Communication Breakdown

Today was a funny, or should I say odd sort of day.  I started my day working from home and messaged Frank, an engineer I work with so we can solidify our plans to trek into NYC for the company holiday party.   Not driving or having a car at the office is the main idea so that we can have a few drinks and not worry about driving.

And so the story goes, the night before we finally get an email (930 PM) in regard to the bus we are all supposed to be chipping in for.  The bus will take us to NYC Chelsea Pier for the party and back to Hauppauge later that night.  The bus turns into a LIMO as most other participants backed out at the last minute.  Communication Breakdown.

So, Frank says his wife can pick us up and take us to work and then pick us up later and take us home from the office in Hauppauge.  Wanting to go for a run, I say is 930AM ok...he says, no, we should work from home and she will pick up at 2pm.  Perfect.  Communication NOT breaking down.

This day in history "On this day in 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, officially ending the institution of slavery, is ratified. "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." With these words, the single greatest change wrought by the Civil War was officially noted in the Constitution."

Later in the day, we see an email from a colleague who is supposedly on the list to be taking the LIMO.  Now at 8 people with a cost of $65 each as opposed to the party bus at $30.   The email is somewhat vague, but a have an uncanny way of reading between the lines.  Basically, 3 of the 8 on the list for the LIMO are now going to be driving into NYC as they did not have clear information the day before of the plans for bus or limo.  Are you following this ?  Communication Breakdown.

Now, being that we are free, and slavery has been abolished in the US, everyone is really able to decide for themselves what to do to get to the party on time.  It does not sit well with me, that in the final hour, a handful of us are scrambling to make plans for ourselves.  The best price we can find for a car service (not much fun with 3 in a back seat and 1 next to the driver) for the long haul to NYC is $300 cash.  Frank and I decide that the drive to the station, LIRR, walk 10 blocks, catch shuttle at 3XSQ, and then onto Chelsea Pier (about 3 hrs) is just not worth it for a 3 hr party.  I have been trying to get Mark and Sanjay but they are either busy or the phones go to voicemail.  Communication Breakdown.  I finally get them and tell them they can try to catch a ride with some of the car poolers.

So, I stayed home for the first time in recorded history with my career at Thomson Reuters, having missed only 2 Christmas parties in the past 22 years.  Ordered takeout, went with Kyle to renew his referee license, and then settled into the couch with some tequila.

Communication Breakdown, It's always the same, 
I'm having a nervous breakdown, Drive me insane! 

Photo of the day "Communication Breakdown"

Magic Number 110

Prohibition

Got to work and found out that my companies holiday party in NYC won't be so easy to get to tomorrow.  Those of us on Long Island, about 50 miles from NYC were planning on chipping in for a bus.  Too many people are not interested in a bus, so it looks like car, to railroad, walk from Penn to 3XSQ, to catch a shuttle bus to Chelsea Pier.

I was planning on some pre-gaming in the bus, after-all, prohibition has ended.

This day in history "

The 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified, repealing the 18th Amendment and bringing an end to the era of national prohibition of alcohol in America. At 5:32 p.m. EST, Utah became the 36th state to ratify the amendment, achieving the requisite three-fourths majority of states' approval. Pennsylvania and Ohio had ratified it earlier in the day."

Instead, I may be facing a 2+ hour commute to the party, so that I can hang out for 3 hours, and then a 2+ hour ride home in reverse Shuttle to Penn, wait for LIRR, get in car at who knows what time.  Drive home sober cause I won't be doing too much partying with that kind of commute.

I asked around the office to see if anyone wants to split a car service or limo.  Half of the people I talked to decided 4-5 hours travelling for a 3 hour party, just aint gonna happen.

Think a taste of tequilla is in order.

Photo of the day "

LIPA Mistake

I forgot that LIPA misread my meter last month.  So, they read the meter that displays the power the solar panels have produced as opposed to their meter which is how much we used.  The end effect is a messed up bill.  How we produced 8000KW in one month with a 5500 KW system (that's its yearly rating) is beyond me.

I called LIPA and they said not to worry and they would come in the middle of December and make the adjustment, not to pay any bills, and they will not charge any penalties or shut off our power.  Solar panels and system is in place  for nearly two years, and in that time they screwed up the readings 3 times.  I may have to put a sign and arrow saying "My Meter, Your Meter"

This day in history "Heavy smog begins to hover over London, England, on this day in 1952. It persists for four days, leading to the deaths of at least 4,000 people.
It was a Thursday afternoon when a high-pressure air mass stalled over the Thames River Valley. When cold air arrived suddenly from the west, the air over London became trapped in place. The problem was exacerbated by low temperatures, which caused residents to burn extra coal in their furnaces. The smoke, soot and sulfur dioxide from the area's industries along with that from cars and consumer energy usage caused extraordinarily heavy smog to smother the city. By the morning of December 5, there was a visible pall cast over hundreds of square miles."

