Kissimmee, FL
Stayed home late this morning and got to work at the same time the Shop got there. Billy told me I should take the day off and get my driver's license and stuff done since there was little work for me today. I went and told Doug, and he said, "Oh yeah, since you've been working so many hours, go ahead and take the whole day off." "Thanks Doug!" "Oh don't thank me, you'll be making it up to me ! Just kidding!"
So I took off for the day ! Man what a pretty day too ! 80F, sunny, a few fluffy clouds.
First stop - DMV for a driver's license. You take a number and wait to be called. I waited outside in the sun reading my magazine. An old man came up to me and asked for 45 cents... he gestured to an incredibly dirty and nasty open wound on his ankle that was obviously infected and swollen. Said he wanted the money to buy dogfood. Even if I thought he was telling the truth I probably would not give him the money, but that foot is probably going to come off. I waited over two hours ! Finally I turned in my old license, read the numbers on Line 5, took my picture, and was out of there.
Next stop - Navy Federal Credit Union. Drove up 417 to Orlando. As I came up to the toll booth I tossed 50 cents into the basket but the light never changed to green. I drove past and sure enough the alarm went off. When I got to the toll plaza I asked the attendent about it. "Oh, I wish there would get that fixed right! Here hon, call the number on this card and tell them about it." So I did and they told me not to worry about it... happens all the time... some dumb bitch gets change out of the ashtray with bubble gum on it and it stops up the machine. I guess the machine is supposed to call for a maintenance man when it goes down like that.
Deposited my tax refund into savings at the credit union, then came back to Kissimmee. Called Jan-Marie and informed her of my new FLDL number and asked her to include me on the Weekly Manufacturing Report mailing list. I found the 17-92 car wash out-of-order, so I decided not to do that. Then I went to Staples and got a stand-up stapler, staples, a Rolodex for Doug, some business cards to be printed on.
Next stop - Joseph And The Hair Razors for my two week haircut. Got the hair cut nice and short. Next - Shell to fill my tank. Finally back home.
At 3 I went up to Stamp Out Your Art where I ordered a rubber stamp for my books. Seems it is not in today and will not be in until tomorrow... my order 'confused' them. So I guess I will not be getting it until Saturday.
By them time I got home from that the sun was starting to go down. One of my goals was to spend some time by the pool today reading and sunning. Dang.
When I got up this morning I felt better. Was almost let down that I was not going to work today, but it is probably for the best. Let me build my health up some.... first day off during the week since January !
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
I have decided that the aching and fatigue is actually the flu. Got home alittle early yesterday and got a little more rest... I feel a little bit better.
First thing we did when I got to work yesterday was watch a video and then go outside to a trailer and take a hearing test. How did I do? I dunno. The test results look fairly normal.
Steel workers were assembling our bins... I took pictures as each piece was lifted.
Around 8AM, The Shop arrived. This was a surprise because we did not expect them until today.
Bryan and me wired up the control panel for the car. Then we painted the mold box lifting fork safety yellow. Did miscellaneous other small tasks during the day. I went home right after the Shop left.
Ate salad, cheese cauliflower, and brussels sprouts for dinner.
Internet service was down again lastnight, that is why I am blogging this now. I will have to call BrightHouse today and bitch at them.
Got to bed kinda early, but I needed the rest, and I feel better now because of it.
I have decided that the aching and fatigue is actually the flu. Got home alittle early yesterday and got a little more rest... I feel a little bit better.
First thing we did when I got to work yesterday was watch a video and then go outside to a trailer and take a hearing test. How did I do? I dunno. The test results look fairly normal.
Steel workers were assembling our bins... I took pictures as each piece was lifted.
Around 8AM, The Shop arrived. This was a surprise because we did not expect them until today.
Bryan and me wired up the control panel for the car. Then we painted the mold box lifting fork safety yellow. Did miscellaneous other small tasks during the day. I went home right after the Shop left.
Ate salad, cheese cauliflower, and brussels sprouts for dinner.
Internet service was down again lastnight, that is why I am blogging this now. I will have to call BrightHouse today and bitch at them.
Got to bed kinda early, but I needed the rest, and I feel better now because of it.
Monday, March 29, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
6 AM - met Troy and got a turnover from him. We are running T-018's now. For some reason I was tired and in a fog all day... sorta like I could not wake up... I think I must have some kinda cold.... no sneezing or coughing, just aching joints and fatigue.
The man from Darl Equipment came to measure rollers and assure me that ours will be in on Monday.
8 AM - Doug called in to ask how the equipment was running. Told me that Bob and him were there until 11PM with inventory.
9AM - Bob shows up for the day. Shortly after Bob comes in, Tim Whittemore from Leesburg shows up too. Doug calls to tell us he will be late - stuck in traffic on I-4.
9:30AM - Wayne arrives.
Doug eventually gets in. The T-018's begin to run with cracked faces so we have to spend much time troubleshooting that problem.
Around noon I step into the office to get my camera... Wayne turns in his chair and asks me if I got a day off... "Yeah, Saturday." "What? Why were you here on Sunday? I told you to work Monday through Friday with The Shop!" "Well, Wayne, the schedule has me in here on Sunday and Bob and Doug did not tell me to not come in. Oh, by-the-way, I have 288 hours in for the month right now." Well, Wayne about shit when he heard that.
I guess Doug got his ass handed to him and I get Saturday and Sunday off until the Shop is done and the new plant is finished. I think Doug is kinda pissed about it.
Finished the day out easily enough... no mention of my transgression by Bob...
The new bins arrived at 5:30PM. Told the truck drivers to park them in the yard because I will not have a crane to unload them until 7AM. I will try to get pictures of the new bins going into place too.
Hold your friends close and your enemies closer.
6 AM - met Troy and got a turnover from him. We are running T-018's now. For some reason I was tired and in a fog all day... sorta like I could not wake up... I think I must have some kinda cold.... no sneezing or coughing, just aching joints and fatigue.
The man from Darl Equipment came to measure rollers and assure me that ours will be in on Monday.
8 AM - Doug called in to ask how the equipment was running. Told me that Bob and him were there until 11PM with inventory.
9AM - Bob shows up for the day. Shortly after Bob comes in, Tim Whittemore from Leesburg shows up too. Doug calls to tell us he will be late - stuck in traffic on I-4.
9:30AM - Wayne arrives.
Doug eventually gets in. The T-018's begin to run with cracked faces so we have to spend much time troubleshooting that problem.
Around noon I step into the office to get my camera... Wayne turns in his chair and asks me if I got a day off... "Yeah, Saturday." "What? Why were you here on Sunday? I told you to work Monday through Friday with The Shop!" "Well, Wayne, the schedule has me in here on Sunday and Bob and Doug did not tell me to not come in. Oh, by-the-way, I have 288 hours in for the month right now." Well, Wayne about shit when he heard that.
I guess Doug got his ass handed to him and I get Saturday and Sunday off until the Shop is done and the new plant is finished. I think Doug is kinda pissed about it.
Finished the day out easily enough... no mention of my transgression by Bob...
The new bins arrived at 5:30PM. Told the truck drivers to park them in the yard because I will not have a crane to unload them until 7AM. I will try to get pictures of the new bins going into place too.
Hold your friends close and your enemies closer.
Sunday, March 28, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Again, it was beautiful, warm, and sunny outside today... bordering on hot at times.
I found the office looking like a bombed-out wreck. I gathered all of the safety equipment up into boxes and swept it out. Do I get credit for that ? NOOOooooo ! I just get blamed when something comes up missing because I "disturbed" so much stuff.
Bob came in around 9 AM. He caught me throwing rocks at the alligator in our pond. He told me that harrassing an alligator is a federal offense. I guess feeding them is too. I believe there are little foot-long babies in the pond now too.
Bob and Doug mostly did the inventory while Martin, Teddy, Gregory and I kept the machinery running. They did not even get out into the yard until 1 PM to start counting block. I remember the last quarterly inventory - we were there until 11 PM figuring where all of the damned block went. They tried to keep me tonite, but taking a play out of their own book, I disappeared around 7:15 after helping Troy measure the stockpiles.
Still too many hours. Can't afford to quit yet, tax refund or not, I need to save up and build a bigger war chest before I march out of there. Still, I will put Wayne and Bob on the spot this week when I ask Wayne if he spoke to Bob about my hours.
My new chair sure is nice and comfortable to sit in ! My tailbone is not hurting, and the fabric is nice and soft !
Regardless whether the Shop is here or not tomorrow, I will have twelve hours because I am scheduled 6 AM to 6 PM on Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed. The Shop will be back on Wednesday.
Again, it was beautiful, warm, and sunny outside today... bordering on hot at times.
I found the office looking like a bombed-out wreck. I gathered all of the safety equipment up into boxes and swept it out. Do I get credit for that ? NOOOooooo ! I just get blamed when something comes up missing because I "disturbed" so much stuff.
Bob came in around 9 AM. He caught me throwing rocks at the alligator in our pond. He told me that harrassing an alligator is a federal offense. I guess feeding them is too. I believe there are little foot-long babies in the pond now too.
Bob and Doug mostly did the inventory while Martin, Teddy, Gregory and I kept the machinery running. They did not even get out into the yard until 1 PM to start counting block. I remember the last quarterly inventory - we were there until 11 PM figuring where all of the damned block went. They tried to keep me tonite, but taking a play out of their own book, I disappeared around 7:15 after helping Troy measure the stockpiles.
Still too many hours. Can't afford to quit yet, tax refund or not, I need to save up and build a bigger war chest before I march out of there. Still, I will put Wayne and Bob on the spot this week when I ask Wayne if he spoke to Bob about my hours.
My new chair sure is nice and comfortable to sit in ! My tailbone is not hurting, and the fabric is nice and soft !
Regardless whether the Shop is here or not tomorrow, I will have twelve hours because I am scheduled 6 AM to 6 PM on Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed. The Shop will be back on Wednesday.
Saturday, March 27, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Yet another beautiful, warm, sunny day today.... picture perfect ! Fluffy white clouds scudding across the sky... starting to get a little warm now.
Drove to the DMV this morning and read my Wired magazine while I waited and waited for them to open. Turns out they are NOT open on Saturday despite what everyone told me. Then I drove up 417 to east Orlando to Navy Federal Credit Union in an attempt to deposit my income tax refund. They have discontinued their Saturday hours too ! Dammit... now I really do need a weekday off to take care of some of my business.
On the way back down here I stopped at Best Buy and bought a nice microfibre covered executive chair to replace the wooden chair I was using at the computer. I have assembled it, Scotch-Guarded it, and am sitting in it now. MUCH more comfortable.
Made a 24-minute-long CD of Credence Clearwater Revival for Boyd. He said that he threw out his CCR. I am sure he will appreciate it.
We have been saving all of the cut-off wire in the new plant for Robert, the 66-year-old black man working on the construction. He is going to strip it for the copper and use the money for his next vacation. I can see his wife sitting down and stripping insulation all day ! LOL ! I guess they give you top dollar for stripped, but do not give as much if the insulation is burned off.
I have to work tomorrow... and we have the final quarterly inventory for the year too. Watch me end up staying until 10 or 11 PM to get THAT done.
