I really suck at keeping this updated.
In my defense, this isn't the only online journal I have. Of course, I don't update that, either.
In my defense, this isn't the only online journal I have. Of course, I don't update that, either.
OK, so if I needed to keep this up to date to save my life, I would be dead several times over.
It's been a really interesting time for me since my last entry. (14 months ago? Really)
Two biggest things:
1 - Bought my first house. Very interesting process, not as bad as I thought.
2 - Fired my first employee. Much more "interesting" process, much worse than I thought. One I hope never to have to repeat.
I guess this is growing up.
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About time.
It's been a really interesting time for me since my last entry. (14 months ago? Really)
Two biggest things:
1 - Bought my first house. Very interesting process, not as bad as I thought.
2 - Fired my first employee. Much more "interesting" process, much worse than I thought. One I hope never to have to repeat.
I guess this is growing up.
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About time.
Y'know, I've said it before. And I will undoubtedly say it again. I REALLY suck at updating this thing.
I mean, it's been a fucking year and a half since my last entry. That's bad.
But, anyway.
So, the past week has really been interesting. For background, let me point out that I spent the 2004 hurricane season in central Florida, and had to "evacuate" three times. Went from one ("manufactured") house to another (cinder block construction) for a couple of days. And that when I accepted the promotion and took my current job in New Orleans, the people I lived with back then asked if I was being completely rational. I know, right?
But this has been the first time that the actions I took were mandated ahead of time. That is, while the rest of the city (and most of this half of the state) were under a mandatory evacuation order for Gustav, I was required to come to work and stay there for the duration. Which turned out to be 4-1/2 days. You see, I am now considered Essential Staff at a hospital that is certified by Homeland Security as a "shelter-in-place" location. Not so bad, actually.
Though we lost regular power early Monday morning, our emergency power generators kicked in immediately. Had no lights in the office, and so couldn't really be expected to do much in the way of normal work. But it wasn't bad hanging out with the other staff and trying to look useful. And when the odd emergency loomed, it only made me look better with the rapid response. All in all, came out smelling like roses. Pretty good for my first hurricane here.
Over all, I couldn't really have been in a better place. Now let's see what happens next week with Ike.
Incidentally, there were several news reports giving glowing opinions about our readiness.
AFP story Sept.1
ABC News Sept.1
USA Today Aug.29
CBS News Sept.1
And of course, Susan Roesgen was here all day reporting for CNN
I just missed getting in a couple of those shots.
Makes me feel really good seeing those clips and knowing that I have a fairly big part in keeping these most critical of patients alive. It doesn't usually strike home so much, but these are the kids who couldn't really afford to leave, and they rely the most on the technology that I and my guys keep running.
If anyone asks me, that's what it's all about.
I mean, it's been a fucking year and a half since my last entry. That's bad.
But, anyway.
So, the past week has really been interesting. For background, let me point out that I spent the 2004 hurricane season in central Florida, and had to "evacuate" three times. Went from one ("manufactured") house to another (cinder block construction) for a couple of days. And that when I accepted the promotion and took my current job in New Orleans, the people I lived with back then asked if I was being completely rational. I know, right?
But this has been the first time that the actions I took were mandated ahead of time. That is, while the rest of the city (and most of this half of the state) were under a mandatory evacuation order for Gustav, I was required to come to work and stay there for the duration. Which turned out to be 4-1/2 days. You see, I am now considered Essential Staff at a hospital that is certified by Homeland Security as a "shelter-in-place" location. Not so bad, actually.
Though we lost regular power early Monday morning, our emergency power generators kicked in immediately. Had no lights in the office, and so couldn't really be expected to do much in the way of normal work. But it wasn't bad hanging out with the other staff and trying to look useful. And when the odd emergency loomed, it only made me look better with the rapid response. All in all, came out smelling like roses. Pretty good for my first hurricane here.
Over all, I couldn't really have been in a better place. Now let's see what happens next week with Ike.
Incidentally, there were several news reports giving glowing opinions about our readiness.
AFP story Sept.1
ABC News Sept.1
USA Today Aug.29
CBS News Sept.1
And of course, Susan Roesgen was here all day reporting for CNN
I just missed getting in a couple of those shots.