We had some thick fog over the weekend, and thankfully we don't burn coal and wood for the most part.  See, dirty power kills, clean power is good.

Took Kyle to practice in Deer Park.  Unseasonably warm.  Good time to go for a run.  Some parents think I am crazy for running at night in that area by the train station.  I told them growing up in the projects in Queens, the neighborhood around the train looks fine to me.  I do stay on well lit main road so that I dont become a statistic.

Get home around 930, and find Sue and Luke snoozing on the couch.  They DVR two broke girls.  Kyle and I make a snack and head to bed at 1030.

Nothing too exciting to report except that my leg is holding up fairly well on 3 mile runs approx: every other day.  Will take it up a notch next week and try for 4 miles.  A far cry from my 4.5-8 mile runs in Sept and Oct.  As Arnold said "I'll be back"

Photo of the day "LIPA Mistake"

Magic Number 115

Monday Night Futbol

Had a good run this morning to start my day.  Starting to feel better, and able to run without pain for the most part.  Mile 1 9:26, Mile 2 8:58, Mile 3 8:28.  I am supposed to take it slow, but since it didn't hurt, my body must have started going faster.

After work, a visit to Krishna for PT treatment.  I never should have waited so long to start treatment.  Got to do a mile on the elliptical as well.  Do you think pulsed ultrasound units can be purchased and used at home  ?

This day in history "On this day in 1948, John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne, the heavy-metal musician and star of the pioneering reality TV program The Osbournes, which originally aired from 2002 to 2005, is born in Birmingham, England.

Osbourne first gained fame in the 1970s as a founding member and the lead vocalist of the heavy-metal band Black Sabbath. After being fired from the group in the late 1970s, he embarked on a successful solo career. In the mid-1990s, he and his wife Sharon launched Ozzfest, a popular annual tour of heavy-metal and rock acts. As a performer, Osbourne became infamous for biting the heads off a dove and a bat onstage and was also accused of promoting suicide and Satanism through some of his lyrics."

Kyle and I are going to Sachem East Soccer Dinner.  A yearly event, at least as long as one or more of the boys are on Sachem East JV or Varsity Soccer team.  Mike Dunn picks us up.  Oh wait, it was Janice who picked us up...Mike was late so met us there..

Dinner is ok, as are the awards ceremonies.  Seems pretty much the same thing year after year...at least I know what to expect.  Scholar Athlete is not a problem for Kyle.  He is also recognized for his current season accomplishments and hard work, as well as the monumental goal he scored against Brentwood last year...a goal that will go down in the Sachem history books.

Home late, hence the missing blog post.

Photo of the day "Monday Night Futbol"

Magic Number 119

FogGedaboudit

Had to set the alarm today to make it to the filed at 0730...A thick fog outside our front door as we leave the house.

As we drive, there are areas that are more thickly shrouded in fog than others, and it seen to be getting thicker as we head north towards the field.

Kyle needed help this morning putting his socks on, and tying his soccer cleats.  His wrist a little bit better than yesterday...probably not fractured.

This day in history "On this day in 2002, Toyota delivers its first two "market-ready" hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (FCHVs, in the company's shorthand) to researchers at the University of California at Irvine and the University of California at Davis. Since 1997, Toyota had been providing research money to UC scientists and engineers who studied the problems associated with "advanced transportation systems" like fuel-cell vehicles. With their new fleet of FCHVs, the researchers finally had a chance to test out their theories.
Unlike the Toyota Prius, which has a gas-electric hybrid engine, FCHVs use a hydrogen fuel-cell system that generates electricity by combining hydrogen with oxygen. That electricity powers the car's motor and charges its batteries. As a result, the vehicle creates no environmentally unfriendly byproducts: its only emission is water vapor."

At the field, we can barely see the players as they are warming up.  Not sure Kyle will be playing and notice that he is not in the starting lineup this morning.  A sigh of relief.

Part of the way into the 1st half, Kyle gets subbed in, and Sue and I are a little on edge.  It all works out fine.  They teams play to a tie....their opponent being awarded a PK with only a minute left to play.  1-1 is the final, and as we are leaving we notice that the fog has cleared for the next set of teams.

Bagels, cream cheese, and lox for breakfast.

Shrimp parmigiana for dinner.

Sleeping in on the weekend, FogGedaboudit !

Photo of the day "FogGedaboudit"

AM Soccer, PM X-Ray

A brisk morning as we head to the field for a local college showcase tournament.  We got lucky to have the games in Suffolk county, just a mile or so north of the Smith Haven Mall.

Three mile run in chilly weather, I hide in the car and change into a dry shirt and then out to the sideline I go.

