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shadowkatFor some bizarre reason my router gave out for about two-three hours, then after much trouble-shooting, which went no where, and the customer service rep scheduling a technician to come around 5-8pm tomorrow - it started working again. It started working again after the rep hung up. After I got up to check to see if I could fix it myself - because being without service for twenty-four hours was going to be painful. It came up. Voila. We're working now. No explanation. Na Da.
So I call Optimum Technical Support again.
Me: So, my service came back. Are you sure you didn't just have an outtage in the area?
Rep: Nope.
Me: Any clue why it came back?
Rep (thick Indian accent - I hear a lot of Indian accents, so I can tell): You have appointment tomorrow.
Me: Yeah, I know - I called to cancel - because its back up.
Rep: You might want to keep it - in case it goes down again. Because we're showing that the issue was your router.
Me: So, maybe I need new router?
Rep: Wait until 4pm tomorrow - if it doesn't work again or goes down again? You have appointment.
ME: If it doesn't work I cancel?
Rep: Yep.
I have an eye doctor's appointment at 1:15 pm, that's supposed to just be thirty minutes, and I have to get my eyes dilated. I won't be able to see real well for a bit. But I should be home by 5pm. The Optimum appointment is between 5-8pm tomorrow. I don't know if I'm keeping it or not. Oh well, at least Optimum has decent customer service.
Difficult day.
Negotiation today did not go well. It was a teleconference between me and six male engineers. We fought for twenty minutes over the definition of subcontractor. Which by the way, was clearly defined in the contract. I mean it wasn't vague. It was kind of clear.
Definition?
Subcontractor: an individual or entity that enters into a contract with the Contractor or sub to provide labor, materials, apparatus or services.
The subcontractor was claiming his software manufacturer wasn't a subcontractor because it was a software manufacturer providing materials.
I did win. But I had to fight, raise my voice, and not back down.
I had no support. It was just me arguing for the contract and trying to save funds. The project team didn't care - they just wanted to close it and move on. And I had to remind my team that they didn't have the final say on the contract - I did. That this would be audited. And it was public funds not their money. In short, I had to be tough as nails.
I wanted to throttle the project team afterwards. Thank god, I have tomorrow off. Although I have an opthamologist appointment that I don't want to go to - and have been talked into by my primary care, who wants to check my eyes for diabetic issues. (I'm positive they are fine.)
My industry is very tough for women to work in. It's mostly men. And it's chauvinistic and sexist. It's not gotten easier over the years.
***
I don't know what I'll do about Optimum. I'd had plans after the doctor appointment, to check out the promenade, maybe the cat cafe, the church, and get some fudge, then meander home and stop off at the union street grocery store.
But if I've an Optimum Appointment between 5-8pm, maybe not a good idea. The doctor appointment will take at least until 2:30pm if I'm lucky, and it's a 45 minute trip home - so home by 4:30, if I'm lucky?
I'm playing it by ear.
***
Mother's doing better. We had a long conversation today. People are amazed at how well she's handling this. More than one home health care aid or friend has told her that she's amazing.
Mother: They keep telling me that I'm amazing. That they are very impressed with how I've handled all of this.
Me: What do they expect you to do? Huddle in a ball in the middle of your bed?
Mother: I know, right? Do they expect me to just not move at all? To cry constantly?
Me: I've wondered this over the years. I had people tell me online and in person that I was handling this amazingly well, and they were shocked that I was doing it without being on Prozac or anything. And I thought - okay...what do people normally do?
Mother: Yeah, go on Prozac or when I was younger they all went on valium.
ME: Hardly helpful.
Mother: We both were around my mother too much...
Me: Your mother and you...one doesn't dwell. We just float. It was the best advice my Boss ever gave me - to just float through it. And that's what I'm doing.
Although I almost panicked today when I thought my internet was down. It's insane how dependent we've become on it. My brother's internet service goes out or down daily, and getting anyone to do anything about it is almost impossible. The City's service is so much better. Gabe said she had the same issues where she is up in Beacon.
Mother advised that I keep the technician appointment and get the equipment swapped out. Better safe than sorry, since I did have router issues and I've had the new one for a while now.
