Raritan 911: Robocop
- Thread starter Carson
- Start date
18 weeks since fusion
10 weeks since lami
2 weeks since aspiration
The trip to Phoenix went well enough. The five-hour plane ride had me concerned, but with some stretching and walking around I was fine. Just some moderate discomfort. But who doesn't have that in economy class wedged in a seat between two rather large Bergen County broskis? I did much laying around at the pool and sitting at meals. I managed to only gain a few pounds and stayed rather comfy the entire trip. And that included driving 600 miles over the course of the week.
Red Badge of Courage was meh, as predicted. Started Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.
After getting home, I decided to discontinue the Neurontin. I didn't think it was doing much of anything, but it was. Discomfort has increased a noticeable amount, but not to the point that I want to start taking it again. I was a 6-7 before the fluid was removed, a 2-3 after the procedure. I'm probably a 3-4 without the Neurontin at this point. The initial goal was to be a 2-3 after six months and a 1-2 after a year. It seems I'm not much behind the initial prediction at this point.
I met with my surgeon yesterday. He's pleased but obviously taking a very conservative approach to recovery after all that has happened this summer. I'm going to start up with the stretching and PT again for the next three weeks. I can ride a stationary bike or elliptical, but no jogging, treadmills, or actual bicycles. He's thinking it's best to wait on the bicycles until at least six months post-fusion, which would be Thanksgiving, lest I dislodge some more scar tissue. I can deal with that.
I meet him again on 10/21 at which point he should clear me to go back to work if nothing has changed.
10 weeks since lami
2 weeks since aspiration
The trip to Phoenix went well enough. The five-hour plane ride had me concerned, but with some stretching and walking around I was fine. Just some moderate discomfort. But who doesn't have that in economy class wedged in a seat between two rather large Bergen County broskis? I did much laying around at the pool and sitting at meals. I managed to only gain a few pounds and stayed rather comfy the entire trip. And that included driving 600 miles over the course of the week.
Red Badge of Courage was meh, as predicted. Started Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.
After getting home, I decided to discontinue the Neurontin. I didn't think it was doing much of anything, but it was. Discomfort has increased a noticeable amount, but not to the point that I want to start taking it again. I was a 6-7 before the fluid was removed, a 2-3 after the procedure. I'm probably a 3-4 without the Neurontin at this point. The initial goal was to be a 2-3 after six months and a 1-2 after a year. It seems I'm not much behind the initial prediction at this point.
I met with my surgeon yesterday. He's pleased but obviously taking a very conservative approach to recovery after all that has happened this summer. I'm going to start up with the stretching and PT again for the next three weeks. I can ride a stationary bike or elliptical, but no jogging, treadmills, or actual bicycles. He's thinking it's best to wait on the bicycles until at least six months post-fusion, which would be Thanksgiving, lest I dislodge some more scar tissue. I can deal with that.
I meet him again on 10/21 at which point he should clear me to go back to work if nothing has changed.
Reverse Dine-and-Dash
Inspired by @jumpa
Joe's Pizza is one of my regular watering holes while I'm working. The owners are good guys and supportive of law enforcement, the food is solid, and the TV always has a game on. I popped in for dinner one evening and the owner asked to speak to me privately. He told me that he has a relatively new delivery kid and well, he's not that bright. The owner said he took a delivery order over the phone, which was paid by credit card when the order was taken. 40 minutes later, after the delivery kid had already delivered the $50 order and returned to the restaurant, the people called to ask where their food was. A true mystery.
The owner was in the process of remaking all the food to be delivered to the correct people.
I talked with the delivery kid. Ever have a 17 year old try to give you directions? It just doesn't work. So after a few minutes of talking different languages, I ask him if he used his phone to navigate to the delivery address. Yes. He used Google Maps and I think I know what happened: a new road parallels an older road and he probably ended up one block over from where he should have been. I asked: did you look at the mailbox? No. Did you look at the house number on the door? No. Did you ask the person who answered the door his name? No. Did the person who answer the door look confused about the delivery? No.
