Top 10 Word Of Jeff Posts For 2008

I thought it might be fun to review my blog statistics and see what the top posts were for 2008, in terms of page hits. In case you may have missed them or are a new reader, here are the Top 10 Word Of Jeff Posts For 2008:

10. By Grabthar's Hammer

9. Top 10 Science Fiction Authors

8. Top 10 Movie Theme Songs

7. Sunny 105.9

6. Saying Goodbye To Missouri

5. The Facebook/YouTube Virus

4. The 100 Worst Christmas Songs

3. Angel At The Fence - A Hoax

2. What Does "Des Moines" Mean?

And the Number One Word Of Jeff Post For 2008...

1. Cindy Hard At Work

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I Hate Being Sick

Cindy dropped me off at OIA Wednesday morning. Man, I love using the CLEAR program. It is such a breeze going through security.

My flight left Orlando on time and even arrived in DFW about 15 minutes early, but that wasn't a good thing. Since we were early the gate was still occupied by a plane that had not yet departed. On top of that, the departing flight was delayed so we sat on the tarmac for 30 minutes waiting for it to get out of the way. Originally I had a 90 minute window between flights, and that is usually needed the way connecting flights are spread out around the city-sized DFW airport; now I had a little over an hour.

I rushed to my connecting flight gate and arrived just as they were supposed to start boarding...except they weren't. I spotted a friend and co-worker, Pat, sitting at an adjacent gate, but it turned out she was actually on the same flight I was and we were both heading into...The Twilight Zone.

Our flight was supposed to leave at 1:35. At 1:55 they informed us there was a maintenance issue with the plane that they were correcting and at 2:20 they began to board us. I didn't think I was going to like this part of the trip because it was on one of their regional jets and I had not been able to reserve an exit seat to accommodate my long legs. However, I discovered that there was no one sitting in the seat next to mine on the very last row, so I was anticipating a more comfortable flight. It was also my first time flying in the last row on a regional jet.

The pilot came on the PA system and apologized for the delay, explaining that a bird had failed to get out of the way as the plane was approaching Dallas and they had sustained some damage that they wanted the maintenance people to check out. That was fine with me; I'd always prefer any maintenance issues be resolved on good old Terra Firma.

The cabin door was closed and we waited to back away from the gate. And waited. And waited some more. Then we waited a bit more.

Finally the pilot came on the PA system again and announced that the baggage handlers could not get the cargo door to close and maintenance was on the way back to the plane. A few minutes later the cabin door was opened and the pilot left the cockpit and exited the plane. Then, a few minutes later, the co-pilot did the same. We could hear bumping and banging sounds from beneath us, and probably a few choice curse words as well.

After a while the pilot returned to the cockpit and announced that our plane was not going to be flying; maintenance was unable to seal the cargo door and we were going to have to de-plane ("De plane! De plane!") and wait for a replacement aircraft. So we all trudged off the broken bird and made our way back to the gate.

And waited. And waited some more. Then we waited a bit more.

Eventually, we were told there was no replacement aircraft available and that maintenance had left to "get another part", presumably at the Dallas area Pep Boys store. Then, 4 hours after we were originally scheduled to depart, we were put back on the plane. I had visions of being at 39,000 feet and hearing a "bang!" followed by a shudder in the plane and then looking out the window to see my suitcases falling from the belly of the plane, but fortunately that never happened.

What did happen was that as I sat back down in my last row seat I felt a small tickle in my throat. A small tickle in my throat always, ALWAYS means I'm about to get a cold. As soon as the beverage cart came out, I asked for an orange juice in an attempt to halt the inevitable.

I also want to mention that flying in the last row of a regional jet is like riding in the last car on a rollercoaster. I don't know how that is possible inside a straight tube of aluminum, but I honestly felt like I was being whipped around during various flight maneuvers and reached for the barf bag a couple of times. Thankfully, I never had to use it.

By the time I arrived in Des Moines, got my rental car (a Mustang fastback, BABY!!) and made it to my hotel, I was feeling so sick from the cold that I bought some cold medicine, took it and immediately fell asleep in my bed.

I was up at 5am Thursday morning and worked 12 hours, came back to the hotel, ate some dinner and immediately fell asleep in my bed. Rinse and Repeat on Friday and today. I have been so wiped out that tonight is the first time I have even taken my laptop out of its case on this trip. It's been nothing but work, eat, be sick and sleep.

I'm off tomorrow (Sunday) but am leaving Des Moines to move to Waterloo to work from that part of the state. More on that tomorrow (I hope).

