Ramblin' Man

[Ragadolf]

Aberzombie wrote:

Still, the weekend was not all bad. We took the kids to see Marvel Universe Live. Everyone enjoyed the show.

That's cool, glad to hear you liked, it.

I have an associate who is IN that show. (Fellow SAFD (Society of American Fight Directors) member)

Sadly, I have not gotten to SEE the show,... :P

[Aberzombie]

One of the client's arrived yesterday. So far, he's created more problems than he's solved. And you know a project is f#*@ed up when two different types of drawing show two different piping configurations and you get different responses from different members of the client company as to which configuration is correct.

[Aberzombie]

It was two years ago today I got laid off from the company I am once again working for. Those f&@+ers.

[Aberzombie]

I was talking with the guy from the client, and he said he doesn't drink coffee. WTF?!? Is he even human?!?

[Aberzombie]

I hate ear plugs.

[Aberzombie]

It's hot! Damn hot!

[Aberzombie]

Also, a visit to Grainger, and $30 dollars later I no longer have to worry about ear plugs. Now I have clip on ear muffs for my hard hat! Huzzah!

[Aberzombie]

TGIF

[Aberzombie]

A movie theater was showing The Sandlot yesterday. I think it was part of the 25th anniversary. So, the wife bought tickets, and we took the kids. I think my son was traumatized by The Beast.

[Aberzombie]

Still, neither kid has had nightmares stemming from the movie....yet.

[Aberzombie]

Now, back at work, and it feels like way more than just two days since I was last here.

[Aberzombie]

I should probably go see what kind of progress the fabrication yard hasn't made.

[Aberzombie]

By the way, the answer to my previous post is "lots". Truth to tell, we actually went backwards last week.

[Aberzombie]

Lead engineer for the client company paid a visit to the fabrication yard today. That lit a fire under their asses.

[Aberzombie]

Otherwise.....

DAMN! It is hot as the devil's ballsack.

[Aberzombie]

Now THAT'S an image to haunt your nightmares......

[Aberzombie]

Fabrication Company: Let's have morning meetings to go over the punch list and knock out these problems, so we can move forward with assembly.

Client: I like that idea.

Next day Fabrication Company: Let's push that morning meeting back until after lunch.

Client:.....

Oh, yeah, the client went back to Dallas.

[Aberzombie]

I guess I can't say I'm surprised. One of the discussions I had with the client rep yesterday was how we both see the fabrication yard as pushing the client's work lower and lower on the priority list.

[Aberzombie]

In other news, my poor wife received a minor sickness for her birthday.

[Aberzombie]

It wasn't my fault, however, so that's something positive.

[Aberzombie]

I've really got to put together a new, non-work-related "To Do" list soon-ish. There's a lot of stuff I need to get done, but keep forgetting about as distractions arise.

[Aberzombie]

I was going to have a turkey sammich for lunch today, but apparently my wife consumed the remaining turkey.

[Aberzombie]

I heard the project manager at this fabrication yard admit to his co-worker they should never have taken on the project I'm working on with them.

Well, s#~+! I could have told him that after the first day or two I was here. They were woefully underprepared (not entirely their fault) for how difficult this job would be. Couple that with the sudden explosion in other work, and they are extremely low on the resources needed to finish.

[Aberzombie]

Still, it is what it is. We all just have to keep moving forward now.

[Aberzombie]

In other news.....HAPPY FRIDAY!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

[Aberzombie]

Was doing a little channel surfing last night, and got lucky enough to catch the near beginning of a taped concert by Jeff Lynne's ELO. It was sometime this year, in London (Wembly Stadium, I think). Watching that and having a beer or two was a good way to wind down from the weekend.

[Aberzombie]

And now I shall hit the head, then go see how much progress the fabrication yard didn't make since Friday evening.

[Aberzombie]

My poor wife has been trying this "juice cleanse" diet since Sunday morning. She lasted through yesterday evening, when I caught her scarfing down some turkey and cheese.

[Aberzombie]

In somewhat good news, the fabrication yard actually did make some progress over the weekend. They reinstalled a bunch of piping (which had been removed a week or so before for other reasons), and actually worked through at least two other items on the punch list, while starting to work on a third item.

Unfortunately, they also generated two new items (one of which has already been resolved), and once again seem to have stopped work.

