A carpenter quit his job.
He was board by it.
When I saw him, he was beaming, but I suppose it all depends on how one frames the situation.
Monday, August 11, 2014
Monday, February 20, 2012
Biking Over Ice
Funny that my last post was about biking in the snow; I've done that a few times this winter, but fortunately there hasn't been as much snow this time around.
However, we have had a lot of rain, and a week ago Sunday was one such day. On Monday, the temperature dropped to well below freezing. Still, I didn't think twice about riding my bike to work, what with the transit strike.
The approach to the MacDonald bridge from Barrington Street was a sheet of ice; the salt hadn't penetrated it yet, so I walked my bike up the grass to the bridge proper and started riding from that point.
Everything was fine from there until the end of Leaman Street, where I crashed in the schoolyard due to ice. I walked the bike up to Highfield Park Drive, then rode on across the bridge. The last thing I remember was crossing the second exit on the far side, and then I woke up in the ditch with three strangers watching over me.
I had somehow fallen off the bike and hit my head.
The paramedics and police came, and even though I felt well enough to continue on to work, I submitted to their efforts, and they brought me to the hospital in due course. My first ride in an ambulance, by the way!
The verdict was a "moderate brain injury", including a concussion and bleeding. No outward disturbance to my head, thanks to the bike helmet and a couple of hats.
After spending the night and most of the next day in the hospital. I returned home and have since been resting/recuperating. A week on I feel not quite myself yet, but getting there. Strength is returning to my right side, and I've gone for a couple of walks.
Thanks go to those three people who stopped and looked after me, to the EHS crews, to the staff at the Dartmouth General ER, to my wife, and to my guardian angel and his colleagues!
The bike is OK!
However, we have had a lot of rain, and a week ago Sunday was one such day. On Monday, the temperature dropped to well below freezing. Still, I didn't think twice about riding my bike to work, what with the transit strike.
The approach to the MacDonald bridge from Barrington Street was a sheet of ice; the salt hadn't penetrated it yet, so I walked my bike up the grass to the bridge proper and started riding from that point.
Everything was fine from there until the end of Leaman Street, where I crashed in the schoolyard due to ice. I walked the bike up to Highfield Park Drive, then rode on across the bridge. The last thing I remember was crossing the second exit on the far side, and then I woke up in the ditch with three strangers watching over me.
I had somehow fallen off the bike and hit my head.
The paramedics and police came, and even though I felt well enough to continue on to work, I submitted to their efforts, and they brought me to the hospital in due course. My first ride in an ambulance, by the way!
The verdict was a "moderate brain injury", including a concussion and bleeding. No outward disturbance to my head, thanks to the bike helmet and a couple of hats.
After spending the night and most of the next day in the hospital. I returned home and have since been resting/recuperating. A week on I feel not quite myself yet, but getting there. Strength is returning to my right side, and I've gone for a couple of walks.
Thanks go to those three people who stopped and looked after me, to the EHS crews, to the staff at the Dartmouth General ER, to my wife, and to my guardian angel and his colleagues!
The bike is OK!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Biking in the snow
Wednesday night I rode my bike home from work in the worst snowstorm of the season.
I ride about 13.6 kilometers one-way, but it turned out to be neither as difficult nor as long as I thought it would. It took about 1 hour and 20 minutes door-to-door; it usually takes 40 minutes to an hour.
The surprise was that the MacDonald Bridge was quite rideable. It was packed snow on the approaches, but slush on the span. The slush was easier to navigate than the snow.
Only once did I need to get off the bike, and that was when I was going up a hill and heard a bus behind me - I got off the bike and let it pass. It was difficult getting back on the bike and starting up! I had to walk it up to a more level surface.
Thursday morning the snow was still caked on the bike, but fortunately I had wiped the chain and lubed it before putting it away Wednesday night. My lock was frozen, though, so I had to thaw it out!
The rides Thursday and this today were much easier.
I ride about 13.6 kilometers one-way, but it turned out to be neither as difficult nor as long as I thought it would. It took about 1 hour and 20 minutes door-to-door; it usually takes 40 minutes to an hour.
The surprise was that the MacDonald Bridge was quite rideable. It was packed snow on the approaches, but slush on the span. The slush was easier to navigate than the snow.
Only once did I need to get off the bike, and that was when I was going up a hill and heard a bus behind me - I got off the bike and let it pass. It was difficult getting back on the bike and starting up! I had to walk it up to a more level surface.
Thursday morning the snow was still caked on the bike, but fortunately I had wiped the chain and lubed it before putting it away Wednesday night. My lock was frozen, though, so I had to thaw it out!
The rides Thursday and this today were much easier.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
You know it's bad when...
It's been a rough year for the Cubs: a losing season, the loss of Lou Piniella, new ownership, various issues with Carlos Zambrano.
