12/12/12

I look up through the skylight - who is that I see looking down at me?  Is that you, Lord?  Or one of your angels sent to watch over me?  I am at peace. 

The last post was about change.  Today was the last time during my stay on earth that I will have the "date trifecta."  The month-day-year are all the same number.  Significance?  Should I be in wonder of this numeric oddity - or is there more?

Change has certainly been around me.  I worry about mom and her befuddlement related to her temporary surroundings - first the hospital and now the rehabilitation center.  I hope that she will acclimate and be able to do all the things necessary to "escape" the bounds of therapy.  I hope she can return to her own home. 

Our life paths are for our foot prints only.  The Grateful Dead even sang about the road between sunrise and sunset that are for us alone - no one else can follow.  I hope for the best.

Change is difficult at any age, but after we start to settle into our own patterns and get comfortable change becomes less enticing.  In our youth change is exciting and we look forward to the challenges.  But at some point in our life change seems less attractive.  Ultimately, we are not inclined to want change.  Isn't that one of the strange aspects of living here?

But there is always hope.  Humans are the only species that can reason, that can actually have fear, and that can hope.  I hope the Christmas season is truly blessed this year.  I hope.

"Hope is some extraordinary spiritual grace that God gives us to control our fears, not to oust them." ~Vincent McNabb

 

Security versus Life

  Who knows what is in store tomorrow, or next month, or next year.  We are supposed to be prepared and then remain flexible to accept the changes that loom.

 

Since my last post, change has definitely become the operable word.  The plant decided to start the annual shutdown a week early, because damage of a "suspicious" nature was discovered.  Shutdown lasted until the end of June with approximately $8 million spent on new vessels for production.  As start up was scheduled, "big brother" (aka NRC) came in and announced "not so fast." 

 

You see, the plant has a license issued by the NRC and apparently we have not lived up to our end of the bargain.  Following the disaster last year in Japan, the NRC took a look at all facilities in the United States that they are responsible for and determined that our plant lacked adequate structures to withstand natural disasters, including tornadoes and earthquakes.

 

Negations began.  Secret meetings were held.  Employees received a WARN letter in mid-July informing us of pending layoffs.  The letter indicated that all would be paid through September 21, and benefits through September 30.  The union employees, who had been laid off prior to the shutdown, were continued on layoff status.  In mid-August more than 100 salaried employees were escorted out of the plant.

 

No, I was not among those who left.  I was transferred from the plant to the "regional organization" with the thought my job would continue as it had been.  The corporation funded $1million toward the design of "upgrades" necessary for the restart.

 

Then immediately after Labor Day, the engineer we hired in January to work on air issues "disappeared."   After a few days, I was told by the HR department to "involuntarily separate" him from the organization.  The junior environmental person was transferred to a different regional organization, leaving two contractors - both to be laid off. 

 

I took Friday and today off (after all I have 10 vacation days left for the year - looking at long weekends this fall).  Spent this weekend recharging in Sullivan, next will likely travel to South Carolina for a face-to-face at a different plant, then weekend at Purdue, and finally Mom's 90th birthday.  Little time at my home; much time at the "rental" where I live for work (see photo).

 

So "change."  An alteration in the way things have been to something different.  Change in the nature of my work, change in my co-workers, change in the working environment, and now pending other opportunities.   I am taking "Mega-Stress" vitamins to counter the potential impacts.

 

I saw a story this morning about a woman who has been on the road by horseback since 2007.  Just herself, a dog and three horses.  No cell phone, no computer, no family.  I am going to rethink the retirement commune. 

 

 

"We spend our time searching for security and hate it when we get it." ~John Steinbeck, America and Americans

Last Best Day

I wish I were clever enough to have dreamed up the title to this entry, but I am not.  All the credit goes to John "The Penguin" Bingham, my running hero.  In his latest book he has a chapter devoted to the "Last Best Day."  You never know when you are going to have your last best day.