[Aberzombie]

The Stache just walked in. That's my nickname for one of the other gents sharing this third party office area with me. Curly was, as usual, already here when I arrived this morning. Curly has been joined this morning by some new guy. Not sure if it's short or long term, but if he's going to be around longer, I'll have to come up with a name for him as well.

Since I don't care about learning their real names.

[Aberzombie]

Have I mentioned how much I hate this project?

[Aberzombie]

I remind myself, however, that I am at least getting paid to waste large portions of my day.

[Aberzombie]

It's amazing what can happen when you find someone who actually cares about the job she is doing.

Here at the fabrication yard yesterday, I had cause to interact with the delightful new Materials Manager (basically, their shipping and receiving boss). First up, the project manager claims he had asked S&R several times to move two pallets related to the project over to the assembly area. When I asked the Materials Manager myself, the pallets were moved within half an hour. Then she helped me locate several items I'd had trouble finding.

Like I said, a delightful woman.

[Aberzombie]

The wife didn't have to go into the office right away this morning, so she was able to take the kids to daycare. That means I got to leave the house and get to work earlier than usual.

WOOT!

[Aberzombie]

Speaking of work.....

The client emailed me yesterday afternoon, just after I left for home. Since I don't get paid OT (being on contract), I waited until this morning to reply.

And that's how it's going to have to be from now on.

[Aberzombie]

Happy Friday? Maybe.

The fabrication yard did get more done yesterday on my project then they had in the last two weeks.

It's amazing what can happen when you stop dealing with the project manager and shop manager, and just go directly to the crew chief working the assembly.

[Aberzombie]

And that's the second time in as many days I've used the term "It's amazing what can happen....".

Weird.

[Aberzombie]

And so begins the last leg of Disney's march to setting a new record for box office receipts. I think they'll definitely pass the $6 billion mark before year's end.

The Christopher Robin movie opens today. Might take the kids to go see it.

[Aberzombie]

I bought Diablo 3 for the PS4. I told the boy he could only play it with me, however, since it can be pretty complex at times.

We spent several hours yesterday playing. It was fun.

[Aberzombie]

Now it's back to the grind. I wonder what fresh disappointment awaits me today.

[Aberzombie]

Sometimes, I really hate the projects I get assigned. However, I always end up remembering I'm being paid pretty decent money to do them.....

[Aberzombie]

If I'm honest, though, the hate is more than just "sometimes".

[Aberzombie]

I need to find my old "To Do" list, from before the douche nut company I once again work for laid me off. I feel the need to accomplish some major (and maybe a few minor) tasks.

[Aberzombie]

So, when this current project started, I was told the fabrication shop would be moving to a bigger facility sometime in the fall. At the time, I didn't care much, because by then we were supposed to be done. That was, of course, almost 2 months (and multiple schedule delays) ago.

Now, not only have they started moving into the new facility, but I was told starting tomorrow they would be moving my client's first unit (still be assembled) over to the new facility. The second unit will probably be assembled there as well.

The only thing that really bugs me about this is it means one or more days where everything for the first unit is being moved and no actual work is being done to finish assembly.

[Aberzombie]

I was just thinking that I don't really know if anybody still reads the crap I post in here.

Then I realized I'm not sure I care. For me, it's kind of catharsis. And a way to alleviate occasional bouts of boredom.

[Aberzombie]

Anyway, I guess I should go do something more productive.

[Sharoth]

Read what you write? Since when? I just tend to ignore you.

j/k.

[Aberzombie]

Sooooo…

...You take after my wife, then?

[Aberzombie]

Picked up The Death of Superman on bluray yesterday. Good adaptation of a classic story. They really captured the mindless, murderous brutality of Doomsday. Unfortunately, that mean I probably best not let my son watch it.

[Aberzombie]

Fabrication Yard on Tuesday: "Hey! We're going to move the assembly of these units over to our new facility. The prep work will start tonight, and we'll start actually moving stuff tomorrow."

Me on Tuesday: "Hmmm....no prep work was done. Hey, Fab Yard! Is this going to happen today?"

Fabrication Yard on Wednesday: "Hey! We're going to move the assembly of these units over to our new facility. The prep work will start tonight, and we'll start actually moving stuff tomorrow."

Me on Tuesday: "Hmmm....no prep work was done. Hey, Fab Yard! Is this going to happen today?"

Rinse and repeat.