Grindstone Cowboy

Well I've made it two days back on the grind. The first day was a little rough - I didn't bring adequate supplies to deal with the post-fistulotomy state of affairs and spent the last three hours in a very uncomfortable state. I wasn't able to get an official restriction from the doctor to keep me from having to do anything involving sitting for extended periods of time (I tried, but HR wouldn't let me resume duty with any restrictions at all) but fortunately most of my fellow supervisors are pretty understanding and accommodating when it comes to doling out assignments. Also, it looks like I'll be spending most, if not all, of the next two weeks on the front lines in my dealer garb, so anyone who hasn't seen my spiffy gold vest-and-tie combo, now's your chance.

For those of you not in Chicago, let me just say I envy you immensely. I can't imagine it being as cold anywhere else as it is here right now (-1 degrees, with an official 'wind chill advisory' of twenty to thirty degrees below.) Plus I got stuck in a snowbank as I tried to park and had to call AAA. To their credit, though they left me on hold for over thirty minutes, the towtruck was there in under an hour. Also, AAA has definitely trained their crew in customer service - every time I've spoken with an assistance agent, he or she has made a special effort to express concern for my well being, the frustration I must be experiencing, and a pretty genuine wish that everything works out for the best.

One last note - our most prestigious neighbor appears to have relocated for good. The barricades are down and the police presence is back to five or six patrol cars parked around the House of O. While the convenience of being able to drive on Hyde Park Blvd unrestricted is certainly nice, I have to admit I'm a little disappointed that our days of living in a federally protected gated community are over. It was fun while it lasted.

Oh, by the way, here is a video of what I do at work everyday. Or what I would do if I was a little Filipino fellow, and it was 1986, and the only number that ever rolled was nine.