Life in the BIOAPI lane

Clearly, I'm posting less. Main reason - new job. Details to follow, but, it is pretty bad in almost every way imaginable: Longest commute I've ever had, unimpressive pay, rigorous time demands ... start with 18 hours of conference calls a week and build from there..., horrific working conditions packed 4 to a 10X12 cube, no windows, low ceilings, flooding bathroom ... it goes on, but I need material for the "why I quit" post.

A week or two into it, I began to realize that the long days were not a short term thing, and was wondering how soon to contemplate exit strategy. On a Friday night, about 7pm, I disembarked from my train, boarded my 12 year old Taurus, and began the last leg of my hour and 45 commute. On cue, a pedestrian walks in front of the car in front of me, which stops short, I brake, foot goes to floor, the Taurus proceeds unabated...

In the next quarter of a second, the experience of a lifetime of hand-me-down, used, pre-owned and well-worn toys, clothes, bikes, cars, houses and women ran through my mind, somewhere in all that I found the right reaction quick enough - pump the brake madly and steer away from the car in front of you.

I avoided a collision, but now had a dilemma - do I call AAA and pretty much piss away Friday night, already I'm exhausted from leaving most mornings at 6, and not being home before 8, till, maybe, tonight, or do I try to coax the car to the repair shop, a few miles away, through traffic lights and never ending congestion, and call my wife to pick me up there?

I drive.

By going juuuuust slow enough, downshifting the automatic, and pumping the brakes like mad when needed, I avoid disaster, and make it to the shop. There, I noticed the quickly growing pool of fluid just under the drivers side back door, which I would later be told was a rusted brake line, part of a whole system that was in sorry shape.

Wife comes to get me , brings me home for dinner, then we put the kids to bed. Afterwards, I mention how my years of driving old cars sure did come in handy as I knew how to avoid disaster, and even saved the time associated with a tow. I should have known I was inviting trouble - better off to be the pissed off stoic like dad. The return volley was unexpected - oh sure, maybe "You idiot - you could have killed yourself or others, and left your children without a father!" would have been appropriate, maybe even right, but I just didn't see......

"Well you know, you don't need to live this way anymore - I for one am sick and tired of looking at this crappy old kitchen table, it's not pretty, I'm embarassed by it, and I'm still angry you wouldn't buy me the one wanted ETC ETC ETC " for ten minutes...

While she was talking - no need to really listen to the specifics, I already know the tune - I thought about the original inspiration for this blog, the Bang It Out and Paint It lifestyle, and was reminded that it is not for everyone. I also wondered if she was right...not about the table, that's just fine, I tell you, but whether I should buy myself a better car - not just yet, though.

So, the next week, I drive our other old car to the train, for another hell week. Thursday night, 7:30, getting off the train, guess whose alarm is going off, light are flashing, and battery is dead?
I called my brother for help - he totally gets it, helped me out, and gave me no shit whatsoever. Thanks, Dom.

For my Irish friends....

My daughter just caught me playing this game.

Quote: "Daddy, what does "piss" mean?" God, I love her....

News from Europe...Thanks, Sam

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats that have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved". Soon though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross". Londoners have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance". The last time "A Bloody Nuisance" warning level occurred was during the great fire of 1666.

Also, the French government announced yesterday that it has raised it's terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Surrender" and "Collaborate". The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

It's not only the English and French who are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased its alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing". Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides". The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs". Two higher levels remain: "Invade a Neighbor" and "Lose". Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish Navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish Navy.