I know its been a long time between posts, but such is life. Work continues to go well for me. I had a meeting with my HR rep which was nice. It was not a special meeting, just her annual face to face to keep in touch with her IT people. I came out of the meeting with a good feeling about working there and the possibility of advancing myself. It's nice to feel like people are looking out for you and interested in your development. Oddly, I seem to get along pretty well with HR and a certain type of management. I think it is obvious pretty quickly that I am pretty ambitious and motivated. I'm something of a "low hanging fruit" for people who's job it is to get their employees/clients advanced. When your advancement reflects well on other people and other people's ratings on how they are doing their jobs, it is a good thing to be an easy win for them. They are more inclined to give you help because they know it will come back to them more easily than a "tough case" type of person (which I also used to be and, not surprisingly, had little or no relationship with my HR and management). So that;s good.
In less great news, my uncle was killed in a car accident on the way home from my parents' house a little over a week ago. I had done Skype with them and Felix just two days before and seen him and my aunt talking and hanging out at my mom and dad's dinner table. Then on Friday I got the phone call from my brother. There's a way that someone says your name that you know they are about to give you bad news. I could tell that Dave was going to tell me something tragic even though he sounded calm and even keeled. When you get that call, you immediately assume the worst. I remember that as he said my name the second time (the kicker in the "I have bad news" greeting) my brain started to anesthetize, preparing for a really really bad piece of info. But I think my brain also picked out things that it used to remain calm and pre-judge the severity of the news. Even though I was intellectually gearing up for news that my mom or dad was injured or dead, something unconsciously ruled those things out. He started to tell me about my aunt and uncle leaving the house that morning and, I'll be honest, I felt terribly relieved. I knew that I could cope with that. I love my relatives, I truly do, and I'm very sad that anything bad should happen to them. But there's no denying that a child fears the death of a parent or sibling more than anything. An adult fears the death of a spouse, a child, or a close friend more than anything. I think you fall into one of those two categories automatically depending on the context of the news you receive. Since an uncle is not #1 on either of those lists, I knew that I'd be able to handle it without my life being turned upside down. Let me repeat, I love my uncle and have very fond memories of him, I mourn his loss. But I was incredibly relieved to find out that it wasn't any of my immediate family members that was the source of the bad news. After getting off the phone with Dave I sat and thought to myself, wondering quite uncomfortably why I wasn't feeling very broken up about it. Was it just that I was so relieved it wasn'ty mom or dad? Was it that I thought about how my uncle was just a really nice guy, but getting older, and luckily to not waste away? I'm sure he would have had many years ahead of him if not for the accident, but who can say? There is speculation that what killed him in the accident was quite possibly his heart giving out. Of course, if it wasn't that, it was definitely the trauma of the accident. Either way, he went quickly, which is ideal, I think.
Anyway...when someone you know dies, it causes you to think and review your own feelings and thoughts and what you believe in. It makes me wonder if I feel guilty for not being so upset BECAUSE I'm atheist or INSPITE OF being atheist? My initial reaction to the news was "Well that sucks. What can you do?" Which seems really sort of easy. No wondering and questioning and speculating about God's motives or etc...I know that accidents happen, nice people die, and there's nothing more to it than that. Do I feel bad for not feeling bad?
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Buyer's market?
No kidding. I am, of course, referring to the housing market. I must admit that right now would be the ideal time to get into the real estate business in the "Rich Dad Poor Dad" sense, the buy low, sell less low...
I mean, if you are in that business and you were picking up lots of properties in the past three years and now at full inventory you're probably screwed, but if you are just starting out, say you somehow have a bunch of money that you'd like to invest in real estate before the rebound starts, well, now is probably as good a time as any. People like me who are selling their homes not for profit but to remove the financial burden of owning the home, you'd be sitting pretty. I myself am looking into some options because I need to do SOMETHING in case we can't get renters placed pronto (and let me tell you, Pronto is slipping by quickly).
Anyway...if you have a bunch of cash laying around, I'd say wait about 2 more months and then buy your houses and whatnot. Then plan on owning those houses for the next seven to ten years, you know, until all of us who had our home ownership-worthy credit dashed on the rocks when we lost or short-sold our homes to you are able to start buying homes again.
I personally have no desire to own a house right now. It was a bit of a rush to own land and a home, but really I'm not in the place where a house is really a smart investment.
I mean, if you are in that business and you were picking up lots of properties in the past three years and now at full inventory you're probably screwed, but if you are just starting out, say you somehow have a bunch of money that you'd like to invest in real estate before the rebound starts, well, now is probably as good a time as any. People like me who are selling their homes not for profit but to remove the financial burden of owning the home, you'd be sitting pretty. I myself am looking into some options because I need to do SOMETHING in case we can't get renters placed pronto (and let me tell you, Pronto is slipping by quickly).
