Tom Details
Dear [Lynn],
So, you must be a big coffee drinker. The last couple notes you sent made some reference to coffee. 
Anyway, thought I’d send along some tid bits about me to help facilitate our getting acquainted. Hope this answers some of the questions you may have. These are not logically grouped. They’re presented in the order in which they occurred to me to write.
I relocated to Philly just over two years ago. Before that, I owned a two-story, four bedroom house while living in Dayton, OH between 1992 and 1997 inclusive. I enjoyed doing the electrical upgrades, sealing the driveway, running an edger around the sidewalks each spring, mowing the grass, and tinkering in the garage – must be a guy thing. However, cleaning up after the sump pump failed in 1997, especially in a newly carpeted basement, was no fun at all.
I had a roommate through much of that time, who rented two of the spare bedrooms for three years, and assisted with several home improvement projects. Our favorite one was the installation a ceramic tile floor in the upstairs bathroom. He didn’t stay much longer, because he saw the joys of home-owning himself, and went and bought one a few blocks away. There are lots of pics of the house here but none are scanned in as of yet. Will send some when I hook up the scanner. Space is tight here in this small home office, and so, can’t keep the scanner set up all the time.
I hold an Extra Class amateur radio license, the highest level (greatest privileges) available to operators here in the US. License requirements include passing 5 exams that deal with radio propagation and component theory, as well as demonstrating proficiency at the Morse code. This means you must receive it at 20 words per minute. The call sign is N8UBU, and this must be used to Id your transmitter every ten minutes that you’re conversing over the air with others. Amateur radio (A.K.A. Ham Radio) encourages anyone with an interest in electronics and public safety, to get on the air, and to build some of the components of their station. I have assembled a few FM transmitters, and made my own cables to connect the various components together (data cables are particularly challenging to build with over 20 wires inside). I had wanted to install a 100 Ft. tall antenna tower in my back yard. But after talking to the neighbors, found that doing so would not encourage warm neighborly relations. So, I settled with three dipole aerials, strung between two tall trees out back. They worked well, though they were very low to the ground (about 10 feet up). With them, I talked to operators in Peru, Canada, Mexico, and numerous other countries. Reaching several states (Florida, New York, and Michigan) was also fairly simple with these antennas, running about 100 Watts transmitter output power. Being able to converse with someone in Peru while running only enough power to light a standard light bulb was fascinating. I’ve sold off most of the equipment prior to moving to Philly, and am therefore not as active as in the mid 90s. But the interest is still there.
I want to feel close to my soul mate, to exchange love, to communicate openly and completely, to be around for her, always. Beyond meeting the financial requirements of survival and career maintenance, Her needs (intentionally capitalized), would receive top priority, the only string being her continued passion toward building the relationship higher.
I held an electronics technician position at the University of Pittsburgh in the early 80s. Originally, my training was in the repair of home entertainment equipment – two years at a Pittsburgh trade school between 1979 and 1981, with the job at Pitt to follow from 1981 through 1983. I left that in 1983 to pursue a degree in computer science between 1984 and 1988. Then, in 1988, moved to Ohio to work for a data packaging company in Ohio, and have been with them ever since.
All college loans are paid off, and I maintain only one credit card account which has almost nothing charged on it. I am almost totally debt free, and for Y2K, my goal has been to be completely debt free. I think I’m going to make it.
I hold a Microsoft Certified Professional certificate. The requirements, In order to get it, involved demonstrating expert level skills in the planning for, installation, and support of the Windows 95 and Windows 98 operating systems. Am currently studying to pass the Windows NT 4.0 exam. That covers many Internet topics – how to network Windows computers together, using either modems or network cards on local area networks (LANs). In fact, I have a little LAN here at the apartment with three computers. One is the work machine, and the other two are set up as file servers. One of those has four 4.5 GB SCSI III disk drives that work very well when editing sound files – they’re quite fast with seven millisecond average access times.
Willing to relocate to be with my soul mate.
Writing a book that offers ways to people of modest means, charisma, disposition, social status, … to seek and achieve much more than modest fulfillment in their romantic relationships. In my mind’s eye, the book jacket appears to be a deep blue (almost violet) with metallic, vibrant blue, neon lettering, although its title is still a mystery. Roughly 200 pages have been written so far, and revised and revised and revised again! You know the routine. It will have diagrams, statistics, quotes from learned people in the subject, and probably will not be published until after I retire from computers. *smile* But an important dream for me is to indeed publish it.
I love almonds, black bean soup, pasta, vegetables, fruits, skim milk, rice and soy beverages, and lots of water. Taking 16-mile hikes thrills and inspires me. Movies are great on a rainy Saturday afternoon. And strolling through fragrant and colorful arboretums in the spring and fall? Nothing better.
I practice routine and order, but spontaneity has value also – when the routines become too monotonous. But generally, I’m a planner, enjoy looking forward to things, and don’t like last minute deviations. Although if circumstances warrant, will accommodate such changes if possible and not exceedingly costly.
I have no police record, am drug and disease free, no addictions or other forms of strong attachment to mere material things and substances. No smoking. Extremely rare social drinking. Credit record is excellent. And, am on terms of civility with all ex lovers, any hostilities and “baggage” were resolved and discarded long ago
I’m a useful handy man when it comes to computers, making household repairs, troubleshooting and implementing improvements to home telephone and cable lines, and I know electric lighting and wiring.
I keep a clean house, laundry, and body. The laundry is done every week or two, the house gets cleaned once a week and the body gets bathed once or twice a day. Have employed cleaning services for the past 8 years to help keep everything spiffy and sparkling.
Love to travel, EVERYWHERE, and have a current passport. I’m ready to travel abroad, when I find a companion to enjoy it with.
I am independent and financially self sufficient. Involvement with me will cost my soul mate nothing monetarily. I strive to never ask for loans or gifts. I just want to exchange understanding, passion, compassion, and truth – in short, I want to trade love.
I love and respect Mom and family, visiting them one or two weekends a month. A frequent dream: To introduce them to my soul mate, and show her (the soul mate) some Altoona hospitality. I help keep their home appliances running well (dryers, stoves, and anything of the hand held variety).
I am extremely affectionate, and love to kiss and hold hands several times each day. I communicate well, am in touch with my feelings and thus, know how to express them with little chance of misinterpretation. I am NOT the silent type and feel that “the silent treatment” is no way to resolve a conflict. Talking, debating, and talking some more are how you find that win-win solution that transforms the essential ability to compromise from merely “making do” to basking in “stunning victory” for both. Finding what is best for all involved is paramount. There can be no mutual concern of greater importance than this, in a healthy, lasting relationship. Unlike football, where one team wins and the other loses, in order for the victory to be true in a romance, both must win. Not draw, not tie, not sudden death, but win.
Okay, I’m out of steam. So, going to say good night. Take care. Will probably talk to you tomorrow. But then, maybe I’ll send you something else. I dunno.
Later,
Tom Hesley
