


;^)    
    

    Where's he going?
    Planet 10...
    When's he going?
    Real soon...
    

       Again, good luck John. I can make the OPP any Friday except nexted.
    I'll be in Canton, OH.
                                   Denny

>       Again, good luck John. I can make the OPP any Friday except nexted.
>    I'll be in Canton, OH.


Denny, you're passing up John for the Football Hall of FAM!?????


I too can make the OPP on any Friday, as long as I don't stay too late....


'Saw

       I've gotta go to a wedding. But the HOF is definitely on the
    schedule!
                                  Denny

    >   I've gotta go to a wedding. But the HOF is definitely on the
    >schedule!
    
    Where?  Between the reading and a message from the minister?
    

    
    I'm in for OPP any Friday night.
    
    glenn
    

    I don't think I'll be able to make it to any more get togethers.  I'll
    probably have to be at work early, or helping someone move, or washing
    my hair.
    
    Mac for /Don

	Just let me know which Friday.  I think I can find my way back
	there again. 

	Bill

    This is it, guys, I'm gone.  See you at the nexted get together. 
    Thanks for being such good friends over the years.  I'll miss you.
    
    John

    This stinks.... Who will we look to for correct information?
    
    REK

    
    Me!
    
    Donks sip, that's all you gotta know...  (/er's new pname
    
    Brews

    A&W was at the Worcester/Portland match on Saturday.  She says hi and
    that if we're taking Ninj out this Friday, she could be at the OPP by
    8-8:30.  She said she'll probably try to get in touch with 'Saw to find
    out if anything is going on.
    
    She also said that she'll more than likely be at the
    Providence/Hartford game nexted Saturday and is very disappointed that
    'Saw didn't tell her he was playing in his firsted game of the season
    this past Saturday.

>    She also said that she'll more than likely be at the
>    Providence/Hartford game nexted Saturday and is very disappointed that
>    'Saw didn't tell her he was playing in his firsted game of the season
>    this past Saturday.


After the morning that Saw had on Saturday, he was surprised he made 
it to the pitch at all....  About the only thing that went right on Saturday
was the fact that 'Saw played......


'Saw

    
     Still at it aye Brucey...  Donks sure sipped yesterday when the 
    beat on the Oilers...  Finest 2:00 offense I've seen in a long long
    long time...  3 plays, 80 yds, 22 seconds !!!  Elway is GAWD !!!
    
    BG

      I have been out since 10/5,  so I never had a clue until today that
    our beloved "sports encylopedia" is leaving.  I'm sure you won't read
    this,  but good luck Ninj
    
    	Tim

Never mind that Tim, just catch up on your KOH picks, will ya!     8^)

    I really feel happy for the guy now.      
    Good luck to all that are on their way to new jobs and challenges. 
    
    BoB

    Hi John,
    
    good luck to you. Will you still bowl on the Dec Bowling League?
    
    Paul

    Paul, John has been at his new job for a week now.  He's living and
    working up on the North Shore so I doubt he'll be in the DEC Bowling
    league.
    
    I saw John on Sunday at the Pats' game.  He says he's going through the
    usual acclimation at a new company.  He's doing well and is glad he
    finally made the decision to leave DEC and move closer to his family. 
    He misses the network, but is looking into aquiring a PC.

Well, this is a good a place as any.


This morning it will be announced the the Springfield Manufacturing
facility will close by April 1993.  The business here is being 
transferred to Canada, eh.  [Pause here for Ross Perot's sucking sound].


Over the next 6 months, 320 SPO manufacturing employees will be laid
off.


The two renters (BASEstar Engineering, and a Sales office upstairs from
us) are guaranteed to be housed until April 1993.  Alternatives are 
being explored.


So, I'm not losing my job yet, but a couple of sports noters will be,
unfortunately.


Another BOHIC brought to you courtesy of Digital's fine management.....



'Saw

Who's in trouble?

Bill G. & ???

Sorry to hear about this...

>Bill G. & ???

Bubba Mayhew.

A couple of guys I know in the Jints file....


'Saw

    
    I'm putting together the Sports Noters Christmas Card address list
    and I don't have Ninj's Clinton phone number.  Anybody who has it,
    please mail it to me.
    
    Thanks
    
    ps- JaKe, same request for Pitcairn, thx.
    
    Kev
    

Pitcairn?

Ain't dat the island that Fletcher Christian and the other Bounty 
muuutiiinnneeeerss ended up?  And today, there are still a bunch of folks
that cain trace their roots to ol' Fletcher?

What does it have to do wif Jake?  Unless "Mutiny on the Bounty" in
Jake-speak has sumthing to do with Onanism 

;-)

JD

    
    Mebbe he meant Pitbull JD.
    
    Ya know JaKe kinda reminds me of a pitbull especially when Hal
    gets him all lathered up about the Spots-Squeelers thang.
    
    HTH,
    MikeL
    

    The town I live in is Pitcairn, Pa.
    
    JaKe
    

Just tape it to a beachball and put it in the mail.  He'll get it.

j.

So Jake, you related to Fletcher Christian?

       Ninj stopped by the parking lot for a couple minutes before the Pats
    game yesterday, says he'll be there tonight!
                               Denny