MH and I had a conversation (and by conversation I mean a few words and a lot of uncontrollable laughing) about the use of processing terms in the bedroom.
I'm probably going to start giggling the next time some one tells me "the system went unsterile."
27 April 2010
Food for thought
The vending machines at work are the only real source of food we have. According to the manual, we are actually not allowed to leave the premises for lunch (awesome that my job is more oppressive than my high school), but even if we could there aren't many food options that could be ordered, served and consumed in half an hour especially taking into account travel time. There are even less (read: Tim Horton's drive-thru) that are open in the middle of the night.
So, vending machines it is.
I bring food from home every day because I absolutely cannot bring myself to eat out of a machine generally referred to as "the wheel of death" or "the wheel of misfortune". It poses a serious problem to third shift, however, because all of the machines are stocked in the morning- usually right as we are leaving. Even the normally limited food options are further limited by 2am. Essentially, we are eating the food no one else wants to eat.
How gross is that?
So, vending machines it is.
I bring food from home every day because I absolutely cannot bring myself to eat out of a machine generally referred to as "the wheel of death" or "the wheel of misfortune". It poses a serious problem to third shift, however, because all of the machines are stocked in the morning- usually right as we are leaving. Even the normally limited food options are further limited by 2am. Essentially, we are eating the food no one else wants to eat.
How gross is that?
26 April 2010
Scheduling mishaps
Two awesome things on the schedule this week...firstly, MH was off Friday and Saturday nights. The schedule did not come out until Friday night. She asked JJ for her days off and he told her that she had off Friday and Saturday again.
He did not, however, bother to mention that she had to work a twelve-hour shift one day. Most of the time, this wouldn't be a big deal, except that her twelve hour shift was six to six on Sunday. Meaning she was scheduled to come in early the day she came back from being off and not seeing the schedule. She figured it out around six thirty when she was on her way to dinner and work was calling to find out where she was.
The other amazing thing on the schedule is a note at the bottom which says "RC safety meeting 0530 or 0600."
It does not mention what safety meeting, where, or most importantly...what day of the week.
Maybe our supervisors missed a schedule-making meeting at the same time I missed safety training.
He did not, however, bother to mention that she had to work a twelve-hour shift one day. Most of the time, this wouldn't be a big deal, except that her twelve hour shift was six to six on Sunday. Meaning she was scheduled to come in early the day she came back from being off and not seeing the schedule. She figured it out around six thirty when she was on her way to dinner and work was calling to find out where she was.
The other amazing thing on the schedule is a note at the bottom which says "RC safety meeting 0530 or 0600."
It does not mention what safety meeting, where, or most importantly...what day of the week.
Maybe our supervisors missed a schedule-making meeting at the same time I missed safety training.
25 April 2010
More factory fashion
I took a shower right before work last night and didn't have the time or motivation to blowdry my hair. Because we wear hairnets at work, I probably didn't look any different than I do every other night. Completely normal. Until quitting tiime, when I pulled the hairnet off and discovered that wet hair pulled back and kept under a hairnet for eight hours turns into some sort of nightmare hurricane frizz horror. It was kind of impressive.
22 April 2010
Enlive is always a problem
I don't know what is wrong with me, but no matter how careful I am with enlive, my solids are always high and I always manage to spill it everywhere.
I plated some five-day samples today, then cut the tops of the paks open to do visuals and pH. Then, I went to carry the case to the sink to dump the product. The glue on the sides of the case had come off, so it was essentially twenty-seven little cups of sticky, impossible to clean juice balanced on a piece of cardboard. I managed to carry it to the sink and dispose of it without spilling a drop.
When I returned for the second case, plus two extra paks, I managed somehow to completely knock over one of the stray paks. Just bumped it somehow so that it fell over sideways.
Man I am awesome.
I plated some five-day samples today, then cut the tops of the paks open to do visuals and pH. Then, I went to carry the case to the sink to dump the product. The glue on the sides of the case had come off, so it was essentially twenty-seven little cups of sticky, impossible to clean juice balanced on a piece of cardboard. I managed to carry it to the sink and dispose of it without spilling a drop.
