Transplant

TGIF again

2010-02-01T09:54:00.000-08:00

End of week 2.

The blisters have all healed. The bruises are healing.
I can do my jobs without a lot of problems.

People know me by name ... almost accepted.

Spent most of the day in the back in the sub-sub area. Learning new processes, taking care of carts, staying out of trouble.

Talked to KF - older guy, working as a "temp" in a dead end job because he got in trouble during the start of the recession. Had a trucking business ... 10 trucks ... all gone. Starting over in his mid-50's ... wow.

The weekend is coming ... I am very much looking forward to it. I got Monday off ... 3 days of sleeping in.

Cheers.

Thursday ... where does the time go

2010-02-01T09:49:00.000-08:00

I'm starting to lose track of time.

I can do my job, keep up with my process. If I remember to drink enough water and take the Motrin liqui-gels at the right time ... I end up at the end of the day ... relaxed. Strange.

Today I was helping AA learn my line process ... she knew it, our T/L (NK) didn't know what to do with me so he had me watch her ... boring.

Later, in the back, NK decided I should learn a new sub-sub process ... interesting. I've got about half of it.

Learned more about an interesting character today ... KF ... older guy, mid-fifties, lean build, grey hair&moustache ... why is he here, doing a "temp" job that kids usually do? I'll talk to him tomorrow.

Got home before 5. Relaxed evening.... crashed out at 9.

The Cast ... the leadership

2010-02-01T09:08:00.001-08:00

This is interesting. There are many, many people in this story.

1st. My Zone Leader; the T/L, let's call him: NK
Early 40's. 5'10", dark hair, fit, broad shouldered, small scar on his chin. Usually clean shaven.
NK reminds me of the quintessential combat seargent in a combat movie. If he wore a helmet it would be sitting sideways on his head with the straps un-buckled. He supports his platoon (zone) patrolling, keeping in touch over the radio, making sure everyone has what they need to do their job. No nonsense. Quick with a joke, barks orders when needed. Listens to everyone. Only time I've ever seen him smile is when he's cutting some crude joke about one of the other guys in the zone who are goofing off. Pretty sure he wishes I would evaporate back to the office. NK does a really good job running his zone. His associates respect him, he's seen as fair, compassionate when required, cool under fire.

Guest "sub" T/L; EG
EG is older than NK ... mid-50's. Clean shaven, 5'9", lean, wiry build with a "Klinger" nose. EG is the guy who knows how to help everyone do their job. EG was posted into the zone from some other deparment about a year ago. He knows everyone by 1st name. He can joke with them all. EG is a non-stop talker-joker. Capable, experienced, nice-guy. Doesn't want to be the boss ... quite happy being the run-around problem solver, extra guy on the line who can fill in if someone has to take a washroom brake.

"sub-sub" T/L; NB
MB... like a junior NK. Maybe 5 years younger. Same build, light brown hair, moustache. Quieter than NK or EG. I think he has an injury cause I've never seen him lift either of his hands above his shoulder. Capable, efficient. Runs the "sub-area" in the back where I unload trucks and other associates do some sub assembly on front-end components before the entire part is then put back onto another cart and pulled up to the line. MB doesn't make conversation, works quietly in the background making sure his "sub" area is on track and up to speed.

All the other 15 or 18 associates are "just associates". Doing a job, their process, as directed. There are a few standouts;

CM
Nice guy. Good trainer. 5'7". Average build, clean shaven. Early 50's. Taught me the most efficient way to do some of my processes. Doesn't gripe, quiet.

EP
Tall, over 6'2". Dark hair, broad shouldered, clean shaven. EP can step in to many different roles as a trainer, extra worker, tow-motor driver. Quiet but quick with a joke.

EM
Another nice guy. 5'9", average build, easy smile, clean shaven. EM knows all of his processes very well. Efficient... doesn't expend extra energy unless something is awry. Likes to talk, swap jokes and curses with just about anyone who will listen.

EJ
Tall, over 6'4". Bearded, scruffy salt & pepper, average build, kind of stooped over ... leaning forward. Has a bit of a drawl in his speech that makes you think he doesn't know much. In reality he knows a lot. Clear thinking, problem solving ... walks fast on the way out the door. Doesn't smile much.

AL
Nice lady. Early 40's, 5'6", longer dark hair, capable, no-nonsense ... only swears when something is going wrong. Good trainer.

AA
Interesting lady, late 30's. Reddish brown shoulder length hair. Always quick with a smile. Very expressive, always joking and cursing with the guys. Knows how to do her job.

TK
Young, very early 30's, 6' tall, lean, broad shouldered, long blonde hair - in a pony tail. Nice guy - hard working, likes to joke around.

NB
Young again, maybe 29. Slim build, short dark hair, 5'7". Always moving.

There are many others ... I haven't worked with them all. As a group they are professional, generally respectful and courteous to me ... they encourage me and always thank me for my help. Nice people.

Day 8, Wednesday

2010-02-01T09:02:00.000-08:00

Felt good this AM. No issues getting started at work.
Kept up with my processes on the line.
I got the "pushing carts" business all sorted out when I am at the back unloading trailers.

Got a note from my boss ... he asked me to stop by after shift to discuss a few items.

He let me know that I'm in the top 10 for returnees ... but still not sure when I would get pulled back into the office ... that's okay ... no email to fuss with. No sales people calling .... a different kind of vacation.

Did the measurement thing.

Down 1 pound
Down 1/4 inch around the neck
Down 1/2 inch around the waist.

At this rate ... I think I will be retired before I notice much of a real fitness improvement.