Anyway...if you have a bunch of cash laying around, I'd say wait about 2 more months and then buy your houses and whatnot. Then plan on owning those houses for the next seven to ten years, you know, until all of us who had our home ownership-worthy credit dashed on the rocks when we lost or short-sold our homes to you are able to start buying homes again.
I personally have no desire to own a house right now. It was a bit of a rush to own land and a home, but really I'm not in the place where a house is really a smart investment.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Whats up doc?
Yes, I've been pretty quiet on here lately. Anyway, lots going on, its "that time of year" in a lot of different ways. It's spring, it's tax time, it's time to get SOMETHING figured out about the house, be it renters or arm wrestling with the bank to avoid credit record apocalypse, etc.
We all do what we must to get by and stay sane, right? Right. So, one thing I'm doing is starting up a little side project. Unfortunately, this side project requires a little bit of anonymity so I'm not going to just point you all to the website because, well, what would the point of that be? Also, its not an incredibly brilliant project, so in many cases if you were to hear the concept you'd scratch your head and say, "Wha? You're doing what? I don't get it. I mean, I don't know why you're doing this. Is anyone actually doing it? I mean...what's the point?" And the point is...its the internet, stupid. Let's see if I can take a somewhat shaky idea, throw behind it all the mighty engines of the internets and pull something out of it, be it money, fame, or just warm fuzzy satisfaction that I actually turned one of my silly 11pm "Hey, wouldn't it be funny if..." ideas and tried to make it fly, or at least tried to see how far it could be thrown before rolling to a stop. So, unfortunately I will not be telling you anything more about this project except that I'm not putting much time into it at all. But I think its fun and it gives me something to scribble ideas about on the subway. And thats all I'm saying about that.
It is somewhat spring like, more and more each day. Today it got up to 60 degrees and tomorrow it is also supposed to be warm AND rainy! Sounds like spring to me! Never mind that we got -5 inches of snow this year. It got chilly. I only HAD to wear my woolen parka maybe a handful of times, and even then only because I was going to be outside for a couple hours at a time. Today I didn't even wear a jacket. I wore a short sleeve shirt! With an undershirt, of course (I'm not completely barbaric), but short sleeves none the less! Most New Yorkers are still wearing their winter or late fall coats and jackets. What a bunch of pussies. Like even the most surprising change of weather would land you in what, 40 degree weather for a few minutes? Rain? Gimme a break.
Felix is a dancing fiend. If it were appropriate, I'd post footage. But since this blog, as niche a readership as it has, is still public and so not a place where I am supposed to be posting videos of Felix. Not to worry. Perhaps on the next family video uplink we'll get him to show off his moves a bit.
And just in case you didn't know who you were supposed to be voting for (if and when you ever have the opportunity), it's Barack Obama. Whatever it is you heard that makes you worried or unsure, forget about all that. It just means you've got some issues with your poli-sci-centers in your brain. I'll take the heat on this one, I'll take it off your worried shoulders. You vote Barack because I said so and its just like you chose not to vote except that this time you actually did the right thing, see? Don't think about it too hard. Just vote. Barack.
We all do what we must to get by and stay sane, right? Right. So, one thing I'm doing is starting up a little side project. Unfortunately, this side project requires a little bit of anonymity so I'm not going to just point you all to the website because, well, what would the point of that be? Also, its not an incredibly brilliant project, so in many cases if you were to hear the concept you'd scratch your head and say, "Wha? You're doing what? I don't get it. I mean, I don't know why you're doing this. Is anyone actually doing it? I mean...what's the point?" And the point is...its the internet, stupid. Let's see if I can take a somewhat shaky idea, throw behind it all the mighty engines of the internets and pull something out of it, be it money, fame, or just warm fuzzy satisfaction that I actually turned one of my silly 11pm "Hey, wouldn't it be funny if..." ideas and tried to make it fly, or at least tried to see how far it could be thrown before rolling to a stop. So, unfortunately I will not be telling you anything more about this project except that I'm not putting much time into it at all. But I think its fun and it gives me something to scribble ideas about on the subway. And thats all I'm saying about that.
It is somewhat spring like, more and more each day. Today it got up to 60 degrees and tomorrow it is also supposed to be warm AND rainy! Sounds like spring to me! Never mind that we got -5 inches of snow this year. It got chilly. I only HAD to wear my woolen parka maybe a handful of times, and even then only because I was going to be outside for a couple hours at a time. Today I didn't even wear a jacket. I wore a short sleeve shirt! With an undershirt, of course (I'm not completely barbaric), but short sleeves none the less! Most New Yorkers are still wearing their winter or late fall coats and jackets. What a bunch of pussies. Like even the most surprising change of weather would land you in what, 40 degree weather for a few minutes? Rain? Gimme a break.
Felix is a dancing fiend. If it were appropriate, I'd post footage. But since this blog, as niche a readership as it has, is still public and so not a place where I am supposed to be posting videos of Felix. Not to worry. Perhaps on the next family video uplink we'll get him to show off his moves a bit.