Makes me feel really good seeing those clips and knowing that I have a fairly big part in keeping these most critical of patients alive. It doesn't usually strike home so much, but these are the kids who couldn't really afford to leave, and they rely the most on the technology that I and my guys keep running.
If anyone asks me, that's what it's all about.
So, I'm finally here in the Crescent City.
Started the new job two weeks ago, and am enjoying (?!) finally having the kind of position that my investment in a degree has earned me. Director of Biomedical Engineering for Children's Hospital of NOLA. WooHoo!!
After a pretty grueling drive down here - Boston to NOLA in two days (whew!) - I've been staying in a couple of really interesting locations so far. First was the Historic French Market Hotel on Rue Decatur in the French Quarter. My first night in town was pretty interesting, to say the least. As the party celebrating the Saints' earning a visit to the Conference Championship against Da Bears was still going strong Sunday night. Second (where I am currently) is a furnished converted loft in the Warehouse District. Pretty sweet!
Made some friends and shared disappointments in the outcomes of the Conference championship games. Not to mention getting more drunk than I have been in years. Yay New Orleans!
Still a lot of things pending in the whole relocation process, with a couple of trips scheduled over the next month back to Salem to meet with the movers, and get everything packed, loaded up, and delivered to my new address - of which I still don't have one. But I'm meeting with the real estate agent tomorrow to hopefully get something permanent lined up. My mortgage qualification should give me some fairly decent options - if I can only get closing done in time.
Regarding my earlier concerns about the welcome (or lack of one) I might receive - so far, I have gotten nothing but good feelings. Thanks to everyone who gave me advice - it all looks good up to now.
Soon I'll be getting my new laptop, and won't have to rely on internet cafes for access. 'Til then: see ya!
Started the new job two weeks ago, and am enjoying (?!) finally having the kind of position that my investment in a degree has earned me. Director of Biomedical Engineering for Children's Hospital of NOLA. WooHoo!!
After a pretty grueling drive down here - Boston to NOLA in two days (whew!) - I've been staying in a couple of really interesting locations so far. First was the Historic French Market Hotel on Rue Decatur in the French Quarter. My first night in town was pretty interesting, to say the least. As the party celebrating the Saints' earning a visit to the Conference Championship against Da Bears was still going strong Sunday night. Second (where I am currently) is a furnished converted loft in the Warehouse District. Pretty sweet!
Made some friends and shared disappointments in the outcomes of the Conference championship games. Not to mention getting more drunk than I have been in years. Yay New Orleans!
Still a lot of things pending in the whole relocation process, with a couple of trips scheduled over the next month back to Salem to meet with the movers, and get everything packed, loaded up, and delivered to my new address - of which I still don't have one. But I'm meeting with the real estate agent tomorrow to hopefully get something permanent lined up. My mortgage qualification should give me some fairly decent options - if I can only get closing done in time.
Regarding my earlier concerns about the welcome (or lack of one) I might receive - so far, I have gotten nothing but good feelings. Thanks to everyone who gave me advice - it all looks good up to now.
Soon I'll be getting my new laptop, and won't have to rely on internet cafes for access. 'Til then: see ya!
Update:
I have accepted the position! Pretty good salary being offered, too.
And a really interesting thing happened this week. My old employer (where I worked before I got fed up and quit, in order to go back to school) had their Christmas party on Friday night. Last week, one of my former co-workers called out of the blue to invite me. I must say, it was nice seeing all the people I actully liked again. A lot of changes, too. For instance, my old department has basically disintegrated since my departure, mainly for the same reasons I left: monumental management incompetence and favoritism in promotions, to name only two factors.
Well, the best part of the evening came when I told my old boss about my new position (he's originally from NOLA, and got his B.S. at Tulane). Back in 2003, when I announced my plans, he had basically told me he expected me to fail going back to college (I actually got a 4.0 GPA), much less ever progress to management. The look on his face was priceless.
I guess it's true:
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
And living well is the best revenge.
I have accepted the position! Pretty good salary being offered, too.
