JB Royal
Short Bio
Happily retired from computer programming when IBM gave me the package in 99. Bought a house in West Roxbury with my girlfriend Susan in June 1999 and married in January 2000. I am now an avid gardener, investor and consult to a private venture capitalist in the high tech arena. Worked at Lotus/IBM from 1987-1999, mainly in Spreadsheets with specialty in the Performance area. Last job was working at Lotus/IBM on Java Virtual machine and runtime performance issues. I'm just plain lucky to have survived that ordeal. Susan is in sales and sells Human Growth Hormone to Pediatric Endocrinologists.Looking forward to raising perennials, vegetables and children at some point. Heck, I'm only 52.
If you're in the area, stop in for a tomato or a flower.
Stories and Anecdotes
My job interview at Wang:Got up about 5:00am and took some awful little puddle jumper from Broome County Airport to Logan. It was a hazy day in May and after a limo ride from Logan I arrived promptly about 9AM. The parking lot was full but as I entered the "old" flat Wang building from the parking lot, I noticed a few Fire Engines in the parking lot. There was no one in the waiting room and no secretary either. I waiting a few minutes and then proceeded into the hall. Snooping around I found three Firemen dressed in full regalia running toward me screaming, "GET OUT OF THE BUILDING, THERES A BOMB". I explained that I was here for a job interview and they reiterated that I get out immediately. Not knowing the area, I wandered about till I found the old Town House. It was 9:15am and the place was full of Wang employees, drinking up a storm. Not wanting to be unsociable or odd, I ordered a beer. Hours later after a few more beers I had some lunch. After telling people at the bar I was there for an interview at Wang, they bought me a Gin and Tonic. All of a sudden, the place emptied out about 1pm and I stumbled over to the main entrance. I first realized that after drinking for 3-4 hours that I was severely impaired and would have to summon tremendous reserve to pull this off. Immmdiately within minutes, I was told I would have four very quick interviews, with two different competing groups. The first was to be Bob Greene, followed by Harold Koplow, followed by Bob Kolk and Fritz Eberle. I was assured that I would make my late afternoon plane back to Binghamton.
As I entered Harold Kolplows ofice, I noticed there was something very wrong. This guy was DRUNK! His buddy Bob Greene, was bright red and was babbling. Within minutes Harold was flailing around the room screaming like a loon, slurring his words, telling me what they were doing and asking me questions. Bob then interviewed me separately and then took me to meet Fritz Ebele and Bob Kolk. I then realized that no matter how drunk I was, there wasn't a chance that either of these two could have ever noticed.
In the next meeting, I couldn't tell if either one of them were drunk or just missing a few chromosones or brain matter. Bob Kolk could barely talk and I later learned this was just the way it was. Fritz was a little better but I assumed they too were schnookered.
I was returned to Harolds office, where he proceeded to offer me a job for $16,000. That was a fortune but I wanted to see what the other group was offering. I told Harold I was very interested and would like to speak with the other group before making up my mind. He said, "I'm making this offer right now and ONLY right now. You have 1 minute to make up your mind." As I protested and explained that the other group was interested, he muttered, "40 seconds". I continud to ask questions and he said, "20 seconds". I let him get down to 10 seconds, and said OKAY! He had that big smile on his face and was manicly giddy.
Then he and Norman Laurie and I piled into a big Cadillac and drove to Logan airport. Norman and Harold were both Vice Presidents and as they babbled and stuttered there way to Logan in the front seat, I realized I had finally made it.