Since Friday is a day off for the Fourth of July, one of the most important dates on the American calendar, today isn't quite Tuesday and it isn't quite Wednesday either. Hence Weusday.
I slept in about ten minutes later this morning than I usually do. Feel pretty good though! Took The Things to rehearsal last night for Into The Woods. Thing 1 is in the orchestra, Thing 2 is painting the set and both are enjoying it a lot.
This will be a massive show. Very complex as I blogged about before and lots of people and story to tell. I believe the light plot will be relatively easy over the course of two and a half hours. No major switches like Yes Virginia, the lights here will likely be on, off, one color or another representing the time of day or evening, and a spot light.
It'll be fun! I'll start next week turning the lights on while the actors are on stage and get it roughed out, then as the rehearsals go on I'll get it fine tuned to the cues, then its showtime!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Two Kinds Of People
There really are two kinds of people in the world. There are people who have iPhones and people who lie about wanting one. Regardless of AT&T the iPhone is a marvelous device and once you drink the KoolAid you can't go back to not owning one.
So for all of you friends out there who know me, pick up your iPhone, turn it on, text someone you know and care for. You can be a little smug about owning an iPhone, its hard not to be when you hold in your hand a revolutionary device that finally caught up to a lot of people's dreams of owning a computer in your pocket.
Especially those of you with the new 3Gs which is the equivalent of the official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.
I'll have to hold off on getting my new 3Gs as I won't be eligible for the upgrade until January 8th, 2010. By that time I'm less than six months out from the new version of the iPhone so I'll hold out until next June and hope for something a little more revolutionary and maybe 64 gigs of storage which is what I really really want and a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.
I bet you'll see online video uploads SOAR with the 3Gs, that is how powerful this device can be. You'll eventually see a front facing camera for video conferencing. With every upgrade you'll have noticed speed increases and battery life improvements. The potential is there for some really incredible things, air drop a crate of iPhones into the middle east and you might have a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians before long!
So for all of you friends out there who know me, pick up your iPhone, turn it on, text someone you know and care for. You can be a little smug about owning an iPhone, its hard not to be when you hold in your hand a revolutionary device that finally caught up to a lot of people's dreams of owning a computer in your pocket.
Especially those of you with the new 3Gs which is the equivalent of the official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.
I'll have to hold off on getting my new 3Gs as I won't be eligible for the upgrade until January 8th, 2010. By that time I'm less than six months out from the new version of the iPhone so I'll hold out until next June and hope for something a little more revolutionary and maybe 64 gigs of storage which is what I really really want and a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.
I bet you'll see online video uploads SOAR with the 3Gs, that is how powerful this device can be. You'll eventually see a front facing camera for video conferencing. With every upgrade you'll have noticed speed increases and battery life improvements. The potential is there for some really incredible things, air drop a crate of iPhones into the middle east and you might have a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians before long!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Great Set Call
Yesterday was really a lot of fun. I took Thing 2 up to set call for Into The Woods and within an hour or so she had settled in and was painting up a storm on Rapunzel's Tower!
She was doing textures on the stones with a paper bag and getting paint all over her, it was really funny but she loved it. She got over her shyness quickly and started to click with the group.
I mainly helped Skate on the grid above the stage and the placing of trees. That was a big job but we had a great time. My friends rock, that is why I wanted to be part of this show, almost everyone I know in the theatre group is going to be in this show, a few I really like aren't involved in this one but the majority is.
It is the most complex show I've been involved in but Misery is close but that was a lot more of a special effects show. We also had a cast of two so the set calls were a lot longer and tougher. We didn't have the people to help out. You can review all of my Misery posts if you really want to see the evolution of the set and tear down.
I'll start in the booth on the sixth of July, I won't be needed for much to start other than to get the light cues roughed out. It'll help out later on though.
She was doing textures on the stones with a paper bag and getting paint all over her, it was really funny but she loved it. She got over her shyness quickly and started to click with the group.
I mainly helped Skate on the grid above the stage and the placing of trees. That was a big job but we had a great time. My friends rock, that is why I wanted to be part of this show, almost everyone I know in the theatre group is going to be in this show, a few I really like aren't involved in this one but the majority is.
It is the most complex show I've been involved in but Misery is close but that was a lot more of a special effects show. We also had a cast of two so the set calls were a lot longer and tougher. We didn't have the people to help out. You can review all of my Misery posts if you really want to see the evolution of the set and tear down.
I'll start in the booth on the sixth of July, I won't be needed for much to start other than to get the light cues roughed out. It'll help out later on though.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Cool Friday
If you have been to my house in the past two years you'll have noticed a large blue and white bus in my back yard. It was my dad's bus. The city of Waukomis was hassling him about it so he moved it to my yard.
Well after his passing I decided to have it hauled off for scrap, then I decided against that since I know the engine is good and that the transmission is practically new. It only has like four or five trips on it. So now that it is my problem to deal with I decided to put it on Craigslist and see if maybe by a fluke I could get it sold for something I could put towards a new central heat and air unit or some needed things I've been putting off.
I put it in for two thousand dollars, the transmission alone was over three but in the shape the bus is in I figured two was reasonable. Got one email about it, he lost interest quickly. Got another and this guy was persistent. We emailed a couple of times, he sent me his phone number and I called him. He told me he was familiar with the area and that his parents had lived here at one time.
So he and his friend decided to road trip here from Missouri and look it over. I let The Date know that they will be at the house (shortly after she got backed into it in a parking lot, thankfully it was the other girl's fault and her insurance will pay for it) and to show them the bus.
The Date texts me and asks me if I knew they were from Trick My Truck on CMT, I reply I did not, the man didn't tell me and I can understand why. The Date had a good talk with them as they were here for about three hours. The bus fired right up for them even though it hasn't been started in months. They called me a couple of times since I was at work and asked questions about it. Couldn't get it to move forward or backward though. He told The Date they will go back and do some research on it and come back over with a mechanic.
I know my dad would love for his bus to have a new life instead of hauled off for scrap. I hope they buy it so that it could be remodeled and fixed up and I don't have to have it hauled off. Not even for the money I'm asking for it either, because those guys have the resources to make it a very nice bus again.
After I got home and after The Date got off of work we went to Shakespeare in the Park to see The Tempest, well the last act anyway. The whole gang was there from the next show I'll be involved with, Into The Woods. Hugs all around and then we enjoyed the last act. Good show, better friends!
Well after his passing I decided to have it hauled off for scrap, then I decided against that since I know the engine is good and that the transmission is practically new. It only has like four or five trips on it. So now that it is my problem to deal with I decided to put it on Craigslist and see if maybe by a fluke I could get it sold for something I could put towards a new central heat and air unit or some needed things I've been putting off.
I put it in for two thousand dollars, the transmission alone was over three but in the shape the bus is in I figured two was reasonable. Got one email about it, he lost interest quickly. Got another and this guy was persistent. We emailed a couple of times, he sent me his phone number and I called him. He told me he was familiar with the area and that his parents had lived here at one time.
So he and his friend decided to road trip here from Missouri and look it over. I let The Date know that they will be at the house (shortly after she got backed into it in a parking lot, thankfully it was the other girl's fault and her insurance will pay for it) and to show them the bus.
The Date texts me and asks me if I knew they were from Trick My Truck on CMT, I reply I did not, the man didn't tell me and I can understand why. The Date had a good talk with them as they were here for about three hours. The bus fired right up for them even though it hasn't been started in months. They called me a couple of times since I was at work and asked questions about it. Couldn't get it to move forward or backward though. He told The Date they will go back and do some research on it and come back over with a mechanic.
