Turn Blue - Part Two

Was wondering what kind of blog/time killing topics would be available now that the Fall is here and there is just a general reduction in life's activities. My activities are pretty much the same except I am actually looking at job possibilities. More on that as it develops or stagnates.

Remember the last entry about the News 12 report on the guy who had the heart attack? I had just re-read that yesterday and was wondering how many times somebody has a medical need at health clubs like that. I figured it must happen now and then. I notice that there is a fair amount of older members - the same age or older than me. There are lots of classes for this age group. I see them being led in very low impact exercises. I never thought of joining that group as I am not that needy (yet). They all have a chair and raise legs and arms - pull bungee cords - march in circles all to music.
All safe and probably beneficial.

Today was typical. That class was going on and I could see through the window. I always wonder if anyone breaks a sweat. It's mostly women and they don't really have workout clothes. They dress like Marie Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond. I moved away from the window to the Nautilus weights area. I had the area to myself which I like. I can take my time and move over to the next cycle. Oddly, as I was in mid-cycle, an elderly guy (OK, elderly is like 65) sat on the piece right next to me - right where I was to go to next. I took my time figuring he'd be done soon. I was wrong.

I thought he dropped something as he was now on his knees on the floor and put his head under the seat. I ignored it. He then rolled on to his back and curled up under the seat. mmmm, I'm now getting concerned. I had an iPod loudly playing the Allman Brothers which I now shut off. I wasn't sure (DUH) if something was wrong so I just stopped with my reps, turned off my music and was just about to ask this guy if he was OK.. Too late as one of the many employees came over and saw this.. I had this weird feeling he felt like I was ignoring the guy..There was soon a cluster of muscular employees surrounding this guy who was now flat on his back with his legs raised and a tint of blue to his skin. By this time I had vacated the space figuring he needs air and what the hell am I going to do? I exited the weights area and went on to other things. This guy had some crowd around him now..God, just what you'd want. It reminded me of my ultimate fear of dropping dead in Penn Station or worse yet ON the train. OK, if not dropping dead then having to use the rest room.

By the time I left the building there were TWO ambulances parked out front and there were more on the way - I had to pull over to let them through. Where is that hero nurse when you need her? I will check news 12 anyway.

As local as yokel news gets

The gym I go to has TV monitors on most of the equipment including bikes, treadmills, etc. I find this to be a good distraction as do most since these TVs are almost always in use (with headphones). I never know what to watch since the whole joint can see what you're viewing so god forbid I have on something inane like the View or Jerry Springer.. I have on occasion watched the Price is Right but mostly I watch the MLB network or a baseball game rerun.

On this day I switched over to our local news channel. This always seems to be channel 12 in most areas. My reason for tuning in was there was news that UN meeting attendee Moammar Gadhafi was preparing to camp out in his tent in a neighboring town to us (Bedford). I had heard something about this on a late night show and just assumed it was a joke. It was no joke and I assumed this would be the lead story - it wasn't.

They went to commercial and their teaser was about a man who had heart attack while working out at a local health club. I sat through the commercial figuring this victim was in one of 100 health clubs in the county and then the Gadhafi story would be on. They come out of commercial and they show this guy's picture and I recognize him since he's on the same schedule as me. I didn't know his name but they did say it was our local gym where this guy went down and turned blue. The story (the HOOK) was that there was a nurse on a treadmill nearby who ran to assist and started CPR. She got him breathing again and EMS was on the scene shortly. The film in the news story had the guy, the nurse and a number of gym employees around in the hospital celebrating the good fortune.

Now remember I had my TV on this local channel (12) and apparently nobody else did. It caught some employee's eye (a trainer) and she and a few others stood around looking at this report over my shoulder. I had headphones on but I could hear them discussing and I assume they hadn't seen the report.

Coincidentally, (my HOOK) I had just started my pulse monitoring which is available on the bike I was on. I had been working hard for 23 minutes and I thought my pulse would have been in the 100s. It was 78 and I wonder if the trainers noticed - probably not. I guess I have to figure a way to get that heart rate up without turning blue and winding up on Channel 12.

