'Doctored-up' Ragu

If it's the night before the Super Bowl you can be sure of one thing...
There are turkeys being deep-fried at my friend Roy's house.

The concept is pretty simple. You bring a turkey and some GOOD beer. There is a pot of boiling oil provided in which to deep-fry your turkey as you consume some of your or someone else's beer. Tonight's was the 8th annual event. I am happy to say I have been there since the beginning and it's now graduated to two burners designated as 'old pot' and 'new pot.'

The logic that created it is pretty simple, too. My friend Roy is a home-brewer of fine beers. As such he has the 'technology' to heat large amounts of liquid in a short amount of time. A propane 'jet' and a LARGE pot. He decided years ago he wanted to use them to deep fry a turkey; which he did.

He enjoyed the turkey very much but thought it was a lot of trouble for just one bird. He thought, 'When is a time when people might want to cook a turkey?' The Super Bowl. He decided that if he was going through all the set-up to deep-fry a turkey might as well do it when there might be some 'demand' and invite some friends. Deep-frying a turkey the night before the game would give people the chance to take a fine fried turkey to their Super Bowl parties the following day. It is really good turkey; was a really cool concept, too.

The event has now morphed into a neighborhood event for him. There is now a framed-canopy and two burners/two pots. It's not just his old friends anymore. People drop in all day, fry their birds, drink some beer and leave. The ever-changing crowd is very diverse. There are doctors and lawyers. There are electricians and Cable guys. Usually every one gets along just fine. It's always a great time.

This year a record total of 237 pounds of poultry were deep-fried in the two pots. WOO HOO!

Sorry to say, this year there was a bit of 'tension;' the result of a miscommunication. One of Roy's neighbors made Sauce and Meatballs for the event. Roy knew that he started with a 'base sauce' of Ragu to which he added freshly roasted garlic, bay leaves and other stuff to make one kickin' sauce for the meatballs. One of the other guests must have said something to him about how good the sauce was for being 'doctored-up Ragu.' The poor guy took offense. He was cold to Roy after that feeling he had 'slighted' his efforts; which he had NOT. He was misquoted/paraphrased. I thought it was funny; we did laugh about it. I am sure they will work it out.

Roy is meticulous with the details surrounding the cooking of the birds. He sets standards in his invite. 'You a guest and a turkey under fifteen pounds are invited to attend...' He sets standards for the beer you can bring, too. Nothing manufactured by Coor's, Anheuser-Busch, or other mass-producing piss-water makers. He records and calculates your bird's cooking time; assigns your pot and your place in line, too.

You do the work. Remove the gizzard/neck where it's stuffed in the cavity; place it on the patform/spit. You then don the 'heat gloves,' grab the hook and slowly lower the completely-thawed bird into the boiling peanut oil. You drink beer for the calculated amount of time, if not longer, and pull the cooked poultry from the oil. You wrap it up to take to enjoy with others. It's a party that keeps on giving.

A very cool concept, indeed.

Hope you all had fun today, too.

New Beginnings

I go 'way back' with online communications. I have been online since the Internet was first made available commercially. I had a primitive computer and was intrigued by the ability to communicate with others through this new medium.

In the earliest days the only means of online communication was through what were known as 'Bulletin Boards.' At that time e-mail was new. The bulletin board provided a place to request information and make contact with people of 'like-interest' through this new computer and the phone line. At that time I had just become the 'Cable Guy.' I ran the cable from the 'telephone' pole to the house and then from there to the TV sets. When I was done a job I screwed a connector onto the back of the set; saw a beautifully clear picture, had the customer sign the paperwork and I was done.

When I took the job I thought it would not only be 'fun;' but the company mentioned during the interview process that they had never laid anyone off. I had just been laid off from a job I liked very much. I did not want to repeat the loss again; hence, I was anxious to become the 'Cable Guy.'

At the time I would have NEVER guessed that technology would have advanced me, through nothing but work experience, to become your 'internet-service provider dude.' I have been on the job now many years and it is pretty amazing to look back. Now if I screw the connector onto the back of the 'unit' and you don't have an 'IP address' something's wrong; and I have to find it.

The place where I worked before went out of business. A lot of the people that worked there went to work for a 'spin-off' business in the area. I could have accepted a place there, too, but decided to go with being the 'Cable Guy.'

Some years later I had a service call to a BIG house in an 'exclusive' new neighborhood. It was in some wooded hills. The lots were 10 acres/minimum. One of those very nice exceptions I mentioned yesterday. The gentleman's name seemed familiar to me although I didn't recognize him. I asked him where he worked. He mentioned the 'spin-off' company. I asked if he had worked at their 'predecessor;' the company I had worked for. He said, 'Yes.'

We traded stories from ISC, our common corporate connection. I asked what he did now for the new Company. He replied, 'I'm the president.' Oh my. I didn't know that. What a small world and 'funny' how thing's work out.

He was comfortable enough with me, and knowing our common history, he told me anytime I wanted a tour of the 'new' company to call his secretary to arrange it and he would take me around the plant. I thought how 'cool' would that be, as all these former co-workers would be wondering how I came to be touring the plant with the president of the company.

