Brad and Bert’s Excellent Adventure Season 2
I hope you are enjoying the Moses meet Mozart biweekly Bible readings with accompanying classical music soundtrack. These posts will continue through Thanksgiving. September and October will also feature Season 2 of Brad and Bert’s Excellent Adventure. If you missed Season 1 you can binge on all nine episodes by clicking Brad and Bert’s Excellent Adventure S1:E1 . Our annual Christmas program will begin Thanksgiving day.
“Sirius“ is a 1982 song by the British rock band The Alan Parsons Project from the album Eye in the Sky. It is a 1:54 minute instrumental piece that segues into “Eye in the Sky” on the original recording. From the 1990s onward, “Sirius” has become a staple of many big-time college and professional sporting arenas throughout North America.
Eye in the Sky is the sixth studio album by the British rock band The Alan Parsons Project, released in June 1982 by Arista label. It was recorded in London’s Abbey Road Studios.
Album: The Alan Parsons Project – Eye in the Sky
Source: End 0f an Ear – Austin, TX
Price: $2.00
In 1981, I received my first promotion at Southwestern Bell. Moving to the Employee Benefits organization I was tasked with determining how to use newly acquired computer technology. They had just purchased a brand new IBM PC. It came fully loaded with an astounding 384K memory, 10 megabyte hard drive, and color monitor. Three pieces of software, Lotus
123, Crosstalk and WordStar completed the configuration. A separate dial up modem was purchased to communicate with other computers.
This PC communicated with others via a dial up modem. Tethered to a landline phone jack, I entered another computer’s 10-digit phone number into Crosstalk, pressed enter, and waiting for the magic to happen. This was considered a high-speed modem because it ran 1200 megabits per second (roughly 250 characters per second). It was novel to watch the information load on the screen, character by character, as the data was received. My job was to figure out what to do with this new computer.
I started using WordStar to create letters. The software allowed me to create a document that could be printed using a daisy wheel printer. 
Additionally, I could save a draft and come back to work on it later. It wasn’t long before others saw this new tool’s potential. I had to create a time sheet so people could sign-up to use WordStar on my computer. This became a popular choice for employees to create a draft, print, and make their own edits without having to wait for the steno pool. It was a great solution for informal communications.
Shortly after beginning my new assignment I attended a seminar on Advanced Office Systems. Conceptually an AOS improves organizational efficiency by giving employees computers. They consist of three key components: 1) electronic mail, 2) word processing, and 3) voice mail. In 1982 this was a radical concept. Implementing such a system requires substantial capital investment. Voice mail was being implemented company wide but departments were on their own for investigating electronic mail.
Our organization tasked me with visiting vendors, putting together a cost analysis and making a recommendation for the purchase of a new 
computer system. I researched systems at IBM, Wang, Data General, Digital DEC, and HP. Each company’s offerings had their own strengths and weaknesses. In the end, we chose the HP 3000, whose terminals were hardwired to the computer. The system required a special air conditioned room and backups required a reel to reel tape drive. A system administrator had to start the system each morning, make sure backups took place everyday, and deal with the occasional system crash. Using a Lotus 123 spreadsheet package to present my cost justification, I convinced the powers that be to move into the new age of communication.
It was probably 1984 by the time the new BASS (Benefits Administrative Support System) was cost justified and rolled out. Our technology group did the presentation. We reserved a large room on the 4th floor of One Bell Center for the occasion. “Sirius” was the theme song we used to drum up anticipation and excitement.
So beautifly spoken. Thank you for the reminder to connect and love.
Beautifully written by one of the coolest people I have ever known. Paul was always positive, incredibly interested and interesting and had a sense of fun in the face of everything. Someone recently said to me how proud he was of his sons and I think very deservedly so.
Wonderful to read about you Father. I hope the great memories outweigh your sorrow. Love to you and your family
Brad, Brian and Burt-it was our honor to attend your dad’s services. We didn’t have the chance to be around him that much….but when we were…it was a pleasure. Your choice of Tim’s song was perfect….he did strike us as a humble and kind man. From our brief conversations we know he loved you all much and had an incredible memory. When we visited him in the hospital…he was in much discomfort but he said, “the big catfish that David and Jason caught”! They were only about 7 years old, we were camping at my uncles farm and they were sooooo proud of this monster! He remembered because he loved and was interested in the lives of his kids and grandkids! Our prayers are with your family as we all await the time in the future see him again.
