...and the livin is easy

I don't know why I am paying so much attention to the weather. It's something a bored retired guy would do (uh oh). I cannot remember any time period when it's rained so much and temperatures have been so non-summerlike. I notice the rest of the country is boiling while we are living in some kind of rain forest. The lawns are deep green and the shrubs and flowers are growing amok..So who cares? I have to admit in a weird way I like it. I am trying to establish a new record for not turning on our precious central AC system. I had it fired up and checked out in May and it's now July and I haven't used it. Now I am seeing just how far I can take it. Just knowing it's there is comforting but I've been experimenting with ceiling fans and open window/cross ventilation solutions. My mother would be happy and comfortable..."ahhhhhhhh, feel that breeze? It's the nicest part of the day.."

Senator Stuart Smalley?

What a weird news period the past few weeks. I had to kill some time watching shows I normally avoid - all the morning and magazine shows. The warm up was Ed McMahon's death followed by Farrah and then the most newsy - Michael Jackson. This Michael Jackson issue will be playing until Thanksgiving. But wait, there's MORE! If you watch these shows now you get BILLY Mays. That's right the ultimate bearded, loud talking pitchman made minor headlines after dying after MJ.. And no it wasn't related to a rough airline landing.

To me my favorite news story of this summer is Al Franken was named the junior senator for the state of Minnesota. This after a long, complicated vote recount. He got in by something like 300 votes..I always liked Al from SNL..How could you not.. he's good enough, he's smart enough and doggone it, people like him...

All aboard

Yesterday I made my third NYC train trip since my February separation from my job. I have to say it's a well-run railroad and a good way to get into the city from Hooterville (up here). Sometimes my wife and I venture into town and often drive and that's usually on a weekend so I'm not counting those trips.

After thirty years of train travel into NYC there were always certain times, days and seasons that were better than others (not that a working guy had a choice)...Some trains times were better than others. On holidays you had to know which train to take or avoid. When you got to the train you had to know the best place to sit - which car to sit in - which car had the bathroom (God forbid). You always had to watch to see if a group of kids/students were taking a trip into the city then the train became like prom night.. The noise level was significant. The other mainstay in annoyances were the cell phone calls. There are 2 types of people - those who use their cell phone politely (quietly and quickly) and those who have NO FREAKIN concern for anyone hearing there inane business. These calls go on forever. That is why, I determined, you never go anywhere - like a train - without an iPod..You have to drown them out with music - ANY music.

I had lots of useless data which I applied to my commute. I knew when I passed on this info I was judged as a neurotic. I think I'd have to agree with that but it's just part of me. It resurfaced during yesterday's trip as I got on a mid-morning local train on (drumroll) "matinee" day - Wednesday. This is the day the Broadway shows have 1 pm starts and discounted pricing. We used to call it blue hair Wednesday because all the elderly and retired folks were heading in to go see "MAME". Those old folks are usually OK except on the ride back where they are all pumped up about their experience. I guess I may fit more into that category now - grey haired, non-regular commuter (non regular??)

The suburban commuter train, to me, is like a vacation in Aruba compared to taking the subway. Yes, the subway is a very efficient way to navigate through the city but there's just something so annoying (maybe this is because I just saw the remake of Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 or that I waited yesterday about 15 minutes for the #6 local on a steaming hot, crowded platform). I used to in my earlier commuting years have to take the subway everyday. I actually MOVED from Long Island to here to cut out that need when I got into the city - it was well worth it. So perhaps I just wasn't used to subway riding. For one multi-week period I had to take the subway - during rush hour - to Wall Street. I was very grateful when that ended. I first started going down with a group of co-workers and then split off from them so I could go it alone. I actually left very early to avoid the rush hour crowd which eased the trauma for me. Trauma = train stops and loses lights. There's something so phobic about a stuck subway train - just like in that Seinfeld episode where Elaine is silently screaming as her train stops and the lights are out. Not even an iPod would have helped her.

