I find a really good rant helps me let off steam. It's never directed face-to-face, more likely to the driver in front of me or the expletive-deleted who cuts me off or tailgates me on the highway. As I'm often reminded somewhat testily, “you realize no one can hear you except me,” says my wife..
She doesn't like it when I rant. She has a point but sometimes you just can't help yourself as she found out last night when she indulged in her own rant.
We had attended a wonderful concert by the United States Military Academy Band at a local park followed by a magnificent display of Fourth of July fireworks.
The park was jammed. It was a beautiful cool summer night and people were picnicking and kids were running around and it was an all around great time. Until it came time to leave.
Thousands of cars from various areas of the park all trying to squeeze into two exit lanes. We sat in line so long my wife started to, you know, rant. Did we have to park here? Why didn't we park outside the park and walk in, as our friends did? Pull over there (an empty spot) and turn off the car. Let's try to wait it out.
OK, I said, take it easy. We knew from past experience that it would be this way. Next time, if there is a next time, we'll park outside the park.
No sooner had I pulled over our lane began to move. A nice driver let me back in and my wife's breathing became normal again.
As I said, it was a wonderful All-American evening, complete with rant-provoking traffic jam.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Closure
Today's story of despair and repair involves our front storm door. The door stopper broke sometime during the winter and I bought a new one and installed it. But it never worked right.
No matter how often I adjusted the vacuum screw it still slammed loudly just before closing. We put up with it for a while and then it developed another tic. When we closed the front door after leaving the house, the storm door wouldn’t close all the way.
I visited the local shop where I bought the stopper. The boss insisted the door was supposed to slam when closing and furthermore suggested that it was normal for the storm door not to close all the way if the front door also was closed. He said something about air pressure preventing the door from closing all the way. Huh?
Well, neither my wife nor I bought that story and finally I just removed the door stopper and took it back. This time a more reasonable person heard our story and agreed to send someone to look at it. We left the stopper with him and went home.
This afternoon a nice young man from the shop came by, made a slight adjustment and reinstalled the stopper. It closed nicely with the front door open but he advised us that if the front door was closed the storm door would not shut completely.
Why not, asked my wife. He gave us the same story about air pressure preventing complete closure. So she closed the front door and let the storm door close. It closed perfectly. Not supposed to happen, said the young technician. She did it again. Same result, perfect closure. She did it a third time and got the same excellent result.
We were satisfied, the young man was confused. He went off shaking his head, insisting the stopper wasn't supposed to work like that.
We thanked him, anyway, and wished him well.
No matter how often I adjusted the vacuum screw it still slammed loudly just before closing. We put up with it for a while and then it developed another tic. When we closed the front door after leaving the house, the storm door wouldn’t close all the way.
I visited the local shop where I bought the stopper. The boss insisted the door was supposed to slam when closing and furthermore suggested that it was normal for the storm door not to close all the way if the front door also was closed. He said something about air pressure preventing the door from closing all the way. Huh?
Well, neither my wife nor I bought that story and finally I just removed the door stopper and took it back. This time a more reasonable person heard our story and agreed to send someone to look at it. We left the stopper with him and went home.
This afternoon a nice young man from the shop came by, made a slight adjustment and reinstalled the stopper. It closed nicely with the front door open but he advised us that if the front door was closed the storm door would not shut completely.
Why not, asked my wife. He gave us the same story about air pressure preventing complete closure. So she closed the front door and let the storm door close. It closed perfectly. Not supposed to happen, said the young technician. She did it again. Same result, perfect closure. She did it a third time and got the same excellent result.
We were satisfied, the young man was confused. He went off shaking his head, insisting the stopper wasn't supposed to work like that.
We thanked him, anyway, and wished him well.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
May I Have a Word, Please
No, seriously, I mean it. I'm looking for a word and it's not coming to me. So I look at my wife and say something like, you know, it looks like, or it sounds like, or it means something like we were just talking about. Why can't I think of it? She usually can.
And how about trying to remember the name of a movie, a book, a personality, even a friend and it won't come to you. Running through the alphabet sometimes helps. Most times when I say I think the name begins with “B” it usually turns up beginning with “S” or something else. If not immediately solved the missing word or title will pop into my head hours or days later when I'm not thinking about it. At that point who cares?
Most people attribute this retrieval problem to the aging process but that doesn’t make it any less annoying. And it's not just me, of course.
Part of my job description these days is “filler inner” meaning when my wife is talking to someone else and she pauses I fill in the word she's trying to come up with. Sometimes she'll tell me to wait a minute, let me think. She thinks and then says, OK, what is it? I fill her in and she continues the conversation.
Let's face it. We need each other not just to complete each others sentences but to remember what to add to the grocery list, when to buy gas, when to water the lawn and the zillion other little things that keep a household running sanely.
Oh, and how is this for “sanely?” We went to sleep last night concerned our bottom freezer wasn't closing properly. So my wife woke up at 6 a.m. today, went downstairs, sealed it with duct tape and came back to bed. Later, we emptied it and I touched something inside which made a snapping noise and now it's back to normal. Now that's insane.
But it worked.
And how about trying to remember the name of a movie, a book, a personality, even a friend and it won't come to you. Running through the alphabet sometimes helps. Most times when I say I think the name begins with “B” it usually turns up beginning with “S” or something else. If not immediately solved the missing word or title will pop into my head hours or days later when I'm not thinking about it. At that point who cares?
Most people attribute this retrieval problem to the aging process but that doesn’t make it any less annoying. And it's not just me, of course.
Part of my job description these days is “filler inner” meaning when my wife is talking to someone else and she pauses I fill in the word she's trying to come up with. Sometimes she'll tell me to wait a minute, let me think. She thinks and then says, OK, what is it? I fill her in and she continues the conversation.
Let's face it. We need each other not just to complete each others sentences but to remember what to add to the grocery list, when to buy gas, when to water the lawn and the zillion other little things that keep a household running sanely.
Oh, and how is this for “sanely?” We went to sleep last night concerned our bottom freezer wasn't closing properly. So my wife woke up at 6 a.m. today, went downstairs, sealed it with duct tape and came back to bed. Later, we emptied it and I touched something inside which made a snapping noise and now it's back to normal. Now that's insane.
But it worked.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
This 'n That
No real big issue tonight just a lot of little things that are affecting my world.
1. Using the county's automated tee time system I made a reservation for our foursome for 9:50 a.m. today at our local course. But when we got there there was no reservation on the books. Since we are a well-known group the powers that be fit us in anyway. But it was a frustrating few moments. How automated is a system that gives you a confirmation number and then fails to log you in?
2. We recently signed up with Verizon for what seemed like a better service program at the same monthly rate we had been paying. But when I reviewed the contract I discovered that we had to pay $89 IN ADVANCE before any service could be performed. That was a short-lived contract.
3. Then we discovered that our bottom freezer was not quite freezing. No leaks, thank goodness, but items softening in the box. A service call seems in order.
4. And the kitchen faucet is turning itself off again. You turn it on and unless it's going full blast it will slowly turn into a dribble. Fortunately it's still under warranty and the manufacturer is sending a replacement part. I love plumbing.
I'm getting the sense things are falling apart before my very eyes. But, as usual, we'll muddle through.
1. Using the county's automated tee time system I made a reservation for our foursome for 9:50 a.m. today at our local course. But when we got there there was no reservation on the books. Since we are a well-known group the powers that be fit us in anyway. But it was a frustrating few moments. How automated is a system that gives you a confirmation number and then fails to log you in?
2. We recently signed up with Verizon for what seemed like a better service program at the same monthly rate we had been paying. But when I reviewed the contract I discovered that we had to pay $89 IN ADVANCE before any service could be performed. That was a short-lived contract.
3. Then we discovered that our bottom freezer was not quite freezing. No leaks, thank goodness, but items softening in the box. A service call seems in order.
4. And the kitchen faucet is turning itself off again. You turn it on and unless it's going full blast it will slowly turn into a dribble. Fortunately it's still under warranty and the manufacturer is sending a replacement part. I love plumbing.
I'm getting the sense things are falling apart before my very eyes. But, as usual, we'll muddle through.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Survey Shelved
I must have missed the original story that the Obama administration was going to conduct a survey to see how difficult it was to get a doctor's appointment. This evening, the New York Times posted this item:
"WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Tuesday that it had shelved plans for a survey in which “mystery shoppers” posing as patients would call doctors’ offices to see how difficult it was to get appointments. “We have determined that now is not the time to move forward with this research project,” the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement late Tuesday.”
The merits of such a survey aside, my problem is getting to see the doctor once you have the appointment. The other day I had a 4 p.m. appointment to get a shot. Forty-five minutes later I asked the receptionist if they knew I existed. She assured me they did.
It was the doctor's first day back from vacation, she said, and he was all backed up. If they'd told me that in the first place I could have rescheduled for another day. I finally got my shot at 5:30.
Why do doctors book multiple appointments at the same time and then let you sit there waiting your turn? I think it's rude to treat people that way. I feel my time is just as valuable as theirs.
