332 unread posts.... *sigh*
Life is reaching the brink of overwhelmedness. I feel bad even writing this, having not read much in the blogosphere lately.
I think I mentioned this earlier, but I fired 2 of my supervisors a couple weeks ago. While that in itself has proven to be surmountable, it's not very comfortable knowing that I'm the backstop now. My stress level has risen and I've let it influence my contact with people here at work. Not a good thing...
Work is picking up though. Couple that with the pressure that we're expected to at least break even for the next 4 months, and make enough profit to make up for the losses so far, is just adding to the stress. My influence over how cost effective we are is pretty big and having only been in a position like this for a couple years, with absolutely no direct guidance from anyone... *sigh again*. I've come to the expectation that almost all my life lessons will be learned the hard way. I'm sure it will pay off down the road, but sheesh...
Still not sure what's going on with my wife. I really don't understand how she expects me to be a good husband when she continues to do those things that set off all sorts of alarms. How affectionate do you really expect me to be when you wake me up at 5:30 am after just getting home from doing who knows what with who knows who??!! Yes, I am putting up with it for now. I have 3 little girls to consider first. I'm kind of hoping she'll get sick of that too and pull her head out. She seems unwilling to start at ground zero, which is exactly what both of us need to do if this is going to work.
Then I did the math for my checking account wrong last month. Very wrong. It set me back at least a half a month and my creditors have absolutely no patience. I usually pay all my bills on time, but when I don't, it sure hits the fan.
Ever read the 'footprints in the sand' poem? (Don't know the author or the real title...sorry.) I see one set right now. God's carrying me. But I certainly haven't been appreciating it like I should. "I can do every thing through Him who gives me strength." Phillipians 4:13.
Eliminating unrealistic expectations, making decisions for eternity, and thinking of others. That's what my life should be about right now. Not really sure how I'm doing with that. I can hope to see some blessings in this life, but I can't expect it.
Well, I lied. I know I'm not doing very well with that...
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Sweetsauer Photohunt!
Well, I certainly bit off more than I could chew. What a dismal showing!! Just got preoccupied with life. Hope you enjoy the few I have.
1. A View from Above (looking down)
2. A Macro Shot
(6/5/09)
3. Laughter (6/9/09)
4. Relaxation
5. A Celebration
6. A Sunset
(6/8/09)
7. Sun/Lens Flare
8. A Bridge
9. A Shadow
10. A Garden
11. A Park
12. A Street Scene
13. Signage
(6/9/09)
14. A Summer Activity
15. A Summer Treat
16. Earth
17. Air/ Wind
18. Fire
19. Water
20. Something Vintage (pre-1980)
21. Something Made of Glass
22. Something Made of Wood
23. Something that Floats
24. Something Railroad Related
25. Something Round
1. A View from Above (looking down)
2. A Macro Shot
(6/5/09)3. Laughter (6/9/09)
4. Relaxation
5. A Celebration
6. A Sunset
(6/8/09)7. Sun/Lens Flare
8. A Bridge
9. A Shadow
10. A Garden
11. A Park
12. A Street Scene
13. Signage
(6/9/09)14. A Summer Activity
15. A Summer Treat
16. Earth
17. Air/ Wind
18. Fire
19. Water
20. Something Vintage (pre-1980)
21. Something Made of Glass
22. Something Made of Wood
23. Something that Floats
24. Something Railroad Related
25. Something Round
Monday, June 29, 2009
Saturday Scavenger Hunt - Function
Wow. Just wow. Not much was functioning in regards to this weeks SCH.
I went to a pretty cool social FUNCTION on Saturday, fully planning on using that as my subject, but my brain failed to FUNCTION and I forgot my camera. The FUNCTION was Cheyenne Super Day, which is a Saturday of artsy-type booths, bounce houses, games, a car show and my fravorite, an evening outdoor concert featuring Blue Oyster Cult.
So I stole NoRegrets idea and took this picture of the window screen that will not FUNCTION to keep the mosquitos out. My dog was in the back yard when it started to hail and thunder. No one was home so she decided to make her own way in.
