Adam Thomas's Blog, page 28

blogous interruptous

Some readers may have realized my blog has been ‘suspended’ for that last few days.  No, I did not do anything bad or was reprimanded by the blog police.  My blog was hacked, hijacked, or whatever you want to call it by ‘The Albanian Attacker’.   Actually the Word Press system had the issue and, well,  it just went to hell from there.  I was ‘suspended’ to prevent further fucked-upness.

Luckily for me, the blog master was the only available resource I needed.  He totally rocked it.

adamthomasrph.com IS back.

It’s just going to take me a few days to catch up and see what got last.  My last post ( August 04 ) was reverted back to a draft.  Since it was so widely received, it will be re-posted, of course.  I just need a few days to get my ‘blog’ together.  My shit will never be together, but having my blog back makes everything … nice.

Thanks for your patience and continued reading.

P.S. – I was informed that follow response e-mail notifications for new posts are going to spam.

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maturity check?

Seymour Weiner, MD is the reason for my ‘professional immaturity’.

Well, it is really my friend/co-workers fault, and I could’ve chosen to rise above it. I didn’t, of course.  No, I contributed to my own delinquency  equally if not more.   But, hey, it gets me through the day AND makes me giggle.  Yes, I said giggle. Everyone needs to giggle a bit, okay.

I’m referring to making fun of people with awful names that reference, uh, human, um,   … body parts.  Well, one in particular.  The only reason I can highlight Dr. Weiner is because anyone can open a phone book and find his name.  Patients that have worse names cannot be mentioned.

Insert disappointed sigh.

In my previous post I prided myself in accepting fifty.  I still do.  I just never said I was a mature fifty year old.

I’m out of town for my nephew’s wedding.  Enjoy the link.

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/funniest-dicks

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this Yiffie is fifty

WHAT 25-YEAR OLDS WANT

That was the cover story for the August 27, 1990 edition of  FORTUNE. 

Alan Deutschman talked at length with 30 college-educated workers employed by Fortune 500 companies who “… beat the odds from the very beginning“ , crediting the widespread use of the pill for the dip in birth rate for 1965  and for years after.  Deutschman went on to say that this ‘generation’ “… struggled to recast the rules (of corporate America) according to their own demands.  Meet the employees who can say No.”

Hmm.  Well, I guess I AM all that.  Recasting the rules is something I have always done and will continue to do.  Shit, I don’t even think I’ve read the damn rule book.  When I’ve mentioned before that I often get into trouble, it’s usually because of that or the whole saying ‘No’ thing. I refuse to sell my soul to corporate retail pharmacy.  Though, I feel the need to clarify something.  Neither of these actions are selfishly motivated.  I (and from what I’ve read about my fellow Yiffies) would rather spend time with my family or go kayaking.  I don’t kayak on a regular basis, but kayaking is fun.

So what IS a Yiffie?

According to the article, a Yiffie is an acronym for – Young, Individualistic, Freedom-minded, and Few.  The baby-buster, of sorts, instigating a ‘boomer backlash’.  An anti-Yuppie put on this earth to challenge the previous workaholic generation therefore striving for a “stronger sense of balance in their lives“.

The older managers think that if a shoe doesn’t fit, you should wear it and walk funny.  The baby-busters say to throw it out and get a new shoe.  Their attitude says that they are going to make the choices.

For me, I’d probably just go barefoot.  But then I would most likely stub my toe or something stupid like that.  Oh well, I’m used to bleeding and damage control, of course.  So, it’s all good.  I’m certain the majority of my fellow Yiffies  follow suit.  They wouldn’t necessarily stub their toes, mind you,  but they  would “do their own thing.  Ask what do I want to do, rather than what does someone else want me to do”. 

When I first read this article back in 1990, I was on fire.  Now that I have exhausted every avenue in pharmacy I am capable of tolerating, positive change is upon me.  Revisiting this article today, validates  who I AM – a Yiffie who IS fifty.  And, I look pretty damn good, baby!

Perhaps busters lack strong generational self-awareness in part because they haven’t been analyzed and targeted as a separate consumer market by Madison Avenue – or explained themselves by Hollywood.  Nobody has made a  Big  Chill  or  thirty something  about their generation.

