nyc_drg_dlr's Journal

4:09pm: On not posting frequently...
Alot has happened in the past few months. I suppose this is always true, but never truer for me than just recently.

In the past 30 days I have:
Switched to Walgreens
Moved to Stamford
Worked Overnights
Had my car hit
Joined a gym
Ate sushi
Been to the City
Found out how small the world was
Saw my ex girlfriend
Lost 10 lbs
Enjoyed life
Spent too much money
Got lost driving, with a navigation system
Saw a Movin' Out on Broadway
Missed someone
Went to Carolines in times square
Worked 130 hrs in 2 weeks (167 hrs pay)
Oh yeah babe
Wished a good friend a happy birthday.

"Twyla Tharp's personification of Billy Joel's 'Brenda and Eddie' is magical - An emotional whirlwind of music and dance that is passionate powerful and inspiring." -Joe on 'Movin Out', the Tony award winning Broadway musical

12:45am: On posting drug pricing on the internet
The following was written to the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut in reply to their having posted a list of drug prices by store.

"As the Pharmacy manager of a chain retail pharmacy in the Milford area of CT, I play a vital role in my patients healthcare and my community. The wellfare of all my patients include their physical health, but also their individual needs and financial wellbeing. My patients have alerted me to this website release of drug pricing information which I am contesting at this time. With the rising cost of healthcare including prescription drugs, I can understand the need for a way to help the consumer choose a pharmacy that is right for them, but there are many potential downsides to this release which I have seen on the patient level.

My first concern is with the collection of data. I think the information provided should include when the prices were gathered, and who gathered them. Prices often vary by quantity, and therefore knowing what quantity the price per unit was based on is essential. Some stores offer senior discounts of 10% off medications, and that needs to be taken into consideration. The selection of drugs is also pertinent. For the most part, expensive brandname drugs were listed in this assortment. Generically manufactered drugs can often have the largest differences in price among retailers. Though a medication can be expensive, the most money can be saved by finding the retailer with the lowest priced generic drugs.

The second, and perhaps more serious concern, has much more to do with the best interest of the patient. Knowing the prices of an individual drug as it varries from store to store encourages pharmacy shopping. This exposes patients to unnecessary adverse reactions due to drug interactions which could have been avoided, had all the pharmacy records been readily available to the dispensing pharmacist. If a patient is unsure of which medications they are using, they cannot provide a clear record to the dispensing pharmacist. Patient compliance suffers in pharmacy shopping. A patient will have a more difficult time remembering how many medications, which medications and how much the medications they are supposed to be using are costing them. Not to mention forgetting to refill a medication altogether. It has also shown to encouraged patients to take 'drug holidays'. In addition to all this, it makes pharmacists feel like they are selling a product and not delivering a service. It encourages consumers to make decisions all on their own, and not rely on their healthcare providers. Price differences imply that we are not to be trusted.

In my particular setting, a patient may fill all their medications in my particular store knowing that each fill is being compared to their entire list of past medications to identify drug interactions. Their drug allergies are kept on file with us, should a prescribed drug be likely to cause an adverse reaction. Complete pharmacy records are available to my patients, should they move or switch pharmacies, doctors or insurance companies. Pharmacists stop potentially fatal drug interactions on a daily basis. So don't send my nitrate patient across the street to fill his viagra because he found out he can save $3.00. His wellbeing is worth more to me than that $3.00 is to him. Don't send me someone elses Coumadin patient, glad to have saved $8.00 a month in my store, who may be filling life-threatening aspirin-containing medications at their home pharmacy. Personally, I am quickly losing faith in the pharmacy way of life in the state of CT. I moved here from NY to serve my time in the pharmacist shortage a few years back. I have put in more overtime hour and kept more stores from closing than anyone I know. In the end, I have learned that most people would rather talk about doing things to make a difference than actually have an impact. I did talk, but I feel I made a positive impact on my patients, my coworkers and my profession my few years here."

10:37pm: On failure to post, part 2
So i haven't posted in a while. I haven't been myself lately. Lots of decisions coming my way. Transferring my pharmacy license to NY. Moving there eventually. Moving out of my apartment..to where? No answers in sight.

In the past 30 days I

made someone smile
made someones day
saved someone over $2000
did the right thing
didn't do the wrong thing
watched 24 season 1
saw phantom of the opera
ran into an old friend
made a new friend
bought a new cell phone
watched 24 season 2
saw robots
wrote a referral letter
slept 122 hours
played 12 practical jokes
said 'You look nice today' over 300 times

I'll write again soon

11:39am: On partying and mechanical bulls
So on the 19th we celebrated Pats B-day. I thought about this just recently - I think Pat is my best friend. I don't know when the survey is taken to show where your friends rank, but I just realized that due to some fallings out, and lack of communication, me and Pat are now the ones who seem to be willing to tell each other anything. I feel good about that.