Brad I just read this. Please accept my sincere sorrow for your loss. Prayers are with you and your family.
Your beautiful remembrance cheered my heart today. For so thankful Paul T. & I spoke not long before his death, we shared love notes. He was always a dear, caring, & helpful cousin to me. Love & hugs
Your tribute & anecdotes from your Dad’s life described what I would perceive as ‘a life well lived.’ Though we have been acquainted for a relatively short time, it seems to me that you have been blessed to receive many of your Dad’s gifts and graces. Coming from personal experience and loss, I can only underscore your admonition to all of us to take the time to know and love your family members well…beginning today! Thank you, Brad! May the Light of God that you so willingly share grant you peace.
Your Thoughts on “Recalling a Special Memory”
This hit a very special string in my heart. Charles and I spent two of our vacations in the part of the country you write about. On our second trip there we took a week sail on a windjammer out of Maine. We went west to Washington and California, East to Maine and Florida, South to Louisiana and New Mexico, North to Wisconsin and Michigan and so many places in between. You are so correct to tell us to share our memories with those we love. I treasure the memories that I have of the twenty plus years of travel with him. Homes, cars, furniture, clothes…..these are all going to disappear but our memories are there for the rest of our lives.
Oh Brad! You triggered a special memory for me, too. I’ve been to Maine twice, both trips meant time in Kennebunkport and in Ogunquit. So beautiful, loved those times there. Thank you and Happy Anniversary to you and Linda!
Dear Brad & family, It is a treasure to read your gifted writings & the lovely Memories you share. Aunt Fred loved telling me about you when you were growing up, she said “that boy has a tender heart”. She was always right on the spot. ❤️
Brad-one of my favorite artist’s! What sweet memories his music brings back -classic stuff!
Congratulations on your anniversary, cherish each one as God has given us both special women to traverse this short journey with!
Brad, you continue to amaze me as you pull from your spirit —God’s spirit. Your tenderness if a gift and an inspiration. Thanks for bringing back some wonderful memories of New England.
Great blog and song, Brad!
Brad thank for the wonderful memories of Kennebunkport and New England. I often miss the east coast its so beautiful. Lenny and I also vacationed right near that lighthouse when were first married. You described the sights sounds and even the smells perfectly. Happy Anniversary to you and Linda.
Your Thoughts on “Takin’ Celebrate To the Streets”
Pastor Billie from Travis Park UMC. David and Beth Stone now worship there and brought her. If we do this again would you be interested in being a guest pastor and serving communion?
Beautiful! Truly our strength is in our diversity. This brings to mind the Craig Courtney anthem – One faith, one hope, one Lord. Though we be many, we are called by one Lord and we serve Him in many different ways. I’m glad you were able to reconnect in such a beautiful way, reminds me of the New Testament believers who gathered in homes!
I was just thinking the same thing as Beth about the early believers gathering in homes, sharing a meal, etc… Very cool, Brad. I hope you can gather again.
Wonderful!!
Your Thoughts on “More Hobby–ness – My Prescription For Lifelong Happiness”
We love the Plumeria you gave us!
I enjoy the challenge of growing my plumeria, but they don’t bloom profusely like yours. I’m definitely missing the “green thumb”!
Thanks Brad for reminding us of some of the simpler things in life that we take so for granted-there is a tremendous beauty in life and in the Lord’s creation but….there is also a lot of work in a “hobby” but it surely is a labor of love. Hope our garden will one day look half as good as your grandma’s!
Understand about having botany in the DNA, my dad’s garden was a sight to behold! And, sorry Texans, there is NOTHING like a ripe, homegrown Kentucky (Illinois has some good ones, too) tomato! Unlike you, Brad, I have not been able to cultivate anything much in this Texas heat. Thanks for sharing your gift!
Wow! I love plumerias as cut flowers, so I found this interesting. I bemoan the fact that I don’t have a garden as my yard is small and very shady from mature oak trees, but I grew up with a gardening grandmother. Nice post!
Brad I think of you often when I see the plumeria cutting you gave me so long ago. It is huge and blooms profusely every year. I finally got my red one to bloom this year. I too like you enjoy my plants.