I have to admit, day three was better, but I still hate it.
I spent extra time in the Dynamic Lab today because I just haven't had time. Today I made time. The Dynamic Lab is where they test belts. These belts are on pulley type things where the belts are running. Constantly. At all different speeds. LOUD.... A few are covered with safety guards, most are not. Aisle after aisle of them. The aisles are about the distance from elbow to elbow if you were dust mopping them. You are not allowed to wear any kind of jewelry or loose fitting clothing while working in there. You must also wear VERY good ear protectors. There are a lot of people working in this area, so if you should happen to get caught in the machinery you are not totally alone.
I stopped at the beginning of every aisle and counted how many belts were running. On each side of the aisle. I wanted to make sure I was aware of what was going on around me. I counted the belts as I passed them, and counted the other side as I came back. Elbows are to be kept at your sides at all times. Yet you must be able to sweep the isles. All the way down, make a very tight turn and come back. Then breathe. I kid you not, you get so nervous (scared), you hold your breath. On top of that, the man that runs this department is a total tyrant! He has most people scared to death to take it on the line up. That is why the low senior person usually winds up with it. I took this area because most of it is air conditioned once you get to the offices, labs or training centers. He doesn't scare me, as I figure all I have to do is do my job and not, pardon the expression, "screw" around. Some of you may not know, but our plant is not air conditioned. If it is 90 outside, in some areas it can be 110 or more. Especially where they cure belts. The higher the temp, the worse it is in the plant. Very few windows. We do have some big fans spread through the plant but not enough to help. The word "unbearable" doesn't describe some days.
You might be wondering by now what OSHA thinks of open belts and safety requirements. I have heard from so many people that it is legal that I didn't even bother to inquire at the union hall. I figure, I only have 2 more days, and I will be VERY, VERY careful.
Two days. And counting.
Jul 30, 2008
Jul 29, 2008
Day # 2
It is over. I hate it.
I will try to explain it a little better Donata. We no longer have supervisors. We have lead hands. Just regular union people. (Doing a terrible job and getting paid extra for it.) When the company reduced my job classification by one, those areas had to be picked up by somebody. First shift has always been nick-named "the A team". They usually have the most seniority, think they know everything and say they do the most work. Not so. In this case, they took those areas and decided who had to do what. They did not consult the off shifts. That is when I said NO. Today we had another "organizational" meeting, but I just happened to be on 1st and have some say in the matter. The job they say had to be done on my old job has now been removed from my job description. Therefore, new line up. Unless the department Foreman, and she don't know beans about what we do, says different we will have a line up this week.
It took me an hour to get out of the plant today. This darn 1st shift !! I have a storage area where I keep all my supplies. It is padlocked all the time when you are not in it. That was my whole problem !! I was in and out of there a dozen times today. So glad when 2:55 P.M. rolled around so I could go to the time clock and get ready to go home .
But .........
I couldn't remember my locker combination ! All I could remember was 2 of the 3 numbers and the combination to the storage area. I must have tried 20 different combinations and none worked. I had to call a mechanic. He brought his bolt cutters. After looking at the lock, he said it was a keyed one and he thought the guard had a master for it. He left, and sure enough, came back with the master and got it opened. I have a new lock. I am going to take a magic marker and write my combination in some secret place on the wall in the women's restroom where my locker is.
Along with about 100 other combinations written there. Wonder if I can remember my own handwriting?
I will try to explain it a little better Donata. We no longer have supervisors. We have lead hands. Just regular union people. (Doing a terrible job and getting paid extra for it.) When the company reduced my job classification by one, those areas had to be picked up by somebody. First shift has always been nick-named "the A team". They usually have the most seniority, think they know everything and say they do the most work. Not so. In this case, they took those areas and decided who had to do what. They did not consult the off shifts. That is when I said NO. Today we had another "organizational" meeting, but I just happened to be on 1st and have some say in the matter. The job they say had to be done on my old job has now been removed from my job description. Therefore, new line up. Unless the department Foreman, and she don't know beans about what we do, says different we will have a line up this week.
It took me an hour to get out of the plant today. This darn 1st shift !! I have a storage area where I keep all my supplies. It is padlocked all the time when you are not in it. That was my whole problem !! I was in and out of there a dozen times today. So glad when 2:55 P.M. rolled around so I could go to the time clock and get ready to go home .
But .........
I couldn't remember my locker combination ! All I could remember was 2 of the 3 numbers and the combination to the storage area. I must have tried 20 different combinations and none worked. I had to call a mechanic. He brought his bolt cutters. After looking at the lock, he said it was a keyed one and he thought the guard had a master for it. He left, and sure enough, came back with the master and got it opened. I have a new lock. I am going to take a magic marker and write my combination in some secret place on the wall in the women's restroom where my locker is.
Along with about 100 other combinations written there. Wonder if I can remember my own handwriting?
Jul 28, 2008
OFFICIAL
It is now official. I just finished my first day as a 1st shifter. That means that after 21 1/2 years I am on the day shift.
I hate it.
Management reduced labor by one person in my department. The first shifters decided I didn't have enough to do and voted me one more job. I said not gonna happen. They said, you have to. I said NO. They said I had to. I said, "You don't understand" !!! I don't have to. One quick trip to the union hall and there was a line up. I said 1st. Messed up 1st shifts plans.
Today was my first day. 7:00 A.M. Did I tell you I hated it?
I was up by 3:00 A.M. this morning. Happens most weekend nights to third shifters. Last night was no different. I just got up, as I knew I probably wouldn't get back to sleep.
The gal I bumped off her station worked with me all day retraining me. She took 30 min. breaks, I took 15. She took 45 min. lunch, I took 30 min. First shifters are unique, in that all they have to do is be in an upright position and nobody says anything to them. That and have a good place to hide for breaks and lunch. I haven't been there long enough to find them yet.