And I still hate being sick.

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Back To Corn Country

Got the call this morning to go back to Iowa, so I'm flying out Wednesday morning with a connecting flight in Dallas-Ft. Worth and arriving around 3:30pm Des Moines' time tomorrow afternoon.

This deployment I'm working in my current department instead of being loaned out to my former, so I'm especially looking forward to that. And to also seeing folks I worked with when I was there in June and the first part of July.

I also realized I'll be there during the Iowa State Fair, which has a long and rich history. I usually avoid these kinds of things like the plague, but it's hard to pass up a chance (hopefully) to attend such a famous annual event and take lots of photos.

Plus, I've seen both the 1945 and 1962 film versions (and liked them both about the same), so it will be interesting to see how the modern-day event compares to the musical versions.

You can follow my trip updates tomorrow on Twitter.

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I Don't Feel Older...Yet

Sorry for the absence yesterday. Tuesday I came into the Des Moines office for a few minutes to pick up some documents then drove 2 1/2 hours over to Cedar Rapids for a day of meetings. I finally arrived back at the hotel here in Des Moines at 10:30 that night and went straight to bed without even firing up my laptop. It was a fun trip, as you can see from my Twitter posts.

Yesterday was a nice day, even if I spent all of it at work. Thanks to all who sent congratulatory e-mails, text messages and phone calls. Your remembrance is much appreciated.

Despite being tired, I still went to see "Hancock" right after work as a sort of present to myself. While I did not think it was Smith's best work and it was a bit "rough" in some of its storytelling and plot executions, it's difficult for me not to enjoy watching Will Smith in just about any of his cinematic spectacles (with the obvious exception of "Wild Wild West"). Overall I found the movie to be very enjoyable.

No holiday for us tomorrow. It will be a "regular" 12-hour day. In fact, I won't have another day off while I'm here in Des Moines.

That's because my original 30-day on loan assignment comes to an end next Wednesday and though I have been asked by the folks here to remain (until Christmas!), at the request of my regional manager I'll be returning home that day to make myself available for work in my own division.

The bright side (besides the obvious one of being home, seeing my wife and family, etc.) is that I'll have time for writing, something which has been in short supply while stumbling through 14-16 hour days here in Des Moines. Time, that is, after I catch up on all the items on the "Honey Do" list Cindy has been compiling while I've been gone.

Hmmm...I wonder if I can figure out a way to stay out here?

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The Year Is Half Over

"In youth the days are short and the years are long; in old age the years are short and the days long." Nikita Ivanovich Panin


It seems like just a few days ago that I was in Baton Rouge on New Year's Day. Now the year is already half over. I don't feel like I'm in old age yet, but damn, the years are getting shorter and shorter.

Due to scheduling requirements I had to take another day off so I asked for yesterday in order to attend the Des Moines Art Festival. My plan was to walk around the festival, which was held in downtown Des Moines, and then walk around the downtown area itself, all the while indulging my inner photographer.

Here was a hard lesson learned by experience. I don't think I'll ever make this mistake again. I had taken about 150 photos when I looked down and with disbelief realized I had been shooting in manual mode. I adjusted my settings and continued on my Photowalk, but I knew what awaited me later when I downloaded the pictures would not be good.

I was right. Those manual shots were all blown out with brightness or buried in darkness. If I decide to take the time, I might be able to salvage some in Photoshop...but I'm not sure yet I want to devote the amount of time I may need to get anything presentable.

But, while we're on the subject of photos, I did take the time tonight to finally upload photos from Mikey's Birthday in Downtown Disney this past June 7th to Flickr. Click the Flickr badge on the right or here to get to them.

More scheduling news tomorrow.

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What Does "Des Moines" Mean?

Most of the names of cities in Iowa, including the state name itself, have their roots in Native American language. But is that the case with its capital city?

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Enjoying A Day Off

We're now required to take off one day each week, so I was off Wednesday. To insure that my day off would not be filled with "must do" things, I went after work Tuesday night to get a haircut and buy some groceries. I also bought a bathing suit in case I ever get enough time to use the indoor swimming pool at the hotel for some exercise.

I slept in until 9am. That was SO nice, lol. Of course I woke up out of habit at 5am, but it was nice to pull the covers over my head and fall back asleep. After showering I went out for a late breakfast to a local Perkins Restaurant because I had a real craving for my favorite dish. I always order the same thing from them for breakfast (Country Club Omelet, bacon burned, hash browns and pancakes) but it tasted different from what I get when I'm in Florida. Maybe it's the water, maybe it's that the chickens are closer to me here in Iowa and their eggs are fresher or maybe the cook used some different recipe, but whatever it was I was disappointed.