When I returned for the second case, plus two extra paks, I managed somehow to completely knock over one of the stray paks. Just bumped it somehow so that it fell over sideways.
Man I am awesome.
21 April 2010
Smitty Jr.
The second to newest girl on third...I know I talked about how her productivity makes me look like an ass, but I don't remember if I referred to her by her initials? Her initials are JM, but I am just going to go ahead and call her Junior from now on. She's just like Smitty. Always working, always helping, never letting anyone help her.
Today she was in the only busy zone. She would not accept help at all. After midnight, I literally had no work assigned to me. I spent most of the night hunting down something to do.
Most of what I found was scrubbing counters and talking.
Today she was in the only busy zone. She would not accept help at all. After midnight, I literally had no work assigned to me. I spent most of the night hunting down something to do.
Most of what I found was scrubbing counters and talking.
20 April 2010
How's that ESL line running?
I was in workstation 1, formerly known as ESL, last night for the first time since we started this crazy new system.
Something sort of strange happened.
Nothing went wrong.
All my 48 hour samples passed, all my swabs were good, they started up relatively on time, ran smoothly and had absolutely no major problems whatsoever.
DK called me into his office twice just to ask if there had been any disasters. My presence usually seems to invoke Murphy's law all over that zone.
Something sort of strange happened.
Nothing went wrong.
All my 48 hour samples passed, all my swabs were good, they started up relatively on time, ran smoothly and had absolutely no major problems whatsoever.
DK called me into his office twice just to ask if there had been any disasters. My presence usually seems to invoke Murphy's law all over that zone.
19 April 2010
Call-in pity
The phones in the plant have a different ringtone when the call is coming from an outside line rather than an extension within the factory.
When the lab phone rings the outside ring on third shift, everyone stops and stares at it for a second as if it is a bomb about to go off. We know what that call is. We know that ninety percent of the time, that call means someone on first shift is calling in sick.
Who is it? Are they really sick? Couldn't they have called earlier, we're supposed to give at least two hours notice?! I bet they're faking, I bet they're just getting in from the bar. I bet they just want a long weekend.
"Lab, RC speaking"
"Hi, RC, it's MO...I'm not going to be able to come in today..."
Bitch! Are you fricking serious? She just called in last week. Yeah okay you just got off maternity leave but you can't screw us over just because you have a kid. Lots of people have babies, they still manage to show up at work every once in a...
"...I had to bring the baby to the hospital."
My face and tone of voice have never gone from "bitch!" to "ohhh nooo that's terrible" so fast.
PS The baby is okay and I got another four hours OT.
When the lab phone rings the outside ring on third shift, everyone stops and stares at it for a second as if it is a bomb about to go off. We know what that call is. We know that ninety percent of the time, that call means someone on first shift is calling in sick.
Who is it? Are they really sick? Couldn't they have called earlier, we're supposed to give at least two hours notice?! I bet they're faking, I bet they're just getting in from the bar. I bet they just want a long weekend.
"Lab, RC speaking"
"Hi, RC, it's MO...I'm not going to be able to come in today..."
Bitch! Are you fricking serious? She just called in last week. Yeah okay you just got off maternity leave but you can't screw us over just because you have a kid. Lots of people have babies, they still manage to show up at work every once in a...
"...I had to bring the baby to the hospital."
My face and tone of voice have never gone from "bitch!" to "ohhh nooo that's terrible" so fast.
PS The baby is okay and I got another four hours OT.
17 April 2010
#1
Silly boy left early tonight after basically telling he doesn't want to talk to me.
Kind of frustrating, but man did it make my night way easier!
Kind of frustrating, but man did it make my night way easier!
15 April 2010
Ugh
Last night was twelve hours of absolute misery. I haven't slept in three days and I am having a kind of serious fight with #1. I definitely sat down in the ESL hot room and cried for a while.
Here's to better times tonight.
Here's to better times tonight.
14 April 2010
I am not an addict.
Knowing we had a safety meeting at the beginning of our shift, I stopped for coffee before work. I generally get some kind of coffee on my way to work as long as I have enough time, but I do not go to the same place everyday. Really, I don't.