Can't remember, did I tell you I hated it?
It was 2:15 this afternoon when she reminded me of an all plant evacuation drill in the morning. That I knew about already. Then she reminded me that the first shifters in our department are having an "organizational" meeting in the morning to change some of the job duties. That I didn't know about. She said the job they assigned to my old job on third was going to be removed. I will see in the morning if that is true. If it is....... One more quick trip to the union hall !!!! One week may be the shortest time done on first shift !!!
Just to make everything perfectly clear, I hate 1st shift !!!!!
I hate it.
Management reduced labor by one person in my department. The first shifters decided I didn't have enough to do and voted me one more job. I said not gonna happen. They said, you have to. I said NO. They said I had to. I said, "You don't understand" !!! I don't have to. One quick trip to the union hall and there was a line up. I said 1st. Messed up 1st shifts plans.
Today was my first day. 7:00 A.M. Did I tell you I hated it?
I was up by 3:00 A.M. this morning. Happens most weekend nights to third shifters. Last night was no different. I just got up, as I knew I probably wouldn't get back to sleep.
The gal I bumped off her station worked with me all day retraining me. She took 30 min. breaks, I took 15. She took 45 min. lunch, I took 30 min. First shifters are unique, in that all they have to do is be in an upright position and nobody says anything to them. That and have a good place to hide for breaks and lunch. I haven't been there long enough to find them yet.
Can't remember, did I tell you I hated it?
It was 2:15 this afternoon when she reminded me of an all plant evacuation drill in the morning. That I knew about already. Then she reminded me that the first shifters in our department are having an "organizational" meeting in the morning to change some of the job duties. That I didn't know about. She said the job they assigned to my old job on third was going to be removed. I will see in the morning if that is true. If it is....... One more quick trip to the union hall !!!! One week may be the shortest time done on first shift !!!
Just to make everything perfectly clear, I hate 1st shift !!!!!
Jul 24, 2008
Sites
O.K. I finally got tired of scrolling down my "old "quotes to get to my favorite sites. Moved them up one notch. Be sure to view them.
Ginny
Ginny called this morning. She sounded better than I did and she just got home from the hospital after surgery !! You go Ginny !! For those of you who don't know the details ( Bob will call you soon), I will post updates later.
I also hear Meg can see the faint light at the end of the tunnel. Feeling much better and actually looking forward to getting home and resuming a normal life. Funny how time mellows the pain and agony of some surgeries.
Two hardy gals !!!!!
I also hear Meg can see the faint light at the end of the tunnel. Feeling much better and actually looking forward to getting home and resuming a normal life. Funny how time mellows the pain and agony of some surgeries.
Two hardy gals !!!!!
Donata
Just read your post about me not "bloggin". Not from the grand kids visit (can't admit to getting old) but from a different problem.
I went to the dentist last week. Routine cleaning. Only problem is, ( and this is the second time in a row) I have developed a peri something infection. Hurts. Hurts. HURTS. Don't wanna do anything. Gums throb and then head throbs in sympathy.
When do the "Golden" years start? Gettin kinda tired of parts not working like they should and want the "golden" to begin.
I went to the dentist last week. Routine cleaning. Only problem is, ( and this is the second time in a row) I have developed a peri something infection. Hurts. Hurts. HURTS. Don't wanna do anything. Gums throb and then head throbs in sympathy.
When do the "Golden" years start? Gettin kinda tired of parts not working like they should and want the "golden" to begin.
Quiet
Quiet.. It is soooo very quiet.
We had 3 of our grand kids visit us last week for a few days. They brought their mother too. I got the early morning visits with them while Mom got some much needed rest. That is when the conversations got good. Little kids and their perceptions are hilarious . We even touched on a topic I won't discuss. It was all I could do to keep from laughing !!
One morning it was a magnifying glass. Wouldn't you know I only have one and 2 boys were fighting over it. We were out in the yard looking for all kinds of things, especially bugs, to look at. Their melted push up pops on the drive way from the day before drew a pile of ants and that was real popular.
Two mornings were spent constructing a bird trap. The materials required are many, and much time was spent in the garage looking for the right materials. A trash can was decided on as the trap. Then we needed a proper upper. We tried a book first, but it kept collapsing. Then we tried a tupper ware container. BINGO... Then we needed something to pull out the proper upper when the bird got under the trash can. I had a rope. Only problem was, it wasn't long enough. Then we found an extension cord. The one that WAS wrapped neatly on a holder. It worked just fine ! Well, what good is a trap without bait? The boys wanted to know if I had some bread, and I said sure. In we go and I get 2 pieces for each. Riley and Shannon meticulously broke theirs up into little squares and threaded it around the drive way to the trap. Corey? He tore up one for the bait and promptly ate the second one. Then the boys decided that wasn't enough. Did I have more bread? I says sure. In we go. Half a loaf latter, we are ready....... My drive way is lined with all kinds of curved lines of bread cubes, garbage can propped up, extension cord extending to the front steps, three noisy boys and God knows what the neighbors thought we were making. You guessed it. No birds fell for the trap. Notta one. Then Grandma is getting tired and takes the boys inside. Sometime later Grandpa must have dismantled the "trap".
Then there was the computer. They all wanted on it. It got so bad, I actually set the timer on my stove for thirty minute intervals for each one. When it would be Corey's turn, he would be ok for a while and then he would come running upstairs and tell me he needed me. He goes somewhere on the computer ( don't know how or where) to play this game called SHIFT 3. And he says he likes it in all caps. He wants to know why he can get through level 1 and level 2, but he can't get through level 3. I am thinking, oh Lord! I don't even know how you got here, I can't figure out how to play the game and you want me to tell you why you can't get through level 3? Corey doesn't understand the concept that you get to a point where it is hard, and then time and skill get you further. He wants it now !!
