So, at 8:15 am, we are coming down the home stretch dreaming of going home and enjoying our Saturday. Then "it" happens. We reach behind the control valve and activate the water flow switch. An alarm comes in on the panel and we return the switch to normal. Attempts to clear the alarm were unsuccessful. I ask the fire testing contractor, "Gee, how come it says 'AC Trouble' rather than Zone X alarm this time?" He says, "I don't know, but I can't reset the system to normal." Another fire test contractor comes out of the computer room and says, "Did you guys do anything? That room just got awfully quiet!" We investigate and discover that we have taken out all the servers in the room. And there were A LOT! We call the maintenance supervisor and he starts to look for a breaker or something that we must have tripped. The lights were still on in the room and the rest of the building had power, just the HVAC units and the computer equipment were not operating. This verified that the local power company didn't have an outage. However, we were curious as to why the servers went down since they have a dedicated UPS serving them. We then check in the basement and we find that the UPS was knocked offline too! SO now we know why the servers have no power and we have to get them back up. We now attempt to restart the UPS. We crank the rotary switch on the UPS through it's positions, from 4 (normal) to 0 (off). The servers upstairs kick on and then off as we rotate the switch back to the startup position. We attempt to restart the UPS as per the instructions on the screen and it fails due to a DC power overload. Nobody can figure out how to reset it. I pipe up with "If you can get me a manual, I can get it back online." Off we go in search of a manual for the UPS. Now, funny thing, the manual for the UPS is online at the manufacturer's website. Unfortunately, the UPS also supplies power to the phone system. Yup, that's right, the phones don't work either. Finally, the electrician finds a manual and I start to read.

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Client Success Story: Hunterdon Medical Center. Quality Alternatives Projects: Facility, mechanical and controls performance and energy optimization evaluations. "I wanted to thank you for the recommendations you provided for our energy reduction initiative. This project was very complex and difficult to understand, but the investigative work you completed provided us with not only options, but with a degree of understanding we would have never been able to grasp without your help. My belief is that your degree of expertise has not only provided us with a clear direction, but will save the institution financially over the years to come. Again, thank you for the effort you and your company have put forth." Robert Carl, Director, Facilities Management, Hunterdon Medical Center. Client Success Story: Celgene Cellular Therapeutics. Quality Alternatives Projects: Evaluating multiple sites for regulatory compliance in preparation for a new product launch. This enables management to make an informed decision in selecting the best location while achieving the most cost effective and timely schedule. "As a non- engineer involved in building a technically complex space to meet strict regulatory requirements, I found working with Quality Alternatives a positive experience. Their technical expertise is beyond question. What was enjoyable was the fact that they took the time to explain the rationale behind their recommendations and the implications for regulatory compliance. Everyone on their staff was helpful and cooperative. They were helpful to answer any and all questions and consistently gave that extra service and attention to achieve the desired outcome." Kenneth Resztak, Pharm.D. Celgene Cellular Therapeutics.

Client Success Story: Kamal S. Afiouni for major home renovation. Quality Alternatives Projects: Architectural, Mechanical & Electrical design. "Dear Antonette, You are extremely professional, creative, dependable, and multitalented. Your ability to take a non-conforming lot project and turn it into a dream is very amazing. When the township stood in your way, you bounced right back, went around them, and kept on going till you solved the problem. Before you entered the picture, we had been tied up for a year and gotten no where with people who took our money and would not return our calls. Now, in three months, you have redrawn the plans, obtained the permit to build, and construction is underway. We now know there will be a house after all the previous aggravations we went through. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!!! Besides the fact that you are so knowledgeable in all phases of construction, you are a very warm and caring person. You surrounded yourself with people of the same caliber. It is a joy working with you, we feel secure in the fact that your work is the best. We sing your praises to everyone we talk to." Kamal, Mary and Summer Afiouni.

The event was organized by Gabriella Swartwood of G3 Marketing and PR. We'd like to thank Gabriella for handling all the details so we could continue to focus on our demanding work. Thank you also to our own Theresa Davison for being integral to making the evening a success.

One morning as Jimmy is brewing his daily cup of joe and I'm setting up for the day with a hot chocolate flavored coffee, he tells me this story. His daughter, the pride and joy of his life, announces that her boyfriend of many years, Mike, is soon to be a T.V. celebrity. At a trade show he was selected to build a deck for the film set of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. "Wow," I'm wondering, "How did he get selected?" Jimmy smiles and reminds me of Mike's long goatee, piercings, etc. I love it- this young man is not only talented but has film charisma. My middle son Jason (with the bright florescent blue hair soon to be a mohawk) has come to mind, so I'm enjoying this a little more than I should. Jimmy is trying to get back on a serious note, or more probably to change the subject for two reasons. First, Mike is a really nice guy and second, at this point, Jimmy is well aware that he is about to be exposed as the pot calling the kettle black: his favorite pass time is busting me about Jason's appearance.

Jimmy regales me of the immense pressure on Mike to secure a permit and build a great deck in only two weeks. He then mentions the rather extensive instructions on the criteria for privacy. I've designed my fair share of decks, and most had a privacy factor depending on the location, so that seems like a normal request. A few weeks later, Jim tells us the deck is complete, the filming can commence, and yes the privacy is a little more than I was thinking: the deck owners sunbathe in the nude. The address was: NOPE, sorry, confidentiality prevails.