Saturday, July 23, 2011

It's Usually Nice to be Nice

Recently one of the bloggers I follow wrote about meeting some new people in Ottawa while there on business and how well they got along.

She said that she meets nice people everywhere she goes and said part of that is because she talks to everyone.

That sounds like me. Although no one ever believes me, I was very shy until my late 20’s. It’s amazing what reservoirs within yourself a divorce forces you to tap into. Today I'll start a conversation with just about anyone anywhere.

In my business (real estate) I meet new people all the time. I used to do a lot of relocation work. Not so much lately since people seem to be leaving Rhode Island rather than arriving. Often the realtor is the first person someone new to the area meets. I’ve had relo clients in my car for 4-5 hours at a time. I’ve always said I can make the smallest talk you’ve ever heard.

And because I’m often the first person they meet, I’m also the first impression of what folks here are like. We New Englanders seem to have a reputation for being cold, stand-offish and not welcoming to newcomers. I’ve never quite understood that because I just think we are the warmest and fuzziest people on earth. But I’ve heard it often enough to know that's the word on the street.

At some point in the day I usually mention that I was born and raised here. Often I hear “Gee, you don’t sound like you’re from Rhode Island.” My answer to that is “Thank you, thank you.” I have worked for years on neutralizing my RI accent for a variety of reasons, but mostly because it can sound downright dumb.

My favorite comment heard from a relo client was a woman who said “You’re not at all what I expected. You’re really nice.” She said it like she had just tasted Japanese puffer fish and found she liked it. I really didn’t know what to say after thank you. I just smiled.

What I wanted to say was “glad I could dispel that myth for you, lady. Now get out of my car and go home.” But I would have said it with a smile.


Thursday, July 21, 2011

Happy Birthday, Paul



Today is Paul's birthday. I wrote a post on his birthday two years ago. It's one of my favorites so I thought I'd repost it today. It says everything that's still in my heart. So here it is.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

So Paul runs into this couple we know from a restaurant we all like to go to. They chat for a bit and then Bentley asks Paul what he thinks his best attribute is. Paul thinks about it and says his moustache. Paul has a great handlebar moustache that lots of people, men and women, comment on.

Bentley says "No, your wife!" Gonna have to buy that man a drink the next time we see them at Joe's.


Monday, July 18, 2011

Grrroogle

I got up really early this morning all set to sit for a couple hours to read some of my favorite blogs that I have neglected for a long, long time.

I was off to a good start until Google Reader began to throw me out every time I attempted to post a comment

If I had more time and more technical knowledge I would move right over to WordPress but I don't and I don't so I'm stuck here for now.

I really miss some of you and certainly can catch up on my reading but I know I like comments to let me know who has visited so I hate to not leave a message. Oh well, I tried. I'll try again later but for now, I'm off to work.

Have a great day.



Sunday, July 10, 2011

Sleeping is Such a Waste of Time

I haven't used an alarm clock in at least 15 years. Unless I am getting on an early plane. Then I set three clocks and still wake up every hour. I probably should just stay up.

It's not that I have any real trouble sleeping. But I usually wake up about 5:30 a.m. Then my brain starts to run, and I lay there thinking about things I could be doing, lots of things I'd like to be doing. Sometimes I'll stay there and try to go back to sleep but most of the time I get up. It's my favorite time of the day. If the weather is right, I'll sit on the deck with my coffee and the dogs. Or I'll read.

Even as a teenager I don't remember sleeping late. Lots of nights when I wake up, I'll turn on my light and read for a little while until I feel sleepy again. Those mornings when I let myself go back to sleep and then wake up after 7:00 a.m., my first thought is What a waste of time.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Would You Like Some Cheese With That Whine?

The whole month of June and the first week of July have disappeared since I last posted. Paul even mentioned last week that I haven't posted in a long time. Nice to know he checks occasionally. I suppose the five of you who visit have moved on.

So where have I been? I’ve had a few ideas but nothing very interesting to say and I'm tired on whining. But the only way to really explain my absence is to whine a little.

The last few months have not been much fun. Let's see, in March I broke my wrist. After seven weeks in a brace it's healed but I still have an area that hurts, so I'm going back to have it checked. Who knows what that is?

Also in March Paul was diagnosed with a herniated disc, L4-L5. It was probably caused by a heel stomp on a frozen beaver dam last winter. Damned dam. The ground and dam weren't frozen the last time he stomped on it to break it up, so who knew?

I picture the beavers watching from across the swamp doubled up with laughter at the stupid human laying on the ground in pain after NOT destroying their dam. Yes, I know it sounds like there's a story in there. There is but for another time. Maybe that will keep you coming back.

So the orthopedic doctor said surgery was an option but there were other treatments to try before going that route. One option was steroid injections which helped ease the pain but didn't do enough to avoid surgery. So we lost a couple months there.

The surgeon needed an approval from the GP who ordered a stress test which fortunately, or unfortunately, showed two blockages. This past Wednesday, after a heart catheterization, a stent was implanted in one artery and the other was opened with angioplasty.

And I know, people say...."Oh, a stent. That's no big deal." Anytime someone is sticking a pointy thing in my heart, it’s a whopping big deal. Paul had a stent implanted in 2000 after a heart attack so he knew what to expect but this time it was more complicated. Not only because he's eleven years older, but also because he laid on the table in the operating room for nearly 4 hours waiting for the second doctor.

It went well and that’s behind him but there's still the issue of the back surgery which now can't be done for at least eight weeks. In the meantime, more damage is being done to the nerve which the doctor said is being 'crushed.' Usually you hear of nerves being 'pinched.' I'd rather be pinched than crushed. This sounds to me like it's a bit more severe.

Hopefully the next couple months will go quickly. And maybe then I won't have anything to whine about. Nah, I'll probably find something else.
 

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