One evening we took off for the Butler county fair. I had heard from the guys at work that we were supposed to have severe storms that afternoon. Colleen researched on the "computer" for the weather and it said all was clear. We took off first in our truck , Colleen following in her little compact car with the boys. The further north we went, the worse it looked. Cell phones were used. We decided to go as far as Valparaiso and see what it looked like then. Dumb idea. By then it was too late. We drove right into a terrible storm. We took it better in the truck. Collen on the other hand, had no visibility either but also had a hard time keeping the car on the road due to the terrible wind. Bob and I were able to see a side road and pull off. Don't know how Colleen saw us but she pulled off too and we waited out the worst of the storm.. Back to Lincoln. Cell phones were used. Champions was decided on. Champions is a mixture of games for kids and adults. We started the kids in what I call a climbing maze. You get in and follow it through. It has several levels with all kinds of bouncing things, swings and a big slide to take you back to the bottom. Then you start all over. You can even go into the room filled with plastic balls. The boys, and all the rest of the kids, treated it like a swimming pool. Belly flop, head first or cannon ball. They loved it. Then they wizened up. Grandma, can we play the games? On to the machine to buy tokens. Each game required one or two tokens. They are rigged I think. Most of them give tickets to redeem for prizes. (Should I mention cheap trinkets made in China?) You wouldn't believe how fast three little boys can spend $20. And get so excited over such trivial prizes. Then it was time to eat. What better place for the kids than Valentino's ? The kids really pigged out. Corey ate 4 pieces of pizza plus the rest of his meal. !! Home, baths and bed. Thank goodness, as the adults were exhausted. The kids were wired.
Tattlers? One little individual it a "tattler". The afore mentioned tattler, whose name will not be mentioned, always had something to tell. Truth or fiction? After raising 5 kids, I didn't put too much stock into any of it, but it was very funny at times. Some times he really had to work to come up with a story.
One evening, Laura (Colleens cousin? her dad is my nephew and is her cousin and Laura is his daughter) came over with her little girl Grace. She is very quiet and shy but got along real well with the boys. Especially Riley. At one point in the evening they were all sitting in the living room watching TV, when we turned around and here came Riley walking into the kitchen with Grace sitting on his shoulders. Don't know how she got there, don't know how she stayed there but it scared the heck out of me. I couldn't get to her fast enough to get her down. Mom had a talk with Riley about safety issues and what might have happened. How unwise it is to do that, especially with small children. Grace just turned 2.
Then Sunday afternoon came. They went home. So quiet.
Soooo very quiet.
We had 3 of our grand kids visit us last week for a few days. They brought their mother too. I got the early morning visits with them while Mom got some much needed rest. That is when the conversations got good. Little kids and their perceptions are hilarious . We even touched on a topic I won't discuss. It was all I could do to keep from laughing !!
One morning it was a magnifying glass. Wouldn't you know I only have one and 2 boys were fighting over it. We were out in the yard looking for all kinds of things, especially bugs, to look at. Their melted push up pops on the drive way from the day before drew a pile of ants and that was real popular.
Two mornings were spent constructing a bird trap. The materials required are many, and much time was spent in the garage looking for the right materials. A trash can was decided on as the trap. Then we needed a proper upper. We tried a book first, but it kept collapsing. Then we tried a tupper ware container. BINGO... Then we needed something to pull out the proper upper when the bird got under the trash can. I had a rope. Only problem was, it wasn't long enough. Then we found an extension cord. The one that WAS wrapped neatly on a holder. It worked just fine ! Well, what good is a trap without bait? The boys wanted to know if I had some bread, and I said sure. In we go and I get 2 pieces for each. Riley and Shannon meticulously broke theirs up into little squares and threaded it around the drive way to the trap. Corey? He tore up one for the bait and promptly ate the second one. Then the boys decided that wasn't enough. Did I have more bread? I says sure. In we go. Half a loaf latter, we are ready....... My drive way is lined with all kinds of curved lines of bread cubes, garbage can propped up, extension cord extending to the front steps, three noisy boys and God knows what the neighbors thought we were making. You guessed it. No birds fell for the trap. Notta one. Then Grandma is getting tired and takes the boys inside. Sometime later Grandpa must have dismantled the "trap".
Then there was the computer. They all wanted on it. It got so bad, I actually set the timer on my stove for thirty minute intervals for each one. When it would be Corey's turn, he would be ok for a while and then he would come running upstairs and tell me he needed me. He goes somewhere on the computer ( don't know how or where) to play this game called SHIFT 3. And he says he likes it in all caps. He wants to know why he can get through level 1 and level 2, but he can't get through level 3. I am thinking, oh Lord! I don't even know how you got here, I can't figure out how to play the game and you want me to tell you why you can't get through level 3? Corey doesn't understand the concept that you get to a point where it is hard, and then time and skill get you further. He wants it now !!
One evening we took off for the Butler county fair. I had heard from the guys at work that we were supposed to have severe storms that afternoon. Colleen researched on the "computer" for the weather and it said all was clear. We took off first in our truck , Colleen following in her little compact car with the boys. The further north we went, the worse it looked. Cell phones were used. We decided to go as far as Valparaiso and see what it looked like then. Dumb idea. By then it was too late. We drove right into a terrible storm. We took it better in the truck. Collen on the other hand, had no visibility either but also had a hard time keeping the car on the road due to the terrible wind. Bob and I were able to see a side road and pull off. Don't know how Colleen saw us but she pulled off too and we waited out the worst of the storm.. Back to Lincoln. Cell phones were used. Champions was decided on. Champions is a mixture of games for kids and adults. We started the kids in what I call a climbing maze. You get in and follow it through. It has several levels with all kinds of bouncing things, swings and a big slide to take you back to the bottom. Then you start all over. You can even go into the room filled with plastic balls. The boys, and all the rest of the kids, treated it like a swimming pool. Belly flop, head first or cannon ball. They loved it. Then they wizened up. Grandma, can we play the games? On to the machine to buy tokens. Each game required one or two tokens. They are rigged I think. Most of them give tickets to redeem for prizes. (Should I mention cheap trinkets made in China?) You wouldn't believe how fast three little boys can spend $20. And get so excited over such trivial prizes. Then it was time to eat. What better place for the kids than Valentino's ? The kids really pigged out. Corey ate 4 pieces of pizza plus the rest of his meal. !! Home, baths and bed. Thank goodness, as the adults were exhausted. The kids were wired.
