October 4 – phone rings, 4AM

phone rings, 4AM
still asleep, all websites down
way to wake up fast

Once a month or so, I take my turn being ‘on call’ to take overnight support calls if stations have problems.

And call they do.

With 40+ websites at TV Stations affiliated with 4 different networks in 4 different time zones, something can always go wrong.

It can be a problem with just one website.

Problem: I can’t get into our website
Answer: Have you tried to switch your computer off then on?

It can be a regional problem impacting several sites.

Problem: We can’t get into our websites
Answer: Have you tried to switch your computer off then on?

It can be server farm issues that impacts the eastern half or the western half of the company.

Problem: Everyone on the west coast can’t get into their websites
Answer: Have they tried to switch their computers off then on?

And it can be, once in awhile, a problem that takes all the websites offline.

Down.

Crashed.

404, not found.

In the words of the immortal Buster Scruggs, The San Saba Songbird , ‘That ain’t good’.

When that happens, the problem is not ‘what can I do to fix this’ but ‘who am I going to have to wake up to fix this.’

I will say this.

The words, ‘all sites are down’ sure wakes you up fast.

September 26 – swimming to the top

swimming to the top
I wake up underwater
break surface and breathe

Daily battle to wake up.

Struggle to the surface, forcing my way out of the depths of sleep.

Claw my way.

Kicking.

Break through the water and into a gray day and fight to stay a float.

Or.

Hands together above my head.

Fingers pointing straight.

Body twists as my legs flex and feet paddle.

Knifing through the water.

I porpoise out of the water.

Into the sunshine.

Water drops dazzle like diamonds.

Hand closes into a fist raised over my head.

“NOT TODAY!”, I shout.

To nobody but myself.

(NOTE* I was listening to the radio as I typed this. By chance, Richard Strauss’s Sunrise from Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1896) was playing on the radio. Unexpected moments like this are the Oreo’s in your lunch bag that someone else put in there for you.)

September 16 – I did not pass go

I did not pass go
my morning routine all off
don’t want my next throw

Right out of bed, a problem was brought to my attention at one of our TV stations.

I knew if I started working on the problem my morning routine of shower, coffee, come to life, would be interrupted and I would be out of sorts the rest of the day.

I guess everything about my routine can change up to the time I am out the door.

If I am late, then on my commute I am dealing with school buses.

Stop, start, wait, wait, wait and then I am late onto my start on I85 or the big wait.

I managed the problem but then I was slurping coffee, cutting corners on the rest of my ‘come to life’ time.

I got out of the house on time and even to work with an acceptable trip time.

But I have yet to come to life.

I did not pass go.

I did not get $200

I did NOT go to jail, but I feel that there is a game board of developed properties with nothing but Hotels waiting for me today.

I do not want to make my next throw.

I really do not even want to play.

My routine is off.

Please wake up you doofus.

Yawn, yawn, yawning.

Need a nap.

Is it 5PM yet?

September 15 – journey continues

journey continues
highs, lows, both unexpected
Jackie bought doughnuts

Reportedly, the share of American young adults living with their parents is the highest in 75 years.

33% of those aged 25-29 or 3 times as many as in the 1970’s.

Our son, Jackie, known as Jay, lives at home.

I guess I should say he stays at home as he live online in the gaming world when he is here.

Last night he came home with a dozen chocolate covered, cream filled, Dunkin Doughnuts.

How can so many highs and lows be tied into a food item at the same time.

Start with a deep fried cake, fill it with creme, coat it with a sugar glaze and cover the top with chocolate icing.

But the calories.

Oh the sweetness.

Deep frying?

Fluffy cake.

How fast it disappears.

The sugar high.

Bliss of kinda doing something wrong.

The ‘thunk’ when it lands in my stomach.

Do I need this?

Do I want this?

I shut off the discussion, tabled the question and called for an end to the debate.

Then, ate a doughnut with a clear conscience.

September 9 – creepy sensation

creepy sensation
Another Monday morning
all happened before

Drove to work.

Showed my ID at the gate and parked.

Opened my office door and turned on the lights and the computers.

Took my water bottle to the breakroom to rinsed and refilled with water.

Pick up the day’s Newspapers to read about what had happened prior to the papers going to press.

Another day at work starts.

So many ways, the same as before.

So many ways, so different.

Déjà vu all over again.