Took the truck and cleaned it out today too.... as I was vacuuming the floor mats, my Super-Glued finger broke open and started to drip blood onto my floor mat ! Super Glue is too brittle for busy fingers ! Finger tip is still splayed open, but it is starting to heal already. Being exposed to air today probably helped it some.
Now I am enjoying a STRONG rum and Coke, listening to BJ Thomas belt out "The Mighty Clouds of Joy", and adding to my blog. I am staying in tonite, I have had a busy enough day.
We want peace, even if we have to fight for it. -- Eisenhower
Yet another beautiful, warm, sunny day today.... picture perfect ! Fluffy white clouds scudding across the sky... starting to get a little warm now.
Drove to the DMV this morning and read my Wired magazine while I waited and waited for them to open. Turns out they are NOT open on Saturday despite what everyone told me. Then I drove up 417 to east Orlando to Navy Federal Credit Union in an attempt to deposit my income tax refund. They have discontinued their Saturday hours too ! Dammit... now I really do need a weekday off to take care of some of my business.
On the way back down here I stopped at Best Buy and bought a nice microfibre covered executive chair to replace the wooden chair I was using at the computer. I have assembled it, Scotch-Guarded it, and am sitting in it now. MUCH more comfortable.
Made a 24-minute-long CD of Credence Clearwater Revival for Boyd. He said that he threw out his CCR. I am sure he will appreciate it.
We have been saving all of the cut-off wire in the new plant for Robert, the 66-year-old black man working on the construction. He is going to strip it for the copper and use the money for his next vacation. I can see his wife sitting down and stripping insulation all day ! LOL ! I guess they give you top dollar for stripped, but do not give as much if the insulation is burned off.
I have to work tomorrow... and we have the final quarterly inventory for the year too. Watch me end up staying until 10 or 11 PM to get THAT done.
Took the truck and cleaned it out today too.... as I was vacuuming the floor mats, my Super-Glued finger broke open and started to drip blood onto my floor mat ! Super Glue is too brittle for busy fingers ! Finger tip is still splayed open, but it is starting to heal already. Being exposed to air today probably helped it some.
Now I am enjoying a STRONG rum and Coke, listening to BJ Thomas belt out "The Mighty Clouds of Joy", and adding to my blog. I am staying in tonite, I have had a busy enough day.
We want peace, even if we have to fight for it. -- Eisenhower
Friday, March 26, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Another beautiful sunny Florida day today !
Today we customized the steel plates that cover up the trenches in Plant Two's floor, installed guards, installed the power driven conveyor, I squared up and anchored the cuber control panel, then I took off the angles that were holding it up and painted the sides that they covered with Lithibar Blue. The steel workers installed the new mixer today and I got pics of it being craned into place. The concrete guys are still pouring more yard for us out front.
Boyd told me to get some hose and cut it so that it would cover the sharp edges on the floor plates where the hydraulic lines come up out of the trench. I got some garden hose and was cutting it, but accidentally cut through the hose and right into the middle finger on my left hand ! It cut kinda deep too. I told Doug about it and I knew I was going to hear something about "our perfect safety record".... and sure enough, he did not disappoint. "Man, if you have to get stitches, I guess you have to get stitches, but you had better not mess up our perfect safety record with just three days left in the quarter!" Well, I cleaned it, sprayed some blood clotting spray into it, and put a band-aid on it.
Cleaned out the new store room and began to assemble the shelves in there. The new batcher control panel came today so we had to get the parts and safety gear locker in the office emptied out so the batcher could be moved into the office.
Steve was cutting grid to install in the front conveyor line. Another shipment of kiln racks came today.
We see problems with the hydraulic lines already... I think that company is going to be called back before we start testing. Now if the electricians will just catch up with us.
Got out of there at 3:15 PM. I don't know if Doug and David cared or not. If they did, they could have phoned me. Went to H&R Block to get my NYS Tax Return corrected. I guess it was missing a W-2 when it was sent, so now I have it ready to go again.
When I got home I cleaned out my cut fingertip again, then got the Super Glue out of the refrigerator and glued the skin closed! It seems to be working, and it is waterproof too.
Tomorrow I guess I am going to go get a Florida Driver's License at 8:30 AM. Then, if there is time, I am going to Orlando to deposit my Federal Income Tax Refund at Navy Federal. Then I am going to wash my truck. If tomorrow is sunny like today, I might put shorts on and read my new Wired magazine by the pool.
I still need new hubcaps for the truck, Florida vehicle registration, plates back to NY, a haircut, new safety shoes, and some groceries. Too much to do... too little time to do it.
Success is ninety-nine percent failure. -- Soichiro Honda
Another beautiful sunny Florida day today !
Today we customized the steel plates that cover up the trenches in Plant Two's floor, installed guards, installed the power driven conveyor, I squared up and anchored the cuber control panel, then I took off the angles that were holding it up and painted the sides that they covered with Lithibar Blue. The steel workers installed the new mixer today and I got pics of it being craned into place. The concrete guys are still pouring more yard for us out front.
Boyd told me to get some hose and cut it so that it would cover the sharp edges on the floor plates where the hydraulic lines come up out of the trench. I got some garden hose and was cutting it, but accidentally cut through the hose and right into the middle finger on my left hand ! It cut kinda deep too. I told Doug about it and I knew I was going to hear something about "our perfect safety record".... and sure enough, he did not disappoint. "Man, if you have to get stitches, I guess you have to get stitches, but you had better not mess up our perfect safety record with just three days left in the quarter!" Well, I cleaned it, sprayed some blood clotting spray into it, and put a band-aid on it.
Cleaned out the new store room and began to assemble the shelves in there. The new batcher control panel came today so we had to get the parts and safety gear locker in the office emptied out so the batcher could be moved into the office.
Steve was cutting grid to install in the front conveyor line. Another shipment of kiln racks came today.
We see problems with the hydraulic lines already... I think that company is going to be called back before we start testing. Now if the electricians will just catch up with us.
Got out of there at 3:15 PM. I don't know if Doug and David cared or not. If they did, they could have phoned me. Went to H&R Block to get my NYS Tax Return corrected. I guess it was missing a W-2 when it was sent, so now I have it ready to go again.
When I got home I cleaned out my cut fingertip again, then got the Super Glue out of the refrigerator and glued the skin closed! It seems to be working, and it is waterproof too.
Tomorrow I guess I am going to go get a Florida Driver's License at 8:30 AM. Then, if there is time, I am going to Orlando to deposit my Federal Income Tax Refund at Navy Federal. Then I am going to wash my truck. If tomorrow is sunny like today, I might put shorts on and read my new Wired magazine by the pool.
I still need new hubcaps for the truck, Florida vehicle registration, plates back to NY, a haircut, new safety shoes, and some groceries. Too much to do... too little time to do it.
Success is ninety-nine percent failure. -- Soichiro Honda
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
The new computer came today and IT came over and set it up for us. Bob and Doug are getting new desks and things are really moving along with the new plant. Mike Carlson came to the plant today and told Doug that he could order whatever he wanted this first year! I guess Doug, and Plant 1192, is just going to run T-007's the first year inorder to get the production numbers as high as possible.
We set the jib crane today, continued wiring and began to anchor all of the machinery foundations. I got to weld today. Struck some beads to anchor the loader and unloader elevators. I still need alot of practice. I find myself moving forward too quickly and getting incomplete melting behind the arc. I am glad that Boyd took the time to show me that and let me do some of it.
Went out to eat with Dick, Billy and the Shop this evening. We went to Crabby Joes Seafood House. They have eaten at most of the places along 192. They really are nice people.
Ken said a few things that really struck home tonite. "We are usually our own worst enemy. Most of the bad things are in our own heads, we imagine bad stuff that is not really happening or going to happen." I guess he really is right. I could see myself doing that recently. When the economy is good, we tend to think that the good times will continue uninterrupted... when things turn for the worse, we despair and think that it will never get better. Neither outlook is correct.
Partly cloudly today. Breezy and it drizzled briefly.
They were never defeated they were only killed. -- said of the French Foreign Legion
The new computer came today and IT came over and set it up for us. Bob and Doug are getting new desks and things are really moving along with the new plant. Mike Carlson came to the plant today and told Doug that he could order whatever he wanted this first year! I guess Doug, and Plant 1192, is just going to run T-007's the first year inorder to get the production numbers as high as possible.
We set the jib crane today, continued wiring and began to anchor all of the machinery foundations. I got to weld today. Struck some beads to anchor the loader and unloader elevators. I still need alot of practice. I find myself moving forward too quickly and getting incomplete melting behind the arc. I am glad that Boyd took the time to show me that and let me do some of it.
Went out to eat with Dick, Billy and the Shop this evening. We went to Crabby Joes Seafood House. They have eaten at most of the places along 192. They really are nice people.
Ken said a few things that really struck home tonite. "We are usually our own worst enemy. Most of the bad things are in our own heads, we imagine bad stuff that is not really happening or going to happen." I guess he really is right. I could see myself doing that recently. When the economy is good, we tend to think that the good times will continue uninterrupted... when things turn for the worse, we despair and think that it will never get better. Neither outlook is correct.
Partly cloudly today. Breezy and it drizzled briefly.
They were never defeated they were only killed. -- said of the French Foreign Legion
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Today was sunny, the high was 76F.
Maintenance day today. We changed the drive belts on Block Machine A's Bescodyne drive, attempted to change bushings on the feed drawer shaft, tightened up all the drive chains, replaced slat conveyor, and I tightened up the fuse clips in the cuber hydraulic pump disconnect cabinet.
Spent most of the day wiring up equipment. Wiring up the proximity switches and photo-emitter-receivers for the crawler, getting cables into the box for the depalleter and BTO, and getting cables into the control panel for the car. Boyd, Chris, Celso and Ken were busy hanging rail on the kiln roof that the festoon cable hangs from as the car pulls it along behind it into the kiln. Mark put boxes and limit switches up for the kiln door. Bryan worked on various junction boxes. Steve, from Sanford, welded liners into the throat of the machine and then wired up a box on the side of the machine.
The Shop is having dinner tonite with Mike Carlson. Dick asked me if I wanted to go. I declined. I told him that Mike doesn't even know I exist. Besides, if I went, I would not be able to sit here and enjoy my blog session right now.
I left this evening after The Shop left -- around 5:15 PM. It sure was nice to drive home in daylight.
Often the surest way to convey misinformation is to tell the strict truth. -- Mark Twain
Today was sunny, the high was 76F.
Maintenance day today. We changed the drive belts on Block Machine A's Bescodyne drive, attempted to change bushings on the feed drawer shaft, tightened up all the drive chains, replaced slat conveyor, and I tightened up the fuse clips in the cuber hydraulic pump disconnect cabinet.
Spent most of the day wiring up equipment. Wiring up the proximity switches and photo-emitter-receivers for the crawler, getting cables into the box for the depalleter and BTO, and getting cables into the control panel for the car. Boyd, Chris, Celso and Ken were busy hanging rail on the kiln roof that the festoon cable hangs from as the car pulls it along behind it into the kiln. Mark put boxes and limit switches up for the kiln door. Bryan worked on various junction boxes. Steve, from Sanford, welded liners into the throat of the machine and then wired up a box on the side of the machine.
