Thoughtful

Something reminded me today of this song, and I found this version online.  It gives me chills and makes me cry every time I see it. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BI6SlqIUG4s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Prayer of the Children Lyric and Music by Kurt Bestor Can you hear the prayer of the children on bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room? Empty eyes with no more tears to cry, turning heavenward toward the light. Crying Jesus help me to see the morning light of one more day, but if I should die before I wake, I pray my soul to take. Can you feel the hearts of the children aching for home, for something of their very own? Reaching hands with nothing to hold on to, but hope for a better day, a better day. Crying Jesus help me to feel the love again in my own land, but if unknown roads lead away from home, give me loving arms, away from harm. Can you hear the voice of the children softly pleading for silence in their shattered world? Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate, blood of the innocent on their hands. Crying Jesus help me to feel the sun again upon my face, For when darkness clears, I know you're near, bringing peace again. Da-li cu-je te sve dje-cje mol-it-ve? (Dol-ly chew-ye tay sfay dyay-chyay mo-leet-vay?) Can you hear the prayer of the children? Note: this is the original version, but not the original video to this song.  Who could have known, in 2007, that such a thing as Sandy Hook could ever happen?

"Weather" It's Right or Wrong

OK, so what's the deal with the weather?! Two days ago it was in the upper 70's, sunny and gorgeous. Yesterday it poured down rain half the day, then was overcast and chilly, in the upper 50's. Today it's supposed to get no warmer than 40F, but right now at 3:40 pm it's only 36F. And it's supposed to get down into the 20's tonight -- oh yeah, and might snow! And when it's not been cold or raining there has been this awful wind that makes it sound like the siding is coming off the house. I could live with warm or cold -- I just wish it would stay the same way for a whole day. Actually, I wish it would choose "warm" for this week, since I'm off.

Updates

Just reading over my few entries since my first one just over a year ago, I thought some updates might be in order: That trip to Spain I was talking about for last September? It's happening this May instead! The new flooring for the kitchen? Done this past MLK day! Job loss? Not yet! *knocking on wood that I remain employed* My boy Maxx? Maxx had to be put down on March 5. He was 16 years old. I miss him every day, and still expect to see him in the kitchen, waiting for a potential handout, when I get home in the afternoons.

Planning Continues

Today was fun.
I slept late, then did absolutely NOTHING all day! Jorge was supposed to call, so I didn't want to leave the house. I didn't get around to showering until 3:00. I sat around watching two episodes of "Planet Earth" and "The Pursuit of Happyness", and did some reading and planning for my trip. It was completely wonderful to not have to answer an alarm clock, or prepare for the upcoming work week. Since I have the week off I can run all of those errands LATER!

Jorge has been sending Google Earth images and suggestions for itineraries for my trip. I love having him to guide me to the good stuff. The only bad thing is that I will have to make choices between things that all sound good -- there's just not enough time. Ah, well.... NEXT trip!

The Dislike of Skeeter, Part II

Yep, more job whining ahead..... Today I was going about my business, doing the jobs of two people. All was well, though a large order had to be set aside while they waited for parts. I had almost everything packed when I noticed that there was an order of eight waiting to be picked and sent down to the builders. They were stainless steel cases, which require 3 hubs. These also needed two pushbuttons, two lights, two lenses, a transformer, a circuit breaker, 3 fuses, and a handle each, as well as eight sets of paperwork. While I was working on this, the parts they had been waiting for arrived, so they all set about finishing up the order of 20 and sending them down to be packed. This made the pack station get backed up since I was the one who was supposed to be down there. When I had finished the order of eight and sent them down (and saw what a mess the pack station was by then) I decided to go to the restroom before tackling it. When I came back no more than three minutes later, Skeeter was waiting for me, demanding to know where I had been. Among other things he said he was "sick and tired of seeing the line backed up like this", but it hadn't been backed up all day and I told him so. I told him that when I left (to do the stainless steel) there had only been one case left at the pack station. He then said, "You're trying to tell me that all of these came while you were in the restroom??" I said, "No, they came while I was filling the stainless order -- then I went to the restroom." *sigh* What an ass! I don't mind him wondering where I was, or asking why the line was backed up, or even expressing displeasure. But I think he should have apologized for his tone of voice, if nothing else, after I explained. No, not "explained", "defended". He treated me as though I had been slacking off and was lying about it before he even knew what had happened. I don't deserve to be talked to like that by anyone! I talked to a union person about it, who called the plant manager over (he was out cruising around at the time). He said poor little Skeeter was under a lot of pressure and not to take it personally. Sorry? I'm under pressure too but I'm not snipping at people. He never did apologize. Later, though, he came to ask if I could send some things down to be built (I had been waiting on some paperwork). He basically followed me up there, then stood in my way while I filled three orders or so, as if I needed a babysitter to make sure I didn't wander off. And the first one, the one I was awaiting paperwork for? As soon as the order was ready to go Skeeter picked up the papers to read them. And stood in my way. Then huffed off when I went around him to do the next order while he took his time moving. What is his problem??? At least tomorrow is Friday -- and then I don't have to see his little Skeeter face for 10 days!!!

