I used to joke that...

...I wanted to get paid to travel the world and rate hotels and restaurants. It wasn't really a joke, it was just that I couldn't figure out how to go about landing my "dream" job.

So, does anyone have any advice on how to fulfill my new dream of traveling the US as a consultant to new restaurants/clubs? From concept through creation, it would give me the opportunity to combine all my years of hospitality with my passion for design.

Inspiration comes from the most unexpected places. I would like to thank a gentleman from Kansas City, whom I have never met, for posting his comment yesterday. Although I probably will never figure out how to make any money doing this, it's still nice to think about.

Without our dreams, all we are left with are nightmares.

I wish I could figure out....

...what it is I want to be when I grow up. At a time in my life when I should be looking forward to retirement, I am instead, going on job interviews for positions I don't want.

Generally speaking, in this industry there is no 401K, pension, or even health benefits. I have determined that, at the rate I am going, I should keel over behind the bar somewhere around the age of 92.

I basically have nothing to show for the past 38 years of labor, and cannot for the life of me, figure what I should be doing providing I am to start all over this late in the game.

"They" say it's never too late...but for what, Peter Pan??

Don't you just love...

...gossip? Just this morning I heard a theory on what lead to my downfall. Hell, I was unaware I fell.

I'm glad to know my friends are keeping track.

Does anyone remember...

...the old Carpenters tune "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down"? What about rainy Mondays? This rainy Monday comes on the heels of a Giants loss, a Dolphin loss, and an Alonso win.

I know this because I spent Sunday watching the idiot box as a result of, what can only be explained as, my fall from popularity.

I get the impression it's going to be a long winter.

People often seem incredulous....

...when I tell them that I do not watch TV. I have never seen a reality show, have missed all of the most popular series, disdain "daytime TV", couldn't quote you a single word from Oprah or Martha, and think that Donald Trump is a product of self promotion and marketing.

I am insulted when advertisers use talking bleach bottles and toilets to pitch their products, and extremely annoyed when after watching three minutes of programming am forced to endure six minutes of double decibel advertising. I am incredulous at the American public's ability to sit through hours of mind numbing nonsense and actually tell themselves they are being entertained.

Pick up a book, go for a walk, have a conversation. I forgot, with the onslaught of texting, people don't do that anymore. Just turn off the idiot box.

I recently discovered...

...that my job has been interfering with my social life. Having recently become unemployed, I have been enjoying lunch with one friend, dinner with another, and drinks with yet a third on almost a daily basis.

Being unemployed is conducive to weekend getaways, ball games, museums, concerts, dining, and an entire host of entertaining activities that are much more fun than work. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get paid for it.

Over the past three days...

...I have had misunderstandings, disagreements, and fights with three different people. Last Thursday was akin to a roadside bomb, so very out of character to the new life I am trying to build. I think I will write a book on how to create enemies and alienate people.

Dale Carnegie can kiss my behind. What are you looking at??