The owner was pissed off that he was out $50 and the delivery kid was nervous that he'd have to pay for it out of his tips. I told the delivery kid I'd follow him to where he delivered the food and see what we can do about it. I'm spitballing at this point; they don't teach this in the academy.
We arrived and as predicted, it's one block over from where he should have made the delivery. Different road name, different house number. Apartment instead of single family home. White door not red. The only similarities between them were that both houses were not on fire.
I speak with the dude who answered the door. He told me he had no idea what I'm talking about. No idea about the food. Yet over his shoulder I can see a pizza box on the counter. My tone changed and I explained "theft by unlawful taking", "theft by deception", "theft of services", and "theft of lost or mislaid property". All very official and very real statutes. None of which really apply precisely.
The dude admits he accepted the delivery and figured his roommate had ordered the food. Yet his roommate wasn't home and he never bothered to call him to find out. So in reality, he figured he hit the $50 lottery.
He offered to return the uneaten food to me. Surprised, I explained to him that the food is now his and can't be redelivered. Really, I had to explain that. I told him in lieu of criminal charges, he could pay for the food. He agreed to pay and hands me his debit card.
I call the pizza joint and give the owner the debit card information. As entertainment for myself, I ask the dude if he wants to tip the delivery guy on his card. He says YES. Tip him $5. For serious.
So I got the pizzeria an extra $50 order, the delivery kid an extra $5, and when I returned to the pizzeria my meal was free that night.
Inspired by @jumpa
Joe's Pizza is one of my regular watering holes while I'm working. The owners are good guys and supportive of law enforcement, the food is solid, and the TV always has a game on. I popped in for dinner one evening and the owner asked to speak to me privately. He told me that he has a relatively new delivery kid and well, he's not that bright. The owner said he took a delivery order over the phone, which was paid by credit card when the order was taken. 40 minutes later, after the delivery kid had already delivered the $50 order and returned to the restaurant, the people called to ask where their food was. A true mystery.
The owner was in the process of remaking all the food to be delivered to the correct people.
I talked with the delivery kid. Ever have a 17 year old try to give you directions? It just doesn't work. So after a few minutes of talking different languages, I ask him if he used his phone to navigate to the delivery address. Yes. He used Google Maps and I think I know what happened: a new road parallels an older road and he probably ended up one block over from where he should have been. I asked: did you look at the mailbox? No. Did you look at the house number on the door? No. Did you ask the person who answered the door his name? No. Did the person who answer the door look confused about the delivery? No.
The owner was pissed off that he was out $50 and the delivery kid was nervous that he'd have to pay for it out of his tips. I told the delivery kid I'd follow him to where he delivered the food and see what we can do about it. I'm spitballing at this point; they don't teach this in the academy.
We arrived and as predicted, it's one block over from where he should have made the delivery. Different road name, different house number. Apartment instead of single family home. White door not red. The only similarities between them were that both houses were not on fire.
I speak with the dude who answered the door. He told me he had no idea what I'm talking about. No idea about the food. Yet over his shoulder I can see a pizza box on the counter. My tone changed and I explained "theft by unlawful taking", "theft by deception", "theft of services", and "theft of lost or mislaid property". All very official and very real statutes. None of which really apply precisely.
The dude admits he accepted the delivery and figured his roommate had ordered the food. Yet his roommate wasn't home and he never bothered to call him to find out. So in reality, he figured he hit the $50 lottery.
He offered to return the uneaten food to me. Surprised, I explained to him that the food is now his and can't be redelivered. Really, I had to explain that. I told him in lieu of criminal charges, he could pay for the food. He agreed to pay and hands me his debit card.
I call the pizza joint and give the owner the debit card information. As entertainment for myself, I ask the dude if he wants to tip the delivery guy on his card. He says YES. Tip him $5. For serious.
So I got the pizzeria an extra $50 order, the delivery kid an extra $5, and when I returned to the pizzeria my meal was free that night.