Tattlers? One little individual it a "tattler". The afore mentioned tattler, whose name will not be mentioned, always had something to tell. Truth or fiction? After raising 5 kids, I didn't put too much stock into any of it, but it was very funny at times. Some times he really had to work to come up with a story.
One evening, Laura (Colleens cousin? her dad is my nephew and is her cousin and Laura is his daughter) came over with her little girl Grace. She is very quiet and shy but got along real well with the boys. Especially Riley. At one point in the evening they were all sitting in the living room watching TV, when we turned around and here came Riley walking into the kitchen with Grace sitting on his shoulders. Don't know how she got there, don't know how she stayed there but it scared the heck out of me. I couldn't get to her fast enough to get her down. Mom had a talk with Riley about safety issues and what might have happened. How unwise it is to do that, especially with small children. Grace just turned 2.
Then Sunday afternoon came. They went home. So quiet.
Soooo very quiet.
Jul 16, 2008
How Many Does It Take ?
We have four sump pumps.
We have water in our basement.
How many does it take ?
We have water in our basement.
How many does it take ?
Jul 11, 2008
"Halls"
I was going to comment in the comments Jerry, but decided it would be too long so I had better post. I had to laugh remembering that trip to Georgia. If Dad and Bud had been required to wear slacks (they never wore jeans) , the whole trip, they never would have gone.
Back where I come from the proper terminology was "halls". Not overalls, bibs or bibbys. Halls. Not those solid blue colored ones either. Had to be those striped ones. Kinda white with blue stripes, or was it blue with white stripes? Whatever.
There were "chore" halls. Those only worn to do chores, go to the field or work on machinery. There was "going someplace" halls. Those appropriate for the sale barn, Saturday night in town or somewhere casual they went. These just hadn't quite been worn enough to be delegated to the "chore" category. Then there was "Sunday" halls. To be worn only on special occasions that didn't require dress slacks and heaven forbid, a tie.
They were always worn with the plain blue work farm shirt. Never with any other kind. And then always long sleeved shirts. Year round. Winter and summer.
Back then all we had was a wringer washing machine and you would start with the whites and work your way through the laundry using the same water for it all. "Chore" halls were the last to go in. I even had some throw rugs that went in before "chore" halls.
If they were going someplace, they had to remember to take their wallets as they weren't carried on the farm. And the check book. Not that they ever wrote checks. Whatever they bought, be it groceries, farm equipment, clothes -anything- they handed the check book to the person they were buying from and they filled it out. All they did was sign their name. Forgot the check book? No fear. Who can remember counter checks? Stores would have a drawer or box of blank checks from banks in surrounding towns. You would just tell the clerk what bank and they would pull one out for you. I even wrote checks and signed dad's name. Back then it wasn't so much the signature, but to tell the bank what account to take the money out of. Wouldn't want to try that today.
Dad had a watch. If Dad put his watch on you knew it was a special occasion. Bud carried an old pocket watch pretty much all the time. That was about all the accessories for them. They didn't have much to clutter their lives.
The kids were used to them and their halls. One time in Lincoln Bob and I were out shopping for something. Casey must have been around 2 at the time. I needed to free my hands, so I just put him down on the floor by me. He was so good, I didn't pay too much attention to what he was doing. When I looked, here he was holding on to a strangers pant leg. This man had on a pair of "halls". Blue and white stripes (or white and blue stripes). About the same time Casey looked up at the man and realized it wasn't Grandpa. Back to Mom and Dad fast !!
I am sure they were very different from what Jan's mother and aunt were used to, but back in the mid-west, small town farm country it, it was the way life was.
No, I don't think any of my stories would work for Reminisce. Bob's are so much more interesting and humorous. I will continue to post them once in a while and bore you with them, but that is about all.
Back where I come from the proper terminology was "halls". Not overalls, bibs or bibbys. Halls. Not those solid blue colored ones either. Had to be those striped ones. Kinda white with blue stripes, or was it blue with white stripes? Whatever.
There were "chore" halls. Those only worn to do chores, go to the field or work on machinery. There was "going someplace" halls. Those appropriate for the sale barn, Saturday night in town or somewhere casual they went. These just hadn't quite been worn enough to be delegated to the "chore" category. Then there was "Sunday" halls. To be worn only on special occasions that didn't require dress slacks and heaven forbid, a tie.
They were always worn with the plain blue work farm shirt. Never with any other kind. And then always long sleeved shirts. Year round. Winter and summer.
Back then all we had was a wringer washing machine and you would start with the whites and work your way through the laundry using the same water for it all. "Chore" halls were the last to go in. I even had some throw rugs that went in before "chore" halls.
If they were going someplace, they had to remember to take their wallets as they weren't carried on the farm. And the check book. Not that they ever wrote checks. Whatever they bought, be it groceries, farm equipment, clothes -anything- they handed the check book to the person they were buying from and they filled it out. All they did was sign their name. Forgot the check book? No fear. Who can remember counter checks? Stores would have a drawer or box of blank checks from banks in surrounding towns. You would just tell the clerk what bank and they would pull one out for you. I even wrote checks and signed dad's name. Back then it wasn't so much the signature, but to tell the bank what account to take the money out of. Wouldn't want to try that today.
