Archive for 'life' Category
2008.07.23
Karoshi… Do Not Want
Work has been crackers. I mean, it gets busy sometimes but lately it’s been nothing but frantic and I can feel it. Partly it’s the season, partly it’s my own fault, but mostly I attribute much to Murphy.
Which is why when I saw this article about Japanese salary men working so much they keel over dead I thought, Do not want. It happens often enough that they even have a word for it: Karoshi.
Absolutely. Positively. Do. Not. Want.
3 Comments | Catergorized: life work2008.07.20
How Do They Do That?
With shows like How It’s Made gaining popularity on the brainier channels, I think it’s the perfect time to make fun of the genre. I think we need a show called How Do They Do That? It sounds like it would feature magicians or card sharks or corrupt politicians or something. Instead it will feature those guys that drive unpopular tour buses and drone the same spiel day in and day out. How do that do that? Or the tattooed guys who wants to be an actor so he valets cars at restaurants in the swanky part of town quoting Shakespeare to customers hoping -beyond hope- that he’ll get noticed. How do they do that? Or the politician caught in the act, yet goes into full denial even holding a press conference. How do they do that?
Any ideas of your own?
(Ironically right after writing this I turned on the television and How Do They Do It came on; I might have to think of a new name for my show.)
No Comments | Catergorized: life2008.07.07
Tonight We Vacuum in Hell!
Three weeks ago I meant to vacuum my space in the house. I hadn’t in about a month and the cat hair was getting… thick. But then I spent three weeks on the east coast and the cats had free reign. It is amazing how much they shed in just those three weeks. Normally I never let my cat on the bed (there are historical reasons for this). I got in and went to move the strange pillow at the bottom corner of my bed and realized it was a pile of cat hair. Urgh. The accumulated detritus of cat hair.
Tonight I vacuumed. It took me an hour. I think I might go over it all again tomorrow, just to be sure. And buy a brush for the damn cat. He likes that sort of thing anyways…
2 Comments | Catergorized: grrr life2008.07.07
Laptop AWOL!
I’m back in San Francisco. Arrived late last night. Left backpack with laptop in taxi. Called taxi service. Taxi driver not answering CB or cell phone. Frack. This morning is the same story. On top of everything else, if I don’t get my laptop back I think I will turn from being rather sad to rather angry. Since I have the taxi driver’s car number the taxi driver will be found, too.
Frack!
UPDATE
The driver finally turned on his CB or answered his phone and… turned in my bag! Awesome! Thanks to Frank at dispatch and Mark at their HQ for all their help. I’m so relieved. Guess what I’ll be backing up when I get home. ;)
2008.07.06
My Eulogy for Mom
One day when I was four or five I was near hysterics, running around the house and crying inconsolably. Finally my Mom caught me, pulled me on the couch and held me in one of her precious hugs. “What is it?” she asked, to which I balled even more. Somehow at such a young age I learned that everyone dies. “I don’t want you to die!” You consoled me and even laughed. “Everyone dies and that’s a part of life.” Somehow this made sense.
But on a Wednesday morning in June you died. I still understand the lesson you taught me: death is a part of life. Knowing this doesn’t make it easier.
The other day I asked my Mom’s very good friend how she was doing. I was concerned for her because all the focus the past couple weeks has been on us, the family. “I miss my friend,” she said. So simple. So powerful. I didn’t know what to say. How do you respond to that kind of loss?
Mom was all about family. Despite the distances she kept us connected. She was the family hub. If I have one single regret at her passing it is that I never married and had our Mother/Son dance. She will never get to meet the children I have but they will know about her, and she will live on in them.
I can’t tell you how many times I heard her say, “Life’s just tough all over.” Despite that she would be the first to support anyone if they had a plan to get through their difficulties. She was also the first to encourage me to move on. Once when a girlfriend and I had broken up she replied, “I’m very sorry to hear that, Dear. When are you going to start dating again?”