She didn't actually make it. The neighbors saw it and brought her into their house until the storm passed. They're very nice neighbors!
Thanks for the idea NoRegrets! As a reward, you get the distinguished honor of choosing next weeks word!
And on an entirely different note....Blogger really needs to work on their picture formatting FUNCTIONality. It stinks!
I went to a pretty cool social FUNCTION on Saturday, fully planning on using that as my subject, but my brain failed to FUNCTION and I forgot my camera. The FUNCTION was Cheyenne Super Day, which is a Saturday of artsy-type booths, bounce houses, games, a car show and my fravorite, an evening outdoor concert featuring Blue Oyster Cult.
So I stole NoRegrets idea and took this picture of the window screen that will not FUNCTION to keep the mosquitos out. My dog was in the back yard when it started to hail and thunder. No one was home so she decided to make her own way in.
She didn't actually make it. The neighbors saw it and brought her into their house until the storm passed. They're very nice neighbors!
Thanks for the idea NoRegrets! As a reward, you get the distinguished honor of choosing next weeks word!
And on an entirely different note....Blogger really needs to work on their picture formatting FUNCTIONality. It stinks!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Saturday Scavenger Hunt - FAIL!
I failed...miserably. I knew about it, knew what the word was (even if not the definition), but my mind and time were fully preoccupied.
And wouldn't you know it...I've been picked for the next word!
My word for y'all is FUNCTION.
And wouldn't you know it...I've been picked for the next word!
My word for y'all is FUNCTION.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The most mixed day ever...
What a freaky day!
We'll start off with the good:
- I had my annual review...6 months late. But it was all good. My boss rated me higher than I did, but that always happens. He "blessed" efforts for me to invest in myself and learn more about Lean Manufacturing. I think I've done quite a few small things that have added up to some big improvements. The shop is performing quite a bit better than it had under the previous production manager. I attribute it a lot to how I try to let my production guys know how well they're doing on a daily basis, as far as meeting production goals. Before I started that, they wouldn't know how they did until well after the month was over. And they would only get an update once for a month. Now they get that update twice a day.
So for any of you managers or team leaders struggling to get your team to meet goals, I highly recommend that strategy. Just let your people know how they're doing and let them know often. To begin with, I wouldn't even suggest how they could get better. Let them know how they're doing and if they need to be doing better. More than likely, they'll make the first big steps on their own.
Now the bad:
- I had to fire my production foreman and my lead sawyer. The 2 highest 'ranks' in my shop. One was clocking in for the other. Dumbasses. The real problem is that it leaves a gaping hole in how well we know our automated saw. Between the 2 of them, they're the only guys that have been involved in repairing it. But it's just a machine. And all machines can be fixed, one way or another.
- I didn't get a raise. I know there's a wage freeze, but I still hoped.
- And I have about 20 unread posts from my wonderful reader network. I feel kinda bad writing this without having read those. I'll get to them, I promise.
We'll start off with the good:
- I had my annual review...6 months late. But it was all good. My boss rated me higher than I did, but that always happens. He "blessed" efforts for me to invest in myself and learn more about Lean Manufacturing. I think I've done quite a few small things that have added up to some big improvements. The shop is performing quite a bit better than it had under the previous production manager. I attribute it a lot to how I try to let my production guys know how well they're doing on a daily basis, as far as meeting production goals. Before I started that, they wouldn't know how they did until well after the month was over. And they would only get an update once for a month. Now they get that update twice a day.
So for any of you managers or team leaders struggling to get your team to meet goals, I highly recommend that strategy. Just let your people know how they're doing and let them know often. To begin with, I wouldn't even suggest how they could get better. Let them know how they're doing and if they need to be doing better. More than likely, they'll make the first big steps on their own.
Now the bad:
- I had to fire my production foreman and my lead sawyer. The 2 highest 'ranks' in my shop. One was clocking in for the other. Dumbasses. The real problem is that it leaves a gaping hole in how well we know our automated saw. Between the 2 of them, they're the only guys that have been involved in repairing it. But it's just a machine. And all machines can be fixed, one way or another.
- I didn't get a raise. I know there's a wage freeze, but I still hoped.
