MAMA'S home!
Beavers won the world series of College Baseball! It has been a nail biting tournament. The umpires need to check themselves into rehab. They are seriously unprofessional and blind. Great Gundy Gives us Gold!
It's so HOT in Oregon! I can't even do any yard work.. hey that's my poor excuse. Instead I can enjoy a cold beer in the living room watching NC get creamed by the Beavers. For the first time ever, the winner of the college world series is a two time loser at Omaha - OSU is the ultimate cinderella story. Glad to be an alum - they make the whole state proud!
Monday, June 26, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Summer Time
My Foreman tour is done, but now instead of a four day weekend, I am on call now. I'll be back full-time tuesday for a machine shut - they don't really need to have me there, but it is another chance to learn more about all the things that happen during a shut. Some time in the future I hope this is worth it - because I really do need some time to recover after a full shift as foreman. On a good note, I guess it is not a bag thing. Someone will be taking my tehcnical on call, hopefully by next month. This person is a strong-headed person, and so far I am not having a wonderful time with her, but we shall see. She is a nice person, but she has an abrasive personality and doesn't like to give credit to others.
OSU is making history in Omaha at the College World Series. So far so good - I just hope they can hold on for the finals.
I am nervous about my northern exposure next month. I read recently that W is talking to several parties in efforts to sell the fine paper business. This could be a big question mark for my future at W.
Weather looks really hot this weekend. I'm not going to get out of the house if I can help it - no biking, hiking or rafting. I will be catching up on sleep. I'll be a couch yam. Sweet potato I.
Davy finally got his award for the Ski Oregon Challenge. No pass, but he did get a plaque with his name and "first place" on it.
Mama is coming home - it will be an early morning at PDX. Keep cool!
OSU is making history in Omaha at the College World Series. So far so good - I just hope they can hold on for the finals.
I am nervous about my northern exposure next month. I read recently that W is talking to several parties in efforts to sell the fine paper business. This could be a big question mark for my future at W.
Weather looks really hot this weekend. I'm not going to get out of the house if I can help it - no biking, hiking or rafting. I will be catching up on sleep. I'll be a couch yam. Sweet potato I.
Davy finally got his award for the Ski Oregon Challenge. No pass, but he did get a plaque with his name and "first place" on it.
Mama is coming home - it will be an early morning at PDX. Keep cool!
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Wunder Week
I'm slow... it just hit me that after my second relief foreman shift, I now realize that I am expected to be a process engineer, junior mentor to a summer intern, active on safety committees and still be a foreman. On top of that, a maintenance foreman commented that they could do well without me or Horace. I am working hard, and trying to be the best employee I can be, but the put-downs don't really help much. I hate to vent, but at least I am containing my frustration here. I need to learn to say "no" at work. I just keep getting swamped. "We'll handle it" "We'll deal with it" and "We'll get it done" have been my motto since joining the PM, but it's just not realistic. I'm not prepared to devote every waking hour to the machine - I need weekends, even if the mill runs 24/7.
With this weekend in mind, for the last two days off, I devoted more than half my time off to working at the mill. Once I switch to night shift in July, that simply will not be possible. I will be sleeping all day, and working 14 hour nights. I had a pretty good time out of town this weekend, went to the Gorge and did some whining and hiking. I was accompanied by a farmer from Illinois. You all know who that is, right? Anyway, in between I made a quick stop at Fry's looking for a surveillance cam - not too much luck.
Home Depot is next stop for a security light. I also had a chance to stop by Sheri's house to congratulate Angela on her graduation. She will soon be starting grad school at Lewis and Clark to be a public servant in the schools. She should be taking on her first class in about 15 months. She was a big part of my college experience, and seeing her and her scrapbook brought back a lot of memories from my school days. I also got a chance to let my cousin know that I am proud of him for graduating.
With all those things out of the way, I still got some bar time and had a really good trip to P-town. Now I am back to my other rotation this coming week. How wunderful!!!
I have been thinking of Coffee quite a bit for the last year - I miss him a lot. My heart is hurting, and I am getting a little sadder each minute as the one-year mark approaches.
With this weekend in mind, for the last two days off, I devoted more than half my time off to working at the mill. Once I switch to night shift in July, that simply will not be possible. I will be sleeping all day, and working 14 hour nights. I had a pretty good time out of town this weekend, went to the Gorge and did some whining and hiking. I was accompanied by a farmer from Illinois. You all know who that is, right? Anyway, in between I made a quick stop at Fry's looking for a surveillance cam - not too much luck.
