My Turn and Ache Speak

My area manager at work asked me if I would write a response to the Letter of Reprimand they intend to place in my file. I told him I would but that I'd rather let this entire episode fade away so I can get back to thinking about other stuff; stuff less frustrating. Writing the letter describing my thoughts at what played out would only suck me back in again. And it has.

I spent part of last night and a bit of this afternoon drafting my reply. I've put way more thought into this than I'd care to admit. My weekends are mine, not the FAA's.

I wrote a two-page response in 10 point font. I'm not at all hopeful that they'll do the right thing and turn the focus from me to the supervisor who unnecessarily escalated our disagreement into something much more. I'd love for them to look at what the supervisor did wrong that day and how his actions were uncalled for and extremely disruptive. I've been around long enough to know that FAA management is only interested in protecting their own. The truth is an afterthought; something to be considered only if there is enough time after the trash has been taken out and only if nobody is looking.

There was a story out of Indianapolis a couple days ago about a bank robber who shot a 30-year-old pregnant teller in the abdomen before getting away. The twin babies she was carrying were 5 months along. They've since died. So, is this murder or not?

I took off work an hour early on Wednesday to go riding. I felt like I needed to go long and I did; 90 miles. It was the warmest day of the year with the temp reaching into the mid-70s. It was windy but abundant sunshine made up for it. I used sunscreen on my face and neck but let the rest of my pasty white body soak in the rays. I needed a day like that on my bike.

Earlier in the day, I was talking with another controller and fellow biker, Paul Osika. We were comparing aches (knee-related) and he mentioned that he'd been taking Glucosamine and that it was helping him. I'd taken a combination of Glucosamine and Chondroitin years ago but I couldn't honestly say that it helped. I'm willing to give it a go again. I don't understand it but it seems that once I get my mileage up over 250 miles per week my knees are fine. It's when I'm doing anything less than 200 miles that they give me trouble and that's where I'm currently at. Tammy showed me a container of Osteo Bi-Flex she's been using. The daily dosage calls for 1500mg of Glucosamine and 1250mg of Chondroitin. I'll report back.

Today's ride wasn't so nice. When I left home there was a steady rain and a temp in the low-40s. It wasn't so bad but the stink of slimy worms all over the road was a bit of a distraction. I don't think I've ever seen so many worms—well, maybe at a supes meeting at work. :)

Gotta go.



Comments

Anonymous said…
"Worms?" Sounds disparaging to me...
April 28, 2008 at 12:27 PM
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