So I showed up to an expected rediculous drunken crowd. I met Tara for the first time tonight. She is Pats 'special friend' She seems really sweet, and yet truely unrefined. She knows how to have fun. Shes the sex and alcohol, open minded, lets goto vegas, I grab life by the horns kinda girl. And she likes to eat too. She makes Pat smile again. And thats all I need to know. Needless to say, I think shes just what is needed. We piled into 2 vans, and by piled I mean I had to drive 3 people because there wasn't enough room, and headed for NJ. Navigation is sweet. I drove 80 miles from my home, door to door, and never needed to make a wrong turn or check a map.

So here we are, at the largest line dancing club in the north east. As impressive as that sounds, I couldn't help but poke fun at them, its my defense mechanism. After all, whats wrong with Bud and mayonnaise sandwiches?? Cowboy hats, chaps, country music and line dancing, there was little to not poke fun at, but in an instant, redemption surely had been found. In the center of attention in one of the rooms was a mechanical bull. The type of thing you only hear about, and if you actually see one, its some other fool being ejected from. But not tonight. Tonight we were that other fool. But before we decided walking without a limp was overrated, I watched this really cute girl ride the bull like an orgasm. She really was so into it, absorbed even. And the look on her face, determined? Focused? Euphoric? It was like sex is motion. She really just it up when she rode. Picking herself up from the mat, she returned to her natural state of masking her inner self with a smile and a giggle and grabbed her beer again. But what a sight. Right, LJ...The post continues.

Theres not many ways to say this. I got messed up. I thought I was pretty good at it, but when I lost it, it was all over. I'm pretty good at everything, great at but a few. Needless to say, line dancing, bull riding, and sleeping with my relatives seem to be my weak points. But making people laugh? I seem to have that locked down. 3 am. Back in NY, over to Rory Dolans, my favorite Irish bar in Yonkers. 5am, over to White castle, the culinary equivalent of cigarettes and alcohol. Over to Pats sister Marie and her new husbands place. Slept from...i forgot Tara! I'm going to go up and edit her into this story. Hang on....Ok all set. They slept on the couch next to me as I snored for 3 hours. I drove home the next night. Post to follow.

11:11pm: On failure to post
Really you miss my posting? Get used to disappointment.

I'm sure its very few if any who are disappointed, but any chance to make a half assed attempt at a Princess bride reference I'm down.

Lets start with Vegas.

Trip to vegas, lets see. My flight left at like 6am, and I was so tired I wound up leaving my phone on the plane. Realizing too late, my phone then went on to its final destination of sun-shiny Aruba. I connected through Philly, who at the time, was excited at the possibility of their Eagles taking the Superbowl. I guess I shouldn't complain about the nausiatingly excited people all adorned in Eagles gear, because it was probably a worse connection back through philly after they lost.
Then I got to vegas...




Then we left vegas, as we all know what happens in vegas stays in vegas. Luckily, I connected back through Charlotte. Though not being a good ol' boy put me at a disadvantage. I met up with some hometown rednecks who made a guy laugh for the first time my whole trip. I wound up with a free round trip ticket when my connecting flight to hartford was downgraded and they 'asked' 20 of us to get off the flight. My friend from NY caught another flight, and had to wait 2 hours for me to get there. I promise to split the free ticket with him once we plan a return trip. All I have to say is...Vegas baby, VEGAS

10:13pm: On identifying TV shows...
ALL CHARACTERS AND
EVENTS IN THIS SHOW--
EVEN THOSE BASED ON REAL
PEOPLE -- ARE ENTIRELY FICTIONAL.
ALL CELEBRITY VOICES ARE
IMPERSONATED.....POORLY. THE
FOLLOWING PROGRAM CONTAINS
COARSE LANGUAGE AND DUE TO
ITS CONTENT IT SHOULD NOT BE
VIEWED BY ANYONE.

3:46pm: On a sense of humor, or lack thereof
Whose line is it anyway?

Drew Carey: Tacky shirt boy! Colin will be tacky shirt boy, man that shirt is obnoxious! ...I'm sorry I can't hear you that shirt is too loud. I mean, come on, how could you not be funny wearing that shirt??

Colin: Lets find out...