I know my dad would love for his bus to have a new life instead of hauled off for scrap. I hope they buy it so that it could be remodeled and fixed up and I don't have to have it hauled off. Not even for the money I'm asking for it either, because those guys have the resources to make it a very nice bus again.
After I got home and after The Date got off of work we went to Shakespeare in the Park to see The Tempest, well the last act anyway. The whole gang was there from the next show I'll be involved with, Into The Woods. Hugs all around and then we enjoyed the last act. Good show, better friends!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Jackals
So last night I'm watching the wall to wall coverage of the death of Michael Jackson. I've got to wonder many things about his death.
For a decade he was on top of the music world until the early nineties. He started to go from Michael Jackson to Jacko as stories surfaced and some of the oddest rumors you would ever hear about a man. If it was about him people tended to believe it. Was he a tragedy years in the making?
You have a superstar who wasn't really playing by rules anymore. With that kind of power, money, and fame the rules that apply to you and me just don't apply to someone like him. He was used to asking for what he wanted, getting it, and more than he wanted of it with no one telling him no.
After a few years of that you can lose touch with reality. None of us will likely ever know that kind of lifestyle. That might be why he got into so much trouble. No one told him no, likely to his own demise.
Forced into the limelight at a very young age by a domineering father, some say abusive, he brought his family out of poverty as the leader of the Jackson 5. He likely died with hundreds of millions of dollars of debt. On top of the world with a life full of chaos and disarray. From the brief marriage to Lisa Marie, to the dental assistant and mother of two children, to the surrogate child, this is one man who could not find solace at any price.
A great talent, a lonely man, a freak, a world class entertainer, an abused man child who never grew up. I'm sure he was all of that and more, but what you have not seen yet is the circus that will come over his estate, the custody of his children, the pot of gold at the end of Michael Jackson's rainbow. Squabbling will commence with the first lawsuit before his body is buried.
You will see jackals come out by droves, lured by the scent of money. The same kind of jackals who robbed my dad the night of the thirteenth of all of his cash while we went to the hospital.
That was just sixteen hundred dollars that someone just had to steal from a defenseless man while he was dying in the hospital.
That was vicious, greedy, and cruel but nothing compared to what will happen to the Jackson estate. I believe in an ultimate sovereign God. That everyone will eventually be judged by Him and justice and mercy will be rewarded then.
For a decade he was on top of the music world until the early nineties. He started to go from Michael Jackson to Jacko as stories surfaced and some of the oddest rumors you would ever hear about a man. If it was about him people tended to believe it. Was he a tragedy years in the making?
You have a superstar who wasn't really playing by rules anymore. With that kind of power, money, and fame the rules that apply to you and me just don't apply to someone like him. He was used to asking for what he wanted, getting it, and more than he wanted of it with no one telling him no.
After a few years of that you can lose touch with reality. None of us will likely ever know that kind of lifestyle. That might be why he got into so much trouble. No one told him no, likely to his own demise.
Forced into the limelight at a very young age by a domineering father, some say abusive, he brought his family out of poverty as the leader of the Jackson 5. He likely died with hundreds of millions of dollars of debt. On top of the world with a life full of chaos and disarray. From the brief marriage to Lisa Marie, to the dental assistant and mother of two children, to the surrogate child, this is one man who could not find solace at any price.
A great talent, a lonely man, a freak, a world class entertainer, an abused man child who never grew up. I'm sure he was all of that and more, but what you have not seen yet is the circus that will come over his estate, the custody of his children, the pot of gold at the end of Michael Jackson's rainbow. Squabbling will commence with the first lawsuit before his body is buried.
You will see jackals come out by droves, lured by the scent of money. The same kind of jackals who robbed my dad the night of the thirteenth of all of his cash while we went to the hospital.
That was just sixteen hundred dollars that someone just had to steal from a defenseless man while he was dying in the hospital.
That was vicious, greedy, and cruel but nothing compared to what will happen to the Jackson estate. I believe in an ultimate sovereign God. That everyone will eventually be judged by Him and justice and mercy will be rewarded then.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
I Slept
Last night I made a decent amount on tips. Almost enough to cover the fuel I put into my truck. The last tip of the evening I made nearly ten dollars on, rare but very nice when it happens! I put in my week and a half notice. I told the owner I could work for him until next Friday, that I had too much going on right now to hold down two jobs.
When I arrived back at the diner it was about a quarter until nine. They told me if I wanted to I could cash out and go home, which I promptly did as fast as I could.
I made it home right around nine. Tired. My mind was going as fast as it could. I decided to unwind a little with some surfing and reading, tended my Farm Town, two football franchises, and got my Mafia Wars family up to date.
Then I went to bed. I picked up South by Sir Ernest Shackleton and read for about twenty minutes.
Turned out the light and I slept. For the first time in over a month I had felt some relief. I felt a similar relief when we went back to work but last night was different. I was able to relax a little bit. It was great. I'm off tonight and tomorrow night from my second job, I do have to work the weekend though but it'll be for the last time.
Feel great this morning! I feel relaxed, like the problems I know that will arise will be easily handled. It feels good to know that I'm within four weeks of a real and full paycheck again. The next check will be tiny as I told you about but that is why I took the second job, my last day at the diner will be the same day I get that check so it will account for half of my pay with both added together.
I'm thrilled about that! The Date's magazine has gone nuts and they have sold a lot of advertising for two issues already! They are over half way to their goal and are STILL selling in town alone! Next week they will start to get the area towns sold! I told her she will have to hire more sales staff soon as they can't cover this much area by themselves!
I've never seen something take off as fast as what her magazine has. I'm really pretty honored to be a small part of it and right now it is so small that it really can't be measured, mainly just supporting her and telling her to get things done before they are due.
Hope you all out there have a great day! Twice as good as mine will be and I think mine will be good, I'm off tonight!!!! Woohoooo!!!!!
When I arrived back at the diner it was about a quarter until nine. They told me if I wanted to I could cash out and go home, which I promptly did as fast as I could.
I made it home right around nine. Tired. My mind was going as fast as it could. I decided to unwind a little with some surfing and reading, tended my Farm Town, two football franchises, and got my Mafia Wars family up to date.
Then I went to bed. I picked up South by Sir Ernest Shackleton and read for about twenty minutes.
Turned out the light and I slept. For the first time in over a month I had felt some relief. I felt a similar relief when we went back to work but last night was different. I was able to relax a little bit. It was great. I'm off tonight and tomorrow night from my second job, I do have to work the weekend though but it'll be for the last time.
Feel great this morning! I feel relaxed, like the problems I know that will arise will be easily handled. It feels good to know that I'm within four weeks of a real and full paycheck again. The next check will be tiny as I told you about but that is why I took the second job, my last day at the diner will be the same day I get that check so it will account for half of my pay with both added together.
I'm thrilled about that! The Date's magazine has gone nuts and they have sold a lot of advertising for two issues already! They are over half way to their goal and are STILL selling in town alone! Next week they will start to get the area towns sold! I told her she will have to hire more sales staff soon as they can't cover this much area by themselves!
I've never seen something take off as fast as what her magazine has. I'm really pretty honored to be a small part of it and right now it is so small that it really can't be measured, mainly just supporting her and telling her to get things done before they are due.
Hope you all out there have a great day! Twice as good as mine will be and I think mine will be good, I'm off tonight!!!! Woohoooo!!!!!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Loooonngg Day
My day started around six thirty and ended at eleven last night. I went to my regular job (Woohoooo!!!!!) and after I clocked out had about twenty minutes to get home, change clothes, get a bite to eat, and get to my second job (Boooo).