Certainly, in one way the Indy Mini Marathon last weekend was not my last best day.  I did set a "personal record" (PR), but not in the usual way - it was my slowest Indy run yet (2:44:28 to be precise, but my slowest ever was last year's Sunburst at 2:46:28).

Chicago Marathon 2008

So lets review my blog from January 2.  I did not loose the 10 pounds, I did not routinely train (only an average of 2 runs per week, and only the weekends exceeded 2 miles at a time), I did not accomplish a finish time of 2:15.  The weather was hot and humid; the race was completed under a "yellow" caution flag and honestly should have been red. 

On the other hand, this year had some really good parts.  I lined up in the "cheap seats" having failed to make the cutoff for a seeded start.  There was a gal who was running her first half marathon - I encouraged her with the thought that she would only have one "first" and should really be intent on enjoying every step. 

Another person in the corral acknowledged my comment and we started chatting.  She had completed her last "chemo" treatment on Thursday and was lining up on Saturday.  She is in her mid-50s and we talked about our "race strategy."  We were both on the walk/run plan.  Her plan was to run 2 minutes and walk one; mine run 200 paces, walk the next 50.  During the first 11.5 miles I exceeded my plan - I ran 200 to 240 paces and walked between 50 and 70 each time.

After the 11 mile water stop, I was digging in my little bag of "run fuels" for a Leman mint (better than a sport bean in my book) when I heard another gal talking about being "under trained."  I commented that I thought running a 2-miler once a week with the longest long run at about 7 miles might qualify in that category.  We started talking and walking.

What fun!  It turned out she also is an engineer (in her mid-50s), lives in Indy but degrees from Michigan and Standford.  We walked and talked much of the remaining distance.  Who cared about the finish time - it was hot and we were "under trained."  It was a great day!

Maybe last weekend was my "last best day" because of the stories I heard and shared.  After all, I finished the race, I didn't cramp up, and I wasn't put on a gurney like several of the 250 runners who required medical assistance.  Older but slower - still a great day.

"Our last best day is lying in wait out there somewhere." -~ John
"The Penguin" Bingham

Green Belt - big whoop

I am happy to report that the big inhibitor has been vanquished.  My attention has been focused on a "non-value added - required" activity at work.  The company requires every employee to become a "green belt" in the Six Sigma system of lean manufacturing.  It was a huge struggle for me.

The details are too painful to repeat.  However, to give you a sense of the issue, I began the "on line" training shortly after I arrived at the plant (November 2010 to be precise).  There were on-line modules to watch and then an example of how to use the various "tools" to discern who "stole the "Loma Nica" (or what ever) from the museum.  The cute little example was irrelevant and the tools were poorly presented during the training.

I completed half the modules by February 2011, but then my availability slacked off as work started to expand.  By late summer I finished most of the modules, but lacked the sense of urgency to complete the course.  I had already applied the basic concepts and was deeply involved in an improvement process that offers savings to the company of up to $4 million/year. 

October came with a warning from the training department - complete the modules and pass the test before a specified date, when the on-line training was being migrated to a different platform.  The night before the migration I stayed late and attempted to pass the test two times.  At 9 PM I was getting tired (after all, it had been a few months since the training and I could not remember all the words related to each concept).  I said to myself I would try again in the morning and sent a note to the head of the training department.  Over night the system migrated.

All my training was erased.  I had to begin the training over again.  All the modules, the hunt for the thieves, and so forth.  A group banded behind me to get me through the experience.  With help and a struggle I finished the test.  I had passed.

Alas, it was not the end.  Oh no - just subjecting one's self to the training modules (twice in my case) and suffering through the exam were not enough.  I had to document my project.

A week of late nights writing, researching the activities, reading through old e-mails, and looking over other documentation resulted in a 15-page report.  I submitted it to my mentor/black belt.  He kindly pointed out that I needed to "document the tools."  I thought I had.  He indicated I had written a good history of the project, but ... .

