Kissimmee, FL
It got very warm today... much warmer than the 83F the weathergirl said it would be.
Took the Adeccos out into the yard for some busy work. Used one of them to help me reinstall the guards around the sideshifter, gathered up the trash and got it all out of the plant.
Doug says that as soon as he arrived he began asking, "Where is Vince Thigpen ? I need to meet him !"
Well, he found me in the yard on the Hyster 110 forklift. He stared at the name plainly embroidered on my shirt and then asked, "Are you Vince? Vince Thigpen?"
"That is correct."
Extending his hand, "I am Casey Jones. How is Mike doing?"
Well that right there told me that Wayne had been talking to him about me... how else would he know that I knew Mike ? I wonder what else Wayne told him about me.
"Mike is doing fine. He is working for Electric Boat." Seeing the purplexed look on his face, I explained further..."they make submarines."
"Oh, good. Because I had never heard anything from him."
Then he turned to Bob and immediately began yammering about how crucial it was to get the new plant up as soon as possible and acted as if I were not even there.
Thinking to myself, "Yeah, of course you have not heard from him, asshole. If you fired ME, believe me, you would not want to hear from ME either !"
I could tell that Bob and Doug were nervous with Casey around too... I knew Casey would be this way... too many people have told me stories about him... I guess his reputation precedes him !
One thing I noticed about Casey... he likes to touch people when he talks to them... he puts his arm around them or on their shoulder. It almost looks kinda queer.
Got alot of tasks done today.... too many to mention... but some good things happened today....
We got almost all of the new equipment running in automatic ! Maybe we will make test block soon.
It did get pretty warm... felt some heat stress today... stood up too fast and felt light-headed... so I went and got more water.
Left the plant around 5:30. Clouded up and began sprinkling on the way home. Now it is thundering loudly and flashing brightly from lightning outside... raining some too.
I am expected to be at work tomorrow to help troubleshoot the equipment... great, another weekend fucked by the plant. Atleast I keep track of my hours so that when I demand some time off, I will be able to show how much I have been working.
Thursday, April 29, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Well, Wayne is in Texas, and Casey is not wasting time fucking up everything Wayne laid down before he left. The sales department is determined to empty our yard. E-mail came in this morning, the thread running between Gary and Casey... it sounded like a near panic ! When the shit is gone the sales men will have to tell the customers "sorry, we do not have any."
Casey called this morning. I spoke with him. "Vince? Vince Thigpen?" "That is correct." "Vince I need to know if you guys received all of your pallets for the new plant. I need to know now so that I can tell corporate." "Well, Casey, I cannot say for sure, but if you asked me I would say we have them all." "Well, find Doug and find out and call me back on my cell phone." So I went out into the yard and counted the goddamned pallets. We needed 945 to finish the racks. We had around 1500.
MTI last night at Winter Park. A man had his foot crushed in the pallet injector. They were standing inside of the machine guard when it happened. They said he is going to lose the toe next to the big toe on his right foot. I think Bryan Coffey was involved. What pissed me off was the way Doug and David called Casey right up and informed him of a damning comment that Bryan made when he was here..."No thanks, I have already forgotten more about respirators than you will ever know", Bryan to David. They almost seemed to take glee in that. I am becomming more certain that I do not want to work with these people.
Used the Adecco guys to clean up the yard. Then they got a very long lunch. They were napping in the break room when Tom Harrelson came through.
The air compressor was secured by the electricians. After an hour and a half, David asks them when we can start Plant 1 back up. "Oh, you can start that one up anytime you want!" David was pissed... we lose $1500 an hour when we are down... and that was completely unnecessary. Those jackasses do that kinda shit alot.
The last of the concrete was poured today.
The Shop came in early, took all of their tools and belongings and returned to Riviera Beach.
Loaded up the last of the pallets onto the racks this afternoon. We still have some troubleshooting to do on the crawler and rackveyor. None of it runs in automatic and the crawler is making mistakes when it picks up the cured rack and takes it to the unloader. Dave Smith will be with us tomorrow and I am sure we will get it all solved.
May 22 is Open House for the Davenport Plants. We are having a barbecue and EVERYONE is invited. I guess we will be cleaning and pressure washing like mad before that happens. Over 500 invitations are going out to our customers and competitors.
Was sunny at first, then the wind began to blow, clouds rolled in. It did not rain, but there is a fair chance of some rain tonight and tomorrow morning. I am going to see if I can sneak out of there early tomorrow. Hell, I have 230-some hours right now. Too many hours.
If you want people to think well of you, do not speak well of yourself. -- Blaise Pascal
Well, Wayne is in Texas, and Casey is not wasting time fucking up everything Wayne laid down before he left. The sales department is determined to empty our yard. E-mail came in this morning, the thread running between Gary and Casey... it sounded like a near panic ! When the shit is gone the sales men will have to tell the customers "sorry, we do not have any."
Casey called this morning. I spoke with him. "Vince? Vince Thigpen?" "That is correct." "Vince I need to know if you guys received all of your pallets for the new plant. I need to know now so that I can tell corporate." "Well, Casey, I cannot say for sure, but if you asked me I would say we have them all." "Well, find Doug and find out and call me back on my cell phone." So I went out into the yard and counted the goddamned pallets. We needed 945 to finish the racks. We had around 1500.
MTI last night at Winter Park. A man had his foot crushed in the pallet injector. They were standing inside of the machine guard when it happened. They said he is going to lose the toe next to the big toe on his right foot. I think Bryan Coffey was involved. What pissed me off was the way Doug and David called Casey right up and informed him of a damning comment that Bryan made when he was here..."No thanks, I have already forgotten more about respirators than you will ever know", Bryan to David. They almost seemed to take glee in that. I am becomming more certain that I do not want to work with these people.
Used the Adecco guys to clean up the yard. Then they got a very long lunch. They were napping in the break room when Tom Harrelson came through.
The air compressor was secured by the electricians. After an hour and a half, David asks them when we can start Plant 1 back up. "Oh, you can start that one up anytime you want!" David was pissed... we lose $1500 an hour when we are down... and that was completely unnecessary. Those jackasses do that kinda shit alot.
The last of the concrete was poured today.
The Shop came in early, took all of their tools and belongings and returned to Riviera Beach.
Loaded up the last of the pallets onto the racks this afternoon. We still have some troubleshooting to do on the crawler and rackveyor. None of it runs in automatic and the crawler is making mistakes when it picks up the cured rack and takes it to the unloader. Dave Smith will be with us tomorrow and I am sure we will get it all solved.
May 22 is Open House for the Davenport Plants. We are having a barbecue and EVERYONE is invited. I guess we will be cleaning and pressure washing like mad before that happens. Over 500 invitations are going out to our customers and competitors.
Was sunny at first, then the wind began to blow, clouds rolled in. It did not rain, but there is a fair chance of some rain tonight and tomorrow morning. I am going to see if I can sneak out of there early tomorrow. Hell, I have 230-some hours right now. Too many hours.
If you want people to think well of you, do not speak well of yourself. -- Blaise Pascal
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
First thing this morning... I am driving to work down 17-92 and Kenny blasts past me in his red Mustang. Saw him cut a van off farther ahead down the road. I told him when I got to the plant that I NEVER race anyone to work, but that I would race someone home.
Added up the delivery tickets. Another big day. Daily regular count revealed a surprising fact -- despite the fact that we are running T007 right now, the regular count is going DOWN each day !! They are shipping them faster than we can replace them. The yard is starting to look bare and needless to say, I am shipping green block.
At 7 the Adecco guys arrived and Doug thought it was a huge priority to get them busy doing something so he had me getting racks and pallets inside so we could load the last few racks. Well, before that got going Robert came in with grout to grout down the bottom of the machine, then Ken got on the spade loader/unloader to weld. So I gave the small forklift back to the yard guys and started to help with the outside rollers on the line.
Dick came up to me and said, "I have a job for you, I want you to help Jens put in the mixer hydraulic lines." When we got up on the mixer Dick said, "Jens, here is the guy who is going to put your hydraulic lines in for you." I was pissed. Not what Dick told me. I went ahead and put the four hydraulic lines in for the front and back gates, and I ran the pressure washer line to the wash head on the mixer. Still, I was not pleased about it.
The Banner Ultrasonic Transducer on the block machine surge hopper messed up. Bob found another sensor for us, but as we were replacing it, Doug cut off all the wires. That would not have been so bad, you could still see which wire was connected to which, but soon the wire nuts fell off and wires fell away, and then we did not know how it was connected. I got the instructions out and read what we needed, but they just ignored me again, so I wandered off and feigned concern for the problem. Doug, with help from Jens and everyone else, finally got the metering belt running again -- three hours later ! That is three hours of downtime because a man is proud and stubborn.
