Car Part School review

They will never forget the War of Northern Aggression.

This was not a bad road trip. The guy I traveled with, my Former Boss, is really easy going so no stress and we both talk easily, so very comfortable.

The learning how the car parts are made was fun and fascinating. These are new parts to me, so 80% was all new manufacturing lessons. This was no small plant but it was it in Moonshiner, BFE. There is nothing like a small town to take you back and crack you up. There was one section of the plant where the messiest part of the process occurs and I must admit, I would be hard pressed to do that job. And I do not think there was one woman in that department.

All my FB could talk about on the way down was the Belgian Waffle that awaited him in the morning. We were staying at one of those hotels that have the free breakfast dealy-wop and he had learned of the menu and was focused on that waffle. Me, I am a doughnut girl. The only doughnuts I ever see is when I travel. They are not allowed in my home and I would never go and buy one here at home.

Well, when I meandered out to the coffee pot in the morning I scoped out the food and there was not a doughnut to be found. Actually the food offerings were pretty sad. My FB was already disappointed in the hotel and I knew this was not gonna make him happy. Worst breakfast buffet ever, yep this was it. Even the pre-cooked and peeled boiled eggs looked sad and not quite sanitary on their little plate with no ice and no cover.

Well, the big moment arrived and here was FB waiting for the waffle to cook. He had the butter and syrup all ready, his juice was poured. The moment arrived and when I saw him picking at the waffle iron with his waffle removing device I knew this was not good. The top and the bottom of the waffle split and then those portions split and in the end he had about 6 or 7 pieces of waffle. Yum.

It pays to get an education

Tomorrow I am going to car part school. This company I work for is a tad weird so the going to school part is even weirder. My old boss is driving me to one of the plants and we will be educated together. Why this requires an escort/chaperon, I don't know. He knows more than enough about this particular car part. I know next to nothing. Oh well, part of the new position, which is really not a new new position. Just new to me.

Something I find odd about him and my new boss-they both do a lot of driving and driving travel. And they do not leave first thing in the morning. So when we get there it will be too late to see the plant and then we won't go to the plant until 9 in the morning. I guess we will get home around midnight. Shoot, when I used to visit the plants I left before dawn even if it was just to the airport and I was always in the plants by 6:30 at the latest. The plants hate it when corporate people come and don't get to the plant until 9, they think we are all dilettantes.

I am having some issues so I am on the high dosage Imodium. Let us hope this does not turn into an embarrassing moment. Also we are going into the hills with the moonshiners so who knows what we may find to eat. And I cannot eat any crazy ass crap right now. Tummy just will not go there.

Gotta pack, hopefully I can follow up tomorrow on the tablet. We will see.

Halloween

Alas and alack, once again no Halloween for us. We just do not know in advance if we can be home and the worst thing is to decorate up the house and have it dark on Halloween. Too much mischief .

But I do still love Halloween and remembering how to be scared.

My favorite scary things:

Ghost Story by Peter Straub, one of the scariest books ever.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, scary book and movie.

Fright Night, 1985 movie-funny and cute.

The original Dark Shadows. Loved, loved, loved it.

The Thriller Video with Michael, come on that is great.

At least I got to light the fire this weekend. Something new. And cozy.

Have 2 new books to read, The Heavens Rise by Christopher Rice and The Wolves of Midwinter by his mama.

Hooray, I did great

Had a doctor visit today and all is great. Now we have to wait for the bloodwork.

B/P was actually my normal 110/77 for the first time in forever in a doctor's office. Weight loss noted, everything looked good, flu shot did not hurt, blood work did not hurt.

Only 3 downers. Had to admit stress plays a big part in the IBS. This latest stress has really increased the IBS symptoms and problem. So what to do, we take Imodium once or twice a week. And no, on me there is no constipation. As I normally have my stress symptoms a few weeks after the actual incident this should start passing soon.

Biggest question is going to be the cholesterol-new news to me--as women got through menopause they lose the "whatevers" that give certain women the higher HDLs which I used to have. With hormone changes women can and do lose the HDL levels that made them "Gold". So we will see and we talked about different medication if that would be necessary.

The third issue is that on the way into the plant today I had the eye queer thing happen. In my right eye on the outer edges a portion of what I would call a Rubik's cube appears and seems to move around the outer portions of my eye. This lasted about 45 minutes and I felt slightly nauseated while this was happening. It was not making me happy though as this has only happened before when I was on the computer and not when I was driving. Doc looked at the eyes and did not see anything but said I need to see an eye doctor.

Talking about a new position in the company, this could be good. And really happy about Thanksgiving and Christmas. Life is good. And no I am not an appliance from Korea.

Sweetest Day

Yep, we have a stupid made up holiday here in Michigan known as Sweetest Day. So I ask Big Daddy what he is bringing me home for Sweetest Day. He was stumped and stymied as to what I was talking about and then he remembered. As he had gone to Mexico for 6 days and it was a made up stupid holiday I did expect something. He bought flowers and is trying to pass that off as a gift to me. He buys flowers about once a week anyway so that is not gonna fly.

I think I had/have a canker sore in my mouth. I do not know what they are but yesterday I had a terrible pain on the inside of my cheek and what appeared to be a painful bump. Really the whole side of my face hurt. Then it kinda went away and today there is nothing. Now I never really looked at it-nothing good would come from looking-but the bump and pain are gone.

I do have good news for me. The kids are staying in Portland for Christmas and Mama and Big Daddy are planning a trip to go see them and their new environment. It is so exciting. New hotels and restaurants and places to see. And we may be able to go first class as we must use up our miles before Delta declares them useless. And I get to see Punkin Head and The Bride. It will be so exciting. We have not spent Christmas with PH since either New Orleans or Montreal. I can't remember which was the last trip. We never did make it to New York City.

Second Shift

All I have to say, if the second shift operator does not want to put the part on the car correctly, who am I to tell her different.

She is one scary operator.

I have no problem with Da Boss fixing those parts once or twice a week. Uh huh, its all good with me.

Fat, fat, the sewer rat

I think I have used this title before and probably fit then as it does now. Even though I have lost 10 pounds and am still losing weight---I am still fat. This was proven by none other the the security picture taker at the plant. I have not been pushing for the badge as I am not sure I am going to be there long, but they got tired of coming and getting me every day.

Well, today I was approved for the badge at one of the plants and we happily went down to get the picture taken. And they found my old picture. And he put my old picture up next to my new picture and yes I cried like a baby. Not really, but I told him that was just plain mean.

It also means I can go in without fear of never getting out again on second shift. Be still my heart, the last damn thing I wanted was to go in on second shift. But there is an asshat on that shift that cannot put the part on and someone has to come in and fix the parts all the time, not me just can't do it. Maybe I will save my little bag of Better Maid BBQ chips for that visit.

The DIL had a birthday yesterday and I fell asleep and forgot to call her. Fie on me. And I forgot to send her a card. Worse Fie-ing on me. I am not a good MIL this year.