::Blog Bad Hopper::

:: Monday, December 14, 2009 ::

Road trip - Odessa

This past weekend, Becky, Stephanie, and I went to Odessa to visit family. We picked up Becky around 9:30ish and we were off traveling looking for the "chicken tree," which is a pine tree that looks like a chicken. We had a terrible lunch at Cotton Patch - well, the food was fine but the service was terrible. Finally we reached Odessa and Aunt Debbie and Uncle Steve's house. We sat and chatted a bit before going out for some great Mexican food, also with poor service - everyone got served except Steve, whose meal came about fifteen minutes later. Thanks for the dinner, by the way Debbie. From there, we went back home and played Apples to Apples until past midnight. And we laughed a lot poking fun at Tiger Woods and at each others answers. The next morning, we woke up, cleaned up, and discovered fresh donuts. We hung out, talked, and watched some football. Bec and Steph's cousin came over with the kids, and they were lots of fun. Debbie had made a run for some fried chicken, which I ate a lot of. The girls were making fun of me and attacking me. They made me jump on the trampoline though I was crazy full, and then they drew me pictures of a chicken because as they explained, I like chicken. We hung out a bit more before taking the long trek back. On the way home, two things happened. Becky had an urge to stop off the side of the road, and pick up some tumbleweeds. The second was our run in with the law. Officer Duke pulled us over going 79 in a 70 mile an hour zone. We got off with just a warning, and if Duke noticed the tumbleweeds in the back of the car, he didn't question it. I did manage to finish the James Patterson novel I bought at Half Price Books. And I was also very happy and grateful to see family again.

:: Jason 3:40:00 PM [+] ::
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Good deed?

We've a few feral cats that are around the apartments. Last night, I noticed one, and At Stephanie's suggestion, I took some cat food out and put it on the brick wall outside. I know, I know, I know, we shouldn't feed strays, but it's damn cold out and it's Christmas-time. I don't want any animal to go hungry.

:: Jason 9:09:00 PM [+] ::
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Runnin', runnin', runnin'...

I've blogged before about how sometimes there is product left over from the orders. When this happens, the product goes to the reclaim area where it gets counted back into the correct number that's on the box. For example, if the box count says 20, we pack the product back in the box to that count. They decided yesterday that myself or the shipping manager would be responsible for verifying that what is going back to reclaim is correct. What this meant for me was I spent most of my day following wherever they radioed me, which means I did a lot of running around. The shipping manager for the client is about 6'3" and 260 pounds, which means he moves slow. My leads, knowing this consistently called me instead of him. I did more running around today than I have my entire time there. The only upside is that I get to verify the paperwork and sign off on it where it says "shipping supervisor."

:: Jason 9:34:00 PM [+] ::
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News

Okay, I thought that this was funny, and isn't that what America is all about.

Can the Tiger Woods saga get any more bizzare? Probably.....

:: Jason 8:30:00 PM [+] ::
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No money for turkey, but pleanty for weed

A few weeks back, an employee had told someone that he did not have enough money for a turkey for his children. He's a signle father, and some of the other employees were taking up money for him so he could at least get a turkey. I gave my co-worker $10.00 bucks and she asked if I wanted to put in the whole ten, to which I replied that I was thankful that I had ten dollars to give. Plus, I knew that he'd be affected by the RIF, he's a hard worker and a decent guy.

This past week, we had to fire him. The branch office has been working hard to find those displaced workers another assignment including him. He came in, failed the mouth swab drug screen testing positive for THC. He swears it's a mistake, and the sales manager sends him to go that day for an offsite drug screen, which had to be done that day. The sales manager left for a business trip afterwards and was gone for a week. Upon her return, we discovered that he did not go that day, but a day later - pleanty of time to go to Gaspipe and get some detox formula. The employee is confronted on it, and begins to scream obscenities at the sales manager. Obviously he'll never be able to be employed by our company again.

This guy, who I really felt bad for and seemed like a genuine fella, didn't have money for a turkey for his children, but did have money for drugs. Not to mention, that we were working to find him employment, and he blows it up in smoke. I feel bad for his children. And though I'm a pretty good judge of character, I guess my Spidey-sense was off.

:: Jason 1:21:00 PM [+] ::
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Linkedin

I finally got around to checking in on my linkedin account. Mostly because a former collegue had asked to be connected to me. There were other requests as well, and a few I didn't recognize. I usually add them all, being an open networker, but one of the unknowns finally clicked. It was a former client, which is surprising because the employee we had out there screwed up. I'm not in any breach of contract on my noncompete - hell, I'm onsite and not doing any recruiting, but I still thought it odd that I was contacted and no one else from that office was contacted. I guess sometimes, you really do a good job and don't always recognize it.

:: Jason 3:12:00 PM [+] ::
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Running the floor Part II

Last Friday, I was taught the back-end office stuff for the shipping department at the client. The shipping manager was out today, and as per my new duties, I was the one in charge of operations for the shipping department. I was sort of nervous, but I knew that it'd be fine in the end. I was in first thing, printing the batch and case orders and deciding which line would get how many of them. The assistant plant manager told me to get them in and out as quickly as possible, as we didn't really have many orders. I double confirmed this later as the employees were almost finished. The only thing that went wrong was one lead didn't complete all his paperwork, but that's minor. I locked up, and made absolute sure that UPS came to pick up the shipment. Overall, a good day.

:: Jason 3:02:00 PM [+] ::
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Song lyrics for the day

They told me that i couldn't come back here again
Took me for some kind of fool
Said i was doing things that never should be done
But i don't care about their rules

As if i cared 'bout the little minds
In the little heads of the herd
There's nothing you could dream
Would be more absurd

And everybody knows these are rock hard times
I gotta make it through
These are rock hard times

I don't know what it is they're trying to do to me
Make me into some sick joke
But no one's laughing
And least of all not me
It's hard to laugh as you choke

Hollywood lies piled up to the sky
Floating your way soon
Hope you like the rotten stench of doom

And everybody knows these are rock hard times
I gotta make it through
These are rock hard times

I don't know what it is they think i'm gonna try
They don't know what they need to fear
The surest sign that the end is coming soon
Is right there in the bathroom mirror

Everybody knows these are rock hard times
I gotta make it through
These are rock hard times

"Rock Hard Times" by the eels

:: Jason 8:04:00 PM [+] ::
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