Just Another Day at the Factory

Well, it's been 4 weeks in and 4 weeks to go here at Santa's workshop, er, uh, Amazon.  Some days I hate it.  Some days I don't mind it.  Never do I love it, but I do enjoy the paychecks.  And so I go.

A few folks have asked just what is it I do.  What's it like there?  Ever get any free stuff?  So, here's the answers - short and sweet. 

What I do is count.  Officially I work in ICQA (inventory control quality assurance).  Unofficially I
am in housekeeping. I go out to a section of the warehouse with a scanner, scan the bin, count the number of items in it, enter the number into the scanner, then move on. If the count is different from what the computer says it should be then another person comes behind me to see if I counted wrong or if something is missing (or something extra is in the bin that shouldn't be).

  As I take things out to count them I do the housekeeping by knocking dust off things, and it is a dusty place, and replacing things in the bin neater than I found it.  The pickers, those folks who run around with carts and a scanner that tells them what you ordered and throw it in a bin to send to wrapping/shipping, rush through the aisles grabbing things quickly from the bins so sometimes bins get messed up, things get knocked in the floor and put back in the wrong bin, etc.  So all night I count and clean, clean and count.  So that's what I do.

What's it like there?  It's hot, noisy, dusty, and busy.  One night I was working on the fourth level of one area which gave me a great view of the whole operation in my area.  Here's a picture I found on the internet.  Not even sure it's from an Amazon plant, but it looks very much like the real thing.  I wish I could have taken a photo but cameras and other electronics are not allowed to be brought into the plant.  And they are serious about it.  Every time you go out of the warehouse area, to lunch or on a break or to go home, you have to pass through security just like at the airport except you do keep your shoes on. 

  Anyway, my view from up above was kind of like this except there were quite a few more pickers running around.  As of Black Friday all departments put on the full force, days off are canceled, and if you're gonna call in sick you better be writing your will.  Also, what doesn't show in this photo is all the miles and miles of conveyors running around the plant.  Pickers run around with carts and on their carts are bright colored bins.  Once the items for that bin are all picked the bin is set on the conveyor.  This can be any any part of the warehouse.  The bin has a barcode on the front of it and somewhere along the line a laser reads the label and levers or bars push and pull it off to just the right spot until it tips over and falls down a shute and heads off to be wrapped and shipped.  Watching all this happen from my lofty spot reminded me of that kids game mousetrap where you lined up all the ladders and things just right so that when you drop the ball at the beginning it rolls around causing things to push, pull, and drop until the trap falls at the end.  I looked hard but never did see that boot that kicked in the cheese although                                  I fully expect it's there somewhere!

 

No Firm Plans

I know I said in the last post that I would follow up in a day or two.  Well, that didn't happen.  If you know me you're not surprised.  So this is just a little note to catch you up on me.  Yes, I'm working at Amazon again.  I'm on the F shift which is a night shift on what they call the donut.  That means I work 2 days, then off a day, then on 2 days, then off 2 days, then start it all over again.  I think I'm liking that break in the middle. 

No, I have'nt sold the house yet.  We are still trying to get a closing set up.  Things keep happening.  Latest hitch?  Home office for the buyers' finance company is in New Jersey.  Will just keep thinking positive thoughts and somehow it will happen.

I left the state park.  It was a hard decision to make because I love looking out at the water every morning.  And I actually do like to see how many deer are out at 4 in the morning when I return home.  But the weather has turned cold early this year and the road into the park is twisty, winding, and down a hill.  Decided it might be a better idea to move closer to town. 

I am now at Heartland RV Park.  We call it the parking lot.  It's a large gravel lot across the street from the warehouse.   I think they have room for 100 or more campers.  It's ideal for work because I can walk to the warehouse in about 5 minutes so don't have to worry about driving home in the wee hours if the roads are slick.  And it has full hook ups so I can take that long hot shower when I get home from work.  But it is not a campground, certainly not a park, at least in my opinion.  The spots are really close together (my neighbor's lunch today smelled strongly of garlic) which is bad if you want to put out the awning and sit outside because you'll be under your neighbor's window.  But it's good because I'm small and all the bigger rigs all around me block off a lot of the cold wind.  All in all I think it's for the best.  And it's only for 5 more weeks!

  Here's my row.  I'm the next to last rv.

 

 Here's the view from my "patio".  Amazon is just beyond those last 3 rows of campers.

 Here's the day shift heading home and some of my neighbors walking back to the "lot".

Never Burn Bridges

I know, I know.  It's been 3 weeks since my last post.  There I was in Maine posting nearly every day, and then I come home to the south and have nothing to say?  No, not really.  Just been pretty busy.

I returned from my beautiful Maine adventures and after spending the night in Nashville drove back to where Seeker was parked at cousin Madeline's farm in KY.  And then the days just flew by.  We have been digging into our family's past and searching for clues.  Also finding time for watching her grandkids and going to ballgames, doctor's appointments, etc.  Just everyday life.  Like me, Madeline is a weather channel junkie and with the approach of Sandy we have been glued to the TV and trying to avoid being out in all the cold and wind.  Yes, tropical storm Sandy blew all our beautiful, late fall warm weather away.  Left us with cold, windy, yucky weather.  Guess that made it easier to leave.

