FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 14, 2002, 8:00 p.m. Postponed Packages and Published Prose While things have been quiet at Barnes Place, that does not mean we've been operating in a vaccum, or operating a vacumm for that matter. Our days and evenings have been filled with exciting challenges, both in our personal and professional lives, and little time has been left for us to ponder how does the cat talk, and what does she say. Work hard; play hard, and then crash in the bed has been the mode lately. We hope to have some updates on Barnes Place.com, highlighting the vivid details of the Black College National Cheer and Dance Championship, as well as our 12 hours of standing in line for front-row seats to the Broadway Musical, RENT. Until then, there are two events that unfolded this week, which represent several weeks of effort, and we must pass these successes along to you, our Barnes Place family. These are so amazingly special, they warrant something different than our tounge-in-cheek Social Secretary Release format. Yes, this time, we actually want you to believe what we're telling you, and share in the celebration. ON POSTPONED PACKAGES First, many of you have been checking your e-mail, waiting with baited breath for the next update on Tony's work situation. And this week, an exciting dinner took place, after months of corporate hob-knobbing on Tony's part, and we're finally at a point where we feel we can share his success without jinxing it. As you know, it was announced in Mid-November that Tony's division would be eliminated and a new one created. Shortly there after, it was announced a new call center would be created in Mount Laurel, N.J., and they asked him to move there to run the center. While a marginal career move, not an acceptable personal move. Tony jockeyed into position, and found himself assisting the Director as she coordinated the reorganization effort. His "package" was "postponed indefinitely," and Tony was assigned to oversee the training and development of their customer database, SalesLogic, a program American Express invested millions in while developing. However, in infinite corporate wisdom, they chose not to train any of their staff on the program's use when it was implemented a few years back. His work on this project has begun to highlight to those higher on the corporate ladder the important potential of this product, if utilized to its maximum. Of course, it is Tony who is delivering gently prodded ass-kisses in his always illuminating fashion, and his efforts are making him glow. While this has required spending many of his weeks in the lovely faux-stuccoed Mount Laurel, it has provided him great exposure. This week, he had the opportunity to have dinner with the Vice President of his division. After their conversation, he was assured a position would be created for him, and she has provided him the freedom to take necessary steps to complete his tasks, by-passing the corporate cost-saving red tape. So while Tony's position is still evolving and has yet to be made permanent, the future is very, very bright, and we're keeping our fingers crossed everything falls in place. ON PUBLISHED PROSE I guess when the planets align, they align. Your continual prodding and encouraging has paid off, and I now have a larger audience, only about 25,000 people. There is a new paper in town, called "The Story From the West Side", which covers the often-overlooked neighborhoods just to the west side of the I-75/85 Connector (we live in one of those neighborhoods. The paper is being started by Debby Eason, founder of the Creative Loafing empire, a conglomerate of alternative weekly newspapers, and John Schaffner, a former managing editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The premiere issue was published April 4, and the lead article was written unexpectedly by me. After meeting with the editor and providing him with a few writing samples and one successful story (which has helped set the future tone of the paper), he called and asked, "So how would you like to have a regular column?" Okay, sure. In the mean time "Swapping Tab-Deliminated Recipes with the Geek Neighbors" (http://www.barnesplace.com/hobbies/writing/geek.html) was published as my first column in their second issue on April 11 (along with a head-shot.) "I like you're writing style ­ I'm going to make you into the next Lewis Grizzard," said John. Okay, sure. "I want you to make your reader feel as if they're in your shoes, experiencing what you're experiencing." "I can do that," I said. And so with that, I now have a regular column in The Story, which is distributed free throughout Atlanta, and door-to-door within its coverage area. I'm so excited, I'm about to vomit. And so, now you know why we have been so quiet at Barnes Place. We've been working hard, taking names, and kicking butt. And in between, we attend an occasional Black Cheerleading Championship. Best, Tim and Tony.