I doubt  My Life  As A  Retail  Pharmacist -  A  Fictionalized  Memoir will be the self-awareness ‘voice’ of the Yiffie.  I think we are ‘individualistic’ enough to go without explanation.  And, quite frankly, some things don’t need to be analyzed that closely.   For me, writing IS my next choice.  That IS …

WHAT THIS 50 YEAR WANTS.

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1965

 

Cost of Living 1965

How Much things cost in 1965

Yearly Inflation Rate USA 1.59% 
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 969
Average Cost of new house $13,600.00
Average Income per year $6,450.00
Gas per Gallon 31 cents
Average Cost of a new car $2,650.00
Loaf of bread 21 cents
Average Rent per month $118.00

Popular Culture

The Mary Quant designed Mini Skirt appears in London and will be the fashion statement of the 60′s
One of most popular films “Sound of Music” released
The Beatles Release The Movie and Album Help!
The Beatles Play Live Concert Shea Stadium
The Grateful Dead with Lead guitarist Jerry Garcia play their first concert, in San Francisco

Popular Films

Mary Poppins
The Sound of Music
Goldfinger
My Fair Lady

 

“Sorry about that, Chief” – Get Smart            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A37edE6BGUo

“Caution: Cigarette Smoking May Be Hazardous To Your Health”

- US Surgeon General

Recorded Births

3,760,358 (19.4 birth rate) – close to 300,000 less than 1964, starting the downward trend.  Consequently, the birth rate didn’t rise above 4 million again until 1989.

The most important fact from 1965 

the Yiffie was born

 

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ADM THMS

Just thought I would set the record straight – it was all me.  I started it.

I am referring to the ‘adulterated’ form of grammar that is used in texting today.   Especially the use or un-use of vowels when messaging.

So technically, I was texting before there was texting and now that there is texting I don’t text.  Ah, the story of my life.

What prompted this epiphany was a marquee of all things.  I was at a traffic signal and this marquee had  the word abt written in the message. It was actually #abt  but who the hell knows what that damn # represents.  None of my children do.  If the pulse of the texting generation doesn’t know, then there’s NO #hope for me.  So, I’m reading this sign and it hits me – writing without vowels.  I started this craze back in my college days.  It’s no comparison to starting something like Napster, of course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVcteiTOqZo

And, yes, I fell asleep during lectures, especially physics.  And, I drool.  So it wasn’t pretty.

Okay, I’m rambling.  But I really wanted to work in that link.   The  Italian Job  is such a great movie.

So, … .

In college, the pharmacy curriculum was very rigorous.  Back then, we actually took notes during class.  None of this on-line symposium shit or having the lecture material available by the professor.  We were old school.  We went to class, took lots of notes, and then we were tested on the material.  None of which was at our convenience, mind you.  We took tests as a class at a time designated by the professor.

Some class notes were available for specific subjects.  One student was designated to take notes on a certain day.  Then the class notes were copied and distributed to those that participated or paid for the handout.

I, of course, was never asked to be a note taker.  First of all, I was not exactly considered one of those stellar students.  No one wanted my notes.  Besides, my notes were a mess. But, hey, I passed and graduated.  The end goal was achieved.

There were two reasons my notes were as described – a hot mess.  I didn’t use vowels.  Secondly, I worked for IDIS – Iowa Drug Information Service.  IDIS created the diagnostic code system still used today.  The pharmacists on staff would read journal articles, notating what disease state and other necessary information from the article in the margins.  Students – that’s me – would enter the information into a database.  Then it was transferred onto microfilm, remember this was close to thirty years ago, and distributed to subscribers.

Since I was exposed to such a system of  ’coding’, it made its way into my notes.  For example, V07 meant prophylaxis and V250.0 represented diabetes.  When you are taking notes, prophylaxis is an awful word to write.

Can you see why no one wanted to borrow MY notes?

Oh, well, like I said, I graduated. The process was like my drool – not pretty.  But, it worked.

Here I am living  My  Life  As  A  Retail  Pharmacist.   *

#oh, joy!

*If you haven’t already, please buy that book.  I need some REAL  joy in my nonfictional  life. Okay!?

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10.333 Albums and 1 exception

So, here it is.  My offering of music.  I decided to start big, then maybe go from there.  This is a list of my favorite ALBUMS. To compile just one Soundtrack of Life IS impossible.  There are so many songs that define different times of life.  To hone that into one playlist isn’t justified as far as I’m concerned.  Besides, it stimulates future post ideas.

