Year: 2013

The Smithsonian Called

Bid AuctionOn occasion at the Valve Store(tm) we do some modernization to or buy new equipment. The replaced stuff that is beyond our usefulness get discarded, recycled or offered up to employees to bid on once a quarter.

Right now we are in the middle of revamping and rearranging the entire assembly floor, so there is even more stuff that is unneeded. Now once a month they place the items in a spot somewhere in the plant, put an Avery label with a number on them and publish a list. The November bid list was chock full of about 50 items that I had zero interest in, but there were plenty of people who did, as only 2 items went unsold, a typewriter #6 and an overhead projector #45.

I can’t even remember when it was the last time anyone used an overhead projector for a meeting or presentation. And where did they dig up the typewriter? The young women in HR who creates the lists was so unfamiliar with the thing that she didn’t even know that typewriter is one word.

For The Want Of A Hat

Red Sox WS Champ Hat

As I had done the last two times the FRS won the World Series this century, I ordered a commemorative hat. My order was entered into MLB.com’s web store on the 31st of October. As of today, one week later, the status of my order is still listed as awaiting arrival of merchandise.

I’m impatient, so I canceled it. What the heck, I’ve still got my 2013 Red Sox Nation hat and they’ll probably win it all again next year. Maybe if I think of it, next January I’ll check and see if there are any left in the outlet store for half price…

Differences Between the Red Sox & Yankees

world-series-boston-red-sox-2013

When the New York Yankees win the World Series they get a ticker tape parade down 5th Ave.
When the Red Sox win the World Series they get a parade riding in Duck Boats.

Derek Jeter returns to his penthouse to drink champagne with 2 super models.
Mike Napoli does shots with fans in a local bar and later tends bar at another while shirtless.

Alex Rodriguez buys an eighty foot yacht with a crew of 12 to park outside his Miami home.
Jake Peavy buys the duck boat he rode in during the parade.

135,000 Yellow Leaves

135000 Yellow Leaves

Tired of looking at my ugly mug with that scraggly beard? Me too!

We went to the Gap this weekend with the MMC and where we stayed, a cabin at Fontana Village, I had no internet access. There was WiFi at the lodge, but I never really had much free time, with all the driving and socializing, that it was never worth taking the laptop over there and plugging in. Truth be told, I didn’t miss it much.

Unlike 2 years ago when we did this same trip with the Club, this time we hit the fall colors at peak and just past in this neck of the NC/TN mountains. The scenery was fantastic when we occasionally stopped, most of the rest of the time I was busy picking corner apexes between the yellow double and the single white lines, mentally planning shift points and listening to the Racing Beat enhanced exhaust note…

On the drive home, with Donna at the wheel, just south of Spartanburg on I-26 the Emperor passed the 135,000 mile mark.

Weekend Top count: Started down, up, down, up, down, up, down, up, down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1276

The Power Of Facial Hair – Part 2

Sox Beard 2

The Red Sox won the World Series 4 games to 2 over the St. Louis Cardinals and I like to think that my letting my facial hair grow unchecked for the last 50 days (previous post) had something to do with it. Sunday night as part of my usual prep for the upcoming work week I will trim it back to its former shorter length.

The second shift supervisor for our Turned Parts Department is also a Red Sox fan and when he came in this afternoon he walked over to where I was sitting and asked, “How do you like it?” pointing at his hat. From my seated position I could make out an arc of the words World Champions above the Red Sox’s B. I asked, “What did you do? Dial the souvenir hotline at midnight last night and order a hat overnighted to you?” Then I stood up and saw the number 2007 below the B. It was from the last World Series.

I told him that I bought similar hats after both the 2004 and 2007 Series, but they were worn out. That’s when he let me in on his secret, he orders two hats. One to wear out and the other as a keepsake.

Going to go hats shopping tomorrow.

Third Time In 10 Years

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWsmB4SjGJw

The only way this could be more perfect is if I could put little Boston Red Sox Hats on the two of them…