Tag: work

Back To Work

I’ve had two epidurals, an MRI, countless x-rays, blood tests, EKGs a few days in the hospital and full fledged back surgery. My insurance policy has a maximum yearly out-of-pocket which I’ll surely reach.

Since August 16 I haven’t worn real shoes. Until this past Friday I hadn’t even driven a car.

I return to work Monday. It’s my first time on-the-job since Thursday, August 16. That’s 53 days spent mostly on my side and definitely off my feet!

I’ve had two epidurals, an MRI, countless x-rays, blood tests, EKGs a few days in the hospital and full fledged back surgery.

My insurance policy has a maximum yearly out-of-pocket which I’ll surely reach.

Since August 16 I haven’t worn real shoes. Until this past Friday I hadn’t even driven a car.

Helaine and I began walking Friday. There’s very little discomfort, but also diminished stamina. That’s to be expected. Walking will begin my physical comeback.

My sleeping schedule has been wildly erratic. I went to bed early (for me) last night–around 4:00 AM. Even though I slept nearly nine hours I still took a nap before dinner. In that regard I’m spoiled.

Is there a way to do that at work? Probably not.

I’ve already written and recorded the audio track for tomorrow’s science story on MRIs! Report what you know, right?

My plan is to get to work a little early tomorrow. There are people to see and forms to deliver. I have learned extended time away is loaded with paperwork!

I also understand Short Term Disability. I’ve seen it on my check for decades. Until now I had no clue exactly what it was.

Helaine has baked! Just like my first day at FoxCT/Hartford Courant, my first day back brings chocolate chip cookies for my co-workers.

I’m not supposed to lift. Hopefully I can find someone who will help me carry my load from the car. Extra cookies for whoever does!

Always Wired

Back to work later today. I’m attending a webinar at 2:00 pm to learn more about the tropical weather capabilities of our weather graphics system.

I haven’t been out of touch. You never are anymore, are you? We’re all reachable, all on-call even when we’re off the clock.

I RSVPed for the webinar from my hotel. That’s where I got the message telling me there was a webinar.

I get it. Alas, it seems so natural and needed. I wish that wasn’t true.

I’m on-air in the garden today. I booked my guest (we’re talking garden pests at 4 & 10 on FoxCT) via email while away in Vegas. My time. It had to be done and there was no one to do it but me.

I filled out a job review survey on my boss too. Who thinks this is a good idea? Listen, she picked me up off the street like some ragamuffin&#185! Spoiler alert: I like her a lot.

Email. Facebook. Twitter. Gotta update the blog.

There was a time we weren’t so wired. I like this way better, but also understand there’s a price we pay.

&#185 – Let it be noted, I have never before typed the word ragamuffin.

Back To Work – Back In The Swing

I am trying to get back in the swing, but I’ve been walking around in a fog all day. My trip to Florida and what’s still going on down there weighs heavily. Getting back to work is good because it’s forcing me to concentrate.

I started off the day with an appearance at Seabury Retirement Community in Bloomfield. If you’re going to retire in Connecticut you could do a lot worse than this! The place looks like a high end resort… and in essence it is!

My talk was booked a while ago, but I didn’t get around to asking for multimedia support until last night when it was too late. No problem. I reverted to a speech I used to give.

It seemed well received. If that’s not so don’t tell me.

I took questions when I was done. The first person called commented on my daily Page 2A columnette in the Courant. I walked over and kissed her!

Back at work this was garden day on-the-air. I haven’t planted yet, but I did a little show-and-tell about getting a garden prepped.

Helaine said it was an interesting touch to see me digging in the soil with my hands while wearing a suit and white shirt with cufflinks and a monogram on my sleeve.

I am the Eddie Albert/Oliver Wendell Douglas of the 21st Century. Green Acres we are there!

Work takes your mind off things. Glad to be back.

I Need The Weekend Now

“Give him gas,” came the disembodied voice of my dentist from the hallway.

I went to have my teeth cleaned today. As procedures go this is the least invasive of them all. As the hygienist was getting ready to begin I said, “If you’re not going to be gentle I’ll take the gas.”

“Give him gas,” came the disembodied voice of my dentist from the hallway.

NO2, aka “Nitrous,” pretty much simulates everything I remember from the sixties. Of course like most who were there I don’t remember lots of sixties detail.

I think I had a good time. Can’t be sure.

As my tooth cleaning was coming to an end the gas was switched from NO2 to O2. The idea is when you get out of the chair you shouldn’t be so stoned you can’t walk! There’s always a little residual effect.

The gas should be out of my system. It probably is. I still feel a little cream cheesy even at this late hour.

Maybe it’s just “Fridayitis?” Maybe my body is saying “enough” at just the right time? Maybe it’s too much stair climbing? I’ve made four roundtrips to the basement from my third floor desk today.

Helaine says we have nothing planned for the weekend. Perfect. That’s just what I’m looking forward to doing.

I’ll Take The Stairs

Last week I was huffing and puffing when I got to my desk. Today just puffing.

This work thing has sliced a pretty large chunk from my pajama time! That in turn has reduced my ability to work out. Helaine and I had been very dedicated, but now we’ve (OK – it’s me who’s responsible) sloughed off a little. That’s why I’m using the stairs at work exclusively.

The newsroom/studio complex is on the third floor, but this is not an office building. This is a plant! The presses for the Hartford Courant are underneath my feet. The ceiling in the studio is high enough to hang TV lights. Each floor of stairs looks to be more like a floor and a half… maybe two.

I’ve been up and down twice so far today. That’s two round trips in the blue bricked staircase. Last week I was huffing and puffing when I got to my desk. Today just puffing.

The elevator is very slow anyway!

I’m Not Sure How To Get To Work

Friday night I took a non-intuitive route and made the trip in 35 minutes! “I’d go that way every night,” I said to Helaine, “but I’d get arrested regularly.”

How to get to work? That is the question. Actually it’s been the big question troubling me for the last week. I live in a no man’s land where all roads lead in the wrong direction. Seriously. The most obvious way to drive north begins with three miles of driving south!

I’ve told anyone who asks it’s a forty minute trip. Maybe. Sometimes. Difficult to say.

If there’s a wormhole in the space/time continuum I can probably shave off a few more minutes.

Friday night I took a non-intuitive route and made the trip in 35 minutes! “I’d go that way every night,” I said to Helaine, “but I’d get arrested regularly.”

My 35 minute shortcut swung down I-84 to I-691 and then south on a deserted Route 10. The Route 10 speed limit is mostly 40, but goes down to 25 through the center of Cheshire.

Did I mention I was the only one on the road? That will make me easier to catch.

I’m not sure my car can maintain 25 mph without the dashboard breaking into a sweat.

Today I took the back roads past “The Oakdale” toward Route 15, the Wilbur Cross Parkway. Five minutes into my trip I ran into construction. Only one lane was open. I’m not sure how to count this trip minutewise.

Finding the right route could take weeks… maybe months. It’ll give me something to think about for the forty minutes while I drive.