And just in case you didn't know who you were supposed to be voting for (if and when you ever have the opportunity), it's Barack Obama. Whatever it is you heard that makes you worried or unsure, forget about all that. It just means you've got some issues with your poli-sci-centers in your brain. I'll take the heat on this one, I'll take it off your worried shoulders. You vote Barack because I said so and its just like you chose not to vote except that this time you actually did the right thing, see? Don't think about it too hard. Just vote. Barack.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Do yourself a favor
Watch this and pay attention.
Important dialog on Obama's recent Speech
In case you didn't get it when you heard the speech, maybe this will help.
Important dialog on Obama's recent Speech
In case you didn't get it when you heard the speech, maybe this will help.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
self-plug
I'm going to post my video-blogs, however infrequent, on premidlife-video. I think it makes more sense to keep the different styles of blogging seperate.
Also, we've discovered blogging heads. I came across it on the NYTimes website. I like the concept, I just wish there was a wider variety and more frequently added content. Actually, they do pretty well considering the high quality content.
Also, we've discovered blogging heads. I came across it on the NYTimes website. I like the concept, I just wish there was a wider variety and more frequently added content. Actually, they do pretty well considering the high quality content.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
never ending story
no, in this case I'm not talking about dad's medical situation. Instead, i'm talking about Felix's "medical" situation. Anyway, he's had a cough of various shapes and sizes since about October and as you know at the end of December he had a rip-roaring ear infection followed by a stomach virus a couple weeks ago, followed by instructions by our pediatrician to go ahead and take the amoxicillin we didn't use before because Felix still had fluid behind his ear drum and she was afraid it would turn into a sinus infection. So a week ago we started him on his amoxicillin. During that time his mood has greatly improved though his nose has not. In fact, he now has a cruddy hacking cough and runny nose, and some sneezing too. Clear snot, though, for the most part. Well, last night he looked like he was starting to get a rash. light pink spots all over his chest and even on his face. Hrm. Well, this morning it seemed a bit more pronounced. And when I got home from work today the kid looked painfully rashy, covered head to toe in a dark pink rash. The thing of it was, despite looking terribly rashy, he was perfectly happy, in fact in some ways seems even happier than he has been, just following the trajectory of his "recovery" I guess. So, he looks horrible...looking at him makes me feel like scratching myself all over. But he doesn't appear the be itchy at all, or even uncomfortable at all.
So it's pretty disturbing to look at. I get on webMD and look up chicken pox. Well, maybe, but it seems to be too dense of a rash for chicken pox. Then we look up measles and, holy shit, it looks just like measles! But he was vaccinated (I looked at his records, he got them at the beginning of the summer) and measles is supposed to be incredibly rare in the USA. Hrm. Andrea's freaked out because she thinks he may have an immune defficiency. Now, in most cases that seems a little nuts, but given my family's medical history (my brother had an immune problem when he was a baby...got chicken pox 3 times!) its not something you can just rule out. The nanny thought the rash was caused by the only thing that was different between yesterday and today, which is that he was eating red grapes yesterday and today. Ok, logical, rational, not unreasonable...but when you see pictures of measles and they look just like whats on Felix, its hard to shake it. I keep thinking, "Well, we know it's not bacterial because he's been on antibiotics for seven days now. If it is caused by a virus, there's nothing they can do but treat the symptoms, which he has none of. No fever, no soar throat, no aches, not vomiting or diarrhea, no pneumonia. The kid is happy as pigs in mud. So what do we do?" We of course get on the old Google-o-meter and start looking for pictures of rashes. It certainly looks like measles (you can google "looks like measles") but despite the endless pages and pictures describing and documenting measles, they all have something very much in common: they almost immediately state how rare it is for anyone in the US to contract measles IN the US. So then i get to thinking...he's been on the amoxicillin for a week, maybe its related to that? The drug info says it can cause a rash, hives, siezures, and death. Have you ever really read the list of possible side-effects on any prescription drug? Good grief.
Anyway...so I google "Amoxicillin rash" and BADA_BING. Describes a rash that shows up between day 5 and day 16 of amoxicillin cycle, is not itchy or irritating at all, and goes away in a few days. I then look for pictures and again, find amoxicillin rash that looks EXACTLY like what Felix's rash looks like. Big sigh of relief.
That's not to say that's exactly what it is, but so far it makes the most sense. Also, it lets us know that if he does start to show other symptoms we can rule in or out that or other things and take him to the doctor. But really, unless he starts acting sick or his rash turns into big hairy eyeballs all over his body, we're not going to worry too much.
Go google.