Dad had a watch. If Dad put his watch on you knew it was a special occasion. Bud carried an old pocket watch pretty much all the time. That was about all the accessories for them. They didn't have much to clutter their lives.
The kids were used to them and their halls. One time in Lincoln Bob and I were out shopping for something. Casey must have been around 2 at the time. I needed to free my hands, so I just put him down on the floor by me. He was so good, I didn't pay too much attention to what he was doing. When I looked, here he was holding on to a strangers pant leg. This man had on a pair of "halls". Blue and white stripes (or white and blue stripes). About the same time Casey looked up at the man and realized it wasn't Grandpa. Back to Mom and Dad fast !!
I am sure they were very different from what Jan's mother and aunt were used to, but back in the mid-west, small town farm country it, it was the way life was.
No, I don't think any of my stories would work for Reminisce. Bob's are so much more interesting and humorous. I will continue to post them once in a while and bore you with them, but that is about all.
Jul 10, 2008
Tuesday
It was a very long day. It was a very nice funeral and so shocking to see all the people who were there. You would think for someone 89 there might not have been too many. I think lots were friends of his children.
I happened to be near when Aunt Eva had a "talk" with Uncle Myron. She was explaining that she couldn't be with him right now, but it wouldn't be too long before they would see each other. Then I had to leave because it was too touching to be eavesdropping. I watched her from across the room, and she was so calm and collected. You might have thought she was having a normal conversation with someone if you didn't know difference. She was amazing through the whole service. I have to wonder if she thinks she will be joining him soon.
I have an uncle and an aunt left on my mothers side through marriage. Aunt Eva being one and Uncle Len being the other one. Uncle Len, who is 92, decided the morning of the funeral that he wasn't up to going. But, his brother Gus who will be 94 came. Gus was a good family friend of my parents and would stop in at the farm as ofen as Uncle Len and Aunt Evy. He is living in a nursing home and gets around very well with a walker. He says he has a wheel chair at "home" but he uses his walker as much as he can for excersise . My brothers and I had him sit at our table and we reminiced about old times.
It was our memories of when Gus, a confirmed bacholer, would show up for a visit. Not the summer visits, but if he showed up in the winter, all hell was apt to break loose. One year in particular. It was winter. It had started to snow early that day and didn't let up. Gus showed up that morning for a visit. It snowed harder. Sometime after lunch a Nash Finch truck from Norfolk showed up at the farm seeking shelter from the storm. He couldn't see to drive. Of course he was welcome to stay but Dad and Bud got to worring about us kids getting home safe. We were in a one room country school, nine pupils and a teacher 3/4 of a mile from home. The truck driver volunteered to drive his truck, if the guys would come along. They had shovels and what they could bring. There were 9 kids and one teacher at the school. Three kids from each family. The father of the ones living the fartherest away showed up first riding a horse and bringing enough for his children and they took off for home. The other family's dad showed with a little Ford tractor at the same time the guys showed up with the truck. The kids stood on that thingamagiky behind the tractor and held on tight while George drove them home. Our teacher had 2 choices. Stay alone at the school or get in the truck. She got in the truck. We made it home safely.
My mother must have had a sixth sense that day. I don't know when she started cooking, but cooking she did. We had a freezer full of meat, a cave full of canned vegetables and she had her home made bread. She fried chickens, roasted beef and I can't remember what else. The guys got us home safely and wondered who else might be in trouble out on the highway. ( Either that or they were just feeling like it was an adventure.) They decided to take the truck and go up and down the highway for a short distance to see if anyone else was stranded. When they stopped, we had 57 people at our house.
What a variety. A candy salesman who grabed his sample case to bring to the house. We loved that. A carful of ministers heading for a meeting. Dad wasn't too excited about that as he had to watch what he said, and of course we remembered to say grace at meals.... A young soldier with his Japanese bride and young child. She was so new to the US. Couldn't speak english. Wore only kimonoes and bowed at everything you said. People everywhere. I don't remember the sleeping arangements, but if you had a chair or what ever, they made do. They were safe, warm and well fed.
The next morning broke clear, bright sunshine and bitter cold. The drifts were enormous. Dad and Bud had help with the chores. Mom cooked breakfast for all of them. Then we waited for the snowplows. Mom fixed lunch for all of them. The truck driver delivered them to their vehicles while Dad and Bud each drove tractors to dig out their vehicles and Gus went along with a shovel. NO SCHOOL !! Gus was the last to leave.
Our mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer about the next fall. I think it was a combination of not knowing what to say, the lose of those good meals ( I was no substitute for my mother) or heartbreak, but we don't remember Gus coming much after that. But, we did have fun passing aound the story Tuesday.
Gus even brought copies of the obituariy for those of us who don't have access to the local newspaper. I am sure he had someone from the nursing home copy and print them, but it is amazing how someone that age was so thoughtful.
Life is made up of memories. Some not so good, and those that are so very special...... Thank you Gus. You made my brothers and my day by surprising us with your presence. None of us even knew you were still alive, much less how much fun we would have talking about the "old days". Life is sad, life is good.
I happened to be near when Aunt Eva had a "talk" with Uncle Myron. She was explaining that she couldn't be with him right now, but it wouldn't be too long before they would see each other. Then I had to leave because it was too touching to be eavesdropping. I watched her from across the room, and she was so calm and collected. You might have thought she was having a normal conversation with someone if you didn't know difference. She was amazing through the whole service. I have to wonder if she thinks she will be joining him soon.
