Checking In

A catch-all, catch-up post

There are 1,126 posts filed in Checking In (this is page 19 of 113).

Possibilities

While I’ve been feeling low for the last few weeks today I felt euphoric, excited about the possibilities before me. No, I don’t yet have a new job nor has really anything changed about my situation except for my outlook. I was turned on by one of those crazy hunches I get every now and then when I just know that something fantastic is coming my way. I don’t know what it is yet but I giddily await finding out.

It’s been a good few days with the kids, too. It’s Kelly’s week to travel and so I’ve flown solo with them the past two days. While we miss her and can’t wait for her to return to us, we’ve had a fun time together. I enjoy my time as the center of the kids’ attention, because though I like to think of myself as head of the household we all know who really rules the roost!

So, world, let’s do this. Let’s do something great together. I’m so ready for it.

The dark of winter

It’s not been a fun few weeks for me after losing my job before the holidays. I’ve been feeling pretty low, actually, with only my knowing that there will be better days ahead to hang on to. It sucks feeling like I’m not contributing when all I want to do is contribute.

Home life hasn’t been a happy place, which is kind of ironic since when things began going south at work I started to realize how the stress I was feeling could become hazardous to my marriage. Now I’ve the stress of needing to look for work. Things will get better, though. The darkest day of winter begins the return to light.

At least Mother Nature has conspired to give me company in being at home, since the entire City of Raleigh took the week off for last Tuesday’s snow. While sledding with the kids at my neighborhood park on Wednesday, I remarked to my neighbor how awesome the sledding conditions were.

“No kidding,” he answered. “It sure beats a day at the office.”

Well, maybe if you’ve got an office to be away from it does. Sledding is fun but not working is anything but fun.

It’s up to me to make something happen and that’s what I’ll do. And while I know the sun will rise again, I won’t soon forget these dark days of winter.

Forty-five trips around the sun

Family hike pic at Falls Lake. Note the wrist brace.

Family hike pic at Falls Lake. Note the wrist brace.


Yesterday was my 45th birthday. My how time flies. It was a good birthday, though, overall. The only downside is that I seem to have somehow injured my left hand on Sunday. I wasn’t doing anything excessive – just watching The Hunt for Red October on the couch with Travis, but an hour later my hand was extremely sore, especially at the wrist. This mystery injury provided me teeth-gritting pain over the last two days, only now letting up. Since yesterday, my hand has ballooned from the swelling. I hope it will settle down on its own because my former employer has been slow getting the COBRA coverage started on my health insurance and as of now I don’t think I can see the doctor without a lot of reimbursement paperwork trouble.
Continue reading →

Hopping real estate market

Home For Sale

Home For Sale


With the construction underway of the nearby Oakwood North subdivision I’ve definitely noticed an upswing of “construction tourists” who come by to watch the work. What’s more, though, is that I’ve also seen real estate agents in fancy cars slowly circling through the neighborhood. Now, an agent driving potential homebuyers around is nothing new. These agents, though, are usually alone. That leads me to believe they’re checking out which homes might soon be up for sale. In other words, the new subdivision isn’t even built yet and already the home values in the area are climbing.

My neighbor Randy, whose house is adjacent to the subdivision, received a letter from a real estate agent out of the blue last week, saying if he were to sell to let the agent know. We received a similar mailing last week, too. Suddenly our neighborhood has become very popular.

Cyst-free

Pre-op selfie

Pre-op selfie


My oral surgery went off without a hitch this morning. It was easier than I anticipated. I’ve had a few other oral surgeries, mostly as a teen and mostly to move teeth around, but I can say that this was the easiest. Within ten minutes of me arriving this morning, Dr. Upton was operating.

I was wrong about the anesthesia being the kind that knocked me out. Instead I was somewhat conscious but feeling no pain. I remember catching a glimpse of the cyst as it came out of my mouth and remember the dentist tying the sutures. It was like my perception was slowed a few seconds back from real-time and though I was being led out to my car I felt able to stand. The effect was not unlike what it feels like to get a mild concussion, able to perceive the moment but retaining very little.
Continue reading →

Happy New Year 2014

I’m really looking forward to 2014. I see it as the year that I kick things up a notch in many ways, the first of which is to better myself as a person. I hope you achieve the goals you set for yourselves as well.

De-cyst

Operating Cyst-em

Operating Cyst-em

Above is an X-ray of my upper jaw, taken in July 2013. Back in 2000, dentist Dr. Brown expertly performed a root canal on my Tooth 14. Not long afterward, though, a cyst of some sort (the dark circular area above the root in the X-ray) began developing above the affected tooth and took up residence inside my jaw. My dentist, Dr. Bill Sowter, is amazed that I don’t jump out of his chair whenever he taps the area, yet it doesn’t hurt at all.

Friday morning I go under the capable knife of Dr. Gerald Upton when he cuts into my gum and removes the cyst. Because he will have to really stretch my mouth in order to work in the area, he will be giving me general anesthesia for the surgery. I’m not thrilled with the pain and recovery time I’ll be facing but this thing has been lurking in my jaw for almost ten years and I’d rather have a say in when it decides to start hurting.

Dr. Upton will also be performing an apioectomy which will keep the root of the tooth from harboring bacteria.

I’ll be recovering for a week or two afterwards, with my ability to eat affected for a few days. Probably won’t be a lot of fun, but my family will take good care of me, I’m sure. Kelly jokes that I’ll be removing my alien implant and E.T. will no longer be able to find me but I’m guessing this won’t be a problem.

Wish me luck!

A chance to blog professionally

Knowing the writing was on the wall, I decided to jump at an interesting opportunity. In September a friend contacted me out the blue, letting me know that Slate.com had an opening for a tech blogger focusing on new trends. He knew an editor at Slate and would put in a good word for me.

The job description sounded appealing:

Tech Blogger at Slate Magazine in Washington, DC

Slate is hiring a technology blogger to contribute to “Future Tense,” our blog about emerging technologies and their impact on society and public policy.
Continue reading →

Recently departed

I found myself out of a job this past Tuesday morning. While there’s a lot of pondering still being done, suffice to say what was once a perfect fit became less of one over time, though I enjoyed the work and I always treated everyone in an honest, friendly, and professional manner.

I’m since been contemplating my next move, perhaps going back into part-time consulting. I will definitely put a premium on an arrangement which values civic engagement.

Highlanders perform at recital

The Highlanders

The Highlanders

We attended Travis’s piano recital on Saturday. Unlike other performances where we were simply part of the audience, the whole family got to perform as “The Highlanders.” Along with the Cadwells and Schuyler Pettibone, the Turner family played “Bonnie at Morn” and “Goat On The Hill” midway through the recital.

It was quite fun to play again for an audience. Once the recital was over (and no one was really paying attention), the Cadwells and Turners returned to the stage to play a few other songs.

I’ve always loved the art of music but there’s something really great about playing together with others. When everyone’s in tune and in sync it is a magical thing. Our little show was the highlight of my week.