The Shop is having dinner tonite with Mike Carlson. Dick asked me if I wanted to go. I declined. I told him that Mike doesn't even know I exist. Besides, if I went, I would not be able to sit here and enjoy my blog session right now.
I left this evening after The Shop left -- around 5:15 PM. It sure was nice to drive home in daylight.
Often the surest way to convey misinformation is to tell the strict truth. -- Mark Twain
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Could not blog yesterday because RoadRunner was on the fritz. Seems that many evenings and weekends the service is down for some reason. I need to give them a call and vent. Maybe the service will improve.
Started installing gates and guard fences around the cuber and pallet injector yesterday. Today I continued that installation and installing all of the little details like latches on the gates and alarms. This phase of work can be frustrating because we are getting all of the details done and it does not look like alot at the end of the day.
Talked with Bryan and Mark, my peers in the foreman trainee program and asked what kind of hours they were working. When I told them that I have worked 72 hours a week since 19 January, Mark said that he would be bitching about it. So, I found Wayne and asked him, "Do you remember how you felt when you were deployed?" He said, "Which deployment?" "Any of them. That is how this is starting to feel." Well, he was surprised to hear how many hours I have been putting in and he is going to speak to Bob about it. He only wants me on the new construction for now, Monday through Friday. I guess Bob will be pissed when he finds out that I went to Wayne about it. I don't care. I think Bob and Doug both take advantage of me. The hourly employees say that they have never managed to keep a foreman trainee longer than six months. Bob fired the last one, but the others quit after gaining experience.
Dawn said, "Yeah, it sounds nice that you are down there in Florida, but it doesn't sound like you have any time to do anything." Sadly she is right. I dunno... sometimes I just feel so gloomy, like I want to quit and walk out of there.
As it turns out, Target is open until 9 PM on Sundays. I got some sleeveless t-shirts, socks, and a half gallon of milk. Now if I can get that Driver's License, hubcaps for the truck, and get the truck detailed.
My Federal Income Tax Refund Check arrived yesterday. I need to get to NFCU and deposit that in my savings account. By itself it will be enough money to move my stuff down here from New York.
It is better to be feared than to be loved. -- Niccolo Machiavelli
Could not blog yesterday because RoadRunner was on the fritz. Seems that many evenings and weekends the service is down for some reason. I need to give them a call and vent. Maybe the service will improve.
Started installing gates and guard fences around the cuber and pallet injector yesterday. Today I continued that installation and installing all of the little details like latches on the gates and alarms. This phase of work can be frustrating because we are getting all of the details done and it does not look like alot at the end of the day.
Talked with Bryan and Mark, my peers in the foreman trainee program and asked what kind of hours they were working. When I told them that I have worked 72 hours a week since 19 January, Mark said that he would be bitching about it. So, I found Wayne and asked him, "Do you remember how you felt when you were deployed?" He said, "Which deployment?" "Any of them. That is how this is starting to feel." Well, he was surprised to hear how many hours I have been putting in and he is going to speak to Bob about it. He only wants me on the new construction for now, Monday through Friday. I guess Bob will be pissed when he finds out that I went to Wayne about it. I don't care. I think Bob and Doug both take advantage of me. The hourly employees say that they have never managed to keep a foreman trainee longer than six months. Bob fired the last one, but the others quit after gaining experience.
Dawn said, "Yeah, it sounds nice that you are down there in Florida, but it doesn't sound like you have any time to do anything." Sadly she is right. I dunno... sometimes I just feel so gloomy, like I want to quit and walk out of there.
As it turns out, Target is open until 9 PM on Sundays. I got some sleeveless t-shirts, socks, and a half gallon of milk. Now if I can get that Driver's License, hubcaps for the truck, and get the truck detailed.
My Federal Income Tax Refund Check arrived yesterday. I need to get to NFCU and deposit that in my savings account. By itself it will be enough money to move my stuff down here from New York.
It is better to be feared than to be loved. -- Niccolo Machiavelli
Sunday, March 21, 2004
Davenport, FL
Today was a warm and sunny day. Really beautiful. First day of Spring too !
We are running T-007EX today. Fortunately the machinery is running very well and not causing us trouble. I spent most of the day pulling the line and putting the block up in the yard. I bought pizza for second shift today from Hungry Howie's. The bill came to $53 ! Something for my expense report.
Today Rick took his tools home. Tomorrow is his last day. He is going back to work at Disney. They are paying him $5 more per hour to work in their maintenance department. Plus, their benefits are very good. Can't blame him. Hate to see him go though.
Taught Gregory how to clean the mixer today.
Today I could see myself getting to Target or Walmart to buy socks, underwear, and t-shirts, but it is Sunday and most of those places close early on Sunday. I guess I will have to get a Florida Driver's License this week too.
Not going to buy a newspaper this evening... too big... but I do need to stop and get a half gallon of milk.
Today was a warm and sunny day. Really beautiful. First day of Spring too !
We are running T-007EX today. Fortunately the machinery is running very well and not causing us trouble. I spent most of the day pulling the line and putting the block up in the yard. I bought pizza for second shift today from Hungry Howie's. The bill came to $53 ! Something for my expense report.
Today Rick took his tools home. Tomorrow is his last day. He is going back to work at Disney. They are paying him $5 more per hour to work in their maintenance department. Plus, their benefits are very good. Can't blame him. Hate to see him go though.
Taught Gregory how to clean the mixer today.
Today I could see myself getting to Target or Walmart to buy socks, underwear, and t-shirts, but it is Sunday and most of those places close early on Sunday. I guess I will have to get a Florida Driver's License this week too.
Not going to buy a newspaper this evening... too big... but I do need to stop and get a half gallon of milk.
Saturday, March 20, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Yesterday was another beautiful day.
I spent most of it inside wiring junction boxes and panels for our new equipment. Dave Smith says that we should be ready to start up in 3 weeks -- if the electricians can keep up. I guess they were dragging their feet because we are two months ahead of schedule and were going to finish it on time. That explains why they would show up, do a little work, and disappear two hours later.
At one o'clock Bob showed up for the Loadout Meeting. I asked him where it was going to be and he replied, "What? Oh, you're going to be there too?" I told him that I would not miss it for the world and that "I want to see you make Johnnie cry!" Well, the meeting certainly did not disappoint. One thing you can say about Johnnie -- he is consistent. His consistent aggressive behavior infuriated Wayne ! There was a short shouting match. Dipetrio and Pearson did not comment on the outburst, but Wayne was dialing his cellphone as he left the office ! I imagine it was a call to Mike Carlson. Atleast Wayne now knows what we are dealing with down here as far as our yard and our trucks.
BTO was having some trouble. Making too many pallet block or more than one batch of them at a time... Doug was trying to pin it on the wear plates that I installed last week. If that is the case, why is it just now messing up?
Jim Henson sent some e-mail to Bob about my NY Driver's License. I guess I am expected to have a FL Driver's License already. I spouted off, "Well, when am I able to go out and get that license?" "Well, geez, you're off three days a week", was Bob's response. "Yeah, like two weeks in January is the only time I have worked a regular schedule." Then David questioned my answer. "Uhhmmm, since you went to Michigan I have been working 6 days a week, David." And I expect to continue working 6 days until the new plant is done.
This morning I did dishes, two loads of laundry and did my grocery shopping all before 9 AM. No big plans for this afternoon. Might go out for a couple of hours this evening.
Tomorrow is my Sunday with Rick and Martin. It should be okay. We are running T-007's right now. Of course the equipment can mess up no matter what you run. Rick was called by Disney to come back to his old maintenance job for $24 an hour. I guess we are going to lose him. I am glad for him, but hate to see him go because he is very useful with metals.
Next Sunday will be the monthly and quarterly inventories. Maybe Doug will come in to help with it too. I never see David participate in inventory. You can count on next Sunday being a very long day.
We spend our time searching for security and hate it when we get it. -- John Steinbeck
Yesterday was another beautiful day.
I spent most of it inside wiring junction boxes and panels for our new equipment. Dave Smith says that we should be ready to start up in 3 weeks -- if the electricians can keep up. I guess they were dragging their feet because we are two months ahead of schedule and were going to finish it on time. That explains why they would show up, do a little work, and disappear two hours later.
At one o'clock Bob showed up for the Loadout Meeting. I asked him where it was going to be and he replied, "What? Oh, you're going to be there too?" I told him that I would not miss it for the world and that "I want to see you make Johnnie cry!" Well, the meeting certainly did not disappoint. One thing you can say about Johnnie -- he is consistent. His consistent aggressive behavior infuriated Wayne ! There was a short shouting match. Dipetrio and Pearson did not comment on the outburst, but Wayne was dialing his cellphone as he left the office ! I imagine it was a call to Mike Carlson. Atleast Wayne now knows what we are dealing with down here as far as our yard and our trucks.
BTO was having some trouble. Making too many pallet block or more than one batch of them at a time... Doug was trying to pin it on the wear plates that I installed last week. If that is the case, why is it just now messing up?
Jim Henson sent some e-mail to Bob about my NY Driver's License. I guess I am expected to have a FL Driver's License already. I spouted off, "Well, when am I able to go out and get that license?" "Well, geez, you're off three days a week", was Bob's response. "Yeah, like two weeks in January is the only time I have worked a regular schedule." Then David questioned my answer. "Uhhmmm, since you went to Michigan I have been working 6 days a week, David." And I expect to continue working 6 days until the new plant is done.
This morning I did dishes, two loads of laundry and did my grocery shopping all before 9 AM. No big plans for this afternoon. Might go out for a couple of hours this evening.
Tomorrow is my Sunday with Rick and Martin. It should be okay. We are running T-007's right now. Of course the equipment can mess up no matter what you run. Rick was called by Disney to come back to his old maintenance job for $24 an hour. I guess we are going to lose him. I am glad for him, but hate to see him go because he is very useful with metals.
Next Sunday will be the monthly and quarterly inventories. Maybe Doug will come in to help with it too. I never see David participate in inventory. You can count on next Sunday being a very long day.
We spend our time searching for security and hate it when we get it. -- John Steinbeck
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Today was a gorgeous, sunny Florida day. High was 79F.
The plant was the cleanest I have ever seen it. Really nice to see. Prepared for the Owner's Group to tour it.
Began by sweeping up the yard next to the building and cleaning up especially troublesome spots inside. Then began to help The Shop install equipment. I hooked up all of the hydraulic hoses on the cuber and pallet injector. Since they were tested before they left Alpena, they were full of hydraulic oil, which spilled all over the floor as soon as I uncapped the fittings.
At 12:30 we had lunch. Dick got us burgers and fries.
Around 1 PM our VIP's arrived. They were led through the new plant, up to the block machine in Plant A, then led out through Plant A. They were in the plant less than 10 minutes ! Guess they got their $13 million worth !
In the afternoon I wired up the control panel for the cuber hydraulic pump. Learning about conduit and fittings. They bricked up the hole in the kiln wall and they are filling the steel door frames with mortar/grout.
