Entry for February 28, 2008

It was 33 years ago that I started working at Zeros Mr. Submarine. My first job for a corporation of some sort. It was my junior year of high school and the part time gig was fun to say the least. Making sandwiches is not a glorious job, but I did make some friends there and the atmosphere was very lighthearted. Most of the crew I worked with were high school students at nearby Princess Anne. Zeros is still one of my places to eat when I return to the Norfolk and Virginia Beach area. 

How my working life has changed from place to place is a road map of dirt roads and super highways. I've crossed paths with some terrific individuals who shared their knowledge with me. I've met some who would rather push me off a bridge than work with me. As far as I know, it was their personality that would not allow outsiders within their inner circle of trust. I learned to respect those individuals as much as the ones who took me under their wings. Each had a way of teaching a lesson. There were potholes, speed bumps, ice patches and uphill climbs that at the time of each, gave little hope in a better day. Better days did arrive and the woes of those tough times were behind me. 

I am now six months into my third jobless stint in my lifetime of trying to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table and remain a contributing member of society. Each time I was looking for work seemed to last forever with no resolution in sight. Like those times, I have days of doubt and worthlessness. I have days of hope and confidence. I have days that pass by with nary a thought of work at all. I know this time will soon be behind me and will be entered into my history as another learned lesson about my worth as a husband, father, a friend and a colleague. The one thing I have noticed each time I have been out of work is that no one really wants to know about it. It's almost like having some awful disease that will be contracted if contact is made.

I have changed careers many times in my life. Multi-talented is an understatement when I tell you I was a Sandwich Maker, Van Customizer, Auto Mechanic, Rigger, Draftsman, Planner, Millwright, Welder, Pipe Fitter, Iron Worker, Supervisor, Superintendent, Estimator, Buyer and Cost Manager. I'm not sure what will be added to the list from my next job. I just know I will appreciate being able to add to my life experiences through the next job. Each job and its difference from the previous has been made possible through my ability to learn and adapt to what is needed for me to achieve success in the position.

I spoke to the Sage Automotive Interiors manufacturing employees last Tuesday. Gin and I sat in on their safety meeting and March for Babies kick-off. The plant is a former Milliken facility which was sold to a group of former Milliken managers. It was great to meet these people who have been long time supporters of the March of Dimes. Later in the week it was announce that the plant was moving from Spartanburg to Greenville. It was bittersweet news for the March of Dimes Upstate Division. The Spartanburg community will be losing a long time corporate supporter and the Greenville community will be gaining the same. 

We have had some truck problems since the snow storm a few weekends ago. Apparently the Explorer hates being put in four wheel drive. After being switched to 4x4 then returned to automatic, it decides on its own to return to four wheel drive whenever it wants. When cycling through the commands to return to normal, it becomes belligerent and refuses. Then after a few slams of the gear shifter from neutral to drive or reverse, it returns to normal operation. It will work fine for a day or two, then return back to 4x4. I will be taking it to our mechanic this week. 

Saturday we enjoyed a Low Country Boil with Nolan, Patrick Jessica and her family. Sunday (today) Patrick and I played a round of disc golf at the Greer Century Park. We threw a 9 over par. The course is a par 60 and I previously threw a 64 on a better weather day. Today we dealt with winds of 10 to 20 mph whcih made for some interesting plays.

P@

Entry for February 21, 2010

Today was a nice break from the cold and rainy weekends we've experienced for the past two months. 65 degrees and sunny will brighten up anyone's spirits. I posted my picture of the Cherry Trees in bloom to remind me of how much I enjoy spring and the awakening of nature. I captured several shots of the Cherry Trees at a city park in Albemarle, NC in early April 2008. We will still get some chilly days, but I believe the worst of winter is behind us now.

I was invited to speak for the March of Dimes at the Piedmont Natural Gas corporate kick-off for their March for Babies campaign. Gin informed me that I would be speaking to mostly men at a breakfast in their training facility. I delivered my usual story with an added disclaimer to the beginning. Since I was addressing a large group of blue collar workers, I decided to remind them of how important family is to each of us. I simply asked them to think of their wife, son, daughter, mother and father while I shared our story. Most every time I share the story there is a certain part that will choke me up and bring me to tears. This time was no different except that I was joined by tears of a large number of those men. This was a first for me to have so many men experience the heartache I was feeling.

