Here’s the URL for the article in the Chicago Tribune.
Amazing.
EDIT: The link has expired on the Tribune
Archive for January, 2008
New Lincoln Pictures
January 16, 2008Changes
January 9, 2008Okay, folks. Time for a serious chat.
Let’s talk about attachments. Whether or not it is family or friends or people that you see on the TV all the time, we grow attached to them.
Today, the latest episode of "This Old House" aired. They are nearly done redoing an old shingle-style house. Part of the redo was new tiling. And, doing the tiling as always, was Joe Ferrante. The master bathroom is a magnificent example of how Joe was meticulous in his work and craftsmanship.
The week they shot this episode, on November 9, Joe had a massive heart attack at the site and died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
Personally, I feel like I lost a friend, a teacher and, yes, a favorite uncle. He never had a bad day on camera and was always sharing the tricks of the trade that he learned over the many years he was doing tile work.
The end of the episode starts with the house quiet and in the rain. What happened next was Kevin, standing in the master bath with the tile "carpet" that Joe laid so carefully, telling us that Joe had passed away. I think that was the hardest thing that Kevin ever had to do. On the website, Tom Silva said that he was supposed to be in the shot with Kevin but just could not get through it. I don’t blame Tommy. He and Joe worked together since 1983 and this has to be a tremendous loss for him and the whole crew.
So, when you pray to whatever deity you venerate, put in a good word for Joe and for his family and friends.
I’ll miss his smiling face.
My goodness.
January 8, 2008I started to have my doubts that Hilary could do it but it appears that she did. She beat Sen. Obama in NH and THAT is huge.
How will this affect the remainder of the compaign? I can’t say but this will definitely give the Clinton campaign a shot in the arse that it sorely needed after Iowa.
Never argue with a bread knife
January 8, 2008Here’s what happens when it gets mad at you:
This was after I got home from the hospital. The follow up doc said they majorly overdid it with this stuff. Can you believe it? it looks like I chopped the damn thing off! BTW, I had to redo the wrapping several times.
Here’s what it looks like now:
The little dark area is where the knife took it’s revenge. So, food prep gloves will work just fine.
oh boy
January 5, 2008What a way to start working for a company!
I was working at the Jimmy Johns shop that I just got hired at and managed to slice my finger pretty bad on one of the bread knives which I was trying to dry. I won’t ever try to dry those things any other way but air-dried. The thing is, I knew how sharp those things were. I even made a point of keeping the sheaths for them so that, once they were dry, they could be put back on. Owell.
It was bad enough to go to the hospital. Two and a half hours later, I emerged with two steri-strips keeping the cut closed (which by that time had already clotted) and a splint on the index finger of my left hand….yes, the one I *write* with. 
Anyhow, I don’t think I’ll have this thing on too much longer…I want the kid to see it. Just think of it…the shop isn’t even open and already we have a LTA. DAMN.
One other thing…nah, you’ll just have to imagine trying to use the bathroom.
Iowa
January 5, 2008Well, the Iowa caucus is done. The pundits are saying that Hilary came in third.
Well, John Dvorak says that it ain’t so. Here’s a link to the post where he explains it all.