Then I stopped in at both Barnes & Noble and Borders to pick up some magazines and a couple of books I need to read and then returned to the hotel.

About an hour later I left to go to an early showing of The Incredible Hulk which I enjoyed more than I expected (I have a review up over at Athena), though again the CGI was not up to par.

A late lunch/early dinner at a place called Legends American Grill rounded out my time out and about the area. I returned to the hotel, did my laundry and ironing, then relaxed and wrote the above-noted review before hitting the sack because 5am comes early.

Welcome to my exciting life, lol.

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Here's A Funny Thing...

You might think coming to the Midwest, especially our country's farmland, that everything would get an early start. You know, farmers up at dawn to milk the cows, feed the chickens, slop the hogs and that sort of thing. But instead you find out that some things, like the local news (at least on the network I usually watch), don't go on the air until 6am on weekdays and don't even air on weekends (though admittedly I'm so punch drunk all the days are running together anyway).

But...as expected, they DO air the hog futures first thing in the morning.

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How Long?

When I first arrived here in Des Moines the timeline was described as "Be prepared to take part in a Halloween costume contest" which meant they thought we'd be here through October. Then it became "Pick a Christmas tree to decorate" and lately it's been "We're planning an Easter egg hunt."

In other words, your guess is as good as mine.

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Meeting People From Previous Incidents

Having worked at various locations and incidents around the country over the past few years, it is inevitable that I run into people I've worked with before. Sometimes those little reunions are joyful and sometimes you want to run the other direction when you see them coming (which was how I felt earlier yesterday upon recognizing a fellow who could not cut the mustard in Louisiana last year yet somehow still works for us).

Regardless, I am horrible with remembering names (just ask my friend Denise, who I'm always asking, "What was their name?"), but I usually remember a face, even if I can't place where I have seen it.

What always surprises me though are the number of people who remember me or know my name that I have no recollection of meeting or interacting with previously. My wife says it's because I naturally make an impression upon people, even though I prefer to be quietly in the background (I suppose that's why her descriptive of "naturally" may apply).

Yesterday afternoon I saw a young woman and an older woman standing off several feet from me and as I glanced at the younger woman she smiled (with that kind of "Do you remember me?" look) but my eyes slid on past her and back to the person to whom I was giving some direction. Still, I heard her quietly say to her companion, "Oh, he doesn't remember me, come on." and they walked a little farther away and had a happy reunion with someone here that I DO know from Florida, so I'm assuming I knew her there and just don't recall her.


I felt bad, because most people don't want to feel that they are not memorable, especially to someone THEY remember, but I'm an old man and just can't recognize or even recall everyone I work with, much as I might want to or try to. Either that or my brain is too small to hold all the memories and some fall out along the way.

I hope they understand and forgive me my shortcomings.

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Hello, It's Me

Things are still hectic here in Iowa, but I have a few free moments (i.e. not working or sleeping) to write up some thoughts. I'll try to spread these out over a few days.

I won't touch on the flooding. If you watch the national news you've seen the destruction, but like most things, the reality is much harsher than TV, newspaper or the Internet can convey. Smelling the dampness; the mold; the sewage, fertilizer and fuel mixed in the water; hearing the rushing onslaught of water or the creaking of soaked wood and drywall in flooded, water-soaked homes and working with folks whose lives have been irrevocably changed by a force of nature is much different than the sterile viewing that media permits.


Suffice it to say that this has been, and will continue to be, a huge incident and recovery will not be a short-term undertaking. In addition, taking part in America's "breadbasket", this is affecting not only residents here, but will also affect all of us down the road with higher food prices, at the very least.

Obviously, I've had no time for writing, but I knew that would be the case at times when I accepted this position, so I deal with it. I do try to jot down thoughts, and occasionally something that might see the light of day (eventually), but for the most part it is work, sleep and eat when able. We all try to stay as healthy as possible and take care of ourselves as much as we can, but a lot of times those issues take a back seat to the more immediate needs of others. You don't usually hear about that, but it's typical.

Which is where I should mention that I am grateful for family and friends who e-mail me inquiring as to how I am doing health-wise and encouraging me to take care of myself. Your concern is appreciated. Before I left Orlando, my doctor asked me to e-mail her with certain information and readings and I've been remiss in doing that while here, so I hope I can get that done tonight or tomorrow.