The Dislike of Skeeter, Part I

My how things can change in a short time! Last Friday it was announced that our plant will be shut down for Easter week. We already get Good Friday off, so we now have to use four more vacation days to cover the week. Sux, but in view of how things are going there with my little boss, Skeeter, I'll be glad to be out of there for awhile. This has been a very difficult week. Things were screwed up last week, too, but I thought it would be more normal this week. Umm, nope. Skeeter makes me crazy. I have never, ever had trouble with a boss before and it bothers me that I do now. But he does things just because he CAN. He denied almost everyone at least some of their requested vacation, though it seems impossible that SO many of the few people we have could have asked for the same weeks. (I got only six days of the 3 weeks I requested.) But today was a new low. I was supposed to go in to my doctor's office to have a procedure at a particular time of the month. This is that time. So I called yesterday afternoon and got an appointment for 2:00 today. As soon as I got to work, I wrote Skeeter a note saying that I needed to use two hours of personal business time. (Note that it's called PERSONAL business -- you're not supposed to have to even explain why you need it.) At 10:40 (20 minutes till lunch) he came out to tell me that I couldn't go because "it's the last week of the quarter". He asked if it was something that HAD to be done this week (yes -- or wait till next month). I told him it was a medical problem, personal. He still said no. I wasn't about to actually explain WHY it had to be this week. I called at lunch to cancel the 2:00, and of course they couldn't take me at 3:00 (he would allow me to leave at 2:30 if that worked). So when I got back from lunch I told him to cancel the whole thing -- it would have to wait another month. It served no purpose to ask if it was important, etc., since obviously there was no answer I could give that would satisfy him. He had already said I couldn't go. So why keep asking? Because he CAN. Also, he is making me do both my own job and packing, which requires me to walk back and forth between the two stations (100 ft or so) all day. I asked what his priority was if I had to let one or the other get backed up, and he told me his "expecTAtion" was that I would do both. OK, that's a helpful answer. The problem is that one of the well-known disability game-players has been down at packing this week, and apparently it's just too much for her to handle. But of course I'M Superwoman. I shouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing I'm mad about it. I should just do it. But that would mean that it COULD be done -- and I don't want to do it. I don't want to be bossed around and taken advantage of by some little twerp that knows nothing about what I do. He has no idea what actually goes on at my station. He just sees me standing still occasionally (usually because I'm running the line manually and HAVE to stand there to push the buttons) so he thinks there is a lot of down time. Gah! It just makes me furious. And for the first time ever, at any job, I just hate the thought of going in there tomorrow.

Plans....for Spain

Well, I'm still working! In fact, until two weeks ago, I was on almost constant overtime in addition to lots of hours at my tax prep job. It seems weird now to go to work at the normal time (we do our OT before our normal work day begins at 7:00 a.m.).

There were eight layoffs in February instead of the 19 they originally announced, and we have not yet heard when or if or how many for the April layoff. Months ago I decided that I couldn't live my life worrying constantly about something that may or may not happen. I've maybe been a bit more careful about money, but I haven't avoided doing something I would normally just because I might someday lose my job.

A case in point is the trip I am in the process of planning to northern Spain. I have had an online friend for several years who lives in the Asturias province of Spain, an area that is not generally on the tourist path. He is now married and has a daughter who is nearly three, and the time has come for me to visit! Actually, Virgin Atlantic opened a new route from Chicago to London and had special fares of $171 each way (incredibly cheap) and I couldn't pass it up. I booked the Chicago-London leg right away, then took some time finding cheap flights from London to Spain. I settled on a Ryanair flight to Santander, about two hours from my friend's home in Mieres. It was 14.99 GBP, plus fees. When I return, I'll fly Easyjet from Oviedo (very close to my friend's town) for 20 euros.

I've also been in touch with a friend in London who runs Ball of Dirt, and he gave me some insight into how to get from Heathrow to Stansted airport for the cheapie flights. I think I will have to take a bus from Heathrow to Stansted, but I'm hoping that on the way back I can get him to collect me at Standsted. I will be arriving on a Wednesday evening and my flight won't leave for home till Thursday morning, so I have a free evening. Maybe we can work something out. I plan on just sleeping in the airport overnight.

My Spanish friend has booked me a cute little hotel about 5 km from his home. They offered to house me, but I thought that was asking a bit much of them considering I've never actually met them before in real life. He is taking three days off from work to drive me around, though (I'm buying the gas). There is not a lot in the guidebooks about the area, so I'm trusting him to come up with great things to see and do. Can't wait!