Random Thoughts And Observations: The Sequel

VictorV · **Joined:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:59 pm **Posts:** 1371

Now I feel old. Doug Flutie has a 23 year old daughter who is a) a cheerleader for the Patriots and b) the reigning Miss Massachusetts.

KeithMinnion · **Joined:** Sun Sep 18, 2005 7:58 pm **Posts:** 430

Today I took the Number 1 train from Penn Station up to 110th Street and Broadway, then hoofed it to 114th and Amsterdam to visit my Mom who is still in the hospital (St Lukes) recovering from open heart surgery. She is recovering slower than we all hoped, but has made a lot of progress this week (solid food, no more venting, the return of the old spark in her eye like before the surgery). Two things stuck out today:

In the subway car was a small amber superball rolling across the floor, bumping up against people's shoes, rolling with every motion of the car as we rocked north stop after stop. No one picked it up until 103rd Street, when a little boy pounced on it with a cry of pure joy and claimed it for his own. Little boy + found superball, perfect.

In the visitor lounge outside the Cardiac Recovery Unit, waiting for 11 AM when visiting hours start, I heard this on the hospital PA system:
"Respiratory stat to the emergency room with a bypass," repeated twice. Five minutes later, "Respiratory stat to the emergency room has been cancelled," also repeated twice. I hope it was cancelled for a good reason.

Oh, and on 112th and Broadway? Monk's Coffee Shop. Actually, it is Tom's Restaurant, but the exterior shot from Seinfeld? It's at 112th and Broadway. I wonder if they serve the big salad in there?

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

I stopped at a rest stop in New Hampshire today. I was supposed to meet a customer there and give him some samples on the way home. We were supposed to meet at 4:30. While I was waiting there I saw a bunch of people stopping to use the facilities. It was raining hard so they had to run from their cars to the building and back. I saw this big truck pull into the handicapped spot in front of the building and these two big guys got out and ran into the building. I didn't say anything to them even though I was parked next to them. By 5:00 my customer still hadn't shown up so I called him. He said he was on his way and was surprised that I was where we agreed to meet at the time we agreed to meet. When he showed up he wanted to ask me a bunch of questions while we were standing int he rain. He asked me if I minded and I said no. When we were done, I got back into my car soaking wet and drove home.

(BTW, Glad to hear your Mom is getting better Keith!)

Nanci · **Joined:** Sun Oct 31, 2004 11:48 am **Posts:** 4992

TMLCrow · **Posted:** Thu May 05, 2011 6:54 pm

I'm glad your Mom is getting better, Keith.

I also hope things continue to improve for DaddyGoth, his family and his community.

About six weeks ago, Mom went to her gynecological oncologist and had a six month check-up. All clear. She had a CT scan on Tuesday and went back to the oncologist today for the results. Again, all clear. Except something her doctor today said that set off new feelings of hate for her previous doctors at Ohio State. Mom knew she had cancer in the lymph nodes in her abdomen from the written reports from OSU, though they NEVER told her that face to face. Her doctor today told her even the lymph nodes in her neck showed no signs of cancer anymore, either. This was something that the fuckers at OSU NEVER even told her about, and it wasn't included in any report she saw from them. They told her, when she was originally diagnosed, that she had a year and would be in pain. It's been two years now and she is currently cancer-free.

I'm so pissed at Ohio State and those fucking quacks that I can't see straight when I think about. Her current doctors, whom she switched to, have at least given her hope she can beat this for the forseeable future, where the OSU jackwagons didn't give a shit. I'm about ready to send a letter to the state medical board about OSU.

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

Man, I can see why you're so pissed. I'm glad to hear that your mom is cancer free however. Good for her Thad!

KeithMinnion · **Joined:** Sun Sep 18, 2005 7:58 pm **Posts:** 430

Yes, glad to hear your good news, Thad. And as the father of a Penn State graduate (well, my son graduates May 13, on my birthday no less) I fully share your distain for Ohio State. I am reminded of a walking tour of the State College campus my son and I took before he began his freshman year, where the student tour guide mentioned the book sharing deal the Penn State library had with Ohio State's. "And we can get literally any book we need from them," he said, "because nobody at Ohio State reads anyway."

TMLCrow · **Posted:** Thu May 05, 2011 8:46 pm

Thanks, Tony and Keith.

Keith, the funny and sad thing is I went to OSU for five years (but didn't graduate). I changed my major from Journalism to History part way through because a Journalism teacher (not a professor) had us rewrite an LA Times article on Erle Stanley Gardner, creator of Perry Mason. However, the original article had his name spelled Earle. In my story, I corrected it and got a low grade on it because I didn't misspell his name. Even when I proved myself right, the teacher didn't change, so I did. Weird what you remember. Man, I hate that stinking place.