I have an uncle and an aunt left on my mothers side through marriage. Aunt Eva being one and Uncle Len being the other one. Uncle Len, who is 92, decided the morning of the funeral that he wasn't up to going. But, his brother Gus who will be 94 came. Gus was a good family friend of my parents and would stop in at the farm as ofen as Uncle Len and Aunt Evy. He is living in a nursing home and gets around very well with a walker. He says he has a wheel chair at "home" but he uses his walker as much as he can for excersise . My brothers and I had him sit at our table and we reminiced about old times.
It was our memories of when Gus, a confirmed bacholer, would show up for a visit. Not the summer visits, but if he showed up in the winter, all hell was apt to break loose. One year in particular. It was winter. It had started to snow early that day and didn't let up. Gus showed up that morning for a visit. It snowed harder. Sometime after lunch a Nash Finch truck from Norfolk showed up at the farm seeking shelter from the storm. He couldn't see to drive. Of course he was welcome to stay but Dad and Bud got to worring about us kids getting home safe. We were in a one room country school, nine pupils and a teacher 3/4 of a mile from home. The truck driver volunteered to drive his truck, if the guys would come along. They had shovels and what they could bring. There were 9 kids and one teacher at the school. Three kids from each family. The father of the ones living the fartherest away showed up first riding a horse and bringing enough for his children and they took off for home. The other family's dad showed with a little Ford tractor at the same time the guys showed up with the truck. The kids stood on that thingamagiky behind the tractor and held on tight while George drove them home. Our teacher had 2 choices. Stay alone at the school or get in the truck. She got in the truck. We made it home safely.
My mother must have had a sixth sense that day. I don't know when she started cooking, but cooking she did. We had a freezer full of meat, a cave full of canned vegetables and she had her home made bread. She fried chickens, roasted beef and I can't remember what else. The guys got us home safely and wondered who else might be in trouble out on the highway. ( Either that or they were just feeling like it was an adventure.) They decided to take the truck and go up and down the highway for a short distance to see if anyone else was stranded. When they stopped, we had 57 people at our house.
What a variety. A candy salesman who grabed his sample case to bring to the house. We loved that. A carful of ministers heading for a meeting. Dad wasn't too excited about that as he had to watch what he said, and of course we remembered to say grace at meals.... A young soldier with his Japanese bride and young child. She was so new to the US. Couldn't speak english. Wore only kimonoes and bowed at everything you said. People everywhere. I don't remember the sleeping arangements, but if you had a chair or what ever, they made do. They were safe, warm and well fed.
The next morning broke clear, bright sunshine and bitter cold. The drifts were enormous. Dad and Bud had help with the chores. Mom cooked breakfast for all of them. Then we waited for the snowplows. Mom fixed lunch for all of them. The truck driver delivered them to their vehicles while Dad and Bud each drove tractors to dig out their vehicles and Gus went along with a shovel. NO SCHOOL !! Gus was the last to leave.
Our mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer about the next fall. I think it was a combination of not knowing what to say, the lose of those good meals ( I was no substitute for my mother) or heartbreak, but we don't remember Gus coming much after that. But, we did have fun passing aound the story Tuesday.
Gus even brought copies of the obituariy for those of us who don't have access to the local newspaper. I am sure he had someone from the nursing home copy and print them, but it is amazing how someone that age was so thoughtful.
Life is made up of memories. Some not so good, and those that are so very special...... Thank you Gus. You made my brothers and my day by surprising us with your presence. None of us even knew you were still alive, much less how much fun we would have talking about the "old days". Life is sad, life is good.
Sump Pump Update
I am going to bring this down one size and see if I can read this. Maybe I can, and maybe I can't.
Thrasher's called almost as I was walking in the door Monday morning. I explained to the woman what happened and told her I thought the problem was a defective meter. She said she would consult her tech and get right back to us. Five minutes later she called and said there would be someone at the house between 3:00 and 3:30 that afternoon.
After all that charging it tested weak when he checked it. He put in a new battery and a new meter. All at no charge.
Now I am wondering...... Was that sump really burned out or did we get taken for a very expensive ride ?????
Thrasher's called almost as I was walking in the door Monday morning. I explained to the woman what happened and told her I thought the problem was a defective meter. She said she would consult her tech and get right back to us. Five minutes later she called and said there would be someone at the house between 3:00 and 3:30 that afternoon.
After all that charging it tested weak when he checked it. He put in a new battery and a new meter. All at no charge.
Now I am wondering...... Was that sump really burned out or did we get taken for a very expensive ride ?????
Jul 7, 2008
Uncle Myron and Aunt Eva
What was I thinking ? I have been looking through the pictures of their anniversary, and the cake said 65th !! I called Rose right away and she said, "of course it was their 60th. Her husband, ( "Doc", we have called him that for so many years, sometimes I forget his real name) overheard our conversation and said it was their 65th !!! We were both stunned ! It was unbearably hot that day. Maybe we were just overcome by heat and never recovered. They have been married 67 years. Can you imagine ?
WE will be heading for Norfolk in the morning for the funeral when I get off work. I will get home from work, take a shower, change and we will leave. I will take a DV tomorrow night, as I think I will be tired.
Jul 5, 2008
July 4th
We had a nice day, mostly. We went "tripin". Road tripping, that is. Spent the day sight seeing in and around St. Joseph, Mo. I knew it was an old city, but downtown really shocked us. Really, really old. Here, most of it would be classed "blighted". Lots of huge old abandoned building with boarded up windows.
We went to the Jesse James museum and the Pony Express museum. Enjoyed them both. I almost got carded at the Pony Express museum. Lady didn't want to give me my senior citizen discount. Didn't believe I was old enough....
We drove through some of the neighborhoods and loved looking at the huge old houses. Some were so big, I can't imagine keeping them half way warm in the winter. I am thinking the windows must have been the air conditioning. Then you could drive as near as the next block, and it would be slums. What contrasts !!