Keep moving

I've been trying to incorporate my doctor's advice into my daily time killing - keep moving, he says.. I guess I know what he means. I suppose it's like a shark not being able to survive if it stops. I do better on days I am active - even with some aches and pains like I had yesterday after four sets of tennis. I knew to stop at three but I didn't want to be Joe buzzkill..

I knew later that evening I had to be at the big championship game of my softball team. I had been looking forward to it since our team rose up from 3rd and 4th place to be the top contender. How did that happen? How about we dropped the median age of our players from mid-50s to mid-20s. We have lots of sons of our original players who are now old enough to play and work and have their own children. It was a great game and we went through all the rounds of the playoffs without a loss. My expert coaching and score keeping MUST have been a factor. At least it required no Advil but I did classify it as a moving activity - as per my doctor.

We won the game and the championship by a margin of 6 runs. It was just a local town softball league but we've had this team for 20 years and our last title was 8 years ago. This was a real highlight in a year of economic collapses, unemployment, enlarged aortas and expensive oil tanks. I will miss it and look forward to next April.

Our routine after a win (or a loss) is somebody brings beer and we have a few in the parking lot. That's usually OK even though drinking in the park is illegal. It's fun to watch some of our team members/town officials hide their beer bottles as the local police drive through. We never got busted but it would be quite a local scandal which would be sure to make our local yokel paper. Last night was a big event so a group went to a local watering hole. I went along but I was the senior member as it was all the young guys who obviously have a great resistance to alcohol. Again I didn't want to be Joe buzzkill but I knew after a bunch of parking lot beer and tavern beer and shots that I didn't want to be on this Saturday's episode of "Cops"..On my drive home I was rehearsing how I'd respond to the police if stopped..""I know it's late but you gotta understand, my doctor wants me to keeeeeeeeeeep movin!!""

Alert: nap time today - 2:30

blog a palooza

Did some time killing exploring of other blogs. It's a real test of my attention span which is why I try to target mine for those who don't want to be reading these damn things for 28 minutes. They start to remind one of those whacked out, tedious holiday newsletters we all get. If you're going to write something make it brief and interesting - there goes my book proposal.. And, while I am at it, please don't forward any more idiotic jokes. I find one in ten amusing - never enough to re-forward. Also never assume that your political, religious or sociological stand is shared by everyone. The odds are you are offending somebody..

I took a look at some blogs I'd heard about - including one from a former co-worker. It was too "officey". Not like the TV show but just like ....'what do you say to your boss when.....' Probably make some good greeting card fodder. I wish I had gotten in on the ground floor of that greeting card business. I think it's too late now.

There are endless topics which are being blogged about. I just wonder if there are enough readers. I don't know how many readers I have - I personally know most of them. They don't always comment in the "comments" area but usually send me an e mail or make a phone call. I guess I should promote my blog but I'm not sure how. Perhaps I should start addressing some controversial topics? Not my style. I guess I hope for somebody to read one of my 80 plus entries and direct me to write a pilot OR maybe a short column in the Pennysaver...

My favorite blog is being written by somebody I know very well (my son). His photo blog has been highlighting the many New York City neighborhoods. He features one every weekday and has exclusive photos and nicely formed text. I learned more about NYC sitting reading this than I did working there for 35 years (then again I never left the building unless there was an evacuation)...I make it a point to check it out everyday.. If you have any interest, here's the URL - http://www.nyc-grid.com/.

And, if you know anyone who wants to develop a TV pilot be sure to let me know.. I just can't see myself working at Home Depot.. I look lousy in orange...

9/11

Today is the 8th anniversary of that Tuesday in September of 2001. It would have been just another forgettable workday like so many others but it's now etched into the memory forever. Today, like on every anniversary, they read the names of the victims. It takes a while and as it goes on it becomes an emotional undertaking.

That day started out as a regular day at the office when we started getting reports about a plane hitting the World Trade Center. Many of us just assumed it was a small 4-seater who lost its way but as info started coming in it was obvious this was bad - real bad. Our huge office building was considered to be a "target of opportunity" before we knew that there were such things. This day started a whole new mentality and vocabulary thanks to some lunatics. We had to evacuate immediately and we met - as per plan - at a local midtown Manhattan park. People were confused, upset and scared. I saw a woman who worked for me crying and it was then I realized her brother worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on one of the top floors - he didn't make it we later found out. It started to become very real after that point - this was no Disney attraction. The smoke rising from the 2 towers was visible from the intersection of 5th Ave and 42nd St.