It is necessary for me to deliver raw emotions when sharing the story of Beau and Haley to be an effective Ambassador. The mission to give every baby a healthy start is important and people need to be aware of the staggering number of premature births and infant deaths. Facts that will not go away by ignoring the need for research, education and support for helping every baby. This is my third year speaking as an Ambassador for Beau and Haley. I am proud that I can be called on to help the March of Dimes when needed.

I am probably one of the least social people you will meet. I do much better writing what I feel than speaking what I feel. Over the past four or five months, I have posted some pretty deep conversation starters on my Facebook page. Most have been related to raw feelings about life, love, family and the world around me. Many people have told me that I should write a book. I believe I will be able to put something together in print eventually. I have a lot of issues with society as a whole. Speaking my mind would not be a good thing because I believe I would hurt the feelings of family or friends. Being politically correct is nothing new. We have always been told that "If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all". I try to live by that rule and the times I haven't did not turn out to well for me.

I believe I can deliver messages that touch on personal feelings and observations in a thought provoking way that does not offend my readers. I believe religion, politics and social hierarchy should be left to the experts or those who make it their professional career. Too many people place judgement on someone else's ideals without fully understanding or wanting to understand the different point of view. We all want to be right and there is nothing wrong with wanting that. But I believe we all cannot be right all the time and we have to understand that is why our society is so diverse. Can you imagine how boring the world would be if everyone lived their lives the way you want them to?

P@

Monday starts my 25th week of unemployment. I can't wait to celebrate the end of this stint on the bench. Saying it sucks just doesn't give it justice. I'll keep it clean and mention that it's no picnic.

Last week I applied for more work at places I should qualify to work for. Being more of a realist, I believe most of those positions are allocated for those with academic qualifications over physical experience. The current system favors this because it is economical to pay collegiate interns lower wages than to take on experienced workers with all practical knowledge of the drudgery. I get it! It is crystal clear to me. With that said I'm changing speeds and straying from my previous job searches to include those of lesser pay and experience. Hopefully I land in the middle of the road where pay and experience are sufficient to satisfy my inner self. The pay is not as important anymore in so much as the satisfaction of existing as an employee who enjoys what he is asked to do for a living. I will also be pursuing short term education funded by my tax dollars (and some of yours) to help me “Qualify” for more meaningful employment.

One of my first changes I made last week was to finally get my case worker to pass my file over to a more experienced counselor who has a larger network of industry professionals. I will be meeting her as well as her “Job Club” group this coming Wednesday. I have set my sights on educational training in computer aided drafting, better known as AutoCAD. I have some experience with mechanical drawing as well as AutoCAD experience. Unfortunately, I do not have enough experience or educational credits to obtain a position in this field. I do believe with formal training combined with my industrial background, I will be able to sell myself to an engineering firm as a worthwhile asset to their portfolio. It all sounds good and I believe I can make it happen.

Friday we received about 3 inches of fine powdered snow. Unofficially, I believe this season has been the most active for winter weather since we moved to South Carolina. The powdered snow was a welcome sight for me. Cleaning off the driveway, steps and walks was much easier this time. I used my push broom to clear the fluff away. There was a fine layer after the sweep down, but the warming we received Saturday made short work of the remaining snow.

We picked up Nolan Saturday morning for an al-day and part of the night stay-over. Caris and Thomas arrived shortly after lunch and departed just before dinner for a Christian Concert Festival with Patrick and Jessica in Greenville. Nolan was all over the place and kept Gin and I on our toes most of the day. Gin tried to lay him down around 8 o’clock, but he was still too wound up. I rocked him in my chair as he babbled away with “Uh-Oh Mac-Mac”, “Uh-OH Train”, Uh-Oh Tractor”, “Uh-Oh Daddy”, Uh-Uh Mommy”, etc., etc., etc. He finally got worn down enough for Gin to lay him back down on the couch as he drifted off to sleep. It was after midnight when the kids returned and Nolan was on his way back home.

I don’t know how much longer I can stay-up tonight. It is now 9:25pm and feeling like 1am. The last two nights were late and the following mornings were early. It is time to make a change back to normal, whatever normal is.

