Bucket List reflections

Entertaining movie; worth the watch. As it started to unfold and death was chasing both Edward and Carter I started to think about my father's experience with cancer. I did not expect this to happen when the movie first began, but the parallels were so striking that I had no choice.

His experience was nothing like theirs. He was given six months to live upon diagnosis and six months he got. There was no jet setting around the globe or random acts of fun. There was hospital, chemo, bed, repeat. All along, we were fortunate enough to watch his quality of life steadily decline.

I was a senior in college at the time and came home when I could. He was diagnosed shortly before Thanksgiving in 1998 at the ripe age of 60. That means I spent Christmas, New Years and a few random moments with him that I now savor as my last. He did not make it to see me graduate from college; the saddest part of the whole story. He missed Commencement by four days.

I struggled to enjoy my final days as a college senior before the big, bad real world would come down upon me. Several changes were all about to happen at once. I graduated from college thereby losing my current circle of friends and way of life that I had gotten used to for the past four years, my sister moved out of state to pursue her dreams and my father passed. For those at home, I lost three things when I gained my diploma:
1)College
2)Sister
3)Father

Sice then, Mom and I have been keeping the clocks on time and trying to make sure all is good. I lived with Mom for two years after graduating before I ventured out on my own. It was time and she was stable. Finances were in order and we needed time apart.

I'm in a much better place now. It's been 9 years since I lost my father to pancreatic and liver cancer and every day is a new challenge. I still carry the torch he passed on to me many years ago and it continues to fuel my fire in my personal life and professional career. That torch has pissed off more than a few individuals along the way. That's their problem. They need to toughen up and get with it. Your life is not that bad. Neither is mine; this is not a "woe is me" post, but rather a reflection upon how some feel that life is tough for them. It can get a whole lot tougher in one instant; one announcement - Daddy's sick.

Great outing today

I'm a Sox fan, but went to a game at Wrigley. It's an annual thing I've been doing with two co-workers since the summer of 2000 which makes this our 9th game.

It started out just the three of us - Joe, Derk and myself. Derk is the Cubs fan and his birthday was this week. Each year, we gather for a Friday home game around his birthday to watch his team and then go out for some drinks and food after. Some years, it's been a very late night of pub crawling but as of late we stay more under control and everyone heads home by 10pm. Myself, I was on the 8:40 train tonight. I had my fill and needed to prep up for a familly reunion tomorrow in Michigan. More on that later.

Generator

OMG, I have reached the pinnacle of suburban living when I need a generator; and this thing is super cool. Well, it's super cool if you like tools and electricity and having the lights stay on for hours after there is a major storm that rolls in and takes out the electricity for 18 hours (see my post about Father's Day).

This year alone (2008), we have had about 4 electrical failures. One of them lasted all day long on Father's Day and the others were less lengthy, but long enough to threaten the (refrigerator-keep) milk supply of a nursing mother. Once we nearly lost that 4-day supply, Katie had enough and we decided it was worth the expense.

We pony'd up for the 10HP 5500 watt model from Briggs and Stratton. Additionally, I purchased a transfer switch to so that we can plug the generator into our house and power certain electrical circuits. We don't need to run extension cords through the windows/doors and plug in our refrigerator. This thing will power the outlets that all our electronics are already plugged into. That means the Internet, TiVo, TV, lights, computers and furnace all stay powered up by this generator. If you are curious as to how a manual transfer switch works and why it's really neat, here are a few links:

www.green-trust.org/generator/genny_install.htm

www.reliancecontrols.com/Stream/ProTranInstall/ProTranPlayer_T1.aspx

I've been fascinated with generators and electricity since I was a child. We had a generator when I was growing up - a 1200 watt Sears Craftsman. It ran and ran and ran. It only provided 1200 watts of power, so you were basically limited to one freezer or fridge back then. We had to switch the extension cords back and forth from the kitchen to the basement. It was a pain. On top of that, it only ran for a few hours because it had a small gas tank. Today's generators are much better; the one I have provides 5500 watts of power and has a runtime of over 10 hours per tank. While I don't look forward to having a power failure, I like to know that I am ready to light up when the time comes.

Allergies - revisited

So I don't have allergies (as some have suggested). I know this because 1)Claritin did not help me and 2)allergies don't create yellow/green phlegm (AFAIK) or body aches and pains...

I haven't been able to sleep for more than two consecutive hours since Tuesday and it's taking its toll. I can't talk (work was hell Thursday and Friday) and I have a sore throat so I cannot swallow anything. I can't smell so even comfort foods don't help.

At the suggestion of my co-worker Roger, I have started taking Mucinex-D. I have to say it gets things moving, but it's no miracle worker. I've taken three tablets (read horse pills) so far.

Allergies?

I've felt bad for the past week with body aches, a sore throat, sinus congestion, shivvering and a general malaise. I don't have allergies to anything that I'm aware of. I've tried Dayquil/Nyquil, Sudafed and a Walgeens generic. Today I start with some OTC Claritin. Let's see how that goes.

UPDATE 3:30pm - Claritin was no help. Pain everywhere. Need sleep. Can't communicate.