I am a huge Greatest Hits slug.  Back in the eighties and nineties, numerous bands/artists had so many albums.  I waited for the compilations.  First of all, there were those things called 45′s.  Secondly, it just streamlined the inventory.  Finally, I had little disposable cash.

One criteria I had for the selection process is that no multi disc greatest hits albums were allowed.  There is one exception, though.*

St Elmo’s Fire Soundtrack   -  This is my secret yet  sappy college guilty pleasure. It defined my college years.  I still love it today.  
James Taylor’s Greatest Hits  -  J.T. is all that.  Recently, he released the first album of new material in thirteen years.  Ironically, it went straight to number 1 on the charts.  Even more ironic, it’s his ONLY number 1 album.   Ever!  Maybe there’s hope for me yet!?
Rascal Flat’s Greatest Hits  – So many great songs on this album.  I tolerate country. So individual albums are not an option.  This totally rocks!
Queen    Greatest Hits – I travelled close to an hour to get this Limited Edition/Limited Release version back like 1990.  So worth the trip. There have been numerous other so-called greatest hits.  However, this is the ‘definitive’ edition.
Taylor Swift    Fearless   AND 1989 -  Sorry for the T. Swift two-fur, but she is good.  No one can do teen age or relationship angst better.  She IS what my daughter’s and I listen to on a regular basis.  What’s a dad to do, eh? BTW, My T. Swift guilty pleasure is   “Love Story“. 

Supertramp  Breakfast in America   - Breakfast is in the title.  Need I say more. 
GoGo’s Beauty and the Beat  - this was High School end of story.  I hated High School, but I love this album.
Christopher Cross Christopher Cross   – C. Cross isn’t necessarily a one album wonder by any means.  Though after the initial ‘newness’ wore off he kind of went  ‘Sailing’ – get it? .  This self-titled first album is just nice.   
John Boswell Kindred Spirits – I highlighted J.B. once before.   There’s a song entitled  “James and the Giant Peach“.  Cool!

0.333

FUN.     Some Nights – The prelude is totally reminiscent of Queen. They could’ve just sold  this album containing that prelude and the first three songs and no one would’ve questioned the decision.  Think of it as a trifecta of  Fun … . .  The video link is one of my son’s favorites.  I have an album for each of my girls.  This one is all about my son. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv6dMFF_yts

* the exception -

Carly Simon     Clouds in My Coffee 1965-1995  -  C. Simon is a talented musician – she even wrote an opera.  Though sometimes she does do nasty things to vowels.  I really only listen to one of the three discs in the set.  The reason this album is the exception is because I was born in 1965  AND I completed my first novel in 1995.  One last tidbit, Simon IS the Simon in Simon and Schuster – the book publisher.

Any questions?  

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Prelude to the … post

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHWHPPHpAj8

No, this isn’t the ‘Yet’ I referenced in the previous post.  Really couldn’t do that, especially after watching the ‘Official Video’ for the song.  But C. Simon is highlighted in the next post.  Kind of … .

 

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Prelude to a … post

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHWHPPHpAj8

No, this isn’t the ‘Yet’ I referenced in the previous post.  Really couldn’t do that, especially after watching the ‘Official Video’ for the song.  But C. Simon is highlighted in the next post.  Kind of … .

 

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clouds in my coffee

No, I will not subject any innocent readers to lyrics from Carly Simon’s  “You’re  So  Vain” . Yet.

But, I will talk coffee.  More importantly, my love for coffee and my reoccurring issues with coffee makers.

First coffee -

I drink half-decaf, half regular in the morning and straight decaf at night.  Though when ordering in a restaurant, some of the wait staff can be pretty stupid.  I was once asked - “In the same cup?” or “Which do you want me to pour in first?”   Unfortunately the sarcastic tone of my -”it doesn’t matter I stir it”, falls flat.  Remember, these people are stupid.  They’re probably medicated.
I was never a mid-day drinker.  No apparent reasoning there.  Just never happened.  Also, that ice coffee shit is gross as far as I ‘m concerned.
I drink straight coffee with cream.  I have never had a frappuccino, espresso, or any that frothy foam stuff with ‘a cinnamon dusting’.  Often, fresh decaf is unavailable, especially in the evening.  Pour over or that Americano thing works for me.
I love hot coffee.  Luke warm coffee that has sat on a burner for hours is completely disgusting.
I spill coffee all the time, usually on myself … because I’m an idiot.  Luckily, if I dribble down the front of my shirt, my tie covers the stain.
Here in Traverse, we have some local roasters that do quite an incredible job.  The blend I like the best is Ethiopian and Decaf Moca Java from Good Harbor.  Higher Grounds is also popular.  The coffee from there tends to have more undertones and aftertastes.  Though, they roast a half-decaf/half regular blend appropriately called Gran’s Blend.  It tastes like nuts.  So I don’t drink it.
Lastly, I hate grinding coffee. Long ago, I received a grinder as a gift.  Then the kids came along.  Once you wake up a child grinding coffee, YOU WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVDOB9mby_w

