On the Concept of Irony

Hello

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 16:13:00 +0000

Hello, my lonely blog.

There is so much that transpired for us since March 2010.

It passed, like everyone's life, in leaden minutes that add up to mercurial years.

Rock Star

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:19:00 +0000

There is a discussion going on in LinkedIn regarding the "latest" trend in private service hiring practices of using Credit Reports as one measure of a potential employee. I thought I would weigh in.

As a recent convert to "Private Service", I can assure you that the practice of checking credit reports, not just credit scores, has been a criteria for employment in the corporate world for well over a decade. I do not believe anyone is suggesting that a credit report should be the lone measure of a person's moral and ethical compass. It is one more tool for the proper vetting of a potential hire. The exceptionally devious will slip through; not to be too glib, that is why they are exceptional.

The irony here is, Private Service staff take a full background check as an acceptable cost for gaining employment. Most employees in the corporate world would never tolerate a potential employer doing a back ground check on a them (though that seems to be a trend moving from here to there.) A background check is what is normally considered a gross breach of privacy.

Title by: FreeCreditReportBand

Hit the Road Jack

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:37:00 +0000

Hello, my friends, it has been a long time. Several of you have asked me to start posting again. Unfortunately, today's post will be a sad one.
I have always considered myself blessed because I have 2 best friends, Charles Sheperd and Eric Steingraeber. I have only once had to pick one ahead of the other and that was for Best Man at my wedding, Eric. I wished I could have named them both. Charles made up for it by introducing himself as the lover I left to marry ma chere.
To be sure, our relationship never went THAT far. But I can assure you, I loved him deeply. Chuck and I met at UW-Milwaukee. We were both in our first freshman year. Since we lived relatively close to each other, Chuck would give me rides to and from school. We would race down Capital Drive in the far right lane or later, for reasoning only Chuck could comprehend, through rush hour traffic downtown. "The traffic is better on the expressway," he would reason." It only comes at you from ahead and behind."
Those years would include early morning racquetball sessions and late nights on North Ave, Water Street and the 3rd Ward. Six foot five is very easy to find in a bar. "Never leave your wingman." Though, he made a great target on the racquetball court. Oi, the welts on his back and legs. Not to worry, he knew how to serve them back as well.
We were two more 2nd Floor Lounge rats majoring in Time Mismanagement and Space Occupation.
"It is better to be pissed off than pissed on...just ask Chuck."
The Road Runner Biff party.
11 PM Chicago road trips from RCs.
10 PM Burrito runs to Madison.
"Gurgles and Slash" at Summerfest. Sting, Bruce Hornsby, Indigo Girls, Kenny Loggins, Muddy Waters, Beach Boys, Pat McCurdy "Sex & Beer", Comedy Sportz.
Dancing at Park Avenue.
Smurfs at Arts.
Rumpleminz...well anywhere.
"Kindly remove the dart from my thigh."
Wild Turkey Night - 5 bars, 22 years, countless bottles of Wild Turkey and the best friends time can manage.
Chuck helped me get my driver's license. We sped from UW to the old Fond du Lac Driver's Center in 15 minutes laughing the whole time at the great irony. That same car went airborne over the tracks in Waukesha with Chuck at the wheel and me hanging on for dear life.
The Tercel, "starts with 'T', ends in 'LOVE'."
It was that car that started the challenge of the Bolero. Chuck wanted to prove that we could make it from UW to his house in one playing of the Bolero, 15 minutes and 40 seconds. He eventually pulled it off. We later insisted that one can get anywhere in Milwaukee in one Bolero. Try it!
Chuck was with me when ma chere and I started "going out".
I was with Chuck the day his mother died.
Chuck was with me on my wedding day.
Chuck and his father opened their home to me so I could finish college while ma chere and T1 remained with her parents. Their graciousness allowed me to get my degree and keep an impossible UPS work schedule.
I was with Chuck the day he met his beautiful wife. We both had a good feeling about her. I am so glad for their blessed union. I was honored to be in their wedding party.
God gave me the privilege of having Chuck in my life. My life is so much richer because of him. Charles died today, on Father's Day. He was playing with his precious daughters when he passed out from a blood clot in his lungs. He never fully recovered.
Rest in peace, Chuck, you will be missed.