As a consultant my fee was based on the time I spent on a project. I've often thought about billing my doctors at my consultant's rate whenever I'm kept waiting an unconscionable amount of time. Of course, I never did.
Don't want to anger the guy with the needle.
"WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Tuesday that it had shelved plans for a survey in which “mystery shoppers” posing as patients would call doctors’ offices to see how difficult it was to get appointments. “We have determined that now is not the time to move forward with this research project,” the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement late Tuesday.”
The merits of such a survey aside, my problem is getting to see the doctor once you have the appointment. The other day I had a 4 p.m. appointment to get a shot. Forty-five minutes later I asked the receptionist if they knew I existed. She assured me they did.
It was the doctor's first day back from vacation, she said, and he was all backed up. If they'd told me that in the first place I could have rescheduled for another day. I finally got my shot at 5:30.
Why do doctors book multiple appointments at the same time and then let you sit there waiting your turn? I think it's rude to treat people that way. I feel my time is just as valuable as theirs.
As a consultant my fee was based on the time I spent on a project. I've often thought about billing my doctors at my consultant's rate whenever I'm kept waiting an unconscionable amount of time. Of course, I never did.
Don't want to anger the guy with the needle.
Monday, June 27, 2011
All Electric All the Time
Auto makers seem to be doing all they can to come up with a car that will run on some form of electricity, presumably batteries. This will save gas. But how much will it cost to charge one of these cars in between trips? That information is not available.
Another survey reveals that all the DVRs, DVDs, etc. that we have in our homes are energy guzzlers, using electricity at far higher rates than ordinary household appliances. Who knew? Or suspected? We're too busy enjoying the entertainments they bring.
We worry about internet security, hackers, et al. What about power security? The horrible floods in the Midwest have wrecked personal havoc for thousands of people. But when the power grids go down not only do we all go dark but so does the internet and all the businesses that rely on it.
The way we take electricity for granted is shocking. Just thought I'd say.
Another survey reveals that all the DVRs, DVDs, etc. that we have in our homes are energy guzzlers, using electricity at far higher rates than ordinary household appliances. Who knew? Or suspected? We're too busy enjoying the entertainments they bring.
We worry about internet security, hackers, et al. What about power security? The horrible floods in the Midwest have wrecked personal havoc for thousands of people. But when the power grids go down not only do we all go dark but so does the internet and all the businesses that rely on it.
The way we take electricity for granted is shocking. Just thought I'd say.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
The Disappearing Record
I thought I'd share with you an email I sent tonight to the Public Editor of the New York Times, Arthur S. Brisbane. The Public Editor is billed as the reader's representative.
This reader is concerned that in its steady transition to digital news coverage The Times will lose its credibility as the “newspaper of record.” Mr. Brisbane's column today detailed how The Times will update and change breaking news stories as developments warrant. And it will make corrections on the fly as well.
This raises some serious concerns in my mind. Here's my email to Mr. Brisbane:
To The Public Editor:
Re: (On NYTimes.com, Now You See it Now You Don't.) What will this transition to digital news do to The Times' reputation as the newspaper of record? What record will that be? The first, second or third draft of the story? And how will we know which story is the final one? As for corrections, we all know that corrections never catch up to the original mistake. It would be wonderful if corrections were given the same play as the original story in which the mistake was made. But that won't happen. Best, as you said, to be accurate in the first place.
I don't expect a response to my email, other than the automatic one generated whenever someone sends an email to the public editor. I do hope, however, that some time in the future he addresses the question of whether by digitizing its news product, The Times is sacrificing its standing as the newspaper of record.
This reader is concerned that in its steady transition to digital news coverage The Times will lose its credibility as the “newspaper of record.” Mr. Brisbane's column today detailed how The Times will update and change breaking news stories as developments warrant. And it will make corrections on the fly as well.
This raises some serious concerns in my mind. Here's my email to Mr. Brisbane:
To The Public Editor:
Re: (On NYTimes.com, Now You See it Now You Don't.) What will this transition to digital news do to The Times' reputation as the newspaper of record? What record will that be? The first, second or third draft of the story? And how will we know which story is the final one? As for corrections, we all know that corrections never catch up to the original mistake. It would be wonderful if corrections were given the same play as the original story in which the mistake was made. But that won't happen. Best, as you said, to be accurate in the first place.
I don't expect a response to my email, other than the automatic one generated whenever someone sends an email to the public editor. I do hope, however, that some time in the future he addresses the question of whether by digitizing its news product, The Times is sacrificing its standing as the newspaper of record.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)