It's funny to think I had the opportunity because I hooked up the guy's cable at his home.

Life takes many turns.
Often what seems a set-back can become an opportunity.

The Cable Guy as a VIP.
Who'd have ever guessed that?

Hope all's well with everyone.

Stay warm, have fun, and a good night, too.

Return to the Feces House

One of the things that can make my job interesting is not only meeting all the people I do but routinely getting inside other people's homes. From the richest to the poorest people I get to see where and how they live. My entire work area is solidly 'middle-class.' There are extremes but they are the exception rather than the rule. Sometimes these extremes are very nice; sometimes they are very bad.

A little over a year ago I made a service call to a home that was undergoing extensive renovation. I noticed a recent comment was on the work order. It read, 'House Unsanitary per Al.' I called Al before I got there and asked him what I should expect. He replied, 'Dog feces.' I knew what he meant and thanked him for the 'heads up.'

I went in and sure enough, he was right. There were a few dogs in the house that had not only pooped inside; some had obviously marked their territory, too. In these situations I am sure you can understand you just want to do what you have to and get out.

Today I made a return visit to the feces house. The new siding was on. It looked good. I rang the bell and heard the dogs barking. The woman opened the door, greeted me, and invited me to come in. The new floor looked good; the kitchen had been redone, too. I am sorry to say, one thing hadn't changed. The scent of feces.

I was there to hook up a second digital DVR for them. The woman directed me down into the basement from where the scent was permeating. There was another couple now living down there. They had a dog, too. I manuvered through the cramped quarters over to the TV. The poop room was an unfinished room adjacent to their bedroom. I tried to be as nice as I could be. I tried to focus on my job. I tried to get out of there as quickly as I could.

I have a twenty mile/half hour commute to work everyday. I live in a different Cable Company's service area. Friends often ask why I don't work for them. They are MUCH larger than my company. Their service area includes many more urban areas. I tell them that up where I work, 'I rarely have to worry about what's going to be on the other side of the door when it opens.'

Today was one day that I did.

Hope you all had a good day. 52 days until Spring?

Take care, have fun.

Light Snow Fallen

A light snow fell on us last night. The first clue; when in a sound sleep, comes from the sound of the snowplow grinding against the ice and asphalt. Your eyes open and against the din of the room you can see the blinking beacon; the tell-tale yellow light. Then you know, it's a sure thing.

I usually get up early. I am a morning person by my nature. I knew this morning's spare time would be consumed dusting off the car and shovelling the driveway. Sorry to say, by the time I got up, dressed and outside to deal with it the precipitation had changed to freezing rain. The stuff was heavy. It didn't take me that long but when I came in I was sweating and wide awake.

I got to work after a slog of a commute on time and, as usual, I was the first one 'out-of-the-gate.' I had a job scheduled '9-10;' which means, 'first thing,' and I was determined to get there on time. I got there at 9:05. The people were home but guess what? They weren't ready. Imagine that.....I had to wait ten minutes or so as the woman 'got up.' Ugh

The 'bright point' of my day came later after a rough start. I showed up at a beautiful home to connect a HDTV box. The nice woman greeted me at the door and showed me into the living room with the brand-new 70-inch wall-mounted 'mother-of-all-TV's' that had already been mounted to the wall. Ugh.

My paperwork indicated that they only had one active CATV line in the house. The house was not only beautiful; it was big. I suspected immediately there was a splitter in the house somewhere. There was no way in a house of this 'magnitude' that there was only one television set. When I am setting up digital TV service I must locate and if not replace I must bypass the splitter.

I asked the woman if this was the only TV set in the house that was connected to the cable. She told me that they had another one; but until they bought this one they only had the one set. As I suspected, there was a splitter in the house. I asked her if she knew where it was? She did not. She called her husband. I'll spare the details but I found the splitter but I felt very bad when she suggested that I thought they she had been less-then-honest with me. Technically, they had 'tampered' with the line but she was honest with me about it. I reassured her that she had done nothing 'wrong' and that I appreciated the fact that she was honest with me. I explained to her I often discover when people are not.

We ended up shaking hands as I repeatedly tried to reassure her I meant no offense by my questions. I only need to ask them to perform my job. We ended up having a nice chat. We talked about dogs. She had three very cute and spoiled minuature poodles. I made sure she knew how to use the equipment I installed and it all ended up in a 'good note.' Whew!

I really do want people to be comfortable with me; and with me being in their home's. I am there to provide them a service. I want to know when I am leaving that I have. I am not there as an 'adversary;' I want to be there as a 'friend,' ya know?

Hope you all had a good day; have a great night, too.

Unexpected Breaktime

I am at work for eight-and-a-half hours a day. I work eight hours and have a half-hour unpaid lunch. I also get a fifteen minute break in the morning and another in the afternoon.