Hammer and a Nail

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:56:00 +0000

It is back to Chaos Wednesdays this week. There are eight different
crews doing everything from carpentry and painting to masonry and
landscaping.

I only seem to have to remember my New Testament names to call any of
these guys, Peter, Paul, James, 2 no 3 Joes. Heck, there is even a
Chris for good measure.

Title by: The Indigo Girls
Sent from my iPhone

Cum On Feel the Noize

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:15:00 +0000

It is that time of the year, again. SPRING BLITZ!!

It is one of just a few times a year when the Ps are out way long enough for us to do some serious damage (read: Deep Cleaning). This year we are celebrating variations on the theme of Painting. The exterior of the Hamptons house is getting a pressure wash and the trim painted. The interior of the house and the New York City apartment are getting touched up, too.

The landscapers are cleaning out yard, edging and primping the property, despite the small snow piles that are stubbornly not going away. And, the pool company is making repairs to the tile, coping and filtration system

For those keeping count, that's 3 painting crews of 4-6 guys, 4 landscapers, 2 masons and my maintenance guy. I feel like I am on the wrong side of the walls at Helm's Deep.

Next week should be a bit quieter. It will take the "Charge of the House Brigade" to put everything back in its place.

Now, if I could just get the leaf blowers and power washer to hum in opposing frequencies. Where are those earplugs?

Title by: Quiet Riot

Give Me a Little More Time

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:00:00 +0000

I am knocking around the idea of writing a book. I know that I am not much of a writer; frankly, I am an unranked amateur. However, I look around the industry and all I see are a lot of housekeeping books. Housekeeping is only one of many components that make up the job of House Manager. There are also administrative, kitchen and maintenance duties to name just a few.
The thing is, once you get an understanding of the processes involved, there are many many ways to tackle the job, just like there are dozens of books that will "teach" you how to use Microsoft Word or "Make a Million on Ebay".
I now face a dilemma. Do I publish my ideas here first or do I stop writing here for a bit in order to get my ideas submitted? And, of course, my mind races with the "what-if" scenarios, like "what if" I forget to properly cite my resources?
In the meantime, things on the blog will be on the light side.

Title by: The Chairmen of the Board

Spare Me The Details

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 02:00:00 +0000

You do not need all this training and experience to be a good HM. There is a definite advantage to being trained in some field that requires organizational skills. The ability to think "on your feet" and prioritize tasks and issues is invaluable.
The idea is to break the "environment" down into smaller manageable pieces. At a macro level, the environment is all the places, people and things that are under the aegis of the principal(s). In other words, all the properties, staff, guests, pets, vehicles, etc. that the principals call their own. At some point, you will have to know the details of all these things; each seeming detail revealing that more information can be gathered.

Title by: The Offspring

What The Butler Saw

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:00:00 +0000

The people we provide service for are the principal(s). For readers of this blog, the Ps are my principals.) Clever how their last name starts with "P", n'est ce pas?)

I refer to my peers in the trade by the title House Manager. It is a well accepted title by many including principals and placement agencies. We can collectively be called Butler, Major Domo or Estate Manager as well. Companion, Personal Assistant and Valet are also titles used but are generally more specialized in personal care for the principals. I will elaborate more on that distinction later.

Title by: Squeeze

Introduction

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:00:00 +0000

So by popular demand, a bit about being a House Manager. First, let me acknowledge my sources and my experience.

I received my Certified Household Manager certificate from Starkey International in July 2007.

I have worked restaurants, resorts and hotels. I have several years experience in a kitchen that served both restaurant and banquet customers. I have served in formal dining rooms as waiter and sommelier (though, frankly I prefer to drink the stuff rather than sell it), banquet server, maitre'd, bartender, even a brief stint as a DJ. I have worked the front desk, reservationist, housekeeping, bellhop, pool attendant, water-ski instructor, chauffeur, concierge and just about every position in a movie theater except projectionist. My mother shared her wonderful skills in preparing French, and indeed International, cuisine and entertaining every guest as though they were an ambassador.

