Category: The Truck Biz

The Stress is Over, For Now

After 4 of the longest months of my life, I am finally free.  I “lost” my job at Sternbergs.  It became a living nightmare, and the most painful thing I have ever had to do.  I wanted to quit, but couldn’t.  I started searching for other means of employment but still haven’t found another position.

All I can say about the job, is that it’s the worst I’ve ever had, and that’s saying a lot!  As a teenager, I would go through jobs like most women go through clothes.

I was treated worse than the dirt I cleaned.  Many would make messes just because they knew I would have to clean them.  I was also not allowed to use the forklift, for no reason at all!  When I started asking questions, I was terminated.

My mowing opportunity was cut short with no reason at all, I received the last of my money on the day I was fired.

I’m not upset, but not happy at the same time.  It’s almost like after you experience the “O” word, you’re relaxed, stress free and have no worries.

Hopefully I will never feel like I look in this picture anymore.

So a new search is on.  A search for a job, and a search for a career.  I have scheduled a test required for Cook Pharmica and applied to PTS Electronics and Monroe Hospital.  Wish me luck!

Disconnected

It’s been a long time since I last posted.  Part of me feels bad for leaving it abandoned for so long, I wouldn’t even have this if it weren’t for the kindness of Editor B.

Since starting my new job, I have felt “disconnected.”  My life has been connected to computers and technology since I was a teenager and I haven’t had the time to enjoy my computer much lately.  I cannot access computers while at work

Many things have happened since then, so I will update.  Hang on, cause there is much to say.

My daughter has officially graduated 1st grade, and left the state.  She took my heart with her.  With the help of my wife (thanks Rach) we made her a goodbye present.  A DVD filled with a slideshow with pictures of her and everyone who loves her.  It also included video of many of her loved ones saying goodbye and giving some life lessons.

I’ll miss you sweetheart!

My video business has suddenly picked up.  I am now more busy than not with projects people are wanting me to do for them.  I am going to advertise for the first time as well.  It also helps out high schoolers so I say why not?  I have also added a new service:  Cassette tape to CD or MP3 transfers! 

Work has been crazy.  I have been pushed to a point where I no longer think of it as a possible career anymore, just a job.  I am treated like scum, which is also what I clean.  With the heat and humidity, I can barely stand it.  Just like a few of my co-workers.

My little sister has moved in with us for a couple of weeks.  Her lease was up, and she has a new place lined up.  It’s just a matter of timing until she gets in.

We have picked up the pace on house projects.  Over the last few weekends we have removed the hideous wallpaper around our home.

Interestingly enough, underneath all of this were drawings.  These drawings were made by the children who lived here at the time.  We only have the kitchen and Taylor’s room to go.  Currently I am prepping the walls for paint.  We need them to be as perfect as possible for the deep, rich tones we have decided on for paint.

I also installed a new light fixture in our dining room.  We found a beautiful set for the dining room and foyer areas.  The one for the foyer has 2 tiers and is much larger.  Installation will be a different story though, as the ceiling is 1 1/2 stories high.

I cut down the dead tree in our backyard, that was fun!  I haven’t done that in over 10 years!  I have cleaned up much of it, but there is a lot more to go.  I am saving as much as possible for firewood, as I would like to use my fireplace sometime.

I wrecked my truck:(

The damage isn’t bad, just the bumper and a side piece to it.  I was returning from mowing at work, and while backing up jack-knifed my trailer.  It’s easy to do with a trailer that’s so small you can’t see it behind you.  And it just happens that my neighbors grandson just wrecked his truck which is essientially the same as mine.  It’s totalled, but the bumper is good!  I spoke with him today and I might get a new bumper on the cheap!

Hopefully once a few things settle down, I can start posting more often.

It’s Just a Little Work

I thought I would give the maybe 10 people who look at my blog an update about my job.  I had a rough start, but I think things are starting to come together.  I am starting to really know my fellow co-workers, I am starting to understand the hierarchy of Sternberg’s and I am starting to really learn what is expected of me.

Some interesting things have happened in the last few days.  I will start with my new title, Independent contractor.  It may sound weird, but I am now also a contractor for the same place of my primary employment.  It all started with the grass (not marijuana) the real stuff.  They expect me to mow a small portion of grass along Dillman road, no problem.  The other section of grass is along highway 37, and they wanted to hire this job out, as the terrain is somewhat rough.  The problem is they didn’t want to pay the minimum someone would come out for, $100.  When I heard of this situation, I immediately jumped to action!

I told my boss, Ron, that I had the capabilities to do it, but no way to transport my mower to the location.  I also stated that I would do it for what they were willing to pay, if the company would work with me on finding a suitable trailer.  I guess Ron had an old trailer lying around and he asked me if I would buy it on the cheap, and on payments.  His only request is that when the company pays me for my services, I pay him some of it until his price is paid.

I have wanted a trailer since I purchased my mower for this house.  It is almost impossible, and very impractical to move my mower places with my truck.  But the “boss” says no.  She couldn’t refuse this one though.  We are picking it up tomorrow.  I am expecting something that is usable, but needing work.  The only thing that matters at this point is that it is usable.  I will work on it as time and money allow.

In other “work” news, cleaning the floor is one of my biggest duties.  Currently I use a floor scrubbing machine to handle most of this task.  The only major problem is that this machine is on it’s last leg.  It doesn’t scrub that well, and it doesn’t wet the floor (I fill a 5 gallon bucket with a soap solution and pour it onto the area to be cleaned).  The last estimate to return it to total working condition was $1500.  Because of this, my boss and his boss had a company come over and demo some new floor scrubbers for us.  I happily got to use one of these models.  The one that was the “fan favorite” was a newer generation of what we have with 2 differences.  It is a little smaller (which is a good thing) and it uses a different brush system which sweeps instead of scrubs.  Working in a truck shop, this is critical as dirt, dust, grease, oil and many other objects get compacted into the pavement.

I have made a big difference in the appearance of the shop thus far.  I have all of the small things done, now it’s bigger things, such as painting that need to be done.