I cut out around 5:30 - shortly after The Shop. It was nice to drive home in daylight, but the days are getting noticibly longer now.
Tomorrow we have a Loadout Meeting with the Ready-Mix guys in the office at 10. I want to be there for that. Curious to see the way Bob will refute Johnnie's claims that we are slow to load trucks. I will try to make tomorrow a short day and try to get out to the Full Moon Saloon tomorrow evening.
If there is a 50-50 chance that something can go wrong, then nine times out of ten it will. -- Paul Harvey
Today was a gorgeous, sunny Florida day. High was 79F.
The plant was the cleanest I have ever seen it. Really nice to see. Prepared for the Owner's Group to tour it.
Began by sweeping up the yard next to the building and cleaning up especially troublesome spots inside. Then began to help The Shop install equipment. I hooked up all of the hydraulic hoses on the cuber and pallet injector. Since they were tested before they left Alpena, they were full of hydraulic oil, which spilled all over the floor as soon as I uncapped the fittings.
At 12:30 we had lunch. Dick got us burgers and fries.
Around 1 PM our VIP's arrived. They were led through the new plant, up to the block machine in Plant A, then led out through Plant A. They were in the plant less than 10 minutes ! Guess they got their $13 million worth !
In the afternoon I wired up the control panel for the cuber hydraulic pump. Learning about conduit and fittings. They bricked up the hole in the kiln wall and they are filling the steel door frames with mortar/grout.
I cut out around 5:30 - shortly after The Shop. It was nice to drive home in daylight, but the days are getting noticibly longer now.
Tomorrow we have a Loadout Meeting with the Ready-Mix guys in the office at 10. I want to be there for that. Curious to see the way Bob will refute Johnnie's claims that we are slow to load trucks. I will try to make tomorrow a short day and try to get out to the Full Moon Saloon tomorrow evening.
If there is a 50-50 chance that something can go wrong, then nine times out of ten it will. -- Paul Harvey
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Saint Patrick's Day
St. Patrick died in 464 AD. He told those people grieving for him to drink a drop to ease their suffering. I guess the Irish drank more than a drop and really kept that tradition !
Today we set the Rackveyor, hydraulic pumps, and the Pallet Injector. Dan and I installed the crawler stops in the kiln. They ordered Hungry Howies baked subs for us for lunch. It looked like a pizza crust folded in half with cheese and ham, turkey, or steak inside.
The Owner's Group is visiting Davenport tomorrow. We are going to spend the morning cleaning and getting ready for them. They are supposed to come through at noon.
My American Express Corporate Card came on Monday. I activated it yesterday. Because I have Amex now, Dick was going to make me pay for The Shop's dinner tonite ! I had to remind him that Rinker policy states that the senior guy has to pick up the bill. He took it in good humor.
I went out with Billy, Dick, Boyd, Ken, Chris, Celso, Chris, and Dan for dinner tonite. We planned to go to Romano's Macaroni Grill, but the wait was over an hour. So we went next door to Uno Chicago Pizza. It was good. I had a petit sirloin, grilled vegetables, house salad, and an Ultimate Long Island Iced Tea.
Boyd mentioned that he likes Credence Clearwater Revival. I am downloading CCR on Kazaa right now. I am going to convert the MP3 files to CDA and burn a small CD for him with CCR on it.
Bob spent time in the yard today timing the trucks and timing our lift drivers on getting them loaded. He is going to have some ammo to fire back at Johnnie Alexander. We found the load out report on the intranet too. We are among the Top 3 fastest yards in our region already !!
Beautiful day today. Sunny, warm, in the high 70's.
Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's own ignorance. -- Confucious
St. Patrick died in 464 AD. He told those people grieving for him to drink a drop to ease their suffering. I guess the Irish drank more than a drop and really kept that tradition !
Today we set the Rackveyor, hydraulic pumps, and the Pallet Injector. Dan and I installed the crawler stops in the kiln. They ordered Hungry Howies baked subs for us for lunch. It looked like a pizza crust folded in half with cheese and ham, turkey, or steak inside.
The Owner's Group is visiting Davenport tomorrow. We are going to spend the morning cleaning and getting ready for them. They are supposed to come through at noon.
My American Express Corporate Card came on Monday. I activated it yesterday. Because I have Amex now, Dick was going to make me pay for The Shop's dinner tonite ! I had to remind him that Rinker policy states that the senior guy has to pick up the bill. He took it in good humor.
I went out with Billy, Dick, Boyd, Ken, Chris, Celso, Chris, and Dan for dinner tonite. We planned to go to Romano's Macaroni Grill, but the wait was over an hour. So we went next door to Uno Chicago Pizza. It was good. I had a petit sirloin, grilled vegetables, house salad, and an Ultimate Long Island Iced Tea.
Boyd mentioned that he likes Credence Clearwater Revival. I am downloading CCR on Kazaa right now. I am going to convert the MP3 files to CDA and burn a small CD for him with CCR on it.
Bob spent time in the yard today timing the trucks and timing our lift drivers on getting them loaded. He is going to have some ammo to fire back at Johnnie Alexander. We found the load out report on the intranet too. We are among the Top 3 fastest yards in our region already !!
Beautiful day today. Sunny, warm, in the high 70's.
Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's own ignorance. -- Confucious
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
I hate it when I miss a day blogging... because when I get around to writing again, I can't remember enough detail about the day before or have enough time to write it all. I am afraid that is how the past two days have been.
Yesterday was March 15 - the Ides of March. That was the day that the Romans considered the first day of Spring. We know now that Spring begins on March 21. For a few weeks a fortune teller/astrologer had been telling Julius Caesar, "Beware the Ides of March..." On 15 March 44 BC, 54-year-old Julius Caesar, on his way to a meeting of the Senate, told the astrologer, "See the Ides have come and nothing bad has happened to me." She was said to have replied, "Yes they have come, but they have not yet gone." That day he was assassinated while presiding over the Senate in Pompey's Theatre.
We had a big load of maintenance to do on Monday. Miller Bearing Company came out to replace our material belt and our mud belt, we pulled the feedbox drawer out of the block machine, cleaned the block machine thoroughly, and installed a new feedbox drawer. I personally replaced all of the wear surfaces in the Depalleter and Block Turnover machines. Then the conveyor guys bagged ass, when we started the belts up we saw that they needed to be tensioned and they needed to be adjusted so they would track straight. We only had about 6 hours of uptime yesterday. It was almost midnight when I finally went home.
The alarm went off this morning at 5 AM, but I ignored it and kept sleeping until I had to get up and pee. I got up around 7 AM and got dressed to go to work. Got there around 8 AM. Troy was still there. Once I got a good turnover from Troy about the plant's condition, I sent him on home. Nobody else from the night before had come in yet.
I was just checking my e-mail when Billy from The Shop came into the office and told me to dial 911. Ken, their new guy, had been struck in the head with a sledge hammer and was laying on the floor unconscious ! So I called for an ambulance. Then I went out to check on Ken and see if he was still breathing and had a pulse. By the time I got out there he was already up on his feet and Dick Hosmer was helping him to the office. I had Martin get the first aid kit out.
Loughman Fire and Rescue arrived first. Two women in bunker pants came in. The bigger one took out her stethoscope and began to question Ken, asking him what his name was, what day of the week it was, etc... "How do you feel, Ken?" He replied, "I feel like I've been hit with a sledge hammer!" I knew he was going to be okay since he was joking about it so much. Nevertheless the ambulance people put a neck brace on him and took him over to Heart Of Florida Regional Medical Center to x-ray his neck. Dave showed up before this played out.
After Ken and Dick left, Dan Pearson arrived in our office. We began discussing why there were about a day's supply of T-007's in the yard and why his people were just finding this out this morning. Then Johnnie Alexander came in and became very emotional about how inefficient we are at loading up the trucks. He went on and on gashing about what a bad job Bob is doing and how bad our communication is, etc etc... I instinctively knew that I did not like him. I mean, what is the problem ? We are making more block than almost anyone else. We have very low cost block. We are making them as fast and as safely as we can. This man is really part of the problem if you ask me. He always writes e-mail to some guy named DiPetreo, who is higher up in the food chain, before he will walk down here and tell us. So, we end up getting blindsided by Wayne when his complaint comes back down the otherside of the foodchain.
The rest of the day was a nice respite for me. It did rain pretty hard most of the day. We started a few new forklift drivers today, but not enough to please Johnnie. I did some Purchase Orders in SAP, and performed some Goods Receipt. I swept the floor, pulled block from the line with the Hyster Forklift, and made sure to communicate with Bob. Got out around 7:30 PM.
Maybe tomorrow I will actually get to work on the new equipment with The Shop.
Less is more.
I hate it when I miss a day blogging... because when I get around to writing again, I can't remember enough detail about the day before or have enough time to write it all. I am afraid that is how the past two days have been.
Yesterday was March 15 - the Ides of March. That was the day that the Romans considered the first day of Spring. We know now that Spring begins on March 21. For a few weeks a fortune teller/astrologer had been telling Julius Caesar, "Beware the Ides of March..." On 15 March 44 BC, 54-year-old Julius Caesar, on his way to a meeting of the Senate, told the astrologer, "See the Ides have come and nothing bad has happened to me." She was said to have replied, "Yes they have come, but they have not yet gone." That day he was assassinated while presiding over the Senate in Pompey's Theatre.
We had a big load of maintenance to do on Monday. Miller Bearing Company came out to replace our material belt and our mud belt, we pulled the feedbox drawer out of the block machine, cleaned the block machine thoroughly, and installed a new feedbox drawer. I personally replaced all of the wear surfaces in the Depalleter and Block Turnover machines. Then the conveyor guys bagged ass, when we started the belts up we saw that they needed to be tensioned and they needed to be adjusted so they would track straight. We only had about 6 hours of uptime yesterday. It was almost midnight when I finally went home.
The alarm went off this morning at 5 AM, but I ignored it and kept sleeping until I had to get up and pee. I got up around 7 AM and got dressed to go to work. Got there around 8 AM. Troy was still there. Once I got a good turnover from Troy about the plant's condition, I sent him on home. Nobody else from the night before had come in yet.
I was just checking my e-mail when Billy from The Shop came into the office and told me to dial 911. Ken, their new guy, had been struck in the head with a sledge hammer and was laying on the floor unconscious ! So I called for an ambulance. Then I went out to check on Ken and see if he was still breathing and had a pulse. By the time I got out there he was already up on his feet and Dick Hosmer was helping him to the office. I had Martin get the first aid kit out.
Loughman Fire and Rescue arrived first. Two women in bunker pants came in. The bigger one took out her stethoscope and began to question Ken, asking him what his name was, what day of the week it was, etc... "How do you feel, Ken?" He replied, "I feel like I've been hit with a sledge hammer!" I knew he was going to be okay since he was joking about it so much. Nevertheless the ambulance people put a neck brace on him and took him over to Heart Of Florida Regional Medical Center to x-ray his neck. Dave showed up before this played out.