I told the owner that after this week I needed my hours cut back. He seemed to be ok with it and was understanding. I closed last night which was why I didn't get home until after eleven. The tips were bad last night too. I even had to go on two deliveries twice as the people bagging up everything for the drivers missed some things. One tipped the first time so I couldn't expect a second tip. The other didn't tip at all, either time.
When the tips are good though then it is alright, they are cash and I need the extra money until my first full paycheck on the sixteenth of July. After that then I won't need the second job at all but might keep it for one night a week.
It was really good to get back into the groove at work. A strike is something I hope none of you have to experience. They aren't fun.
I told the owner that after this week I needed my hours cut back. He seemed to be ok with it and was understanding. I closed last night which was why I didn't get home until after eleven. The tips were bad last night too. I even had to go on two deliveries twice as the people bagging up everything for the drivers missed some things. One tipped the first time so I couldn't expect a second tip. The other didn't tip at all, either time.
When the tips are good though then it is alright, they are cash and I need the extra money until my first full paycheck on the sixteenth of July. After that then I won't need the second job at all but might keep it for one night a week.
It was really good to get back into the groove at work. A strike is something I hope none of you have to experience. They aren't fun.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Hi Ho!
This morning it's off to work I go! Finally after two weeks of no pay, feelings of worthlessness, and overall high stress level I get to go back to work!
I also believe that the transmission is not the problem I am having with my truck. I believe that the vacuum pump has gone out of it which is much cheaper and can be fixed in about ten minutes once I have a replacement.
A vacuum pump is about one tenth the price of a new transmission so I'm really pretty thrilled about that! My next paycheck will be for four days and on July third. That will make things tight for until the first full paycheck comes in but doable. Just have to be careful about spending right now.
The first full paycheck I'll get will be July seventeenth. Yeah it is three and almost two thirds weeks away but it will be a good day! I'm caught up on my bills which is good, I know a lot of people aren't. I took the initiative to get another job (which I work tonight until ten thirty) so I'll have some income to get us through.
A lot of other people didn't do that. I won't be able to keep up these hours for long though (six thirty until ten thirty at night) but as long as it takes to get my first full check from work.
So I'm off to work now!
I also believe that the transmission is not the problem I am having with my truck. I believe that the vacuum pump has gone out of it which is much cheaper and can be fixed in about ten minutes once I have a replacement.
A vacuum pump is about one tenth the price of a new transmission so I'm really pretty thrilled about that! My next paycheck will be for four days and on July third. That will make things tight for until the first full paycheck comes in but doable. Just have to be careful about spending right now.
The first full paycheck I'll get will be July seventeenth. Yeah it is three and almost two thirds weeks away but it will be a good day! I'm caught up on my bills which is good, I know a lot of people aren't. I took the initiative to get another job (which I work tonight until ten thirty) so I'll have some income to get us through.
A lot of other people didn't do that. I won't be able to keep up these hours for long though (six thirty until ten thirty at night) but as long as it takes to get my first full check from work.
So I'm off to work now!
Monday, June 22, 2009
The Strike Ends At Day Fifteen!
I just received the vote count, 705 voted 554 to accept the contract.
It isn't perfect as the second and third years of the insurance is uncapped, meaning we could pay for the entire premiums ourselves if the company mandated.
We'll deal with that when we come to that bridge though. I'm ready to get back to a normal job and normal hours and normal paychecks again!
I'm ready. I'm tired of the strike. I'm tired of it. Now its over with!
It isn't perfect as the second and third years of the insurance is uncapped, meaning we could pay for the entire premiums ourselves if the company mandated.
We'll deal with that when we come to that bridge though. I'm ready to get back to a normal job and normal hours and normal paychecks again!
I'm ready. I'm tired of the strike. I'm tired of it. Now its over with!
Strike Day Fifteen
And hopefully the last day of our strike. I'm really looking forward to clocking in to my regular job tomorrow and ending this thing! I'm sick of it, I was sick of it from the start and now I'm fifteen days into it and feel that no one has really won anything.
I read the proposal and it really isn't that far off from what was negotiated to start with. Mostly language changes and the way we are able to use our paid leave. There is actually more money in this contract which is a surprise to me. A quarter percent each year higher than the original offer and money going into the pension plan.
That is good but again the last two weeks is income we will never get back. It has set a lot of people back in their monthly bills, fortunately I'm not one of them. With my temp job, The Date's income from her three jobs, and family support I think we are fine.
If we go back to work tomorrow I'll get a half paycheck on July third and full paychecks after that! The half and next full paycheck will be tight but we can manage them well enough to keep everything up to date and eat well. I feel for the people who the strike really hurt who were living paycheck to paycheck. They will have a tougher time recovering but at least they will recover.
I hope everyone out there had a great Father's Day and really appreciated it. Sometimes you don't realize how important a dad is until they are gone.
I read the proposal and it really isn't that far off from what was negotiated to start with. Mostly language changes and the way we are able to use our paid leave. There is actually more money in this contract which is a surprise to me. A quarter percent each year higher than the original offer and money going into the pension plan.
That is good but again the last two weeks is income we will never get back. It has set a lot of people back in their monthly bills, fortunately I'm not one of them. With my temp job, The Date's income from her three jobs, and family support I think we are fine.
If we go back to work tomorrow I'll get a half paycheck on July third and full paychecks after that! The half and next full paycheck will be tight but we can manage them well enough to keep everything up to date and eat well. I feel for the people who the strike really hurt who were living paycheck to paycheck. They will have a tougher time recovering but at least they will recover.
I hope everyone out there had a great Father's Day and really appreciated it. Sometimes you don't realize how important a dad is until they are gone.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Strike Day Fourteen
And hopefully the penultimate day of the strike. Our negotiators reached an agreement with the company last night! I believe we did pretty well as all of the sticking points were talked about and resolved, hopefully to the satisfaction of our membership.
I want to get back to work at my normal job. I plan on turning in my two weeks notice on Monday to my delivery job if I get to go back to work on Tuesday. Which is fine, I believe my transmission in my truck is acting up and it could aggravate the problem if I drive it like that on a long term basis. So it isn't good on the wear and tear of my vehicle. I'll be putting my tip money towards the repair if needed.
Hopefully it will be a simple fix, filter, change the fluid, something like that, at most I guess I would have to have it rebuilt. Transmission repair is outside of my scope of mechanical skills. I can do many engine repairs but not the transmission.
It will be one more obstacle to overcome as if the past couple of weeks weren't enough. Not complaining though. I've got it better than a lot of other people who have been hit hard by the economy.
I've got the hope of a job to go back to once the vote is official.
I've got the bestest friends in the world who have been nonstop asking me if they could do something for me.
I've got the greatest The Date in the world who has been sticking by me through this rough and stressful time.
I've really got it pretty good in when I put things in perspective, mechanical problems just don't even show up on the radar!
I want to get back to work at my normal job. I plan on turning in my two weeks notice on Monday to my delivery job if I get to go back to work on Tuesday. Which is fine, I believe my transmission in my truck is acting up and it could aggravate the problem if I drive it like that on a long term basis. So it isn't good on the wear and tear of my vehicle. I'll be putting my tip money towards the repair if needed.
Hopefully it will be a simple fix, filter, change the fluid, something like that, at most I guess I would have to have it rebuilt. Transmission repair is outside of my scope of mechanical skills. I can do many engine repairs but not the transmission.
It will be one more obstacle to overcome as if the past couple of weeks weren't enough. Not complaining though. I've got it better than a lot of other people who have been hit hard by the economy.
I've got the hope of a job to go back to once the vote is official.
I've got the bestest friends in the world who have been nonstop asking me if they could do something for me.
I've got the greatest The Date in the world who has been sticking by me through this rough and stressful time.
