My 2009 in Review

This is my 3 year of doing an overall year in review on what's happened in my life (1st year on Blogger). I am highlighting some of what happened in some of my bloggs first, and what wasn't blogged about toward the end of this blog.

I made my first resolution list for what I'd like to do in 2009. I never got that bike that I wanted to get. So I never accomplished that one. I did visit my Maternal Grandma a bit more this year than I did in 2008. She just celebrated her 86th Birthday on Christmas Day. I did make some of my own meals later in the year. While I didn't lose any weight. At least I didn't gain any weight either. I also felt more full on my own meals than my mom's meals. I did stay away from drag shows until early July, and went to 2 shows this year. I will cover that part later in my blog.

I blogged about losing my favorite pizza buffet, Cici's Pizza. I got a comment from someone who bought the Cici's location in Portage Indiana. This owner is also planning to open a second location, and this one will be in Schererville Indiana. This one will be closer to my home. The only clue I have is that the second location will somewhere around US 30 & US 41. For now, I'm just glad that Cici's is back in business in Portage Indiana. That location wouldn't have closed had Jamison Burrick not been running his drug operations within the restaurant. I believe that was why Ruben left before. He's managing the location again.

I copied this from another site about the rules of the baths. I won't go too much into detail, but you can checkout this blog from my myspace page at this link.

On January 26th, Ashland Hardware switched everone over to 8 hour shifts. That didn't affect me, as I was already on 8 hour shifts. Richard was constantly bitching that he wasn't getting overtime. I was bitching too, but I was thankful at the time I did have a job. I also wasn't happy that corporate, Newell Rubbermaid froze our wages. So I got stuck staying at $8.50 an hour, instead of going up to $8.76 an hour. Business eventually did pickup, due to production was slowed down too much, that production had to be run at full capacity. So overtime returned for us. In March, Chris Hayes got fired, due to continuously showing up to work drunk. It was unfortunate that it happened, but he refused to get help. I only hope he has gotten help by now. So when his position opened up, I put in for it, though I originally wasn't goona put in for it. I really wanted the same job I had on afternoons on days. That wasn't gonna happen, since the ladies that work in shipping on days aren't leaving anytime soon. I put in for it partially because it was a day job. I also put in for it because Dick Pedersen always bitched at us (me, Richard, Bryce, & Joe) for not receiving shipments in properly. For everyone who put in for the receiving clerk job, I was the only one not interviewed for the job, and he gave it to me. The only reason I got the job was because he didn't like the people from production who put in for it, and Don, the temp, took a pass on the job. He decided to focus on getting back into truck driving once his CDL endorsements were reinstated.

I started in early May on days, and it initially went well. However, I was already having problems trying to work with Delfina Alvarado. I had the impression that she didn't want me knowing her job, since Chris was trying to get her fired, so he could take over her job. That didn't work out for him. I wasn't interested in taking her job, as I wasn't looking at being at Ashland Hardware long-term, like she has. I only wanted to learn her job just as a backup, and not to actually be Chris. I personally think Delfina was threatened by my presence in the job. I also believe that she had a problem with me being gay. People usually don't have a problem if a woman is a lesbian, but if a man is gay, then it's not ok. I hate the double standard. Not learning the entire job, Dick overworking me with other jobs that had nothing to do with receiving or shipping, and worse yet, I was still expected at times to work afternoons. All that, and eventually, my desk was trashed to the point that I didn't feel that it was worth keeping the job. If I stayed, I wanted back on afternoons. Dick allowed me to go back to afternoons, but he was pissed off at me for it. He never gave any reasons as to why I should stay on afternoons. I thought it was for the best. Besides, Delfina & I had some problems working with each other, I didn't get along with Gina Robison's husband, Greg Robison (arrogant stuckup ASSHOLE), Tony Peronis's FAT ASS with sitting on his FAT ASS in front of a pc, and not physically working, and if there were other problems, I would be so stressed out that I snap at people. I originally thought that Donald Ford trashed my desk, but I really believe that Steve Castady trashed my desk. He was nothing, but trouble. He never listened to anything that people told him to do, or how to do, came & went as he pleased (along with lying on his time card about his hours), and Dick refusing to do shit about troublemakers. Dick even signed off on forged timecards. He has the nerve to think that I'm nothing but a whiner. He may know how to do shipping, but he doesn't know shit about management. He is that bad of a manager that people can get away with anything. He doesn't fire people. Had Dick been at work the day that Chris got sent home, and later fired, Chris would still be there today. Dick would have made sure Chris still had a job. I eventually had to walk away from the job since Dick created too much trouble for me. He hated me for going back to afternoons, and was looking for a way to have me leave. He got his wish, and now, his department is suffering. He never replaced me, which has put a lot of stress on Richard, Bryce, & Joe, that they work a lot of overtime (sometimes until 6am). That pushed Joe over the edge too, that on December 22nd, he went back into retirement. He retired back in 2002, but the person who took over his job was in a car accident, and he was asked to return to work. He came back, and worked part-time. He went full-time in January, but only wanted to work 40 hours a week. That happened until around the time I went to days. Then he stayed over. That continued even after I returned to afternoons. He stayed even longer after I was gone. Since he'll be turning 70 in April, he decided that the job wasn't worth it anymore. So he's now in retirement again. I don't believe Dick will replace him either, since Dick doesn't consider Joe's job of handling boxes a priority. He doesn't have Terri handling the boxes from production on 3rd shift either. So he's leaving it to Arnold Patrick to handle on days. Dick better not blame this one on me. He did this to himself. When I'm done with this blog, I plan to e-mail the HR manager as to why I'm not working there anymore. I had hoped to transfer to another Newell Rubbermaid company (particularly Shurline in St. Francis, WI, a Milwaukee suburb). Now, I don't care if I never work for any Newell Rubbermaid company again.