Mom would have been the first to encourage us to carry on and live meaningful lives. This doesn’t diminish the love she had for us, or our love for her. Yet life moves on. I am not a religious person so I am not banking on seeing Mom in some afterlife. But she does live on in my blood, in our memories and how we conduct our lives. She lives on in her family, her friends, the kids she’s taught, and all the lives she’s touched throughout her life.
I don’t have a lot of quick, insightful stories about my Mom. She was a consistent constant throughout my life. Loving, caring, stern, teasing, wise, giving. These aren’t qualities that lend themselves to vignettes. Her life needs a novel -a series of novels- to reveal the depth and breadth of her contributions and qualities.
Mom loved us, each of us, unconditionally and unforgivingly. I miss that love. I miss my Mom.
4 Comments | Catergorized: life2008.05.17
Amy and Bill Get Hitched
Speaking of marriage, congratulations to my good friends Amy and Bill… After 10 years they are finally married! I’m writing this after the wedding ceremony at Old Saint Mary’s here in the City. Just dropped off my motorcycle and will head off to the reception.
Yay, Amy and Bill!
2 Comments | Catergorized: friends life san francisco2008.05.13
Million Pirate March
Arrr… It’s pirate time! This Sunday, May 18th, be the Million Pirate March in San Francisco. It just so happens to be the same day and the same course as the famous Bay to Breakers faux-race; the more the merrier!
On May 18, 2008 history will be made when up to 1,000,000 pirates will
march forth toward the sea in San Francisco, California. This is a time to
affirm our love of pirates, parrots and even wooden peg legs.Never before have pirates joined together peacefully in such large numbers
to celebrate… well… being pirates.
I won’t be marching, but I’ll be in the Rose Garden along the course cheering on me mates. Avast! Thanks to Molly McGee for alerting me to this auspicious occasion.
4 Comments | Catergorized: life san francisco2008.05.11
Mega Drive
I’m on the East Coast right now. There are two reasons. The main reason is because my Mom will be having surgery and I want to be here for her. The second is to move my Gramma, who my parents have been taking care of, up to Boston area to live with my Aunt. Yesterday morning about 10AM I left my front door. It took 13 hours. At approximately 440 miles, that averages out to just under 34MPH…!
OK, so who the hell in Delaware thought it would be a brilliant idea to close three lanes of traffic on 95? This was the first time in my life I experienced a traffic jam that spanned an entire state. It’s a good thing 95 crosses only a small part of Delaware. This brilliant idea by the road planning commission cost me 1.5 - 2 hours. Further, I knew NYC would be bad but it was worse than even I expected. What’s up with all the lanes on supposed “interstate highways” being too narrow to even fit a car? Hello Brooklyn! I’m talking to you!
Overall, though, the trip was alright. Long, boring (rental trucks need tape or CD drives) but bearable. I’m pretty proud that I managed to pull it off.
PS: Happy Mother’s Day all you Moms out there!
2 Comments | Catergorized: family life2008.05.08
Special Lazy Time
It’s been special lazy time for my and the blog for the past week. I would apologize, but I’m just not sorry. :)
Work has been busy. Since becoming a manager I’ve gotten to do things I’ve never done before… like spend $200,000 on equipment that will depreciate in value faster than a cheap American car.
The big distraction, however, has been my Mom’s cancer situation that I alluded to here. Although the most recent prognosis is better than the original, I still don’t know enough to feel comfortable about the whole thing. I’m not stressed or anxious yet. I suppose that will happen when I fly out tomorrow and get a chance to talk to my family in person.
Meanwhile I’ve found and not posted tons of things I thought would be interesting, like President Bush trying to blame Democrats for the housing crisis and rising cost of gasoline, a site with tons of pithy rules of thumb and, of course, the uno. At least 10 people have sent me that link now… I will post a few more, including a relative large “Who Is the Final Cylon” entry, sometime soon!
No Comments | Catergorized: family life work2008.04.27
Weird
I never thought I could be so content so alone.
7 Comments | Catergorized: life san francisco