So it's pretty disturbing to look at. I get on webMD and look up chicken pox. Well, maybe, but it seems to be too dense of a rash for chicken pox. Then we look up measles and, holy shit, it looks just like measles! But he was vaccinated (I looked at his records, he got them at the beginning of the summer) and measles is supposed to be incredibly rare in the USA. Hrm. Andrea's freaked out because she thinks he may have an immune defficiency. Now, in most cases that seems a little nuts, but given my family's medical history (my brother had an immune problem when he was a baby...got chicken pox 3 times!) its not something you can just rule out. The nanny thought the rash was caused by the only thing that was different between yesterday and today, which is that he was eating red grapes yesterday and today. Ok, logical, rational, not unreasonable...but when you see pictures of measles and they look just like whats on Felix, its hard to shake it. I keep thinking, "Well, we know it's not bacterial because he's been on antibiotics for seven days now. If it is caused by a virus, there's nothing they can do but treat the symptoms, which he has none of. No fever, no soar throat, no aches, not vomiting or diarrhea, no pneumonia. The kid is happy as pigs in mud. So what do we do?" We of course get on the old Google-o-meter and start looking for pictures of rashes. It certainly looks like measles (you can google "looks like measles") but despite the endless pages and pictures describing and documenting measles, they all have something very much in common: they almost immediately state how rare it is for anyone in the US to contract measles IN the US. So then i get to thinking...he's been on the amoxicillin for a week, maybe its related to that? The drug info says it can cause a rash, hives, siezures, and death. Have you ever really read the list of possible side-effects on any prescription drug? Good grief.
Anyway...so I google "Amoxicillin rash" and BADA_BING. Describes a rash that shows up between day 5 and day 16 of amoxicillin cycle, is not itchy or irritating at all, and goes away in a few days. I then look for pictures and again, find amoxicillin rash that looks EXACTLY like what Felix's rash looks like. Big sigh of relief.
That's not to say that's exactly what it is, but so far it makes the most sense. Also, it lets us know that if he does start to show other symptoms we can rule in or out that or other things and take him to the doctor. But really, unless he starts acting sick or his rash turns into big hairy eyeballs all over his body, we're not going to worry too much.
Go google.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
mr. mom
I stayed home with Felix again today because our nanny called in sick this morning. On the one hand, its great that I can do that but on the other hand...it would be nice if we had some sort of back-up child care so that when this happens (and I'm sure it will) again it doesn't have to throw mine or Andrea's day into chaos. Despite it all, I managed to work from home for a couple hours and make some serious headway on a problem/new area of development. The wonders of virtual infrastructure...
Anyway, I also managed to record a short video blog but its not a good one so I think it will end up in the bin.
Felix had his 18 month appointment on Tuesday. The doc looked in his ears and told us that we should go ahead on use the oral antibiotic prescription that we got two weeks ago when Felix had his eardrum burst. She said she could see some fluid still back there so she advised that we run through the course of amoxicillin to keep it from turning into a sinus infection. Seems like she was just in time too, since Felix has started to get very cranky and needy like he did when he was sick. I think its mostly due to some heightened teething activity (I think his molars are doing the heave-ho or something). Poor kid. So, the results of his appt? low % weight, high % height. He's slim and tall. The doc was asking the diagnostic questions and the first one just totally threw me.
"Can he run?" I blinked at her.
"What?"
"Can he run? You know, he'll be probably a little stiff in the legs at first but..."
"OH. Right. Yeah he runs. It's all he does. Can he sit still, that's the real question!"
etc.
He runs, flips pages in a book, had 15-20 "words", he definitely seems to understand us, he feeds himself, he can drink from a cup, he can drive a car, he can vote, etc...
So, yeah. it was a bit of a rough day, had its moments. I look forward to not staying home tomorrow.
Anyway, I also managed to record a short video blog but its not a good one so I think it will end up in the bin.
Felix had his 18 month appointment on Tuesday. The doc looked in his ears and told us that we should go ahead on use the oral antibiotic prescription that we got two weeks ago when Felix had his eardrum burst. She said she could see some fluid still back there so she advised that we run through the course of amoxicillin to keep it from turning into a sinus infection. Seems like she was just in time too, since Felix has started to get very cranky and needy like he did when he was sick. I think its mostly due to some heightened teething activity (I think his molars are doing the heave-ho or something). Poor kid. So, the results of his appt? low % weight, high % height. He's slim and tall. The doc was asking the diagnostic questions and the first one just totally threw me.
"Can he run?" I blinked at her.
"What?"
"Can he run? You know, he'll be probably a little stiff in the legs at first but..."
"OH. Right. Yeah he runs. It's all he does. Can he sit still, that's the real question!"
etc.
He runs, flips pages in a book, had 15-20 "words", he definitely seems to understand us, he feeds himself, he can drink from a cup, he can drive a car, he can vote, etc...
So, yeah. it was a bit of a rough day, had its moments. I look forward to not staying home tomorrow.
Monday, January 21, 2008
MLK
Hey, guess what holiday I'm not used to having off from work is being celebrated today, by me, at work?
Yes. I come in and the hallway is dark and there's one guy here and he seems surprised to see me.