And a really interesting thing happened this week. My old employer (where I worked before I got fed up and quit, in order to go back to school) had their Christmas party on Friday night. Last week, one of my former co-workers called out of the blue to invite me. I must say, it was nice seeing all the people I actully liked again. A lot of changes, too. For instance, my old department has basically disintegrated since my departure, mainly for the same reasons I left: monumental management incompetence and favoritism in promotions, to name only two factors.
Well, the best part of the evening came when I told my old boss about my new position (he's originally from NOLA, and got his B.S. at Tulane). Back in 2003, when I announced my plans, he had basically told me he expected me to fail going back to college (I actually got a 4.0 GPA), much less ever progress to management. The look on his face was priceless.
I guess it's true:
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
And living well is the best revenge.
Well that was interesting ...
Since my last entry, I've been contacted by my company's recruiter for the Southeast and our District Manager for Lousiana. They are looking for a Clinical Engineering Director for the department at Children's Hospital of New Orleans. CH-NOLA website
This is the promotion I've been waiting for, but in a city I had never considered.
Well, after a few phone calls and e-mails back and forth, they decided they wanted me to come down and meet the company reps and interview with the VP we report to. So, on Thursday 12/7, they flew me down to NOLA for the day to meet and greet. My flight left Logan at 6:15 AM and returned just after midnight - now that's a long fucking day!
I think the interview went well, and now I'm just waiting to hear back. The city seems to be well on its way to recovery, and the hospital is just bustling. I hope this bodes well for the future.
etc., etc., etc.
Since my last entry, I've been contacted by my company's recruiter for the Southeast and our District Manager for Lousiana. They are looking for a Clinical Engineering Director for the department at Children's Hospital of New Orleans. CH-NOLA website
This is the promotion I've been waiting for, but in a city I had never considered.
Well, after a few phone calls and e-mails back and forth, they decided they wanted me to come down and meet the company reps and interview with the VP we report to. So, on Thursday 12/7, they flew me down to NOLA for the day to meet and greet. My flight left Logan at 6:15 AM and returned just after midnight - now that's a long fucking day!
I think the interview went well, and now I'm just waiting to hear back. The city seems to be well on its way to recovery, and the hospital is just bustling. I hope this bodes well for the future.
etc., etc., etc.
Ok, ok, ok.
Update!
So, I had a pretty good vacation. Backpacking/climbing trip in Colorado. Same place as last time (2004)
A little background on the location:
Back in the stone age, when I was 12 years old, my two older brothers and I took a backpacking trip to a beautiful wildernes area in CO. The three of us, and two weeks worth of gear, packed into a 1969 Opel GT. Road trip from Dayton, OH to Crystal, CO (roughly midway between and slightly west of Crested Butte and Aspen) where we set up base camp. Then hiked and climbed the surrounding mountains in the White River and Gunnison National Forests, and Snowmass/Maroon Bells Wilderness.
I learned technical climbing on that trip, and nearly died on an icefield during a weather-related retreat from an attempt to ascend the prosaically named Treasure Mountain. Two years ago, my oldest brother and I successfully returned to that summit. My second attempt, his fourth. And I revisited the icefield that nearly killed me, and "cast my defiance upon the mountain."
Well that year, my oldest brother, his wife and two kids, his daughter's boyfriend, and I were the only ones to go. This year, we were joined by his son's girlfriend and our middle brother and his family. That's the original three brothers with their respective families, etc. I was the only single adult present.
That's 12 people, 5 of whom had never done anything remotely similar, and a 6th whose experience was limited to the previous trip in 2004. But between us, the oldest and youngest brothers equipped the entire troop (gear junkies, I know). Don't have room to post all the pix here, but this was the view from our latrine:
Now that was better than any magazine!
Since then, the only really interesting stuff to happen was my birthday visit to the Boston stop on the SG Burlesque Tour. Oh yeah, and my company lost the contract with Caritas Christi (Boston-area Catholic hospital system). The contract expired Oct. 31, but only the managers got the boot. Everybody else, myself included, stays where we are for at least another year.
So I'm still here, baby!
Update!