Quiet evening ... asleep by 9:30

And on the 7th day ... Tuesday

2010-01-26T18:03:00.000-08:00

Tuesday today.
Got up and could not clear my head. Felt nauseous. Sent a note to say I wouldn't be in.
Slept until 1:00 .... wow ... legs and feet still sore.

Bruises starting to heal ... yellow and purple ....

See how tomorrow goes.

Cheers.

1st Monday ...

2010-01-26T18:00:00.000-08:00

Not a bad day.
Only a bit rusty on the processes. Couple of cross-threads but I can "tap" out my own now.
Cart pushing is under control.
Cleaned up and swept up.
Caught up with a couple of the other ISD guys ... one of them hyper-extended his left thumb... he said he just about passed out from the pain. I really don't need to experience that.
Left on time ... went to see Alexis in the city ... had a nice dinner.

I was tired and sore but not terribly so. Not as good as Friday.

Got home, asleep by 9:30

1st Sunday

2010-01-26T17:59:00.001-08:00

Many intentions of getting to Church ... right up until I couldn't open my eyes.
Slept
Ate
Slept
Walked the dogs
Changed the bandages on the blisters.
Ate
Slept.

The workday regime

2010-01-26T17:53:00.000-08:00

Up by 4:30
Juice, vitamins, 1 aspirin and 2 extra strength liqui-gels
Wash
Start driving by 5 ... breakfast in the car.
Arrive before 6
Get into uniform
Inhale a coffee by 6:05
Walk to P2 ... 10 minutes
Confirm work schedule ... where do I go ... and when
Hang out until shift start at 6:30
Listen to morning announcements
Work till 1st break at 8:30
Inhale another coffee by 8:42 ... lots of time.
Work until lunch at 10:30
Lunch:
Big glass of water, some juice, couple PBJ sandwhiches, 2 liquigels
11 to 1:00 another quarter doing something that hurts or causes bruises.
1 to 1:10 ... water, juice or coffee
Work till 3
Drag my butt back to my locker, change, shuffle back to my car...
2 more liquigels, couple granola bars, maybe a V-8 juice.

Busy day ....

The 1st weekend

2010-01-26T17:50:00.000-08:00

Saturday ... slept in until 11:30. ... Amazing .... 7 hours longer than weekday.

Saturday; sore, blistered, tired ... Went shopping with wifey and the young'un ... relaxed.

Watched a movie, had some snacks ... asleep by 11.

Day 4: TGIF

2010-01-26T17:46:00.000-08:00

TGIF has much more meaning now, seriously way more meaning.

I kept up all day on the line. Figured out why I was cross threading bolts !

After 4 days and 5 different people teaching me different ways of doing this job ... I've finally got my own series of steps ... a combo style based on 2 or 3 of the "ways" taught by the masters.

Pushing carts at the back is a nice quiet job ... thank heavens!

Left after work ... only tired ... not utterly exhausted - another milestone.

Got home after 9 ... went out with a friend for a burger and cold drink.

Asleep by 10.

Day 3, not too bad

2010-01-26T17:42:00.001-08:00

Day 3 was better.

I was able to keep up at work. Didn't get too many cross threaded bolts ... major success.

Worked on line for 2 quarters and in the back pulling and pushing carts around for 2 quarters.

Got a very nice collection of bruises in odd places.

Legs really are sore and tired. Blisters on both feet ... just to be balanced.

Got home at 5:00

Went to the library with Mikayla ... wow ... felt like I was getting out of the house after a being locked up for a month.

Came home ... asleep by 9.

Day 2 was the worst

2010-01-26T17:39:00.000-08:00

Started Tuesday ... okay.
Next day, Wednesday ... brutal. Sweating, banging into things, pulling and pushing carts.
Could barely get back to the caf to eat my lunch.
Way tougher than I figured.

On my way out of the factory ... 5 of the gang from the IS office found me ... dragging my feet back to my locker to go home ... they took pity on me and didn't laugh too loud.

Got home at 4:45

Was asleep by 6:45.

Did I mention that I've been behind a desk for 25 years?

2010-01-19T17:16:00.000-08:00

Day 2. 1stTimeOnTheLine in 25 years after being behind an IT manager's desk.

Did I mention that this was some sort of way for me to deflect reality .... I think.

Forget whatever I said yesterday.

I survived. My feet hurt.

Started early ... bounced around from G/L to U/L to T/L to sub-T/L ... nice guys ... couldn't quite figure out why I was actually there or how I got there and was this old guy going to pop an artery after shooting 2 bolts.

Day 1, The Adventure Begins

2010-01-19T16:52:00.000-08:00

Well ... here we go
January 18, Monday evening (yesterday)
Guy, 49 years old
5 feet 10 inches short
Neck 17.5 inches
Waist 45 Inches (Dr. Oz says 5 more inches and I have to move to Titusville, Fla.)

Probably TMI

Start tomorrow at 6:15
Don't know what I will be doing.
Don't know how I will be doing it.
Haven't done anything like it since ... Inglis in 1981 ... the summer of the road trip to PEI.

Anxious, excited, irrationally concerned

I got worried around 3:30 this afternoon when somber; really... they were somber fellow associates in the office started wishing me "Good Luck". Okay, they were hiding behind somber snickers.

Do I need good luck? I'm not going fishing. God knows I couldn't run a race. I am going to work in Assembly. They asked for volunteers...so, being the early adopter type and seeing an opportunity to avoid paperwork for a few weeks.

If we didn't get another volunteer we were going to "voluntell" one of the other associates and I didn't like the way that alternative made me think of how I would explain that, at the next status meeting....

Got the new lunchbox, liquigel Motrin, lots of snacks, kinda feels like feels like I am starting grade 3 - again. No spiderman lunchboxes. Oh well.

So, rise early, go in early, get home ASAP and recollect.

I'll let you know how it goes after shift.