The Shop provided barbecue sandwiches from Sonny's today. I refused it. Somehow I just did not want anything from the Shop today.
Billy was talking to Boyd and as I walked up Billy said, "Here is your man right now." He showed me where I must have damaged the conduit for the BTO hydraulic pump disconnect. I exhaled and said, "Well, it is not going to stay new forever." That would have been one thing, but then he goes straight to the office to tell Doug ! Doug and David come out to investigate, again asking me if I did the damage. Now I am really steamed. Boyd was pointing out that some of the pallets were not stacked safely and could fall onto one of the temporary guys leg. But he volunteered to get the little lift and see if we could fix it. Doing this he saw how hard it was to manipulate these pads of pallets with the forks we have. Boyd said nothing else about it.
I dunno if Ray is coming back or not. He called me Monday saying he had a broken finger and would be in on Tuesday. Well, Tuesday came and went without hearing from Ray. Today he called. I guess his soon-to-be-estranged wife broke his finger and he just got out of jail, probably for battery.
Jens said that the contactors and switches for the new Mixer are not going to be covered by warranty since the electricians left the panels all open and they panels all have 2 inches of sand in them. Doug was pissed. They really are fucked up electricians.
Had to clean the air conditioner in the office and clean out it's drain trough. It was dripping all over the floor and everything under it. I am sure that keeping the AC running will be worth it in the coming weeks.
Just a bad day today. One of those days that makes me wonder if I am going to stay with the company and what I will say in my resignation when I do quit. I guess I was pretty silent all day... my silence bothered Martin. Course, Martin will use it to try to cause trouble for me.
Wayne is taking PTO until Monday morning. I guess Casey Jones is going to be here and in the way tomorrow. Doug told me, "If I was you I would keep my mouth shut around him and only speak when spoken to." Good advice, Doug, I am sure that I will disregard it.
First thing this morning... I am driving to work down 17-92 and Kenny blasts past me in his red Mustang. Saw him cut a van off farther ahead down the road. I told him when I got to the plant that I NEVER race anyone to work, but that I would race someone home.
Added up the delivery tickets. Another big day. Daily regular count revealed a surprising fact -- despite the fact that we are running T007 right now, the regular count is going DOWN each day !! They are shipping them faster than we can replace them. The yard is starting to look bare and needless to say, I am shipping green block.
At 7 the Adecco guys arrived and Doug thought it was a huge priority to get them busy doing something so he had me getting racks and pallets inside so we could load the last few racks. Well, before that got going Robert came in with grout to grout down the bottom of the machine, then Ken got on the spade loader/unloader to weld. So I gave the small forklift back to the yard guys and started to help with the outside rollers on the line.
Dick came up to me and said, "I have a job for you, I want you to help Jens put in the mixer hydraulic lines." When we got up on the mixer Dick said, "Jens, here is the guy who is going to put your hydraulic lines in for you." I was pissed. Not what Dick told me. I went ahead and put the four hydraulic lines in for the front and back gates, and I ran the pressure washer line to the wash head on the mixer. Still, I was not pleased about it.
The Banner Ultrasonic Transducer on the block machine surge hopper messed up. Bob found another sensor for us, but as we were replacing it, Doug cut off all the wires. That would not have been so bad, you could still see which wire was connected to which, but soon the wire nuts fell off and wires fell away, and then we did not know how it was connected. I got the instructions out and read what we needed, but they just ignored me again, so I wandered off and feigned concern for the problem. Doug, with help from Jens and everyone else, finally got the metering belt running again -- three hours later ! That is three hours of downtime because a man is proud and stubborn.
The Shop provided barbecue sandwiches from Sonny's today. I refused it. Somehow I just did not want anything from the Shop today.
Billy was talking to Boyd and as I walked up Billy said, "Here is your man right now." He showed me where I must have damaged the conduit for the BTO hydraulic pump disconnect. I exhaled and said, "Well, it is not going to stay new forever." That would have been one thing, but then he goes straight to the office to tell Doug ! Doug and David come out to investigate, again asking me if I did the damage. Now I am really steamed. Boyd was pointing out that some of the pallets were not stacked safely and could fall onto one of the temporary guys leg. But he volunteered to get the little lift and see if we could fix it. Doing this he saw how hard it was to manipulate these pads of pallets with the forks we have. Boyd said nothing else about it.
I dunno if Ray is coming back or not. He called me Monday saying he had a broken finger and would be in on Tuesday. Well, Tuesday came and went without hearing from Ray. Today he called. I guess his soon-to-be-estranged wife broke his finger and he just got out of jail, probably for battery.
Jens said that the contactors and switches for the new Mixer are not going to be covered by warranty since the electricians left the panels all open and they panels all have 2 inches of sand in them. Doug was pissed. They really are fucked up electricians.
Had to clean the air conditioner in the office and clean out it's drain trough. It was dripping all over the floor and everything under it. I am sure that keeping the AC running will be worth it in the coming weeks.
Just a bad day today. One of those days that makes me wonder if I am going to stay with the company and what I will say in my resignation when I do quit. I guess I was pretty silent all day... my silence bothered Martin. Course, Martin will use it to try to cause trouble for me.
Wayne is taking PTO until Monday morning. I guess Casey Jones is going to be here and in the way tomorrow. Doug told me, "If I was you I would keep my mouth shut around him and only speak when spoken to." Good advice, Doug, I am sure that I will disregard it.
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
The last shipment of kiln racks came today. We unloaded them, turned them upright, and even loaded a couple of them, but problems with the Rackveyor stopped us. We still cannot get the dang thing to work in automatic. Then one of our big forklifts went down due to hydraulic cylinder seals blew out. Then Willy's lift had a flat tire so the little lift and the other big lift were VERY BUSY !
Today I learned how to push materials up, and I mean UP HIGH ! Was pushing some pea rock up, and I noticed that the loader was pointing up at a 30 degree angle ! As long as you keep those front wheels normal to the slope, it will climb and not fall over !
Boyd got a "Fart Machine" for his birthday. He was having way too much fun with it today. It even has a remote control so you can hide the speaker and set it off remotely ! We hid it between the desks in the office. Doug and Bob were in there together later and Boyd used the remote to cause it to make it's sound effects. Bob and Doug were looking at each other kinda strange as he did it ! I thought Boyd was going to pee his pants he was laughing so hard !
So many little details are getting finished up in the new plant. It is not going to be long before we are making test block. Tomorrow we will load the last racks by 10 or 11 AM.
Wayne is going to be on PTO until Monday. He is flying to Texas to help his son pick out a house. Casey Jones is going to be "helping" us in his place. I have not met Casey yet, this should be interesting.
Blood tests all came back normal. That should not be a surprise. Fatigue was caused by sickness and lack of sleep. Now I just have lack of sleep to deal with.
It did rain today - a little bit. Clearing up now.
The last shipment of kiln racks came today. We unloaded them, turned them upright, and even loaded a couple of them, but problems with the Rackveyor stopped us. We still cannot get the dang thing to work in automatic. Then one of our big forklifts went down due to hydraulic cylinder seals blew out. Then Willy's lift had a flat tire so the little lift and the other big lift were VERY BUSY !
Today I learned how to push materials up, and I mean UP HIGH ! Was pushing some pea rock up, and I noticed that the loader was pointing up at a 30 degree angle ! As long as you keep those front wheels normal to the slope, it will climb and not fall over !
Boyd got a "Fart Machine" for his birthday. He was having way too much fun with it today. It even has a remote control so you can hide the speaker and set it off remotely ! We hid it between the desks in the office. Doug and Bob were in there together later and Boyd used the remote to cause it to make it's sound effects. Bob and Doug were looking at each other kinda strange as he did it ! I thought Boyd was going to pee his pants he was laughing so hard !
So many little details are getting finished up in the new plant. It is not going to be long before we are making test block. Tomorrow we will load the last racks by 10 or 11 AM.
Wayne is going to be on PTO until Monday. He is flying to Texas to help his son pick out a house. Casey Jones is going to be "helping" us in his place. I have not met Casey yet, this should be interesting.
Blood tests all came back normal. That should not be a surprise. Fatigue was caused by sickness and lack of sleep. Now I just have lack of sleep to deal with.
It did rain today - a little bit. Clearing up now.
Davenport, FL
Yesterday I loaded up the remaining kiln racks with pallets and put them away. Kiln row 6 is full and kiln row 7 has three racks in it. We are expecting the last load of racks today. I guess that means we will finish loading racks tomorrow.
The Shop returned and started working on items related to the mixer and bins - chutes and stuff that needs to be welded up. The concrete people excavated the new clean-out pit and poured the bottom of it. They will pour the sides and the slab around it today.
I took the Cement Running Inventory and all of the cement delivery tickets and started looking for the 90,000 lbs of cement we can't account for. I found 53,000 lbs almost immediately. Someone entered the same ticket twice ! But that leaves 36,000 lbs still unaccounted for. I checked all tickets back to the last time we zeroed out, checked all the backflushing, and checked all the math... nothing. Still, recovering 26.5 tons of cement at $90 per ton equals $2400 found !
Got home after 7 PM. Made a couple of ribeyes, baked sweet potatoe and some green beans. I really need to go to the grocery store badly. In the mail was my Wired magazine and my New York State Income Tax Refund check. Supposed to rain today.
Yesterday I loaded up the remaining kiln racks with pallets and put them away. Kiln row 6 is full and kiln row 7 has three racks in it. We are expecting the last load of racks today. I guess that means we will finish loading racks tomorrow.
The Shop returned and started working on items related to the mixer and bins - chutes and stuff that needs to be welded up. The concrete people excavated the new clean-out pit and poured the bottom of it. They will pour the sides and the slab around it today.
I took the Cement Running Inventory and all of the cement delivery tickets and started looking for the 90,000 lbs of cement we can't account for. I found 53,000 lbs almost immediately. Someone entered the same ticket twice ! But that leaves 36,000 lbs still unaccounted for. I checked all tickets back to the last time we zeroed out, checked all the backflushing, and checked all the math... nothing. Still, recovering 26.5 tons of cement at $90 per ton equals $2400 found !
Got home after 7 PM. Made a couple of ribeyes, baked sweet potatoe and some green beans. I really need to go to the grocery store badly. In the mail was my Wired magazine and my New York State Income Tax Refund check. Supposed to rain today.
Saturday, April 24, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Amazing. Last night was the first night in about three weeks that I slept all night long ! I got up this morning feeling rested. Suddenly I did not dread the workday.
I got to the plant about 10 minutes late. Billy was there with Walt. Got a turnover from Walt and began my day. Added up the delivery tickets and got materials ready for the inventory. Billy helped. I guess the intention is to make Billy a new leadman very soon after his 90-day probation.
Bob got in earlier than I expected, around 8:30 and he started to get the preliminary stuff done. ET and Manuel were my first shift team. The equipment ran without missing a beat today and I was lucky to have a couple of guys on each shift so that I could focus on inventory.
Turns out our Top 5 for April are T007, T018, T081, T150, and T607 - Besser Brick.
Billy and I checked trucks to make sure the orders were loaded as per the delivery tickets. Then Bob came out and we checked all the made up orders for Monday. Before we could finish we had to stop what we were doing and show Johnnie how to estimate the material bins for inventory. We were honestly trying to leave him with a surplus. We did the whole thing, measured each pile, weighed each material.
We went inside and added those orders up from the tickets. Then we ate lunch. Bob and Billy got a pizza from Hungry Howie's, I ate my Seven-11 salad.
Then we went back outside to count the block on the yard. We were counting for about 2 hours. Shortly after we got back inside I had to go back out and hop on the Loader and run up materials. When I got back inside, Bob had still not added up his block, so I started adding... then we got SAP to print the warehouse report... we were VERY CLOSE on everything... we ended up having a very good inventory for April.
We checked the materials that we just handed to Ready-Mix.... somehow we handed them a shortage on materials.... Bob was investigating and found out they had been stealing our sand and selling it for sometime now. So I figured it serves them right !
As I was trying to get out of there, the Patternmaker was acting funny.... the turntable just kept turning ! Limit switch arm on table 4 was bent and messed up. Replaced the arm and it was fixed.... then I ran out before anyone noticed. Was home by 7. Had to get more antibiotic into me.
Finished Great Fortune the other night. I guess it would have been read sooner if I had more time here at home. Going to start Mark Kurlansky's Basque History of the World. Kurlansky is a good writer and researcher and I have read two other books of his - Salt and Cod. I am sure I will enjoy this one as much as those.
Amazing. Last night was the first night in about three weeks that I slept all night long ! I got up this morning feeling rested. Suddenly I did not dread the workday.
I got to the plant about 10 minutes late. Billy was there with Walt. Got a turnover from Walt and began my day. Added up the delivery tickets and got materials ready for the inventory. Billy helped. I guess the intention is to make Billy a new leadman very soon after his 90-day probation.
Bob got in earlier than I expected, around 8:30 and he started to get the preliminary stuff done. ET and Manuel were my first shift team. The equipment ran without missing a beat today and I was lucky to have a couple of guys on each shift so that I could focus on inventory.
Turns out our Top 5 for April are T007, T018, T081, T150, and T607 - Besser Brick.
Billy and I checked trucks to make sure the orders were loaded as per the delivery tickets. Then Bob came out and we checked all the made up orders for Monday. Before we could finish we had to stop what we were doing and show Johnnie how to estimate the material bins for inventory. We were honestly trying to leave him with a surplus. We did the whole thing, measured each pile, weighed each material.
We went inside and added those orders up from the tickets. Then we ate lunch. Bob and Billy got a pizza from Hungry Howie's, I ate my Seven-11 salad.
Then we went back outside to count the block on the yard. We were counting for about 2 hours. Shortly after we got back inside I had to go back out and hop on the Loader and run up materials. When I got back inside, Bob had still not added up his block, so I started adding... then we got SAP to print the warehouse report... we were VERY CLOSE on everything... we ended up having a very good inventory for April.
We checked the materials that we just handed to Ready-Mix.... somehow we handed them a shortage on materials.... Bob was investigating and found out they had been stealing our sand and selling it for sometime now. So I figured it serves them right !
As I was trying to get out of there, the Patternmaker was acting funny.... the turntable just kept turning ! Limit switch arm on table 4 was bent and messed up. Replaced the arm and it was fixed.... then I ran out before anyone noticed. Was home by 7. Had to get more antibiotic into me.
Finished Great Fortune the other night. I guess it would have been read sooner if I had more time here at home. Going to start Mark Kurlansky's Basque History of the World. Kurlansky is a good writer and researcher and I have read two other books of his - Salt and Cod. I am sure I will enjoy this one as much as those.
Friday, April 23, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Went over to Qwest Diagnostics to give the blood samples. Once they got to me it did not take long. Nothing for me to pay either... insurance covered it all. They said the results will be faxed to the doctor in a few days.
When I got to the plant around 8 AM, Wayne was just pulling in. I felt like shit... my face hurt, I was tired. We loaded pallets onto racks... I was hurting the whole time and breaking into a sweat easily... prolly just making myself sicker. We loaded pallets until Doug smelled something hot and heard the pinion shaft bearing making noise. I guess the grease line to it was disconnected and never hooked back up. I touched the pinion to see if it was still okay, and it burned me ! I guess that bearing was pretty hot !
Tomorrow I have ET in for first shift. For second shift I have Teddy and Henry. Billy, our new guy, will be in, but he is going to be on top of the bins welding new vents on. Bob and I have to count our Top 5 sellers for inventory - T007, T012, T018, T081, and T150. Then I have to show PT how to inventory material. Bob advised me to make the measurements "generous" and to take the samples for the cubic foot weight from the bottom of the pile where they will be wet and heavier. The goal is to have a surplus on this first inventory Johnnie does.
Tonite I had a Seven-11 Cobb Salad and Diet Coke. Today was pretty.... supposedly got up to 87F. Atleast there was a little breeze most of the day.
Went over to Qwest Diagnostics to give the blood samples. Once they got to me it did not take long. Nothing for me to pay either... insurance covered it all. They said the results will be faxed to the doctor in a few days.
When I got to the plant around 8 AM, Wayne was just pulling in. I felt like shit... my face hurt, I was tired. We loaded pallets onto racks... I was hurting the whole time and breaking into a sweat easily... prolly just making myself sicker. We loaded pallets until Doug smelled something hot and heard the pinion shaft bearing making noise. I guess the grease line to it was disconnected and never hooked back up. I touched the pinion to see if it was still okay, and it burned me ! I guess that bearing was pretty hot !
Tomorrow I have ET in for first shift. For second shift I have Teddy and Henry. Billy, our new guy, will be in, but he is going to be on top of the bins welding new vents on. Bob and I have to count our Top 5 sellers for inventory - T007, T012, T018, T081, and T150. Then I have to show PT how to inventory material. Bob advised me to make the measurements "generous" and to take the samples for the cubic foot weight from the bottom of the pile where they will be wet and heavier. The goal is to have a surplus on this first inventory Johnnie does.
Tonite I had a Seven-11 Cobb Salad and Diet Coke. Today was pretty.... supposedly got up to 87F. Atleast there was a little breeze most of the day.
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
This morning I added up delivery tickets, then I took the new Rolodex and transcribed all the vendors from Bob's older index to the new one.
We had maintenance going on... new keystock for the front and rear conveyors... swapping mixer doors... patching the turn head up on top of the bins... new kiln racks arrived... the Sanford Scale Company arrived to set up and calibrate the scales, but the electricians do not have enough of the wiring done to make it happen. Miller Bearing guy showed up and it turned out to be the man who did the last job. We had some fireworks. David told him to do the old mud belt first and he said he was not going to do it as warranty work because "You dumb asses over-tightened the belt and now it is stretched and slipping." Well, David was not going to stand for that, "Get your shit in your truck and get the fuck off of company property now !" A bunch of phone calls were made and soon that man was in the office apologizing to Doug for it and offering to do anything it took to make it right.
Left around 11:30 to come home, change clothes and go to the doctor's office. Turns out I am running a fever... 100.3F... physician's assistant thinks I have a sinus infection and prescribed an antibiotic and anti-histimine for it. The bumps he thinks are just stress-induced acne... and the fatigue he does not know... he thinks I might need more rest... duh ! I have to go to Qwest Diagnostics in the morning to give blood samples so they can investigate it more. Then I return to Doc Weinberger's office on May 6.
My face hurts. I am tired.
Called Doug to let him know that I might be a little late in the morning. What do they care ? I am working on Saturday too ! Bob and I are going to do the inventory ourselves I guess. David will be at a wedding, Doug will be at a barbecue, Martin will be off. I am sure it will go just fine. I have to show PT how to do the raw materials inventory, but that is not hard.
This morning I added up delivery tickets, then I took the new Rolodex and transcribed all the vendors from Bob's older index to the new one.
We had maintenance going on... new keystock for the front and rear conveyors... swapping mixer doors... patching the turn head up on top of the bins... new kiln racks arrived... the Sanford Scale Company arrived to set up and calibrate the scales, but the electricians do not have enough of the wiring done to make it happen. Miller Bearing guy showed up and it turned out to be the man who did the last job. We had some fireworks. David told him to do the old mud belt first and he said he was not going to do it as warranty work because "You dumb asses over-tightened the belt and now it is stretched and slipping." Well, David was not going to stand for that, "Get your shit in your truck and get the fuck off of company property now !" A bunch of phone calls were made and soon that man was in the office apologizing to Doug for it and offering to do anything it took to make it right.
Left around 11:30 to come home, change clothes and go to the doctor's office. Turns out I am running a fever... 100.3F... physician's assistant thinks I have a sinus infection and prescribed an antibiotic and anti-histimine for it. The bumps he thinks are just stress-induced acne... and the fatigue he does not know... he thinks I might need more rest... duh ! I have to go to Qwest Diagnostics in the morning to give blood samples so they can investigate it more. Then I return to Doc Weinberger's office on May 6.
My face hurts. I am tired.
Called Doug to let him know that I might be a little late in the morning. What do they care ? I am working on Saturday too ! Bob and I are going to do the inventory ourselves I guess. David will be at a wedding, Doug will be at a barbecue, Martin will be off. I am sure it will go just fine. I have to show PT how to do the raw materials inventory, but that is not hard.
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Got the phone bill and many other invoices paid by purchase order this morning... SAP work kept me busy until about 10 AM. Then I added up the delivery tickets... over 55000 block shipped yesterday !
Sent the Adecco guys up to the top of the bins to clean sand off of the tops of them.... "How high up are we?" (60 feet) "This is dangerous up here ! There are all kinds of tripping hazards!" Yeah, David agrees, those guys need to go.
Troy and David said the spots on my head and shoulders look like chicken pox. That would explain the fatigue I guess... I had chicken pox a long long time ago, but maybe I did not have a strong enough case of it. I have heard of adults coming down with it.
On a bottle of sleeping pills: "CAUTION ! May cause drowsiness" ! On a bottle of Mister Bubble bubble bath: "Keep out of reach of children" ! Don't children bathe in that stuff ? On the box a hairdryer comes in: "Do not use while sleeping" ! How was someone using the hairdryer while asleep ?
Tomorrow is a big maintenance day. Miller Bearing is coming out to vulcanize our conveyor belts on the new plant, and to redeem themselves, they are going to re-do the belts on Plant One too. We also have to swap doors on the Skako mixer, fix a hole in the turnhead, tighten drive chains, install the crawler stop on the car track, grease all equipment, and a few other jobs I am sure I do not even know about.
Only staying until around 11 AM.... then I am coming home to get ready for my doctor's appointment.
Lastnight I turned the AC up to around 78F. I still woke up in the middle of the night... had to pee.... but was not covered in sweat. Strange... I turn the temperature UP, and that makes me sweat LESS.... hmmmmmm....
Received another truckload of 9 kiln racks today. Probably get 9 more tomorrow.
I agreed to work for David on Saturday so that he can go to a wedding. Martin can't do it because he would have too many hours. So I figured that since I am only working a partial day tomorrow, that I can spare the hours on Saturday. It should be interesting because it looks like we will actually be doing inventory on Saturday. Pocket Turd came over today to ask for some help doing the inventory of the material in the bins. I guess I will be volunteered for that. That is okay, that job is actually easy.
Yesterday, the CEO of McDonald's restaurants died of a heart attack here in Orlando. He was attending a convention of McDonald's restaurant franchise holders. Must have been that good healthy diet of his that did him in.
The true leader is always led. -- Carl Jung
Got the phone bill and many other invoices paid by purchase order this morning... SAP work kept me busy until about 10 AM. Then I added up the delivery tickets... over 55000 block shipped yesterday !
Sent the Adecco guys up to the top of the bins to clean sand off of the tops of them.... "How high up are we?" (60 feet) "This is dangerous up here ! There are all kinds of tripping hazards!" Yeah, David agrees, those guys need to go.
Troy and David said the spots on my head and shoulders look like chicken pox. That would explain the fatigue I guess... I had chicken pox a long long time ago, but maybe I did not have a strong enough case of it. I have heard of adults coming down with it.
On a bottle of sleeping pills: "CAUTION ! May cause drowsiness" ! On a bottle of Mister Bubble bubble bath: "Keep out of reach of children" ! Don't children bathe in that stuff ? On the box a hairdryer comes in: "Do not use while sleeping" ! How was someone using the hairdryer while asleep ?
Tomorrow is a big maintenance day. Miller Bearing is coming out to vulcanize our conveyor belts on the new plant, and to redeem themselves, they are going to re-do the belts on Plant One too. We also have to swap doors on the Skako mixer, fix a hole in the turnhead, tighten drive chains, install the crawler stop on the car track, grease all equipment, and a few other jobs I am sure I do not even know about.
Only staying until around 11 AM.... then I am coming home to get ready for my doctor's appointment.
Lastnight I turned the AC up to around 78F. I still woke up in the middle of the night... had to pee.... but was not covered in sweat. Strange... I turn the temperature UP, and that makes me sweat LESS.... hmmmmmm....
Received another truckload of 9 kiln racks today. Probably get 9 more tomorrow.
I agreed to work for David on Saturday so that he can go to a wedding. Martin can't do it because he would have too many hours. So I figured that since I am only working a partial day tomorrow, that I can spare the hours on Saturday. It should be interesting because it looks like we will actually be doing inventory on Saturday. Pocket Turd came over today to ask for some help doing the inventory of the material in the bins. I guess I will be volunteered for that. That is okay, that job is actually easy.
Yesterday, the CEO of McDonald's restaurants died of a heart attack here in Orlando. He was attending a convention of McDonald's restaurant franchise holders. Must have been that good healthy diet of his that did him in.
The true leader is always led. -- Carl Jung
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
I know it's been a few days since I last wrote... just been too run down and tired when I got home.
Yesterday we were loading the last few pallets onto the last racks. To do the job the Adecco guys were going to have to lift some of the pallets up from almost the floor. One of the guys comes up to me and says he isn't lifting pallets unless I give him a back brace. I explained that we do not use back braces. He said he needed to speak to a supervisor. I told him that he was speaking with a supervisor. He told me, "No, I need to speak with someone else." "Fine, David Faulkner is over there welding... he is the only other supervisor here right now." So he tells David... and David's answer is, "You don't want to work? There's the gate!" He cooperated with me after that. I did not ask them to do anything I would not do myself, and did not do myself, Martin and I lifted pallets from the floor last week when we finished off a rack.
This morning I asked Doug why he always coddles the Adecco guys and why he has to undermine me with them. Troy was there, but he kept his mouth shut !! Doug gave me a load of stuff like "I am just treating them the way I would want to be treated on my first week at work" and "if that were me, I wouldn't have picked up those pallets either!" I'm like, "Uhhmm, yeah, let those shoes be on the other foot... let some one tell YOU that they are not going to work and see what happens!" Doug is such a stubborn man.
About 4 hours after our "conversation" Doug finally saw the light. He comes into the office, "We will hold on to those Adecco guys until Friday, but after Friday they are history." LOL ! He took them into the kiln and showed them exactly what he wanted... he wanted it swept out, then blown out completely. When he went to check on them two hours later, they were having a shoot-the-shit session in there and almost nothing was done !! I can see that working with Doug is going to be a "special" challenge.
Still feeling tired all the time. Work up a sweat just tying my shoes. Wake up in the middle of the night sweating and with severe sinus congestion. Now I have little red spots on my face, head and shoulders. So, I went to the Aetna website to find a local doctor covered by my PPO. Found one near my house here and made an appointment for Thursday. Maybe the doctor can tell me something I do not know.
We loaded up 4 more racks today. Wayne says that 9 racks are getting on a truck from Ohio tomorrow and 9 more after that on Thursday. I guess we will have the kiln full soon. The mud belt and metering belt were installed today. Miller Bearing is going to vulcanize the seams on them on Thursday.
Today it was sunny and about 85F. Another nice Florida day.
Exposure to dioxin . . . is usually not disabling, but may be fatal. -- Dow Chemical Company Report
I know it's been a few days since I last wrote... just been too run down and tired when I got home.
Yesterday we were loading the last few pallets onto the last racks. To do the job the Adecco guys were going to have to lift some of the pallets up from almost the floor. One of the guys comes up to me and says he isn't lifting pallets unless I give him a back brace. I explained that we do not use back braces. He said he needed to speak to a supervisor. I told him that he was speaking with a supervisor. He told me, "No, I need to speak with someone else." "Fine, David Faulkner is over there welding... he is the only other supervisor here right now." So he tells David... and David's answer is, "You don't want to work? There's the gate!" He cooperated with me after that. I did not ask them to do anything I would not do myself, and did not do myself, Martin and I lifted pallets from the floor last week when we finished off a rack.
This morning I asked Doug why he always coddles the Adecco guys and why he has to undermine me with them. Troy was there, but he kept his mouth shut !! Doug gave me a load of stuff like "I am just treating them the way I would want to be treated on my first week at work" and "if that were me, I wouldn't have picked up those pallets either!" I'm like, "Uhhmm, yeah, let those shoes be on the other foot... let some one tell YOU that they are not going to work and see what happens!" Doug is such a stubborn man.
About 4 hours after our "conversation" Doug finally saw the light. He comes into the office, "We will hold on to those Adecco guys until Friday, but after Friday they are history." LOL ! He took them into the kiln and showed them exactly what he wanted... he wanted it swept out, then blown out completely. When he went to check on them two hours later, they were having a shoot-the-shit session in there and almost nothing was done !! I can see that working with Doug is going to be a "special" challenge.
Still feeling tired all the time. Work up a sweat just tying my shoes. Wake up in the middle of the night sweating and with severe sinus congestion. Now I have little red spots on my face, head and shoulders. So, I went to the Aetna website to find a local doctor covered by my PPO. Found one near my house here and made an appointment for Thursday. Maybe the doctor can tell me something I do not know.
We loaded up 4 more racks today. Wayne says that 9 racks are getting on a truck from Ohio tomorrow and 9 more after that on Thursday. I guess we will have the kiln full soon. The mud belt and metering belt were installed today. Miller Bearing is going to vulcanize the seams on them on Thursday.
Today it was sunny and about 85F. Another nice Florida day.
Exposure to dioxin . . . is usually not disabling, but may be fatal. -- Dow Chemical Company Report
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Got my checkbook balanced yesterday... wrote checks for rent and bills.
Today I went to the Florida Mall... damn that is a big mall ! Went to Sears and got some Wolverines for new work shoes. Shoes were regularly $145, but they were marked down to $119. Tried to get a vacuum cleaner there too... but there were too many choices and too many distractions.
Went across the street to Best Buy and looked at vacuums. Without all the Kenmore vacuums it was a more manageable decision. Selected a Bissell bagless vacuum. Here at home I tested it, surprised at how much fine material it collected !
It is sunny outside and light breeze... high of 81F today, and THAT is a couple of degrees below average for this time of year !
Got my checkbook balanced yesterday... wrote checks for rent and bills.
Today I went to the Florida Mall... damn that is a big mall ! Went to Sears and got some Wolverines for new work shoes. Shoes were regularly $145, but they were marked down to $119. Tried to get a vacuum cleaner there too... but there were too many choices and too many distractions.
Went across the street to Best Buy and looked at vacuums. Without all the Kenmore vacuums it was a more manageable decision. Selected a Bissell bagless vacuum. Here at home I tested it, surprised at how much fine material it collected !
It is sunny outside and light breeze... high of 81F today, and THAT is a couple of degrees below average for this time of year !
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Income Tax Deadline Day
Today was a good day. I am feeling a little better and I had a good day at work.
Started with our Monthly Safety Meeting. It lasted for an hour and a half. Then it was time to begin loading pallets onto racks again. Two of the four guys from Adecco came back... two did not, but Adecco sent two new guys. I think the guys that came back earned Doug's admiration.
Pallet weighs about 40 pounds. 135 pallets go on each rack. Rack weighs about 1500 pounds. Three regular block go onto each pallet. Regulars weigh 31 pounds. Car and crawler together weigh 24000 pounds. So if a loaded car is coming down the track at you in the kiln, you have 43455 pounds coming at you !
Wayne showed up at 10.... he looked the plant over, tried to troubleshoot the rackveyor, and left. We thought he went to lunch, but he never came back.... strange.
We got each kiln row holds 9 racks. 7 kiln rows are filled and one is empty. So there are 25515 blocks in the kiln at a time. Today we got rows 1 through 3 loaded.... and then we ran out of pallets.
Now it was about 2 PM. Bob and Doug take me out to lunch ! We all three get into the standard size cab of Doug's truck and drive to Haines City to eat barbecue. I was kinda nervous... "maybe this is how they are going to fire me?" Heehehee...
Just a friendly lunch... I had the pork plate, Bob and Doug both had ribs.
Back to the plant. Don't think Martin did not notice that I took off with them ! LOL !
Added delivery tickets for awhile, then I had to give the afternoon Safety Meeting to second shift... hell, before I knew it, it was time to go home... today was a good day.
Income Tax Deadline Day
Today was a good day. I am feeling a little better and I had a good day at work.
Started with our Monthly Safety Meeting. It lasted for an hour and a half. Then it was time to begin loading pallets onto racks again. Two of the four guys from Adecco came back... two did not, but Adecco sent two new guys. I think the guys that came back earned Doug's admiration.
Pallet weighs about 40 pounds. 135 pallets go on each rack. Rack weighs about 1500 pounds. Three regular block go onto each pallet. Regulars weigh 31 pounds. Car and crawler together weigh 24000 pounds. So if a loaded car is coming down the track at you in the kiln, you have 43455 pounds coming at you !
Wayne showed up at 10.... he looked the plant over, tried to troubleshoot the rackveyor, and left. We thought he went to lunch, but he never came back.... strange.
We got each kiln row holds 9 racks. 7 kiln rows are filled and one is empty. So there are 25515 blocks in the kiln at a time. Today we got rows 1 through 3 loaded.... and then we ran out of pallets.
Now it was about 2 PM. Bob and Doug take me out to lunch ! We all three get into the standard size cab of Doug's truck and drive to Haines City to eat barbecue. I was kinda nervous... "maybe this is how they are going to fire me?" Heehehee...
Just a friendly lunch... I had the pork plate, Bob and Doug both had ribs.
Back to the plant. Don't think Martin did not notice that I took off with them ! LOL !
Added delivery tickets for awhile, then I had to give the afternoon Safety Meeting to second shift... hell, before I knew it, it was time to go home... today was a good day.
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Woke up around 2:30 this morning... could not sleep. Felt very hot and was sweating some. Took my cold and flu medicine early.
When I went out to go to work I noticed that it was very cool this morning. High today was 60F.
At work we continued to put pallets onto the kiln racks. Today we set 10 racks - 1350 pallets. Two kiln rows are full, only 5 more to go ! Those guys from Adecco are going to be dead.
Loadout meeting today. Bob, Doug, David, myself, Ken, Dan Pearson, Pocket Turd, and a guy named JR were there. This one was not as dramatic as the last one. It was actually more constructive.
Wayne could not make it to the meeting because he was stuck with some problem in Ocala. He will be at Davenport first thing in the morning though.
We are still indexing the rackveyor in hand and we are still picking racks up with the crawler in hand. Still, the things that it will do in auto save alot of work. Maybe Dave Smith can help us get it all running in auto tomorrow.
I am kinda tired. I think I am going to be early tonite.
That's the most unheard-of thing I have ever heard of. -- Sen. Joseph McCarthy on a witnesses testimony
Woke up around 2:30 this morning... could not sleep. Felt very hot and was sweating some. Took my cold and flu medicine early.
When I went out to go to work I noticed that it was very cool this morning. High today was 60F.
At work we continued to put pallets onto the kiln racks. Today we set 10 racks - 1350 pallets. Two kiln rows are full, only 5 more to go ! Those guys from Adecco are going to be dead.
Loadout meeting today. Bob, Doug, David, myself, Ken, Dan Pearson, Pocket Turd, and a guy named JR were there. This one was not as dramatic as the last one. It was actually more constructive.
Wayne could not make it to the meeting because he was stuck with some problem in Ocala. He will be at Davenport first thing in the morning though.
We are still indexing the rackveyor in hand and we are still picking racks up with the crawler in hand. Still, the things that it will do in auto save alot of work. Maybe Dave Smith can help us get it all running in auto tomorrow.
I am kinda tired. I think I am going to be early tonite.
That's the most unheard-of thing I have ever heard of. -- Sen. Joseph McCarthy on a witnesses testimony
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Today was partly cloudy... high of 77F and windy this morning... so windy that the power kept going out !
Tom came up with a circular saw and cut the wall away from the new door... created LOTS of dust when he did it.
We had 4 guys today from Adecco to help put pallets on racks. But stuff kept turning up wrong with the system and we didn't even start until after lunch... Lunch... oh boy ! Bob, Doug, David and Dave Smith all took off for lunch suddenly and left Martin and me with the plant...
Well, I put the Adecco guys to work sweeping the yard. When one of them complained I told him it was either that or clock out and go home. Then, the glass people showed up. So I had to get Tom and John Canada... Tom cut the walls away where the new windows go... the Office was destroyed in the process. Then the block started to mess up...
I guess ET ran up materials and sent a couple of soaking wet loads up sand up. He shut us down for about an hour.
Atleast when the big wheels got back they were not horrified at what happened to the office.
Finally got started working on the car, crawler, rackveyor and loading pallets up. I learned what each of the proximity switches on the crawler are for... two of them are not even needed !! We have a lot of bugs to work out before everything works in AUTO.
Left around 6:30 PM.... pretty beat. Still have some cold or flu.... taking drugs for it and trying to rest.
Today was partly cloudy... high of 77F and windy this morning... so windy that the power kept going out !
Tom came up with a circular saw and cut the wall away from the new door... created LOTS of dust when he did it.
We had 4 guys today from Adecco to help put pallets on racks. But stuff kept turning up wrong with the system and we didn't even start until after lunch... Lunch... oh boy ! Bob, Doug, David and Dave Smith all took off for lunch suddenly and left Martin and me with the plant...
Well, I put the Adecco guys to work sweeping the yard. When one of them complained I told him it was either that or clock out and go home. Then, the glass people showed up. So I had to get Tom and John Canada... Tom cut the walls away where the new windows go... the Office was destroyed in the process. Then the block started to mess up...
I guess ET ran up materials and sent a couple of soaking wet loads up sand up. He shut us down for about an hour.
Atleast when the big wheels got back they were not horrified at what happened to the office.
Finally got started working on the car, crawler, rackveyor and loading pallets up. I learned what each of the proximity switches on the crawler are for... two of them are not even needed !! We have a lot of bugs to work out before everything works in AUTO.
Left around 6:30 PM.... pretty beat. Still have some cold or flu.... taking drugs for it and trying to rest.
Monday, April 12, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Lastnight it began to thunder and lightning around 7:30... it rained hard for awhile and continued to rain all night... it was still raining when I went to work this morning. It is miserable for the forklift drivers when it rains outside... fortuanately it finished raining around 9 AM.
The plant was shutdown when I got in. Ran out of cement during the night and the tanker was late because of the bad weather. We took four tankers today and got the cement silo full again.
The Shop got there early. Billy told me to get 6 cubes of regulars and put each cube on a wooden pallet. I did that. Billy took the Lull and lifted the palleted cubes inside so they were near the block machine. On the other side of the machine we had some temporary workers from Adecco ready to load pallets. We started to load pallets, and as the machine silently went through the motions of making block and expelled the empty pallets, we filled the steel pallets with block on the front conveyor until we had one rack full.
With the full rack we put it on the crawler, drove the crawler onto the car, and began to test the rail package.
It got up to about 80F today. I am not sure if it is going to rain tonight or not. Atleast most of the dust and pollen are down now. We have not had rain in a couple of weeks.
I am the Hiroshima of love. -- Sylvester Stallone
Lastnight it began to thunder and lightning around 7:30... it rained hard for awhile and continued to rain all night... it was still raining when I went to work this morning. It is miserable for the forklift drivers when it rains outside... fortuanately it finished raining around 9 AM.
The plant was shutdown when I got in. Ran out of cement during the night and the tanker was late because of the bad weather. We took four tankers today and got the cement silo full again.
The Shop got there early. Billy told me to get 6 cubes of regulars and put each cube on a wooden pallet. I did that. Billy took the Lull and lifted the palleted cubes inside so they were near the block machine. On the other side of the machine we had some temporary workers from Adecco ready to load pallets. We started to load pallets, and as the machine silently went through the motions of making block and expelled the empty pallets, we filled the steel pallets with block on the front conveyor until we had one rack full.
With the full rack we put it on the crawler, drove the crawler onto the car, and began to test the rail package.
It got up to about 80F today. I am not sure if it is going to rain tonight or not. Atleast most of the dust and pollen are down now. We have not had rain in a couple of weeks.
I am the Hiroshima of love. -- Sylvester Stallone
Friday, April 09, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Well, the new plant is coming right along ! Guards are up around the loader/unloader/side shifter areas now. Lots and lots of finishing touches and testing to do now. Bins still need to be finished, work still to be done on the mixer, but we are getting very close. Today I chipped up concrete next to the left rails in the kiln. The wheel that rides the left rail is flanged, so it is important to get all concrete out of the way. I also practiced cutting steel with the torch today. First time I have picked up the torch by myself to do anything. Of course I was criticized. My flame was too rich and the cut was very sloppy. I was trying to make a piece for a guard frame and I needed 61 inches. The piece I cut was 63 inches long and I left the other scrap on it to be ground off since I would ruin it to less than 61 inches if I tried to cut it off with the torch.
While all the big wheels were out at lunch the crawler stopped working. Teddy waved me over to help him with it. Now here is where it gets funny. The crawler stalled as it was carrying a cured rack of block onto the side shifter. The crawler would not go forward. It would go in reverse easily. I backed it up to the car, but did not center it on the car because the car would retract the raillocks and head out of there. I had to go get David to help me. We set the rack down on the car and used the come along to get the crawler out. We checked the oil level and it was fine, although hot. Next David began to check the controller and the breakers and contactors. I just knew something was wrong with the solenoid valve because you could hear it clicking when you took the hand control pendant and pushed the forward button, but we did not get around to checking that.
Bob and Doug returned from lunch and instantly solved the problem. Someone (Teddy) took the medium speed control throttle valve and turned it shut. That is why the crawler would not move forward in hand because it only runs in medium when it is in hand. Teddy lies about touching shit alot... note to self, never trust Teddy when a problem arises with the equipment.
Bob mentioned something about me working nights with Walt when the new plant gets up and running. That is how they will get two leadmen on each shift - they will make a salary guy do the job of leadman. That is fine. When my training reports start to turn up empty and I tell Wayne what is going on, he will fly up Bob's and Doug's asses.
The good thing about working nights is that I could go to job interviews during the day !!
I hung around until 3 PM. Dave Bellemore, Wayne, Bob, Doug, David, and Doug from Ocala all hung out in the nice cool air conditioned office. Finally I just slipped out of there. I said, "Hell, I have 50 hours in this week, may as well start my weekend. Besides, when do you see David there on his day off if the Shop is not there?"
It was another sunny day... high of 87F ! So you know I was hot and sweaty and dirty... very dirty.
So came home. Now I need a cool shower and a shave. I might go out this evening.
Well, the new plant is coming right along ! Guards are up around the loader/unloader/side shifter areas now. Lots and lots of finishing touches and testing to do now. Bins still need to be finished, work still to be done on the mixer, but we are getting very close. Today I chipped up concrete next to the left rails in the kiln. The wheel that rides the left rail is flanged, so it is important to get all concrete out of the way. I also practiced cutting steel with the torch today. First time I have picked up the torch by myself to do anything. Of course I was criticized. My flame was too rich and the cut was very sloppy. I was trying to make a piece for a guard frame and I needed 61 inches. The piece I cut was 63 inches long and I left the other scrap on it to be ground off since I would ruin it to less than 61 inches if I tried to cut it off with the torch.
While all the big wheels were out at lunch the crawler stopped working. Teddy waved me over to help him with it. Now here is where it gets funny. The crawler stalled as it was carrying a cured rack of block onto the side shifter. The crawler would not go forward. It would go in reverse easily. I backed it up to the car, but did not center it on the car because the car would retract the raillocks and head out of there. I had to go get David to help me. We set the rack down on the car and used the come along to get the crawler out. We checked the oil level and it was fine, although hot. Next David began to check the controller and the breakers and contactors. I just knew something was wrong with the solenoid valve because you could hear it clicking when you took the hand control pendant and pushed the forward button, but we did not get around to checking that.
Bob and Doug returned from lunch and instantly solved the problem. Someone (Teddy) took the medium speed control throttle valve and turned it shut. That is why the crawler would not move forward in hand because it only runs in medium when it is in hand. Teddy lies about touching shit alot... note to self, never trust Teddy when a problem arises with the equipment.
Bob mentioned something about me working nights with Walt when the new plant gets up and running. That is how they will get two leadmen on each shift - they will make a salary guy do the job of leadman. That is fine. When my training reports start to turn up empty and I tell Wayne what is going on, he will fly up Bob's and Doug's asses.
The good thing about working nights is that I could go to job interviews during the day !!
I hung around until 3 PM. Dave Bellemore, Wayne, Bob, Doug, David, and Doug from Ocala all hung out in the nice cool air conditioned office. Finally I just slipped out of there. I said, "Hell, I have 50 hours in this week, may as well start my weekend. Besides, when do you see David there on his day off if the Shop is not there?"
It was another sunny day... high of 87F ! So you know I was hot and sweaty and dirty... very dirty.
So came home. Now I need a cool shower and a shave. I might go out this evening.
Thursday, April 08, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Another hot day... atleast there was a breeze today.
I finished removing excess latex paint from machinery guards and I swept out the kiln.
At lunch time, Wayne, Dave, Dick, Doug, Bob, Dave Bellemore, and the Besser guy all went out to lunch. Two hours later they bring us back a ham sandwich. I don't think they realize how it looks for them to do that. I guess they just feel a sense of entitlement. When they do things like that, and then expect us "little people" to go above and beyond, it sows doubts about their wisdom in my head.
I guess Boyd got a little hot today because he was welding the supports for guards and everyone was criticizing his work and standing around laughing and joking, Wayne included. Boyd was about ready to walk out, get into his car, and drive home to Gainsville. Boy, that would sure stir the pot if he did!
Dave Faulkner has been treating me like a colleague lately. Friendly and professional. Not distant like in the past. He is welding up a very heavy work bench for the mold rebuild area.
Either Martin or Kenny have been talking to Bob about me looking for another job. Bob kinda dropped a hint yesterday, which I ignored because it is so fucking absurd. Even if I were looking for another job, which I am not, I would not have any time to interview ! Of course if you understand that, you also don't foolishly believe, like Bob does, that I am getting three days a week off.
Tad is kinda fun to be around at work. He thinks we should try to coordinate our Besser School in June so that we go up there at the same time. I dunno.... he thinks we are in a race to get promoted to Superintendent. I know that I am not. He can have it if he wants it that badly.
Got my cable fixed yesterday. When the cable man arrived the signal was minus 7. He fixed the connection and it became a positive 5 ! No problems connecting now. Then the freezer broke.
Apartment switched my old refrigerator for another old refrigerator. I only lost a package of steaks and a bag of squash. But I wonder how long this other ancient machine will last.
Overall my life is still good. Probably still too many hours at work, but I understand that we have alot going on at work right now.
Another hot day... atleast there was a breeze today.
I finished removing excess latex paint from machinery guards and I swept out the kiln.
At lunch time, Wayne, Dave, Dick, Doug, Bob, Dave Bellemore, and the Besser guy all went out to lunch. Two hours later they bring us back a ham sandwich. I don't think they realize how it looks for them to do that. I guess they just feel a sense of entitlement. When they do things like that, and then expect us "little people" to go above and beyond, it sows doubts about their wisdom in my head.
I guess Boyd got a little hot today because he was welding the supports for guards and everyone was criticizing his work and standing around laughing and joking, Wayne included. Boyd was about ready to walk out, get into his car, and drive home to Gainsville. Boy, that would sure stir the pot if he did!
Dave Faulkner has been treating me like a colleague lately. Friendly and professional. Not distant like in the past. He is welding up a very heavy work bench for the mold rebuild area.
Either Martin or Kenny have been talking to Bob about me looking for another job. Bob kinda dropped a hint yesterday, which I ignored because it is so fucking absurd. Even if I were looking for another job, which I am not, I would not have any time to interview ! Of course if you understand that, you also don't foolishly believe, like Bob does, that I am getting three days a week off.
Tad is kinda fun to be around at work. He thinks we should try to coordinate our Besser School in June so that we go up there at the same time. I dunno.... he thinks we are in a race to get promoted to Superintendent. I know that I am not. He can have it if he wants it that badly.
Got my cable fixed yesterday. When the cable man arrived the signal was minus 7. He fixed the connection and it became a positive 5 ! No problems connecting now. Then the freezer broke.
Apartment switched my old refrigerator for another old refrigerator. I only lost a package of steaks and a bag of squash. But I wonder how long this other ancient machine will last.
Overall my life is still good. Probably still too many hours at work, but I understand that we have alot going on at work right now.
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Some more beautiful Florida weather. Sunny and warm. Today it got up to 83F.
Saw something wonderful these past two days.... some of the equipment is starting to operate during testing !! It really will not be much longer !
Getting machinery guards painted, bag houses ready to install, and testing all of our equipment... there is no stopping it, we are going to be producing block very soon !!
We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones. -- Stephen King
Some more beautiful Florida weather. Sunny and warm. Today it got up to 83F.
Saw something wonderful these past two days.... some of the equipment is starting to operate during testing !! It really will not be much longer !
Getting machinery guards painted, bag houses ready to install, and testing all of our equipment... there is no stopping it, we are going to be producing block very soon !!
We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones. -- Stephen King
Monday, April 05, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Got to work around 7 AM. Went to the office and Doug and Troy were there. Before long Tad from Ocala showed up to help with the new plant. Wayne showed up shortly after Tad. Wayne had us start sweeping up the new plant.
The lights were on in the new plant ! It was as bright as day in there ! In six months the covers will be filled with dust and they will not be as bright.
Around noon Dave Smith took Wayne, and Tad, and Bob, and Dave Bellemore from Sanford, and me all out for lunch. I am glad because I did not pack lunch thinking the Shop would be in. They will not be in til tomorrow. They have to fix something at FT Pierce.
Went out to my truck for something. As I made my way across the yard, "This yard looks like hell! There is plastic rolling around like tumbleweeds here in the yard !" Clarence asked, "Why don't you pick it up?" "Because, I don't hire a dog, and then get down on all fours and bark, Clarence!" He did not know what to make of me ! LOL
For the afternoon Wayne had a list made up of small things that still needed to be done before we could start testing equipment. By 6 PM most of that list was complete. Guess we will begin testing equipment tomorrow.
Got to work around 7 AM. Went to the office and Doug and Troy were there. Before long Tad from Ocala showed up to help with the new plant. Wayne showed up shortly after Tad. Wayne had us start sweeping up the new plant.