There is a Tim Horton's around the corner from the plant and that is my most frequent caffeine-source, but even so, I am there twice a week at most. Usually, I go to the drive-thru and am already wearing my work uniform.
Today, I had gone out to dinner for my birthday and was wearing my street clothes. I went in to the Tim's because I had a lot of time to kill and a free coffee coupon (and because I didn't look like a gas station attendant for once!)
The manager not only recognized me, he knew my order before I said it.
I'm not sure if this means he's a stalker or I need to cut back...
There is a Tim Horton's around the corner from the plant and that is my most frequent caffeine-source, but even so, I am there twice a week at most. Usually, I go to the drive-thru and am already wearing my work uniform.
Today, I had gone out to dinner for my birthday and was wearing my street clothes. I went in to the Tim's because I had a lot of time to kill and a free coffee coupon (and because I didn't look like a gas station attendant for once!)
The manager not only recognized me, he knew my order before I said it.
I'm not sure if this means he's a stalker or I need to cut back...
13 April 2010
Happy Birthday, RC
I made JB switch zones with me last night because I flat-out refused to check pudding on my birthday.
The pudding line didn't run all night. She did almost entirely nothing besides a couple of tank checks and plating.
I did bloaters, because who knows if she ever would have got to them. My zone was moderately busy all night oh and did I mention It's my birthday?! give me a break, dude.
The pudding line didn't run all night. She did almost entirely nothing besides a couple of tank checks and plating.
I did bloaters, because who knows if she ever would have got to them. My zone was moderately busy all night oh and did I mention It's my birthday?! give me a break, dude.
12 April 2010
Always double-check the schedule
I was in pudding and bag in a box last night. I had checked the schedule and thought nothing was supposed to run until Monday morning, as usual. I thought I'd have an easy if somewhat annoying night of doing dailys and weeklys and 48 hour and five day and tank checks...
I did, essentially, have that night. Plus the 4oz line was running. When I checked the schedule, I somehow overlooked this big ol' gelatin run that started early Sunday morning. Maybe it was from last week?
Gelatin is the number one easiest product to audit, but somehow when I have to deal with it, it keeps me busy and worse keeps me annoyed all night long.
I did, essentially, have that night. Plus the 4oz line was running. When I checked the schedule, I somehow overlooked this big ol' gelatin run that started early Sunday morning. Maybe it was from last week?
Gelatin is the number one easiest product to audit, but somehow when I have to deal with it, it keeps me busy and worse keeps me annoyed all night long.
10 April 2010
Last of the 12s
Everyone in the lab was on twelve-hour shifts this week. I am a huge fan of this schedule, but it looks like I'm in the minority on that front so we won't be switching permanently.
Oh well. One benefit of working twelves is that it would simplify scheduling. Everyone would be on a normal rotating schedule with every other weekend off. (This also opens up the possibility that I may literally never see #1 again, which might be a good thing. Or not.)
A simpler schedule would be nice, since all of our supervisors are incapable of putting together a schedule that makes sense. I requested off next Friday and Saturday. My request was approved. It was clearly written on the calendar.
KS gave me Sunday and Saturday.
I pointed this out to CK. She rearranged things a little to give me off Friday. No problem. It did not occur to her and I needed to point it out that if I was off friday and Saturday, she would need to change it so that I was working Sunday and give someone else the day off.
Geniuses, all.
Oh well. One benefit of working twelves is that it would simplify scheduling. Everyone would be on a normal rotating schedule with every other weekend off. (This also opens up the possibility that I may literally never see #1 again, which might be a good thing. Or not.)
A simpler schedule would be nice, since all of our supervisors are incapable of putting together a schedule that makes sense. I requested off next Friday and Saturday. My request was approved. It was clearly written on the calendar.
KS gave me Sunday and Saturday.
I pointed this out to CK. She rearranged things a little to give me off Friday. No problem. It did not occur to her and I needed to point it out that if I was off friday and Saturday, she would need to change it so that I was working Sunday and give someone else the day off.
Geniuses, all.
