The United States Postal Service (USPS) https://www.usps.com/ continues to have financial problems and had even considered deleting Saturday delivery, while seeking a rate hike in 2014. The thinking was to contract services to save money. But there is a saying about business: "to make money you have to spend money." And someone at USPS has heeded that old adage.
Just this week, Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/ has announced that it has teamed with the USPS to provide home delivery of their products on Sunday http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/11/11/amazon-sunday-delivery-usps/3479055/. Although Amazon may use other delivery services, only the USPS has the address of every residence in the country. The plan will roll out first in New York City and Los Angeles. The article indicates that coverage will spread to include much of the population of the United States, and mentions some major cities. I did not know that was much of the population of the United States.
I think this is interesting and will watch to learn how this works out. It raises a lot of questions in my mind. Will the USPS have to hire more people? Will delivery be truely overnight? Amazon is adding additional warehouses around the country to decrease delivery time. Will this create more jobs and encourage more spending? How will this impact Amazon? How will this impact the USPS overall.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
The Tallest Building in the United States of America
The newly completed World Trade Center http://www.wtc.com/about/, in New York City, is officially listed as the tallest building in the United States, at 1776 feet, symbolic as a number in the history of the United States. The World Trade Center is built on the site of the the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/12/world-trade-center-tower-willis-tower-largest-us-building/3504515/.
The World Trade Center displaced the the Willis Building http://www.wtc.com/about/ in Chicago, that stands at 1730, as the tallest building in the United States. This building is "the Old Sears Building http://www.aviewoncities.com/chicago/searstower.htm" renamed and renovated.
The World Trade Center displaced the the Willis Building http://www.wtc.com/about/ in Chicago, that stands at 1730, as the tallest building in the United States. This building is "the Old Sears Building http://www.aviewoncities.com/chicago/searstower.htm" renamed and renovated.
Leaping Tall Buildings in a Single Bound
Or the tall buildings in my life.
I had been in the Sears Roebuck Building http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landmark_Center_(Boston) in Boston. Ma. as a child. It is 10 stories high, but I am not sure we went up to the 10th floor. I have to think that if the 10th floor was open to the public, we would have made the trip, just for the novelty, because that sort of thing would have appealed to my father. If we did, we would have ridden the elevator.
Also in Boston, we went to The Bunker Hill Monument on Breed's Hill http://www.nps.gov/bost/historyculture/bhm.htm when I was young Again, I have to think we climbed it, but I cannot say for sure. At 221 feet high, it is slightly higher than the 200 foot Sears Building.
In my youth, the highest building I ever went up was the Prudential Building, http://www.prudentialcenter.com/explore/about_new.php in Boston, which is 52 stories high, or 749 feet. We went to the observation deck, I have to think, when I was in junior high or high school. I remember hearing stories about when "The Pru" was first built, and there were problems with the plate glass, that would fall out during high winds. Myth or fact? Fact, according to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hancock_Tower.
The next tall building I remember is the Metro Tower, in Lubbock, Texas, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Tower_(Lubbock). Now called the NTS Building, it was the Metro Tower when I moved to Lubbock in 1977. This 274 foot building started life as the Great Plains Life Building, but was damaged, and some say twisted, in the 1970 tornado. I could never see the twist. I worked on the13th floor of that building for several years. And, when there was a restaurant on the 20th floor, the top floor, we ate there or had cocktails after work their on occasion.
The next tall building in my life was the IDS building in Minneapolis, Minnesota http://www.ids-center.com/. In 1979, I was in Minneapolis, eating at the restaurant at or near the top of the IDS building, when a tornado warning interfered with our dinner. We were ushered into the basement to wait out the storm. We had to stay in the basement well beyond the time the storm blew through, because the window panes were falling out. We had to wait until that stopped, and it was safe to be outside the building. My companion and I went back to the restaurant to pay our bill. We were told that dinner was "on the house" and offered complimentary dessert and coffee.
I have been in San Antonio multiple times in my life. I do not recall when I first went to The Tower of the Americas http://www.toweroftheamericas.com/. At 750 feet, it is slightly shorter than the 792 foot IDS building. I recall eating at the restaurant on the observation deck. Having dealt with motion sickness severely as a child, and intermittently for the rest of my life, I was concerned that eating while rotating would bother me, but surprisingly, it did not!