Coffee Makers -

This is really what prompted this rant.  Contrary to what people may think, I’m a pretty basic guy.  I am not high-maintenance or complicated.  And when I comes to coffee makers, I am even more basic.  All I want in a coffee maker is a fucking ON/OFF switch.  I don’t PROGRAM, AUTO ON or want a grinder inside the damn coffee  maker.  I barely have patience to set the damn clock.  Okay?

I know Mr. Coffee is the most basic machine out there, but even he’s gotten complicated.  Yes,  I have a small four cup machine as reserve back-up.  Unfortunately I’ve needed to use that more often than I’ve wanted because of so many issues with coffee makers in general.  By the way, this whole Keurig one-cup concept is stupid for in-home use.  I drink pots of coffee not dinky-ass cups.  Besides, that plastic cup thing that serves as a filter will be shown to cause cancer or something similar twenty years from now.

I could continue ranting, especially about this whole descaling thing that supposedly ‘cleans’ the coffee maker.  But, I won’t. All I will say is that every time I clean the damn coffee maker, the machine works worse.  How is that? I even read the directions – step by step!

After rereading what I’ve just written, I should probably switch to all decaf.  Or, just add alcohol, eh?

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Mel, what a character.

One day, a technician and I were in a ‘mood’.  Luckily, it was the same ‘mood’ for it was silly and way fun.  If it wasn’t, well, … .   That would be completely different post.

Early in the morning, I came across the prescription for none other than Mel himself.

“Melvin V. Humphrey?” I asked. “Who on earth would ever do that to their child?”

It didn’t take much before we were totally grade-schooling it, chronicling what Mel would look like, act like, and what  the hell that ‘V’ represented.  Victor was the unanimous first response.  Then I referenced the link below, comparing Mel to the fictitious Sheldon.  After that we were in full profile mode.  Nothing about poor Mel was sacred.  Secretly, I wanted Mel to be a total stud, getting laid more than men half his age.  Oh, I didn’t want Mel to be a ‘statistic’ in the Villages, FL by any means.  But, I was wanting so much more for Melvin Victor Humphrey.  Unfortunately, neither of us were there when Mel picked up his prescription.  An innocent profiling accomplice was there and contemplated taking a ‘selfie’ of Mel, but didn’t.  #awkward/obvious, eh?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCaO6DNx2RE

Of course, Melvin Victor Humphrey IS  fictitious.

As a writer, I create profiles for every character in the story.  So this was a total blast for me.  Without this ‘profiling’, consistency would suffer.  Then, a character acts out of character and all hell brakes loose.  You, the writer,  have a problem.

I am not the best at traditional character profiling.  Often I get dogged for not outwardly describing characters at the start of the story or upon introduction into the storyline.  Instead, I offer a brief description, then hint at various traits, physical and personality, throughout the course of the story, allowing the reader to actively participate in the profiling.  Sometimes, I’m not sure if that’s the best approach, but I prefer the subtly.

John Grisham is one of my favorite writers.  He even has a teen lawyer series that is quite entertaining.  I hate him.  Anyway, there was a minor character, a bailiff, of all things, in  A  Time  To  Kill , if I remember correctly, who was bribed.  The provocation for the bailiff’s misconduct was the fact that he needed money to pay off his Sears credit card bill.  Not just any credit card bill, but his Sears credit card bill.  Is that amazing profiling or what? I hate him.

Well, that’s my take on this whole profiling thing.  I will continue to strive for characterization excellence.  Though,  Louis L’Amour novels and the ‘tepid’ water are pretty damn good.  It isn’t  John Grisham by any means, but it totally completes Mel’s profile.  Besides, tepid is such a great word.

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