"...So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in swaddeling clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn..."
As I write this...it is 11:40 p.m. For many homes, Santa is delivering his goodies. For others, families are sitting together at a Christmas Eve service at a church. We went to my church tonight for that service. It was nice as always. Christmas Eve service is always my favorite. There is just something in the air. Right now, Ambrose is laying on the couch under his blanket watching Catholic Midnight Mass from St. Patrick's church in NY. We watch it every year. We'd watch the Pope too if he comes on before we go to bed...but since the lights are off already I'd say that's not going to happen.
The coolest thing happend on our way to town tonight. We were driving along and out of nowhere, (looking towards the West) was this big bright SLOW falling star!!!!!!!! It was not a "shooting" star...as it didn't go across the sky. It went straight down and it was just awesome. I wondered on the remaining way to town, if there was some kind of meaning. Probably not - it was just the irony of that falling star as we journied to go to church I guess. Still...it was just a very cool thing to see on a night like this.
I want to wish you all a wonderful Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you all.
Music for my Mom's listening pleasure :)
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
B-B-Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!
I know I know....I am lacking in the blog posting area. I'm sorry.
As I post this on Sunday night @ 10:20............it is currently holding at ONE....yes 1 degree. Supposed to dip down below zero tonight for the 2nd night in a row. Have I recently whined about how I hate winter? Well I do. HOWEVER........we do NOT have any ice accumulation like some family and friends North of here have. Holy smokes...they got it big time. Macomb IL got hit bad w/ the ice also........BOYYY!!!!
Anyhow....just wanted to check in. No ice....but bone chilling COLD. I will be going to work tomorrow and Tuesday and then off the rest of the week. Mr Hays is off until the 5th....I actually imagine he'll be off till the 12th but we'll see. Some production areas come back the 5th and others the 12th. They actually have to call in and see if there is even anything for them to do. {shaking my head} I should work every day...but I am to the point that there is absolutely no way possible that it will EVER be caught up and/or done without the aid of MATCHES, GAS and massive fire!! LOLOLOL I have a real attitude about them right now so I will do what I can do. I know I know....and yes, I am. I'm thankful to even HAVE a job in these times...but dang it!!!! One day I do hope to bail on them before they lock the doors!!! Hopefully the right one will come along. I've put in for several options out there!!! I actually had an interview last Friday - but I'm not holding my breath. Will just have to wait and see!!
Well...it's a "work night" so I suppose I better go.
Have a great week!!!! And if I don't get posted before then....MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM PONDEROSA TRAIL!!!
As I post this on Sunday night @ 10:20............it is currently holding at ONE....yes 1 degree. Supposed to dip down below zero tonight for the 2nd night in a row. Have I recently whined about how I hate winter? Well I do. HOWEVER........we do NOT have any ice accumulation like some family and friends North of here have. Holy smokes...they got it big time. Macomb IL got hit bad w/ the ice also........BOYYY!!!!
Anyhow....just wanted to check in. No ice....but bone chilling COLD. I will be going to work tomorrow and Tuesday and then off the rest of the week. Mr Hays is off until the 5th....I actually imagine he'll be off till the 12th but we'll see. Some production areas come back the 5th and others the 12th. They actually have to call in and see if there is even anything for them to do. {shaking my head} I should work every day...but I am to the point that there is absolutely no way possible that it will EVER be caught up and/or done without the aid of MATCHES, GAS and massive fire!! LOLOLOL I have a real attitude about them right now so I will do what I can do. I know I know....and yes, I am. I'm thankful to even HAVE a job in these times...but dang it!!!! One day I do hope to bail on them before they lock the doors!!! Hopefully the right one will come along. I've put in for several options out there!!! I actually had an interview last Friday - but I'm not holding my breath. Will just have to wait and see!!
Well...it's a "work night" so I suppose I better go.
Have a great week!!!! And if I don't get posted before then....MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM PONDEROSA TRAIL!!!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
HOLY CRIPES!!!
OMG! Where shall I start.................... most of my readers are also my daily emailers so know what this week has been. PURE HELL so far. It started last week. I had to run some reports and stuff for the managers ---- so that there told me they were looking at staffing reductions. Last Friday, Mitch called me to tell me that this week is going to be tough and to try to mentally and physically prepare myself for what was coming. He wouldn't dwell. I simply asked if it was going to be bad. He told me that it was going to be harder on my because I know the people affected. Anyhow....I tried to ignore it......