In 2009, I made it to the Empire State Building http://www.esbnyc.com/. This was a bit of a pilgrimage for me. One of my favorite movies is The Moon is Blue http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046094/. A large part of this movie is set at the Empire State Building. I enjoyed my visit, although it was a little cold on the observation deck. The building is 1050 feet, and is by far, the tallest building I have been in.
Two years later, in 2011, I took a trip to Seattle, Washington. I travelled to the observation deck of the Spaceneedle http://www.spaceneedle.com/. It is 605 feet tall, and I did not realize it is shorter than the Tower of the Americas. They sell snacks on the observation deck, and I spent a long time just enjoying the view.
Now, in 2013, in Atlanta, Georgia, I have been in the Westin Peachtree Plaza http://www.westinpeachtreeplazaatlanta.com/. A circular building, I have used their hotel facilities. And, I have had lunch at the restaurant on the 72nd floor. As with the Tower of Americas, the restaurant rotated, and takes an hour to make a complete circuit. The building is listed at 723 feet.
To date, these are the tall buildings of my life. Maybe, I will add more as time goes by!
I had been in the Sears Roebuck Building http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landmark_Center_(Boston) in Boston. Ma. as a child. It is 10 stories high, but I am not sure we went up to the 10th floor. I have to think that if the 10th floor was open to the public, we would have made the trip, just for the novelty, because that sort of thing would have appealed to my father. If we did, we would have ridden the elevator.
Also in Boston, we went to The Bunker Hill Monument on Breed's Hill http://www.nps.gov/bost/historyculture/bhm.htm when I was young Again, I have to think we climbed it, but I cannot say for sure. At 221 feet high, it is slightly higher than the 200 foot Sears Building.
In my youth, the highest building I ever went up was the Prudential Building, http://www.prudentialcenter.com/explore/about_new.php in Boston, which is 52 stories high, or 749 feet. We went to the observation deck, I have to think, when I was in junior high or high school. I remember hearing stories about when "The Pru" was first built, and there were problems with the plate glass, that would fall out during high winds. Myth or fact? Fact, according to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hancock_Tower.
The next tall building I remember is the Metro Tower, in Lubbock, Texas, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Tower_(Lubbock). Now called the NTS Building, it was the Metro Tower when I moved to Lubbock in 1977. This 274 foot building started life as the Great Plains Life Building, but was damaged, and some say twisted, in the 1970 tornado. I could never see the twist. I worked on the13th floor of that building for several years. And, when there was a restaurant on the 20th floor, the top floor, we ate there or had cocktails after work their on occasion.
The next tall building in my life was the IDS building in Minneapolis, Minnesota http://www.ids-center.com/. In 1979, I was in Minneapolis, eating at the restaurant at or near the top of the IDS building, when a tornado warning interfered with our dinner. We were ushered into the basement to wait out the storm. We had to stay in the basement well beyond the time the storm blew through, because the window panes were falling out. We had to wait until that stopped, and it was safe to be outside the building. My companion and I went back to the restaurant to pay our bill. We were told that dinner was "on the house" and offered complimentary dessert and coffee.
I have been in San Antonio multiple times in my life. I do not recall when I first went to The Tower of the Americas http://www.toweroftheamericas.com/. At 750 feet, it is slightly shorter than the 792 foot IDS building. I recall eating at the restaurant on the observation deck. Having dealt with motion sickness severely as a child, and intermittently for the rest of my life, I was concerned that eating while rotating would bother me, but surprisingly, it did not!
In 2009, I made it to the Empire State Building http://www.esbnyc.com/. This was a bit of a pilgrimage for me. One of my favorite movies is The Moon is Blue http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046094/. A large part of this movie is set at the Empire State Building. I enjoyed my visit, although it was a little cold on the observation deck. The building is 1050 feet, and is by far, the tallest building I have been in.
Two years later, in 2011, I took a trip to Seattle, Washington. I travelled to the observation deck of the Spaceneedle http://www.spaceneedle.com/. It is 605 feet tall, and I did not realize it is shorter than the Tower of the Americas. They sell snacks on the observation deck, and I spent a long time just enjoying the view.