Good stuff.

1:39am: On things we don't think about...
Someone has alerted me to a very amusing question for which I haven't the slightest clue as to the answer. If anyone wants to find out before I have time to look it up (tuesday), commenting here would certainly put the great minds of the free world at ease.

Where are all the baby pigeons? Aren't all pigeons the same size?

Hurry up!

Tuesday is coming...did you bring your coat?

5:46pm: On jumping to conclusions...
Me: The cable internet is out again. This has happened about 4 times in the past 3 months. Everytime it happens, its because you guys unplugged my cable wire from the master box downstairs...can you just plug it back in so I can get online again?

Maintenence Guy: You're watching the football game right now, so your cable has to be working!

Me: Well lets not jump to conclusions... (thinking about the illegal satelite dish on the roof)

Maintenence Guy: Well I'm not going to go downstairs and check your cable line if your TV is on...you might as well call the cable company, they're the only one who can fix it.

Me: I guess you're right.

Morons Translation:
My cable internet was down, and he thought the cable had to be working because the TV was on. I can't argue with him even though I know I'm right, because the TV he saw was SATELITE DISH, and I'm not supposed to have that at my complex. SIGH

1:38am: On yellow woods...
Anyone lacking points?

If you know where this passage came from, you might just get about 1,200.


'And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.'



Comment to receive your points.

1:35am: On the importance of hearing someone correctly
Whose line is it anyway?

Movie Styles

Drew Carey: Horror Show

Ryan: You mean you guys aren't even married? You are such a whore!

Colin: He said Horror not Whore...

Ryan: Oh man...

....

Drew Carey: 1000 points to Ryan for saying 'Whore' on national television.

9:22am: On genetic homosexuality.
Ok here we go, you can hate me for this one, but don't be ignorant, lets hear what you have to say. This post is about a theory that I came up with a few years back, which has met with some criticism, but not with much valid refuted argument. Here goes...

FACT: The blue eyed gene is a recessive trait. To exhibit such trait you much meet certain criteria which make the surfacing of the genetic characteristic less common in general population. (Moron summary: Less people have Blue eyes)

FACT: If a group carrying a certain gene were to remove itself from the gene pool, the total number of gene in the gene pool would decrease dramatically. Example, all blue eyed people decided not to mate anymore, or if all blue eyed people were hunted down and killed. The blue eyed gene would still prevail in society, BUT, its numbers would have DRAMATICALLY be reduced.

THEORY: Homosexuality, is speculated to be of genetic origin. You cannot change a homosexual to heterosexual. A homosexual can be forced to live a hetero lifestyle, but his or her orientation would never change. This theory is to describe homosexuality of genetic origin only.

THEORY: The homosexuality gene, if it exists, has been passed along for generations since the beginning of time. Homosexual males and females either fading out of existence and not passing on their genes, or living hetero lfestyles and passing on their gene through their families.

Heres where it gets good. (Only because its about to end)

MY THEORETICAL QUESTION: If we are arriving at an age of sexual enlightenment, and finding that its ok to be gay, homosexuals will come together in record numbers and not live hetero lifestyles anymore. Therefore, if no homosexual gene is being added to the genepool anymore, how will the gene survive? In 50 years there may be 90% fewer genetically gay people then their are today. And I base that on absolutely nothing.

Anyone think this is valid argument? Someone let me know either way, as long as you have something inteligent to say.

NOTE: This is merely an argument, and does not represent my personal views on the subject in any way shape or form. If someone is offended by this, that sucks.

10:47pm: Whose line is it anyway?

Scenes from a hat.

Lines not likely to be heard in a western:

Colin Mocherie:"...Hmmm...Yeah, this town is big enough for the two of us."

9:23pm: On being observant...
We all know Joe knows all this useless nonsense...the question is, on being observant, what did Joe NOT know?

1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?
2. How many states are there in the USA?
3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch?
4. What six colours are on the classic Campbell's soup label?
5. What two numbers on the telephone dial don't have letters by them?
6. When you walk does your left arm swing with your right or left leg?
7. How many matches are in a standard pack?
8. On the United States flag is the top stripe red or white?
9. What is the lowest number on the FM dial?
10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?
11. Which way does a "no smoking" sign's slash run?
12. How many channels on a VHF TV dial?
13. On which side of a women's blouse are the buttons?
14. Which way do fans rotate?
15. What is on the back of a Canadian dime?
16. How many sides does a stop sign have?
17. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side?
18. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?
19. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?
20. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy,Dopey, Doc. Who's missing?
21. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?
22. On which playing card is the card maker's trademark?
23. On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats?
24. On the back of a Canadian $1 coin, what is in the center?
25. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits?
26. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip?
27. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise?

