Move In Day

We have been fortunate for the past coupe of years of being the only office in this entire building—oh, there was a time when we shared ghe building with the Mexican Consulate and I like that—I think I was about the only one at my office who did. We had hordes of Mexicans coming into our office thinking our office was the Consulate, infact this building became too small for the Consulate's needs and moved out about 18 months ago—we have been the lone folks here ever sense. The building owner has been telling us of and on for about a year that he had once again rented the property to another minority group, this time the Asians. I really thought the guy was just blowing smoke and the eternal renovation was just a process for his ego. However, in the last week the renovation has become intense with jack hammer pounding—they even built us a code firewall of the front of our office which has been driving me crazy. The disconnected the power doors into our offices and actually rehung one door backwards—the doors all have hydraulic pumps making them so heaving I can barely access the office by myself. Hopefully before they finish the renovation they will reconnect the door. The building itself has been refitted with a new security system—the system now has a feature where a timer is actuated when the building exterior doors are opened (with key) and someone has to input a code to disconnect the system or ear piercing alarms go off and a rent-a-cop company is called and the whole system has to be rest. Yesterday, the first day back to work and I had to open the building andd of course I set off the alarm. The alarm sounded for twenty minutes, shut off and then started again—the cops never showed up as they had done a couple of months ago.

Yesterday the big tucks started pulling up, parking directly in front of my “window on the West” and a gang of five or seven dressed in hoodies, black watch caps and gloves jumped out open the back and started carrying desks, chairs, tables and lots of file cabinets out of the truck and across the hall to the Asian agency. Earlier in the month Frank at my office indicated he had been to the secrete Information Technology room where they had an impressive server arrady hordes. And voices, all morning in the hall people coming and going, laughing shouting and calling out—and this is just their staff claiming individual office space. Windows and familiarity with the premises. There is supposed to be chaos next Tuesday when the Asians first real day of services begins.

Already the Asians have taken over the building like they own it—they have been exhibiting a certain swagger only large populations can render.. The Asians have already settled into the building like they have always been here. Helping our office cope with THEM being here. It feels weird. Our sleepy building is being slapped awake. We are going to have to assimilate to these new folk and quick or we will be just one more species kicked to the side of the road.

Christmas 2011

Well Christmas is over for another year, the gifts have been given and received, meals eaten, family greeted, as the sun sets on the second day of Christmas. Can you tell? I got new software for Christmas. This year Dianne gifted me in DragonDictate nuance system and I'm trying learn how to use it. So, I expect this post will be less enjoyable to read but I might as well jump in feet first and learn this pesky software. I got Dianne a new camera, a Nikon cool pics. Diane seems to truly enjoy using the new camera. The red Nikon I was letting her use finally gave up the ghost and it was time for something new. Now, I must confess that I really did poorly gifting this year and basically changed in and relied totally on Amazon.com. But from what I can tell those who did receive that Amazon gift cards seem appreciate which leads me think that I will be using again as embarrassing as using gift cards might be. Using the gifts cards or rather giving that gift gift was simple and relatively painless and counted as true gift giving. Dianne actually manufactured a couple of her gifts for me: robes made for people we use wheelchairs. To robes were made from towels which will be great for me when exiting the shower one was from sort if a flannel material and will be great for just wearing round the house are watching television. Truly these are great gifts and what Christmas should be about.

There were no grand meals our house this Christmas which is okay we did okay for Thanksgiving nets good. Now I must admit Bridget and Gabriel did have a breakfast on Christmas morning but I chose not to go, I am just a poop. Mark A did make it over last evening to receive Christmas gifts that we gave his family. Mark set the example for me using Amazon.com who gift. And I really do appreciate the gift cards which allow me to take advantage of the many e-books that are out there.

I just got busy and washed the dishes we have had hanging around the sink. And I might do some more cooking before this is through that I it. My Christmas vacation is just about finished. Tomorrow I am back at the office manager phones and taking care of business. Now the more I thought about working between the holidays and and how the telephones have been I am beginning to rethink my decision to work between the holidays. Diane actually is not babysitting as I thought she would be, which was my driving motivation to work between the holidays. So if nothing else I will go in at least in the mornings and return calls from the previous afternoons.

I have not been able to do all I had wanted to do this Christmas, but isn't that usual? We do what we can to try to enjoy what we able to do. I would've loved to cook more and had a few more family gatherings that is difficult time consuming, confusing and just challenging. Sometimes less is more. So this is my Christmas post dictated entirely with Dragon it's awkward still, and I have to admit a new at dictation, but I think this will really be helpful once I get the dictation down, sounding more normal, and less self-conscious. But I am encouraged again Merry Christmas everyone.

Gifting Challenged

The phone action at the office had nearly flatlined as we get closer and closer to Christmas. I am sensing many of those in need now that government support agencies and programs become less and less effective as we get closer to the final holidays of the year. I will get only the very most desperate calls now, of which I will be of very little help maybe I can pull a rabbit out of the hat if the need is not top severe, Our office staff has dropped to three and after today it will be two tomorrow and two for all of next week. I have decided to work between the holidays this year—typically, I have taken the time off but this year with Dianne babysitting at Asher's house I may as well be working then spending the time at home burning off Annual just because I have Annual to burn, I don’t know, maybe I'll come in half days, maybe, return any calls if I have any and deal with emergencies should any crop up.