I've really got it pretty good in when I put things in perspective, mechanical problems just don't even show up on the radar!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Strike Day Thirteen
Talks are resuming as I am typing this. Work was pretty busy last night. I made close to forty in tips, which was very nice. It'll help a lot until I get a regular paycheck again.
It was a busy week. Thursday being the worst day of the lot in retrospect. It's over with now and time to move onto better weeks.
The Date has cleaned house in sales in less than two full days! It has been amazing how fast it has started!!!! That is just local too, she hasn't even started selling to the towns around here yet!!!!! I told her she will have to save room for the area towns to advertise at this rate!
She is selling a product site unseen, which is an extremely tough sell and she has done this well. It will explode when she gets a couple of issues out! She is having a meeting tonight with her writers and photographers and will either give them assignments or let them run with an idea or two.
This is going to be my fall back plan in case I'm laid off in October. I'll learn the software and layout design and do that for her. At two issues per month it will be a handful for one person to do. I'm very happy for her! It was a great idea and now it has really just started to grow!
It was a busy week. Thursday being the worst day of the lot in retrospect. It's over with now and time to move onto better weeks.
The Date has cleaned house in sales in less than two full days! It has been amazing how fast it has started!!!! That is just local too, she hasn't even started selling to the towns around here yet!!!!! I told her she will have to save room for the area towns to advertise at this rate!
She is selling a product site unseen, which is an extremely tough sell and she has done this well. It will explode when she gets a couple of issues out! She is having a meeting tonight with her writers and photographers and will either give them assignments or let them run with an idea or two.
This is going to be my fall back plan in case I'm laid off in October. I'll learn the software and layout design and do that for her. At two issues per month it will be a handful for one person to do. I'm very happy for her! It was a great idea and now it has really just started to grow!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Strike Day Twelve
Everyone is still excited about the talks that will go on tomorrow. We are at least hoping for a temporary agreement so that we can get back to work Monday morning.
I made just over thirty dollars in two hours last night with tips and my hourly wage. It got really slow and they sent me home. That was fine. It was a bad day working on Dad's estate. I was pretty stressed and just needed to be quiet, still, and alone for a while.
The Date pulled off a major deal yesterday on her first day of selling!!!! It will be very big for the area and signal a new direction for the area! It was very cool what happened but I really can't say more about it right now. She was very very excited! I was very very proud!
I've got picket line duty this morning from eight until noon. My Northern Brother is going home this morning and I'm expecting his phone call any minute. He is stopping by to say goodbye for now. When things settle down we plan on road tripping North and visiting for a few days! I can't wait, his company has been invaluable to me over this week. I love him and have appreciated every second of his visit, it has really helped the healing kick into high gear.
I made just over thirty dollars in two hours last night with tips and my hourly wage. It got really slow and they sent me home. That was fine. It was a bad day working on Dad's estate. I was pretty stressed and just needed to be quiet, still, and alone for a while.
The Date pulled off a major deal yesterday on her first day of selling!!!! It will be very big for the area and signal a new direction for the area! It was very cool what happened but I really can't say more about it right now. She was very very excited! I was very very proud!
I've got picket line duty this morning from eight until noon. My Northern Brother is going home this morning and I'm expecting his phone call any minute. He is stopping by to say goodbye for now. When things settle down we plan on road tripping North and visiting for a few days! I can't wait, his company has been invaluable to me over this week. I love him and have appreciated every second of his visit, it has really helped the healing kick into high gear.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Strike Day Eleven
Yesterday we received great news that the negotiations will go start up again on Saturday morning! Everyone I talked to was just really happy to hear that! There is hope of a resolution now and that we can get back to work as early as Monday or Tuesday!
I hope we get an agreement in place. As I said I would be happy with and vote for the same contract we have been working for the past six years. I'm not greedy, just want to work and get a paycheck going again.
I'm blessed right now to have a temporary job that will help me put gas in the tank and pay the bills! I'm also looking forward to turning in my two weeks notice to that job and just having one job to go to per day.
The Date is about ready to launch her major project and it will be spectacular. The word is officially out now about it so I can mention it here. She is the publisher of her own tabloid sized magazine! Not just for this town either but for the entire area code!!
Her initial run in which she is starting is going to be five thousand copies and her goal is to reach twenty thousand copies printed per run! It will run every two weeks and will have a color cover, back, and center spread.
This is also my job if I get laid off in October! By then the magazine will be a fixture in the area and hopefully very established! So Date get it in gear and get this off the ground!!!! I'll work for you then babe!!!!!
I hope we get an agreement in place. As I said I would be happy with and vote for the same contract we have been working for the past six years. I'm not greedy, just want to work and get a paycheck going again.
I'm blessed right now to have a temporary job that will help me put gas in the tank and pay the bills! I'm also looking forward to turning in my two weeks notice to that job and just having one job to go to per day.
The Date is about ready to launch her major project and it will be spectacular. The word is officially out now about it so I can mention it here. She is the publisher of her own tabloid sized magazine! Not just for this town either but for the entire area code!!
Her initial run in which she is starting is going to be five thousand copies and her goal is to reach twenty thousand copies printed per run! It will run every two weeks and will have a color cover, back, and center spread.
This is also my job if I get laid off in October! By then the magazine will be a fixture in the area and hopefully very established! So Date get it in gear and get this off the ground!!!! I'll work for you then babe!!!!!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Strike Day Ten
My Northern brother came down to hang with me yesterday with his oldest. What a great pleasure that has been! I've enjoyed every minute of it! His support as well as everyone who has been in contact with me has been very helpful and needed. Not that there is anything anyone can do but just the thought that they are thinking of me and my family during this time is more than enough.
I have today off from my new job as well and don't go back to work until tomorrow. I'm good with that. I get paid on Friday so right now I'm not in desperate need of any cash. I'll have plenty to pay this month's bills and be fine.
Hopefully an end to the strike will come today, tomorrow, Friday....I don't care which but soon is all I want. A resolution is what I'm after and forty hours a week.
I've been on iTunes this morning, still no 3.0 iPhone update. It'll be soon I'm sure. I really kind of thought it would have released at midnight but alas no.
I have today off from my new job as well and don't go back to work until tomorrow. I'm good with that. I get paid on Friday so right now I'm not in desperate need of any cash. I'll have plenty to pay this month's bills and be fine.
Hopefully an end to the strike will come today, tomorrow, Friday....I don't care which but soon is all I want. A resolution is what I'm after and forty hours a week.
I've been on iTunes this morning, still no 3.0 iPhone update. It'll be soon I'm sure. I really kind of thought it would have released at midnight but alas no.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Strike Day Nine
No resolution yet. I'm hoping negotiations will be jump started soon.
I started my new temporary job yesterday evening. It was nice. I am a delivery guy for a diner in town. It felt good to get out and drive around town by myself. It was simple, quiet, and a little busy which was nice. I made over thirty dollars in tips and seven bucks per hour. I'm off tonight and tomorrow night.
After that I got a text from friends to go to BDubs and meet them after rehearsal. Ten showed up and everyone hugged me. It was the best thing in a week that happened. We laughed and had a good time.
I needed that, more than they know. It helped so much.
My Northern brother is coming down today to visit for a couple of days and hang out with me. I'm so looking forward to that.
I started my new temporary job yesterday evening. It was nice. I am a delivery guy for a diner in town. It felt good to get out and drive around town by myself. It was simple, quiet, and a little busy which was nice. I made over thirty dollars in tips and seven bucks per hour. I'm off tonight and tomorrow night.
After that I got a text from friends to go to BDubs and meet them after rehearsal. Ten showed up and everyone hugged me. It was the best thing in a week that happened. We laughed and had a good time.