Mother's walking more and more each day. She's not in as much pain before, and is the most positive that I've heard in months. She sounds relatively chipper. It's nice. It gives me hope.
**
Help with coming up with Names...for things.
I'm playing with world building. But alas have hit a stumbling block. I suck at naming things. I honestly cannot come up with names to save my life. When we had cats? My brother named them. I was fine with just calling it cat. I didn't name dolls or stuffed animals. I don't name inanimate objects. My laptop - is my laptop. I forget names. When they were giving out the naming or labeling genes, they skipped over me.
So? If anyone out wants to take a stab at providing me with a means of getting names? Or maybe it will just come to me? Right now?
* Ki'Aretha Solenil (which weirdly came up in word spellcheck...then disappeared)
* Rhiannon Althea Darkholm aka Theodora Reardon Grant Darkholm
* Giselle
* Gerard
* Braedon
* Daemon
* Cerise
* Nathanial Theodore Rafael Darkholm (again not the best at naming)
* Melisandre the Elisande aka Althea Reardon Grant (human name)
* Morgana la Fae (yes I know..see horrid at naming things)
I've considered translating stuff into Welsh and Gaelic. I'm sticking with British Isle mythos, because that's my background. I know it. It's best to stick closely to what you know and play off of that, then veer into areas you don't, less likely to screw up.
How do I know it? Ah, my minor thesis was on Welsh Mythology - specifically the modern oral narratives as compared to the Mabinogi or ancient Welsh mythology. I studied Irish, Welsh and Scottish Folktales, Mythology, and stories. It was a long time ago (1988-89) but it sticks with me.
I really need to come up with names for the lands and worlds. I also am hunting an anime or something that features fae. Anyone know of one? Maybe I should have asked this as a separate post?
***
Outside they are apparently doing some sort of concert at the Flatbush Jewish Center - because it sounds like an orchestra - an amateur orchestra playing their instruments. They are okay, but not really that good. I feel like I'm listening to folks practicing or warming up their flutes, violins, and strings. You know how an orchestra sounds when you first arrive to a venue? It's clearly coming from outside my living room windows - so it's behind me.
One of the lovely things about living in a city is all the odd noises. Although an orchestra warming up is admittedly better than sirens or a car backfiring or fireworks.
**
COVID
I know a ridiculous amount about this disease and how to prevent it because of where I work. For as much as I complain about my workplace, it does have its advantages.
Today it hosted a town hall meeting on Zoom - where we basically listened
to various specialists from Mt. Sinai hospital or associated with it - explain why the vaccine was safe and effective.
Per the various virulogists and epidemologists and specialists from Mt. Sinai hospital in NYC - I learned:
1. You can get the Flu Shot and the Booster Shot at the same time, you just might want them in separate arms. Please get the Flu Shot - they don't know how bad the season will be. I can't help but think that it saved me in 2019 - 2021. I got it in 2019 and 2020 for the first time. And I got some nasty bug in 2019, that most likely was far milder than it would have been if I'd not gotten the flu shot just six weeks prior.
2. The vaccine is perfectly safe for pregnant women, and does not affect fertility at all. If anything it helps with reproductive health, they've discovered higher sperm counts post vaccine, and higher fertility rates. (Interesting it may act as a fertility drug.)
3. The vaccine is safe for children.
4. The vaccine or RN messenger is not new type of vaccine. It's the same style of vaccine that was being used for HIV, SARS, H1N1, etc. They've been treating other viruses with this style for years with no issues.
5. It's a good idea to still wear masks because we still don't know who is and isn't vaccinated and who has the virus. While it's not as severe with the vaccine, you still can get sick, just less likely. One unvaccinated person with the virus can transmit it to about ten unvaccinated folks. One vaccinated person would transmit it to far less, and vaccinated people are less likely to get it at all. If you wear a mask indoors and socially distance, that goes down further.
In my work place - we have social distancing, mask protocols, testing protocols, and vaccine mandates in place. They have also made vaccines available to everyone and in most buildings with walk in appointments. Soon the booster will be available too. The reason? My workplace has lost over 169 workers to the virus, and counting. They are taking it seriously. We get information on the virus every week. We have meetings on it every month. People with immune conditions have gotten the vaccine at my work place. So again, if you've not gotten it? Do. Please.