I have totally failed as a person this year in area of gifting—my grand children will grow up hating me, I did the unconscionable and sent out Amazon gift cards—I shall never be able to walk among my children again. Locally I still have a couple of days to produce some grand fatherly gift but if you're one of my grand kids,kids or in law I would not hold my breadth. I think I have conned myself into believing I will,go shopping after the holiday and purchase gifts them. I will try to get my work mates something then—this kinda works sine half are gone on Holiday leave and will and will return till after the holidays. So, I can buy and leave on the desks of those next week. As for Christmas card electronic or otherwise I have sent non out. I don't know what has happened to me this year I M NOT HUMBUGING AS MUCH AS JUST NOT CARING AND THAT IS DESPICABLE. I truly need to repent. Maybe there is still time maybe. Maybe I can change things just a little and do something to increase my spirit.

I am tired though it has been a long week and I still have not fully recovered from the early rising yesterday to drive Dianne in to the Hospital for her procedure—the procedure WAS A success!! So much so that Dianne actually drove into the train-station last night to pick me up and today she is back washing Asher. I am actually looking forward to two three day weekends in a row.

Above is my gift from Frank( the oldest guy in the shop, I am the second oldest) Frank always comes through—I need to be more like Frank but that would fall under resolutions and is not till next week.

Early Morning Surgery

I spent the morning in the hospital, Salt Lake Regional to be specific, I was not there for me I went to be with Dianne as she went through some miner surgery—outpatient-Day surgery—and I was needed to drive her home. We were first on the hospital's docket this morning mean we had to check in at 6:00 am Salt Lake regional is pretty dead at the time in the morning. Once Dianne checked in and was prepped for surgery I was turned loose and I did a little exploration.

Salt Lake Regional is one of the older Salt Lake Hospital, I actually, think the place used to be called Holy Cross—its a cozy place it could actually be a scary place—really has that old building feel—feels like an exorcist set especially in the older sections of the place. I am sure the place is riddled with ghosts and other items of the paranormal. I did not see any but I imagined a felt a lot. While Imwas searching for the cafeteria I found what I thought to be an ancient tunnel across the street to the Moran eye Center. The tunnel was great for the most part clean and clear with the exception of many electric hospital beds being stored down there plus a host of offices all along the way with few markings. I had both cameras with me and yet I did not make a video of crossing the tunnel. It smelled weird at the end of the tunnel—like damp, dank wet stuff. Not bad, mind you, just weird but gave me the creeps and I booked out of the tunnel straight and fast. The morning was kinda fun...

Office remodel office chaos

This footage was taken in the reception area of our office--this racket has been going on for days now. Hopefully the project is nearly done and we can return to relative peace and quiet.

Cai by Norman Goundry

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I enjoyed the read, a new concept for me and took me a while to wrap my head round the idea of a ghost being a major star of a book, but recommend the read to someone wanting to ty something different



View all my reviews

"Are You Still Alive?"

I was watching a science show the other night o public television when I got a call from my daughter, Shell, who seemed a bit more emotional then her usual self. Often times when she calls Shelly is exhausted, managing the girls or riding home from work but never teary—today she was. So I paused the show, I am watched and practiced my best 'active listening'. Being an evening call there was a high probability of bad news and of course it was bad news. Her step mother—or her step-step mother since the person question, Carolee is married to Shelly's step-father ( who by the way is no longer married to Shelly's mother) so what he, Don, is I am not quiet sure but my old adage, “if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it's probably a duck. Don was a pretty good step dad to my kids during his time in that position—but this post is not about Don, very much. What had happened is that Don had called my Michelle to report that Carolee had been hit with a pretty massive stroke, dropping her like a rock and was now on life support at a Utah County hospital. I could sense that Michelle was having a difficult time with the news, news which was grim,very grim. Carolee was probably not going to make it. Michelle shared with me that both of the boys were taking the news pretty hard and las night I spoke with Mark A, who was doing OK but seemed to be impacted pretty hard too. Not to make light of a very sensitive subject but this was the step-mother—I could see if this was Don, because Don is a highly special person, hard to dislike, I know I have tried—Don is a good guy—this guy has earned his striped and family worship if that I what it I but Carolee was a bit of a new comer.

Michelle was calling to “tag up”, something very bad had happened to someone she knows personally, what ever happens is going to impact her personally. The only other bouts she has experienced with the Grim Reaper has been with “ancients” My Dad, or her Uncle whop lost a battle with cancer a couple of years ago but this death was expected, she had time to prep for this uncle's death. But this accident was out of t”he blue” no time to pu you “fingers in front of your eyes” to help diffuse the terror such an event can illicit. Wham, right between the eyes, sucker punch!! Michelle was suddenly faced with the reality if something like this can happen to Carolee, my once and past setp.step mother this could happen to my my dad and current step mother—infact, could is the wrong word, they are going to die some time and true as the sun rises in the east—one day I am going to get that call that dad is gone peacon and, if you are going to have a relationship one had to act and act now. I have to admit I was touched by the time we were able to share.

