Hit the ground running back at work yesterday. Lots to do, but it actually felt good being back in gear and contributing.
Believe me, I've got nothing against vacation -- although I much prefer when they are paid and not the forced furlough variety.
But for whatever reason when I return from time off, I am usually happy to be at my job, getting things done and trying to make a difference. Maybe it's that German work ethic tradition I was raised with. No doubt I'm blessed doing something I basically enjoy.
I also enjoy being around the people I work with. I know there's a lot of telecommuting these days -- people working from home by computer. I've done that some days myself. But I'm sure I would miss the back and forth exchanges with co-workers if I was working in my basement office too frequently.
Check back with me to see if I still feel that way the day after Labor Day when the traffic resumes being horrible.
Later.
6.30.2009
6.28.2009
Rascal Flatts and 28
Mary and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary yesterday. Amazing...yes she still is.
I got us tickets to see Rascal Flatts in concert at the Nissan Center in Virginia to celebrate...great show! Darius Rucker, sans the Blowfish, opened up. He's made an impressive transition to country. Rascal Flatts has lots of great songs. Our favorite is "God Blessed the Broken Road."
Not really sure how this city boy started to become a country music fan, but I am. Those who know me from way back may recall I hosted a country music show on my college radio station -- WFUV-FM at Fordham 1975-77 -- but that was more or less because that was the show that needed a host and I wanted a show. Now, I listen to the music -- XM Channel 16 "The Highway" is constantly on my car radio -- just because I like it. '
It also runs in the family. Both sons Dave and Dan attended a Kenny Chesney concert in Philly last night.
As for the anniversary, what can I say?. We're blessed and we know it. Thanks, God.
Later.
I got us tickets to see Rascal Flatts in concert at the Nissan Center in Virginia to celebrate...great show! Darius Rucker, sans the Blowfish, opened up. He's made an impressive transition to country. Rascal Flatts has lots of great songs. Our favorite is "God Blessed the Broken Road."
Not really sure how this city boy started to become a country music fan, but I am. Those who know me from way back may recall I hosted a country music show on my college radio station -- WFUV-FM at Fordham 1975-77 -- but that was more or less because that was the show that needed a host and I wanted a show. Now, I listen to the music -- XM Channel 16 "The Highway" is constantly on my car radio -- just because I like it. '
It also runs in the family. Both sons Dave and Dan attended a Kenny Chesney concert in Philly last night.
As for the anniversary, what can I say?. We're blessed and we know it. Thanks, God.
Later.
6.26.2009
Driving in the city
I was born and raised and learned to drive in New York City. So, while I have lived in mostly suburban areas the past 30 years or so, it never takes more than a few minutes back in the Big Apple to get my city driving legs back.
This week, I visited Queens to take in a pair of Mets games at the new Citi Field in Flushing. (Great park, by the way.) The old skills were much in demand as I wended my way through construction, heavy traffic and accidents -- sometimes all at once.
Driving in NYC requires constant vigilance, a fearless attitude and a don't take any crap from anyone philosophy. It's not that I like driving like that, but with people willing to cut you off at any moment, last second lane changers and ...OK there's no other way top say this .. and oversupply of complete idiots...there is no other way to approach things.
My one regret from this otherwise fun week -- hey the Mets won both games and I saw my son and a good friend -- is that my 2007 Honda CRV has such a pathetically wimpy sounding horn. It's hard to get your displeasure or warning shot across when your horn sounds like some little baby clown car. Gonna have to look into replacing it.
Later.
This week, I visited Queens to take in a pair of Mets games at the new Citi Field in Flushing. (Great park, by the way.) The old skills were much in demand as I wended my way through construction, heavy traffic and accidents -- sometimes all at once.
Driving in NYC requires constant vigilance, a fearless attitude and a don't take any crap from anyone philosophy. It's not that I like driving like that, but with people willing to cut you off at any moment, last second lane changers and ...OK there's no other way top say this .. and oversupply of complete idiots...there is no other way to approach things.
My one regret from this otherwise fun week -- hey the Mets won both games and I saw my son and a good friend -- is that my 2007 Honda CRV has such a pathetically wimpy sounding horn. It's hard to get your displeasure or warning shot across when your horn sounds like some little baby clown car. Gonna have to look into replacing it.