I covered work in 2 paragraphs (even if I didn't type up proper paragraphs or proper English). Onto other stuff. I went t Touché on Valentine's Day for their dungeon master night, and their twisted romantic version of Valentine's day. He showed candles, oil, chocolates, Instead of massaging oil, there was a bottle of Wesson cooking oil for body rubs (more like light fires to the oil (OUCH). For chocolate, there was chocolate syrup for pouring into your mouth then swap spit with it (yuck). For candles, the candles for those into BDSM are letting melted wax be poured onto the slave. That was for the most part, all I did there was watch the demo. I'm not that cheap. If I want to be roamntic, I will spend the extra money for chocolate candies, massage oils that I find worth putting on me, and have a candlelight dinner (maybe let candlewax be poured onto me, or the other guy. That would be as far as I would go with that. Earlier in the day, I took my mom out for breakfast. Valentine's Day happens to be my mom's birthday, and she wanted to go to Old Country Buffet for breakfast. I wasn't gonna question it. She enjoyed herself.

Since I don't have cable TV or satellite TV, I receive my TV with an outdoor antenna. As we all know, people like me had to get prepared for the digital TV transition. For those with cable or satellite weren't affected at all. Since I can't afford a new TV set, I had to get a DTV box. I bought mine in 2008 when I got the coupons from the government. I got what was available at the time, which was the Magnavox DTV box, Model# TB100MW9. I wasn't able to get them hooked up until this year in April (June 11th for my mom, as she kept stalling me on hooking it up). When I worked lateone day in April, she left for the grocery store early, and I used that time (when I woke up) to hookup the outdoor antenna. I got my box hooked up, and scanned for channels. The pre-transition wasn't all that great, but I did get most stations. For Pre-transition, WBBM-DT was on channel 3 (the only DTV station on VHF), WGBO-DT was on 53, and WYCC was on 21, and all 3 of these stations were on the John Hancock. All other stations, except for WYIN-DT were on the Sears Tower. For pre-transition, the only channel that gave me problems was WLS-TV on channel 52. Most people complained that they couldn't get WBBM-DT on channel 3. For most people, they were either using rabbit ears, which are overall ineffective with DTV, or using an outdoor antenna that wasn't optimized for 2-6 (worse yet, most people I came across with outdoor antennas had UHF only antennas). I was one of a few who did get WBBM-DT on channel 3, and had little trouble with it. On June 12th, stations slowly started shutting off analog, and all hell broke loose for most stations. 4 stations were changing channels. WLS-TV had their digital channel on 52, and it was out of core, as the TV dial is now 2-51. They didn't put in for another channel early on, so they had to return to channel 7. That one went smooth for me. Other people complained that they couldn't get WLS-TV once they went to channel 7. Even after a power increase, most people couldn't get them. So they resorted to getting another channel, and they now use channel 44 for their main channel, but channel 7 is now a full market translator. WBBM-TV worked out a deal with WTTW to acquire their antenna that they used for analog, and use that for DTV. WTTW remained on channel 47, and WBBM-TV was gonna move to channel 11 after june 12th, but changed their mind after they learned that they wouldn't have been able to keep the original signal contour that WTTW originally had. That was due to WGVU in Grand Rapids Michigan & WLFI Lafayette Indiana also being on channel 11, and had to protect those stations. There was also WWTO LaSalle Illinois on channel 10, and they chose to stay on that channel. That resulted in that station reducing the coverage of the original channel 11. So when WISN in Milwaukee decided to vacate channel 12, and remain on channel 34, WBBM-TV took over channel 12, and kept their original coverage. It was cheaper for WBBM-TV to acquire WTTW's old antenna instead of spending money to put a new antenna on the John Hancock for channel 12. Not as many people are complaining that they can't receive WBBM-TV on channel 12. WXFT was on 59/60 & WGBO was on 53/66 (for WGBO & WXFT, digital channel first, then analog channel) had to turn in both licenses as both channel were out of core. So WGBO-DT acquired WCPX's old channel of 38, since WCPX stayed on 43, and WXFT acquired WPWR-TV's old channel of 50, since WPWR-TV stayed on channel 51. Everyone else stayed on their pre-transition channel. I have a full blog on the topic. WCIU 27(Ind), WMAQ-TV 29(NBC), WJYS 36 (Ind religious), WCPX 43(Ion), WSNS (Telemundo), WTTW (PBS), and WXFT 50 (Telefutura) were the stations that gave me