Monthly Archives: June 2012

Friday evening – Torpor

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Torpor….that word has been on my mind all day. in this heat

I see it’s defined as

Tor·por   [tawr-per]

noun

1.sluggish inactivity or inertia.
2.lethargic indifference; apathy.
3.a state of suspended physical powers and activities.
4.dormancy, as of a hibernating animal.
I read with interest that torpor is usually used to describe the periods of reduced activity that animals use to conserve energy during periods of extreme cold. not heat.. but something in my past remembers the word being used to describe southerners moving slowly about in the summer. Sounds like Faulkner.. .. no ?
I know it’s only in the low 80’s.. but the humidity and stillness of the air have me walking around like a zombie wondering how I ever survived 20 years in Houston..   I  have said in these pages that my IQ drops 1 point for every degree over 60 degrees.
I have to say that it’s not entirely unpleasant.. it’s like being in a warm bath.. I think slowly, type slowly, talk slowly.. (ok.. more slowly) … I’m wearing as few clothes as would be socially acceptable.. and I’m enjoying the hazy sunshine outside..   The day has me thinking about global warming… I know its one of the first days of summer.. but I don’t recall it being this hot this early (I’m sure it has been).. I just chose to forget) .. At this rate I’ll need to be living in northern Quebec in 20 years ..
I’d think about that more.. but my brain has stopped working..  ..
stay cool
nite all, nite sam
-me

Thursday night, late – stairway to Kevin

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It’s just past 2AM and I just got home from a long, but nice drive back from NYC. I began the day in RTP.. It was the 2nd day of a trip I made to get to know some of the folks on the team I’ve just joined. Overall a good trip..though I came back realizing even more how much I have to learn

I flew back to NYC where my car was and began the long drive back to VT . I had a good plan, though. I had timed my trip to all ow me to dropping in on my good freind Kevin’s surprise retirement party in Beaken NY. The party had been concocted by Kevin’s long time friends and coworkers Ang and Rob.. even Kevin’s wife Betsy wasn’t in on the plan.

The plane got in at 5:30 so traffic was pretty tough.. so by the time I reached Beaken the 6:30 surprise was long passed. .. It was so great seeing the turnout there.. many  of Kevin’s freinds were there.. and many of them were also my friends.. so it was doubly good seeing all of them.   I loved seeing Kevin surrounded by so many folks who loved an admired him.. (ok.. do you really use the word ‘love’ for work colleagues ? here I think it’s appropriate.. this is one very lovable guy.. calm, funny, smart and a very loyal freind.. and just quirky enough to always keep you guessing )

here are Kevin and his wife Betsy.. their daigheer Meagan will be at UVM next year.. so I’m sure we’ll be seeing them all up here .. which makes me happy !

And here’s Ang the amster mind (with Rob) of the shindig tonight… nice work..

OK.. it’s still about 80 degrees in here.. going to try and get a little sleep.. lets see if thats possible in this heat..

 

more tomorrow..

 

nite all, nite sam

-me

Wednesday night – as tall as they sound

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Hello from RTP NC.. ..where it’s actually cooler right now than back in Vermont.   Getting here involved leaving the boat max lives on  this morning at 4:30 after arriving their at 12:30.. at least I can say it was peaceful . I heard it was 103 degrees there today.. Oy veh !

 

 

 

 

I’m down here in NC on a quick trip to meet a few folks I’ve been working with face to face for the first time.. Call me old fashioned (I dare you).. but I absolutely need to meet the folks I’m working with at least once to get that human bond. Until you’ve seen where someone works, what they where, what kind of pictures they have on their walls (or cubicle)  . what kind of music they listen to, a picture of their family, ,how tall they are, etc, what do you truly know about them ?   I was astonished to find all the people today to be just about as tall as they sound on the phone..

How would I have known that if i had not shaken each of their hands ?  Anyway.. it was a really interesting and useful day work wise.. I learned a ton and met some folks who I’m bound to become good working freinds with  and met some super sharp interns. .. can’t ask more form a business trip.

 

After work , friend Pam invited me over to her house to meet her husband scott and son cody..
Pam has been one of the folks helping me learn the ropes since taking my new job. Pam , Scott, Cody and their daughet Maya (away at camp) live in a really nice part of Raleigh that backs up on a park thats several hundred acres big. Despite the heat and humidity, Scott, Pam and I took a two mile walk around the small lake there.. it was great being outside.. and getting to know scott and pam out of work…

After our walk.. we all went to a good pizza place and had a nice dinner.. Around 9:00 it occurred to me that I was  running on less than 4 hours o sleep.. and headed back to my hotel…   I tlked to Diane on the way.. she’d told me earlier that it was 90 degrees out in Jonesville this afternoon and 85 degrees IN OUR ROOM !!!!  I hope all you guys can sleep tonight…

The weather here reminds me so much of the weather I grew up with in houston.. .. hot and ‘soft’ air.. like a warm each. you step out of an air conditioned car.. and suddenly.. you’re covered in mist…

kind of a cool look .. no ?

 

more tomorrow..

 

nite all, nite sam

-me

 

Tuesday night – out of gas

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Greetings from i91 south. Just about to cross the massachusetts / Connecticut border. Max, Dave’s and I are driving down to the boat , then I’m off tomorrow morning to points south. It’s been so great having max and his friends around this weekend… And it’s a rare treat to have this time it he car with him .. He’s driving which makes typing a little easier :-).
The one incident that has made this trip a little unusual is… (should I admit this ?) ok.. So, we ran out of gas… No good excuse.. Max was driving.. I didn’t think to fill up the car, nor did Max, nor did Dave… We were in the middle of no where on I 91 near Pitney vt… About 5 miles either way to an exit. I wasn’t really in a good position to get mad .. I did the same thing last year when driving between NY and Boston. We had a good hour to stew about our mistake until John from progressive showed up.. (thank you John)

20120619-213454.jpg

So.. Why would I publicly admit such a boneheaded collective mistake ? I’m wondering that myself… I think this is a public apology for all the folks that I inconvenience with my lateness and forgetfulness . This time it was just us that were inconvenienced . I’m better thn I used to be, but it still happens.. Each time it does, I beat myself up and swear not to do it again..then I screw up again.. Maybe I/we don’t beat myself/ourselves up enough ? Anyway.. That’s been the topic of conversation on this drive.. We’re still feeling stupid

Anyway.. Back to the drive..
Nite all, nite Sam
-me