3rd Friday November 20 2009

3rd Friday came around this month. I was looking forward to getting home by 6-6:30 since I was driving to work instead of taking the 408 bus. I was driving to pick up used windows. . Went to Carl's book signing of his new book called Bar Exam at Bogarts Books. It was a festive event. Saw folks I used to see all the time who I have not seen in quite some time. I visited Isabelle and was told of a fun event at the Rainbow Lounge. It was here I was told of the latest Millville political goings on by another friend of mine. Of course the local papers did not cover them in deference to their boy Lou Magazzu who now with a win in this past election will I suppose, cash in and consolidate his hold on Cumberland County politics with deals and rewards for those who do his bidding. I am just fustrated that this kind of politics is coming closer to being the rule of the land in Millville, Vinland and Bridgeton. This will be investigated further in the future

Meanwhile, in more mundane news, Millville will be raising its real estate tax up by 9 cents per $100 assessed. The cost of health benefits will make up over 5 cents of the 9 cents. The Levoy Theatre renovation has begun! Great news it is for sure. I do hear that the political macinations are far from over. Well, its 6:19pm and I am having an early dinner.

Windows to the Future

Friday, I drove to work since I was in search of old discarded windows that were advertised on Freecycle on the web. I went to Overbrook at the 6400 block of Sherwood Road and could not find the windows. Carolyne told me over the phone that there were windows at 41st and Baltimore Ave. There were at least 40 of the them of all different sizes. I took as many as possible brought it home. I enjoyed Third Friday and will write about that later

Carolyne thought of the idea of using them instead of plastic. The plastic was a pain to install and we could not see though it. It tended to be blown and tear in the winter wind. I then took each of the windows and fit them over the screens. Then, next I drilled screws to hold them up. Today I then painted the windows a pink Next week, will get plexiglass for the screen dow and some clear plastic to fill in gaps. Meanwhile its another week of the welfare.

Swing on Down to IDEAL

Remember that commerical for this store called Ideal. It sang "If you got a passion for fashion and you got a craving for savings...
Well, a friend reminded that the same commerical would say. "Its not a Quonset Hut. I laughed so hard but asked what the HELL is a Quonset Hut.
Read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quonset_hut
Here is a photo of one. I guess we were still in a post WW2 mode.

Welfare Wakka of the Week

Hi
Well, thanks for visiting my blog. I have STILL not found my camera. Guess I have to save up and get another one. Welfare has been outta control with absences, SEPTA Strike and stupid directives from Management. We are expected to scan our own stuff. We have 1 flatbed scanner and 2 Xerox copiers for the entire staff that is not at the front desk or management. Next we have to issue transpasses for the 1st week the clients go to a program. This means they have to sign AMR come back to the office again, then they attend the program.
I have done alot of work that is not mine so I have not done any sanctions. Here is West District in action. It was the talk of the lunch room at the Elmwood District where I work. I am sure we will have to go to customer service training if the bosses watch this

Twin Peaks

I watched some of the pilot of Twin Peaks last night on DVD. It was very cool seeing it 18 years later. It took me back to my post-college days of yore when all was possible and probable. We used to get together and watch this show The theme tune at the beginning of this show is fantastic with the blades of the logging mill spitting out sparks.
Pilot (originally entitled Northwest Passage).

Written by Mark Frost and David Lynch.
Directed by David Lynch.
Original Airdate: April 8, 1990.

Pete Martell finds Laura Palmer's body. Ronnett Pulaski is found beaten and in a daze.FBI Agent Dale Cooper arrives in Twin Peaks to investigate and finds an unusual clue on Laura's body; Audrey Horne disrupts her father's negotiations with some Norwegian businessmen; Cooper and Sheriff Truman discover the grisly murder site in the woods, and warn the town that the killer may be from their community; tempers flare at the Roadhouse.

NJ Transit to Methadone

I worked some overtime today. Its so rare to get overtime with the state of Pa. Anyway on the way to work on the NJ transit bus, I was talking with 2 folks. They were on the way to a methadone clinic in Camden. One was on heroin and the other was hooked on percocet. They explained that they have to go to the clinic EVERYDAY to get their methadone. It got me to thinking that recovery is a full-blown lifestyle. I notice that they can talk about this for hours. (bus is a 2 hr ride). It really impresses me that heroin addition is nothing to take lightly. It becomes your life even while you have been off for years. It has been an education talking and listening to folks dealing with their lives.
Here is a description of methadone that I found :

Methadone is a rigorously well-tested medication that is safe and efficacious for the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence. For more than 30 years this synthetic narcotic has been used to treat opioid addiction. Heroin releases an excess of dopamine in the body and causes users to need an opiate continuously occupying the opioid receptor in the brain. Methadone occupies this receptor and is the stabilizing factor that permits addicts on methadone to change their behavior and to discontinue heroin use. Taken orally once a day, methadone suppresses narcotic withdrawal for between 24 and 36 hours. Because methadone is effective in eliminating withdrawal symptoms, it is used in detoxifying opiate addicts. It is, however, only effective in cases of addiction to heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs, and it is not an effective treatment for other drugs of abuse.
Methadone reduces the cravings associated with heroin use and blocks the high from heroin, but it does not provide the euphoric rush. Consequently, methadone patients do not experience the extreme highs and lows that result from the waxing and waning of heroin in blood levels. Ultimately, the patient remains physically dependent on the opioid, but is freed from the uncontrolled, compulsive, and disruptive behavior seen in heroin addicts.Withdrawal from methadone is much slower than that from heroin. As a result, it is possible to maintain an addict on methadone without harsh side effects. Many MMT patients require continuous treatment, sometimes over a period of years.
Methadone maintenance treatment provides the heroin addict with individualized health care and medically prescribed methadone to relieve withdrawal symptoms, reduces the opiate craving, and brings about a biochemical balance in the body. Important elements in heroin treatment include comprehensive social and rehabilitation services

See y'all later from my world

Working it

We have been overloaded at work this whole week. I have been doing other folks who have been on jury duty, takin care of babies or going to funerals...etc
Its been cool and raining and of course the local weather is the BIG STORY as reporters stand out in the blowing rain near the ocean.
I ended up talking with a woman who was going on a follow-up interview at a Philly marketing firm. All the bosses are from Houston Tx and she thinks that folks in her native West Virginia and Texas are nicer then NJ. She worked for a day care center where she ended up training a former stripper who then took her job when she was fired. Man that is one job I would NEVER want to end up doing. It REALLY makes me appreciate my good...good state job. Hope she gets the job.
Well, I was checking on email and found this clip from the Jon Stewart show. I just had to put in my blog. Note in the midpoint while he watches Hannity, great background music that is eerily the same to a posting I made several days ago.
I have a sore thought and must sleep now. Enjoy this..