problems on reception. All of these stations broadcast from the Sears Tower. WYIN-DT 17 was another station that's had problems too (continues to do so today), but they can't afford to relocate their transmitter to a Chicago skyscraper, but the channel spacing does allow it today than it did prior to digital. Their tower is in Cedar Lake Indiana, and the digital antenna is on the side of the tower, and not on top, like the old antenna is, which is optimized for 56, and the new antenna is optimized for channel 17. Despite operating on new channels in most cases, the FCC mandated for DTV with the ATSC standard (digital TV) that there be PSIP, which maps the actual channel to a channel that the system tells it to call itself. For WBBM-TV, they're physically broadcasting on channel 12, but PSIP tells it to call them channel 2.1. WLS-TV has been the only one that has been on the channel that the PSIP system tell it it is. WLS-TV is physical channel 7, and the PSIP tells it that it's channel 7.1. Since WLS-TV is also on channel 44, that also maps to 7.1. So for some TV's & converter boxes, there's 7.1, 7.2, & 7.3 twice.

I also went to a psychic fair in August. Since Melody Joy ended the J&M Enterprises Psychic Fair in June or July of 2008, I hadn't been to a psychic fair. melody Joy even stopped doing readings at Hunters Nightclub. Anyway, I found True Psychic Fair on the internet, and it's held every other month at the Best Western in Kenosha Wisconsin (usually the 3rd Sunday of every even number month). I saw a numerologist named Lily. It was the first numerologist since seeing Rosemary Fletcher in 2000. Lily asked me for my date of birth. All I will say is that I'm a Scorpio. She was saying that she's seeing another job coming up, but said that she sees a possible job transfer. I never thought it would be within Newell Rubbermaid, as the Shurline division gave me the impression that they wanted me to quit my job, and go thru a temp service they use before getting hired into their company. Since I'm no longer a Rubermaid employee, that's not the employer. I believe if anyone is getting a job transfer, I believe it's my sister. She wants to transfer departments within Purdue University West Lafayette. I don't know what my next job will be, but I believe it'll be something that'll last for a while. I don't see my next job being long-term. If this is a job that'll be long-term, then it has to be a job in the distant future. My number is a 4 calculated from my date of birth. I never asked about love, as it's not a priority. Even if I had asked, I would have been told that I would be with a blonde haired blue eyed person. I know that the person would be a Virgo and lives in Milwaukee Wisocnsin. I already have an idea of that person. I came across 3 Michael's online. One who went my mikegm68 on yahoo had the name, Mikhail Girgis. It turns out that it isn't him, though he has resided in Waukesha Wisconsin, and had numerous addresses in Illinois, included Zion, Crystal Lake, Rockford, & Roscoe Illinois (not Roscoe Village in Chicago). I then came across on facebook a guy named Michael McGavock from a school search of Waukesha South High School. He is listed as having to lived in Waukesha, Elm Grove, Oconomowoc, Milwaukee, and Dousman, Wisconsin. It's hard to say if this is the Michael I'm looking for. I hope not. I only know that he was born in September 1968. What has me concerned if this is the Michael I had previous contact with, is that this Michael is married to a woman named Yvonne McGavock. There is no way I want to be involved with anyone who's married, and worse, have children. I then came across another Michael by the name of Michael Mahoney. I found him in a listing on the Waukesha South High School website. He also was born in September 1968, and I know he's a Virgo. Michael McGavock might be a Virgo too. For Michael Mahoney, he's listed as living in Waukesha & current place, Milwaukee Wisconsin, but also lived in San Francisco, Berkley, & El Cerrito, California. I believe the California cities were probably for college. This Michael is single, and is blonde. I don't know about the other Michael. I will only say that regardless of which Michael, there's some issues I have with one of them. I don't know which Michael is the one I had contact with on match.com, but I didn't like it that he wanted someone who had a college degree before he would date that person. I don't know if he changed his mind on that one, but that was why I didn't contact him before. He also wants kids, but I don't, and would like it if I'm not involved with someone who has kids. He's insisting that the person already live with the Milwaukee area. That there is something I don't like, as I haven't had any help with relocation there. So if I ever Meet either one of those Michaels, I will throw that in his face.