I have long hard-earned years of retail service experience. I can fold anything from a woman's silk shell to a 8 foot by 8 foot braided rug. (Do not even get me started about folding clothes and US Navy boot-camp.) I can stand at a register for countless hours with nothing to drink or eat, greeting every customer with a smile in my voice and balance my till to the penny at the end of my shift. I can tell you about the features and benefits of computers, well constructed furniture, washers & dryers and air conditioners. I have worked for a 4-seat answering service and a 300-seat mutual fund call center. I was a registered rep (Series 6 & 63).

I have assisted in the management of rental and condominium properties. I have done maintenance, housekeeping, grounds keeping and neighbor relations. I even had the thankless job of Secretary & Treasurer for our Owners' Association. (Yes, the condo is STILL for sale.)

My experience in information technology has been as a business analyst both on the IT side of the shop and the "Business" side. Project managers will see Project Management Institute type references in here. Process managers will see parts of the Rational Unified Development ("who"/"how") and Waterfall processes for software development. There is even a bit of requirements training via Requirements Quest. I have also been working on and supporting computers since the Commodore 64 only had a tape drive.

But, as they say, enough about me...

Title by: Panic! At The Disco

The Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:00:00 +0000

One of the things we are learning about living east of New York City, but still in the shadow of the city, is dealing with the crowds. My line to the Ts is, "If even just 1% of the population has the same idea as we do, that means 80,000 are bound to be going where we want to be."

We have learned through trial and error that
You need to be at the movie theater at least 60 minutes before show time or earlier if it is a prime time or first weekend.
You cannot travel to, through nor around New York City and make "good time" between the hours of 7 AM – 10 AM and 3 PM – 8 PM, including weekends. (Even outside those times is questionable.) It takes 1 hour to get from one side of New York to the other traveling east to west or return on a very very good day.
Parking in Manhattan is an oxymoron.
The New Jersey Turnpike is either a shoot or a ladder. When it is moving, you better be ready to do 80 MPH. When it is clogged, you better have packed at least 1 extra meal.
The mass-media and reports are correct, New York City drivers are rude, loud and obnoxious. (I fit right in, hahaha.)
If you think Waukesha County is the only place where 10 MPH under the speed limit is the norm in the far left lane, remember that the country was mostly settled from East to West. They had to come from somewhere and ALL their relatives are still out here, every last slow poke Uncle, Aunt and cousin.

Title by: Angels & Airwaves

Alice's Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Ma chere and the Ts all settled on Long Island. I have been on the job with the Ps for 16 months. It is safe to say that the transition that was a contributing factor for this blog is complete. I have reached a point with this blog where I am not sure where I should go next. When I started blogging, I thought I might want to continue to write even after I made the transition to my new career. Now, I find myself wondering if anyone really cares to hear yet another vapid rant on social, political and religious issues.

I am thinking about starting a series on what Estate/House Managers do starting with the basics. This sort of follows the idea of "Write What You Know". I want to make sure I leave it generic enough so as to not step on anyone's intellectual property. I have been working on the idea for the last few months. I will try to come up with something soon.

Title by: Arlo Guthrie

Quand On n'A Que L'Amour

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:34:00 +0000

Wow, it has been a month. Sorry about that. The holidays just flew by this year.

Here is a recap, briefly I promise, of the past few weeks.

Van broke - $3000

Thanksgiving – Philadelphia with ma chere, the Ts and my sister and some charming friends

Christmas – Washington, DC with ma chere, the Ts, my sister and some charming friends

Vacation – R&R in Washington, DC and Baiting Hollow

New Year's – Baiting Hollow

For those that like the "Webster's Unabridged", here is the filler.

A couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, the transmission on our van stopped working. By "stopped working", I mean one second we are doing 55 on Sound Avenue heading for Greeenport and the next we are coasting to a stop with no power from the engine reaching the wheels. Thankfully, we have some fantastic friends that live not too far from where we were stranded. Their eldest son gave ma Chere and T3 a ride back to our house while I waited for the tow from AAA.

In the course of one of my conversations with AAA over the fact that the tow was 45 minutes late, I was called a "dumb-ass" by one of the Wisconsin representatives. I kid you not, she said, "DUMB ASS" as she put me on hold. Needless to say, I was livid, fit-to-be-tied, died in the wool ticked off. Of course, while AAA was somewhat apologetic, I never heard back from any of the supervisors that claimed they would get to the bottom of it. I guess in this economy, they can afford to give customers away.

Two weeks later and a few thousand dollars the van was back in our driveway.

Thanksgiving was spent with my sister in Philadelphia. She actually lives in Washington, DC but Phili is a good spot in between Washington, DC and Long Island, NY. We had a wonderfully prepared meal, compliments to my sister and ma chere. We spent some time at Reading Station on Friday before heading back to Long Island. There is a great food market there with good eats and great grocery deals.

The situation with the van put a damper on our Christmas preparations. We also decided that the trip back to Milwaukee would be too expensive and too hard on the new transmission. Ma chere made the most of it by setting out the decorations earlier than we normally set them out. The house looks very nice all dressed up for the holidays. Next year, I will try my hand at outdoor decorations.

I had my 5 year colonoscopy the Monday before Christmas. The preparation for that is always worse than the actual procedure. However, having to wait an additional 2 hours because the doctor was behind schedule almost constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. The good news is everything came back clean and clear. And, I will not have to worry about it again until 2013. T1 will be a senior at that point, a camera up my backside might seem like a vacation then.

We enjoyed a nice service at church on Christmas Eve. I had the pleasure and honor of doing the Old Testament and Epistle readings for the candle service.

After the kids came downstairs on Christmas Day, we ate a quick breakfast and headed down the Washington, DC. It is about 320 miles from our place to my sister's. It takes about 6 hours. We celebrated Christmas dinner near Bethesda with a charming couple and their children. They are friends of my sister's from the first time she lived in DC. The rest of the weekend was spent in tourist mode. We spent time at the Museum of the American Indian, Arlington Cemetery, the National Zoo and Annapolis. We got back to Baiting Hollow Sunday afternoon and did leave until Tuesday morning.

A winter storm hit the east coast on Tuesday during the day. By Midwest standards, it was relatively small except that the temperature dropped from 35 to 20 while it was still snowing. The roads were all covered with black ice. The New Year's party was cancelled, leaving ma chere, Ts 2 & 3 and I with a cheese and sausage platter and chocolate mousse for 16. We found a way to survive until Midnight.

We passed the rest of the week with a run into Manhattan to visit the American Museum of Natural History on Friday. It was a nice way for ma chere and I to pass our 16th anniversary. Saturday was T3's 7th birthday. We moved all the furniture around in the living room, set it up "theater-style" and watched movies with an obcene amount of hors d'ourves.

And that, as they say, was the month in round up. Pretty generic stuff really. Just living the middle-class dream.

Title by: Jacques Brel

It Takes Every Type of People

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:00:00 +0000

I am truly sympathetic to the "Gay Cause" or many other “Causes” for that matter. This is not in the vein of a 1960's Enlightened "Oh, I have a 'black friend' (not that I think that's a problem)" kind of sympathy. I really do not care what color your skin is, who you pray to, where you are from or what gender you get your jollies from. I am much more concerned about important things like whether you will join me for a shot, a beer or a glass of wine and what I should expect to be pouring. (My preference is sambuca; ma chere prefers tequila; wild turkey is for one special occasion though that is negotiable; otherwise, BYOB, I am congenial that way.) Food is important to. We tend towards an omnivorous diet, but I would not throw you out for bringing a good bean salad. Ma chere and the Ts might grump a bit though.