Mark A called last night “they” have taken Carolee off life support. The death watch has begun they have cut the string to the kite Carolee on which Carolee was flying. Carolee is in free fall and ever at the time of this writing has pulled the rip cord on the chute into the next world. If indeed that has happened then that's two in my life cycle who have died on, Captain and Carolee and I do believe “law of Three's” so there is another one out there or maybe even me, that would be a drag, but I suppose better me then someone else. Hold, on I got to tag up on base then begin then begin my lead off.

So Long Captain

Mac died a couple days ago—I got a facebook notification-- from his daughter Cindy yesterday afternoon. Its weird to have Mac gone. I have been writing him a letter a week, just as I had my mother before her passing. It is weird not having Mac to write now, not having Mac in my life now, but as a memory. I wished I had called him on last time. I almost did last week but never got round to calling and lost my chance.

We worked together for a short while Mac was a medical doctor and I was a flunky kid width a little psychological experience. In the early 70's Mac pulled together an idea and developed a medical delivery system for low income farm workers in Southwest Idaho. Mac 's idea was to use medically trained military personal, when then personal when they separated from the service give these 'medic' a little more training and turn them into nurse practitioners. I had gotten know the doctor when I was working behavior modification at the State hospital where Mac was medical director—its a long story just accept that it happened. The point is now the man is gone. I'll post the obituary when I get it.

12-22-2011---as promised...

Dr. Clarence McIntyre Jr.

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Dr. Clarence
A. McIntyre, Jr. MD
Dr. McIntyre, 80, longtime Nampa, ID community figure, devoted husband for 47 years and father of seven, died after a short illness on Thursday, December 8, 2011 in Charlotte, NC, where he had lived since 2004. 'Dr. Mac,' as he was known by friends and patients, had been a doctor at the Idaho State School, helped found the Terry Reilly Health Clinics, and ran a private practice for many years with his wife, Alice. Mac served in the Army 1960-63 at Ft. Bragg, NC, and then moved to Idaho to serve as a physician for the rest of his career. Over the years, Dr. and Mrs. McIntyre opened their home to over 100 people in different types of need for varying lengths of time. The McIntyre's conducted medical missions to Nepal, China, Mexico, Honduras, and Bangladesh.
Mac was as much loved for his eccentric personality and irreverent sense of humor as he was for his community work. Mac spent his final years in Charlotte, NC under the loving supervision of his oldest daughter Cindy, scandalizing the residents of Emeritus Retirement Home, teaching the occasional art class, and attending St. Johns Baptist Church.
Clarence McIntyre is survived by his brother, Charles, his children; Cindy, Wendy, Roy, Casandra, Patrick, Evan, and Vestal, his six grandchildren, several foster children, a legion of friends and patients.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 18, 2011, at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service. A service to celebrate Dr. Mac's life will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 19, 2011, at St. John's Baptist Church, 300 Hawthorne LN., Charlotte, NC 28204.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Mac's name be sent to the Monastery of St. Gertrude's, 465 Keuterville Road, Cottonwood, ID 83522.
Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd. Please share condolences online at www.hankinsandwhittington.com.

Just Drifting

I have a meeting next week which I must be preparing for, yet I just cannot get motivated to prepare—what is wrong with me? These people will be coming to my building and my board room expecting something to be shown them and I don not think I will have anything. I hope I will have some charts and other hand outs but I don't think it will go well. I just have to keep focused. (editor's note: the meeting went great and I did have charts and graphs and even some numbers to share--still, there's lot to do.)

I finished my latest Stephen king, and it was a good read—not great but pretty good. I am still pondering the content and the whole change history and resulting “Butterfly” effect. So, now I am, with out a book and with all credit cards and such frozen what am I to do...I am hoping to get a couple of gift cards or Amazon gift numbers so I can download another e-book on my Kindle...this ebooking maybe come addicting.

Red Tag

It's the fifth of December, too far out for any Christmas miracles to be happening—oh and I believe in the miracle of Christmas-I have been the recipient of too many Christmas miracles to deny their happening. But it's the fifth of December and already the month is as harsh as a sand paper french kiss. I have had three calls today of people with disabilities facing evictions or utility shut-offs. These folks are seniors or have kids with disabilities but it is a hard town and a hard world out there.

Since I first started this blog update I spoke with my work mate, Amy who directed me to some citations regarding an actual federal and state law which might actually protect consumers. I have started some more research into this data and I have calls out to see if I might find something more definitive—hopefully I'll get some shut-off notices stayed until the severe weather passes. I have included some of the language I have found...Merry Christmas

Shut Off Protection

The Utility Moratorium Protection Program protects eligible households from winter utility shut off. A household can be approved for moratorium protection only one time per utility per program year. The moratorium is provided only by utility companies that are regulated by the Public Service Commission (PSC). PSC Regulated Utilities

The protection of the Moratorium lasts from November 15 through the following March 15. However, the State HEAT Program has the option of beginning it earlier or extending it later when severe weather conditions warrant such actions.