VictorV · **Joined:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:59 pm **Posts:** 1371

Glad to hear about your mom, Thad. And it's a good idea to report the doctors.

JJHolden · **Joined:** Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:25 am **Posts:** 1712

I'm glad to hear both Moms are doing well. I don't think some doctors realize how profoundly their words (or lack of) can affect us. Especially when it's something potentially serious.

Jazminsdaddy · **Posted:** Wed May 11, 2011 7:09 pm

The great Bob Marley died 30 years ago today.

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

Oh man...can that be true?

VictorV · **Joined:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:59 pm **Posts:** 1371

Had to change campus. The financial aid office at the new campus doesn't know what they are doing. Went in yesterday to find out what was going on, and found out that "someone" was supposed to have sent me an email a week ago to inform me that I needed to take out a loan.

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

(Friday morning ramble)

One of my favorite concerts was seeing Robert Palmer before he got famous.

I believe it was back in 1975 when a buddy and I had nothing to do one evening so we decided to take a ride up to Hampton Beach (N.H.). I was in school back then and pretty much broke so this was an inexpensive way to spend the evening.

We tooled around a bit looking at the girls but it was too cold to go into the water so we decided to hike the boardwalk. When we got to the Casino (music hall) we both stopped dead in our tracks. Robert Palmer was playing and the show was starting in about 10 minutes!

Palmer wasn’t big then, he had one album out, Sneaking Sally Through The Alley and one that was just released called Pressure Drop, but a station out of Boston (I think WAAF) played him constantly.

Well, my buddy ponied up the cash and we went in. The place was about ¾ full and we did manage to get a table close to the stage.

Palmer came out and gave us all a rip roaring show. But what I remember most about it was the dumbfounded look on Palmer’s face the whole evening. He was astounded that every one knew the songs and was singing along with him. The crowd was going nuts with every song he sang and he was shocked. He kept looking at his band members with this quizzical look on his face and they just laughed back at him. He sang his heart out for us that night and the band really got into it.

I heard an interview with him the next day on that radio station and he admitted that he did not expect that reaction and was amazed at his reception. The woman d.j. explained to him that they were really pushing his songs and he was a listeners favorite.

Every time I listen to those two albums I can’t help think back to that night and the awesome show he put on for his audience.

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

(Sunday morning ramble)

Rain, rain, and more rain. And it's supposed to rain all of next week. I've been working on the garden and now thats come to a big stop.

I did get my brussel sprouts planted earlier, but something keeps walking over them and I've lost three of them. My radishes are doing fine though, and I also planted some carrots. I got the poles up for the pole beans too and got the fencing in for the cukes.

I'm also fighting the damn red lilly bugs. Killed a bunch yesterday after I saw that they had eaten quite a bit of a number of them. I hate those things.

I also managed to get the gutters up on the back side of the house yesterday morning, at my age I don't really care much for ladder work. My wife wanted a rain barrel and got one. She thinks you just set it up and the rain fills it. Now I got to build a platform for it, get a diverter for the gutter, get some pea stone, and hook it all up.

Then yesterday afternoon she tells me she wants me to dig up the area beside the side of the house, put fill in it, and put down patio bricks, and put in a fire pit. The area is about 20 feet long and 15 feet wide. It's filled with huge rocks. And there are tree's surrounding it. I told her the trees could catch fire, but she said they wouldn't. Huh? I told her we would need a back hoe to dig it out and she said we can do it by hand. Huh? And besides, what's wrong with the deck? I spent last summer adding onto it to make it bigger. It's too hot out there in the summer she said. She wants to put a screen house on it. Huh? A screen house on the deck? There'd be no room to grill (about a third of it is covered with a roof) or even walk around!

How come ideas are always so good when someone else has to do all the work? I love my wife to death, but sometimes I think she's trying to work me into an early grave.

Hellolost · **Joined:** Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:58 am **Posts:** 2120

A not so funny thing happened today. Somehow I ended up finding out I had been replaced at my old job. Now I know it has been forever but for some reason it was like a kick in the teeth. I had been told if they got their feet back I would be rehired. I didn't believe it but I guess some part of me did. They hired the person back in Feb. Why this bothers me I really don't know but man I actually kind of feel sick to my stomach and totally depressed.

Thanks for letting me vent. I am just plain tired of not having a job.

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

Wow, you're still not working Jody? That is a long time. And I agree, it sounds like a kick in the teeth.

