Moving to South Carolina

Wow, I can't believe that it's been this long since I've posted. I guess I've been busy or not really interested in writing. But we've now moved to South Carolina. I lost my job in Missouri and had to do something else. This is where we landed. We were in Missouri from July 2009 until January 2011. I actually moved here the day after Christmas. I'm leaving a lot out, but that's ok. More to tell as I feel to tell it. Beautiful here. And the new landlords are even better than Terry was in Missouri. God has blessed us again.

Safety for a reason

Ok, I'm a safety professional. My main job is to make sure that employees of a particular company are working safely day and night. And of course there are those that don't want to abide by said rules for whatever reason they feel like giving today. And then there are those that complain for any reason that they can come up with. I have been told by multiple people today that it's extremely hot in the plant. Well, Captain Obvious, I had heard through different tv and radio stations, and also other media outlets that it would be over 90 degrees with an heat index of 95-100. I imagine that it would be hot. But instead of taking all of your breaks and lunch outside smoking, you could take them inside in the cafeteria or just inside the doors where it's cool and you could relax.

Now, there is a flip side to some of this. There are corners and catwalks in the plant that are up above near the ceiling where work needs to be done and the heat can't escape. I give those employees a lot of slack to perform their tasks. Take as many breaks as you need (within reason of course) and hydrate a lot. No, don't worry about wearing all of the normal safety gear because, at this point, it becomes more of a hazard than a help.


{See I do understand}


But I'm new. I'm new to management and I'm new to the floor employees. Neither one really know how they're going to handle me or vice versa. But they'll all find out that the one thing I am >>>> is FAIR. I will do my job and do it well for both sides. I can prove through documentation and charts that I'm good at what I do. The last company saved over $250k in one year on work comp costs and reduce their injuries by 60%. If allowed to perform the same type tasks, I'll do it again.


But right now, people just aren't ready to let me run yet. And that's ok. I'll take my time and do the dance. And I really am ok with this. I need a chance to get my bearings with filing, paperwork, their way of doing things (which I may say has been done very well by Angie Tessmer), and the community. It's a great plant and will be a new adventure.

Anyway, back to the beginning of this ramble. Safety is very important but there are definitely times for give and take. If they'll help to follow the majority of the rules and try not to get hurt, I won't scream at them. I'll also help to accomodate their needs with maintenance, equipment, safety gear, and schedules. The worst thing that they'll have to put up with is my training. I'm not sane, but I am entertaining.

Traveling with others

How many of us like to travel with other people? If you've said "I do", you're a liar. No one really likes to travel with another person. It's a big inconvenience to the way we want things done. And I'm no different. In fact I'm probably the worst about it. I want things done my way or the highway. I want to leave at a certain time, arrive at a certain time, and then it be over. Don't throw other things as obstacles in the way. Is that reality? No, it's not, but it's my little world that I live in.
As most of you know I've been driving back and forth for over a month on assignment with the new company until I'm officially on the payroll and have a house here. Well, I was in a hotel for the first so many weeks and enjoying the single life, haha. Now we're in apartments (two to an apartment). And since I'm driving a rental car on the company dime, everyone wants to ride together. And if you don't remember me saying so the other day, a 2009 Dodge Quad Cab Ram. Oooh lala. Anyway, I need to get to the plant early before 3rd shift goes home. So we had agreed that we would leave the apartments at 6:30am. This morning one of three was still in the shower. I said sorry, he'll have to drive his own truck. I gotta go. Then there was the decision on what to do after work tonight. Normally we would go out to dinner or actually cook in house. Last night one of the guys grilled burgers on a flat top with chips, salad, and corn on the side. Fancy, not me, but fancy. I ate well. Tonight however, one guy is playing golf after work, the other guy wants to go workout, and I need a haircut. So, we're splitting up. One person asked when are we meeting for supper? I said we're not. I'm going to get a haircut after work and then eating whatever I see that I like. I'm not waiting around for golf or workout to be over. Then I'm going to sit around my apartment in shorts until bedtime. Hmmm? I know, I'm drama.
I'll be so glad when we get moved to our new rental house so that I can just go home and do nothing. Or whatever Jennifer tells me to. What a great wife! She normally has something cooked for supper and the mail/paper sitting in my chair. Can't get much better than that. Well you could, but Jennifer says for it to stay in my fantasy world and not ever request it, HAHA.

New Home

Ok, here we go. The rental house owner called me today and asked to meet me out at the house. So, after a 9 hour work day (I know boohoo) I went out there in the 100 degree heat. I now know why this guy was so particular about it before. This guy is a design engineer. A very smart, particular, and somewhat anal retentive man. He showed me every square inch of the property and house. It's a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, full basement, one car garage, all electric plus wood furnace. It's on 1 acre surrounded by 15 acre family farm. I don't get to farm it. The owner and his brother in law farm it with cattle. Just a few miles north of Farmington but in St. Genevieve county. We're hoping to move in there by July 1st or somewhere around it. Otherwise, I'll have to live in a hotel unless the company decides to love me a little longer on their dime. Anyway, what a day.

The movers are meeting with Jennifer on Wednesday to decide what all they'll need to move the Clampetts to Farmington. Hopefully they'll be able to do it in one or two days. Then we're going to leave the BG house behind to sell or let homeless live there, lol. We don't care anymore. It's time to move on. The boys are excited to move. They've never been to Missouri and are treating it like a brand new adventure. So, hopefully so. And yes, the dog is coming too. Whether I want it to or not. Oh well.

And I'm stuck in Farmington for at least 3 years due to the relocation package. So, please for the love of Pete, keep buying cars. I need this plant to stay open for at least 3 years. After that, have at whatever you want to do. I can move without having to pay anything.

Moving to Missouri

Well, I've been back and forth between Farmington, Missouri, and Bowling Green, Kentucky, for over a month. I think it's finally coming to an end. I've found a cute little farm house to rent until Jennifer and I figure out our finances and what we really want to do. Also, if this job goes belly up, then we can just leave rather than fighting with realtors, mortgages, and other crap. We're both tired of it. The best thing has been though that everything has been on the company dime for a month. I've been in all sorts of different rental vehicles including two different full size Dodge Ram quad cabs. Not too bad. Plus I've lived in three different hotel rooms in one hotel and two different apartments in one apartment complex. But I'm getting tired of it. I'm ready to get to a normal schedule. Waking up at 5am, going to work, lunch, then home, supper, activities, and then bed. But at my same house. No inconveniences per the company or other people. I'm just not that social.

The people in Farmington have been really nice though. It's going to be a different environment for sure but not worse I think. I should be plenty of busy for a long time. And we're adding a 3rd shift soon, so that means more people and more business. That's great if you've been following automotive industry.

Anyway, I'm getting ready to finish packing and then back in the truck for 5-6 hours. Sounds like fun doesn't it? Well, maybe I'll have something more exciting to say later. I'll try to add things as I go.

If there's anything that you'd like to know about, please ask questions. Maybe it'll give me things to talk about. I'll also try to add pictures to this thing. Later