They say the average person gets only 7 correct.
Though I managed to get all but 3 correct, you'd be surprised which ones I got wrong.

I will tell you only the question numbers.
4 - I knew 5 of the 6, but I'm still convinced silver is one.
11 - I'm such a moron!
23 - I still think they are wrong.

Let me know how you did, or if you need any answers. And please post if you don't like one of the questions, I love tearing apart these surveys.

8:02pm: On time well spent?
I just erased a huge post, so here is the abridged version.

I just finished a 13 day stretch of working, and am taking this time to reflect on time well spent.

13 days = 312 hours

I worked exactly 147 hours in the past 13 days, and 9 hours for travel.
Thats exactly 156 hours, or half the total time. 6 and 1/2 days if you will.

The remaining 156 hours I spent:
Learning how to play Halo 2, watching 3 movies, 12 episodes of Whose line?, 4 episodes of South park and some other misc Xbox games. I spent 1,233 minutes on my cellphone, sent 84 text messages and 13 emails. I got one fax.

I went to a basketball game for one of my techs, then Applebees with the girls from work. I went shopping at Stop and Shop, got my hair cut and cancelled appointments for the Cats twice. In this 13 day stretch I set a sleep deprivation record of only 54 hours.

Now I'm hungry, tired and cold, and if I don't get some serious stimulation by tomorrow I think I will die, and I base that on absolutely nothing.

Last time I worked on a rediculous stretch like that, it was to get my ex g/f off my mind. Does that mean something is wrong? Funny, I feel pretty good right now. Maybe my leg is broken. Either way, I hope the entry does not get erased, or the one that takes its place will be less than 20 words, mostly 4 letter.

10:10pm: Today is the perfect day
Today is the perfect day to ask me:

How to compound antibiotics for a rabbit.
Where to find the recipe for Neiman-Marcus Cookies.
Whether its better to have loved and lost, or never loved at all.

11:29pm: On cellphones
My cellphone crapped out today. It was working fine, then poof it died. Acutally died last night. So I went to sprint and checked out some phones, because it was covered under warranty. Apparently its not an inconvenience to lose over 150 phone numbers and almost as many email addresses, because if I was signicantly inconvenienced they might be able to do something more for me. Either way I suppose I am satisfied with getting it replaced. New phone is a new model, and its kinda neat I like it, but a bit fragile...I give it about 5 months before I break it.

6:39pm: On upper management
Those who can...........Do
Those who can't.........Teach
Those who can't teach...Administrate

I can see why people can't stand middle and upper management. Sometimes they are rude and cocky. Just impolite people who get so turned off at having to deal with peon workers below them and are only concerned with their own bottom line. But I'm getting a peak at what goes on up there, and its not a pretty sight. They do a whole lot of work. They do a whole lot of analyzing. These guys where on their game and they knew details that I thought only I knew. They made things happen. The had numbers crunched and crunched again. They had really small numbers. I write my numbers with a sharpie. Anyway. I was impressed. I think I will be one of those rude and cocky supervisors someday. Hell I'm already 2/3 of the way there. <--Joke...right? *sigh*

I got a little pat on the back. But why? For all the wrong reasons. They want me to move up in the company and want me to like them and feel like progress can be made. But inside I know how much business I saved them, down to the dollar. I have reports and I crunch my own numbers. They can see that all too. They know. I know they know. BUT...They DON'T know that I know that they know. (Somehow, that makes sense, I've read it 3 times.) And that gives me power. They think I don't know how to work the reports. Well I'm more ambitious than they think. I'm not here for a personal career. I am here to make my store better for the people I work with, the public we serve and the most likely unappreciative pharmacists who will fill my shoes when I leave. It has been a bloody and difficult task to this point. And I loved every second.

On the whole I liked the experience. I feel like that could be me someday. But I think I'm a little too practical for that. I like action and results, and they like numbers and paperwork.

6:31pm: On kicking oneself
Its hardly the Dealerships fault I wound up alone tonight. I tossed up too long between going to NY or going to MA. My car kept taking longer and longer. I guess I couldn't goto NY, so maybe I can go to MA. Well It got late before I knew when my car would be done, or if it could even be ready to drive any long distance. I was glad to get out of there either way. I just hope she knows how much I think about her.