Later.
6.24.2009
The Drive
So I'm off to New York and New Jersey once again this week. With grown kids Dave living in Bergen County, N.J. and daughter Katie and her husband Nick living in Montgomery County, Pa., these trips up I-95 are frequent.
In some ways that's great. I love seeing them. In other ways, the trips -- especially the trips home -- always seem like an ordeal. Going generally seems to be more pleasant -- you're anticipating the visit and whatever else you're going to be doing. Coming home? You just want to get there and it never seems like you do quickly enough.
Taking a slightly different approach this week. I went to the library yesterday -- having dusted the cobwebs off of my library card -- and took out an audio book. I went for light stuff -- a Spenser detective novel by my favorite guilty pleasure author Robert Parker. I've only tried this once before, but it was years ago, so I thought I'd give it another shot. This book, should my mind wander -- as it almost always does -- should be very easy to pick back up. We'll see.
Wonder how many times I'll shake my head this trip at people who don't have EZ-Pass.
Later.
In some ways that's great. I love seeing them. In other ways, the trips -- especially the trips home -- always seem like an ordeal. Going generally seems to be more pleasant -- you're anticipating the visit and whatever else you're going to be doing. Coming home? You just want to get there and it never seems like you do quickly enough.
Taking a slightly different approach this week. I went to the library yesterday -- having dusted the cobwebs off of my library card -- and took out an audio book. I went for light stuff -- a Spenser detective novel by my favorite guilty pleasure author Robert Parker. I've only tried this once before, but it was years ago, so I thought I'd give it another shot. This book, should my mind wander -- as it almost always does -- should be very easy to pick back up. We'll see.
Wonder how many times I'll shake my head this trip at people who don't have EZ-Pass.
Later.
6.23.2009
Amazin' Mess
Last night, oldest son Dave and friends were at the Cardinals-Mets game at the new Citi Field in Queens. He texted me when he arrived. These were tickets from the 15-game package (10 Sunday games) I've maintained even these past two years of living in Virginia -- and since he works in NYC and lives in NJ, he uses most of the weekday game tickets.
When I texted him back that yet another Mets starter -- center fielder Carlos Beltran -- had been placed on this disabled list -- joining first baseman Carlos Delgado, shortstop Jose Reyes and a litany of pitchers -- he texted me back the following:
"Who's on first, what's on second and the only one I know (David Wright -- the last man standing from the team's core) is on third"
It is true, the Mets injury situation this year has become almost as silly as the famous Abbott and Costello "Who's on First? routine. Except Mets fans are not laughing, though Yankees and Phillies fans probably are.
Just one of those years I guess, and so far, through it all, we remain just 1 1/2 games behind the Phillies in the National League East. That bubble likely will burst -- you can only survive with a lineup of reserves and minor league call-ups for so long. And the Phillies, who by comparison have suffered very few injuries, aren't going to play badly enough to keep us in the race the whole season. Right?
Anyway, I'll see this mess first hand this week. I'm going to the Wednesday night game with Dave and Thursday afternoon game with former Daily Record colleagues Bill and Fred. I'm guessing the minor league lineup won't result in any minor league prices.
Later.
When I texted him back that yet another Mets starter -- center fielder Carlos Beltran -- had been placed on this disabled list -- joining first baseman Carlos Delgado, shortstop Jose Reyes and a litany of pitchers -- he texted me back the following:
"Who's on first, what's on second and the only one I know (David Wright -- the last man standing from the team's core) is on third"
It is true, the Mets injury situation this year has become almost as silly as the famous Abbott and Costello "Who's on First? routine. Except Mets fans are not laughing, though Yankees and Phillies fans probably are.
Just one of those years I guess, and so far, through it all, we remain just 1 1/2 games behind the Phillies in the National League East. That bubble likely will burst -- you can only survive with a lineup of reserves and minor league call-ups for so long. And the Phillies, who by comparison have suffered very few injuries, aren't going to play badly enough to keep us in the race the whole season. Right?
Anyway, I'll see this mess first hand this week. I'm going to the Wednesday night game with Dave and Thursday afternoon game with former Daily Record colleagues Bill and Fred. I'm guessing the minor league lineup won't result in any minor league prices.