I thought this photo from the Chicago Tribune said it all!
In the last 25 years, all of Chicago's other Major League teams have won championships: the Bears (.500 in Super Bowls), Bulls (6x), White Sox, Blackhawks (hence the sign), and Fire.
That leaves the Cubs minus a championship. Not even a pennant.
Today I did some reading on the 2003 season, the first in which the Cubs won a post-season series since 1908. I remember watching game 6 of the LCS with a friend who is not familiar with Cubs history. When the Cubs made it to the top of the 8th inning with a lead and one out, my friend said, "Only 5 more outs to the World Series! Aren't you excited?"
"Just wait," I replied, "this is the Cubs," after which Steve Bartman promptly interfered with Aramis Rodriguez' attempt at fielding a foul ball. When the implosion was complete, my friend was beside himself. How can it be? How did this happen?
"Easy," I said. "It's the Cubs!"
That year I overcame my profound disappointment in the team that I'd cheered for most of my life. I became more like a Sox fan, I suppose, in not being completely unrealistic in my hopes for the team. I became more like a Missourian, too: "Show me."
It would be nice to have at least a .500 season this year, but I'm not holding my breath (I don't know if it's possible for them to go .500). Bully for Mike Quade and the team's performance under his tenure!
But in the words of the late Jack Brickhouse, they've closed the barn door after the horses got out; they're a dime late and a dollar short; whew, brother.
Back up the truck! Bring on the new manager!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Nighthawks
This evening I was having supper out on the deck, and I noticed many flying insects, which looked like flying ants. They weren't bothering me, and I didn't pay much attention except to note that there were many of them.
After supper I sat back and noticed birds overhead. Usually we get a lot of gulls, but these were not gulls. I noticed the white bars on black wings. It was a flock of about 30 nighthawks. I don't recall seeing them around here before, nor have I ever seen such numbers, and so early in the evening (the sun was still up).
They appeared to be feasting on the very bugs I had noticed earlier.
Seeing the birds reminded me of my childhood, when we could hear (and sometimes see) the nighthawks swooping down, making the unforgettable whooshing noise. These birds weren't making that noise.
The flock drifted off, drifted back, and off again, not to return.
After supper I sat back and noticed birds overhead. Usually we get a lot of gulls, but these were not gulls. I noticed the white bars on black wings. It was a flock of about 30 nighthawks. I don't recall seeing them around here before, nor have I ever seen such numbers, and so early in the evening (the sun was still up).
They appeared to be feasting on the very bugs I had noticed earlier.
Seeing the birds reminded me of my childhood, when we could hear (and sometimes see) the nighthawks swooping down, making the unforgettable whooshing noise. These birds weren't making that noise.
The flock drifted off, drifted back, and off again, not to return.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
It's All Relative...
I'm still working my way through Einstein's Universe. A couple of months ago I brought the book to work to read during lunch. One day, a co-worker of mine saw it and asked about it. It turns out that Scott has a lot of knowledge about relativity, quantum physics, etc. When I picked the book up again, I mentioned to him various things I learned, such as light being affected by gravity, and he picked up the topic and carried the discussion further.
Each day we have a little chat about the universe, you might say. For my part, I'm gradually coming to view things in a more Einsteinian way, with curved space at the forefront. I see how radical his theories are, even now.
And to have such discussions at work (and I don't work in a physics major - dominant environment) is a pleasure. I might learn something. This is also something of a consolation, as I didn't take physics in high school. Back then, all the physics students would study together, and I felt like I missed out on something. Maybe I can experience something like they did then, now.
Each day we have a little chat about the universe, you might say. For my part, I'm gradually coming to view things in a more Einsteinian way, with curved space at the forefront. I see how radical his theories are, even now.
And to have such discussions at work (and I don't work in a physics major - dominant environment) is a pleasure. I might learn something. This is also something of a consolation, as I didn't take physics in high school. Back then, all the physics students would study together, and I felt like I missed out on something. Maybe I can experience something like they did then, now.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Hell, Purgatory, Heaven
Hell:
God says, "You made a mistake. Let me tell you how to correct it."
I say, "No, I didn't. You have no right to criticize me. Go away."
Purgatory:
God says, "You made a mistake. Let me show you how to make it right."
I say, "What? Where? Are you sure? Tell me how to correct it."
Heaven:
God says, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
I say, "Who? Me?"
God says, "You made a mistake. Let me tell you how to correct it."
I say, "No, I didn't. You have no right to criticize me. Go away."
Purgatory:
God says, "You made a mistake. Let me show you how to make it right."
I say, "What? Where? Are you sure? Tell me how to correct it."
Heaven:
God says, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
I say, "Who? Me?"
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