A Conversation with Elizabeth
1998
Monitoring

From:          Elizabeth  
To:            LMixson@PEC.com
Sent:          Tuesday, March 31, 1998 4:33 PM
Subject:       Monitoring

Work is slow, because of the break.  Even though I would like to be off, I have been able to use the time here in ways I ordinarily could not.
(LS) I did not enjoy the 2nd part of the 3 part Moyers as much as I enjoyed the 1st part, as it was totally weighted to the human interest side.  Much of the hour and a half was involved showing people crying. 
Again though, the statistics presented were startling.  Out of 10 people who enter rehab or re-covery, about three will "make it."  One interesting item was that one person portrayed was a male nurse and another was a female pharmacist, both of whom took drugs from work.  I recall when I worked at AGH a male nurse got caught lifting drugs.  His "punishment" was to be taken off the hospital floor and made to work in the medical records dept. on probation and with no real work to do.  I personally thought it was "unfair" because he got to "sit", do nothing, and draw nurse's salary (far more than I was making).

You did not miss anything by missing X-files, except, very briefly it seemed that Mulder was smoking a cigarette (the episode went way back in time to Mulder before the X-files). Also, I don't think I ever noticed before that he was wearing a wedding (?) ring, which he seemed to be doing.  If you do watch the tape, try to catch those two things and verify for me, as both flitted by really quickly. One interesting thing was how the x-files got to be x-files, but I won't spoil that for you.

It was cute.

I read an article that was extracted from one of the major computer magazines (Possibly PC World) which involved a survey of how many employers monitor employee use of the internet and to what extent.  A very high majority indicated that they did monitor time spent on the net and the sites visited, and another large percentage indicated they read e-mail.

Would you be able to keep fish all season in an outside pond?  Just curious, I have no idea.  In the Jonathan Kellerman novels he keeps a pond out back with "koi" which he always mentions.  But his novels take place in Calif. When I bought my flowers I looked at some of the "ponds"  and "falls" that were available.  That sounds like a fun project.  I'd love to do sort of a Zen garden. I thought of you on Sunday when I bought my flowers because there were a lot of weekend carpenters exiting the store in their sports utilities vehicles, having made purchases for a project.  I have a fairly small balcony-porch.  It is covered but open, with railings.  I've thought of trying to "landscape" it by constructing step planters, possibly a bird feeder etc.  One apt. that faces the sun had an entire garden upstairs.  Have you ever read those articles about rooftop gardens in New York, etc.  I don't get enough sun to do any vegetables at all. I have one chive plant that did bloom and has survived.  I doubt my cilantro will survive, but I'll experiment.  I love crocuses.  Do they come up through the snow?

What sort of tools do you have?  Do you have electric saws. Do you know I still have a "planter" which I made at your house one day, from scraps of lumber which you had there for some reason.  I still recall how "therapeutic" it was to make it.  I chose cedar pieces and consequently the piece has held together all these years, although the rope wrap hanger I used rotted. I don't have anything planted in it now, but use it for holding papers I believe.

Are you certain your NPR station doesn't have morning news?  It could be "over" before you turn it on.  The Tuscaloosa station starts their's at 5:00 and carries it to 7:00.  Then, unlike some stations they repeat the "show."  The Montgomery station doesn't start until 6, and they finish just after 7; then they start what I call local yokel stuff. 

As to hummingbirds--I thought I wasn't getting any either.  What I have discovered is that for whatever reason, they do not arrive early in the season at my feeder (which could be now).  Then, later on, they will show up.  They leave then about October.  Now I don't bother to put my feeder out until July or August.  It could be that there is too much else flowering early.  I'm sure you know you can help attract them with certain flowers.  Last year I got worried because one bird became very territorial.  He spent literally hours fighting off any other bird. 

They would zoom and fight and whip around so fast I was afraid they would crash into the plate glass window.  I almost took the feeder down.

I was also afraid that since it was so close to migration all the fighting would deplete their energy stores rather than build them up for the trip.  We are "supposed" to only have one type here, but some people have seen other types.  Also, contrary to what is believed, some birds winter over and stay all year, which they are not supposed to do.  

For some reason I cannot listen to jazz.  While some people find it relaxing, I find that it "irritates" me and all I want to do is turn it off.

Elizabeth

RE: Monitoring