Title by: Robert Palmer

Love and Marriage

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 04:00:00 +0000

I believe that marriage is a sacred sacrament given by God. The Bible tells us that this sacrament is to be performed through God between a man and a woman. HOWEVER, I believe the church no longer has any authority in the realm of protecting the modern concept of marriage. Consider first the farce of a Las Vegas wedding or the secular-in-the-extreme courthouse wedding. The result of these unions is a marriage that is recognized in all 50 states and most of the civilized world. Where was the church when these types of unions were started?

Should I dare ask why a member of the clergy must be licensed or certified in the United States? The answer is rather simple if rather cynical. It is so they can tax both the marriage couple and the officiate. Are we to believe, as most churches do, that a ceremony performed by a judge, with no mention of a higher power (much less Christ), is a "holy union" simply because an xx and an xy joined hands and kissed at the end of the service? JUNK, BALDERDASH! Or, to put a fine point on it, No...

Title by: Frank Sinatra

In My Life

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:00:00 +0000

This is where the trouble really begins. Recent news, election results, radical conservative pundits, etc. have rubbed me a bit raw lately. So, here we go…

I believe in the right of life. I believe life starts at conception. I believe that the willful taking of a life at ANY point after conception is not just wrong, it is a sin. HOWEVER, I do not believe in the government's right to legislate or otherwise regulate a person's right to choose. No to anti-abortion legislation, No to capital punishment.

Abortion kills, capital punishment kills. Abortion flies in the face of not just Christian morals but also existential fundamentals. If your Christian beliefs are not insulted, then your agnostic or atheistic codes should be.
Capital punishment does not work as a deterrent. An eighteen year old with a semi-automatic believes he is immortal AND invincible. (Is that the 2nd stage or 3rd stage of tequilla? umm, never mind...) That he might face death for blowing away a rival does not even cross his mind.

However, the world is ours to convince otherwise. Not through the force of legislation, but through love and understanding. Christ gave to us, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..." There is not a suggestion of hiding behind a law in that verse or any other verse I am aware of for that matter....

Title by: The Beatles

Tangled Up In Blue

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:01:00 +0000

I am going to get into some trouble here. I just know it. However, I cannot help myself.

I am a Christian. This should not be too much of a surprise for the few of you still hanging around and reading this blog. My faith is an important part of who I am. My quest for faith consumed a fair amount of my formative years. It is solid now and beyond question or doubt.

Because of my faith, I embrace a number of social issues. I believe that anyone can reasonably expect to be cared for when they are too young, too sick or too old to take care of themselves. I believe that anyone can reasonably expect a fair chance at being safe, getting a quality education, getting a job and returning the favor to the next generation. There is plenty of controversy in this paragraph to keep most of us at the dining room table with a few bottles of wine for an evening....

Title by: Bob Dylan

One (Hu)'man One Vote

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:56:00 +0000

"Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it. It is only expressing feebly your desire that it should prevail. A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority." - Henry David Thoreau

Do not forget to vote today. It is the best way to "Support the Troops". Today is the day they are fighting for.

Title by: Johnny Clegg & Savuka

I Know A Place

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:13:00 +0000

One of the things I find interesting about living on Long Island is how people relate to the place. It is usually sited as a location. For instance, during the Presidential Debates, reporters on location would sign-out by saying "For Rockhead Press, this is Barney Rubble from Long Island." They were not in Hempstead, NY or even Hofstra University (Ok, granted, you would have to be from Long Island or follow La Crosse to have any idea where Hofstra University is anyway.)

The point is, however, most people in the rest of the country answer with the name of their town or the nearest city or even their State when answering the question, "Where are you from?". Ask a traveler from Shorewood or even Racine where they are from and a likely answer would be "near-Milwaukee" or "Wisconsin". Ask a traveler from Calverton, New York where they are from and the likely answer will be "Long Island"; not "New York" or even "near-New York City". "Long Island" takes on that name.

(Of course, New York City, poses yet another exception to that rule. Natives are rarely from New York City. They are from Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx (mind you, not Bronx, but "The Bronx" but that's yet a different story) or Staten Island.

There are very few places I can think of that become a "I'm from here" location. I guess someone could say they are from "Napa Valley"; but no one claims, in my experience anyway, to be from "The Rockies", "The Poconos" or "The Bad Lands". "The U.P." is very locally used. I have experimented with that little colloquialism while out here. No one out here has any idea what a Yuppie is except maybe the sound a 5 year old makes on their first pony ride.

For some reason, "Long Island" resonates with people. It is that place that is not New York City, or any of the eastern sea-board cities for that matter. It is the location for Great Gatsby. Thomas Fairchild drove Linus Larabee to Long Island in Sabrina. Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Billy Joel all hail from Long Island. Once ago, it was mostly farms, farm towns and fishing towns. Now, all but the eastern 40 miles is one long suburb. The Wikipedia article makes the point perfectly though. It categorizes Long Island like it was a state with breakdowns in demographics, economy, education, etc.

Tell a New Yorker you are from "Long Island" and they get a far-away look and usually tell you how lucky you are to live "out there".

Well, from Long Island, this is CmentMixer. And, yes, I am lucky to live "out there".

Title by: Bob Marley

These Days

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:20:00 +0000

As I mentioned before, I have been to see the doctor. I try to see the doctor once a year as a matter of safety. Besides, it comforts me that, if I were in the hospital, the 2 professionals I would want most at my bedside should know me by my first name, my pastor and my doctor. It is also time for my twice a decade date with that misguided camera known as a colonoscope.

On a Friday morning, I mosey in. Nice office staff, I write my autobiography on their forms. After a short wait, a friendly nurse takes blood pressure, temperature, weight, height, blood, urine. The door no sooner latches when in walks a very approachable and seemingly competent doctor. He pokes and prods and asks many questions, family history and personal medical history. It is a great first impression.

"We will call if there is anything irregular with the tests."

They called on Wednesday.

The message, "Please have Scott call us as soon as possible."

I called when I get home from work around 5:30.

"The doctor is not comfortable discussing this matter with you over the phone. Please come in as soon as possible."

I think we have all either personally gone through or heard first hand of these calls. If not, here is what happened before I could even stop to think straight. My stomach dropped. My normally optimistic outlook was short-circuited by my "worst case scenario" instinct. My mind raced…High-blood-pressure-blood-sugar-issues-white-blood-cell-count-cancer-my-goodness-what-type-of-cancer-what-did-they-find-out-the-life-insurance-is-paid-the-family-is-1200-miles-from-our-traditional-support-group-I-feel-fine-I-am-active-breathe-breathe-breathe.

"Ok, is there an opening tonight? … Yes? At 7? Great, we will be there at 7."

"Ma chere, clear the calendar, we are going for a car ride. T1, you are in charge."

At the appointed hour (15 minutes early), the nurse escorts us into the examining room. She takes my blood-pressure and lets us know that the doctor will be right in. And, he was.

He looked at ma chere strangely and then at me almost questioningly. He handed me a sheaf of papers and started to take my blood-pressure again. I exhaled loudly and visibly relaxed. Page 1 read, "High Cholesterol Diet – Foods to Avoid". Page 2 read, "High Cholesterol Diet – Foods to Seek".

"So, Doc, not to minimize this, but we are here just to talk about my high cholesterol?"

"Yes, you didn't already know this."

I ran through the conversation with the receptionist earlier in the evening.

He blanched, "I guess we really do not need to recheck your blood pressure. I can pretty much guess why it is off. She SHOULD have told you it was your cholesterol and asked you to make an appointment."

We talked living with high cholesterol for 15 minutes or so. It was a bit of a blur.

Ma chere and I laughed, nervously, all the way to Walgreens to fill in the prescription for Crestor.

Bad form, bad bad form. Bad form, indeed!

Title by: Tanya Donelly

Call the Doctor

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:20:00 +0000

We have also been working our way around to getting new doctors. We picked one that is close to the house in the Spring. Unfortunately, he is rarely there. His Physician Assistants take most of his appointments; and if you want to see him, he is in the office on Tuesday evenings from 6 PM to 8 PM. Crazy, I know.

Ma chere did find a new doctor a couple of weeks ago. T2's little accident (he is on the mend, thank you all for the well wishes) forced us into picking a doctor sooner rather than later. Some complications after his first week meant we had to have a primary care referral in order to have insurance coverage for the additional work. I understand the sense behind a "gated policy" where all specialist work must be referred. I strongly dislike it when I get stuck on the wrong side of the gate.

In any case, we now have a very nice physician that I have seen personally twice in as many weeks. Not bad, considering that after 6 months I could not even tell you who the other guy was and that after being in the office 5 or 6 times with the Ts.

Title by: JJ Cale

Leave the Driving

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:17:00 +0000

There are still a few things that ma chere and I have procrastinated doing with regards to the move to Long Island. For instance, we still have our old vehicle tags and licenses.

The vehicle stuff is a matter of waiting for our existing insurance to expire and picking up new coverage in New York. Because we still have our condo (Yes, it is true.), we need to maintain insurance on it. It is easier to wait for the end of our coverage year with our current provider and just cancel the vehicle portion of the coverage than try to shop for a new condo policy. I already have the new coverage on the van; now, we are waiting for the end of this week to make the changes to our Wisconsin policy.

We will work on getting our licenses and tags switched over this week as well. Other than the house, that will be the last of the Wisconsin to-do list. Anyone want a condo?

Title by: Neil Young

Burning Down The House

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:28:00 +0000

Here is some advice born of experience. If it looks like the pilot
light for the broiler is out, ventilate the space before relighting
or keep your face away from the opening when relighting.

Broiler 1 - Hair & Eyebrows 0

Not to worry, no burns, just singed hair. Man, it stinks!

Title by: The Talking Heads

Collarbone

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:30:00 +0000

You have to love lyricists. They really can come up with the darnedest themes.

Well, T2 is now home, safe and relatively sound. He has some nice road rash on his face and upper body. He has a golf ball size lump over his left eye. And, he broke his collar bone.

Not bad for a guy celebrating his 11th birthday tomorrow. What until he figures out his soccer season is over...boy, won't that be a grand time...

Title by: Fujiya & Miyagi

Hurt

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:46:00 +0000

Here is an interesting dilemma for road warriors. If you have traveled for business and have kids, you will understand that persistent worry that nags at you the whole time you are away.

"What do I do if Ma Chere or one of the Ts gets hurt while I am away? What is my escape plan? What will it take for me to get home NOW?"

That worry is being tested even as I type. T2 took a digger on his scooter around 4:45 PM. He was not wearing his helmet. Ma chere explained that he has road rash on his head and side. It also looks like his shoulder "is not quite where it belongs" is what I think she said. Dislocated? Collar bone? DANG!!!

I am, of course, in Manhattan today and tomorrow. I usually stay overnight in the staff room to avoid 2 days of crazy traffic. Ma chere assures me she has it under control.

So...I...wait...

Title by: Johnny Cash

Pride and Joy

noreply@blogger.com (CmentMixer) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:50:00 +0000

It has been a busy few weeks. Sorry for the lapse. Ma chere and the Ts are all safely back on Long Island. I flew out to Milwaukee a few Fridays ago; spent the night out with family; golfed 18 at Greenfield (119 - not bad for no golf for a year and using my sister-in-law's clubs); had a late lunch; napped and left Milwaukee for New York at 6:00 PM on Saturday. We pulled into our driveway at 11:30 AM Sunday. We stayed close to home on Sunday and Monday to recuperate from the drive.

The Ts started school just after Labor Day. T2 & T3 are in new schools from last year. T2 "graduated" to the 5th & 6th grade middle school. We moved T3 into the school affiliated with our church in Aquebogue. He needed to get back to what he was used to at Atonement.

All in all, it was good to get everyone home again.

Title by: Stevie Ray Vaughan