EJphotos
Well-Known Member
Lol that's great. Reminds me of a story...completely different situation but includes a delivery driver and food:
Setting: auto parts store
So the store orders some hot subs (meatball parm, chicken parm, cheesesteaks) for lunch. One of the parts delivery drivers (old guy/no cell phone/good worker/smart) goes to pick up lunch, leaves the store at around 12:30 PM, should be back by 1, sounds good.
So 1:15 comes around, he hasn't come back yet. No problem, probably still waiting at the food place. 1:30, still no sign of him. Place is just a couple miles down the road. Hmmm. 1:45 rolls around, call the food place, they say he's picked up the food quite a while ago and was long gone. Uh oh, did he get in an accident or something? 2 pm, call the police station, asking if there were any accidents involving white for pickup. Nope, no other incidents reported either. Police will keep an eye out for said truck though. Perhaps he had to stop somewhere and use the bathroom? 3 pm rolls around, still no sign of him and no news from police. Maybe he just went home and fell asleep and forgot he had picked up the food?
Closing time rolls around, and no news from him. Nobody knows where he lives, because employee info has an old address in it, and had since moved and never updated his info. He didn't want junk mail. Ok.
So the next morning rolls around, store is open, and he's not there. What happened to him?
So 1 PM rolls around, and guess who walks in the door? Dude man driver with the food ordered from that previous day. The food was STILL HOT.
"Where were you? What happened?" asked the manager.
"Just picked up your lunch. Here it is, along with your change *points to bag with food in it*" replied the driver.
"But you never came back yesterday" bossman said.
"Yeah I went to pick up your food half hour ago and now it's here" driver said.
Food was still hot, order was correct to the T.
That driver didn't last much longer.
Setting: auto parts store
So the store orders some hot subs (meatball parm, chicken parm, cheesesteaks) for lunch. One of the parts delivery drivers (old guy/no cell phone/good worker/smart) goes to pick up lunch, leaves the store at around 12:30 PM, should be back by 1, sounds good.
So 1:15 comes around, he hasn't come back yet. No problem, probably still waiting at the food place. 1:30, still no sign of him. Place is just a couple miles down the road. Hmmm. 1:45 rolls around, call the food place, they say he's picked up the food quite a while ago and was long gone. Uh oh, did he get in an accident or something? 2 pm, call the police station, asking if there were any accidents involving white for pickup. Nope, no other incidents reported either. Police will keep an eye out for said truck though. Perhaps he had to stop somewhere and use the bathroom? 3 pm rolls around, still no sign of him and no news from police. Maybe he just went home and fell asleep and forgot he had picked up the food?
Closing time rolls around, and no news from him. Nobody knows where he lives, because employee info has an old address in it, and had since moved and never updated his info. He didn't want junk mail. Ok.
So the next morning rolls around, store is open, and he's not there. What happened to him?
So 1 PM rolls around, and guess who walks in the door? Dude man driver with the food ordered from that previous day. The food was STILL HOT.
"Where were you? What happened?" asked the manager.
"Just picked up your lunch. Here it is, along with your change *points to bag with food in it*" replied the driver.
"But you never came back yesterday" bossman said.
"Yeah I went to pick up your food half hour ago and now it's here" driver said.
Food was still hot, order was correct to the T.
That driver didn't last much longer.
Red Mosquito
Formerly RLB the Scrapple Boy
I think only weirdos respond to ads for parts drivers. I made my way through HS and college working at a parts store and I think there was 1 driver (over the course of my7 years there) that wasn't a total fuck-up. However they always made for good stories!
did parts delivery in hs, and a couple after that.
we were the exxon (esso?) state supplier. we'd overload a step in van and i'd be out for a 8 hour voyage.
bathing suit would travel with me if i had a shore run. fishing pole for the northeast corner......
one of the guys was from bergen county, so he liked the bergen/essex run. glad they didn't have glitter make-up
back then, he'd get busted.
oh, and the warehouse manager was selling stuff out the door - inventory was always f'd up. they probably thought
it was me. couple weeks after he left, the owner was working the warehouse, and some guy came up and wanted to
know if he could make a deal like he did with the last guy.....
