What a Week!

Pear in Bloom

I suppose the week started last Friday, when we got word that a coworker had died - circumstances remain rather odd.  To make matters worse, he was one of the environmental people, and played a key role in shipping the waste materials out of the plant. 

The environmental superintendent was scheduled to take a class this past week (and I encouraged him to go), leaving me and one contractor in the plant.  The plant is in annual shutdown.  Keeping things interesting.



Salad time

 It was great to go home last weekend and "re-group" from the devastating news.  As you can see, the "kids" were extremely happy to be in their home territory.  We soaked in our environment, mowed grass, walked with neighbors, and tried a "long" run.  By Sunday afternoon the batteries were re-energized and we meandered back toward the Vortex for a week that promised to be full of surprises.

Naturally, the e-mails started flying before I got into the plant.  First, cancellation of Mark's phone and computer.  The funeral had not been held yet.  Great sadness.

Funerals - why do the minsters say, "we are here to celebrate the life of ..." and the service is anything but?  Funerals should be personal and, if a celebration, then do so.  Have appropriate music, great stories, and even an adult beverage or two.  Mark for one would have preferred that type of celebration rather than the sadness that was generated.



Coyote or Fox?



But enough about that.  I have spent time in reflection on the situation this week.  It is true, we each need to be ready every day of our life (but how many of us truly are).  We do not know the length of time we have available to enjoy these surroundings.  We each should attempt to make the most of every day, including the requirement to help one another. 

After scrambling to meet the plant needs last week and discovering systematic issues, I believe I am ready to face the challenges that will present themselves the next few days.  First challenge - a 30-day review of performance issues for the environmental superintendent, who was placed on a "performance improvement plan" at his annual review.  I hope to give him another 30 days; afterall, there already was one opening in the department and now there are two.  One more would not be great at this time. 

I can hardly wait to get back up north this week.  My batteries are definitely getting to the point of recharge required.  Today was Palm Sunday - another day of reflection.  Celebration is tough when you know what is about to happen.  Maybe that is why ministers are so somber when they say, "let's celebrate the life of ... ."   "We" explored the area around the Vortex and uploaded the results to the photos scrolling in the upper right corner of this Blog.  Life is good.

"The joyful news that He is risen does not change the contemporary world. Still before us lie work, discipline, sacrifice. But the fact of Easter gives us the spiritual power to do the work, accept the discipline, and make the sacrifice." ~Henry Knox Sherrill

In Like a Lion

Here it is - April (hard to believe - I skipped an entire month of blogging!).  It is coming in with a VENGEANCE!  The wind has been blowing at more than 30 mph from the south.  I have decided to start back to the Vortex early.  Rather drive while I can see.

The past month has been full of challenges at work as well as in the training world.  Not much training, not much progress toward the needed changes at work.  Bright spot - 3rd in my division in last weekend's 5K (Penguin in the Park). 

Have decided that work challenges are not a result of people wanting to do a good job - but because they keep trying to do my job (and the jobs of others) rather than their own.  Interesting situation.

Vortex continues to be the same.  Still on the market (she really thinks it is worth $124K - HA), and only two showings that I know about.  Flooding on the road to the Vortex finally subsided after almost 5 days.  Ohio still out of its banks in places.  Fort Massaic still flooded in parts.

Plant now in annual shut down.  It should be an interesting month.  Hope to see inside the production unit.  What the heck, after four and a half months it is time to see exactly how we make the "stuff."  I learned about cement the first week I was in the plant.  Strange work environment in the "rabbit hole."

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." ~Anne Bradstreet