***
Okay enuf for tonight
So I call Optimum Technical Support again.
Me: So, my service came back. Are you sure you didn't just have an outtage in the area?
Rep: Nope.
Me: Any clue why it came back?
Rep (thick Indian accent - I hear a lot of Indian accents, so I can tell): You have appointment tomorrow.
Me: Yeah, I know - I called to cancel - because its back up.
Rep: You might want to keep it - in case it goes down again. Because we're showing that the issue was your router.
Me: So, maybe I need new router?
Rep: Wait until 4pm tomorrow - if it doesn't work again or goes down again? You have appointment.
ME: If it doesn't work I cancel?
Rep: Yep.
I have an eye doctor's appointment at 1:15 pm, that's supposed to just be thirty minutes, and I have to get my eyes dilated. I won't be able to see real well for a bit. But I should be home by 5pm. The Optimum appointment is between 5-8pm tomorrow. I don't know if I'm keeping it or not. Oh well, at least Optimum has decent customer service.
Difficult day.
Negotiation today did not go well. It was a teleconference between me and six male engineers. We fought for twenty minutes over the definition of subcontractor. Which by the way, was clearly defined in the contract. I mean it wasn't vague. It was kind of clear.
Definition?
Subcontractor: an individual or entity that enters into a contract with the Contractor or sub to provide labor, materials, apparatus or services.
The subcontractor was claiming his software manufacturer wasn't a subcontractor because it was a software manufacturer providing materials.
I did win. But I had to fight, raise my voice, and not back down.
I had no support. It was just me arguing for the contract and trying to save funds. The project team didn't care - they just wanted to close it and move on. And I had to remind my team that they didn't have the final say on the contract - I did. That this would be audited. And it was public funds not their money. In short, I had to be tough as nails.
I wanted to throttle the project team afterwards. Thank god, I have tomorrow off. Although I have an opthamologist appointment that I don't want to go to - and have been talked into by my primary care, who wants to check my eyes for diabetic issues. (I'm positive they are fine.)
My industry is very tough for women to work in. It's mostly men. And it's chauvinistic and sexist. It's not gotten easier over the years.
***
I don't know what I'll do about Optimum. I'd had plans after the doctor appointment, to check out the promenade, maybe the cat cafe, the church, and get some fudge, then meander home and stop off at the union street grocery store.
But if I've an Optimum Appointment between 5-8pm, maybe not a good idea. The doctor appointment will take at least until 2:30pm if I'm lucky, and it's a 45 minute trip home - so home by 4:30, if I'm lucky?
I'm playing it by ear.
***
Mother's doing better. We had a long conversation today. People are amazed at how well she's handling this. More than one home health care aid or friend has told her that she's amazing.
Mother: They keep telling me that I'm amazing. That they are very impressed with how I've handled all of this.
Me: What do they expect you to do? Huddle in a ball in the middle of your bed?
Mother: I know, right? Do they expect me to just not move at all? To cry constantly?
Me: I've wondered this over the years. I had people tell me online and in person that I was handling this amazingly well, and they were shocked that I was doing it without being on Prozac or anything. And I thought - okay...what do people normally do?
Mother: Yeah, go on Prozac or when I was younger they all went on valium.
ME: Hardly helpful.
Mother: We both were around my mother too much...
Me: Your mother and you...one doesn't dwell. We just float. It was the best advice my Boss ever gave me - to just float through it. And that's what I'm doing.
Although I almost panicked today when I thought my internet was down. It's insane how dependent we've become on it. My brother's internet service goes out or down daily, and getting anyone to do anything about it is almost impossible. The City's service is so much better. Gabe said she had the same issues where she is up in Beacon.
Mother advised that I keep the technician appointment and get the equipment swapped out. Better safe than sorry, since I did have router issues and I've had the new one for a while now.
Mother's walking more and more each day. She's not in as much pain before, and is the most positive that I've heard in months. She sounds relatively chipper. It's nice. It gives me hope.
**
Help with coming up with Names...for things.