Now, in 2013, in Atlanta, Georgia, I have been in the Westin Peachtree Plaza http://www.westinpeachtreeplazaatlanta.com/. A circular building, I have used their hotel facilities. And, I have had lunch at the restaurant on the 72nd floor. As with the Tower of Americas, the restaurant rotated, and takes an hour to make a complete circuit. The building is listed at 723 feet.
To date, these are the tall buildings of my life. Maybe, I will add more as time goes by!
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Pace Yourself
For reasons I will not discuss in this blog, I have done a lot of extra housework this week. Housework is hard on me, it aggravates the sciatica problem that I have. I used to just do housework and get it done. Now, I have to stop and rest a lot. The physical therapy information I have received helps a lot, because it gives suggestions about posture and positioning while doing common tasks. And when I follow those suggestions, it really makes a difference. The other thing the information says is to take frequent breaks, more than I used to usually do... So I do take more breaks.
At work, we have changed assignments yet again. This is happening every few weeks it seems, but it is based on changes in personnel from other disciplines. I have been given an assignment that I think is a little light weight. Simply due to logistics of what makes sense, and I understand the sense. So, I will look for the opportunity to do more psychosocial evaluations, to help other social workers who have somewhat heavier assignments than I do.
I cannot be at work and not be busy. I cannot just visit, or twiddle my thumbs, or even, leave early. I have to have a full load. My supervisor understands, but keeps telling me to "pace yourself." I appreciate that. She has told me so many times that she worries that I go to work and just keep going and going and going.
Other people in my life have called me "The Energizer Bunny." There was time in my life when I was that active. With the increase in my joint and back pain, I have been content to let things slide, and sit around and just read, watch TV, play on the computer, listen to music and just veg. I have paid the price with reduced muscle power and weight gain.
Well, now that I am in physical therapy, I can see the benefit of easy, repetitive muscle building. Already, I am once again able to squat and rise when just a couple of years ago, once I squatted I was stuck and needed a brace to rise.
I am hoping my sciatica pain will decrease to the extent that I can enjoy walking like I used.to. Or maybe, walking at a reduced distance and/or a slower pace, but still, walking.
At work, we have changed assignments yet again. This is happening every few weeks it seems, but it is based on changes in personnel from other disciplines. I have been given an assignment that I think is a little light weight. Simply due to logistics of what makes sense, and I understand the sense. So, I will look for the opportunity to do more psychosocial evaluations, to help other social workers who have somewhat heavier assignments than I do.
I cannot be at work and not be busy. I cannot just visit, or twiddle my thumbs, or even, leave early. I have to have a full load. My supervisor understands, but keeps telling me to "pace yourself." I appreciate that. She has told me so many times that she worries that I go to work and just keep going and going and going.
Other people in my life have called me "The Energizer Bunny." There was time in my life when I was that active. With the increase in my joint and back pain, I have been content to let things slide, and sit around and just read, watch TV, play on the computer, listen to music and just veg. I have paid the price with reduced muscle power and weight gain.
Well, now that I am in physical therapy, I can see the benefit of easy, repetitive muscle building. Already, I am once again able to squat and rise when just a couple of years ago, once I squatted I was stuck and needed a brace to rise.
I am hoping my sciatica pain will decrease to the extent that I can enjoy walking like I used.to. Or maybe, walking at a reduced distance and/or a slower pace, but still, walking.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Vulnerabillity and Faith
I am going to physical therapy for sciatica. When my provider suggested physical therapy, she mentioned it might sound weird, but I did not think it did. When she said she was referring me to Spectra http://www.spectraphysicaltherapy.com/index.html, I was pleased. I had heard many good things about the therapists at Spectra, it is convenient to my house, and they do accept my insurance.
PT has been an interesting experience for me. I have never done PT before. The evaluation was pretty much what I would have expected. I started on traction, which was great, but the blinds in the windows above me "moved" and caused me to experience nausea. So, after the second time, I brought an eye mask to wear while I am in traction.
That is a totally unique experience. Being trussed up in traction is an intimidating experience. You are at the mercy of the traction machine and the professionals. The professionals are very reassuring and comforting, but still, what if.... You are given a "panic" button to push if anything feels off, wrong, or heaven forbid, painful.