Tt

Nanci · **Joined:** Sun Oct 31, 2004 11:48 am **Posts:** 4992

I would definitely call them and ask why. It seems patently unfair that they wouldn't hire you back. Is it possible they didn't know you were still unemployed?

We're hitting the one-year mark with the spousal unit. I was unemployed for 2 years; I took temporary work and a lot of consulting work to make ends meet. It is not fun.

VictorV · **Joined:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:59 pm **Posts:** 1371

Sorry to hear it Jody. You'll find something.

My wife is on my butt to find a job. She doesn't like the idea of me going back to school. I figure getting a MA would be far better than working at someplace that pays just above min wage.

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

There's no guarantee that a Masters will get you a good paying job either. It seems the trades are where the money is now.

Tt

VictorV · **Joined:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:59 pm **Posts:** 1371

I'm trying for a PhD and getting a teaching position back west.

Hellolost · **Joined:** Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:58 am **Posts:** 2120

When you are out of work this long a lot of things start to happen. First off you get depressed.
I have been sending out resumes daily. Anywhere from 2 to 10 resumes a day. ( I live in Silicon Valley) and in the last two years (July) I have had 4 interviews. I have tried temporary agencies. I have been applying at things that in the past I would have laughed at even thinking about. Home Depot, Safeway, auto body shops, Target, Orchard Supply... you get the picture. I have been asking anywhere I go if they are hiring. The sad thing is not one of them has called me. Even the bottom of my barrel don't want me It has gotten to the point where people look at me and think I am not looking. It has gotten to the point where when I tell people how many resumes I send out a day I feel like I am lying when I am not.
It is embarassing.
There has been a million times I just want to give up. But I can't. It actually sucks.

VictorV · **Joined:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:59 pm **Posts:** 1371

I'm so sorry. I know the feeling. You're not alone.

Nanci · **Joined:** Sun Oct 31, 2004 11:48 am **Posts:** 4992

There are a lot of PhDs pushing brooms and working at McDonalds. A PhD will not guarantee you a teaching job and it takes years to get tenure when you do - if tenure will even exist when you're done. You're looking at, at a minimum, 4-6 years before you graduate. I know if my spousal unit told me he was going back to school and wouldn't have a job for that long, I would be kicking some serious a$$.

Your best bet is to go back to work in a trade and go to school part time - a schoolbook isn't going to pay the rent, put food on the table or pay for gas.

VictorV · **Joined:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:59 pm **Posts:** 1371

Lucky me, I still have 3 years on my G.I. Bill. Plus my VA disability. That's enough to cover the bills and then some. Right now welding jobs are hard to come by. A lot of the defense contractor companies are doing a hiring freeze because of the budget. I've tried getting on with Northrup Grumman but a lot of guys have been let go.

I've been looking since I quit my job. It took me almost 6 months to find my last job. And I'm still dealing with my accident.

I'm really paying attention to the job market. Even though I'm trying for my PhD in Asian Studies, I'm gonna give myself options. I'm pushing myself academically to do so.

Craig Cook · **Joined:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:25 pm **Posts:** 5637

I was starving a couple nights agoo after work, and against my better judgment I stopped at Mcdonald's on the way home.

My total came to $3.78. Not having 78 cents, I gave the guy four $1 bills and three pennies, thus allowing me to get a quarter back. The guy stares at the money for a little while, then looks at me and says, "Do you have the rest of the change?" I say, "No, just the $4.03".

Is this really that complicated?

Jazminsdaddy · **Posted:** Mon May 16, 2011 4:24 pm

Through my email I was sent a message from Facebook. It was a message from one of my friends and it said "OMFG, Christopher how did you end up in this vid?"

Facebook is blocked through my work so I couldn't check to see what vid it was. I was freaking out trying to figure out what I had done in my past that could have been videotaped and is it something that would upset my family or friends.

I ended up googling the phrase and it turns out it is a hoax email designed to spread a virus.

VictorV · **Joined:** Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:59 pm **Posts:** 1371

There's a Taco Bell near where I used to live that is infamous for giving back more money than you gave them. I got tired of going back in and explaining how to make change. What sucks is that it's the only Taco Bell that gets the order right the first time.

TMLCrow · **Posted:** Mon May 16, 2011 6:10 pm

Nanci · **Joined:** Sun Oct 31, 2004 11:48 am **Posts:** 4992

I saw that too Thad - it should be an eye opener for some. There are a lot of people who aren't cut out to work in an office and who would thrive in a trade but are discouraged from doing so because of the stigma attached to being a tradesperson.

Random Thoughts And Observations: The Sequel

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