Monday came and went.........I tried to prepare for Tues....as that was when things were going to start. Managers were in and out of offices all day; I ran reports, did spreadsheets and what-not. I could not get answers. I only had simple answers.....how many...what areas... SInce I'm the one initiating the paperwork for these people going to get the layoff - I felt it neccesary to get as much done ahead of time as I could. But nooooooooo - he wouldn't tell me squat. Wednesday comes. Al is in Mitch's office. (that's Am's boss) So I asked him, "just answer one question. Is my husband on that list?" He told me "I can't discuss the list with you at this point in the game" That was pretty much my answer. With that being said, I knew that yes, Ambrose was on the layoff list and by that time I was pretty upset. The day progressivly got worse.....as I was waiting and waiting for the news. Wednesday morning (yesterday) I got to work right before 7 (an hour early) and within 30 seconds of being there, Mitch and a manager were in my office wanting layoff paperwork on one guy they were going to talk to........after 2 more people came to me asking what to do about their insurance and stuff because they were laid off, I finally went to Mitch and I said to him....."OK......I've had 2 people wanting information because they are laid off. When am I going to know who is affected because I am sick and tired of being the one who looks like a DUMBASS when they tell me and I don't know about it" He told me to shut the door and sit down. His first response was, "ok.......yes, Ambrose is on the list but I could not disclose that information to you before he was talked to." "Mitch, I already figured it out. You wouldn't tell me and I know he has the very least seniority in Al's department. I'm not stupid" "I have asked Al to have the discussion with Ambrose now because I know it is really getting to you and this way, you won't be in there knowing longer than you need to before he finds out. Al is actually supposed to be talking to him any minute. Let's go over the list" Well I was helping him with the crap for about 30 minutes....and we went to my office then to get something off the printer. Am came in and he looked devasted and he said, "I would like to talk to my wife. Privately" and Mitch left. SO I pretty much lost my cool then.................it was like that the rest of the day. Ladies would come in upset and in tears and of course, I would be in tears with them. ANd also one good friend on the phone. It was such a damn emotional roller coaster day. I am not going to reveal on here how many were affected --- but let's just say it was a devastating number. Anyhow.....I ended up going home at 6:00. I worked 10 1/2 hours and got NOTHING accomplished but tears and consoling my friends. THIS JOB SUCKS. And if you have never done layoff paperwork for your own spouse, I hope to God you never ever have to do that. When I left, Mitch was in a meeting (since 3:00) and he came out to tell me that he didn't know what to tell me to expect in the morning. (great....here we freaking go again)Anyhow...........I got home at 6:10 and by 6:15 the phone was ringing. We normally do NOT answer our landline...but for some reason, Am did. I was in the bathroom taking out my tear stained contacts. This is what I heard on this end of the phone. "Hello. Oh really? What made them change their mind? OK. So how long is that going to be for? Am I going to have to go thru this bullshit again in a week or in a day or when, Al? No that's fine it's not your fault. Ok. Thanks" I CAME UNGLUED. THEY decided they had to rethink the stupid layoff and everyone that they had talked to yesterday that had signed their status changes - was to be called AT HOME and told that they are now not laid off. That has got to be one of the most RIDICULOUS things that has ever happened.................................that was sooooo unfair to these poor people they told lost their jobs; it was unfair to the managers who had to tell them and then call them at home to tell them "ohhh sorry; please come to work tomorrow after all"......it was unfair to EVERYONE in that facility. We did a lot of paperwork....that was not needed. So as I said - yesterday was one of my ever worse days!!!!!!!!!!! That place is sooo messed up. Any how, we are both glad that he (and several others) remain employed. HOWEVER - due to no customer releases, the Christmas shutdown is going to start tomorrow and last thru the new year. Am will work 2 days next week and then he's off until January 5th. I told him to use up his vacation days because he is going to get screwed out of those on the next round.......
Anyhow....that is how our week has been. Today was a BIT calmer...............still a layoff but not as big.....so still a lot of upset people. It's bad enough in May or any other moth..but 2 weeks before Christmas?? BOYYYY
Please keep us in your thoughts & prayers. And when I say us....I don't just mean us Hays' - I mean our entire company!