I'm playing with world building. But alas have hit a stumbling block. I suck at naming things. I honestly cannot come up with names to save my life. When we had cats? My brother named them. I was fine with just calling it cat. I didn't name dolls or stuffed animals. I don't name inanimate objects. My laptop - is my laptop. I forget names. When they were giving out the naming or labeling genes, they skipped over me.
So? If anyone out wants to take a stab at providing me with a means of getting names? Or maybe it will just come to me? Right now?
* Ki'Aretha Solenil (which weirdly came up in word spellcheck...then disappeared)
* Rhiannon Althea Darkholm aka Theodora Reardon Grant Darkholm
* Giselle
* Gerard
* Braedon
* Daemon
* Cerise
* Nathanial Theodore Rafael Darkholm (again not the best at naming)
* Melisandre the Elisande aka Althea Reardon Grant (human name)
* Morgana la Fae (yes I know..see horrid at naming things)
I've considered translating stuff into Welsh and Gaelic. I'm sticking with British Isle mythos, because that's my background. I know it. It's best to stick closely to what you know and play off of that, then veer into areas you don't, less likely to screw up.
How do I know it? Ah, my minor thesis was on Welsh Mythology - specifically the modern oral narratives as compared to the Mabinogi or ancient Welsh mythology. I studied Irish, Welsh and Scottish Folktales, Mythology, and stories. It was a long time ago (1988-89) but it sticks with me.
I really need to come up with names for the lands and worlds. I also am hunting an anime or something that features fae. Anyone know of one? Maybe I should have asked this as a separate post?
***
Outside they are apparently doing some sort of concert at the Flatbush Jewish Center - because it sounds like an orchestra - an amateur orchestra playing their instruments. They are okay, but not really that good. I feel like I'm listening to folks practicing or warming up their flutes, violins, and strings. You know how an orchestra sounds when you first arrive to a venue? It's clearly coming from outside my living room windows - so it's behind me.
One of the lovely things about living in a city is all the odd noises. Although an orchestra warming up is admittedly better than sirens or a car backfiring or fireworks.
**
COVID
I know a ridiculous amount about this disease and how to prevent it because of where I work. For as much as I complain about my workplace, it does have its advantages.
Today it hosted a town hall meeting on Zoom - where we basically listened
to various specialists from Mt. Sinai hospital or associated with it - explain why the vaccine was safe and effective.
Per the various virulogists and epidemologists and specialists from Mt. Sinai hospital in NYC - I learned:
1. You can get the Flu Shot and the Booster Shot at the same time, you just might want them in separate arms. Please get the Flu Shot - they don't know how bad the season will be. I can't help but think that it saved me in 2019 - 2021. I got it in 2019 and 2020 for the first time. And I got some nasty bug in 2019, that most likely was far milder than it would have been if I'd not gotten the flu shot just six weeks prior.
2. The vaccine is perfectly safe for pregnant women, and does not affect fertility at all. If anything it helps with reproductive health, they've discovered higher sperm counts post vaccine, and higher fertility rates. (Interesting it may act as a fertility drug.)
3. The vaccine is safe for children.
4. The vaccine or RN messenger is not new type of vaccine. It's the same style of vaccine that was being used for HIV, SARS, H1N1, etc. They've been treating other viruses with this style for years with no issues.
5. It's a good idea to still wear masks because we still don't know who is and isn't vaccinated and who has the virus. While it's not as severe with the vaccine, you still can get sick, just less likely. One unvaccinated person with the virus can transmit it to about ten unvaccinated folks. One vaccinated person would transmit it to far less, and vaccinated people are less likely to get it at all. If you wear a mask indoors and socially distance, that goes down further.
In my work place - we have social distancing, mask protocols, testing protocols, and vaccine mandates in place. They have also made vaccines available to everyone and in most buildings with walk in appointments. Soon the booster will be available too. The reason? My workplace has lost over 169 workers to the virus, and counting. They are taking it seriously. We get information on the virus every week. We have meetings on it every month. People with immune conditions have gotten the vaccine at my work place. So again, if you've not gotten it? Do. Please.
***
Okay enuf for tonight