December 18, 2011  Sunday

Work sucked beyond belief today.  Widespread electrical outages took down routers and I lost contact with a significant portion of my system for a few hours.  Unusually warm and erratic temperatures and a string of mechanical failures on other company’s systems that impact us lead to a truly dreadful day.  I based my system control decisions on experience from the previous day and prior week.  Of course the situation went in a diametrically opposite direction, so what I hoped would protect my system did protect it but left my change out partner in a bind with too much of a good thing.  His shift was no doubt difficult because of my choices.  

Too much or too little?  When production is threatened, I lean toward too much for the simple and very real possibility that problems will lead to failures and ultimately there won’t be enough to satisfy basic demands.  Recently it’s been a good bet.  Yesterday it wasn’t.  

We work alone on nights, weekends, and holidays, so the constantly ringing phone was my only companion.  Called a manager for decision making concerning a contractor, but was pretty much solo other wise.  It’s a very lonely place when things go to hell.  Knowing it’s my last shift for 10 glorious days got me thru.  

At home tonight I read on FB that my dear friend, who’s already had a challenging year featuring, among other trials, the suicide of a young family member, will be flying back stateside on Christmas day to visit her brother in his final days.  He’s a longtime alcoholic, who jumped into a bottle when Bobby Kennedy was murdered and has seldom ventured out since.  A bright man, Columbia law, a promising start, now a wasted life.  

Kim Jung Il died.  No grief here.  I hope his country can survive with no clear successor.    Wonder if they’ve figured out he wasn’t divine? 

A large glass of Bailey’s cut with water and chipped ice, seems like a great idea.