The lights were on in the new plant ! It was as bright as day in there ! In six months the covers will be filled with dust and they will not be as bright.
Around noon Dave Smith took Wayne, and Tad, and Bob, and Dave Bellemore from Sanford, and me all out for lunch. I am glad because I did not pack lunch thinking the Shop would be in. They will not be in til tomorrow. They have to fix something at FT Pierce.
Went out to my truck for something. As I made my way across the yard, "This yard looks like hell! There is plastic rolling around like tumbleweeds here in the yard !" Clarence asked, "Why don't you pick it up?" "Because, I don't hire a dog, and then get down on all fours and bark, Clarence!" He did not know what to make of me ! LOL
For the afternoon Wayne had a list made up of small things that still needed to be done before we could start testing equipment. By 6 PM most of that list was complete. Guess we will begin testing equipment tomorrow.
Sunday, April 04, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
Today was the beginning of Daylight Savings Time -- clocks spring forward one hour. I think all of my clocks have been advanced now. Some of them, like the PC, the PalmPilot, cellphone, advance themselves.
Went to Subway and got a nutritious wrap sandwich and came back to eat and read by the pool. There was a little breeze but the sun was strong. I knew that kind of weather can fool you... I stayed for about an hour and a half. This afternoon my burn showed up bright red. It is not too painful, but it is bright. Took a shower and rubbed cold creme on it. I will be okay to work tomorrow.
Had to re-install the software, but I got my Palm Pilot to HotSync with the PC again for the first time in weeks.... since I got Internet service, I believe.
Still need to order hubcaps for the truck and get it registered in Florida. With some time off of work, it looks like it can happen. These past two days sure have been a nice rest. I can only wonder what is waiting for me at work tomorrow.
Form follows function. -- Louis Sullivan, Architect
Form follows finance. -- Carol Willis, Architectural Historian
Today was the beginning of Daylight Savings Time -- clocks spring forward one hour. I think all of my clocks have been advanced now. Some of them, like the PC, the PalmPilot, cellphone, advance themselves.
Went to Subway and got a nutritious wrap sandwich and came back to eat and read by the pool. There was a little breeze but the sun was strong. I knew that kind of weather can fool you... I stayed for about an hour and a half. This afternoon my burn showed up bright red. It is not too painful, but it is bright. Took a shower and rubbed cold creme on it. I will be okay to work tomorrow.
Had to re-install the software, but I got my Palm Pilot to HotSync with the PC again for the first time in weeks.... since I got Internet service, I believe.
Still need to order hubcaps for the truck and get it registered in Florida. With some time off of work, it looks like it can happen. These past two days sure have been a nice rest. I can only wonder what is waiting for me at work tomorrow.
Form follows function. -- Louis Sullivan, Architect
Form follows finance. -- Carol Willis, Architectural Historian
Friday, April 02, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
As if yesterday's revelation's about Bryan were not enough... there is more. After work yesterday, he apparently followed The Shop back to their hotel like a dog ! He even had a change of clothes with him. I guess he showered in Ken's room and played video games and then went out to eat with The Shop. Damn. No shame. Atleast I wait until I have an invite from them before I go.... and then I do not accept every invitation.
At any rate he will not be back next week because their plant is going into shift work. If he ends up in Davenport, Dave says that Bryan is going to Third Shift ! Such a weird guy.
Today was a short day. The Shop cannot do much more until the electricians get juice into the building. Lots of testing to do. The steel workers erected the cement silo today. I wonder if the operator of the big crane is gay? Hmmmm... The plumbers will have the building plumbed for air and water completely by Monday.
Shop took off around noon. I hung around until 1:30PM then I also took off. Hard to believe I will have Saturday and Sunday off.
Tomorrow I need to go to the grocer early before it gets busy. I need fish oil capsules. Then I need to get my truck washed. And I need to pick up the rubber stamp I ordered almost two weeks ago. After that I can relax at home. Well-deserved relaxation too.
Going to stay into tonite and rest.... still reading Great Fortune. Getting to the part where David Sarnoff and RCA become tenants at Rockefeller Center. I am glad that Becky got to visit Rockefeller Plaza... she see's it on TV everyday and she can proudly tell people watching it with her that she has been there. She even has pictures to prove it !
I've been up and down so many times that I feel as if I'm in a revolving door. -- Cher
As if yesterday's revelation's about Bryan were not enough... there is more. After work yesterday, he apparently followed The Shop back to their hotel like a dog ! He even had a change of clothes with him. I guess he showered in Ken's room and played video games and then went out to eat with The Shop. Damn. No shame. Atleast I wait until I have an invite from them before I go.... and then I do not accept every invitation.
At any rate he will not be back next week because their plant is going into shift work. If he ends up in Davenport, Dave says that Bryan is going to Third Shift ! Such a weird guy.
Today was a short day. The Shop cannot do much more until the electricians get juice into the building. Lots of testing to do. The steel workers erected the cement silo today. I wonder if the operator of the big crane is gay? Hmmmm... The plumbers will have the building plumbed for air and water completely by Monday.
Shop took off around noon. I hung around until 1:30PM then I also took off. Hard to believe I will have Saturday and Sunday off.
Tomorrow I need to go to the grocer early before it gets busy. I need fish oil capsules. Then I need to get my truck washed. And I need to pick up the rubber stamp I ordered almost two weeks ago. After that I can relax at home. Well-deserved relaxation too.
Going to stay into tonite and rest.... still reading Great Fortune. Getting to the part where David Sarnoff and RCA become tenants at Rockefeller Center. I am glad that Becky got to visit Rockefeller Plaza... she see's it on TV everyday and she can proudly tell people watching it with her that she has been there. She even has pictures to prove it !
I've been up and down so many times that I feel as if I'm in a revolving door. -- Cher
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Kissimmee, FL
April Fool's Day
Today was just as cloudless as yesterday, just cooler - high was 76F today. Still, I got more sun on my hands, arms, and face.
Took the new Rolodex in to Doug, he took it and goes, "I hope this is something to eat, I'm hungry."
Filled out the PO's for Adecco for last month.
Helped fabricate the 13-inch guard section we needed to close up the gap between the Cuber Hydraulic Pump and the Cuber.
The plumbers are putting in the air and water lines very quickly. I think they will be done tomorrow!
The electricians were supposed to have electric in the new plant today, but what they said was "Thursday", they did not specify what year.
Boyd's wife sent me some more off-color comics in the e-mail. It is strange for a woman to like the stuff she is sending me.
I thought it was an April Fool when I heard it... but Bob, Doug, David, EVERYONE was verifying it... the rumor is that Steve Prince does not like Bryan Coffee and is trying to get rid of him. Guess where they want to exile him to ? Yeah, good ole Davenport. I told Bob, "Bob, c'mon, have you worked with the guy or even talked to him? He is weird! Steve Prince would rather keep Rob Chiodo than keep this guy!" Lots of hand wringing... I dunno. . . . .
Bob and Doug went to Orlando to the Rexel Freq Drive Class. As soon as Bob left the phone rang..."This is Shiela, Bob's wife! Is Bob there?" Oh boy!
Depending on how early I escape and how I feel, I could go out tomorrow evening.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
April Fool's Day
Today was just as cloudless as yesterday, just cooler - high was 76F today. Still, I got more sun on my hands, arms, and face.
Took the new Rolodex in to Doug, he took it and goes, "I hope this is something to eat, I'm hungry."
Filled out the PO's for Adecco for last month.
Helped fabricate the 13-inch guard section we needed to close up the gap between the Cuber Hydraulic Pump and the Cuber.
The plumbers are putting in the air and water lines very quickly. I think they will be done tomorrow!
The electricians were supposed to have electric in the new plant today, but what they said was "Thursday", they did not specify what year.
Boyd's wife sent me some more off-color comics in the e-mail. It is strange for a woman to like the stuff she is sending me.
I thought it was an April Fool when I heard it... but Bob, Doug, David, EVERYONE was verifying it... the rumor is that Steve Prince does not like Bryan Coffee and is trying to get rid of him. Guess where they want to exile him to ? Yeah, good ole Davenport. I told Bob, "Bob, c'mon, have you worked with the guy or even talked to him? He is weird! Steve Prince would rather keep Rob Chiodo than keep this guy!" Lots of hand wringing... I dunno. . . . .
Bob and Doug went to Orlando to the Rexel Freq Drive Class. As soon as Bob left the phone rang..."This is Shiela, Bob's wife! Is Bob there?" Oh boy!
Depending on how early I escape and how I feel, I could go out tomorrow evening.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.