A co-worker and myself made our way over to a friend's apartment on Park Avenue where we watched the TV for updates. Of course there were no trains or buses thus no way to exit the city so we just watched the screen in horror. I can recall the first tower collapsing and feeling the floor in the apartment rumble - quite an effect.

I made contact via e mail with my sister in North Carolina. For some reason she was the only one who I could contact and she did her best to advise family. My wife was somewhere in Pennsylvania on business and my son was soon to be released early from school. I wasn't sure how I'd get home that day. Many people just started walking. Manhattan seemed like a movie set with hoards of people on the sidewalks and streets. I made contact with a friend at one of the TV networks who drives into the city. He was there and had his car but he was officially on duty until further notice. His son, however, worked nearby and was going to take the car and head home - I was offered a ride.

As I walked over to where the car was parked - a good 1.5 miles taking me through Times Square - I was able to walk in the middle of Broadway since there was no auto traffic. I also saw fighter jets flying up and down the East and Hudson Rivers. I could look south and see the smoke since now both towers were down. Even though I was in a hurry I stopped and looked around to remember the scene. Sounds corny but I remember thinking "Ugh, this is OUR Pearl Harbor"...

We got to the car and had the West Side Highway all to ourselves. No cars except for police and fire. We got to a security checkpoint before the tolls and for some reason - later to be determined we had NY Press license plates - they let us go through. It took a while but we got home and watched TV for the next 48 hours. Talk about time killing? Nothing lighthearted about this though..

Uptown Wed night

What's the best way to kill time on a basic week night - movie, TV, softball?? On this night I finally got down to the new Yankee Stadium. Coincidentally, it was a big night for the team - specifically for Derek Jeter (more on that later)..

I guess I became a Yankee fan when I was a little kid. My parents were Brooklyn Dodger fans. They talked about their times at Ebbet's Field but then that team moved to California. When I was growing up it was the Yankees who just won year after year. I used to watch their games in black and white on rabbit ear TV -- usually on weekends. I also remember listening to some of the World Series games during weekdays at school (sneaky transistor radio trick). There was no NY Mets at this time - at least not until the early 60s - so it was Yankees all the way..

I remember really enjoying a couple of Yankee movies in those days. One clunker I really liked was the Babe Ruth story starring William Bendix (also the star of the TV show Life of Riley).. You could tell Bendix wasn't a lefty like Ruth and he just didn't seem Ruthian - but the damn movie was entertaining. The more sophisticated movie was Pride of the Yankees starring Gary Cooper. This was a much better movie and actually had the REAL Babe Ruth playing himself. The movie was about Lou Gehrig whose name is now associated with that dreaded disease named for him.

So Gehrig's name had now been in the news every day since Derek Jeter closes in on his all-time 'hits as a Yankee' record. We were lucky enough to be at that exciting game last night. We bought these tickets a month ago not having any idea it would be a historical event (ok, so maybe historical is pouring it on a bit). In any case it was very entertaining. The new stadium is really incredible and a must-see for anyone.

Even my anti-crowd issues were under control as the place was so well organized you never felt crunched..The field level seats had mucho leg room and were cushioned (like super cushioned). Could have sat through any extra inning event.

We took the train down to the game. We experimented since there is a new train stop at the Stadium. It was very convenient - a touch expensive - but well worth it to me. The ride was very peaceful on the way down and as we got on the return train it was almost empty ---- ahhh, just my style. We walked through the cars looking for a 2-seater that was completely isolated so we could enjoy our trip in solitude. As we walked though this one car - in our Yankee regalia - some guy (obviously bombed) started yelling at me "TELL ME RIGHT NOW THAT YOU'D RATHER BE A MET FAN --- TELL ME..I'M RIGHT - AIN'T I?" .... I didn't even slow down and had no time to explain my baseball background. Nor did I tell him I rooted for those crazy Mets in 1969 and 1986 while my Yankees were dormant ... I just agreed "you may have a point".. This drunken bastard LOVED my response and I went to the next car and peacefully ate my M&Ms...