I asked, "Are we closed?" and he says (verbatim), "It's a holiday dude!"
"Oh...well, I'm here today."
Yeah, well this threw me a little bit. See, MLK is Jan 15th and today is Jan 21. But I guess MLK is like Presidents day where it may BE on a particular date but for some reason it is recognized on a specific Monday (providing everyone with a 3-day weekend). Also, for the past seven years I've worked in a place where MLK was not specifically a day off from work. You could take it off, to be sure, (you'd get some weird looks if you are whitey, though). I don't even know if schools kids get the day off in the middle west where I'm technically from. But here in NYC, they place is rather ghosty. I got to sit down on the ride in.
Well, just was well, since i was out for the last half of last week due to illness (and covering for the ill). And after that super long "weekend" I was not going to be staying home today. No sir-ee bob. So Andrea and i might meet up later and go see a movie.
Yes. I come in and the hallway is dark and there's one guy here and he seems surprised to see me.
I asked, "Are we closed?" and he says (verbatim), "It's a holiday dude!"
"Oh...well, I'm here today."
Yeah, well this threw me a little bit. See, MLK is Jan 15th and today is Jan 21. But I guess MLK is like Presidents day where it may BE on a particular date but for some reason it is recognized on a specific Monday (providing everyone with a 3-day weekend). Also, for the past seven years I've worked in a place where MLK was not specifically a day off from work. You could take it off, to be sure, (you'd get some weird looks if you are whitey, though). I don't even know if schools kids get the day off in the middle west where I'm technically from. But here in NYC, they place is rather ghosty. I got to sit down on the ride in.
Well, just was well, since i was out for the last half of last week due to illness (and covering for the ill). And after that super long "weekend" I was not going to be staying home today. No sir-ee bob. So Andrea and i might meet up later and go see a movie.
Friday, January 11, 2008
effing aholes
Despite having been seriously rained on earlier in the day, I was having a fairly nice Friday. However, on the elevator ride down to the street level (I'm on the 11th floor) at the 10thf floor two guys got in, a middle aged white guy and a youngish (late 20's maybe) hispanic or asian (or perhaps both) guy. They obviously worked together. It was these two guys and myself in the elevator only. The older guy says something, I don't know what, but nothing too out of the ordinary. The younger guy says, and not quietly, "That fucking bitch." The other guy says something neutral, sort of how you talk to someone you are trying not to rile up, but also not really trying to encourage them either. "God! That fat fucking...I hate that bitch." It quickly becomes clear that Mr. foul mouth is unhappy with some woman he works with, most likely his boss or someone else above him. Possibly someone on his level that he's in competition with, but I get the feeling its someone over him. But here's the thing...this asshole is just swearing left and right about this woman and here I am, complete stranger, trapped in the elevator with him and his non-confrontational schmoe co-worker. What kind of inconsiderate asshole thinks its OK to do that in an elevator? It makes me so mad, I've been having elevator revenge fantasies all night. What a fucking jerk.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
weekly
Odd, it feels like I've been blogging every day, yet there's nary a posty between here and a week ago. In truth, since the new year (since Dec 25th, actually) I've been journaling on paper while I wait for and ride the train to and from work. This is both helpful and a hindrance because I am more free to write my thoughts in my private journal but I also find I put a lot of content in there that would also end up here for general consumption but that never makes it here because, well, who has time (or motivation) to transcribe and edit one's handwritten personal journal for a publicly available edition for blog? Not I.
So, here's the weekly roundup:
Felix - 200% better than before.
Will & Andrea - worse, better, better.
Glen - Honestly, tonight id the first time I've seen him since my last post.
Work - great. getting busier all the time. I have to come up with some annual objectives. If nothing else, working at Target more than prepared me for the kinds of HR hoops you have to jump through in any company that actually has an HR department.
Play - what? what's that? oh, been dabbling with my webcam and that security cam from A's dad. By tomorrow I should be able to cobble together a little pirate studio. The only problem with the webcam is that it's, well, very cheap and very low quality. The few times we've done skype between NYC and the middle-west they said I looked like I was starring in one of those Al Quaeda videos that they shoot in the mountain caves of Afghanistan. That and my laptop mic-jack is somewhat unreliable. But anyway, hopefully the ATM-cam will provide much better video quality. With that in place, hopefully we can make the most of things like Skype and perhaps I'll start video blogging. Why not? everyone else is doing it.
Dad - Dad had his surgery today and though it took longer and was "more difficult" than expected, it was without complication and as far as we know, successful. No news on the actual effectiveness until Monday, or maybe Tuesday.
So, here's the weekly roundup:
Felix - 200% better than before.
Will & Andrea - worse, better, better.
Glen - Honestly, tonight id the first time I've seen him since my last post.
Work - great. getting busier all the time. I have to come up with some annual objectives. If nothing else, working at Target more than prepared me for the kinds of HR hoops you have to jump through in any company that actually has an HR department.