After Ken and Dick left, Dan Pearson arrived in our office. We began discussing why there were about a day's supply of T-007's in the yard and why his people were just finding this out this morning. Then Johnnie Alexander came in and became very emotional about how inefficient we are at loading up the trucks. He went on and on gashing about what a bad job Bob is doing and how bad our communication is, etc etc... I instinctively knew that I did not like him. I mean, what is the problem ? We are making more block than almost anyone else. We have very low cost block. We are making them as fast and as safely as we can. This man is really part of the problem if you ask me. He always writes e-mail to some guy named DiPetreo, who is higher up in the food chain, before he will walk down here and tell us. So, we end up getting blindsided by Wayne when his complaint comes back down the otherside of the foodchain.
The rest of the day was a nice respite for me. It did rain pretty hard most of the day. We started a few new forklift drivers today, but not enough to please Johnnie. I did some Purchase Orders in SAP, and performed some Goods Receipt. I swept the floor, pulled block from the line with the Hyster Forklift, and made sure to communicate with Bob. Got out around 7:30 PM.
Maybe tomorrow I will actually get to work on the new equipment with The Shop.
Less is more.
Sunday, March 14, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
If I have many more days like today, I will have to reconsider whether this job is right for me.
Got in at 6 AM. Walt was still running T-607's - "Besser Brick". He told me that he had to change the rollers on the car and that he took them off of the equipment in the new plant. So Doug has to order new ones. I noticed that the office was a pig sty, nobody had added delivery tickets or goods receipted materials. Against the wall were two low lateral files that will be below the windows in the office. The table was folded up and stored against the electronic parts locker.
Shortly after Walt left the equipment began to misbehave. These brick are very difficult to run. They fall over easily, they make huge amounts of crumbs. They can twist around in the depalleter. They can fall out of the gripper arms in the block turn over. I was out on the floor all day long. Just myself, Rick and Martin.
Around 10 AM, Teddy Rogers called to say that he could not come to work today. He said that he had to drive his mother down to FT Myers today. It did not occur to me to ask why she could not drive herself. I suspect that Teddy just did not want anything to do with these brick.
At about 1 PM, Carl called in and said that he had gotten a piece of metal in his eye on Friday and that he was coming to work, but he did not know when.
At 2 PM, the only second shift guy to show up was Rudy. Atleast he showed up, but he was no bundle of energy and enthusiasm. So I had to continue to work out on the floor.
Carl came in to the plant at about 6:30 PM with a doctor's note. I noticed that he was taking a narcotic for pain too. Probably should not have him working around machinery until his prescription is completely gone. Advised him to notify Adecco tomorrow too - this would be a Workman's Compensation case for him.
At around 4 PM, I went outside to appreciate the beautiful day for a few minutes. I noticed that three of the trucks were not loaded. I checked inside of them, they all had paperwork, but no pink copies. Inside the office I found the pink copies on the bottom of the forklift driver's clipboard.
I called Ken to ask him if he worked Saturday and why these trucks were not loaded. He said that yes, he and Felix worked, but they only loaded trucks that were running. Walt or someone else should have loaded those trucks... I imformed him that if Walt was having the trouble I was having with brick, that there was no way he would have had time to load trucks.
Ken agreed to come in early to get those Number 1 loads onto those trucks. If we don't, I know old Johnnie Alexander will be down in the morning to bitch and complain about it.
I called ET and asked him to come in. Asked him to work the back of second shift and third shift and take tomorrow off. Figured that it would be okay since we are having maintenance tomorrow, and I do not believe ET will participate heavily in a feedbox drawer change-out. ET agreed to come in. He got in around 6:30 PM.
When I left at 6:55 PM, Rick and Martin were both still clocked in. Rudy was there, ET was there, and Troy was there. There were still 5 racks of brick in the kiln. If Troy has the luck I was having, those 5 racks will take him another 6 hours to get done.
Came home stinking. Dirty and stinky. I think I am going to shave this beard off this week. It is getting too hot for it, and it captures alot of dirt at work.
The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible. -- Albert Einstein
If I have many more days like today, I will have to reconsider whether this job is right for me.
Got in at 6 AM. Walt was still running T-607's - "Besser Brick". He told me that he had to change the rollers on the car and that he took them off of the equipment in the new plant. So Doug has to order new ones. I noticed that the office was a pig sty, nobody had added delivery tickets or goods receipted materials. Against the wall were two low lateral files that will be below the windows in the office. The table was folded up and stored against the electronic parts locker.
Shortly after Walt left the equipment began to misbehave. These brick are very difficult to run. They fall over easily, they make huge amounts of crumbs. They can twist around in the depalleter. They can fall out of the gripper arms in the block turn over. I was out on the floor all day long. Just myself, Rick and Martin.
Around 10 AM, Teddy Rogers called to say that he could not come to work today. He said that he had to drive his mother down to FT Myers today. It did not occur to me to ask why she could not drive herself. I suspect that Teddy just did not want anything to do with these brick.
At about 1 PM, Carl called in and said that he had gotten a piece of metal in his eye on Friday and that he was coming to work, but he did not know when.
At 2 PM, the only second shift guy to show up was Rudy. Atleast he showed up, but he was no bundle of energy and enthusiasm. So I had to continue to work out on the floor.
Carl came in to the plant at about 6:30 PM with a doctor's note. I noticed that he was taking a narcotic for pain too. Probably should not have him working around machinery until his prescription is completely gone. Advised him to notify Adecco tomorrow too - this would be a Workman's Compensation case for him.
At around 4 PM, I went outside to appreciate the beautiful day for a few minutes. I noticed that three of the trucks were not loaded. I checked inside of them, they all had paperwork, but no pink copies. Inside the office I found the pink copies on the bottom of the forklift driver's clipboard.
I called Ken to ask him if he worked Saturday and why these trucks were not loaded. He said that yes, he and Felix worked, but they only loaded trucks that were running. Walt or someone else should have loaded those trucks... I imformed him that if Walt was having the trouble I was having with brick, that there was no way he would have had time to load trucks.
Ken agreed to come in early to get those Number 1 loads onto those trucks. If we don't, I know old Johnnie Alexander will be down in the morning to bitch and complain about it.
I called ET and asked him to come in. Asked him to work the back of second shift and third shift and take tomorrow off. Figured that it would be okay since we are having maintenance tomorrow, and I do not believe ET will participate heavily in a feedbox drawer change-out. ET agreed to come in. He got in around 6:30 PM.
When I left at 6:55 PM, Rick and Martin were both still clocked in. Rudy was there, ET was there, and Troy was there. There were still 5 racks of brick in the kiln. If Troy has the luck I was having, those 5 racks will take him another 6 hours to get done.
Came home stinking. Dirty and stinky. I think I am going to shave this beard off this week. It is getting too hot for it, and it captures alot of dirt at work.
The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible. -- Albert Einstein
Saturday, March 13, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
The training yesterday in Orlando, "Hiring The Best" was almost a waste of time. But atleast now I understand better why Bob conducts his hiring through temp agencies and why we store our documents the way we do.
Yesterday was a pretty day. On the drive home from Orlando, I passed a couple of gravel trucks going over 70 MPH. One of them did not have his load covered and pieces of gravel were flying out of the truck - right into my windshield ! Left a couple of small craters. No cracks yet, but I got a windshield repair kit just incase. Picked up an oil filter too. Took the truck and got it washed too.
Was slow at the Full Moon Saloon lastnight until after 11 PM. Went out for the first time in over two weeks. These 6-day weeks are getting VERY OLD.
Got my banking records online and printed them out. Then I balanced my checkbook and started writing the checks for all of my bills. Getting paid once a month like this, you have to write the checks for the biggest expenses first, like rent.
Did some laundry. Cleaned kitchen and bathroom floors. All of the domestic stuff that has to be done but have no time for it during the week. I still want to go to Sears and get some more work pants and some steel toed safety shoes for work. Bills old boots are still serving me, but they are old and sand and water get into them easily. Need to go to Best Buy and get some recordable CD's so that I can share the digital pictures of Davenport Plant 2 going up. Wayne asked for copies.
Walked down to the mailbox. Enjoyed the sun (making all that good vitamin D!). No bills, nothing important at all really, except for a letter about my prescription drug benefits.
Just got done changing the oil in the truck. I guess I need to write down the mileage too. I want to check the air pressure in the tires and top them off when I buy gas.
Finished reading The Great Unraveling today and now I am starting Great Fortune: The Epic of Rockefeller Center. It is a pretty thick one, will probably take me the rest of the month to complete it.
Today was yet another gorgeous day that reminds you why you live here. Got up to 83F and it is sunny. Supposed to be in the 80's tomorrow too with thunderstorms in the evening.
If you cannot win the race, make the one ahead of you break the record.
The training yesterday in Orlando, "Hiring The Best" was almost a waste of time. But atleast now I understand better why Bob conducts his hiring through temp agencies and why we store our documents the way we do.
Yesterday was a pretty day. On the drive home from Orlando, I passed a couple of gravel trucks going over 70 MPH. One of them did not have his load covered and pieces of gravel were flying out of the truck - right into my windshield ! Left a couple of small craters. No cracks yet, but I got a windshield repair kit just incase. Picked up an oil filter too. Took the truck and got it washed too.
Was slow at the Full Moon Saloon lastnight until after 11 PM. Went out for the first time in over two weeks. These 6-day weeks are getting VERY OLD.
Got my banking records online and printed them out. Then I balanced my checkbook and started writing the checks for all of my bills. Getting paid once a month like this, you have to write the checks for the biggest expenses first, like rent.
Did some laundry. Cleaned kitchen and bathroom floors. All of the domestic stuff that has to be done but have no time for it during the week. I still want to go to Sears and get some more work pants and some steel toed safety shoes for work. Bills old boots are still serving me, but they are old and sand and water get into them easily. Need to go to Best Buy and get some recordable CD's so that I can share the digital pictures of Davenport Plant 2 going up. Wayne asked for copies.
Walked down to the mailbox. Enjoyed the sun (making all that good vitamin D!). No bills, nothing important at all really, except for a letter about my prescription drug benefits.
Just got done changing the oil in the truck. I guess I need to write down the mileage too. I want to check the air pressure in the tires and top them off when I buy gas.
Finished reading The Great Unraveling today and now I am starting Great Fortune: The Epic of Rockefeller Center. It is a pretty thick one, will probably take me the rest of the month to complete it.
Today was yet another gorgeous day that reminds you why you live here. Got up to 83F and it is sunny. Supposed to be in the 80's tomorrow too with thunderstorms in the evening.
If you cannot win the race, make the one ahead of you break the record.
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Today was a little cooler. I wore long sleeves today.
Yesterday before I left I heard a rumor that David was going to fire all of the third shift forklift drivers if we did not find out who damaged the big lift and the little lift. Troy told me that he did not know who did it. I figured Troy was trying to protect someone. I guessed that if we did fire all of them, the innocent ones would start singing. Well, this morning Troy told us that he let Mike go because he caused the broken lift lever on the small lift and backed the big lift into a Mounty on a block truck and that bent up the wheel on the Mounty (a "Mounty" is a small, three-wheeled forklift that travels on the back of a large block truck, used to unload block at the job site). I guess when all of this happened, Troy told Mike to just "make it go away". But, ofcourse, he could not do that.
Johnnie Alexander and his father-in-law, Mr. DiPietrio were scoping out the plant today. Johnnie is the Ready-Mix supervisor. My nickname for him is "Pocket Turd"... sorta like Jim Ready at IP. The owners are coming next week and all of the senior guys are going beserk trying to get ready. They are ordering special chains and posts to outline their tour etc etc... kinda funny to watch them lather up over this. Those owners do not even care. I am sure that if you asked them, they would tell us not to do anything special and just keep making block. These plants are nothing but an investment for them.
Today we set up the loader and unloader elevators, the loader and unloader spades and the track and frame. Surprising amount of work for one day. Tomorrow we will probably set the front conveyor, the depalleter, and pallet return conveyor.
Dick got baked cheese steak sandwiches for us for lunch. We went outside and sat down on boxes and ate under a sunny, cloudless sky.
Today was Bob's birthday. I wrote it into my calendar so that I will know ahead of time next year.
My poor truck needs to be washed so badly ! The sand and cement take their toll... I am just glad that I am keeping wax on it.
After tomorrow I get two days break from the plant. A class in Orlando on Friday, and Saturday off.
Today was a little cooler. I wore long sleeves today.
Yesterday before I left I heard a rumor that David was going to fire all of the third shift forklift drivers if we did not find out who damaged the big lift and the little lift. Troy told me that he did not know who did it. I figured Troy was trying to protect someone. I guessed that if we did fire all of them, the innocent ones would start singing. Well, this morning Troy told us that he let Mike go because he caused the broken lift lever on the small lift and backed the big lift into a Mounty on a block truck and that bent up the wheel on the Mounty (a "Mounty" is a small, three-wheeled forklift that travels on the back of a large block truck, used to unload block at the job site). I guess when all of this happened, Troy told Mike to just "make it go away". But, ofcourse, he could not do that.
Johnnie Alexander and his father-in-law, Mr. DiPietrio were scoping out the plant today. Johnnie is the Ready-Mix supervisor. My nickname for him is "Pocket Turd"... sorta like Jim Ready at IP. The owners are coming next week and all of the senior guys are going beserk trying to get ready. They are ordering special chains and posts to outline their tour etc etc... kinda funny to watch them lather up over this. Those owners do not even care. I am sure that if you asked them, they would tell us not to do anything special and just keep making block. These plants are nothing but an investment for them.
Today we set up the loader and unloader elevators, the loader and unloader spades and the track and frame. Surprising amount of work for one day. Tomorrow we will probably set the front conveyor, the depalleter, and pallet return conveyor.
Dick got baked cheese steak sandwiches for us for lunch. We went outside and sat down on boxes and ate under a sunny, cloudless sky.
Today was Bob's birthday. I wrote it into my calendar so that I will know ahead of time next year.
My poor truck needs to be washed so badly ! The sand and cement take their toll... I am just glad that I am keeping wax on it.
After tomorrow I get two days break from the plant. A class in Orlando on Friday, and Saturday off.
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
This morning I relieved Troy at 6. Found out that 3rd Shift had broken the lift lever on the small forklift and scraped up one of the large lifts badly. Troy claims that he does not know who did it, or he is protecting whoever did it. I believe Bob or David would fire all of the lift trainees on 3rd Shift if no one will admit to it. Bob was pissed further because the block pulled last night were mishandled and cracked from dropping.
Shop arrived around 7:30 and we began to work on the Side Shifter rails and Crawler unloading rails. Dick brought burgers back for us from Sonny's. Later in the day we brought the Car, and Crawler in and set them down on the rails. I took a few pictures of it.
Tomorrow we are having a Safety Meeting first thing. Then we will begin to install more equipment. Thursday will be my last day in the plant this week -- I have Hiring The Best class in Orlando on Friday, off Saturday, then start again on Sunday. Bob said that David and I will work 6 days a week until the new plant is done.
The new conveyor belt was delivered today. It is going to be installed on Monday. While we are down for that we are going to change the Feedbox drawer on the machine too. So we will only hit minor maintenance on the machinery tomorrow since we have a bonus maintenance day on Monday.
Humility is remaining teachable.
This morning I relieved Troy at 6. Found out that 3rd Shift had broken the lift lever on the small forklift and scraped up one of the large lifts badly. Troy claims that he does not know who did it, or he is protecting whoever did it. I believe Bob or David would fire all of the lift trainees on 3rd Shift if no one will admit to it. Bob was pissed further because the block pulled last night were mishandled and cracked from dropping.
Shop arrived around 7:30 and we began to work on the Side Shifter rails and Crawler unloading rails. Dick brought burgers back for us from Sonny's. Later in the day we brought the Car, and Crawler in and set them down on the rails. I took a few pictures of it.
Tomorrow we are having a Safety Meeting first thing. Then we will begin to install more equipment. Thursday will be my last day in the plant this week -- I have Hiring The Best class in Orlando on Friday, off Saturday, then start again on Sunday. Bob said that David and I will work 6 days a week until the new plant is done.
The new conveyor belt was delivered today. It is going to be installed on Monday. While we are down for that we are going to change the Feedbox drawer on the machine too. So we will only hit minor maintenance on the machinery tomorrow since we have a bonus maintenance day on Monday.
Humility is remaining teachable.
Monday, March 08, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Relieved Troy this morning at 6... began adding delivery tickets and checked my e-mail. Had to get Test Block Forms printed out of the computer for ET. Bob was in early - 8:30, well, early for Bob. The morning went very fast. We did miscellaneous paperwork and put away goods we purchased from Grainger. Then a salesman showed up trying to sell us welding rods and other supplies. We called Rick into the office to help us make decisions about the welding materials - to throw the bullshit flag if it needed to be. The vendor left us with lots of gifts - ballcaps, pens, pocket protectors, pocket knives, free samples etc etc. He really wanted to make a sale. We bought a couple of self-tapping threading kits and 5 lbs of rod. He left a bunch of rod with us to try too.
The cuber, line, block turnover, pallet block injector, semi-automatic patternmaker, and automatic pattern maker all arrived today on two trucks which arrived simultaneously. Bob got the first truck unloaded with the big forklift by himself. Then The Shop arrived and they got on the Skytrack and unloaded the second truck. While we were trying to unload trucks, a cement tanker arrived and we could not get him through our traffic in the yard ! Fortuanately he was patient with us.
Helped Dickie and the Shop for the rest of the afternoon, which went quickly. Just setting up, cleaning up, pulling straight lines on the floors off of the block machine...
The Shop left after 5. Bob left at 5:30 to get his kids out of daycare. I added up delivery tickets and then checked my e-mail. There was a message from Amanda P. in West Palm Beach. Evidently I paid the electric bill for last month with a PO. But I wrote the tax code as U1 - meaning the vendor would assess us the taxes, when I really should have coded it U0 - the tax was already included in the invoiced amount. I immediately Goods Receipted the PO, because, well, we had already received the electric service. So, Amanda is asking me to do the GR again with transaction code 102 (undoes the code 101), and I guess we are going to edit the PO, and then perform GR on it again. All of this shows up in the PO History too. All of us just want the vendor to be paid the right amount.
Cooler and drier today. I think I got some sun on my face and arms while we were unloading equipment. Supposed to be cooler for the next few days. Tomorrow I will be helping The Shop. So will Martin and David. I do not know if Wayne has gotten anyone else to "volunteer" to help us set up this week.
This evening I cooked ribeye steaks for dinner. They were very good. May as well not take lunch tomorrow as The Shop always orders lunch for us when we work with them.
Light is the task when many share the toil. -- Homer
Relieved Troy this morning at 6... began adding delivery tickets and checked my e-mail. Had to get Test Block Forms printed out of the computer for ET. Bob was in early - 8:30, well, early for Bob. The morning went very fast. We did miscellaneous paperwork and put away goods we purchased from Grainger. Then a salesman showed up trying to sell us welding rods and other supplies. We called Rick into the office to help us make decisions about the welding materials - to throw the bullshit flag if it needed to be. The vendor left us with lots of gifts - ballcaps, pens, pocket protectors, pocket knives, free samples etc etc. He really wanted to make a sale. We bought a couple of self-tapping threading kits and 5 lbs of rod. He left a bunch of rod with us to try too.
The cuber, line, block turnover, pallet block injector, semi-automatic patternmaker, and automatic pattern maker all arrived today on two trucks which arrived simultaneously. Bob got the first truck unloaded with the big forklift by himself. Then The Shop arrived and they got on the Skytrack and unloaded the second truck. While we were trying to unload trucks, a cement tanker arrived and we could not get him through our traffic in the yard ! Fortuanately he was patient with us.
Helped Dickie and the Shop for the rest of the afternoon, which went quickly. Just setting up, cleaning up, pulling straight lines on the floors off of the block machine...
The Shop left after 5. Bob left at 5:30 to get his kids out of daycare. I added up delivery tickets and then checked my e-mail. There was a message from Amanda P. in West Palm Beach. Evidently I paid the electric bill for last month with a PO. But I wrote the tax code as U1 - meaning the vendor would assess us the taxes, when I really should have coded it U0 - the tax was already included in the invoiced amount. I immediately Goods Receipted the PO, because, well, we had already received the electric service. So, Amanda is asking me to do the GR again with transaction code 102 (undoes the code 101), and I guess we are going to edit the PO, and then perform GR on it again. All of this shows up in the PO History too. All of us just want the vendor to be paid the right amount.
Cooler and drier today. I think I got some sun on my face and arms while we were unloading equipment. Supposed to be cooler for the next few days. Tomorrow I will be helping The Shop. So will Martin and David. I do not know if Wayne has gotten anyone else to "volunteer" to help us set up this week.
This evening I cooked ribeye steaks for dinner. They were very good. May as well not take lunch tomorrow as The Shop always orders lunch for us when we work with them.
Light is the task when many share the toil. -- Homer
Sunday, March 07, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Today really turned into a long day for me.
Relieved Walt at 6 AM. When he left I saw that nobody added up sales tickets since last Tuesday when I left. Five days of tickets were laying in the box. So I began to sort those all out by date and begin adding them. Checked e-mail.
On Wednesday last week, Willie, the Ready-Mix warehouse lift driver mistakenly was placing a pallet of bagged cement onto the back of a block truck. This truck began to drive off and caused Willie and his lift to fall over ! Willie was not hurt, but the driver was fired. I guess safety people from West Palm Beach flew up in a helicopter which landed across the road at the sand mine !
I practiced pulling the line with the large 4-cube forklift. I broke a few block, but I think I am getting better.
The weather was partly cloudy, but it was horribly humid today.
Around 8:30, the line stopped. I came inside from the forklift and found Martin inspecting the cuber. Seems the Char-Lyn hydraulic drive motor for the cuber side pusher arm had come loose from it's gearbox. The mounting bolts had sheared. We took a replacement motor off of the shelf and put it into the system, then took the old motor to the workbench to drill out the broken bolt. After that the old motor went onto the shelf as a spare. That only took an hour to fix.
I was still optimistic that today would be a good day for production. After all, when I came in at 6 the machine had already completed 3500 cycles... that is over 16000 block in the first 8 hours of the day !
Still trying to get tickets added between forklift trips. Hurriedly scarfed down my salad for lunch. There was a small problem with the crawler. After I fixed that we shutdown for clean up.
When we attempted to start back up, a new problem reared its ugly head.
We could not get the front conveyor to start. I got the Fluke meter out and began checking all of the fuses, contactors, and circuit breakers. Could not figure it out... the I/O screen had a bunch of contradictory indications too. I had to call Bob because I could not figure it out and Martin and Ricky were not much help either.
As it turns out, Bob came in to help fix this. He brought his sons, Shawn and Allen with him. They stayed in the office and watched videos while we worked. The Master Control Relay (MCR) would not reset. This had Bob convinced that some sort of safety device was keeping conveyor, loader and unloader shutdown. Turns out that the loader/unloader gates, the maximum and minimum height limit switches, e-stop buttons -- any safety device really, is wired in series with the MCR and will shut everything right down. We eventually found that one of the proximity switches way up on top of the loader was behaving erratically. PRS-8A, a prox that shuts the machine down if the spade turns too far. We had to replace this prox to get the problem cleared up.
Never did get the tickets all added up. Before I knew it, it was time for Troy to relieve me. I was really beat and filthy.
Tomorrow the Shop is coming to begin assembling the machinery for Plant 1192 - Davenport Block Mfg. No. 2. The plant will be shutdown all day as we are having our conveyor belts replaced. Doug will not be in this week. They are holding him hostage at Fort Pierce as they struggle to bring that plant online. Housekeeping needs to be done too since the Owner's Group is touring the plant on Thursday. Makes a conflict for me because I will be expected to run the plant, but I am also expected to be slave labor for the Shop. I am going to have to bitch about it I guess.
Bob said that I will probably be on 6-day weeks for the rest of this month. I am getting tired of 6-day weeks. Maybe I should just start looking for another job ? I am amazed that Orion has never called to check on me in all this time. It would suit them right if I quit on the eve of making 90 days. Just have to make it through the busy crunch that is going to happen this month, that is all.
Today really turned into a long day for me.
Relieved Walt at 6 AM. When he left I saw that nobody added up sales tickets since last Tuesday when I left. Five days of tickets were laying in the box. So I began to sort those all out by date and begin adding them. Checked e-mail.
On Wednesday last week, Willie, the Ready-Mix warehouse lift driver mistakenly was placing a pallet of bagged cement onto the back of a block truck. This truck began to drive off and caused Willie and his lift to fall over ! Willie was not hurt, but the driver was fired. I guess safety people from West Palm Beach flew up in a helicopter which landed across the road at the sand mine !
I practiced pulling the line with the large 4-cube forklift. I broke a few block, but I think I am getting better.
The weather was partly cloudy, but it was horribly humid today.
Around 8:30, the line stopped. I came inside from the forklift and found Martin inspecting the cuber. Seems the Char-Lyn hydraulic drive motor for the cuber side pusher arm had come loose from it's gearbox. The mounting bolts had sheared. We took a replacement motor off of the shelf and put it into the system, then took the old motor to the workbench to drill out the broken bolt. After that the old motor went onto the shelf as a spare. That only took an hour to fix.
I was still optimistic that today would be a good day for production. After all, when I came in at 6 the machine had already completed 3500 cycles... that is over 16000 block in the first 8 hours of the day !
Still trying to get tickets added between forklift trips. Hurriedly scarfed down my salad for lunch. There was a small problem with the crawler. After I fixed that we shutdown for clean up.
When we attempted to start back up, a new problem reared its ugly head.
We could not get the front conveyor to start. I got the Fluke meter out and began checking all of the fuses, contactors, and circuit breakers. Could not figure it out... the I/O screen had a bunch of contradictory indications too. I had to call Bob because I could not figure it out and Martin and Ricky were not much help either.
As it turns out, Bob came in to help fix this. He brought his sons, Shawn and Allen with him. They stayed in the office and watched videos while we worked. The Master Control Relay (MCR) would not reset. This had Bob convinced that some sort of safety device was keeping conveyor, loader and unloader shutdown. Turns out that the loader/unloader gates, the maximum and minimum height limit switches, e-stop buttons -- any safety device really, is wired in series with the MCR and will shut everything right down. We eventually found that one of the proximity switches way up on top of the loader was behaving erratically. PRS-8A, a prox that shuts the machine down if the spade turns too far. We had to replace this prox to get the problem cleared up.
Never did get the tickets all added up. Before I knew it, it was time for Troy to relieve me. I was really beat and filthy.
Tomorrow the Shop is coming to begin assembling the machinery for Plant 1192 - Davenport Block Mfg. No. 2. The plant will be shutdown all day as we are having our conveyor belts replaced. Doug will not be in this week. They are holding him hostage at Fort Pierce as they struggle to bring that plant online. Housekeeping needs to be done too since the Owner's Group is touring the plant on Thursday. Makes a conflict for me because I will be expected to run the plant, but I am also expected to be slave labor for the Shop. I am going to have to bitch about it I guess.
Bob said that I will probably be on 6-day weeks for the rest of this month. I am getting tired of 6-day weeks. Maybe I should just start looking for another job ? I am amazed that Orion has never called to check on me in all this time. It would suit them right if I quit on the eve of making 90 days. Just have to make it through the busy crunch that is going to happen this month, that is all.
Friday, March 05, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Another gorgeous day. I still get a charge out of reading the weather in the newspaper... knowing that it did not make it out of the 50's in New York today. Today it was 86F and sunny. So beautiful I had to remind myself as I was flying down the highway not to take it for granted.
The last day of SAP class. We went over some reports that SAP can generate and then we explored the Work Flow routine and ways of dealing with Work Flow feedback messages. SAP can do a tremendous amount of work, paperless. I learned a great deal in 3 days and I am glad that Bob let me go. Went ahead and filled out the enrollment form for the Understanding Economic Profit class to be held in Orlando in May. I am sure Bob will approve it.
As I said yesterday, I stopped on the way home to get my hair cut. Waited over an hour at the barber shop to get into the chair for twenty minutes ! But, now it is done and I look pretty good... sharper.
Will probably go out for a few hours tonite. I have not been out in a couple of weeks. Tomorrow is supposed to be 87F ! Maybe I should plan some time in the sun ?
I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand.
Another gorgeous day. I still get a charge out of reading the weather in the newspaper... knowing that it did not make it out of the 50's in New York today. Today it was 86F and sunny. So beautiful I had to remind myself as I was flying down the highway not to take it for granted.
The last day of SAP class. We went over some reports that SAP can generate and then we explored the Work Flow routine and ways of dealing with Work Flow feedback messages. SAP can do a tremendous amount of work, paperless. I learned a great deal in 3 days and I am glad that Bob let me go. Went ahead and filled out the enrollment form for the Understanding Economic Profit class to be held in Orlando in May. I am sure Bob will approve it.
As I said yesterday, I stopped on the way home to get my hair cut. Waited over an hour at the barber shop to get into the chair for twenty minutes ! But, now it is done and I look pretty good... sharper.
Will probably go out for a few hours tonite. I have not been out in a couple of weeks. Tomorrow is supposed to be 87F ! Maybe I should plan some time in the sun ?
I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand.
Thursday, March 04, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Went to Orlando up the 417 this morning. Got a USA Today newspaper and a Diet Dr Pepper on my way.
The SAP class today was just as enjoyable as yesterday. I am confident that I am going to be able to do most of the common purchasing activities back at the plant now. We had a contest to see who could write the most bizarre PO over $5 million. I tied with another guy. He got a Rinker coffee cup and I got a Rinker mousepad for prizes.
Dave let the class go around 3 PM. I stopped and got the truck washed on the way home. I was home early. Read my newspaper and finished making my labelled folders for my file. Then I wasted time on the computer the rest of the evening.
Reading The Great Unraveling by New York Times columnist Paul Krugman. It is a stinging indictment of the present Republican administration in Washington. This election is going to be a turning point for this country. Bush must be removed from the White House.
One more day of SAP class. Dave said we would be out of class very early tomorrow. I will get my haircut and my beard trimmed up on the way home. If I get home early, I might go out for a drink tomorrow night.
The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Went to Orlando up the 417 this morning. Got a USA Today newspaper and a Diet Dr Pepper on my way.
The SAP class today was just as enjoyable as yesterday. I am confident that I am going to be able to do most of the common purchasing activities back at the plant now. We had a contest to see who could write the most bizarre PO over $5 million. I tied with another guy. He got a Rinker coffee cup and I got a Rinker mousepad for prizes.
Dave let the class go around 3 PM. I stopped and got the truck washed on the way home. I was home early. Read my newspaper and finished making my labelled folders for my file. Then I wasted time on the computer the rest of the evening.
Reading The Great Unraveling by New York Times columnist Paul Krugman. It is a stinging indictment of the present Republican administration in Washington. This election is going to be a turning point for this country. Bush must be removed from the White House.
One more day of SAP class. Dave said we would be out of class very early tomorrow. I will get my haircut and my beard trimmed up on the way home. If I get home early, I might go out for a drink tomorrow night.
The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Today was a pretty good day for me. I got to sleep in until 6 AM.
Then I drove up to Orlando to the Region Office for SAP training. Outside of the building I stopped and talked with Gary Giatroudakis about block production and company expectations of the new plants.
The class was pretty full. There were 15 people in it and a lot of females. I sat in the back row.
Learned a lot of little SAP tricks that I cannot wait to put to use back at the plant. Hey, hey ! I still have two more days of this too !
The class got out around 3:30 PM and I took 417 back down here to save time.
On the way home I stopped at Staples and got a file folder box, file folders, Pendaflex hangers, and inkjet folder labels.
Fried cubed steak for dinner, ate it with cheese melted on it, and read my Orlando Sentinel. Then I began to work on my file project. I have a small, neatly labeled file box now for receipts for all of my bills and banking accounts.
I want to get the truck washed soon. Maybe I will do it on the way to Orlando tomorrow morning. Of course, if I do, it will certainly rain.
Even though I did not see much of the day, it was sunny with a high of 83F.
When one door closes, another one opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us. --- Alexander Graham Bell
Today was a pretty good day for me. I got to sleep in until 6 AM.
Then I drove up to Orlando to the Region Office for SAP training. Outside of the building I stopped and talked with Gary Giatroudakis about block production and company expectations of the new plants.
The class was pretty full. There were 15 people in it and a lot of females. I sat in the back row.
Learned a lot of little SAP tricks that I cannot wait to put to use back at the plant. Hey, hey ! I still have two more days of this too !
The class got out around 3:30 PM and I took 417 back down here to save time.
On the way home I stopped at Staples and got a file folder box, file folders, Pendaflex hangers, and inkjet folder labels.
Fried cubed steak for dinner, ate it with cheese melted on it, and read my Orlando Sentinel. Then I began to work on my file project. I have a small, neatly labeled file box now for receipts for all of my bills and banking accounts.
I want to get the truck washed soon. Maybe I will do it on the way to Orlando tomorrow morning. Of course, if I do, it will certainly rain.
Even though I did not see much of the day, it was sunny with a high of 83F.
