March 2010

There were 35 posts published in March 2010 (this is page 3 of 4).

Weekend of highs and lows

It was a weekend of highs and lows. Friday night I drove over to help set up the facility for Gerry’s post-service party. Arriving after the work was done (though right when I said I would arrive), instead I joined Jeff, Suzie, Bill, and Janet for a beer and a bite to eat. We had a conversation both deep and hilariously funny.

Saturday morning we were scheduled to go to Hallie’s soccer game but it had gotten rained out. Instead we got the kids ready for their sleepover at their friends’ house and got ourselves ready for Gerry’s funeral. We got the kids out the door and then ourselves, arriving at the church around 12:25. I’ve got a separate post coming up on Gerry’s service, but suffice it to say it was far harder for me than I expected.

We went to a post-service party for Gerry and had a great time. Then we went to yet another party after that one. It was good meeting friends of Gerry’s from various points in his past.

This morning Kelly and I slept in somewhat later, which wasn’t really by design as Daylight Saving Time took effect today. We picked up the kids from their sleepover, ate lunch (BBQ!), and headed out for a two-hour family bike ride on the greenway. It was awesome! When we returned, we figured out that we’d ridden 14 miles. And the kids had no complaints at all! I so love riding with the family and look forward to many more rides like today’s.

Now it’s time for a shower and then bed. My busy week of meetings is this week so my posting this week will be sporadic.

Raleigh works to woo Google fiber

I got a little ink in this week’s Independent Weekly, discussing the Triangle cities’ efforts to lure Google’s proposed 1Gbps fiber network:

East Raleigh organizer and blogger Mark Turner said the Bring Google Fiber to Raleigh! Facebook group he created the day that Google announced the fiber program now includes more than 600 members and has drawn the support of elected officials. He hopes upcoming Internet conferences in Raleigh will add muster to the effort.

“I see fiber and Internet connection as being almost as vital nowadays as sewer service and water service, as far as building communities,” Turner said. “It would really position us for some long-term growth.”

Cheap Thoughts: Kitchen timers

Why don’t kitchen timers count up as well as down? Isn’t that a valid use of a timer? What if I’m eyeballing something on the stove and I just want to know how long it’s been cooking. My only choice is to set the timer to some random time and do the math to figure out the time.

I would think it’d be a simple thing to make timers that count both ways. Maybe it’s just me.

Let them

The Friday before last I drove to work in the midst of drivers acting like idiots. It inspired me to wonder how the Dalai Lama might treat the idiots in traffic, if he would be as tempted as I am sometimes to show them the error of their ways. It falls into my general deep philosophical thinking that we’re all on the planet to teach and help each other: we can all be angels to someone.

I posted my thought and then went about my way, thinking that was the end of it.

Then on Thursday, a close friend died after a traffic accident on that very same highway. As I again drove by the scene of that horrific accident, I was startled to have a thought pop into my head:
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Instant Karma

Instant Karma
John Lennon

Instant Karma’s gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head
You better get yourself together
Pretty soon you’re gonna be dead
What in the world you thinking of
Laughing in the face of love
What on earth you tryin’ to do
It’s up to you, yeah you

Instant Karma’s gonna get you
Gonna look you right in the face
Better get yourself together darlin’
Join the human race
How in the world you gonna see
Laughin’ at fools like me
Who on earth d’you think you are
A super star
Well, right you are
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A little downtime

Yes, I actually posted that last post at 3:13 AM this morning. It was another night like Monday night, where my sense of shock and grief kept sleep at bay. Still, when the alarm clock sounded I managed to put my feet on the floor in the morning, for which I am always thankful.

It was my toughest day so far in dealing with the loss of Gerry. Up until now there has been plenty for me to do to create something positive for Gerry and his family but now that he’s gone the emotion my activities have been (mostly) keeping in check are now coming forth. On my way to work I teared up again when I saw a state trooper and wondered if he might have been at the scene of Gerry’s wreck. Then later this morning I had to stop reading Gerry’s guestbook because I became too emotional. I also got weepy thinking of all the missed opportunities for future fun together, and that from this point on our lives would be forever out of sync.
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Blizzard of ’77

Blizzard of ’77
Nada Surf

In blizzard of ’77
The cars were just lumps on the snow
And then later
Tripping in 7-11
The shelves were stretching out of control
On a plane ride
The more it shakes
The more i have to let go
Now the signals
Still getting all mixed up
We’re always doing damage control

But in the middle of the night i worry
It’s blurry even without light

I know i have got a negative edge
That’s why i sharpen all the others a lot
It’s like flowers or ladybugs
Pretty weeds or red beetles with dots

But in the middle of the night i worry
It’s blurry even without light

I miss you more than i knew
I miss you more than i knew
I miss you more than i knew

Last day with Gerry

I was at work when Kelly called me at 10 AM. Gerry’s status hadn’t improved and had actually worsened overnight. He was no longer breathing on his own and there was absolutely no sign of brain activity. The family was talking of making final preparations, Kelly said, and if I wanted a chance to say goodbye while he was still being kept alive I needed to go immediately. I dashed off a note to my manager before rushing out the door, frantically calling up Jeff and Scott as I went.

Unlike my Monday afternoon trip to Duke Hospital, when I got lost driving around Durham, this time I took the Durham Freeway straight there. I walked up to the hallway outside his ICU to find some of his friends already there, many of them already in tears.
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