6:22pm: X's and O's
Sweet. One of my X's keeps popping in and out of my life at her leisure most likely because she still has feelings for me. I feel bad for her because I think shes sweet and has alot going for her, but she keeps limiting herself with these guys who are going nowhere in life. I'm not excluding myself from that statement. But I'm sorry I have to object to her calling me periodically and asking to hang out, then leaving nasty messages about how she hates me and then telling me shes lonely - its driving me up a wall. So to save ourselves the conversation, if you choosing to believe im a terrible person helps you sleep better at night, then believe it. I've gone through too much with you to believe anything you say, or to help you anymore. And yes, I have tried very hard to help you all this time, and you know it. So I wash my hands of the whole situation. Don't call me anymore, and don't pretend for a second that I think you didn't read this. I don't wish you any bad feelings. Just live your life and I will live mine, and know only that I no longer care what you do or what you think, one way or another.

Thank you

My mood is 'apathetic' but I don't care if you know what that means.

6:12pm: On car dealerships
I found out why the dealership charges so much more than local places to make the same repairs. Expensive overhead? Maybe the brand-name parts? Well I'm sure there is more than one truth here, but I found out today they make up for it in labor-hours.

I brought my car in for an oil change. They told me a list of things which needed to be done.

Oil change.
Transmission fluid change.
Top off Anti-freeze.
Washer fluid.
Inspect transmission for damages as reported in a recall report.
Left headlight out.

12:35 I signed the form.
5:15 I signed for my car, and was informed I would have to return to have the headlight replaced. So what took nearly 5 hours? Must have been the Anti-freeze they forgot to fill. Or maybe the washer fluid? I didn't bother to check. Cool thing is I like the guys there and they are friendly so I don't mind at all.

10:03pm: SNOW: transparent ice crystals formed around dust or other small particulates in the atmosphere when water vapor condenses at temperatures below the freezing point.

Now you know...

4:02pm: On personality evaluators
A few questions from a personality evaluator produced the following results:

You are cool, thoughtful and intelligent. Your approach and your sense of humor and your charm is undeniable. You keep everything under control. You have distinctive vocal mannerisms. You are clever, sexy and sexually oriented. You know what you want and how to get it. You command attention in a room of strangers, as your charisma, your personality and your spending habits are all oriented toward making an impression. You pay attention to details. In a conflict, you're brutal. Your attitude is you just don't have time for fighting -- if you feel like your current partner doesn't understand you, you know you can find another one.

Even the computer knew I was conceited.

9:41pm: On NY and the such
Life would most certainly suck if it weren't so damn funny. Today I took a circular saw to my pharmacy counter. Drills and Saws made for easy work. Its amazing the capacity we have for destructive force. I hardly feel we'll reassemble it with any such ease. So far so good. We've cleared out the first section and met with little resistance. Wiring will prove to be an issue before we're through. I keep telling myself that the final product is all that matters.

I had a long talk with Pat. I really like him. He's a good friend and I like the relationship that we have. Problem is I really like Sabrina. Shes a sweetheart and I love her very much. I've always thought of them together - any other thought seems impossible. Pat single? Sabrina dating someone else? A friend of ours? To even think that she could get hurt breaks my heart. I've always looked out for her - and Pat was the safe bet. I can't make it not my concern. Someone once said it was because I secretly was in love with her. Maybe its true, I could never say for sure. But I choose to believe its something more than that. I fear many things if thats not true. I fear all this time I've been a bad friend for feeling that way. And I fear if that is love, I know now I have never been in love before.

I was in NY last weekend. I'm having conflicting ideas about moving back down there. I would be losing my store and things that I have balanced out up here. I've built relationships, learned and fine-tuned my leadership skills and developed a level of confidence to know I am good at what I do. But I miss NY. I miss my friends. I can't shake the idea that its time to come back. Though the grass always seems greener, the truth is I may not like working in NY as much as I like working in CT. Has that kept me away from NY all this time? After I broke up with my XXXX girlfriend, I lost desire to return to NY altogether. Now I'm ready.

Eight stories towering over the rockaway beach boardwalk and a full 2 stories higher than any other building in the area, soon will stand a new Rockaway park landmark development. It will be finished first quarter of 2006 and I want to be there. Penthouse Floor. Overlooking the boardwalk and the ocean. Standing on a 45' terrace and just fading off into the Carribean in my mind.

Now for the funny stuff.

4:46pm: 2005?
Well this year seems to be more of the same so far. Didn't expect it to be much different. Except I don't feel much like saying why. How about I just sum it up but making the sound of lemon juice being poured on an open wound. That should do it.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH