I'm not exaggerating. Although Bill will tell you that my number crunching for an ammo company reporting $1.75 billion annually gives me the tendency to round to the nearest ten-thousand.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Show Me The Distance!
What’s wrong with my eyes? I squint myself into headaches at Jazz games, frequently irritate other drivers by missing street signs, and most annoyingly can’t see the TV menu from my bed!
Although my eyesight changed drastically when I was young, I've had the same prescription for 15 years. Dr. Stevenson seemed mildly alarmed at a change that seems to have taken place in the past couple of months. My right eye increased four powers and my left eye increased two! How’s your health? Have you had any trauma? As he clicked the testing lenses back and forth, "This is your current prescription . . . this is what you’re telling me you need . . . . this is your current prescription. . ." Yes, yes! That looks exactly like the blurry billboards I strain to see for two hours each day!
He warned that this drastic change in prescription will cause difficulty with my reading eyes. I don’t care . . . I want to see the distance . . . show me the distance!
So much better!! You know, if I had lived in Bible times (or in any number of third-world countries), I would not only have died in child-birth, but would also be a blind beggar on the street. Now, thanks to everything wonderfully modern, I can see that blurry little fur-ball romping outside my office window . . . it’s a fox!
Unfortunately, I now understand exactly why my boss grabs my financial reports, holds them out as far as his arm will stretch, squints tightly, and then reaches for his reading glasses while muttering, “Carol, you’re killing me.”
Now, sadly, I can’t see my reports either.
Although my eyesight changed drastically when I was young, I've had the same prescription for 15 years. Dr. Stevenson seemed mildly alarmed at a change that seems to have taken place in the past couple of months. My right eye increased four powers and my left eye increased two! How’s your health? Have you had any trauma? As he clicked the testing lenses back and forth, "This is your current prescription . . . this is what you’re telling me you need . . . . this is your current prescription. . ." Yes, yes! That looks exactly like the blurry billboards I strain to see for two hours each day!
He warned that this drastic change in prescription will cause difficulty with my reading eyes. I don’t care . . . I want to see the distance . . . show me the distance!
So much better!! You know, if I had lived in Bible times (or in any number of third-world countries), I would not only have died in child-birth, but would also be a blind beggar on the street. Now, thanks to everything wonderfully modern, I can see that blurry little fur-ball romping outside my office window . . . it’s a fox!
Unfortunately, I now understand exactly why my boss grabs my financial reports, holds them out as far as his arm will stretch, squints tightly, and then reaches for his reading glasses while muttering, “Carol, you’re killing me.”
Now, sadly, I can’t see my reports either.
I Miss Amanda
Amanda is in sunny California enjoying spring break with her dad. I miss her terribly. J misses her too.
J and Bill play a silly game that evolved as a result of Bill's irritation at J's repetitive questions.
J Where are you going?
Bill To the garbage can.
J Where are you going?
Bill To the mailbox.
J Where are you going?
Bill To the bathroom.
When Bill has finally had enough, the answers are . . To California . . . To Texas . . . To New Mexico in that order.
So I guess it's no surprise that J understands exactly where Amanda is.
J Where's sissy?
Bill With her dad in California
J Oh, and Texas and New Mexico!
J also loves to play "Where's J's house?". Two stop signs before our street, he stretches his neck to look around the corner. Then, just before we make the turn, he exclaims, There it is! There's J's house! Look, look, there's J's house!
Yesterday, I challenged his finding, Who else lives here?
He easily responds, Daddy . . . Mommy . . . Jeremy.
Who else? I urged.
He stared at me blankly.
What about sissy?
No in a correcting tone Sissy doesn't live here!
My heart aches!
However, I realized that after this year there's only one more spring break that is legally her father's!
J and Bill play a silly game that evolved as a result of Bill's irritation at J's repetitive questions.
J Where are you going?
Bill To the garbage can.
J Where are you going?
Bill To the mailbox.
J Where are you going?
Bill To the bathroom.
When Bill has finally had enough, the answers are . . To California . . . To Texas . . . To New Mexico in that order.
So I guess it's no surprise that J understands exactly where Amanda is.
J Where's sissy?
Bill With her dad in California
J Oh, and Texas and New Mexico!
J also loves to play "Where's J's house?". Two stop signs before our street, he stretches his neck to look around the corner. Then, just before we make the turn, he exclaims, There it is! There's J's house! Look, look, there's J's house!
Yesterday, I challenged his finding, Who else lives here?
He easily responds, Daddy . . . Mommy . . . Jeremy.
Who else? I urged.
He stared at me blankly.
What about sissy?
No in a correcting tone Sissy doesn't live here!
My heart aches!
However, I realized that after this year there's only one more spring break that is legally her father's!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
St Louis in the Spring
ATK purchased Eagle Unlimited last week. So, I enjoyed a quick trip to St. Louis to check out our newly acquired premium-quality sewing factory disguised as a sweat shop. Who knew we still have these in the US? Actually, there are 2 in the US, 2 in Puerto Rico, and 1 in Dominican Republic. Why would the world's largest bullet manufacturer purchase a sewing factory? To add bullet-proof vests to our product line!
Top Ten notable things I learned this week:
(1) I am thankful for parents that expected me to go to college.
(2) Amanda may not want a career in clothing design when she sees the true glamour of it.
(3) The newly acquired management team didn't really appreciate a cordial, "Hi, welcome to ATK. We're here to help!"
(4) It really is possible to start with a sewing machine in your mother's basement, grow the business to $100M sales per year on the backs of Dominican working-class earning $1.50 per hour (thank heaven for minimum wage in US and Puerto Rico), and retire 30 years later with a payout of over $30M.
(5) It is possible to do #4 because you have a loving, supportive wife actively participating as matriarch of the company that published a book titled Don't Deny or Defy "A guide for wives and future brides" http://www.gretchencarver.com/. Seriously, don't rush to purchase it. With my discount I can afford to get each of you one for Christmas.
(6) Eight languages at one St. Louis manufacturing plant? And I thought it was difficult in Iuka where both Southern and Utahn were spoken.
(7) Life at the factory had been just fine for the long-timers from Bosnia. That is, until the newbies from Somalia showed up. Now there's a tone of resentment, "Why did they have to come and show all the co-workers what it really means to be Muslim?" Of course, the Bosnians down-play the rigor with which the Somalians practice Islam. Honestly, how can anyone down-play clocking-out and clocking-in 5 times each shift for prayers? Prayer rugs are stored on top of the vending machines. It's a not-so-private activity, so watch your step as you reach for that Snickers!
(8) Our plant in the Dominican Republic is located in the Free Trade Zone. It's the place where the government allows foreign entities to build manufacturing facilities. Secured with armed guards, only licensed employees are allowed in. Like a military base, the FTZ is self-sustaining and employees enjoy well-earned amenities like grocery stores. Our employees are paid each week in cash -- given to them in an envelope specially designed to allow the recipient to discretely count it -- all $35 of it. They have no concept of direct deposit, and certainly can't understand why anyone would put their money in a bank. But, there's a hip, new trend in the FTZ. Many employers have issued ATM cards, loading them each week with wages. Employees love the convenience of purchasing with a card! Shhh . . . don't tell them it's a bank card.
(9) The Bosnians at the St. Louis plant don't believe in banks either. Still, they're great savers. They simply hold on to the checks for two or three years until they travel to Bosnia to deliver the money to family members. I empathetically commented that it must be difficult to reconcile the payroll bank account. The controller appropriately welcomed me to his hell.
(10) Contrary to conservative idealists, US companies don't "self-regulate" to do what's right for their employees. Summers in St. Louis sport 100 degree weather with stifling humidity. Just imagine three hundred and fifty minimum wage earners laboring at sewing machines stuffed in a crowded warehouse -- with no air-conditioning! Isn't this America? I have little faith that ATK will spring for the AC.
(Bonus) Tobacco producing states still allow smoking in restaurants. And, my companion Michele couldn't get a Miller Light because St. Louis is Bud country!
Baby Lambs . . . And Their Brothers
Carol: Look at the cute baby lambs!
J Aaron: Oh, cute!
Carol: Look, they're with their mommies.
J Aaron: (thoughtfully) . . . and their daddies . . .
Carol: But, they stay close to their mommies because mommies have the milkers to feed them.
J Aaron: (even more thoughtfully) . . . and their brothers.
J Aaron: Oh, cute!
Carol: Look, they're with their mommies.
J Aaron: (thoughtfully) . . . and their daddies . . .
Carol: But, they stay close to their mommies because mommies have the milkers to feed them.
J Aaron: (even more thoughtfully) . . . and their brothers.
Monday, April 6, 2009
EGGciting Fun with The Cousins
Thanks mom for a great family activity! The pics of all the cousins are posted on myfamily.com. 
J cut loose with the scissors and snipped a couple chunks out of the front. For some reason I thought only little girls experimented with hair cutting. Jeremy's cheeks are much better today.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
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