So, I enter into the therapy session, let them truss me up, put my glasses on a shelf, and cover my eyes. Although from the past sessions I know the traction is indeed relaxing, can you imagine how vulnerable you might feel if you cannot see, and are trussed up. The therapists are great. They acknowledge when they approach and what they are going to do. The appreciate my motion sickness with the blinds. They make it an almost stress less experience. I still have a touch of "what if" in my mind set when I have my eyes covered.
But, the traction does what it is supposed to do for my back, and the absence of a sense of nausea is great. Traction becomes almost a meditative experience for me..
So, while I feel vulnerable with my eyes covered, which, by the way is totally under my control, I feel 100% confident in my health care providers when I am in physical therapy.
PT has been an interesting experience for me. I have never done PT before. The evaluation was pretty much what I would have expected. I started on traction, which was great, but the blinds in the windows above me "moved" and caused me to experience nausea. So, after the second time, I brought an eye mask to wear while I am in traction.
That is a totally unique experience. Being trussed up in traction is an intimidating experience. You are at the mercy of the traction machine and the professionals. The professionals are very reassuring and comforting, but still, what if.... You are given a "panic" button to push if anything feels off, wrong, or heaven forbid, painful.
So, I enter into the therapy session, let them truss me up, put my glasses on a shelf, and cover my eyes. Although from the past sessions I know the traction is indeed relaxing, can you imagine how vulnerable you might feel if you cannot see, and are trussed up. The therapists are great. They acknowledge when they approach and what they are going to do. The appreciate my motion sickness with the blinds. They make it an almost stress less experience. I still have a touch of "what if" in my mind set when I have my eyes covered.
But, the traction does what it is supposed to do for my back, and the absence of a sense of nausea is great. Traction becomes almost a meditative experience for me..
So, while I feel vulnerable with my eyes covered, which, by the way is totally under my control, I feel 100% confident in my health care providers when I am in physical therapy.
Taki's Quirks
Taki has some interesting quirky behaviors. Most recently, she has taken to sitting next to the laptop computer, and putting her paws on the keyboard. Not standing on the keyboard, but hunched next to it, and spreading her "forearms" and paws to rest lightly on the keyboard. I keep telling her she is not allowed on the keyboard. She is smart and picks up on the "nos" quickly, when she wants to. She does not want to for this quirk.
Also, Taki has long lusted to play with the chain controls for the ceiling fan over my bed. Pre-Taki, I had extended chains that were about 8-12" above the mattress. Taki has taken to wanting to play with them. I have visions of her pulling the ceiling fan down. I have removed the extended chains, and knotted the remaining chain up above the mattress about 18". Taki still jumps to play with them. A problem I need to revisit this weekend, and see what I can do to make it safer.
Also, Taki has long lusted to play with the chain controls for the ceiling fan over my bed. Pre-Taki, I had extended chains that were about 8-12" above the mattress. Taki has taken to wanting to play with them. I have visions of her pulling the ceiling fan down. I have removed the extended chains, and knotted the remaining chain up above the mattress about 18". Taki still jumps to play with them. A problem I need to revisit this weekend, and see what I can do to make it safer.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
What You Put Into It is What You Get Out of It
As a correctional social worker at a prison, I find myself saying the title "What you put into it is what you get out of it" a lot. We no longer do groups, so we give out written material to patients, with information that would be discussed in groups if we did them. Our job is to encourage the patient to become motivated to read through and use the materials to their advantage. We call it the "In Cell" program, because that is where the patient studies the materials.
I have recently started physical therapy, and I have taken the attitude of "what I put into it is what I will get out of it," so I am trying to do well in the sessions, and follow up using the materials and exercises I am given for out side the sessions. Somethings just will not happen, like not getting rid of my overstuffed sofa, but I am trying.
I am realizing how much I appreciate the positive and supportive comments of the various therapists in the session. And, how it makes me want to try harder. A student intern helped me today. He was helpful, supportive, encouraging, informative, interactive. He did a really good job. I need to tell the therapist about that.
I try to be that kind of social worker for my patients at the prison: encouraging and supportive. I have found myself, though, sometimes being more assertive and confrontational with them. I think that is because so often, we suspect our patients are not as sick as they would have us believe and are using the hospital setting for secondary gain.
When someone is truly doing well, though, I do try to encourage and support them. Today, I had two very interesting sessions with patients. One told me that "I know this stuff, but I guess it does no good if I don't apply it." We were able to talk about his barriers to application, and we may want to focus on that again.