We found the River Front Park and stopped there for a while. Some of the areas where you can walk out and enjoy the views were covered with flood water debris. There were a couple of gazebo like areas where you could go too and enjoy the views, but they were occupied by homeless people. One was sleeping and one looked like he was just deciding what to do next.
We saw lots of farm ground that had been under water from the floods. That includes Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. Some still had standing water, some still hadn't dried out and areas with crops that was obvious wasn't going to produce anything. The plants were that sick yellow color from standing in water too long. Too wet to try to get in and replant and almost too late anyway.
We got home around six and a cousin called at seven to tell us about Uncle Myron. We had our lawn chairs and were in our favorite parking lot in the north part of town by 9:00 for the "show". We had 2 solid hours of fireworks before we called it a night. It was non stop, and I don't mean cheap fireworks. We even were able to watch the city display at Oak Lake, which lasted 24 minutes. We had quite a view of the city far to the south. What a sight ! We couldn't imagine how much money we watched going up into the sky.
Bet China looks forward to July 4th as much as Americans do !!!!
We went to the Jesse James museum and the Pony Express museum. Enjoyed them both. I almost got carded at the Pony Express museum. Lady didn't want to give me my senior citizen discount. Didn't believe I was old enough....
We drove through some of the neighborhoods and loved looking at the huge old houses. Some were so big, I can't imagine keeping them half way warm in the winter. I am thinking the windows must have been the air conditioning. Then you could drive as near as the next block, and it would be slums. What contrasts !!
We found the River Front Park and stopped there for a while. Some of the areas where you can walk out and enjoy the views were covered with flood water debris. There were a couple of gazebo like areas where you could go too and enjoy the views, but they were occupied by homeless people. One was sleeping and one looked like he was just deciding what to do next.
We saw lots of farm ground that had been under water from the floods. That includes Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. Some still had standing water, some still hadn't dried out and areas with crops that was obvious wasn't going to produce anything. The plants were that sick yellow color from standing in water too long. Too wet to try to get in and replant and almost too late anyway.
We got home around six and a cousin called at seven to tell us about Uncle Myron. We had our lawn chairs and were in our favorite parking lot in the north part of town by 9:00 for the "show". We had 2 solid hours of fireworks before we called it a night. It was non stop, and I don't mean cheap fireworks. We even were able to watch the city display at Oak Lake, which lasted 24 minutes. We had quite a view of the city far to the south. What a sight ! We couldn't imagine how much money we watched going up into the sky.
Bet China looks forward to July 4th as much as Americans do !!!!
Hancock
Casey has been after me to go to this movie with him as soon as it came out. I gave in and said I would go to the matinee with him this afternoon. Bob said he would go too. Second movie we have been to this year !!!
I am not much into super heroes ( out grew them sometime around Superman). Especially a drunk, who doesn't have his act together. We sat there for 2 hours, and Bob and I were throughly entertained. Didn't know what to expect, but we followed the plot and it was very funny. Will Smith is a great actor.
Language was not as bad as I thought it might be, violence yes, but I don't remember anyone even getting killed. Don't recomend it for everyone, but some of you might enjoy it.
Thought of June when we got our tickets and goodies. $19.50 for three adults, and $13.75 for two large drinks and one large pop corn.
Sure glad we liked the movie !!
I am not much into super heroes ( out grew them sometime around Superman). Especially a drunk, who doesn't have his act together. We sat there for 2 hours, and Bob and I were throughly entertained. Didn't know what to expect, but we followed the plot and it was very funny. Will Smith is a great actor.
Language was not as bad as I thought it might be, violence yes, but I don't remember anyone even getting killed. Don't recomend it for everyone, but some of you might enjoy it.
Thought of June when we got our tickets and goodies. $19.50 for three adults, and $13.75 for two large drinks and one large pop corn.
Sure glad we liked the movie !!
Sump Pump Saga
It sprinkled last night. I don't even know why Bob came downstairs and checked the meter like box on the back up, but he did. Red light flashing. System failure..... Of course I grabbed a phone and called those _ _ _ _ "fixr" people. You might guess, they don't work Saturdays. Left them a message they had better answer right away Monday morning!
Bob decided to unplug it and plug it in right away, just to see what it would do. Red system failure light went off and red system charging light came on. (Fast Charge ,so it says.) Ten hours and 30 minutes later it changes to an alternate red and green flashing light. Means the battery is 80% charged. We seem to dis-agree with the meter thing on what a fast charge means. This was the first rain we have had in over a week and almost no need for a sump at all. Why would the battery need charged if not used and the power certainly has not gone out???
Did I mention the weather man is predicting rain for tonight and tomorrow?
Bob decided to unplug it and plug it in right away, just to see what it would do. Red system failure light went off and red system charging light came on. (Fast Charge ,so it says.) Ten hours and 30 minutes later it changes to an alternate red and green flashing light. Means the battery is 80% charged. We seem to dis-agree with the meter thing on what a fast charge means. This was the first rain we have had in over a week and almost no need for a sump at all. Why would the battery need charged if not used and the power certainly has not gone out???
Did I mention the weather man is predicting rain for tonight and tomorrow?
Jul 4, 2008
T.J.'s Story
Kellie recently got information about her upcoming class reunion. A classmate had a web site along with his information. She read it and forwarded it to me.
It is a site for people who are ill and a way for them to cope with it and share their stories. Just last year we followed the progress of one of Shannon's classmates. Jenny lost her battle with cancer shortly before Christmas, leaving a husband and three children.
I am going to walk the Relay For Life in honor of T.J. Kellie will be in Minnesota on July 26th or she would walk with me. Being a third shifter, I will walk sometime in the middle of the night, the hardest times to get volunteers.