When I was a younger woman I never worried about the future.  Like most folks I just took for granted it would be there.  And never did I consider that my past could impact my future.  Time has taught me to be more prudent.  No matter how bad a situation may seem at the moment, I have tried to exit graciously never knowing when I might want to be back.  Such was the case of my first full timer job at Amazon in Campbellsville, KY last year.  It was not an awful job.  It was not a hard job.  It was just a job.  I never dreamed I would be doing it again this year even though I met several folks who have been coming back every year.  I didn't even think I did my job all that well, but I made sure I left graciously when I made my exit.  You never know what the future will bring.  I have finally, in my later years, learned not to burn my bridges.  So when I found myself in KY trying to stay near Nashville while finalizing the sale of my house, I found that the logical spot to be is back at Amazon.  And they seem delighted to have me back.  So I "crossed that bridge" this weekend and returned to the state park campground.  Today is indoctrination day.  Tomorrow and the rest of the week is training.  Back in the saddle, as they say.  I will add more info in the next day or two.  Right now I have to get ready for work. 

New England Memories

We were fortunate to arrive early at Logan this morning. Our boarding time is 2 hours away, but we have had time for a leisurely breakfast and now sit in the boarding area browsing the net while hundreds of people are standing in line just to enter the gate area. That means I have time for one more blog post. All pictures. You provide your own captions.

 

The Wedding That Wasn't

  On Saturday we drove out to Georgetown Island to GreyHavens Inn.  This was to be the location for the wedding of my niece and her fiance.  I hope that he is home from the hospital by now and can't wait to see what new, exciting location the rescheduled wedding will be set in.  The views along the drive from Bath to the island were exactly what you would expect for a Maine island in the fall. 

 

 

 

We met the inn owner and enjoyed a visit with her as we toured the inn. I could just imagine how it would have been as we sat on the deck looking out to the shimmering water. So it was not meant to be this time. But I did have a beautiful trip to see New England at its finest time of the year. That was my wedding gift to me.

 

 

My Travels with Ann

While Ann and I have been friends for many years, this was our first trip together.  I admit I was a little concerned that it could end our friendship.  The fact that we are close friends is even a surprise to many people.  To say we are very different people with very different likes/dislikes is an understatement.  She is grace and southern charm - make up always done, never a hair out of place, clothing and jewelry perfectly coordinated.  And I am, well, none of those things.  So how did a week on the road go for the Felix and Oscar of the retired teacher set? 

It was a blast!!!  We discovered just how much we have in common although we knew it wasn't make up, hair, jewelry, or clothes.  So this post is for Ann.  I had a great trip, girlfriend, and especially enjoyed watching you have so much fun.  I laughed so much I cried at times.  Can't wait for our next trip together!

 I can't believe she walked out through this field to find a geocache in the edge of the woods.  She did it gracefully I assure you and never got her hands dirty.

 

 Ann signed the log book at Delorme headquarters and admired the geocoin collection.  She is now obsessed with a moose geocoin.

 

  She was just in love with Eartha, the largest working globe in the world that resides in Yarmouth, Maine at the Delorme Headquarters.

 

 Can you believe she didn't do any shopping at LL Bean?  But she loved all the sights including this big boot.

 Everywhere we went Ann had her camera out and snapped so many pictures I just had to take a picture of her taking pictures.

 

 We drove up Moose Alley all the way to Canada and across the border into Quebec, but this was the only moose we saw on this trip.  She did a great job of stopping when a large deer jumped into the path of the car, but it wasn't a moose (drat).

 

  The Androscoggin foot bridge in Brunswick was a must see for me but it seems that bridges make Ann a bit nervous.  This one has been around a long time, Ann.  It's not going to fall, I promise.

 

 This was the shot we came for.  Just look at that fall color!  And the smile on Ann's face.  This was about 30 miles from Canada along Moose Alley.  It was a beautiful drive and definitely the highlight of the trip.

 

 

 

 

It's Lobstah -- Oh, Yeah!!

Ann and I have been in Maine for 4 days and have vowed to eat seafood everyday - mostly lobster.  We've had lobster chowder, lobster roll, lobster pot pie, and today - the best yet - lobster pizza.  OK, it may sound odd, but it was wonderful.  Today, after a day of souvenir shopping, caching, and running around Augusta we ended the day in the bar of the Cloud 9 restaurant.  Hey, it was happy hour!  We ordered our margaritas and immediately knew we were hungry.  And pizza was half price.  Of course we ordered the lobster.  Our chef, Pablo, held court over the brick oven where this heavenly creation came from.  All I can say is he is a genious!

 

And he didn't disappoint.  Just take a look at the delicious pie that was laid before us:

  Oops!  It smelled so good we forgot to take the picture before taking our first slices.  Yummmmmmyyyy!

 

In case you're wondering what goes on a lobster pizza, here's the description. 

 

Tomorrow???  MOOSE