I've also had no time for taking photos, other than a couple I snapped the other morning while eating breakfast in my car, and those were just some possible shots for stock photo submission.

Needless to say, my creative side is being severely suppressed, lol.

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Happy Father's Day

While my late father is always in and on my mind, Father's Day sharpens my thoughts of him.

My father was a huge fan of Hank Williams and his music. I, on the other hand, being a child of the rock and roll era, hated listening to what I came to call (although never in his presence) $h!t-kicking music.

So it was a little bittersweet today when I decided to treat myself to a steak for lunch at a place outside Des Moines called Texas Roadhouse. While the food is great, their choice of music is sad. Yep, you guessed it, they play country-western songs. While I tried to block out the awful stuff, my attention was suddenly grabbed when I heard the (unfortunately, lol) familiar strains of "Hey Good Lookin'" over the sound system.

Dad would have enjoyed it.

Today, I'm fortunate enough to have a fantastic father-in-law who is dear to my heart, and a wonderful son-in-law who is a great father to my grandchildren. I hope they both know that I love them and wish them a very Happy Father's Day.

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Saturday In Iowa

Today I spent most of the day traveling to northern Iowa and back to attend a press conference with both U.S. Senators from Iowa in a small town that had been flooded last week. Driving up there I saw flooded farm fields and watched the water lap at the edges of the Interstate in some areas. It was disheartening to see fields of corn and soybeans covered in water or fields with ugly gashes that had been gouged out by flood waters cutting across them. Reports are that those crops will not grow to harvest.

Not far from where the press conference was held a tornado was spotted while we were there, but the last I heard it never touched down. I'm glad because a Storm Hunter I'm not, lol.

Driving back to Des Moines I went through a town that was devastated by a tornado on May 25, 2008, killing 8 people. The level of destruction was unbelievable, yet so was the determination of the townspeople who have made so much progress in recovering and even beginning to rebuild what was lost.

Tonight is my last night in the (Not) Quality Inn. Tomorrow I move to a different locale and not a moment too soon as when I returned to the hotel tonight I saw that the ever-encroaching water had moved to the edge of the parking lot. We're expecting more thunderstorms tonight and tomorrow, so I hope when I leave in the morning that I can drive out and not have to paddle out.

One last word. If you're able, take the advice of my friend ZenGrrl and make a donation to the American Red Cross. It will help someone and make you feel good. Today, I watched a woman whose home was destroyed by flood waters cry when she found out she could get some immediate help because people like you make donations to the Red Cross. It made me think about ZenGrrl's post and how much those donations help those in need.

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It's Wet And I'm Tired

Parts of Iowa are submerged beneath inches and, in some places, feet of water. So are other sections of the Midwest U.S., but Iowa is where I'm at and what I'm experiencing. Last night we learned of the tragic deaths of four people at a Boy Scout camp in western Iowa after a tornado descended on their gathering. Reports are that if not for the quick action of those present, the loss of life might well have been even greater. My hat is off to those heroic young men and my thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones.

If you watch the news, you already know what's going on here. I can't tell you much except it's worse than what's shown on TV. My days are hectic, non-stop and exhausting, lasting at least 16-17 hours between waking up and going back to sleep, then waking up and starting all over again. In fact, I'm going to post this and then hit the sack. We're expecting to stay on this kind of schedule for at least another two weeks, barring any other situations.

If my posting is sporadic, you'll understand why.

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"Blub, Blub Blub"

A makeshift concrete and sandbag flood wall is constructed across the Walnut Street bridge in Des Moines ahead of expected flood waters earlier this afternoon. Several bridges leading into the city were closed late today as the rising Des Moines River was expected to flood over and cover the bridges, making them impassable.

More severe thunderstorms are expected to begin dumping more water on the area beginning tomorrow through Thursday on a part of the state that typically receives 1.75 inches of rain in June and thus far has been inundated by 8.25 inches.

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Hello Hawkeye State

After a day of flying and airports I arrived in Des Moines at 3:20 local time and by the time I got my checked luggage and rental car it was a few minutes after 4:00pm. I opted to go to the local office first instead of the hotel and I'm glad I did. They're on a 7am to 7pm shift, so I was able to get a lot of check-in paperwork done this afternoon and I can hit the ground running tomorrow morning.

I've got more to say, but I'm tired and the day starts early tomorrow and lasts 13-14 hours, so I'm hitting the sack.

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