I am putting a link to his story below if you would like to read it.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tjochsner
I have pledged $100 dollars. If anyone would like to sponsor me, send cash or a check made out to the American Cancer Society. I have $5.00 from Lynda Brown at work, so am only $95.00 away from my goal. I will turn in my pledge the night I walk.
My mother passed away from cancer 47 years ago and it seems like we are no closer to a cure now than we were then.
Maybe soon?
It is a site for people who are ill and a way for them to cope with it and share their stories. Just last year we followed the progress of one of Shannon's classmates. Jenny lost her battle with cancer shortly before Christmas, leaving a husband and three children.
I am going to walk the Relay For Life in honor of T.J. Kellie will be in Minnesota on July 26th or she would walk with me. Being a third shifter, I will walk sometime in the middle of the night, the hardest times to get volunteers.
I am putting a link to his story below if you would like to read it.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tjochsner
I have pledged $100 dollars. If anyone would like to sponsor me, send cash or a check made out to the American Cancer Society. I have $5.00 from Lynda Brown at work, so am only $95.00 away from my goal. I will turn in my pledge the night I walk.
My mother passed away from cancer 47 years ago and it seems like we are no closer to a cure now than we were then.
Maybe soon?
Uncle Myron
Uncle Myron passed away this afternoon. He hasn't been doing real well for some time now. He got out of the hospital about a week ago and had to go to a nursing home.
He and Aunt Eva would have had their 62nd anniversary this summer. She will be lost without him.
He and Aunt Eva would have had their 62nd anniversary this summer. She will be lost without him.
Jul 1, 2008
LUMPS
What is it about that word that can make a person break into a cold sweat immediately? If you have never found one , you don't know. If you have, you know what I mean. FEAR....
Not very long ago I sat with a family member while they waited to find out if one was serious. The thoughts that go through your mind at the time are enough to scare a person to death. So scared you can't even say a prayer. Only said in your mind, and hope it was delivered to the right man.
Then almost 3 weeks ago I find a lump in the arch of my right foot. SWEAT... I know right away it isn't breast or lung cancer. When I start to calm down, I think, what a dumb place for a lump. If my feet didn't hurt after work, I would never have found it. Just massaging my poor dogs, and there it was.
I rationalise, I am sure it is a cyst. Of course that is the answer. Then I think. Don't they only come in places like wrists or over worked parts of the body ?? Or breasts? Then I decide to watch it for a while. Like a dozen times a day. I should say night, since that is my day. I swear some times it had doubled in size. Then I would calm down and of course it was about the same size.
Compare it with the other foot !! Maybe it is just normal. Here I sit with both my feet up on the computer desk, one hand on each foot checking them out. Oh my God !!! Cramps in the calves of both my legs. Thought I was going to die. I changed to both feet on the floor, one hand checking a foot. Nothing on the left. Something on the right that shouldn't be there.
I see the nurse at work. Dumb me. So scared, I forget we have them whenever we need to talk to someone with a medical back ground. She thought it was a cyst, but was concerned because of the location and size, and that I didn't feel pain or discomfort. She said, see a doctor because it didn't belong there.
I call for an appointment. Over a week until I can get in !! I make the appointment. I go to work every night and check it a dozen times for any changes. I went to the doctor this morning. My appointment was at 9:45 A.M. It was so darned cold in that room, I didn't even get nervous waiting for him. Really, really cold. I always bring at least a sweater when I go. Again, FEAR, made me forget what I would normally have thought of. Thirty minutes later he comes in.
A ganglion (don't know the spelling, but you know what I mean) cyst. The unspoken prayers went to the right man. I am going to a specialist. He will either say it is fine the way it is, want to biopsy it or remove it.
Whatever he says, will be just fine compared to what my imagination put me through.
Not very long ago I sat with a family member while they waited to find out if one was serious. The thoughts that go through your mind at the time are enough to scare a person to death. So scared you can't even say a prayer. Only said in your mind, and hope it was delivered to the right man.
Then almost 3 weeks ago I find a lump in the arch of my right foot. SWEAT... I know right away it isn't breast or lung cancer. When I start to calm down, I think, what a dumb place for a lump. If my feet didn't hurt after work, I would never have found it. Just massaging my poor dogs, and there it was.
I rationalise, I am sure it is a cyst. Of course that is the answer. Then I think. Don't they only come in places like wrists or over worked parts of the body ?? Or breasts? Then I decide to watch it for a while. Like a dozen times a day. I should say night, since that is my day. I swear some times it had doubled in size. Then I would calm down and of course it was about the same size.
Compare it with the other foot !! Maybe it is just normal. Here I sit with both my feet up on the computer desk, one hand on each foot checking them out. Oh my God !!! Cramps in the calves of both my legs. Thought I was going to die. I changed to both feet on the floor, one hand checking a foot. Nothing on the left. Something on the right that shouldn't be there.
I see the nurse at work. Dumb me. So scared, I forget we have them whenever we need to talk to someone with a medical back ground. She thought it was a cyst, but was concerned because of the location and size, and that I didn't feel pain or discomfort. She said, see a doctor because it didn't belong there.
I call for an appointment. Over a week until I can get in !! I make the appointment. I go to work every night and check it a dozen times for any changes. I went to the doctor this morning. My appointment was at 9:45 A.M. It was so darned cold in that room, I didn't even get nervous waiting for him. Really, really cold. I always bring at least a sweater when I go. Again, FEAR, made me forget what I would normally have thought of. Thirty minutes later he comes in.
A ganglion (don't know the spelling, but you know what I mean) cyst. The unspoken prayers went to the right man. I am going to a specialist. He will either say it is fine the way it is, want to biopsy it or remove it.
Whatever he says, will be just fine compared to what my imagination put me through.
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