The other patient commented that he wants the staff to know that he is trying, but he feels like he will fail, and he has no positive expectation for a good result. We discussed his attitude, and how that kind of attitude will lead him to failure. We also talked about no "magic cures," no expectation for dramatic and overwhelming change, making one step at a time, doing one step at a time, and how he has years of habits (his age) to undo and redo. Ultimately, I told him that there is no "right or wrong" in terms of his efforts and outcomes, but the "right or wrong" is in terms of what he expects to achieve. And, if he is satisfied with less than more, we will not judge him on that, except in terms of if he needs to be in an inpatient setting. I think this patient "got this."
I think for most people who enter therapy, be it physical or psychological therapy, the hardest thing to accept is that it will not happen over night.
We are an instant society: instant gratification, immediate pain relief, 60 minute problem solving of crimes or other life sagas.
I do not look forward to weeks or even months of doing exercises at home, even after physical therapy has ceased. However, years ago, I had an arm problem. The doctor of osteopathy that I was using as my primary care physician at the time sent me home with a prescription for 30 days worth of Vioxx, and an exercise sheet. The exercises took about 20 minutes, and I was supposed to do them twice a day. I was about 90% diligent with the exercises. After the medication ended I went back to the provider. We were now into the "Vioxx scare" so he did not want to renew it. But, I could tell the exercises were more valuable than the medication. After several months, my arm felt better, and I finally stopped the exercises. I have kept the sheet, and even shared it with a coworker who told me it helped her.
Sometimes, there really are no "magic pills." It is about change for the better, doing what we should ido nstead of what is easier, and remembering that what we put into it is what we get out of it.
I have recently started physical therapy, and I have taken the attitude of "what I put into it is what I will get out of it," so I am trying to do well in the sessions, and follow up using the materials and exercises I am given for out side the sessions. Somethings just will not happen, like not getting rid of my overstuffed sofa, but I am trying.
I am realizing how much I appreciate the positive and supportive comments of the various therapists in the session. And, how it makes me want to try harder. A student intern helped me today. He was helpful, supportive, encouraging, informative, interactive. He did a really good job. I need to tell the therapist about that.
I try to be that kind of social worker for my patients at the prison: encouraging and supportive. I have found myself, though, sometimes being more assertive and confrontational with them. I think that is because so often, we suspect our patients are not as sick as they would have us believe and are using the hospital setting for secondary gain.
When someone is truly doing well, though, I do try to encourage and support them. Today, I had two very interesting sessions with patients. One told me that "I know this stuff, but I guess it does no good if I don't apply it." We were able to talk about his barriers to application, and we may want to focus on that again.
The other patient commented that he wants the staff to know that he is trying, but he feels like he will fail, and he has no positive expectation for a good result. We discussed his attitude, and how that kind of attitude will lead him to failure. We also talked about no "magic cures," no expectation for dramatic and overwhelming change, making one step at a time, doing one step at a time, and how he has years of habits (his age) to undo and redo. Ultimately, I told him that there is no "right or wrong" in terms of his efforts and outcomes, but the "right or wrong" is in terms of what he expects to achieve. And, if he is satisfied with less than more, we will not judge him on that, except in terms of if he needs to be in an inpatient setting. I think this patient "got this."
I think for most people who enter therapy, be it physical or psychological therapy, the hardest thing to accept is that it will not happen over night.
We are an instant society: instant gratification, immediate pain relief, 60 minute problem solving of crimes or other life sagas.
I do not look forward to weeks or even months of doing exercises at home, even after physical therapy has ceased. However, years ago, I had an arm problem. The doctor of osteopathy that I was using as my primary care physician at the time sent me home with a prescription for 30 days worth of Vioxx, and an exercise sheet. The exercises took about 20 minutes, and I was supposed to do them twice a day. I was about 90% diligent with the exercises. After the medication ended I went back to the provider. We were now into the "Vioxx scare" so he did not want to renew it. But, I could tell the exercises were more valuable than the medication. After several months, my arm felt better, and I finally stopped the exercises. I have kept the sheet, and even shared it with a coworker who told me it helped her.
Sometimes, there really are no "magic pills." It is about change for the better, doing what we should ido nstead of what is easier, and remembering that what we put into it is what we get out of it.
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