And another one's down

I took out yet another tree-like bush in the back yard. It only took two minutes to "chop" it down via reciprocating saw (love 18v DeWalt gear), 15 minutes to dig up the stump and another 15 minutes to backfill/seed/fertilize/water. I love it when a plan comes together.

A/C help is on the way

Jim, Brian's Brother-in-law (who fixed the gas line to my furnace last winter), will come out and replace the worn out fan and anything else that comes along. He's cutting me a deal which is nice. It can get pricey in a hurry. ETA 9:30pm

A/C out at home

We went out shopping for 90 minutes and came home to a warm house. The thermostat was okay, so I went to see if the breaker was blown for the compressor outside. That was fine. I went outside and could hear the compressor trying to do something, but the cooling fan was not blowing any air and the compressor was very hot.

My souces tell me it's either the blower motor or the capacitor. I didn't wake up this morning with the intention of learning how central air works, but add that hat to the list...

http://home.howstuffworks.com/ac3.htm

You care that much?

Who lines up to buy a cell phone hours before the store opens? Apple gadget people, that's who. Rediculous. It proves the fact over again how much the 'cool' factor trumps true functionality. A smart phone is for business, not to say, "Hey, I can do this or that" with no real application to a need. Drives me nuts.

On call

Man, this is getting old. At what age is it appropriate to say that I'm too old to be a pager guy. I'm not a doctor; I'm an IS Manager, but I seem to be the primary point of contact at all hours. It's been a long week and there's still one more day (gee whiz Friday) and the weekend (working both Saturday and Sunday) and then it continues all through next week. No. Time. Off. See my post about "Opportunities".

I am in my basement on a conference call about an issue that's been lingering for 36 hours for an important client. We have no idea what's going on and no idea when we'll have resolution. I have 4 family members that came over for dinner and I have yet to greet them or even eat for that matter. I may not have the opportunity for either.

I have colleagues that complain over and over about "meetings" as if they are the worst thing that can happen to you at work. 'Oh no, I have to sit in a room with others and discuss things.' I can think of at least a dozen things in the working world that are worse than that. Let's keep everything in perspective.

Soccer

Just leaving soccer. Actually played well for taking three weeks off for one reason or another. Scored a goal off my left foot from 25 yards out; upper 90. NEVER done that before. I had to walk away smiling...

Raw

I love Netflix. With some free time late last night, we decided to take in a "watch instant" movie download from Netflix. Somehow, Eddie Murphy's "Raw" showed up as a new release. I have never seen it before (if you can believe that) so we decided to stream it for some comedic relief.

It wasn't all that funny. Sure, it was vulgar and profane and all the things you want as an adult that they can't do on "Last Comic Standing". It just seemed like it was trying too hard. Maybe it was funny back in 1987, but not 20 years later.

It makes me want to go back and watch "Delierious". That's what I thought I was seeing. They both have the same connotation in my memory banks. Oh well, that was that. Maybe I was too stressed out to open up and enjoy the comedy. Katie was laughing for most of it. I was unmoved.

Get Smart

Saw 'Get Smart' Thursday during my vacation day. It was nearly one year since Katie and I had seen a movie in the theatre. Wow how time flies by. There were only about 20 people in the theater; very nice. I liked the movie. It had its moments with Max and '99'. The best scene had to be when Max (Steve Carrell) tries to break free from his zip-tie handcuffs in an airplane bathroom by using his Swiss Army Knife cross-bow. Hilarity. I had to cover my mouth I was laughing so loud. All in all, I would give it three stars.

Happy Birthday, America

It's been great knowing you the past 31 years. Don't go changin'.

Vacation Day!

I have a vacation day tomorrow (and then a holiday on the 4th)! Everyone wants to know what I'm going to do with it. For one, I'm not going to work. I'm going to spend time with my wife. They ask, "Don't you spend time with her at home each and every day?" You see, that's the sad thing. I see her about one hour a day and none of it is quality time. The rest of the time she's attending to our daughter and I'm in the basement hammering away on this laptop working to support an insupportable application that will never go away. I've really been earning my salary these past few months.

Opportunies

They always seem to come knocking when you're least prepared to embrace them.

The Tast of Chicago

Went there for lunch today. I guess I do get outside...

Folsum Prison Blues

Some days I feel like I'm stuck in Folsum Prison... I can't see out a window, but I know it's nice outside and I feel traped in an office all day long. I don't have time off, I'm always on, always supporting and trapped under a pile of work. It gets really old. We watched "Walk the Line" again last night; happened to catch it on cable. What a great movie.

"I hear that train a-commin', it's rollin' around the bend.
And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when.
I'm stuck in Folsom prison and time keeps draggin' on.
But that train keeps a-rollin' on down to San Antone.

When I was just a baby, my mama told me, son.
Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns.
But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.
When I hear that whistle blowin', I hang my head and cry.

I bet there's rich folks eatin' in a fancy dining car.
They're probably drinking coffee and smoking big cigars.
But I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free.
But those people keep a-movin' and that's what tortures me.

Well if that freed me from this prison and that railroad train was mine.
I bet I'd move it on a little farther down the line.
Far from Folsom prison, that's where I want to stay.
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away."

New sleep technique

Three nights in a row she has slept through the night. It's nothing short of a miracle. What are we doing differently? We're letting her cry herself to sleep. So far, so good.