- And I have about 20 unread posts from my wonderful reader network. I feel kinda bad writing this without having read those. I'll get to them, I promise.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Dream weirdness
The latest post at Eclectic Spaghetti rang a bell for me. I meant to post about this, but forgot all about it.
I had a nightmare a few nights ago. First nightmare I've had in a very long time. It was the 'woke up in a sweat' kind of nightmare.
I wish I had written it down sooner, cause now it's a little hard to remember the details, but it ended with me failing to save my girls from drowning. They were in my arms and I couldn't save them.
It's frustrating that I can't remember all the details now, but I think we were in some kind of tube. There was events leading up to the end, but I can't remember any of it. At the end, my family was there. My wife was trying to help my oldest swim and I was holding my 2 youngest. It ended with me seeing my 2 girls under water, limp, and with their eyes closed. I just couldn't hold them above the water.
I'm not one to dwell on stuff like this. I don't put a lot of meaning into dreams, but this one really freaked me out. Even writing about it now is getting me worked up.
The last nightmare I remember involved me running over my dad. This was 11 or 12 years ago, when I was in high school. I was in a golf cart and my dad was really tiny. Barely half the height of the tire and I ran him over. If it didn't involve my dad dying, it would be kind of comical.
Sorry if I'm bumming you out, but these are the only dreams I remember for the longest. I can tell when my wife is dreaming because my dreams get really weird. No nightmares, but just very strange and vivid. When I have those dreams, the next morning I'll ask my wife what she dreamed about and she'll have a weird dream story of her own. I don't remember my own dreams, just that I had them and they were weird.
The only other dream I remember is another strange one. In reality, I was at a ski trip with some HS friends of mine. We were all staying in a cabin. I was sleeping on the floor next to my good friend, who was sleeping on a bed. In the dream, we were having a poker game and that friend was sitting next to me. In the dream, he dropped one of his cards on the floor. At that moment, I woke up and actually said to him, "There's your card" and in the dream I pointed to it. The thing that is really freaky, is that he woke up at that same moment and actually said, "Thanks" then in the dream picked the card up. In the morning I asked him about it and he remembered it just as I did, but from his perspective. Weird shit!
Thanks for reading.
I had a nightmare a few nights ago. First nightmare I've had in a very long time. It was the 'woke up in a sweat' kind of nightmare.
I wish I had written it down sooner, cause now it's a little hard to remember the details, but it ended with me failing to save my girls from drowning. They were in my arms and I couldn't save them.
It's frustrating that I can't remember all the details now, but I think we were in some kind of tube. There was events leading up to the end, but I can't remember any of it. At the end, my family was there. My wife was trying to help my oldest swim and I was holding my 2 youngest. It ended with me seeing my 2 girls under water, limp, and with their eyes closed. I just couldn't hold them above the water.
I'm not one to dwell on stuff like this. I don't put a lot of meaning into dreams, but this one really freaked me out. Even writing about it now is getting me worked up.
The last nightmare I remember involved me running over my dad. This was 11 or 12 years ago, when I was in high school. I was in a golf cart and my dad was really tiny. Barely half the height of the tire and I ran him over. If it didn't involve my dad dying, it would be kind of comical.
Sorry if I'm bumming you out, but these are the only dreams I remember for the longest. I can tell when my wife is dreaming because my dreams get really weird. No nightmares, but just very strange and vivid. When I have those dreams, the next morning I'll ask my wife what she dreamed about and she'll have a weird dream story of her own. I don't remember my own dreams, just that I had them and they were weird.
The only other dream I remember is another strange one. In reality, I was at a ski trip with some HS friends of mine. We were all staying in a cabin. I was sleeping on the floor next to my good friend, who was sleeping on a bed. In the dream, we were having a poker game and that friend was sitting next to me. In the dream, he dropped one of his cards on the floor. At that moment, I woke up and actually said to him, "There's your card" and in the dream I pointed to it. The thing that is really freaky, is that he woke up at that same moment and actually said, "Thanks" then in the dream picked the card up. In the morning I asked him about it and he remembered it just as I did, but from his perspective. Weird shit!
Thanks for reading.
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