I also got around to reviewing a polish buffet in Chicago by the name of Czerwone Jabłuszko (Red Apple), though I dined there on Memorial Day. I was so busy that I didn't put in my review sooner. For my first time eating polish food, it was good. I will one day get around to trying out other polish buffets, and as I get used to polish food, then I want to go to a polish restaurant and order from the menu. Here's the full review.


My last blog I did was Thanksgiving Day. I went to a church for a charity Thanksgiving dinner. While we weren't really hurting for money, I felt ashamed to be at the church for a charity dinner. Some of the people there were worse off than we were. At the table I ate at with my mom, one lady has to rely on various churches for survival. She lives in a housing project near Downtown Hammond. She got a ride to St James Church in Highland Indiana for their dinner. It was an all you can eat dinner. I just grabbed a plate, and people on the other side of the food scooped it out for people. I made 2 trips, and ate everything, while a black couple wasted food, and seemed unappreciative. The lady in the housing project was thankful for the meal, as she wouldn't have had dinner otherwise.



Now here's a few things I didn't get a chance to blog about. When I went to work on days, I thought I was gonna get a chance to see Fierce Cabaret at Spin Nightclub, hosted by then Lady Vera Parker. Everytime I thought I would have a chance to see the show, Dick mandated me to work on afternoons, and would work for 12-14 hours that night. By the time I would get off work, I was too tired to see the show. The one time I did get a chance to see the show on July 3rd, I find out that there was no show. There was supposed to be a show that night, but it turned out that Thomas Flanagan (a.k.a. Lady Vera Parker) was arrested for fraud. Only Chicago Pride & other gay media covered the story. I cna't understand why the regular media didn't cover it. Even ABC7 didn't cover it. Was it because they didn't want to admit that they were surprised by what happened, since ABC7 interviewed Lady Vera Parker. Who knows what's gonna happen with Lady Vera Parker, but I doubt I'll even trust the bitch again, after learning that she was charged with fraud in Massachusetts as well.


I got a chance to see Regina Upright perform on July 8th at the newest gay bar in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago, called Cattle Call (or as they're wanting to be called, The Call). It's a Country/Western bar, which indirectly competes with Charlies. I say indirectly, because they're not in the same neighborhood. Charlies is in Lakeview (a.k.a. Boystown), while Cattle Call is in Andersonville. Every Wednesday at 9:30pm, there a drag show hosted by Angelique Munrow, and there a regular cast, and a guest each week. Regina Upright is a featured guest, and is typically scheduled every other Wednesday. I like Ashley Morgan along with Angelique Munrow. That's all I'll say who I like for drag queens & tranny. It's a place I'd like to go to more often, but I'm not working at the moment, and would need money to go there. I would also need a day job to go back. I hope to go back there soon.


I decided to reactivate my facebook account (though I really didn't want to, as I don't like facebook) in order to be back in contact with Rick & Bryan of Wheaton Illinois. I have Rick & Bryan, Cattle Call, Chazonator, Red & Nater, & a Jeremy Andrews in my facebook friends list. I don't know who else I'll add, but my brother & sister are NOT allowed to be in my friends list. Neither are any of my former classmates from Calumet High School or Merrillville High School.


I never got around to finding time to blog about being pissed off with Russ Conte of Kelly Services. He didn't like before when he was the recruiter at Hidden Valley, but couldn't easily get rid of me, since Tammie Matthews wanted me to be there. My job was filled by someone off the street, and resulted in me being moved to manual packing line, but Star Staffing called me up for a job, and gave Russ his wish to be removed from the Hidden Valley job. He transferred to their office in Frankfort Illinois, and decided he wasn't gonna help me out at all. He held it against me on the Hidden Valley job that he didn't want to work with me this time around. Had I not been rejected, I would have been back to work in October. I still wish I could get out of the Chicago market, as too many employers want me to move out of Indiana, and live in the expensive communities that the jobs are located in. The jobs don't pay enough for me to live near the job sites, and my own mother refuses to move out of Gary Indiana. With that, I'm stuck where I'm at. While Kelly Services normally doesn't require a person to live in certain communities or a certain radius of the job site, I'm not happy that Kelly Services isn't willing to help out this time around. The office near my home deals more with office jobs, and for the 2 warehouse jobs they do have, they can't send me to either job. So if I wanna work for Kelly Services, I have to go thru another office, but the next nearest Kelly office has me on ineligible status, which pisses me off. I keep wishing to get out of Chicagoland, but for some reason, people don't want me to leave.


I visited my Grandma on Christmas Day, and she turned 86 on Christmas Day. Out of my family, I didn't see my Aunt Dawn, since she's always late for family gatherings. I was surprised that my Aunt Nancy gave me $50. I never got that much cash for my birthday, or Christmas. For being 36 years old, I'm surprised I'm still getting gifts from my Aunt Nancy.


With the new year being an hour away, I hope that sometime in January, I'll be back to work. I plan to let my former employer know how I feel about them, and don't care if I never work for Rubbermaid again.


Have a Happy New Year everyone.

My Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day has not been one of my best days this year (along with my birthday last month). I'm still unemployed, and felt ashamed that my mother & I went to a church for Thanksgiving dinner. While it was good, I feel that I wasn't that bad in shape, since we have a turkey breast (normally, my mother has a whole turkey), and some food. There are those who are very fortunate, but take advantage of these charity dinners. I don't know who all didn't really need to be at a free charity dinner, but I know there were some that in my opinion, should not have been there. These dinners are for those who have fallen on hard times (those who normally are well off) & those who receive some government assistance (in my opinion).

We went to St. James Church in Highland Indiana for their Thanksgiving dinner. Their dinner consisted of turkey (of course), mashed potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables, regular stuffing, cranberry stuffing, green bean casserole, potato salad (I learned the hard way about some potatoes), turkey gravy, pop, water, milk, & various desserts. Forgot dinner rolls & real butter, & cranberry sauce.

The only food I didn't have any helpings to were: sweet potatoes, yams, green bean casserole (might have been made with mushroom soup, yuck), or a second helping of potato salad.

As part of this charity dinner, people on the other side of the table scoop out the food, rather than people at the dinner (such as myself) getting the food. Only dinner rolls, jello, & the few desserts at the end of the hoot food buffet (as they called it) were people at the dinner allowed to help themselves. Desserts, pop, & milk were at another table, near the stage. Desserts consisted of: cookies, cranberry cake, pumpkin pie, cupcakes, and some other cakes. All I had in the way of desserts were cookies (one was m&m, and the other, snicker doodle) , pumpkin pie, & cranberry cake. I had 2 helpings of hot food (as I was told we can have all we want).