So, I had a pretty good vacation. Backpacking/climbing trip in Colorado. Same place as last time (2004)
A little background on the location:
Back in the stone age, when I was 12 years old, my two older brothers and I took a backpacking trip to a beautiful wildernes area in CO. The three of us, and two weeks worth of gear, packed into a 1969 Opel GT. Road trip from Dayton, OH to Crystal, CO (roughly midway between and slightly west of Crested Butte and Aspen) where we set up base camp. Then hiked and climbed the surrounding mountains in the White River and Gunnison National Forests, and Snowmass/Maroon Bells Wilderness.
I learned technical climbing on that trip, and nearly died on an icefield during a weather-related retreat from an attempt to ascend the prosaically named Treasure Mountain. Two years ago, my oldest brother and I successfully returned to that summit. My second attempt, his fourth. And I revisited the icefield that nearly killed me, and "cast my defiance upon the mountain."
Well that year, my oldest brother, his wife and two kids, his daughter's boyfriend, and I were the only ones to go. This year, we were joined by his son's girlfriend and our middle brother and his family. That's the original three brothers with their respective families, etc. I was the only single adult present.
That's 12 people, 5 of whom had never done anything remotely similar, and a 6th whose experience was limited to the previous trip in 2004. But between us, the oldest and youngest brothers equipped the entire troop (gear junkies, I know). Don't have room to post all the pix here, but this was the view from our latrine:
Now that was better than any magazine!
Since then, the only really interesting stuff to happen was my birthday visit to the Boston stop on the SG Burlesque Tour. Oh yeah, and my company lost the contract with Caritas Christi (Boston-area Catholic hospital system). The contract expired Oct. 31, but only the managers got the boot. Everybody else, myself included, stays where we are for at least another year.
So I'm still here, baby!
Damn, I really suck at keeping this thing updated.
Anyway - here's a little bit of one for now:
A couple of days ago, my beast of a vehicle -
passed a momentous milestone of sorts -
during my morning commute -
part of which goes by here -
Did I mention how much I hate driving that beast around Boston?
Anyway - here's a little bit of one for now:
A couple of days ago, my beast of a vehicle -
passed a momentous milestone of sorts -
during my morning commute -
part of which goes by here -
Did I mention how much I hate driving that beast around Boston?
Whew,
That was an exhausting couple of months at work!
Somehow I got saddled with helping the hospital's labs get through their big accreditation survey. Since most of our work with them involved documentation and policy, it's kind of ironic that my bosses had me, the new guy, spearhead this.
I'm not sure how, but we got through with flying colors. Not one single device-related issue!
Woo Hoo!!
And I got an attaboy and a handshake from the brand new manager, too. I guess we'll see where this goes. A raise would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath.
Now that I've got some breathing room (and finally got my DSL back) I have to reapply to SGBoston. I finally got in, and a couple of weeks ago I got dropped. Probably because I wasn't "active on the site."
I have also decided to stay in my apartment in Salem, rather than move closer in to the city, as I had originally intended. I had expected to be able to spend the last couple of months apartment hunting. But instead, I have spent most of the time working. And I've just been too tired to even consider packing all my shit back up again so soon.
Made buttloads of overtime, though!
That was an exhausting couple of months at work!
Somehow I got saddled with helping the hospital's labs get through their big accreditation survey. Since most of our work with them involved documentation and policy, it's kind of ironic that my bosses had me, the new guy, spearhead this.
I'm not sure how, but we got through with flying colors. Not one single device-related issue!
Woo Hoo!!
And I got an attaboy and a handshake from the brand new manager, too. I guess we'll see where this goes. A raise would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath.
Now that I've got some breathing room (and finally got my DSL back) I have to reapply to SGBoston. I finally got in, and a couple of weeks ago I got dropped. Probably because I wasn't "active on the site."
I have also decided to stay in my apartment in Salem, rather than move closer in to the city, as I had originally intended. I had expected to be able to spend the last couple of months apartment hunting. But instead, I have spent most of the time working. And I've just been too tired to even consider packing all my shit back up again so soon.
Made buttloads of overtime, though!
JUNE 2012
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APRIL 2012
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