Enough gloom & doom........good night
Monday came and went.........I tried to prepare for Tues....as that was when things were going to start. Managers were in and out of offices all day; I ran reports, did spreadsheets and what-not. I could not get answers. I only had simple answers.....how many...what areas... SInce I'm the one initiating the paperwork for these people going to get the layoff - I felt it neccesary to get as much done ahead of time as I could. But nooooooooo - he wouldn't tell me squat. Wednesday comes. Al is in Mitch's office. (that's Am's boss) So I asked him, "just answer one question. Is my husband on that list?" He told me "I can't discuss the list with you at this point in the game" That was pretty much my answer. With that being said, I knew that yes, Ambrose was on the layoff list and by that time I was pretty upset. The day progressivly got worse.....as I was waiting and waiting for the news. Wednesday morning (yesterday) I got to work right before 7 (an hour early) and within 30 seconds of being there, Mitch and a manager were in my office wanting layoff paperwork on one guy they were going to talk to........after 2 more people came to me asking what to do about their insurance and stuff because they were laid off, I finally went to Mitch and I said to him....."OK......I've had 2 people wanting information because they are laid off. When am I going to know who is affected because I am sick and tired of being the one who looks like a DUMBASS when they tell me and I don't know about it" He told me to shut the door and sit down. His first response was, "ok.......yes, Ambrose is on the list but I could not disclose that information to you before he was talked to." "Mitch, I already figured it out. You wouldn't tell me and I know he has the very least seniority in Al's department. I'm not stupid" "I have asked Al to have the discussion with Ambrose now because I know it is really getting to you and this way, you won't be in there knowing longer than you need to before he finds out. Al is actually supposed to be talking to him any minute. Let's go over the list" Well I was helping him with the crap for about 30 minutes....and we went to my office then to get something off the printer. Am came in and he looked devasted and he said, "I would like to talk to my wife. Privately" and Mitch left. SO I pretty much lost my cool then.................it was like that the rest of the day. Ladies would come in upset and in tears and of course, I would be in tears with them. ANd also one good friend on the phone. It was such a damn emotional roller coaster day. I am not going to reveal on here how many were affected --- but let's just say it was a devastating number. Anyhow.....I ended up going home at 6:00. I worked 10 1/2 hours and got NOTHING accomplished but tears and consoling my friends. THIS JOB SUCKS. And if you have never done layoff paperwork for your own spouse, I hope to God you never ever have to do that. When I left, Mitch was in a meeting (since 3:00) and he came out to tell me that he didn't know what to tell me to expect in the morning. (great....here we freaking go again)Anyhow...........I got home at 6:10 and by 6:15 the phone was ringing. We normally do NOT answer our landline...but for some reason, Am did. I was in the bathroom taking out my tear stained contacts. This is what I heard on this end of the phone. "Hello. Oh really? What made them change their mind? OK. So how long is that going to be for? Am I going to have to go thru this bullshit again in a week or in a day or when, Al? No that's fine it's not your fault. Ok. Thanks" I CAME UNGLUED. THEY decided they had to rethink the stupid layoff and everyone that they had talked to yesterday that had signed their status changes - was to be called AT HOME and told that they are now not laid off. That has got to be one of the most RIDICULOUS things that has ever happened.................................that was sooooo unfair to these poor people they told lost their jobs; it was unfair to the managers who had to tell them and then call them at home to tell them "ohhh sorry; please come to work tomorrow after all"......it was unfair to EVERYONE in that facility. We did a lot of paperwork....that was not needed. So as I said - yesterday was one of my ever worse days!!!!!!!!!!! That place is sooo messed up. Any how, we are both glad that he (and several others) remain employed. HOWEVER - due to no customer releases, the Christmas shutdown is going to start tomorrow and last thru the new year. Am will work 2 days next week and then he's off until January 5th. I told him to use up his vacation days because he is going to get screwed out of those on the next round.......
Anyhow....that is how our week has been. Today was a BIT calmer...............still a layoff but not as big.....so still a lot of upset people. It's bad enough in May or any other moth..but 2 weeks before Christmas?? BOYYYY
Please keep us in your thoughts & prayers. And when I say us....I don't just mean us Hays' - I mean our entire company!
Enough gloom & doom........good night
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)