Have a good week. Thank your boss for keeping you employed. Be thankful for the day, your life, your family and friends. Never forget that you are important to someone and they need you to share your life with them.

P@

Gin started her first week with the March of Dimes. She will be working 21 hours a week coordination the family teams for March for Babies. I went into the office with her Wednesday, then to the Anderson County March for Babies kick-off with Lisa Green. Wednesday was also the 3rd anniversary of the day Patrick and Jessica lost Beau and Haley. I was the Family Ambassador speaker for the lunch-time event. There were approximately 40 volunteers at the luncheon. Lisa had brought a Butterfly Box as one of the static displays. During my speech I used the two knit caps and single gown as props when sharing our story. I was very emotional but confident and strong in my delivery. This was the first time for me to tell their story on the anniversary of their stillbirths. Even after three years, I am still emotionally moved when I share the story. I am also grateful that my audience is able to feel and share the emotions while I speak.

The rest of the week I spent trying to nail down a training program to enroll in for changing careers. After much deliberation (with myself) I decided to pursue an Architectural Drafting course through Spartanburg Community College. I have always been fascinated with mechanical drawing and the conceptual design process of things. I was a draftsman for a year for the Navy Yard. Most of my work there was steel structure designs for ship repair projects. I will be meeting my career counselor this week to discuss this choice as well as visiting the school.

Now for the highlight of the week. Gin woke up around 4am Saturday to the smell of smoke and immediately woke me up. We were up and moving through the house to try to locate the source. Gin started gathering the cats into carriers while I checked crawl spaces and attic spaces for the source. I called 911 and the New Prospect Fire Department was dispatched. Within minutes the first truck arrived with one foreman. Yes, only one fireman. I met him at the street and explained what I knew. He grabbed a heat source sensor and followed me to the house. Using the heat sensor he searched every room, wall, ceiling and attic space for the heat source. We walked out to the side of the house and met the rest of the firemen who were quickly sent to different directions to investigate further. The younger smaller guys were sent under the house to check the heating system.
After 30 minutes of looking everywhere, they started to look at the heating system itself. There was ice on the compressor unit outside, which they chipped away. One of the supervisors went to the thermostat and cut the system off. Several of them were sniffing the vents and determined that the heating system was the source. The continued to check for any possible hot spots from electrical sources.
I followed one of the supervisors into the mud room. I was a few steps behind him and when I entered the mud room, he was looking in the back fridge and putting the lid back on the pot of chili. I didn't say anything, but had to chuckle to myself. I'm thinking to myself "Well I know its early and sure your could be hungry, but do you have to be snooping my pot of chili". He closed the lid then the fridge door and went to the freezer next. I guess it's routine to check all possible sources of food....I mean electrical problems. I think he might have been a little embarrassed by the whole thing.
The final decision was that the heater part of the heat pump system overheated and possibly burned some heating coils. The system was switched over to Emergency Heat and the fire department left with handshakes and thanks from Gin and I. We then proceeded to bring the cats back inside along with other valuables Gin put in the truck. Once we had the carriers in the mud room, I let Fluffy and Mac out of their carriers first. Mac ran behind the washing machine and Fluffy ran into the bedroom. When I opened Hoagie's carrier, Gin happened to be walking out the back door and Hoagie made a bee-line through the opening. We tried to call him back, but decided to let him be for a little while. When we went back out to get him, I used his favorite cat treats to lure him close enough to catch him. Good thing he thinks with his stomach.
I shut the system off completely to let it rest cool down and brought the kerosene heater in side for a while. I cleaned the filter and Gin helped me removed the remaining ice from the condenser unit.  After a few hours I turned the heat pump system back on and let it get back to running normal. There was still a burnt smell coming from the vents, but overall it was working pretty normal.

We are lucky that Gin has such a sensitive sense of smell. I probably would have slept a little longer than what may have been safe. We checked our smoke alarms and they are working properly. The smoke itself wasn't real heavy. The smell was stronger than anything. Today we picked up a bottle of lavender oil and mixed a little with vinegar in some bowls. We have the bowls at different parts of the house to help eliminate the burnt smell. I'll pick-up a new filter tomorrow and replace it. Our filters are a specialty type and we have to get them from the HVAC supplier at $35 a pop.

I think that's enough for one week.
P@