clang clang

When I got done working out this morning, I heard one of the flagpoles in the front of the building clanging around, as flagpoles without flags on them are wont to do. But today it reminded me of the sound of being at home in Lexington. In the summer in the harbor, all the sailboats in the docks are rocking around making the exact same sort of clanging sound. If you couldn’t see the sky or water, couldn’t smell the air, and couldn’t feel the humidity, you could always tell the weather (or what weather was coming) by the sounds of the empty masts on the docked boats. On a calm night, it’s like a few dozen solid steel windchimes are performing a random but relaxing lullaby. When there’s a storm on the way, the empty rigging on the masts ring with the urgency of an old cast iron fire bell, waking you from a deep sleep with an anticipative burst of adrenaline.

Sometimes I really miss home, and the water.

“holiday”

Oof. Lots of work this weekend. 18 hours on friday, 12 on saturday, and 24 today (though today, since it’s at the station, is more like hanging out than working). It’s actually weird for me to think of not working on the weekend or on a holiday. I had a good time the last couple days, due to an unusual streak of really great patients. We went to Henry Ford Detroit Hospital yesterday and it was the first time that I had driven through that particular section of Detroit (I-96 and W. Grand Boulevard area). It’s such a strange mix of identities down there… decaying slums and new, upscale housing co-existing within a stone’s throw of each other. The brick construction style both in high-rises and homes is so much like Chicago, it made me think about how similar the two cities really are. Both are industrial ports fed by the Great Lakes shipping trades, both had race riots that precursed the collapse of large sections of the downtown areas. And both have a rich and often shared cultural history. It’s so depressing to see so much of the city lie in ruin, but I keep hoping that it will rise again from the ashes, as is the historical custom of the city.
Also, last week was EMS Week, and the ER staff at St. Joe’s was particularly thoughtful in leaving us snacks and notes of thanks in the breakroom. Anyone getting into this field who expects expressions of gratitude or thanks or sometimes even acknowledgement, quickly find themselves frustrated and disappointed and disillusioned. But it does happen every once in a while, and it sure is nice!

10-year

The spectre has arisen. I just got a notice of my high school ten year reunion. I always thought that my ten-year would be something like Grosse Point Blank, but instead I’ll only be able to tell people that I’m still doing the same boring stuff I was doing five years ago. So much for being the next small-town Edison, riding the train out of town to return years later as an architect of future history.
It seems like I should have done so much more with what I was given.

Matrix: Reloaded

Two things. I liked it a lot. And I need to see it again. I have a feeling that the reason a lot of the critics didn’t like it is that the philosophical dialogue was over their heads. I know I got lost a couple times and barely managed to get the gist of it. I really like the scene with the Architect. It was basically a Campbell-ian conversation about the traditional hero characterization, within the story that used the same characterization to create Neo. And did anyone else wonder if it’s just a coincidence that Neo and One are anagrams? Yeah. I liked it. Can’t wait for the next one. I think there’s gonna be a Neo Jr. Hmm… maybe he’ll have to save his son from the Matrix.

choo

Why is it that 90% of single women have cats? Agh! I might as well be allergic to the women!

script updates

woo! login works, comments fixed. site seems to be working. dont’chya love “some assembly required” software?

my blogger code

B4 d++ t+ k s– u– f- i– o++ x e l– c

Yeah, whatever.

Spiffy new blogware!

Alrighty! I think I might have finally settled on a new blogger. Spent some time playing with geeklog but I really don’t want a community (multi-user) weblog. I just want a place to post my thoughts and give friends the opportunity to comment on them. b2 seems to do very nicely at this. And I really like the blogs that people have created with it.