I needed that, more than they know. It helped so much.
My Northern brother is coming down today to visit for a couple of days and hang out with me. I'm so looking forward to that.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Strike Day Eight
....And that concludes the worst week of my life thus far. Not kidding. I have never had a more terrible week in my entire life.
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm an optimist. I always try to be happy and look on the better side. This past week life threw everything at me. Still here. If it weren't for The Date, my family, and my friends I don't think I would be.
I've had rough times before without question, everyone does. When I was a landlord I used to live on twenty dollars per week. It was hot dogs and Ramen noodles every night. I was happier and in better shape then than I was in this previous week.
There is a lot of paperwork to fill out today. My dad wished to be donated to science. I made that happen yesterday. I have to go talk to his bank today, let them know what happened and what I can do for them. Then off to the funeral home and give them some information. Talk to the hospital's business office and then it is off to my new job at five.
A member of my Northern family is coming down to lend his support in a day or two. I'm grateful, very grateful.
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm an optimist. I always try to be happy and look on the better side. This past week life threw everything at me. Still here. If it weren't for The Date, my family, and my friends I don't think I would be.
I've had rough times before without question, everyone does. When I was a landlord I used to live on twenty dollars per week. It was hot dogs and Ramen noodles every night. I was happier and in better shape then than I was in this previous week.
There is a lot of paperwork to fill out today. My dad wished to be donated to science. I made that happen yesterday. I have to go talk to his bank today, let them know what happened and what I can do for them. Then off to the funeral home and give them some information. Talk to the hospital's business office and then it is off to my new job at five.
A member of my Northern family is coming down to lend his support in a day or two. I'm grateful, very grateful.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Strike Day Seven
Not a good night, last night. Got a call that dad needed some help so my mom goes down there to take care of him. I get there and she had just called the ambulance. He was having a hard time breathing.
They take him to the emergency room and I get there a little while later after locking his place up. They call me into the room and he talks to me a little bit and then things start crashing. I'm watching his numbers go way down. Alarms start going off. Lots of nurses and two doctors come in and he dies. No heartbeat, still breathing. Doctor tells me it is an autoresponse.
And just after I call my brother that dad has passed away, he wakes up and starts talking again! He asks my mom if she had put out his cigarette and his numbers go back up.
The doctors and nurses shrug, tell me they have never seen that before, ever. They said it just doesn't happen like that. So we get to to talk to him more, essentially we get a second chance to talk. I bring mom and The Date back into the room so they can visit. They decide to run tests and determine everything that's wrong.
He had a heart attack. They arranged to get a room and squared him away for the night at about one A.M.
I came home. I poured a scotch. I just had to decompress a little bit. I stayed up until a little after two.
This morning I talked to his nurse and dad is essentially in a coma. Strong heartbeat, just unresponsive. I'm glad I got to talk to him last night. It helped me square up a lot. I understand it might have been the last time I got to talk to him.
I pray none of you are ever in a similar situation with your parents. It has been really tough.
They take him to the emergency room and I get there a little while later after locking his place up. They call me into the room and he talks to me a little bit and then things start crashing. I'm watching his numbers go way down. Alarms start going off. Lots of nurses and two doctors come in and he dies. No heartbeat, still breathing. Doctor tells me it is an autoresponse.
And just after I call my brother that dad has passed away, he wakes up and starts talking again! He asks my mom if she had put out his cigarette and his numbers go back up.
The doctors and nurses shrug, tell me they have never seen that before, ever. They said it just doesn't happen like that. So we get to to talk to him more, essentially we get a second chance to talk. I bring mom and The Date back into the room so they can visit. They decide to run tests and determine everything that's wrong.
He had a heart attack. They arranged to get a room and squared him away for the night at about one A.M.
I came home. I poured a scotch. I just had to decompress a little bit. I stayed up until a little after two.
This morning I talked to his nurse and dad is essentially in a coma. Strong heartbeat, just unresponsive. I'm glad I got to talk to him last night. It helped me square up a lot. I understand it might have been the last time I got to talk to him.
I pray none of you are ever in a similar situation with your parents. It has been really tough.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Strike Day Six
I have a job interview today, delivery driver. The picket line will have to do without me today as well. I am hoping it won't be long and we will be back to work. I need that stability right now. Yesterday was pretty stressful with my dad but I got through it alright. He got out of the hospital, I was pretty upset with that because I was sure they would keep him a couple of days at least.
Had a great conversation and two cigars with Beersnob in the evening. That really helped to unwind like that. We talked for about four hours and just relaxed. No booze either, I had ice water, he had decaff coffee.
I had a CAO Brazila, Gol size which is a robusto. Dark, lots of flavor. I enjoyed it a lot. Beersnob had a Rocky Patel Edge Maduro, very full flavor. Then I had a Padron, one of the thousand series. It is hard to tell which one it was since I didn't purchase it but I'd guess it was a 2000 or 3000.
Padrons are always good. It is always money well spent.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Strike Day Five
Today the picket line can handle itself. I took my dad to the doctor yesterday for an appointment and they admitted him into the hospital for observation for a couple of days.
He is in bad shape. No way around saying that. They believed they can stabilize his system but the doc just said it was worn out and starting to fail. So this afternoon I'm headed back over there to bring him some things he wants like his cell phone and charger.
I've got an interview later on this morning, a place wants a handful of commercials shot and maybe a delivery driver. I can do those things really well.
Last night one of my friends came over and hung out after I got back into town. He comforted me by saying that he has had a lot of troubles of a similar type to mine in the past week or two. It sucks any of us have to go through what we are going through but during this fire I know I'm going to be stronger when it goes out.
I'm grateful to my family, friends, and especially The Date and The Things, all of whom have been very supportive in ways I couldn't imagine. Thank you.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Strike Day Four
Today is also going to be my busiest day since being on strike. I am on picket duty from eight a.m. until noon. We are in schedules now, four hours per day once a week.
After that I am driving my dad to the doctor to find out why he is so weak other than not eating correctly. It is going to be a long day.
Yesterday I found out very few businesses want to hire someone on a temporary basis. I applied to two places and neither wanted a short commitment. But I would have a job at one place if I decided to make it my full time employment, after seven weeks of training.
The company produced a scare tactic yesterday. They put a big help wanted ad in the paper. Come to find out by a reliable source that checked into it the company is not hiring anyone and not even taking interviews from the ad. It was a bluff to scare people into crossing the line. Nothing more.
That might be the first sign that this is going to turn out ok after all and might end faster than I anticipated. Perhaps the light at the end of the tunnel has made its first appearance.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Strike Day Three
Today I'm going to take a different strategy. Not going to the picket line as I'm thinking this could last a few weeks, maybe a month or longer. They will be coming up with a picket schedule and I'm going to go look for work today.
There are still too many people who have having a ball on the picket line. They really make me ill as I don't believe they understand the gravity of the situation.
My dad is really ill right now on top of everything else. I'm going to have to do something but not exactly sure what yet. He can't hardly get out of bed and if it wasn't for The Date going there daily and making him food and changing his bedding I don't know how he would be getting along.
The upside of the strike is that I have plenty of time to deal with this situation now. I'm going to have to talk to his doctor and see what kind of options I have to get him healthy again. He is very weak and we had to go pick him up last night after midnight because he had fallen.
The good news is that I fixed my Suburban. That and we are going to get through all of this.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
A Small Win!
No not in the strike issue although that is the most pressing issue right now, a win nonetheless.
I fixed my truck. Sometime between 1984 and now the top oil line on the 6.2 liter Chevy diesel had been altered to today's standard which means the fittings no longer fit. I ordered two lines for a grand total of a tick over two hundred dollars, something I can ill afford right now but had to be done as I was borrowing a vehicle.