Play - what? what's that? oh, been dabbling with my webcam and that security cam from A's dad. By tomorrow I should be able to cobble together a little pirate studio. The only problem with the webcam is that it's, well, very cheap and very low quality. The few times we've done skype between NYC and the middle-west they said I looked like I was starring in one of those Al Quaeda videos that they shoot in the mountain caves of Afghanistan. That and my laptop mic-jack is somewhat unreliable. But anyway, hopefully the ATM-cam will provide much better video quality. With that in place, hopefully we can make the most of things like Skype and perhaps I'll start video blogging. Why not? everyone else is doing it.
Dad - Dad had his surgery today and though it took longer and was "more difficult" than expected, it was without complication and as far as we know, successful. No news on the actual effectiveness until Monday, or maybe Tuesday.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
doh
not able to update much this week. Felix has been steadily getting better but also morphing symptoms. The rest of us have been somewhere between getting worse and getting better. I feel like crap most of the time, had fever and chills last night. Felix can be happy one moment and then suddenly cranky, usually with his fist stuck all the way in his mouth. Tonight he did it again and some fluid started draining from his ear. Then he was magically a super happy old Felix. Eating and laughing and dancing and playing...but still leaking from his ear. So we called his peed office (after calling grandma first) and the doc told us the same thing that mom said. Burst ear drum, nothing more to do, treat fever with tylenol/motrin, see you in the morning. I'm sure I will be one of many people lined up outside the Dr. office at 9am, but whatever. Every day this week I've emailed my boss saying "I'm probably going to be late or out today because of Felix" and I always end up going in, usually not too much later than usual. Well, tonight I PROMISED I was going to be in late. I wouldn't be surprised if we show up at 9 and wait until 5 to be seen.
Otherwise, things seem to be ok. It is now 2008, which means I instantl,y accrused 2 weeks of vacation. Not that I'm able to go anywhere, what wit our most uncertain conditions of our real estate in MN, the health of our son and ourselves, and of course, a brimming work schedule. But hey, Suzanne is etting married so we'll have to get back to the middle west at least for that.
The house is being thawed out slowly. The disaster recovery guy said, "The good news is, there doesn't appear to be much additional damage being caused by the melted water. It all seems to be ending up in the basement." Seems odd to me that they thaw out the pipes to ALLOW damage to take place before fixing it. I guess it is easier to locate all the leaks when the melting water is allowed to do more damage...in a weird way. I mean, I guess they are going to fix everything so I shouldn't care if they tear the whole house down before building it back up, so long as it is the same or better when they are through.
Otherwise, things seem to be ok. It is now 2008, which means I instantl,y accrused 2 weeks of vacation. Not that I'm able to go anywhere, what wit our most uncertain conditions of our real estate in MN, the health of our son and ourselves, and of course, a brimming work schedule. But hey, Suzanne is etting married so we'll have to get back to the middle west at least for that.
The house is being thawed out slowly. The disaster recovery guy said, "The good news is, there doesn't appear to be much additional damage being caused by the melted water. It all seems to be ending up in the basement." Seems odd to me that they thaw out the pipes to ALLOW damage to take place before fixing it. I guess it is easier to locate all the leaks when the melting water is allowed to do more damage...in a weird way. I mean, I guess they are going to fix everything so I shouldn't care if they tear the whole house down before building it back up, so long as it is the same or better when they are through.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
plot thickens
so...we didn't make it to monday. an hour after his last dose of motrin, felix's fever got worse. he was breathing fast and shaking and his armpit temp was 103.1. "ok," I said, "lets go to the ER." this was at about 11:30pm. when we checked in at the ER his rectal temp was 104.1. felix has very accurate armpits, it appears. and so they gave him tylenol I think and his temp was last recorded at 102.something. we've seen a doctor and are now just hanging out waiting to get his chest xrayed. we are up past everyones bed times. i'm supposed to go to work tomorrow but we'll see how that goes...
end in sight?
with the new year upon us I find several plots hopefully coming to an end, or at least taking a mid-season break:
icehouse 2007 - insured! but what else will happen next?!
feverboy - this is hopefully a pre-new years cliffhanger subplot arc that will resolve itself before 08. basically, sometime saturday felix pitched a fever. could have started in the AM but we gave him motrin for teething so we never noticed the fever until the afternoon when he woke up from his nap. highest recorded was 102.5. we called the nurse line to find out when and where to take him. then called his peed office and the oncall doc called back. he said we can treat the fever with tylenol and motrin to get through the weekend and if he's still feverish on Monday then they will see him there. he goes up and down during the day and obviously his nap schedule is blown all to hell. Its really strange to have this child be so unlike his usual self, tired and cranky and wanting to do nothing but lie still because he's so hot and feeling sick and then two hours later he seems completely back to normal for about two hours and then he slides right back down to the previous feverish state. I was really fantasizing that he would break out of this fever cycle sometime today but the later it gets the more I'm beginning to feel like he and Andrea will be going to the doctor tomorrow. or maybe I'll take him. Nobody will care if I am in to work late tomorrow, especially with a good reason like a sick toddler.
