(As of 2/26/09)

About a year and a half ago, Wells Fargo offered me a manager position. It would still allow me to do Reverse Mortgage sales for commission plus added a salary and an override on my employees production. Seemed like a good idea at the time. On 9/11/08, they eliminated that and another manager position they had recently created and laid me off. Since WF had already replaced me with two people in my old territory and I'd just hired two in my new territory, there really wasn't any place for me to go even though local management wanted to keep me.

So, this was a new opportunity to determine what I want to be when I grow up. I took the shotgun approach. I created a sole proprietorship called MacDonald Consulting. Have done some business consulting, management consulting and computer consulting. There were also some new things happening in the Reverse Mortgage field. I really like working with this clientele and wanted to keep dong reverse mortgages. So I joined a small company and also originate reverse mortgages. I just uploaded a revised website called Reverse Mortgage Consultant.com. It has a lot of practical information about reverse mortgages. Unlike most reverse mortgage websites, it is in my own voice with frank talk. This is the way I work with people on a face-to-face basis - trying to work out with them if a reverse mortgage is the right choice.

I've been winding down the travel business. They were doing quite well but started to go downhill after 9/11/2001. As of this tax year, I've closed down the three partnerships and S Corp. Saves me time on taxes and the software for that type of business. But still have the websites up. They still generate some income at no cost or time involved. I run the income through the new MacDonald Consulting.

Long term, I'd like to rely on income from websites rather than work one hour for one hour's pay. If I do just work for a salary, I don't see retirement in my future. Truth is, I will never have my dad's retirement. Golf six days a week. Sit and watch TV the rest of the time. Nope. That is not on my to do list.

Betsy has decided she wants to be an artist when she grows up. She is currently going to art school at The Atelier. It is a 3 hour round trip 6 days a week. You could say she is committed. A national art magazine (The American Artist Workshop) just did an article on the school. One of her current projects is mentioned and shown in the article. She is named as Betsy Tamblyn - her maiden name. We use that on her website to be a little more unique.

(As of 8/26/06)

Bounced around a lot after high school. Did 2 years at MPC. Started working with United Airlines in Monterey in 1967. Then San Jose State with an Aeronautics major. Quit with one semester to go?! To Seatle in 1972. Got BA degree there at the University of Washington. To SF in 1980. To L.A. in 1982. To Ohio?! in 1984. Quit UAL and moved back to Monterey in 1985. Computer company hired me as a Sales Manager and went bankrupt a few months later. (I swear it wasn't my fault.) Scrambled to stay afloat. Did some computer technical work with CTB/McGraw-Hill - got my MBA while there. Not sure why - everyone else did, so... Then Wells in 1989 at Pebble Beach. Sure enjoyed working there. Real nice to pop down to the golf course during tournements including the US Open.

Moved to Napa, CA in February, 2001.Wanted to move to Napa to find some warmer weather than the Monterey Peninsula offered. Am now a Reverse Mortgage Consultant.

I also run an S-Corp (Adventures & Entertainment, Inc.) and three similar partnerships offering hotel, airline and car rental reservations over the Internet. I started Adventures in 1995 as Monterey Bay Adventures and Entertainment.. It has only been since 1999 that I have changed over to the online hotel reservation business. (September 11th was not kind to us.)

I have been with Betsy Satterfield since 1995 and got married in 2002. Betsy had a 1995 Miata. I don't think I had ever been in a convertible before she got "Casper". (It is white with white interior and the license plate "A GHOST"). Alas, Casper stranded us one time on the side of the freeway and therefore signed his adoption papers. We now have a 2001 Special Edition Miata in BRG (British Racing Green). We belong to a Miata club named the Bay Area Miata Association (BAMA). We take a number of day rides with this group as well as longer trips. We did a two week trip from the Bay Area to Vancouver, BC. We were on freeways for a total of about 20 minutes using the backroads as much as possible. One year, we took a four day trip to Death Valley. Again, staying on the backroads. In both cases, there were about 35 Miata's (Miatae?) and 60+ people. Check out the web site for some of the other outings we have had.

As you can see, I am pretty well linked at the hip with the Internet. When a new interest comes up, I seem to volunteer (am volunteered?) to start a new web site such as this one.

The move and job change were specifically designed as a life style change. With my current day job, I work from home. Home is 5 minutes from the office. It is not unusual to hit the pool to cool down. (No, I'm not rich - I bought a condo with a pool and hot tub). My upstairs office looks down on the pool but with all the redwood and other trees, I can't see any of the other 100 condo units. I nearly feel like I am in the middle of a forest.

Both my sons, my ex's and mother still live on the Peninsula. I was even made a grampa on Cinco de Mayo.

Next time you are wine tasting in the area, invite us along and we can talk about old times.