Job swap

As I was leaving the house this morning to go to my time killing, semi-daily routine at the gym I see and hear a couple of trucks pull up to the front. Yup, it was those tree-chopping guys who said they'd be here "sometime".. While I didn't HAVE to be home I decided to kill the time monitoring their progress. While doing that I was actually job searching which seems to be just plain idiotic these days. What I noticed was the juxtaposition (I always wanted to use that word) of my work and the tree guy work. I wondered what would happen if we both - at that moment - switched jobs. Like a Disney movie.

So I'd be out in the tree either in that bucket OR climbing the base with spiky climber shoes with a chainsaw on my belt. I'd probably get a cramp, however, let me give myself some credit and see how the tree guy does writing on this laptop. Would his problems with syntax, grammar and spelling be equivalent to my fear of being hit in the head with a giant 200 pound branch? We will never find out will we? Then again, they ARE coming back in a few days to remove the remaining stump.. I've seen that process and maybe I could swing that job while the tree guy comes in and writes a cover letter to go with my resume..

Split tree continued

After going through the trauma of our downed tree a few weeks back I was supposed to get a visit from a local tree-chopping guy who worked with the town.. I never saw anyone -- until today. A big tree-chopping truck pulled up in front of the house and I walked out front to meet the guy. I quickly figured out this was the guy who was going to give me an estimate on the remainders of the split tree. I think he was surprised I was home. I didn't bother to explain my time-killing status.

I've been having growing concerns about its strength and I know I was going to worry about it with every passing storm with wind. I've had varying opinions on this tree's status, but now I can rest assured and I have my answer. The tree-chopping guy, when asked about the tree's status, performed the highly technical tree assessment test. He kicked the base of the tree with his boot and stated "this tree is dead".. If it isn't dead it surely is dying. I felt like I was dealing with a pro.. (Is my condo ready yet??)

The guy gave me a decent price so I agreed to go with it.. There was no firm date or price in writing - it was the handshake that did the trick PLUS one of the town guys was with him. The town guy I can't forget - he's their tree guy and his name is "Chip"... good branding?? It's like the town plumber with the name "Drippy"...

Early rising

One constant and reliable time killing mode is sleep. It's the most relaxing and productive so far. Last night that relaxing and productive process was interrupted by a loud skid, crash and alarm at 3 am. I thought it was either close OR in my driveway. It woke me right away and was extra loud as I had the window open. It took a while to locate what happened. My wife and I actually bumped into each other in our dark hallway trying to get to the best viewing window. Eventually we saw it was right across the street. The car was nestled into a tree, airbags deployed, lights on and some leftover steam or smoke.

The driver was out of the car and talking to a neighbor who had called 911. The police were there within 5 minutes and there was a small gathering of sleep deprived residents. As serious as it was I couldn't help but think how similar this is to an episode of "COPS".. All the elements were there - confused driver, wrecked car, flashing blue lights, curious bystanders, serious police officers telling the crowd (of 4) to disperse so they could continue their investigation. All this needed to mimic a true "COPS" episode was a smoking, shirtless man with a tattoo leaning on a chain link fence telling his Pit Bull to quiet down..

Road Game

As I mentioned in my last entry I was going to Maine then Boston to see the Yankees play the Red Sox at Fenway. I have a good friend with season's tickets who wanted me to have the Fenway experience. It certainly was an experience. I have to admit after thinking on my 225 mile drive back today that the Red Sox may be as popular OR more than the Yankees I was torn..This was a topic of discussion with me taking the Yankee side. I don't know how to measure such a claim, however, I did stop at a Service rest stop on the interstate at 11 am the day after the game and I would say there were about 300 Sox fans (dressed as such) using the facilities, eating and gloating over the their victory..Not a NY fan in sight and this was a NY-bound road

I was hoping to go to the T-shirt shop and pick up one of those popular "I just drove 225 miles and all I saw was the NY Yankees get their asses kicked" shirt...To be continued in October..