When one door closes, another one opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us. --- Alexander Graham Bell
Tuesday, March 02, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Today the equipment ran almost perfectly. The block machine tripped once this morning on a false low-surge hopper signal from the Banner switch we had problems with yesterday. Martin adjusted it's angle back so that it projected more straight down into the hopper and that problem did not resurface.
Bob came in around 9:30. Wayne was already here when Bob showed up. I got as much of the PO's and GR's done as I could before Bob arrived, leaving the Besser capital improvement invoices for him to fax down to West Palm Beach.
Wayne worked on his expense report while he was with us. Gave me some pointers on filling out my own too. Now my expense report will be on its way to Jan Marie tomorrow and hopefully, they will direct deposit that little bit of money into my checking 10 days after they get it. I guess the fast turn-around is incentive to get your reports in early.
Today was a very pretty day. Almost 80F and light clouds, bright outside actually.
After lunch we were doing the clean-up. I was helping with the mixer and when I came back down, Bob had jetted ! I am thinking to myself, "Damn, Bob, you come in late, and then you take off early, with Wayne here on top of it!" Wayne left about 15 minutes after Bob.
The manufacturing equipment continued to run without missing a beat. One annoying thing that happened was that the pressure washer kept giving us a low-suction pressure alarm everytime the mixer tried to do a wash cycle. Martin and I walked back to the well and I found the tanks 2/3 full, but pressure was only 25 PSI. I bumped the pressure back up to 60 PSI with the compressed air, and that seemed to solve the problem.
As soon as I finished that problem, I looked up and here is Barry Keller from Besser showing up with some visitors. He had a nice couple from Texas who wanted to look at our plant. Nice people, really. And so full of questions! They were with us for two hours and the plant never missed a beat ! I think Barry will end up making the sale.
I developed a splitting headache in the afternoon. I took some BC powder for it and that helped, but I smiled and was nice to my visitors while they were with us.
Johnnie Alexander came down to discuss the situation in the yard. When he comes in I really wish Bob or Doug or someone were there to deal with him. He spouts off numbers and history that I cannot argue with. I just know that I really do not trust him, and like him less.
Fortuanately the equipment was running very well. I bet we make well over 30000 block today.
Tomorrow I will be going to Orlando for SAP Purchasing Basics. I hope that I can learn enough to be more useful and more efficient with admin work.
Don't find fault. Find a remedy. -- Henry Ford
Today the equipment ran almost perfectly. The block machine tripped once this morning on a false low-surge hopper signal from the Banner switch we had problems with yesterday. Martin adjusted it's angle back so that it projected more straight down into the hopper and that problem did not resurface.
Bob came in around 9:30. Wayne was already here when Bob showed up. I got as much of the PO's and GR's done as I could before Bob arrived, leaving the Besser capital improvement invoices for him to fax down to West Palm Beach.
Wayne worked on his expense report while he was with us. Gave me some pointers on filling out my own too. Now my expense report will be on its way to Jan Marie tomorrow and hopefully, they will direct deposit that little bit of money into my checking 10 days after they get it. I guess the fast turn-around is incentive to get your reports in early.
Today was a very pretty day. Almost 80F and light clouds, bright outside actually.
After lunch we were doing the clean-up. I was helping with the mixer and when I came back down, Bob had jetted ! I am thinking to myself, "Damn, Bob, you come in late, and then you take off early, with Wayne here on top of it!" Wayne left about 15 minutes after Bob.
The manufacturing equipment continued to run without missing a beat. One annoying thing that happened was that the pressure washer kept giving us a low-suction pressure alarm everytime the mixer tried to do a wash cycle. Martin and I walked back to the well and I found the tanks 2/3 full, but pressure was only 25 PSI. I bumped the pressure back up to 60 PSI with the compressed air, and that seemed to solve the problem.
As soon as I finished that problem, I looked up and here is Barry Keller from Besser showing up with some visitors. He had a nice couple from Texas who wanted to look at our plant. Nice people, really. And so full of questions! They were with us for two hours and the plant never missed a beat ! I think Barry will end up making the sale.
I developed a splitting headache in the afternoon. I took some BC powder for it and that helped, but I smiled and was nice to my visitors while they were with us.
Johnnie Alexander came down to discuss the situation in the yard. When he comes in I really wish Bob or Doug or someone were there to deal with him. He spouts off numbers and history that I cannot argue with. I just know that I really do not trust him, and like him less.
Fortuanately the equipment was running very well. I bet we make well over 30000 block today.
Tomorrow I will be going to Orlando for SAP Purchasing Basics. I hope that I can learn enough to be more useful and more efficient with admin work.
Don't find fault. Find a remedy. -- Henry Ford
Monday, March 01, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
When I got to work at 6 AM we were shutdown. Troy was working on the Banner Q45U Ultrasonic Transducer that is mounted on the Surge Hopper. It was messed up and indicating that the hopper was empty when it really was not. Basically, the transducer is a little sonar gun. As the mix piles up in the hopper, the sound waves take less time to reach it and return to the sensor. The sensor sends an electric signal - the farther away the "target" or our mixture is from the source, the lower voltage it puts out. This voltage signal controls a conveyor belt. The lower the voltage signal, the faster the metering belt runs. As the mix piles up and rises in the hopper, the distance to the transducer gets less and less, so the output of the sensor is greater and greater. This causes the metering belt motor to go slower and slower, until it finally stops the belt.
Well, Troy replaced the sensor with another one which was already defective. He also changed the cable to it. Turns out these sensors are pretty complicated (and expensive - $300!) little things. They are temperature compensated. They can be set to run in Voltage Mode or Current Mode. They can be set with a positive or negative output gain. They can be locally or remotely programmed. Etc etc...
We were troubleshooting these buggers for about 7 hours. Tim Whittemore came down from Leesburg with a new one and as soon as we tried it, the dang thing worked. All we had to do was reprogram it. Programming is a cinch. You Push a little button in for 2 seconds or more, let it out, point it at the target, push the button for less than 2 seconds (in under 2 minutes since your >2 sec push) at its near(far) position, then point it at the target at its far(near) position and push the button for less than 2 seconds again. Then the sensor returns to Run mode. Pretty easy.
Problem is they are very sensitive to moisture and vibration (and they are costly). Not very good shortcomings for our industry.
Dave came in and helped with the Banner switch... and he told us about his trip to Besser School at Alpena last week.
With that solved, Wayne showed up. He was with us for the rest of the day.
Doug called to see how we were doing and if we had fixed the Banner switch yet. He is at West Fort Pierce this week to help them bring up their new plant. I do not envy him at all... he has headaches waiting for him.
Dave Smith cannot be at WFP to help because Besser sent him down to Trinidad to help a customer get their operation going. Poor Dave. I am glad I do not have to deal with that!
Our other big forklift was returned to us from Cocoa Beach Manufacturing Plant. It was delivered on a flatbed truck.
This afternoon the Crawler, the Car, the Sideshifter, the Depalleter, and their controllers were all delivered on a flatbed truck from Alpena, MI. We had to use two forklifts to lift the stacked up Car, Crawler, Sideshifter while the truck drove away from under them (combined weight - 30kps!)! I guess more equipment is coming this week and the Cuber and line will be here next Monday.
Sent my Monthly Training Activity Report into Wayne, Bob, and Jan Marie. Still trying to get Bob to sign my Expense Reports so that I can be reimbursed for the things I have spent money on for the company.
E-mail came today letting me know that my application for American Express Corporate Card has been approved. The card will be sent here in the next 5 - 7 days. I hope I am not going to be expected to buy shit with it all the time. It would not be pleasant to have to drop $500 from my little paycheck to pay for a company credit card bill.
Tomorrow is my last day this week in the plant. SAP Purchasing Basics class on Wed, Thu, and Fri. David is not going with me - his class was cancelled. I am sure I will do just fine by myself.
Today was mostly cloudy but warm - 78F. Overall it was a good day. Good, but tiring.
We herd sheep. We drive cattle. We lead men.
When I got to work at 6 AM we were shutdown. Troy was working on the Banner Q45U Ultrasonic Transducer that is mounted on the Surge Hopper. It was messed up and indicating that the hopper was empty when it really was not. Basically, the transducer is a little sonar gun. As the mix piles up in the hopper, the sound waves take less time to reach it and return to the sensor. The sensor sends an electric signal - the farther away the "target" or our mixture is from the source, the lower voltage it puts out. This voltage signal controls a conveyor belt. The lower the voltage signal, the faster the metering belt runs. As the mix piles up and rises in the hopper, the distance to the transducer gets less and less, so the output of the sensor is greater and greater. This causes the metering belt motor to go slower and slower, until it finally stops the belt.
Well, Troy replaced the sensor with another one which was already defective. He also changed the cable to it. Turns out these sensors are pretty complicated (and expensive - $300!) little things. They are temperature compensated. They can be set to run in Voltage Mode or Current Mode. They can be set with a positive or negative output gain. They can be locally or remotely programmed. Etc etc...
We were troubleshooting these buggers for about 7 hours. Tim Whittemore came down from Leesburg with a new one and as soon as we tried it, the dang thing worked. All we had to do was reprogram it. Programming is a cinch. You Push a little button in for 2 seconds or more, let it out, point it at the target, push the button for less than 2 seconds (in under 2 minutes since your >2 sec push) at its near(far) position, then point it at the target at its far(near) position and push the button for less than 2 seconds again. Then the sensor returns to Run mode. Pretty easy.
Problem is they are very sensitive to moisture and vibration (and they are costly). Not very good shortcomings for our industry.
Dave came in and helped with the Banner switch... and he told us about his trip to Besser School at Alpena last week.
With that solved, Wayne showed up. He was with us for the rest of the day.
Doug called to see how we were doing and if we had fixed the Banner switch yet. He is at West Fort Pierce this week to help them bring up their new plant. I do not envy him at all... he has headaches waiting for him.
Dave Smith cannot be at WFP to help because Besser sent him down to Trinidad to help a customer get their operation going. Poor Dave. I am glad I do not have to deal with that!
Our other big forklift was returned to us from Cocoa Beach Manufacturing Plant. It was delivered on a flatbed truck.
This afternoon the Crawler, the Car, the Sideshifter, the Depalleter, and their controllers were all delivered on a flatbed truck from Alpena, MI. We had to use two forklifts to lift the stacked up Car, Crawler, Sideshifter while the truck drove away from under them (combined weight - 30kps!)! I guess more equipment is coming this week and the Cuber and line will be here next Monday.
Sent my Monthly Training Activity Report into Wayne, Bob, and Jan Marie. Still trying to get Bob to sign my Expense Reports so that I can be reimbursed for the things I have spent money on for the company.
E-mail came today letting me know that my application for American Express Corporate Card has been approved. The card will be sent here in the next 5 - 7 days. I hope I am not going to be expected to buy shit with it all the time. It would not be pleasant to have to drop $500 from my little paycheck to pay for a company credit card bill.
Tomorrow is my last day this week in the plant. SAP Purchasing Basics class on Wed, Thu, and Fri. David is not going with me - his class was cancelled. I am sure I will do just fine by myself.
Today was mostly cloudy but warm - 78F. Overall it was a good day. Good, but tiring.
We herd sheep. We drive cattle. We lead men.