Home Depot is next stop for a security light. I also had a chance to stop by Sheri's house to congratulate Angela on her graduation. She will soon be starting grad school at Lewis and Clark to be a public servant in the schools. She should be taking on her first class in about 15 months. She was a big part of my college experience, and seeing her and her scrapbook brought back a lot of memories from my school days. I also got a chance to let my cousin know that I am proud of him for graduating.
With all those things out of the way, I still got some bar time and had a really good trip to P-town. Now I am back to my other rotation this coming week. How wunderful!!!
I have been thinking of Coffee quite a bit for the last year - I miss him a lot. My heart is hurting, and I am getting a little sadder each minute as the one-year mark approaches.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Sunday, June 11, 2006
3 things today
Today at work I had a relatively bad day - safety issues, paper break, and long hours. Safety issues can be tough to address when people take things personally. It is hard to communicate with someone who doesn't wish to consider the responsibilities that we all have for safety.
My tenant is moving out, too. Time to look for a new roommate. Not easy in the summer, so I will have to make some extra effort at recruiting a new person - and everyone is trying to rent their spaces right now. Would have been nice to get more warning, but this is the wonderful life of the landlord.
On a positive note, the Beaver baseball team won two straight against Stanford, and will be facing Florida or Ole Miss in the next round. Would be great to see them go all the way, and after thumping Stanford 15-0, it seems like it could happen.
That's all in the land of the boringfish tonight. Sleepy time for grumpy fish.
My tenant is moving out, too. Time to look for a new roommate. Not easy in the summer, so I will have to make some extra effort at recruiting a new person - and everyone is trying to rent their spaces right now. Would have been nice to get more warning, but this is the wonderful life of the landlord.
On a positive note, the Beaver baseball team won two straight against Stanford, and will be facing Florida or Ole Miss in the next round. Would be great to see them go all the way, and after thumping Stanford 15-0, it seems like it could happen.
That's all in the land of the boringfish tonight. Sleepy time for grumpy fish.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
X-men: The Last Stand
It's a cool movie. Never saw the first one, caught pieces of the second on TV, but went to the theater to see this one. Kind of a big deal for little miss Netflix. I thought it was cool, and I really liked blue furball and all the fun mutants. I am one myself, you know.
I am mentally preparing for my second shift rotation, checking my email and keeping track of the battles to come: export, felt mark, fine tanks, water usage reduction, shipping, waste recycling and bander repair. Many things to keep my head swimming. Not to mention safety - I just hope to have low cull and NO breaks. No upsets or crises, cross your fingers.
I miss my family after the Canada trip - lots of mixed emotions, not to mention my birthday - kind of a chance to re-evaluate and imagine what lies ahead. I thought a lot about the sacrifice that my ancestors have made to bring me where I am today. The trip brought up a lot of emotions from my past, and not to be a party pooper, but it is a little disturbing.
June and July will be tough, marking the anniversaries of my two biggest losses. I am trying not to be too sad, and I think of them both every day.
My fence is getting more vandalized each day - I complained to the police, but they really could care less. Unfortunately, Thirsty Thursday seems to be taking its toll on my picket fence and lawn. May need to find an alternative solution this summer.
I am mentally preparing for my second shift rotation, checking my email and keeping track of the battles to come: export, felt mark, fine tanks, water usage reduction, shipping, waste recycling and bander repair. Many things to keep my head swimming. Not to mention safety - I just hope to have low cull and NO breaks. No upsets or crises, cross your fingers.
I miss my family after the Canada trip - lots of mixed emotions, not to mention my birthday - kind of a chance to re-evaluate and imagine what lies ahead. I thought a lot about the sacrifice that my ancestors have made to bring me where I am today. The trip brought up a lot of emotions from my past, and not to be a party pooper, but it is a little disturbing.
June and July will be tough, marking the anniversaries of my two biggest losses. I am trying not to be too sad, and I think of them both every day.
My fence is getting more vandalized each day - I complained to the police, but they really could care less. Unfortunately, Thirsty Thursday seems to be taking its toll on my picket fence and lawn. May need to find an alternative solution this summer.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Foreman Duties: Day 2
White top run went well, both machines were running with no breaks, and very little cull. I have been learning the other side of the foreman job - scheduling, administrative, and representing management. Our safety performance is not really standing out in comparison to other mills, and several incidents over the last few weeks have not helped matters. Everyone is accountable for their own safety, and for the first time, I saw a superintendent suspended over injuries in his department. In addition, big wigs from the top said they have suspended all capital projects until we get our selves in line. This is a painful lesson to learn as a new foreman, and a big challenge for me to address. My job is to continue to motivate people and put the best possible spin on things, in spite of people being down on the mill over safety issues.
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