Story of a Life

a3nj @ 2006-02-08T15:59:00

2006-02-08T21:06:10Z

Up again at 8AM after playing the snooze alarm game from 6:30AM. Into work by 9:15 to put in my 8 hours. Not feeling too well; got a runny nose and a bit of a cough. Just what I need - a cold. Discovered someone ripped off my data cable since I was last in. Waited on IT for most of the day before they brought in a new cable. Hard to LJ or check stocks without a network cable. I'm going to leave promptly this evening, get dinner and rest.

a3nj @ 2006-02-08T02:01:00

2006-02-08T07:12:10Z

Rolled into Pennsville NJ a little past 12AM. Had a good night at the Meadowlands as the Devs shorted out the Lightning. Devs got a bit sloppy in the 3rd and lost most of a 6-1 lead before scoring the last goal for a 7-4 victory. The real downer though was the Devs played the 3rd without three players who must have suffered some injury.

Had a good visit with the shrink who recommended uping the Lexapro to 20mg to see if it has an effect. I'll try that when I get home again. The broken molar has to be capped so I'll start with that next Saturday. Going to surf a bit to wind down before bed.

a3nj @ 2006-02-07T09:48:00

2006-02-07T14:49:14Z

Surprise! I was up at 8:20AM after calling it quits at 4:15AM. Showered, shaved and dressed now so I won't be hitting the bed again. Out to get a oil change while the wash is in. Back later as time permits.

a3nj @ 2006-02-06T20:18:00

2006-02-07T01:25:24Z

Up until 2-3AM (I cannot remember now) then up again sans alarm at 7:15AM. Stayed up for awhile but then made the mistake of laying down for a moment. Woke up at 3:30PM! Started to write a comment in Allison's journal but the comment didn't save properly. Paulette went to the dentist today for bridge work so we did Chinese again tonight. Josh repaid Elizabeth the money he owed her.

Haven't done anything for DE so far and I'm due to return there Wednesday (actually going down tomorrow after the Devs game). Been in a funk of sorts over the weekend so its good that I am seeing the shrink tomorrow as well as the dentist.

a3nj @ 2006-02-05T22:28:00

2006-02-06T03:44:03Z

Stayed up to 4:30AM again and slept through the alarms to 3:40PM. Paulette said she got home at 11AM. Other than answering questions she is not speaking to me. Surprise, surprise. Broke a tooth eating an English muffin; time for another cap, I guess. Ordered a pizza and watched the Super Bowl. Good to see the Steelers win. That was the most football I've watched this season (If you've read any of this journal, you know I am a hockey fan and for true hockey fans, there is no other sport). Going to do some surfing and then to bed.

a3nj @ 2006-02-04T23:13:00

2006-02-05T04:22:47Z

Stayed awake until 4PM then dozed off in front of the TV until 9PM. Woke up to see the Devs play the 3rd period against the Leafs. They screwed up in the 1st period and lost the game 4-2. Rangers and Flyers both increased their lead over the Devs and the Lightning gained on them. I predicted they would lose last night after they shutout the Canes. They get up for the tough teams and slack off against the teams they should kill. They lost to the Panthers then outplayed the Sens and Canes only the lose again to the Leafs. Go figure.

a3nj @ 2006-02-04T05:53:00

2006-02-04T11:54:15Z

What am I doing up at this time in the morning? Well, I didn't go to bed last night. I'm a bit wound up and I've been trying to come down enough to sleep. I guess it's partly because of the intensity of the Dev's number raising for Scott Stevens and partly because of an argument I had with Paulette.

Thursday I was up by 8:10AM which was probably the earliest I've been up in two or more weeks. Checked out (damn, I forgot to leave a tip for the room service) and got into work in time for the first meeting. I actually did more at work than I had in two days the prior week. Wrote a procedure Atlas Point style to remove water contamination from a raw material. Helped to troubleshoot a bad batch and suggested changes. I didn't get my expense reports done but I did get some good work done so I was satisfied with this trip down. I also found out my review for 2005 was just about finished being reviewed so I hope the bonus for 2005 will be nice. I stayed up late again and didn't go to sleep until 4:30AM.