07 April 2010
Hours spent testing pudding: 18/36
Being in pudding (sorry I mean workstation 3?) makes me unbelievably bitchy. I think I even (jokingly) told #1 he's fat.
I was about ready to smack another blender in the face yesterday and this morning I definitely yelled at JJ for being helpful when I was really busy.
Pudding turns me into a jerk. Twelve hour shifts of pudding...ugh.
I was about ready to smack another blender in the face yesterday and this morning I definitely yelled at JJ for being helpful when I was really busy.
Pudding turns me into a jerk. Twelve hour shifts of pudding...ugh.
06 April 2010
Drunk driving is what I like to do, I like drunk driving with you
When I pulled into the parking lot today, I saw a good spot a little late and pulled in completely crooked.
I didn't bother adjusting, because I wanted to make sure I clocked in on time and there was a car on either side of me. I figured it was okay.
When DK came in he asked what my middle name is...his guess was "drives-drunk-to-work."
He continued to make fun of my poor parking the rest of the night to the point where I considered using one of my breaks just to go straighten out my car, but it wouldn't have helped, since he was already busy showing everyone the picture he had taken of it.
I didn't bother adjusting, because I wanted to make sure I clocked in on time and there was a car on either side of me. I figured it was okay.
When DK came in he asked what my middle name is...his guess was "drives-drunk-to-work."
He continued to make fun of my poor parking the rest of the night to the point where I considered using one of my breaks just to go straighten out my car, but it wouldn't have helped, since he was already busy showing everyone the picture he had taken of it.
05 April 2010
Murphy's law of FBs
Once the blenders have put all of the ingredients into a product and allowed it to mix for a while, we get a first check and calculate if anything needs to be added. Often, they leave out some water to make sure the solids aren't too low. It's a lot easier to add water than to take it out.
Since everything needs to be checked for micro problems, we collect plating samples when we do our first check. These are labeled with an FB number for "finished blend."
Most of the time, FB samples are gathered with the very first check. Usually the product needs to be standardized and rechecked.
If, however, you do not get an FB on your first check, the product will always always always be perfect. If you have to go back for your plating samples anyway, the product will not need a recheck.
Since everything needs to be checked for micro problems, we collect plating samples when we do our first check. These are labeled with an FB number for "finished blend."
Most of the time, FB samples are gathered with the very first check. Usually the product needs to be standardized and rechecked.
If, however, you do not get an FB on your first check, the product will always always always be perfect. If you have to go back for your plating samples anyway, the product will not need a recheck.
03 April 2010
Don't call me a sidekick
I was so bored last night that I was basically following MH around the plant when she had stuff to check on the other end.
This happened enough that when I actually had something to do and didn't escort her to the ct's for one of her checks, she was questioned as to my whereabouts.
This happened enough that when I actually had something to do and didn't escort her to the ct's for one of her checks, she was questioned as to my whereabouts.
02 April 2010
Caution
You know how sometimes caution signs are a little unclear or funny? Like you can look up pictures on the Internet of funny caution signs and there are a huge number of them.
Apparently we don't have to go so far as the Internet to find these things... There is this one sign on the elopak filler which I think actually explains itself in words a little so you know what it means, which is that the machine uses uv radiation and not to expose your skin to it, but the picture is these wavy lines pointing at what is supposed to be a hand but looks kind of like a tree limb drawn by a second grader.
The best one, though, which JB discovered tonight, has no words on it and we've absolutely no idea what it means. It has three yellow caution triangles, each with a picture in it.
As we read it, the sign says lemons, clouds and no bugs.
Interpret for yourself.
Apparently we don't have to go so far as the Internet to find these things... There is this one sign on the elopak filler which I think actually explains itself in words a little so you know what it means, which is that the machine uses uv radiation and not to expose your skin to it, but the picture is these wavy lines pointing at what is supposed to be a hand but looks kind of like a tree limb drawn by a second grader.
The best one, though, which JB discovered tonight, has no words on it and we've absolutely no idea what it means. It has three yellow caution triangles, each with a picture in it.
As we read it, the sign says lemons, clouds and no bugs.
Interpret for yourself.
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