Today I was working in the town where the office is located. I stopped off at the office to use the bathroom and dropped of some completed paperwork. I then went to take my break. I stopped at a popular convenience store located about a mile up the road from the office. All of the guys at one time or another stop in there. Many of the staff know many of us by name or nickname. I pulled in, parked and went in. I greeted one woman that works there as I prepared my tea; and greeted another and the store manager as I paid for the tea and a slim jim beef snack.

All of a sudden the manager looked at me, called my name and said, 'Come outside and help me!' I immediately turned to run for the door and asked, 'Someone drive off without paying?' She said, 'NO! That guy out there just collapsed.' I turned and looked and a young woman was struggling to hold the guy up. I ran over and got behind him and gently lowered him near the ground. He was on his feet but I was holding him up. He collapsed and had hit his head on the passenger-side rear view mirror of an SUV which was parked next to him. He wasn't bleeding but you could see where he struck his head. We had some light snow last night. The pavement was wet and thought it best just to keep him 'still.'

A small crowd had gathered as the ambulance was called. The one woman from inside the store was relaying questions from the ambulance dispatcher to me. Is he conscious? breathing? pulse? He was in-and-out-of consciousness, he was breathing, had strong pulse. I didn't take his pulse, the SUV woman did. His girlfriend held his hand as we waited for the ambulance. It seemed like forever. Once or twice he wanted to stand up but he was incapable and we encouraged him to stay still. He did.

The ambulance arrived and after another five or ten minutes of them checking his vital signs and stuff I handed him off to the EMTs as they loaded him onto a stretcher.

WOW!

No doubt, the last thing I thought would ever happen. Somehow, I was right in the middle of it. I watched as they lifted him into the ambulance. The store manager was standing back a short bit on the concrete walk. I began looking for my tea. I had forgotten all about the beef stick. The store manager called to me. I looked and she smiled and held up my tea. I don't even know where I put it down. We chatted briefly and I walked to the truck to call the office to let them know where I was and had been doing. As I spoke with the dispatcher on the phone the store manager approached me. She smiled as she walked up to the van and held out my beef stick....lol. I told her I forgot all about it; and thanked her.

When I got back to the office I asked someone in the office to look up the name of the guy. She told me where his last account was. There was no current account. I looked at her when she told me and said, 'You know what? I thinked I hooked his cable up.' She checked the system. Sure enough. I did.

In a day or two I will stop by to see how he is doing.

Sure enough, as I say in my subtitle....every day really is a new adventure.

The picture above is one of my local favorites. I captured that image several years ago at the convenience store I mentioned above.

Hope you all have a good night.

Dead of Winter

Here in these parts we are facing a forecast that includes some 'wintry' precipitation. That's what they call it when they just don't know where the rain/ice/snow line is going to land. We often just have to wait and see how the storm tracks. Here in the northeast we have been back down in the freeze; it just hasn't been as deep or as brutal as it had been.

Now that January is almost past we really are in the dead of winter. The temperatures are about the coldest and the sun is just on the cusp of recovering enough to provide warmth that you can actually feel. Spring is 53 days away. I am sure it will pass quickly.

I posted those pictures above to remind those of us that need it that it is sunny and 75 somewhere in the world right now. It will be that way here soon, too.

The pictures were taken of and in Cancun. Mexico. I was there a few years ago and, as you can see, it was very nice. I have never seen water more beautifully clear and blue as it is there. I hope somehow that no matter how cold it is where ever you may be that they provide some needed warmth.

Have fun. Take Care. Stay Warm.

Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Before I was the Cable guy I worked for a Defense Department contractor. The facility manufactured advanced electronic components for the US DOD. During the stagnant early 80's it was one of the few local companies that was growing.

As things 'played out' it turned out the Company was little more than intricate tool in the owner's scheme to defraud a corporate partner to the tune of $1 billion. Sound familiar? Back-to-the-future?

As the scheme unfolded all of us that were employed there knew our days were numbered. My day was May 16th. It had been raining for days. I was called into a windowed office of the building and as I was being told I was being 'laid-off' I smiled. My boss looked at me and said, 'Well Jesus, Chris, the least you can do is act a little bit upset.'

I smiled at him and asked, 'Why? I know now what I have to deal with. You people still here, don't.' I looked towards the window and the sun was coming out. I continued, 'I'll be out on the water tomorrow in the sun. Where will you be?'

Three weeks later I snapped the picture you see above.

My fifteen minutes of fame.

At that time I lived in apartment on the second floor of a country farmhouse. That day a friend of mine came to visit. I saw a storm approaching and walked to the front porch to watch. I noticed that something 'strange' was going on. I called my friend to notice the flag across the road was blowing in one direction, the low clouds in another.

I then walked to the other side of the apartment to the kitchen to get something to drink. The kitchen was surrounded on three sides by wndows. I glanced outside as I reached into the refrigerator. There it was!

I called to my friend. I told him there is tornado in back-yard!

He ran back, saw it and said, 'Don't just stand there watching, GO GET YOUR CAMERA!' I did.

I snapped some pictures on film. This was before digital cameras.

I had the film processed. I had captured a good image of the storm.

Long story made short, the local paper bought and processed the photo.

It was carried nationally by the Associated Press; hence, my 15 minutes. ; )