So I got the lines off, put the bottom line on, worked perfectly, went to put the top line on and the fittings were opposites. I took the line back to the dealership as none of the auto parts places carried those lines anymore, and they said it was the right line but in case it wasn't marked correctly they overnighted one more line to see if it would work.
I went in there this morning after picket duty to find that the line was identical to the one that would not work. They suggested a machine shop that had line supplies as a last ditch hope. They cheerfully refunded my money and off I went.
I got there a little after they returned from lunch and they were doubtful they could help but told me they would give it a shot if I wanted to return in an hour. I go back an hour and a half later and they had just finished being busy and hadn't gotten to my line yet.
The owner said if I would hang out a couple of minutes then he would get right on it. He did too! He was making one line before mine and then devoted his full attention to my line. In a matter of two minutes it was finished, I paid and was on my way to see if it would work.
Triumphantly in just a couple of minutes I had the new line bolted on and tight. I filled the oil back up to normal and then fired it up.
NO LEAKS!!!! It worked! I can't accurately tell you how much I needed a small win today. Just a little boost of something that went right after the past few weeks of unexpected expenses piling up. From my beloved little kitty to the oil lines going bad, to even the hot water line yesterday, and ultimately the strike.
This was a good day.
I fixed my truck. Sometime between 1984 and now the top oil line on the 6.2 liter Chevy diesel had been altered to today's standard which means the fittings no longer fit. I ordered two lines for a grand total of a tick over two hundred dollars, something I can ill afford right now but had to be done as I was borrowing a vehicle.
So I got the lines off, put the bottom line on, worked perfectly, went to put the top line on and the fittings were opposites. I took the line back to the dealership as none of the auto parts places carried those lines anymore, and they said it was the right line but in case it wasn't marked correctly they overnighted one more line to see if it would work.
I went in there this morning after picket duty to find that the line was identical to the one that would not work. They suggested a machine shop that had line supplies as a last ditch hope. They cheerfully refunded my money and off I went.
I got there a little after they returned from lunch and they were doubtful they could help but told me they would give it a shot if I wanted to return in an hour. I go back an hour and a half later and they had just finished being busy and hadn't gotten to my line yet.
The owner said if I would hang out a couple of minutes then he would get right on it. He did too! He was making one line before mine and then devoted his full attention to my line. In a matter of two minutes it was finished, I paid and was on my way to see if it would work.
Triumphantly in just a couple of minutes I had the new line bolted on and tight. I filled the oil back up to normal and then fired it up.
NO LEAKS!!!! It worked! I can't accurately tell you how much I needed a small win today. Just a little boost of something that went right after the past few weeks of unexpected expenses piling up. From my beloved little kitty to the oil lines going bad, to even the hot water line yesterday, and ultimately the strike.
This was a good day.
Strike Day Two
I'm showered and headed to the picket line this morning. I'm really hoping something breaks loose pretty soon and negotiations start up again.
There is no news about it happening right now and according to the latest website update, well it hasn't been updated since yesterday which is bad.
People expressed displeasure with not being able to go to work yesterday but right now they are all standing up and are going to stick it out.
Yesterday was just a bad day. My oil cooler hoses had holes worn in them so I had to purchase two new ones, one of them wasn't right so yesterday I took the opportunity to return the wrong one and they ordered hopefully the one I need. Then later on as I was spraying for bugs I broke the hot water line under the kitchen sink. Hot water sprayed until I got the valve shut off and my brother came over with a new part and we got it put back together.
So day two begins. I'm holding my head up and know we are going to get past this.
" When sorrows come they come not single spies but in battalions "
Famous Hamlet quote by William Shakespeare (Act IV - Scene V)
That is what I felt like yesterday.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Off To The Picket Line
It is just about a quarter to six and I'm showered and headed off to picket.
I detest this action, I detest a lot of the things unions do, and I detest some of our leadership but this is unfortunately necessary at times.
This is one of those times. The company has not even offered to open up negotiations again. They had all weekend long to come to the table and resolve this and didn't even return calls.
I'll either blog from the line or I'll blog when I get home.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
No Progress
So far there has been no progress made on negotiations. I've been keeping up on the news sites and nothing is happening right now. Time is tick tick ticking away here people.
We will see what happens I guess. A lot of people are speculating that who I work for is trying to shed this contract and that this is the best way to do it without hefty fines. I don't know if that is true or not. It seems logical and companies don't bid on contracts like this if they are going to lose money.
One of the negotiators is my friend and told me what kind of contract they would sign off on and it really isn't much more than what we have had in the past. Practically the same language we have used for the last twenty years and 3.5% raises every year.
The insurance was a big issue, I believe it was a mistake as well as the majority of union members however the company never produced anything to the contrary even when asked to say it was a mistake and given the opportunity to correct it. Employee plus family now pays around eighty dollars bi-weekly that cost was going to go to three hundred eighty eight dollars bi-weekly. We assumed it meant monthly but again given the opportunity to correct it they did not. Those numbers even went to HR.
It is frustrating. I want to get a call tonight and learn that things are resolved but again as far as I know right now there is no progress being made.
We will see what happens I guess. A lot of people are speculating that who I work for is trying to shed this contract and that this is the best way to do it without hefty fines. I don't know if that is true or not. It seems logical and companies don't bid on contracts like this if they are going to lose money.
One of the negotiators is my friend and told me what kind of contract they would sign off on and it really isn't much more than what we have had in the past. Practically the same language we have used for the last twenty years and 3.5% raises every year.
The insurance was a big issue, I believe it was a mistake as well as the majority of union members however the company never produced anything to the contrary even when asked to say it was a mistake and given the opportunity to correct it. Employee plus family now pays around eighty dollars bi-weekly that cost was going to go to three hundred eighty eight dollars bi-weekly. We assumed it meant monthly but again given the opportunity to correct it they did not. Those numbers even went to HR.
It is frustrating. I want to get a call tonight and learn that things are resolved but again as far as I know right now there is no progress being made.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
D-Day Anniversary
I'm watching the D-Day anniversary on Fox. Very moving, very emotional. The Queen should be ticked she wasn't invited.
I don't care if it is Obama singing our national anthem over there today, he is doing a good job of representing us. It is still a proud American moment and the surviving veterans deserve to be recognized.
Take a moment and remember our World War 2 veterans today.
There is a union meeting today at eleven for strike captains. I'm sure that the company has been contacted and are full aware of the vote totals and that we are ready to broker another contract.
I believe we would pass a contract with the same wording that we have now and with a modest 3.5% raise per year. Not the contract they offered which took away even the way we use leave and punished people who never abuse their leave privileges.
Hopefully we will have a contract hammered out by Monday and we will be back to work as normal.
I don't care if it is Obama singing our national anthem over there today, he is doing a good job of representing us. It is still a proud American moment and the surviving veterans deserve to be recognized.
Take a moment and remember our World War 2 veterans today.
There is a union meeting today at eleven for strike captains. I'm sure that the company has been contacted and are full aware of the vote totals and that we are ready to broker another contract.
I believe we would pass a contract with the same wording that we have now and with a modest 3.5% raise per year. Not the contract they offered which took away even the way we use leave and punished people who never abuse their leave privileges.
Hopefully we will have a contract hammered out by Monday and we will be back to work as normal.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Strike
The vote came back 666-28 to reject the contract, a simple majority was needed to reject and to count the strike votes.
The strike vote came back and it was 655-41 to strike.
I'm on strike now. The negotiation team will go back to work tomorrow.
The strike vote came back and it was 655-41 to strike.
I'm on strike now. The negotiation team will go back to work tomorrow.
