This post was going to be all about me, or mostly about me. But I got superseded.
Stan “The Man” Bronson was an icon on the University of Memphis campus. He was the Memphis Tigers baseball team’s honorary bat boy from the 1950s on. I had the honor of being introduced to him when I was a graduate student. I had lunch with him several times at Tiger Den and even got to attend one of his birthday parties. He was goodness personified. Stan was a reminder just how far basic kindness will get you in this world. He passed away after breakfast yesterday in his late 80s.
“How yew?” Here’s a Daily Helmsman article about Stan.
Okay, let’s get on to my personal situation. If you’re just here to read the news, scroll down, I won’t be offended. Yesterday morning I was sitting in my cube at work, sorting out one-to-many data relationships in our new CRM (customer relationship management software). I was pulled into a meeting and told that our new CEO was reorganizing things and my position had been eliminated. They assured me it was no reflection on my work, and offered me pay for my unused vacation time and a very generous severance package. I would have been there 9 years in March.
Change happens and I am looking at this as an opportunity. Within two hours I was in touch with career coach Angela Copeland and we made an appointment to write my resume. You know, it’s funny – I used to help other people write their resumes, but it’s been so long that I need help myself now. Part of the problem is that I don’t even know what kind of job to apply for. My background is in PHP with frameworks like Zend and Laravel, but my strength that sets me apart from other IT people is my ability to communicate technical things to non-technical people. I’m also what’s known as a “connector,” intuitively knowing how to put people in touch with the right other people to further their career and/or social circles. Just gotta figure out how to monetize that.
I want to make it clear that I have no ill will at all to my (now former) company. If you’re in need of a mental challenge, the card game bridge is fantastic. I hope the company continues to spread awareness of the game and grow membership in the future.
In the meantime, my HR manager suggested I take a week or two to “just be Paul Ryburn, the guy.” And that’s what I’m going to do.
Let’s get on to the news, and there is a lot of it today. Lisa’s Lunchbox on Front Street has added a catering form to their website to make your office lunchtime needs easier.
A new concert series has been announced for Old Dominick’s rooftop bar. It will feature only artists who have strong ties to Memphis, kicking it off with John Nemeth & The Blue Dreamers on January 25. Doors for shows will open at 6:30, concert at 7:30. $25 ticket includes one Old Dominick cocktail. Shows will take place twice a month.
The Grizzlies will have a special ticket for a Wiseacre beer tasting for their Friday, January 26 game. Tickets include Wiseacre beer samples, hors d’oeuvres served periodically, and a seat to the game. Terrace IV, Terrace II, and Pinnacle III seats available.
The CA’s Geoff Calkins has a great article about Memphis’ new soccer team. You know, The Brass Door has had its ups and downs, but I wonder if the USL team would have happened had the Door not been a hub for enthusiastic Memphis soccer fans the past seven years.
The Memphis Hustle will participate in the NBA G-League Showcase in Mississauga, Ontario. They will play tomorrow and on the 13th. Games can be watched on Facebook Live (wonder if Roser got to go to Canada for this) and on NBA TV.
The Civil Pour, Daniel Masters’ (Silly Goose, Pontotoc Lounge) new bar in the 409 S. Main food hall, now has a Facebook page you can “Like” for news and updates.
MemphisWeather.net is predicting morning freezing rain and sleet, changing over to snow for Friday. Low 31 Thursday night, high 31 Friday. I am going to take the advice of my HR manager and “just be Paul Ryburn, the guy” Friday. And you know what the guy doesn’t do? Drive in icy weather.
Sometimes he goes to Bardog though. 
All right, none of the rest of the news is time-sensitive so I’ll save the rest for tomorrow. Just saw it’s Kickin’ Chicken Spaghetti day at Lisa’s Lunchbox and that sounds like a plan.