We are slated to play the top ranked team, Smithtown and the boys are prepared for a spirited match.  I have to say that we out played Smithtown for 2/3 of the first half, and it was pretty evenly matched in the 2nd  half.  Both teams creating chances, but not able to find the back of the net.  A tie form MC United is like a win against this opponent.

This day in history "Shortly after 11 a.m. on December 1, 1990, 132 feet below the English Channel, workers drill an opening the size of a car through a wall of rock. This was no ordinary hole--it connected the two ends of an underwater tunnel linking Great Britain with the European mainland for the first time in more than 8,000 years.

The Channel Tunnel, or "Chunnel," was not a new idea. It had been suggested to Napoleon Bonaparte, in fact, as early as 1802. It wasn't until the late 20th century, though, that the necessary technology was developed. In 1986, Britain and France signed a treaty authorizing the construction of a tunnel running between Folkestone, England, and Calais, France."

We take shelter from the cold until the next game starts.  Kyle exists 30 minutes ahead of the 2nd game to warm up.  Another tough team to take on, this time the number 3 ranked team from upstate NY.  Kyle gets abused from behind making a play to the left corner end line, but some how manages to win the corner.  He gets up places the ball at the corner flag ,and then takes a knee.  He is able to be subbed out, and takes a spot on the bench.

United is winning 1-0 in the game, and Kyle gets another chance to go back in.  He seems OK  and manages to help the team come away with a win.  Once up at the car, he shows Sue his wrist, which hurts really bad, is is swelling up.  He is hesitant to say anything, as we are trying our best to not have to go get X-Ray or otherwise use the healthcare system that is costing us copious amounts of money to use.

Sue stops at taco bell for him.  After lunch, we decide it's best to get the wrist looked at.  Choices are, regular doctor, who will send us to either the hospital or Zwanger for an X-Ray.  I recall that there are now a bunch of late day critical care, or alternate care facilities popping up in shopping centers.  Sue gets the name of one from a friend, and Kyle and I make our way.  (Hospital is an automatic $100 charge plus services, some of which are only partially covered by co-insurance.).  I can write a whole blog for a whole year expressing my distaste for the current state of our medical system.

The office looks brand spanking new, setup as a very inviting Pediatric office, it is odd being in there with Kyle who is 16 and is man size.  The decor is like a castle from the Medieval, with Knights and beautiful murals.   The front desk staff are efficient, and even as first timers, we are done with paper work and payment ($20 Copay this year) in just a few minutes.  We make our way in, and are greeted by Medical Assistants, and see that there are 10 exam rooms, an X-Ray room, and the same decorations throughout.  Am I at a doctors office or Medieval Times ??  Or is that MED IEVAL times ??

Not to be disappointed, the doctor is also efficient, and makes the same conclusion we did a couple of hours earlier, that an X-Ray is needed.  5 minutes laters, we are back in one of the ten patient rooms awaiting the results.  A short time later, the nice doctor says, she and her colleagues do not see any break, but a small mark on the X-Ray will need further review by a radiologist later that night.  Splint and ace bandage follow, as does instructions from the doctor.  Contusion/Sprain for now.

We decide to go to Outback for dinner.  Good meal as usual...Kyle needs help cutting his steak.

Photo of the day "AM Soccer, PM X-Ray"

Our little secret, but this place beats the crap out of Kyle's primary care physician, a trip to Zwanger or Stony Brook.   PM Pediatrics located in Selden Plaza 239 Middle Country Rd. (631) 696-KIDS

Magic Number 123 (Just like our visit to PM Pediatrics...got lucky, in/out....1,2,3)

Stage Deli Closes

So, whats was my excuse yesterday for not writing my blog.  Laziness

Ran a few miles, went to work, went to Physical Therapy.  I really like Krishna and think he is a good role model for future PT's.  Hope to have Gavin watch him work !

Came home, cooked baked ziti. Jar sauce.  Kyle went straight to his girlfriend's house and then to another sweet 16 party.

This day in history "On this day in 2004, after winning 74 straight games and more than $2.5 million--a record for U.S. game shows--Jeopardy! contestant Ken Jennings loses. Jennings' extended winning streak gave the game show a huge ratings boost and turned the software engineer from Salt Lake City, Utah into a TV hero and household name, at least temporarily. Barbara Walters named him one of the 10 most fascinating people of the year (along with Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Republican operative Karl Rove and hotel heiress-socialite Paris Hilton, among others) and Jennings appeared on such shows as Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and even Sesame Street."

Sue went to a Sophia Maria party.

I watch them mining gold in Alaska.

Fall asleep on the couch.

Watch the news and find out that Stage Deli closes after 75 years of being in business.

Photo of the day "Stage Deli Closes"

Magic Number 126