Stike Is Imminent
No pay, no insurance, no guarantee of a job after it is over. Negotiations broke down over the past week to the point of not talking anymore.
We moved up the strike voting day to today instead of tomorrow. At least now we will have a full weekend to go back to negotiations if we are actually striking on Monday. The city and Air Force have cleared us some land to picket on even. They had it mowed and prepared for a lot of people.
I'm not a big union guy, they do a LOT of things I disagree with in the political realm where they should have no say so whatsoever. But this is unions working on the ground for real people.
The company chose to take many many things away that were negotiated on years ago without striking. I've already endured two big layoffs in the past year that cut everyone right up to me. We are very barebones right now in our staffing, many areas are understaffed. I had friends who were laid off. I kept in contact with them and told them about jobs to sign on that they were qualified for.
I believe a strike vote will get a contract similar to what we have had over the past three years. That's all we are asking for, nothing outrageous, just a comparable contract to what we have been working for. The pay will go up but by about 3% per year, no more than 4%, never has happened that we received more than that.
In contrast our insurance goes up more than our rate of pay each year so we really don't get a monetary raise that is noticeable because of the insurance rates we pay.
We are not UAW workers with lifetime insurance, massive pensions, or atmospheric rates of pay. We do get paid more than average for this area, that's a fact. We are not rich by any way of measuring but we do get to make a decent living. Most of us live paycheck to paycheck, some have new vehicles. Others like me have twenty year old plus vehicles.
We are just asking for a fair deal, something reasonable we can work for in the next three years.
We moved up the strike voting day to today instead of tomorrow. At least now we will have a full weekend to go back to negotiations if we are actually striking on Monday. The city and Air Force have cleared us some land to picket on even. They had it mowed and prepared for a lot of people.
I'm not a big union guy, they do a LOT of things I disagree with in the political realm where they should have no say so whatsoever. But this is unions working on the ground for real people.
The company chose to take many many things away that were negotiated on years ago without striking. I've already endured two big layoffs in the past year that cut everyone right up to me. We are very barebones right now in our staffing, many areas are understaffed. I had friends who were laid off. I kept in contact with them and told them about jobs to sign on that they were qualified for.
I believe a strike vote will get a contract similar to what we have had over the past three years. That's all we are asking for, nothing outrageous, just a comparable contract to what we have been working for. The pay will go up but by about 3% per year, no more than 4%, never has happened that we received more than that.
In contrast our insurance goes up more than our rate of pay each year so we really don't get a monetary raise that is noticeable because of the insurance rates we pay.
We are not UAW workers with lifetime insurance, massive pensions, or atmospheric rates of pay. We do get paid more than average for this area, that's a fact. We are not rich by any way of measuring but we do get to make a decent living. Most of us live paycheck to paycheck, some have new vehicles. Others like me have twenty year old plus vehicles.
We are just asking for a fair deal, something reasonable we can work for in the next three years.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
3G!
They turned on our 3G network yesterday! Not only is my iPhone now at its full potential but I also have a much stronger signal strength. I'm getting four to five bars where I used to get one and none.
It's amazing! I turn off the 3G option and it will go back to the Edge network and there it is, the one tiny little bar of signal strength. I have noticed a big drop in battery life when 3G is on though. I'll have to pay close attention to that.
I've got ninety six hours until I find out if we are going to strike or not. AS predicted the company gave us their last, best, and final offer yesterday. I don't even know if they will go in today for the final round of negotiations. We will vote on Saturday. It will take a simple majority to accept or reject the contract and then a two thirds majority to strike or not. If the two thirds is not met then we automatically accept the contract no matter what that vote is.
This has been one of the most stressful times at work in a long time for me. Tensions are very high and as anyone who knows me knows I have no taste for drama, especially where my job is concerned.
It's amazing! I turn off the 3G option and it will go back to the Edge network and there it is, the one tiny little bar of signal strength. I have noticed a big drop in battery life when 3G is on though. I'll have to pay close attention to that.
I've got ninety six hours until I find out if we are going to strike or not. AS predicted the company gave us their last, best, and final offer yesterday. I don't even know if they will go in today for the final round of negotiations. We will vote on Saturday. It will take a simple majority to accept or reject the contract and then a two thirds majority to strike or not. If the two thirds is not met then we automatically accept the contract no matter what that vote is.
This has been one of the most stressful times at work in a long time for me. Tensions are very high and as anyone who knows me knows I have no taste for drama, especially where my job is concerned.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
The Art Of Manliness
I don't usually do site reviews but as this one seems like a subject I am fond of, I decided to look over artofmanliness.com and give you a look of their idea of what manliness is.
This site was born over the discussion of what happened to the men between The Greatest Generation and The Baby Boomers. The Greatest Generation, full of maturity at a young age, brimming with confidence, and a wisdom and self sacrifice that isn't in sync with their years. A rugged individualism that had spirit and craved freedom as a politician craves a tax dollar.
Contrast that with The Baby Boomers who took over congress and ruined the future for all of us Gen-Xers and beyond. The most self centered generation that borders on French entitlement arrogance. The generation that believes everything should be handed to them on a silver platter while neutering the younger men of our generation, saddling us with guilt for being men.
While I am not the dapper Frank Sinatra style of dresser I do appreciate an individualist lifestyle. Dependent upon your labor and living within your means. I'm handy around vehicles, I can cook, I'm prepared for the Zombie Holocaust of Doom, and I'd like to have a cabin in Montana that is off the grid. I have no idea who is on American Idol, I love John Wayne (as he was my first induction into my Man Hall of Fame) and feel that the creators of The Art of Manliness are right that generations since The Greatest fail to take the mantle adequately. Perhaps the previous generations failed to train young men adequately as well.
I quote, "as I looked around at the men my age, it seemed to me that many were shirking responsibility and refusing to grow up. They had lost the confidence, focus, skills, and virtues that men of the past had embodied and were a little lost. The feminism movement did some great things, but it also made men confused about their role and no longer proud of the virtues of manliness"
While I am sure that the generation before The Greatest thought the same thing as well as the generation of pioneers who braved the wilderness of the West to tame the rustic new country thought the same thing of the generation that followed them, all the way back to the Founding Fathers, the Pilgrims, and further back.
I do know that The Baby Boomers have done more damage to a great country and masculinity than all of the previous generations before it. It will take a few generations to recover from them but I do believe that my Gen-X generation is entrepreneurial, rugged, and chock full of individualists. The generation that follows us will be able to build upon that thanks to sites like The Art of Manliness.
Yes we also have our girly men, no dispute at all with that argument. We have too many single mothers, too many men who have not lived up to their responsibilities. Too many fatherless children who will not get the benefit of a male influence and the balance they need in life.
We also have our Proud and Fearless who have liberated two countries from Islamic Fascists. I have to believe that those of The Greatest Generation that have passed on are proudly looking down upon our members of the military now and the deeds they have accomplished.
I've browsed over The Art of Manliness and think it is a good if not great site, worthy of any of you who would like something beyond the six pack abs and sex articles that are rampant in today's world that caters to "men".
One gripe about the site it is that there is a lack of stuff that really caters to a lot of men such as cigars, drinks other than their "Five cocktails every man should know" which are kind of unmanlike (A sidecar? Really?!), and the lack of a Man Hall of Fame such as mine. They do have fine articles about manly men very often though and an email list of subscribers that is very manly in size.
I do appreciate their guide to Scotch as I do enjoy a good single malt as I've detailed in my blog many times.
Throw in some cigars and grilling/cooking how to's for men who don't know how to cook yet and you have a great site!