Have I mentioned lately how amazing he is? He is. Truly amazing. He communicates fairly well, he's a super monkey ninja toddler, for real, and he's still just about the cutes thing ever ever EVER. Really.
icehouse 2007 - insured! but what else will happen next?!
feverboy - this is hopefully a pre-new years cliffhanger subplot arc that will resolve itself before 08. basically, sometime saturday felix pitched a fever. could have started in the AM but we gave him motrin for teething so we never noticed the fever until the afternoon when he woke up from his nap. highest recorded was 102.5. we called the nurse line to find out when and where to take him. then called his peed office and the oncall doc called back. he said we can treat the fever with tylenol and motrin to get through the weekend and if he's still feverish on Monday then they will see him there. he goes up and down during the day and obviously his nap schedule is blown all to hell. Its really strange to have this child be so unlike his usual self, tired and cranky and wanting to do nothing but lie still because he's so hot and feeling sick and then two hours later he seems completely back to normal for about two hours and then he slides right back down to the previous feverish state. I was really fantasizing that he would break out of this fever cycle sometime today but the later it gets the more I'm beginning to feel like he and Andrea will be going to the doctor tomorrow. or maybe I'll take him. Nobody will care if I am in to work late tomorrow, especially with a good reason like a sick toddler.
Have I mentioned lately how amazing he is? He is. Truly amazing. He communicates fairly well, he's a super monkey ninja toddler, for real, and he's still just about the cutes thing ever ever EVER. Really.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Xtra xmas
well, i got the word from our adjuster today and WE'RE COVERED! woo!
I'm sure that this process will be less than painless, but at least we're over the first (and hopefully the greatest) hurdle. At the very least, I feel a lot better today and a lot less stressed out. now if only I could get in touch with anyone to share the good news...
I'm sure that this process will be less than painless, but at least we're over the first (and hopefully the greatest) hurdle. At the very least, I feel a lot better today and a lot less stressed out. now if only I could get in touch with anyone to share the good news...
Monday, December 24, 2007
eve
As I grow up and my family becomes larger and more geographically dispersed, I realize how arbitrary holidays are. Their primary purpose to me and my family is to server as a starting point to the conversation which results in some sort of agreement about when, where, and how to get together. This getting together is the primary purpose of the event, not the underlying mythology or story or event that originally marks the day that starts the aforementioned conversation. I guess these things are useful because without these arbitrary traditions, people wouldn't do the same sort of things.
Seriously, how many people do you know would just agree that on some specific day they would give gifts to nearly everyone they know in some form or another? Mostly gifts of "thought" but for their closest friends and families it might add up to some very significant expense. Who would do that just out of the blue? Nobody. It has to start small. But it essentailly starts the same way. SOmeone has a story about a day and someone else says, "Hey, you know what? We should give our kids a cookie on that day. And a cokkie to our friends, etc. et.c" and so on and then advertisers get involved and soon you have Santa Claus and all sorts of ridiculous expectations like fur coats and iPods.
I like the getting together part. I'm sad to not be able to have the big get together live and in person with my extended family, but we are planning to have our own first xmas tomorrow (or second, really). It will hopefully bring some respite from the possible bad mojo looming over our heads.
Merry xmas, happy holidays everyone.
Seriously, how many people do you know would just agree that on some specific day they would give gifts to nearly everyone they know in some form or another? Mostly gifts of "thought" but for their closest friends and families it might add up to some very significant expense. Who would do that just out of the blue? Nobody. It has to start small. But it essentailly starts the same way. SOmeone has a story about a day and someone else says, "Hey, you know what? We should give our kids a cookie on that day. And a cokkie to our friends, etc. et.c" and so on and then advertisers get involved and soon you have Santa Claus and all sorts of ridiculous expectations like fur coats and iPods.
I like the getting together part. I'm sad to not be able to have the big get together live and in person with my extended family, but we are planning to have our own first xmas tomorrow (or second, really). It will hopefully bring some respite from the possible bad mojo looming over our heads.
Merry xmas, happy holidays everyone.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
how far up the hill do you live?
the hill I'm referring to is the one that all the shit is constantly rolling down. As anyone firmly planted in the real world knows, this is not a nicely sloping hill either. It has some very steep drops and some very flat middle parts and I think at the foot is actually an above-ground swimming pool that is fed by the constant stream. At this point, I don't feel like I'm living at the bottom of the hill, but I do feel very much like I'm living in a bit of a valley or a wide pass where the shit tends to hit hard suddenly and circle around a bit until we manage to shovel it over the lip of the downward side. Right now I'm looking for my shovels.