Red Mosquito
Formerly RLB the Scrapple Boy
Haha someone always talks! Whether they mean to or not. Inventory was a problem at the place I worked at also.
Inspired by @EJphotos
The NAPA auto parts store right off the Flemington Circle has a delivery guy with one leg at least six inches shorter than the other. His nickname is Hoppy. One morning Hoppy leaves the truck running on Main Street while he runs into Higgins Store for coffee. A guy just released from jail walked up to Main Street and stole Hoppy's NAPA truck. It went over the police radio that someone stole Hoppy's work truck. I swear to Christ you can't make this up.
I don't know if Hoppy knows his nickname is Hoppy.
Actually, the next new officer I train will be instructed to introduce himself to Hoppy and we'll find out.
The NAPA auto parts store right off the Flemington Circle has a delivery guy with one leg at least six inches shorter than the other. His nickname is Hoppy. One morning Hoppy leaves the truck running on Main Street while he runs into Higgins Store for coffee. A guy just released from jail walked up to Main Street and stole Hoppy's NAPA truck. It went over the police radio that someone stole Hoppy's work truck. I swear to Christ you can't make this up.
I don't know if Hoppy knows his nickname is Hoppy.
Actually, the next new officer I train will be instructed to introduce himself to Hoppy and we'll find out.
I wonder if they have an app for that.
True story. I was hoping to get in a pursuit with a baseball-capped Ford Ranger and get Hoppy's truck back. No luck though. It got dumped off somewhere before police contact.
Welp, five months and a few days since my fusion surgery. I met with the surgeon this morning. Overall, I am moving around much better. Range of motion is nearly as good as it was prior to surgery. Which is to say so-so. I've traded inflexibility from lack of disc height for inflexibility from fusion. Little or no pain in my left leg. Probably safely now a 2 down from a 7 or 8. The numbness is my left foot is still present but it has gotten slightly better. Hopefully it continues to improve. The bottom line is I am as good as I'm going to be in the short term with some continual improvement over the next 12-18 months. Staying out of work another week or month or more isn't going to make me appreciably better (or safer). So, he cleared me to head on back to work. He did caution me about the bikes and preferred I work a month or so before jumping on the bike. Ease back into normalcy, I suppose.
Doc gave me a nice, compact little back brace that should fit nicely under the monkey suit I have to wear at the widget factory. It has some thin vertical metal bands in a velcro mesh. It looks like it will help in the car.
As today was a work day, I just headed on in to work. No time like the present. There was plenty to do to catch up. Policies, training, emails. Some new equipment to check out. New software for processing and fingerprints. I qualified at the range. The shotgun was a bit scary as we carry slugs.
We ain't getting body cameras. I figured that was right around the corner. Apparently the AG policy on it is totally ridiculous and nearly impossible to comply with fully. So that's that for this year's budget.
I'm honestly pretty damn tired and a little sore from today. It's going to take me some time to get back into the swing of being a contributor to the work force again.
I'll be on the listen for good stories to deposit here in the near future. Thanks for shopping!
Doc gave me a nice, compact little back brace that should fit nicely under the monkey suit I have to wear at the widget factory. It has some thin vertical metal bands in a velcro mesh. It looks like it will help in the car.
As today was a work day, I just headed on in to work. No time like the present. There was plenty to do to catch up. Policies, training, emails. Some new equipment to check out. New software for processing and fingerprints. I qualified at the range. The shotgun was a bit scary as we carry slugs.
We ain't getting body cameras. I figured that was right around the corner. Apparently the AG policy on it is totally ridiculous and nearly impossible to comply with fully. So that's that for this year's budget.
I'm honestly pretty damn tired and a little sore from today. It's going to take me some time to get back into the swing of being a contributor to the work force again.
I'll be on the listen for good stories to deposit here in the near future. Thanks for shopping!