Woke up Friday at 11:30AM too late to start the VCR on time to catch the start of the replay of Gm4 of the 1995 Stanley Cup finals. But I did get it going before the end of the 1st period. Before we left to pick up Alice just before 4PM, I switched tapes so I have all the final games of the 3 Cup series won by the Devils under Stevens' captaincy.

Driving to the arena after picking Drew up, Paulette made yet another comment about my driving. Now I haven't had an accident which cost anyone money in the 26+ years we've been married but she still ends up backseat driving. When she said something about getting lessions, I blew up. Of course she wants to drop it almost immediately but she also wanted the last word as usual. So I told her since she started it, I was going to finish it. She had to respond so we went back and forth until she finally didn't respond anymore. For the rest of the night, I got the silent treatment and that will continue for the weekend partly because she leaves in about an hour for a two day church/day care center planning session with All Saints and partly because that's her style. She doesn't communicate with me unless she is telling me what I should do. I'm to the point where she can stew in her own juices for all I care.

The ceremony for Stevens was alot briefer than Messier's but I don't think it was any less emotional or loud for the fans. Stevens wasn't as emotional as Messier either but Stevens was the quiet, controlled captain who led with actions rather than words. Sect. 228 led the cheers and chants as usual and the Scotty Stevens chants brought tears to fans and some players as well. And to top off the evening, the Devs shutout the league leading Canes, 3-0. That's five for Marty, all in 2006. Team is really playing well now so it is looking good for making the playoffs again.

Going to stay up until the banks and post office open then I'll nap some. Meanwhile, I'm watching the tape of the game and doing some Georgin'

a3nj @ 2006-02-01T21:28:00

2006-02-02T03:13:13Z

Haven't updated in awhile so here goes. I'm down in Delaware right now but I will be returning to NJ tomorrow after work. I'm listening to the Devs play the Sens in the 3rd period in my hotel room courtesy of NHL.com. The see the Rangers downed the Pens 3-1 so the Devs have to win to keep pace. Eric just scored - DaDADumHey!

Went out to dinner to honor one of the departing management trainees, Kai. He's going to Gouda NL for his next station. Noticed and reported back on some charge weight errors in the product instructions. (Damn! The Sens just scored to trail 5-3; Marty GAA goes up again.) Woke up at 10AM after disregarding the alarms at 7:30AM. But what else would you expect if you go to bed at 6:30AM?

Tuesday, I didn't get up early. I had enough time to get a haircut, buy lottery tickets, go to the banks for ourselves and Beth, and order Chinese for dinner. Surprisingly, Neil didn't have roast pork egg foo yung as usual. He must be serious about losing weight and watching his sugar because he is diabetic and had been really overdoing the sugars, etc. I assembled the medicine cabinet for the downstairs bathroom but I'll have to get hardware to hang it over the weekend. I left for DE around 9:30PM.

Monday, I didn't get up early (see a pattern?). Of course, I didn't roll out of bed at 7:30AM. More like 1:30PM if I remember correctly. When am I going to learn I cannot stay up late into the morning and expect to get out of bed when I should? Discipline is really lacking; either that or I am depressed enough to be unmotivated which may be the case. Maybe the Lexapro is no longer working. I didn't do much around the house and ended up making hotdogs and beans for dinner for Paulette and myself. Dozed off for an hour in the evening and then stayed up until 4:30AM.

Alright! The Devs won 5-3. Now they're tied with the Lightning. Next up is the best team in the league right now, the 'Canes. And Scott Stevens will have his 4 retired. I'll be there for that one and the VCR will be running you can be sure!

a3nj @ 2006-01-30T03:00:00

2006-01-30T08:23:31Z

Not much to write about the past three days. Staying up late and getting up late.

I did make it down to Bensalem PA for a WG gathering on Saturday. Had a good time and met several Georgers for the first time. Chatted a bit with Calla Flower about her pregnancy; she does have a glow about her. I hope all goes well for her and her boyfriend. Having a child is a big step in life and it brings a lifetime of joy but also responsibility.

Alice and Drew must have been fighting before they brought over dinner Sunday because both were in strange moods. And of course, they started fighting again right after dinner and before Drew left for his game. Really yelling at each other - not a good sign after two months of marriage. Drew also forgot to pick up the beer for his team so Mommy & Daddy had to scout around for a open store and bail him out again. Well that's another $20 on the tab. Unfortunately, his team was shorthanded and lost badly but they remain in 1st place in their division.

Going to catch a few winks and try to rise at 7AM ;)

a3nj @ 2006-01-26T16:31:00

2006-01-26T21:39:58Z

Geez, I'm getting bad - haven't posted in a couple of days. Finishing up down here in Delaware for the week. Had dinner last night at the Roadhouse with Hemu (an old Paterson guy) and Kai, a young management trainee who is leaving for a new posting in Gouda, NL. Had a nice chat with them then returned to the Hampton and tried to catch up on some sleep.

Got up a bit later than I planned but checked out and headed across the river into work. Puttered around here most of the day so far but got a few things done. Exchanged emails with Allison about gatherings and checked the WG forums for more information and thoughts about the recent appearance of WG in the news.

Will leave here around 7PM for dinner at the Cracker Barrel and the trip back to north Jersey.

a3nj @ 2006-01-25T03:11:00

2006-01-25T08:54:04Z

Well, I sort of lied. I didn't go to DE, I'm here in Pennsville NJ for the night. Actually, I'm in the Hampton Inn in Pennsville. The company is bringing in another engineer from Chicago who will work 5 days a week. So it made more sense for me to go to a hotel for the 1-2 nights a week I work in DE. I've stayed here before and it is a decent place. Free breakfast and free Internet access so I cannot complain. The TV choices aren't as good but I'll live with it.

Monday I slept until 9:30AM then got up to go to the Palisades Center IMAX. I finally got around to seeing Magnificent Desolation: Walk on the Moon 3D. I'm a big fan of the space program and have been since Sputnik. Who knows what year the Space Age began? I'd wager more than half the people on LJ have no idea; they're way too young!

After the movie, I went to the bank and did shopping for dinner. I made a pot roast which everyone ate much to Paulette's surprise. Alice and Drew enjoyed it although Alice doesn't and didn't eat the carrots. Elizabeth got home from work (I had fallen asleep on the family room chair by then) and finished off the left over veggies and the meat which Paulette didn't think would happen.

I went to watch Drew play hockey at 10:30PM and he and his team beat the 1st place team in Div 7 to takeover the Div 7 lead. The other team's goalie was great but he and his team gave up three short hand goals on the way to losing 4-2. Go figure. The 2nd goal Drew gave up was put in by his own defense man so Drew wasn't 100% satisfied with the game.

After I got home, I stayed up until 6:30AM watching Davenport lose to that ugly Belgian bitch Henin-Harden mainly because she had injured her ankle and it affected her serve.

Got up at 1:00PM and had a 1.5 hour teleconference with the DE crew about LNT-40. Everyone has a theory on why the batch made in DE did not match Paterson product but I still think the overcharge on the Part 1 was the root cause. Another batch is planned this weekend. Hope it goes OK because I don't want to be answering a lot of phone calls on Sat during the WG gathering.

After the teleconference, I got dressed and started puttering around the house and packed for the trip down here. Looking at the mail, I saw the new estimated tax vouchers had arrived. OH SHIT!!! I forgot to mail out the estimated payments due 1/15 & 1/17! Got the checks written and mailed before the post office closed at 5PM.

Made ham, onions, red peppers, and scrambled eggs for dinner with English muffins. Only had to feed Paulette, Neil, and myself since Alice and Drew only freeload on game nights for Drew. Fooled around on the Internet and Georged some money for use down here while listening/watching the Devs shutout the Isles. To tell the truth, Marty was damn lucky as the Islanders hit the posts/crossbar several times. And he had to make a skate save on Yashin (I think) which was pure luck - he was down and out of position. Anyway, they won and the Rangers lost (YEA!). Back to 6 pts back again. I think several other teams close to the Devs also lost so it as a good night.

Finally left Park Ridge shortly after midnight and drove down after stopping for coffee and a couple of Dunkin' Donuts (what else?). Time to surf a bit (porn?) then nap until 7-8AM before heading across the river to work.

a3nj @ 2006-01-24T23:17:00

2006-01-25T04:21:19Z

Just a quick note - have to leave for DE. Had a good two days topped off with a Devils shutout tonight. More later.

a3nj @ 2006-01-22T21:24:00

2006-01-23T02:31:13Z

Shit! The Rangers won. The Devs had their chances, especially on the power play, but didn't come through. The Devs are now 8 pts back and only have two games left with the Rangers so they will need help to catch them now. I'd love to see them play a playoff series this year. The one thing the Devs haven't done is win a series against the Rangers.

a3nj @ 2006-01-22T18:57:00

2006-01-23T01:09:29Z

Well, I missed another day. Yesterday I was up at 9AM and out to a Devils' game at noon. Devs lost a 2-0 lead but came back to win the game in a shoot out over the Isles to take their 9th straight. Took Alice and Drew to dinner at the Olive Garden. I didn't wear suspenders Saturday to see if that would clear up the pain and weakness I have been experiencing in my right arm and shoulder. Fell asleep on the couch watching TV then woke up and surfed until 5AM.

Woke up today at 1PM when Paulette came back from an annual meeting of the church that runs her day care center. Went shopping up at the Palisades Center in W. Nyack NY. Bought a medicine cabinet and shelf which has to be assembled at Target. I did not want to carry the boxes down four floors and out to the parking lot considering my right arm and shoulder problems. I did manange to convince the store security guard to let me take the shopping cart out of the store promising to bring it back. Paulette and Neil, who tagged along, thought it was silly that I did indeed take the time to bring the cart back up to the store but hey, I gave my word.

Watching the Devils play the Rangers now on the Devils TV channel. The Announcers on the Rangers channel are real "homers" so I don't like their commentary. That's what happens when the TV channel also owns the team. John Davidson is making excuses for the elbow Kasparitis threw on Marshall for a major and game saying it was more an upper arm - what else would you expect from someone paid by the same guy who pays Kasparitis? Anyway, the rookie came through for the Rangers so they're up 1-0. Hopefully that won't happen.

Have I lost my only friend?

2006-01-21T10:04:56Z

Had a so-so day in DE yesterday and returned to NJ arriving at shortly after 1AM. Checked the snail mail (a lot of tax items are arriving now) before coming online. After checking my different email accounts and paying some bills, I openned LJ and checked on my friend and community posts before doing my own post.

I discovered that my only friend has decided to take at least a temporary break from posting in her LJ. I "met" her through Wheresgeorge and after checking her WG profile as a top Georger in NJ, I started reading her public LJ which she had linked in her WG profile. Having joined WG in Jan. 2001, I probably started reading her public posts sometime in late 2001. I could sympathize with much of what she wrote having lived through some similiar events in my life and having two children close to her age. Eventually, I contacted her through WG and sent her my comments via email not being comfortable posting public comments in her LJ. I finally met the young lady in April of 2005 at a Wheresgeorge gathering and was struck by her intelligence and candor. We continued to exchange emails and PMs regarding events of the past year and met three more times in person. She was fun to be with and to chat with and hopefully we will meet again at future WG events.

She finally convinced me it would be easier to communicate if I had a LJ account and I could read and comment on her friends only posts. I had also considered starting a LJ as I am going through some life changes now (empty nesting, loss of job, retirement, etc.) and I could record my thoughts and perhaps get some helpful comments on my changing situations. So starting this year, I became a LJ member, started posting, and gained friend's access to her LJ. Now she is "leaving" and I will miss her, her birds, and the life events she shared with me and others. I hope she will feel comfortable staying friends with me and will contact me when the spirit moves her.

But this journal will continue on as my life evolves in the years to come. And now, it's time for bed - I have a Devils' game to attend at noon!

a3nj @ 2006-01-19T18:41:00

2006-01-19T23:52:11Z

Could not get myself out of bed today. I retired around 4:30AM and slept on and off until 2:30PM. My shoulder is killing me. I don't know whether my suspenders are pinching a nerve or I've done something else to it. Came into work and did email stuff and printed procedures for a meeting tomorrow. They're running a MONAZOLINE tonight so it will be interesting to see how things go.

Just pissed off Paulette by telling her I volunteered to give up the company car if it made more sense for someone else to use it. I only use it two days a week and the rest of the time it sits in our driveway. Yes it means more wear and tear on our car if I use ours at 44.5 cents a mile but I could rent a car if it came to it. In any case I probably only have 9-10 more trips to Delaware in my future if they do not extend me past 3/31.

a3nj @ 2006-01-19T02:12:00

2006-01-19T07:14:20Z

Rolled into Bear DE about 30 minutes ago. Going to unwind for a bit then hit the hay.

a3nj @ 2006-01-18T22:04:00

2006-01-19T03:12:04Z

Time to pack for another run down to Delaware. Saw Brokeback Mountain with Paulette and cousin Neil this morning and followed that with lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. The movie was somewhat sad but thought provoking. The visuals were outstanding.

Alice and Drew were by for dinner (another hockey game tonight) and as I finish this entry, we are still waiting for Beth to come home. She and Josh, her boyfriend demoted to friend in Sept, called it quits on the friendship yesterday so she's been down. Sometimes it's tough to be young and love someone.

a3nj @ 2006-01-17T16:34:00

2006-01-17T21:48:35Z

Missed making an entry yesterday. Nothing much happened anyway. Had Chinese for dinner for a change. Drove to Hackensack to watch Drew's hockey game (his team won, 7-2).

Woke up late again this morning to be told by Paulette I had to go to the doctor's to pick up Drew's Lexapro prescription. WTF! He used his last pill and hadn't arranged for a refill yet. This kid is 25 and he still can't get his priorities right. I don't know how many times I have told him he has to stay on top of his meds.

On top of that, he had COBRA protection when he came off my insurance which lapsed on the same day he went to the othropaedic doctor. I told him to give the doctor his insurance info through his wife's policy. Turns out his wife's policy does not have any of his doctor's in it's network. Well, I'll be damned if I pay anything on that bill. It's his responsibility now!

Yeah, right!

2006-01-15T21:57:23Z

Normal hours? Woke up at 7, 8:30, 11, 1, and finally 4PM. Stomach was bothering me all night and during the morning. Took Rolaids at one point although they warn against taking them if you are on prescription meds, which of course, I am.

So now I'm closing up shop in the DE apt. and will head into work for a few hours. They're running a MONAZOLINE and it sounds like they may be having some problems from the phone call I got last night. I'll listen to the Devs play for awhile via the Internet before I head back to NJ. I figure I owe the company about 10 hours work from home time this week.

My discipline is lacking.

a3nj @ 2006-01-15T00:19:00

2006-01-15T05:25:48Z

Didn't get as much done as I should have on Saturday; I'll have to try harder later this morning.