Friday, December 07, 2007
train writer
I have had relatively good luck with
using my transit time for scribbling down
my ideas, pieces of dialog, even whole
sections of prose in my handcrafted
notebook while riding to or from work.
The hardest part is doing it when the
train is really crowded. On those
occasions I opt to read instead, or
watch a show if I have any queued up.
using my transit time for scribbling down
my ideas, pieces of dialog, even whole
sections of prose in my handcrafted
notebook while riding to or from work.
The hardest part is doing it when the
train is really crowded. On those
occasions I opt to read instead, or
watch a show if I have any queued up.
Friday, November 30, 2007
easy like friday evening
having a quiet night at home. Felix is down for the night. Andrea and Glen are off at an event. i'm finally getting some time to sit and collect my thoughts, have a little "me" time...and I'm wasting it all sitting here writing on my blog :(
Actually, what I'll probably do in the next hour is turn on a show I haven't had time to watch on the way to or from work (I re-encode them for playback on my pocket PC and watch on the train) while i do the dishes.
so, whats happening...I now have library cards for both the Brooklyn public library and the New York public library (see: Manhattan, The Bronx, Staten Island). I actually have two books on reserve and waiting for me to pick up at the branch three blocks from our house. The problem is, as with most libraries, they're never open during hours that normally employed people can actually visit them (hence the sense that sometimes library target demographic is truant children and the unemployed). I'll pick them up tomorrow, I hope...never know if a library is going to be open on the weekend. I know that the central (Brooklyn) branch is open on weekends, but you never know about the smaller branches. Those are the ones that have hours like 11am-2pm. What? That's not a schedule, that's a friggin nap!
I have finally finished getting the ball rolling to get the house rented out. now the property management company will be doing whatever it does to try and find a renter. I suspect that the $$ for "advertising" is bullshit since they're probably just posting a listing on their own website, but hey, you never know. maybe they do list with newspapers and real estate services, etc. they stand to make more money with people in the house than without. of course, they don't lose anythign by having it empty either. whatever. I'm just hoping that they find a/some good tenants and we can get on with it all.
actually, after I finish the dishes, I should really try to do some writing exercises. yes, it is that time of year when I start saying I'm going to try to start writing again, or wish i was writing again, or try harder to write, or mope about not being able to write...other than the visual verbal stain I leave on this blog every so often. but you know...we're in New York where everyone is a part time actor/writer/artist/something. why not me too? being realistic, I'm not going to be practicing aikido anytime soon, so I should try and find other hobbies that can more easily fit into my schedule...so basically for times like this.
anywhoo...I'm off to do some dishes and listen to a show.
happy whatever you feel like being happy about this time of year. seems like most people around me are swimming in bad news and bad mojo (not any of us, but definitely some of you). be happy for something.
i would be a little more relieved and relaxed than I usually am this time of year because of the house...if not for that i'd probably be feeling my holiday happiest this year, happier than i have been in years past.
Actually, what I'll probably do in the next hour is turn on a show I haven't had time to watch on the way to or from work (I re-encode them for playback on my pocket PC and watch on the train) while i do the dishes.
so, whats happening...I now have library cards for both the Brooklyn public library and the New York public library (see: Manhattan, The Bronx, Staten Island). I actually have two books on reserve and waiting for me to pick up at the branch three blocks from our house. The problem is, as with most libraries, they're never open during hours that normally employed people can actually visit them (hence the sense that sometimes library target demographic is truant children and the unemployed). I'll pick them up tomorrow, I hope...never know if a library is going to be open on the weekend. I know that the central (Brooklyn) branch is open on weekends, but you never know about the smaller branches. Those are the ones that have hours like 11am-2pm. What? That's not a schedule, that's a friggin nap!
I have finally finished getting the ball rolling to get the house rented out. now the property management company will be doing whatever it does to try and find a renter. I suspect that the $$ for "advertising" is bullshit since they're probably just posting a listing on their own website, but hey, you never know. maybe they do list with newspapers and real estate services, etc. they stand to make more money with people in the house than without. of course, they don't lose anythign by having it empty either. whatever. I'm just hoping that they find a/some good tenants and we can get on with it all.
actually, after I finish the dishes, I should really try to do some writing exercises. yes, it is that time of year when I start saying I'm going to try to start writing again, or wish i was writing again, or try harder to write, or mope about not being able to write...other than the visual verbal stain I leave on this blog every so often. but you know...we're in New York where everyone is a part time actor/writer/artist/something. why not me too? being realistic, I'm not going to be practicing aikido anytime soon, so I should try and find other hobbies that can more easily fit into my schedule...so basically for times like this.
anywhoo...I'm off to do some dishes and listen to a show.
happy whatever you feel like being happy about this time of year. seems like most people around me are swimming in bad news and bad mojo (not any of us, but definitely some of you). be happy for something.
i would be a little more relieved and relaxed than I usually am this time of year because of the house...if not for that i'd probably be feeling my holiday happiest this year, happier than i have been in years past.
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