I tried more.  I had help drawing strange flow diagrams to show the steps in the process and the decision points.  I submitted my report again.  More criticisms.  My black belt sent me example graphs and charts.  Use these for the tools.  I did not quite grasp the concepts.  It was like my freshman year in college with the professors seemed to speak in a foreign language.

I kept revising what I had written and added half-hearted attempts at the forms.  I submitted again.  It wasn't until threatened by my mentor - "do not submit another draft until you use the forms that are required (see website)."  I finally got it! 

The report was NOT about the project (silly me).  It was only to document "the tools."  I finally submitted my "Green Belt report - Six Sigma Tools" with all the graphs and forms shown on the website.  I had a typo and a couple blanks on one form.  I fixed them and submitted.

The mystery black belts (I think they are hidden on some sacred mountain located on a corporate property in a mystical location) reviewed my submittal (a 4-page tool report (one of which was a form) with my 15-page report (containing the stupid forms) attached.  I passed on my first submission. 

I am changing my signature line.  It now includes the pedigree letters:  PE, BCEE and GB-NVA-R.

"Genius is nothing but a great aptitude for patience." ~George-Louis de Buffon

The New Moon

The moon is smiling down tonight.  I know - I looked out to the darkened sky and there it was.  Like the Cheshire Cat.  It makes me happy.

My goal to run Indy in 2:15 is in danger.  I ran last week on Monday (or maybe it was Tuesday).  There you have it.  Today was too windy and my tummy (again) was not in shape.  What's with me this year? 

Buddy and Blondie are snuggled on the couch, where they have spent the better part of the day.  The fire is lit and the television is on (has been most of the day - a treat when I am gone from Metropolis).  Old movies most of the day.

My batteries have been charged by my zen-like doing "nothing."  Maybe tomorrow some productivity will replace my lack of ambition for today.  Then a run should be in my near future - I have to attempt the preparation for May.

And the moon continues to smile. 

"In the presence of eternity, the mountains are as transient as the clouds." ~Robert Green Ingersoll



Resolutions (?)

Holidays are generally over.  Snow today along with 20+ mph winds (for the past two days).  At least the last day of 2011 I ran outside for 4 miles.  Good way to end the old year.

Christmas holiday with the family was very nice.  Presents were wrapped, food was great, and visit was congenial.  Now for facing the new year.

This time each year we pull out our tablets and write down impossible "resolutions" - from loosing 50 pounds to quiting smoking and everything in between.  I've been contemplating this tradition of bringing in the year and wonder if, just one time, wouldn't it be best to set obtainable goals?  Then next NYE we could sit back and reflect on the success that was had in meeting them.

To that end, there are always the ones about being a "better person" and striving to help others in need (note that one is not measurable, unless we can identify people in need that we can help - there are alwyas needs that could be met, but am I able at any given time?).  Helping others is also a nebulous goal - how do you define "helpful?"  Certainly giving money to people who are down and out would be fine, everyone I know could use a hand up.  Would it be better to help find employment (the old adage:  "teach a man to fish...")?

My favorite is vowing to "lose weight" - again, we need to be specific and should be measurable.  Therefore, my goal this year is to lose the 10 pounds I gained last year after starting work.  That should be do-able - right?  I found them so why not shed them?  Of course, it took the better part of 2 years to get rid of them the last time.  What's the point?

I have made one goal public - to run the Indy Mini in 2:15 (or less).  To make that happen I must (a) train on a routine basis, (b) lose about10 pounds, and (c) have great weather on the day of the run.  The first two are under my control - we will see what happens.

Other than that, I have decided to not take chances when I can control the situation (like today - very windy, snowing on and off, and slippery roads so I didn't drive to Metropolis - I will go tomorrow).  I would like to believe I will control my dietary habits and try to convert them to healtful servings, but that likely won't happen routinely.  I like the bad stuff.

One more goal - to keep my Christmas decorations up until March.  I like the way they look, and I don't see them all the time (they are here and I work there).  Perhaps the correlary would be to keep the house clean, but that won't happen. 

"Yesterday everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink and swore his last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary community. Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever." ~Mark Twain