Shortly after I made that last post about how things felt all wrong I started thinking about how everything I mentioned was related to TV, and how that was a sign that I should watch less of it. Unfortunately today the feeling of things being wrong went past the trivial and hit home. A guy I worked with for several years at two different jobs passed away last night.

I can't say Grumpy and I were close friends, but we worked side by side for a long time and talked often. At first I let his gruff exterior put me off - he didn't earn the nickname Grumpy the easy way. The first thing I remember him saying to me was "If you don't shut up I'm going to throw you through that wall." You can be sure I didn't have loud conversations near his desk after that.

Later, when I got to know him better, I saw that he wasn't a bad guy at all. He just wasn't going to take any crap from anyone. He was a kind person when you got to know him and earned his trust. Earning that trust wasn't easy, but it meant something when you did. Over time I found that sometimes you need to have a little bit of Grumpy in you in order not to be a doormat. I grew to respect his forthright nature and often relied on his advice. He was a good man and I'm glad I got to know him. My deepest sympathy and prayers are with his family.