Later.
6.22.2009
"Furcation"
Generally, I hate contrived non-word words like this, but "furcation" does seem to be the widely-accepted way to describe being off for a week without pay...which I am this week.
This is the third such week of the year, and of course the year is not yet half over. No way yet to know if there will be further pay-less weeks the rest of the year as the newspaper industry overall and Gannett Co. Inc. look to redefine themselves in the vanishing print newspaper era. I imagine there will be some further cuts in the second half of the year
Bottom line, we're going to have to find some way to:
1. Convince advertisers of the value of the web views vs. traditional newspaper pages.
2. We've got to develop a workable way to get at least some content paid for.
We let the genie out of the bottle with free content long ago, so the latter is going to be very difficult unless universally adopted somehow without violating anti-trust laws.
Anyway, I've have found it is important to have things planned during these weeks of "furcation," and I do have something planned each day this week...from a class I am taking to going to the District with daughter Megan to a couple of Mets games and a Rascal Flatts concert with my wife Mary as we celebrate our 28th anniversary next Saturday. More on that on a future post.
Later.
This is the third such week of the year, and of course the year is not yet half over. No way yet to know if there will be further pay-less weeks the rest of the year as the newspaper industry overall and Gannett Co. Inc. look to redefine themselves in the vanishing print newspaper era. I imagine there will be some further cuts in the second half of the year
Bottom line, we're going to have to find some way to:
1. Convince advertisers of the value of the web views vs. traditional newspaper pages.
2. We've got to develop a workable way to get at least some content paid for.
We let the genie out of the bottle with free content long ago, so the latter is going to be very difficult unless universally adopted somehow without violating anti-trust laws.
Anyway, I've have found it is important to have things planned during these weeks of "furcation," and I do have something planned each day this week...from a class I am taking to going to the District with daughter Megan to a couple of Mets games and a Rascal Flatts concert with my wife Mary as we celebrate our 28th anniversary next Saturday. More on that on a future post.
Later.
6.21.2009
Getting Started
Thanks to my super-creative, newly H.S.-graduated daughter Megan, I have entered the blogosphere. Be interesting -- for me anyway -- to see how this goes. I do admit I have missed the weekly newspaper column I wrote for many years in Morris County, N.J. and Lansdale, Pa. before I came to USA TODAY two years ago and started focusing solely on editing what other people write.
Neat, Meg. Beats the heck out of a tie or a World's Best Dad T-shirt.
So, here goes. This weekend was great in so many ways. Besides my birthday and Father's Day, it was Megan's HS graduation weekend. All three of her siblings came to Virginia for the occasions, and it was fabulous -- even when we went to the bowling center and proved once again that none of us can bowl.
The so-called empty nest approaches with Megan heading to William & Mary in August. But judging by how great we've all done hitting the road to see each other the past two years since the move to Virginia, I suspect the nest won't feel all that empty.
A the Zen master said, "we'll see." (Charlie Wilson's War reference. You could look it up.)
Later.
Neat, Meg. Beats the heck out of a tie or a World's Best Dad T-shirt.
So, here goes. This weekend was great in so many ways. Besides my birthday and Father's Day, it was Megan's HS graduation weekend. All three of her siblings came to Virginia for the occasions, and it was fabulous -- even when we went to the bowling center and proved once again that none of us can bowl.
The so-called empty nest approaches with Megan heading to William & Mary in August. But judging by how great we've all done hitting the road to see each other the past two years since the move to Virginia, I suspect the nest won't feel all that empty.
A the Zen master said, "we'll see." (Charlie Wilson's War reference. You could look it up.)
Later.
Father's Day Present
Dear New Readers,
It's easy for me to say that, as all readers right now are new. The blog is new =) This blog is actually a Father's Day present from my youngest daughter, Megan. While soon there will be mind-blowing insights and life-altering quandaries to be found on this blog, it is obviously currently rather bare. Hang in there and keep coming back to see the site as it's updated!
It's easy for me to say that, as all readers right now are new. The blog is new =) This blog is actually a Father's Day present from my youngest daughter, Megan. While soon there will be mind-blowing insights and life-altering quandaries to be found on this blog, it is obviously currently rather bare. Hang in there and keep coming back to see the site as it's updated!
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