Mark Time

Requiem for a Faithful Companion

One of my co-workers, Paul Lynch, lost his faithful companion Chelsea over the weekend. She was well into the later stages of her life at age 12 or 13.

From everything that Paul has told me she was a great dog. So great that he is in the process of moving to his first house from an apartment - a house that was intended to make the living arrangement more comfortable for both of them. She will be missed but not forgotten.

Please leave your condolences in the comments section - Paul will be able to see them there.

Any Good News?

I need a little good news. Most of what I'm reading/hearing/experiencing seems to be bad news.

Work is, well, annoying. I've been given a project to re-invent a process that we have while ignoring the old rules AND building consensus with the people who invented the old rules. Add to that people who are making decisions in areas outside their expertise and declaring them the new rules. Not fun.

At home things are well, but I'm a bit overextended. I'm hoping to work my tail off at home doing the usual weekend stuff on Saturday to give me a full Sunday to do nothing but what I want to do. Wish me luck.

In the rest of the world, life is a bit depressing. We have the 9/11 hearings telling us that we made lots of mistakes avoiding the attacks, that we are likely to be attacked again, and that we aren't ready for a new attack - all with political spin both ways. The economy is either improving or getting worse - depending on what statistic is published today. In the meantime, the economy at work is definately getting worse. Americans are being kidnapped or killed or kidnapped and then killed.

Do you have any good news? I'll take anything - your kid hit a home run or got a permanent tooth. Your cat managed not to throw up on the rug once this week. You didn't burn dinner last night.

Leave some good news in the comments, or better yet trackback to a post of your own. Please.

The Easy Life

I'm working from home today, in order to be here for the township building inspectors who are checking out our new solar electric system. As a result, the cats get to stay upstairs all day rather than spending it in the luxury of the basement. (They have it nice in the basement - their own carpet, cat beds, litter box, food, etc.)

I think I want to be a cat when I'm reincarnated.

By the way, the steps are normal size - it's the cats that are big.

Fidelity and the Workplace

I'm feeling a little down today. The main reason is that I heard a few things yesterday at work about co-workers that disturbed me.

Life at work has been stressful lately with reorganizations, layoffs, and a general lack of information below the highest levels on the direction that the company is headed. That has, of course, fired up the rumor mill. Rumors of what is happening with the company, who will be (and eventually was) laid-off and such are common and have been about 50% accurate.

What is worse are the rumors about who is fooling around with who at the company. We've had several high-profile rumors about that lately - the most prominent (and likely true) being between an Director and a Vice-President.

I'm generally a social liberal. However, I'm also a Myers-Briggs INFP. That means that I am very flexible with people until they cross an ethical or moral line that I hold dear - and then I become very resistant and judgmental. One of those lines for me is monogamy - I strongly believe that you should remain faithful to your spouse in marriage. If you're getting separated or divorced, then you at least owe it to your spouse (or ex) and any kids to move out of the house before you start up with someone else. I've always felt this way, and I've even extended it to feeling that you should only date one person at a time.

The people involved in the latest rumors are people that I respect (used to respect?). I've respected them both for how easy they are to work with, for their business judgment and for their personal attitude. However, in both of the situations covered by the rumors the people in question are married and still living with their spouses. This seems to be a clear "cheating" scenario.

What I'm wrestling with is this - Can I stay on friendly terms with someone who has crossed an ethical line in their personal life? Can I trust someone at work if their spouse can't trust them at home (or at work, for that matter)?

Any thoughts are welcome in the comments.

Solar Power Today!

The last pieces of our solar electric system for our house are being were installed today. In about 2 hours, I should be I am now producing my own electricity!

See my project blog Smith Electric Company for more info and pictures!

Human Kindness

Last week I took an Oracle class in Philadelphia. Between the getting up early to take the train and getting home late and STILL having to check e-mail at work, I haven't had time to blog.

However, on Friday I saw something that re-affirmed my faith in Human Kindness.

The class got done early (yay!), so I took the 3:25 R7 Trenton train from Philadelphia's Surburban Station. The next stop for the train is the Amtrak 30th Street Station. I got on the first car, which was fairly empty and stayed that way throughout the mid-afternoon trip.

A young woman got on the train the at 30th Street, and took a seat about 10 rows ahead of me. After pulling out from the station, the conductor came around asking for tickets. At this point, this young woman discovered that she'd left her purse on the platform. She became rather distraught. The conductor immediately went to radio the station to see if anyone found it. The woman was able to give a very precise location to search.

A few stations later, it appeared that the folks at 30th Street didn't find the purse. The conductor gave her a train schedule and some suggestions on where to get off and take the train back the other way to check for herself. He also gave her the phone number for schedules and the phone number for the lost and found. He apparently gave her a free ride for this trip and the return trip to make sure that she got back.

She didn't have her cell phone with her (also in the purse), so two businessmen lent her one for the ride. She called the SEPTA folks and then called someone to meet her in Trenton. (She apparently decided to continue to Trenton after hearing that the purse wasn't found.) I think she may have even called to cancel the lost credit cards.

Another woman travelling on a weekly pass came up to her and gave her the pass (which was still good until Sunday - with the OK from the conductor to transfer the pass) so that she could get back to Philly without being stranded. An older man came up to make sure that she was taken care of.

I would have offered her money for train/cab fare, but it was easy to see that others got there first and she was well covered.

She got off the train in Trenton and disappeared. Her helpers all disappeared as they reached their stops.

One person in trouble, several people ready to help. All strangers.

Maybe mankind isn't so bad after all.

Solar Installation in Progress

The installation of solar panels on my roof has started. Physical installation will take most of the week. Electrical installation will be done the week of May 17, when the electrician is back from vacation. (The delay was caused by permit issuance delays in my township.)

Pictures and updates will be found at my project blog: Smith Electric Company

I'll be updating all week and as the project continues.

Vacation

I'm on vacation next week, so this blog will probably be a bit light on new information.

Here's my "to do" list:

1. If the permits come in early enough, the solar panels for the house will be installed. Not likely.
2. Sleep. Get over the cold that I have now.
3. Update my resume - work is just too weird right now with impending reorganization. I need to have it ready to go in case I need it.
4. Weather permitting, empty and hose out the garage floor. Too much mud on the floor from this past winter.
5. After cutting the lawn once, take the lawnmower for it's delayed annual service (should have done this in February).
6. Relax. Read. Watch TV. Rent a movie.
7. Go through my sock drawer and pitch the really old and unusuable ones.
8. Clean up my home office (this is REALLY bottom of the list).

Sick

I think I have a cold coming on. I've got a sore throat from post-nasal drip, and I can feel my sinuses getting clogged.

Good timing - I'm on vacation next week. I'm supposed to have a flying lesson on Saturday.

To top it all off, our company has a policy that says you need a doctor's note to be out sick on the day before or after a vacation. So, I'll have to come in tomorrow regardless of how I feel - who's going to run to the doctor and pay a $15 co-pay to get a note that says you have a bad cold?

Harumph.

Today's Accomplishments

Once in a while, you have to pat yourself on the back for the little things.

1. Spoke to solar panel installer about revised schedule (more info at Smith Electric Company). Re-arranged vacation schedule at work on short notice.
2. Located 14-year-old bug in the billing system that just showed up this month. This was a tricky one.
3. Managed not to annoy wife who got to stay home today when I got up and dressed this morning.
4. Pet cats. Cats happy to see me.
5. Offered advice to another IT group on a joint project.

All in all, a quiet day. Any day without discord is a gift.

Bachelor for a Few Days

My wife is off to a company training class in Orlando, FL. She flies out today, and back on Saturday.

That makes me a bachelor for a few days. But will I be doing anything exciting?

Nah. I'll be staying home tonight and tomorrow, and going to see the Trenton Titans with my sister on Friday night.

I'm so boring.

Solar Energy Blog Updated

My blog about the installation of solar panels on our house has been updated. Go take a look!

Eulogy for a cat

EG, the cat of a fellow blogger rhubarb, has died.

Please go here to offer your condolences.

EG lived to the ripe old age of 20, and therefore the loss was not unexpected. That doesn't make it any less painful.

I'll be hugging my cats a lot this evening.

Growing Old

I was just on the phone talking to my mother (to tell her about my solo flight below).

She called my younger brother on his birthday a week ago. She told him that he was making her feel old.

Brother: "Why?"
Mom: "Because I have a son who's 32 years old."
Brother: "I hate to tell you this, but I'm 33 years old."

True story!

Snow

It's 6 days from Spring (or something close like that), and it's snowing. On my vacation.

I was supposed to be taking lots of flying lessons this week. I usually fly once a week (time being the limitation), but this week I scheduled one lesson last Saturday (went very well), today, Wednesday and Friday. Today is a washout (literally), and Friday isn't looking good either.

Oh, well. Mother Nature has to get that last rinse in before spring!

Furnace

Yesterday morning, I woke up at 5:30am to the sound of a "low battery" chirp on my smoke detector. I figured out which one it was (of 7) and replaced the battery.

Then, I noticed that it was rather cold. I looked at the thermostat and confirmed my problem - my furnace was out. And, it was 15F outside at the time!

I have a Rheem gas forced-air furnace. The ignitor failed - for the 2nd time since it was installed 8 years ago.

I was able to reach Mark Ice of Advanced Air Co, Inc. He responded at 7am on a Sunday morning (Super Bowl Sunday, even) to replace the ignitor and get my house warmed up again. The main reason for this entry is to give him a plug.

If you ever need heating or cooling service in Central New Jersey, I'd recommend Advanced Air Co, Inc. at 1-800-933-9810.