Had dinner at the Roadhouse as usual but did a dinner of appetizers instead of a main dish. Watched part of the Broncos-Patriots game; NE mistakes did them in. Listening to SNL as I type this entry. I stayed up instead of going to bed last night but I ccannot do that tonight. I have to get my internal clock back to "normal" hours.

a3nj @ 2006-01-14T01:32:00

2006-01-14T06:47:16Z

Rolled into Delaware about an hour ago. Enjoyed the Devils' game to no end; great to see Marty get another shutout and one back-to-back at that. Chico and Matty said that was the first time since March of 1998 that Brodeur got back-to-backs. Next game for the family is 1/21 against the Islanders.

Of course, we had the normal family drama at the game. Alice was in a funk and Paulette thinks it was because I sat next to her and Alice had to sit between Drew and me. All three of us are large and Paulette thought she was squashed between us. Anyway, I switched seats with Drew between the 1st & 2nd but Alice still was sulking. When I called Paulette from the Turnpike, she was talking like it was my fault - as usual. I told her I was tired of sitting at the end and getting shutout of the conversations. Well we'll have to figure out how to sit so I can participate in the family enjoyment of the games more without Alice being bummed out.

Got to check a few things online then it's bedtime for Bonzo.

a3nj @ 2006-01-12T20:16:00

2006-01-13T01:40:19Z

I just got finished watching the love fest in MSG for Mark Messier. Jeez if the ice wasn't frozen those clowns would say he could walk on water. If it wasn't for the fact MSG owns the TV station, there would be half the hoopla.

Now Messier is undoubtedly a great player, his name is on the Cup 6 times BUT only ONCE as a Ranger. He came to the Rangers in 1991-1992; Scott Stevens, whose number will be retired Feb 3rd, came to the Devils in 1991-1992. Messier was captain for 10 years since he left for more money for three years; Stevens was captain for 13 years. Messier led the Rangers to ONE Cup final; Stevens lead the Devils to FOUR Cup finals. The Rangers won the Cup ONCE with Messier; the Devils won the Cup THREE TIMES with Stevens. The Devils had a better record than the Rangers over the years Stevens & Messier were captains.

Will the Cup be there for Stevens on the 3rd? Will the best captain in metropolitan New York history get the same TV & radio coverage and air time when #4 is raised? I doubt it and where's the justice in that?

a3nj @ 2006-01-11T20:06:00

2006-01-12T01:16:21Z

Not much happened today. I'm sore and still tired from working in the basement yesterday. I wonder if some of the tiredness is due to depression as I did not feel like doing much today. Slept late and dozed off in the late afternoon. I haven't checked in with work yet this week so I should probably do that. I'm scheduled to work this weekend.

Going to go watch my son play hockey in awhile. A div. 6 team goalie quit and Drew's going to fill in for him tonight and for the rest of the season, I guess. So now he's playing on three teams in Divs 5,6,& 7. His new wife Alice is taking it in stride but she knew he was a hockey nut when she married him.

a3nj @ 2006-01-10T16:58:00

2006-01-10T22:13:10Z

Was up until 4AM watching the Devils' replay because I wanted to hear Doc & Chico's comments on the game. Didn't get up until 10:20AM then had breakfast and started putting storage racks together in the basement.

Boy, am I out of shape! It's an effort to kneel down and stand up and hammer down the pieces into the slots. Of course, the tabs don't quite align properly with the slots so it took extra effort to preassemble the frames. Also the job probably would go faster with two people but Paulette was busy with wash and shopping.

There's a head lice outbreak in Glen Rock schools so Paulette's day care center has also had some cases. Now she's concerned she may have brought them home (psychosomatic in my estimation) so she's washing the bedding and got lice shampoo. Guess I'm going to have to shampoo also.

Driving to Newark airport later to pick up Paulette's cousin Neil who is currently residing with us. Hopefully he'll start to concentrate on getting a job this year so he can move on. My son moved out and got married but Neil moved in so 2005 was a zero sum population move.