Month: April 2009

big swim, cards, twitter, vampire

On April 6, 2009

The big swim was on Saturday. I had intended to do 144 lengths, which equals 72 laps or 2 miles. I was feeling pretty good as I neared the end and decided to do 3 more laps to set a new record for myself – though I only reported 144 since some people had donated based on the number of lengths.

I had to share a lane for part of the time, which was not a big deal except for when I did the backstroke – I’m all over the place on that one. It was difficult to avoid being kicked in the head – or kicking the other person in the head. Plus, no overhead flag lines were set up so it was difficult to determine when I was supposed to stop at the end of the lane. I didn’t hit my head this time, fortunately.

So, I got in my laps and got a ribbon for being in the 100 club.

On Sunday, I sat outside and wrote up the thank you cards. It was a nice day for the most part, but a little windy. I’m not used to writing that much and my hand got tired, but I’m glad I did it. I may use email as a reminder for those that pledged but haven’t turned the money in, but a thank you card seems the right way to go at the start.

I’ve also started Twittering. But, I’ve decided that all my Tweets will be in the form of Haiku. Just for the challenge and for something different.

Finally, watched an odd vampire movie called Let the Right One In. Set in Sweden, it was dubbed in English and told the story of a social misfit who befriends a 12 year old “looking” vampire “girl”. Strange movie – very nuanced.

That’s it for now… later…

long

By admin

On April 3, 2009

In Uncategorized

Longest.

Afternoon.

EVER.

I’ve still got 49 minutes to go before I can get out of here and if I wasn’t the master of space and time I’d swear that time had slowed to a stop and was starting to drift backwards.

48 minutes now.

okay, 47. At least time is still moving forward.

Sort of.

I’ve gathered up my swim donation forms and I’ll work on some thank-you cards after my swim tomorrow. Maybe a little over the top, but I really do appreciate that people have donated. Looks like I should break the $400 mark if I get all the money turned in.

The longer I have this post the more likely I am to keep looking at my watch – and that aitn’t helping.

later…

rest, better, temp

By admin

On April 3, 2009

In Uncategorized

I’m taking the day off from swimming. I think I could still do a mile today and then 2 miles tomorrow, but I think I’ve earned a break. A few people have decided to do donations per length – so, I’m more motivated to go the distance and don’t want to risk being too tired to finish.

My room-mate called last night from his sister’s to report in about the funeral. Apparently it was a mostly good service (with the exception of most of what the minister said and the overly loud and somewhat self important singers) – and even the guy’s defense attorney got up and spoke for a bit. I asked my room-mate if he thought he got some closure and he said he did.

I talked a bit to my co-worker – he and his sort-of-maybe-ex-ish girlfriend had a good talk last night and went out to eat. So, there’s hope there. He didn’t really go into detail and I didn’t pry – but thinks may be on the right track for them.

In other news… the warm weather has had an impact on the building temperature where I work. Since it’s controlled by time of year and not actual outside temp – it’s still set on heat and was in the mid eighties in here yesterday. I dressed in layers today in case we get up there again – but the rain this morning should help.

So, looks like we’re got another mission critical last nano-second project brewing here – looks like I’d better get back to my email.

later…

worst

By admin

On April 1, 2009

In Uncategorized

I usually focus on this blog on what’s happening with me, since I’ve got first hand knowledge and writing about other people is by definition second-hand knowledge. Given the date today it’s going to seem pretty far fetched – but this is all true.

My room-mate is a funeral director and has been for over ten years. As a consequence, he always wins the “who had the worst day” contests. For me, a bad day might be that I couldn’t get to my email for a couple hours or a server goes down when I need it. For him, he might have to sew someone’s head back on. So, he always wins.

I’ve learned to brace myself when he uses the phrase, “Not to be gross, but…” and I try to get him stopped then if I’m eating or there are other, less brave, people in the room.

I was at home yesterday when he called and said he was going to be very late. They had just gotten a new call and the individual was over 400 pounds. The essential process of embalming is the same no matter how much the person weighs, but it gets more difficult the more they weigh. My room-mate went into a level of detail that I’m not going to share, but you can be assured that you would not be able to handle it. It ended up taking him over 5 hours and his hands were so fatigued that they were shaking when he got home.

While he was gone, I took a couple calls for him and then had to share the bad news when he got home. One of his friends from back home hung themselves yesterday. Which is terrible all by itself, but the story leading up to it is even more tragic.

Apparently, this guy killed his uncle, hid the body in a trash can in a field, then fled the state with $50,000 dollars and guns – and was hiding out in a hotel under his dead uncle’s name.

He’s been in jail for the past two years and in and out of the court room. He had pled not guilty to all counts (including abuse of a corpse), but the evidence was substantial and prior to his sentencing yesterday he did the deed.

One of the calls I took last night was from this guy’s mom – the victim’s sister. She asked me to pass along the message to my room-mate when he got home. I can’t imagine what she’s going through.

So, on the heels of a really graphically difficult day at work, my room-mate gets the news. He called the guy’s mom back and got the details of the service on Thursday, which he’s going to try and go to.

This morning, when I got into work, I related this story to one of my good friends here. We talked for a bit about how crappy that all was, then he told me that he and his girlfriend are on the rocks. She’s wanting the “marriage-baby” plan and he’s not ready for it. He may be moving out and breaking up with her.

So. My room-mate is dealing with this huge tragedy and my friend is in the middle of relationship crisis. And me? I’m playing video games, watching DVD’s, and getting ready for my big swim. I can only imagine what these guys are going through and I have no idea how to help. I can’t even properly relate to them because things are going okay for me. Just ordinary.

I guess I’ll just try to be there for them if they need to talk – or to vent. Kinda puts things in perspective, I guess.

That pretty much wraps it up for me now. I guess I could relate some minor news that’s going on with me, but it seems pretty inconsequential compared to what my friends are going though. So, I’m just going to close and get back to work.