Survey says!!

As part of my continuing time killing quest I just discovered that one of my 850 cable channels is a game show channel. I guess I always knew it was there but I never watched it. Mostly it's a bunch of old games shows - Password, Pyramid, Match Game. They seem to have been taped somewhere between the 70s and maybe 80s. You can usually tell from the fashion styles and the set design. Lots of browns and oranges. You can also tell the time line by what kind of prize money is available. These days people can win way more on Jeopardy, Survivor and Amazing Race but you have to be willing to risk your life or embarrass the hell out of yourself with a one in fifteen chance of winning, however, one million seems to be worth it to the contestant.

Of all the old shows the one that stands out as the weirdest (to me) is Family Feud - the original one with Richard Dawson. Richard, as you recall, was known for his role on Hogan's Heroes. I think his name was Newkirk and he was very British. On the Feud he was known for his cutting comments, his expressions but most of all for his kissing of all female contestants. NO woman escapes his smooching. You don't see that on any of the newer version of this show. There's been a bunch of hosts since Dawson and none of them kiss. Ray Combs didn't kiss - but he did kill himself; That gray haired Peterman guy from Seinfeld was pretty normal and the other guy Richard Karn from Home Improvement. No kissing allowed.

What stood out to me on the original Feud was the amount of money the family of 5 can win. Usually it was $5,000 and when they won they reacted like they were on drugs - went crazy, fanatical, jumping, yelping, hooting and hollering. Let's sort through this. That's 5 people or $1,000 each after taxes maybe $750 or less per person. Maybe they get extra if they act like idiots? Sort of like the current Jerry Springer guests who - I am convinced - get paid for fighting and ripping off their clothes and spitting out their dentures.

There are other shows that have equally smallish dollar amounts. The Match Game was kinda cheap and looks to have been shot in the 70s (or earlier?). And this show and others had celebrities I never heard of. Maybe I knew them 40 years ago from their episodes of The Love Boat. There is one connection, however, the most popular celeb guest on The Match Game was Richard Dawson ------ LOOK OUT - he's puckering!!!!!!!!

The Sting - well, almost

Not sure what happened to summer. We had an abbreviated version - 9 or so days in a row where we needed to run AC but mostly we had mild days and lots of rain. Who cares? Maybe Al Roker, I dunno. I was reminded today that this time of year is when my late mother used to like to visit and enjoy the cool breezes of September. This was after coping with the intense Florida heat for 6 or more months. I can't see how people function down there in summer. I was stationed in Florida in 1971 and experienced the white sands of Pensacola which meshed so nicely with my freckled skin. I don't think sunscreen was invented yet.

This is good deck weather. Perfect for time killing and reading. I know I need to read more and the deck provides the perfect light. I seem to need more help seeing and this helps. I even have reading glasses now which I've avoided since getting my first pair of regular glasses as a 12-year-old.

During the summer months the insects (mainly wasps) were all over the place. I killed a bunch but still as I settled into my deck chair I tried bravely to ignore the kamikaze-like attacks of these yellow jackets. If you ignore them they will ignore you. I remember somebody's mother telling me that when I was a kid. There is some truth to that I guess but still I've been stung a few times.

So today I was out there killing time and reading with total confidence that the yellow jackets checked their calendars to see it was now September and they should be building their winter nests or dying. Whichever they do best. I felt confident turning pages, feeling the cool breezes and watching the leaves just start to turn - it was very pastoral and relaxing. I reached for my small cup of OJ I had on the table and took a sip. The glass was about half full and as I took my sip I felt a tickle on my lip.. oy veyyyyyy.. Want to see a relaxed man act like a lunatic? Damn wasp was helping himself to some Tropicana and I flung the cup and almost fell out of my chair. He did NOT sting. He (I guess it was a he) had no chance as I spasmodically swung my arms and retreated into the house - safe and sound.. BUT the joke is on that damn bug - the OJ was mixed with MiraLax - a fiber powder laxative. Let's see him leave the hive tomorrow!!!!