This site was born over the discussion of what happened to the men between The Greatest Generation and The Baby Boomers. The Greatest Generation, full of maturity at a young age, brimming with confidence, and a wisdom and self sacrifice that isn't in sync with their years. A rugged individualism that had spirit and craved freedom as a politician craves a tax dollar.
Contrast that with The Baby Boomers who took over congress and ruined the future for all of us Gen-Xers and beyond. The most self centered generation that borders on French entitlement arrogance. The generation that believes everything should be handed to them on a silver platter while neutering the younger men of our generation, saddling us with guilt for being men.
While I am not the dapper Frank Sinatra style of dresser I do appreciate an individualist lifestyle. Dependent upon your labor and living within your means. I'm handy around vehicles, I can cook, I'm prepared for the Zombie Holocaust of Doom, and I'd like to have a cabin in Montana that is off the grid. I have no idea who is on American Idol, I love John Wayne (as he was my first induction into my Man Hall of Fame) and feel that the creators of The Art of Manliness are right that generations since The Greatest fail to take the mantle adequately. Perhaps the previous generations failed to train young men adequately as well.
I quote, "as I looked around at the men my age, it seemed to me that many were shirking responsibility and refusing to grow up. They had lost the confidence, focus, skills, and virtues that men of the past had embodied and were a little lost. The feminism movement did some great things, but it also made men confused about their role and no longer proud of the virtues of manliness"
While I am sure that the generation before The Greatest thought the same thing as well as the generation of pioneers who braved the wilderness of the West to tame the rustic new country thought the same thing of the generation that followed them, all the way back to the Founding Fathers, the Pilgrims, and further back.
I do know that The Baby Boomers have done more damage to a great country and masculinity than all of the previous generations before it. It will take a few generations to recover from them but I do believe that my Gen-X generation is entrepreneurial, rugged, and chock full of individualists. The generation that follows us will be able to build upon that thanks to sites like The Art of Manliness.
Yes we also have our girly men, no dispute at all with that argument. We have too many single mothers, too many men who have not lived up to their responsibilities. Too many fatherless children who will not get the benefit of a male influence and the balance they need in life.
We also have our Proud and Fearless who have liberated two countries from Islamic Fascists. I have to believe that those of The Greatest Generation that have passed on are proudly looking down upon our members of the military now and the deeds they have accomplished.
I've browsed over The Art of Manliness and think it is a good if not great site, worthy of any of you who would like something beyond the six pack abs and sex articles that are rampant in today's world that caters to "men".
One gripe about the site it is that there is a lack of stuff that really caters to a lot of men such as cigars, drinks other than their "Five cocktails every man should know" which are kind of unmanlike (A sidecar? Really?!), and the lack of a Man Hall of Fame such as mine. They do have fine articles about manly men very often though and an email list of subscribers that is very manly in size.
I do appreciate their guide to Scotch as I do enjoy a good single malt as I've detailed in my blog many times.
Throw in some cigars and grilling/cooking how to's for men who don't know how to cook yet and you have a great site!
No Not Never's Revenge
Yesterday I get to work and Johnny Friendly has made up about three hundred "No Not Never" buttons to pin on your shirt to show solidarity among the rank and file.
I get out the white out and try to white out the "N" of Never so at least it would make a little grammatical sense. I'm convinced that Johnny Friendly believes it is an actual sentence.
The white out fails to work so I rub it off and rationalize that it is a sign of his intelligence and he proudly wants us to show the world such. Then the bleakness of him being in charge of the negotiations on our side sets in....
So I busy myself with work and go to clear my work in the computer when I get an email from the program manager who says we can't wear the buttons! It is a violation and I don't even care what the rest says!
I have an excuse not to wear them!!!! They are embarrassing and I don't have to wear them anymore! Woohooooo! So I'm happy about that!
Ok ok so those of you who think I'm not a very loyal person, I'll vote on Saturday on the new contract if it is a reasonable and fair contract I'll vote to ratify it. That's all the loyalty I would get from both the company and the union, not one shred more.
I do my job, get paid a fair wage, go home and forget my job exists until the next day. I'm grateful I am employed and do have a good job with great benefits and as such I don't abuse the system. I do a good job when I'm there and screw off less than many others. I'm aware of how blessed I am to be working in this time of the Obama administration's war on prosperity.
Not only that but I do pay a hefty monthly fee for the union services which they do take against my will and donate to political campaigns which I'm opposed to. I don't have to pay them but then I wouldn't get to vote or have a say in the contract as I do now.
I get out the white out and try to white out the "N" of Never so at least it would make a little grammatical sense. I'm convinced that Johnny Friendly believes it is an actual sentence.
The white out fails to work so I rub it off and rationalize that it is a sign of his intelligence and he proudly wants us to show the world such. Then the bleakness of him being in charge of the negotiations on our side sets in....
So I busy myself with work and go to clear my work in the computer when I get an email from the program manager who says we can't wear the buttons! It is a violation and I don't even care what the rest says!
I have an excuse not to wear them!!!! They are embarrassing and I don't have to wear them anymore! Woohooooo! So I'm happy about that!
Ok ok so those of you who think I'm not a very loyal person, I'll vote on Saturday on the new contract if it is a reasonable and fair contract I'll vote to ratify it. That's all the loyalty I would get from both the company and the union, not one shred more.
I do my job, get paid a fair wage, go home and forget my job exists until the next day. I'm grateful I am employed and do have a good job with great benefits and as such I don't abuse the system. I do a good job when I'm there and screw off less than many others. I'm aware of how blessed I am to be working in this time of the Obama administration's war on prosperity.
Not only that but I do pay a hefty monthly fee for the union services which they do take against my will and donate to political campaigns which I'm opposed to. I don't have to pay them but then I wouldn't get to vote or have a say in the contract as I do now.
Monday, June 01, 2009
GM: Bankrupt
Nearly twenty billion dollars, your dollars, printed dollars is down the drain this morning. GM will file bankruptcy. The government and the UAW will own large percentages of the once proud company.
You'll never be paid back for the money they were loaned, it was forgiven two weeks ago by the Obama administration. At least the Bush administration consulted congress on all of this before acting. Obama is unilaterally doing this himself along with his tax cheat puppet Tim Geithner.
I do blame the Bush administration for starting the bailout madness, it just put off what is going to happen this morning. It would have been over with by now and GM would have been coming out of bankruptcy a better and stronger company and not the government owned mess it will become in a few weeks. TARP was never used as it was intended, we believe since no one will tell the taxpaying public how it was used. That is about as closely held a secret as who shot JFK.
The government should NOT own a private industry and dictate standards as it will be doing. I don't believe it says anywhere in the Constitution that a government can take over a private industry and yet Government Motors is a reality.
As we are driven headlong into Marxism at breakneck speed even Pravda is wondering what in the world we are doing and when the Russians are impressed with our descent into Marxism maybe we should take notice.
You'll never be paid back for the money they were loaned, it was forgiven two weeks ago by the Obama administration. At least the Bush administration consulted congress on all of this before acting. Obama is unilaterally doing this himself along with his tax cheat puppet Tim Geithner.
I do blame the Bush administration for starting the bailout madness, it just put off what is going to happen this morning. It would have been over with by now and GM would have been coming out of bankruptcy a better and stronger company and not the government owned mess it will become in a few weeks. TARP was never used as it was intended, we believe since no one will tell the taxpaying public how it was used. That is about as closely held a secret as who shot JFK.
The government should NOT own a private industry and dictate standards as it will be doing. I don't believe it says anywhere in the Constitution that a government can take over a private industry and yet Government Motors is a reality.
As we are driven headlong into Marxism at breakneck speed even Pravda is wondering what in the world we are doing and when the Russians are impressed with our descent into Marxism maybe we should take notice.
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