As for where we sat; we were assigned to a table, and had to wear a name tag. A black couple that sat next to me wasted food. I don't know how many rounds they made, but they got there at 12pm (when it started). We got there at 1:15pm, and left close to 2pm. The dinner ended at 3pm. My mom & I only took what we knew we'd eat. I believe that you should only take what you can eat. If you can't finish it, then they (the church) at least let you take it home (unlike buffets, where no food leaves the restaurant). These people wasted turkey, mashed potatoes, & stuffing.
There was another lady who looked like she was in her 50's. She looks like someone who needs these dinners to survive, based on how she dressed, where she lived (with the people she talked to), and that she goes to other churches for help as well. I don't know about the black couple, but they seemed unappreciative. A Mexican guy barely talked. Another Mexican guy is out of work, and had to go to one of these dinners this year. I don't know about my mom, but I felt out of place, as we typically haven't realy been poor. There were also a number of senior citizens there too. Senior citizens can sometimes end up in the poor house if they don't have a pension (like my maternal grandmother), rely on social security, or their health puts a strain on their finances, when their finances might otherwise be alright. I believe for some of the senior citizens there, some were there probably because their family isn't in town. I wonder if that might be for some other people too. This way, they spend Thanksgiving with some people, and not be lonely at home (even if it's just for a few hours).

I will say that after seeing a charity dinner like this, I will one day look at volunteering a little bit of time at a soup kitchen, or maybe some charity dinner that holds these dinners a certain number of times a year. If I ever eat at one of these events again (such as next year), then I will look at giving a donation, rather than take the food for free. I'm not that poor that I want to take a dinner from someone who really needs it. I might be poor at this moment (who am I kidding, I'm always poor), but I otherwise am not in the shape that others are in.

When it was time to leave, I thanked everyone that scooped out the food for me. My mom thanked a few people, but I thanked everyone that scooped out my food, as they're taking time out from their own dinners, & possibly families (if families weren't all at the church helping out), to help the less fortunate. So next year, I hope to be in better financial shape next year, that I'm actually the one helping out the less fortunate, and not being the one helped out. If I'm living at home next year, then I'll look at where dinners are being served, and help out there, while I wait for dinner to be made at home. If my luck does change, and am able to move out, then I will have to debate on whether to help out where I live at in the future, or go back home, & help out close to my current home.

I hope for everyone that reads this blog, that they had a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you didn't get stuffed, lol ;) .

My Review of Czerwone Jabłuszko (Red Apple)

I've been busy for several months that I hadn't had time to do this review. My first time having Polish food was on Memorial Day May 25th, 2009. Czerwone Jabłuszko (Red Apple) has 2 locations: 3121 North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood & 6474 North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago's Forest Glen neighborhood. This review is for their original location at 3121 North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago.


First off, Czerwone Jabłuszko (Red Apple) is a Polish buffet, and is open for lunch & dinner. Lunch price is $9.49 Monday - Friday, dinner is $9.99 Monday - Friday, & $10.95 on Saturday & Sunday.


They serve according to their ad 50-60 hot & cold dishes daily. Since most Polish dishes have been incorporated into American cuisine, some dishes were familiar to me, but not flavor though.


The day I went to Czerwone Jabłuszko (Red Apple) had on the buffet (not listing everything): baked chicken & breaded chicken, schnitzel (sounds German to me), roast beef & turkey, meatballs & gravy, cheese & potato pierogis, apple pancakes, potato pancakes, mashed potatoes, steamed green beans, steamed rice, carrot salad, potato salad, regular salad, fruit, & Polish style desserts.


When I arrived, I was asked how many were with me, and I was by myself. The waitress asked me what I wanted to drink, and asked what kind of soup I wanted. Soup is included in the meal, but isn't on the buffet. On Memorial Day, they were serving Chicken Noodle Soup & Tomato with Rice Soup. I chose Chicken Noodle Soup. Unlike American style Chicken Noodle Soup, Polish style Chicken Noodle Soup has little to no salt in it. Since I hadn't had Polish food before, I took smaller portions. I started with mashed potatoes, green beans, baked chicken. Then had potato pancakes, apple pancakes, breaded chicken, turkey, and some more green beans. I also had some pierogis too. I started to fill up quickly, and decided to have some fruit & desserts before I was too full to have that. I had some fresh pineapple, bananas, chocolate pudding (Polish Style), and chocolate cake (Polish Style). Ice Cream is supposedly included in the meal, but not on the buffet. The waitress forgot to ask if I wanted some ice cream.


On Memorial Day, they charged the weekend price of $10.95. Pop was $1.95. Subtotal came to $12.93. Chicago's sales tax of 10.25% came to $1.32, with a grand total of $14.22. That's the most I spent on any buffet. Doing business is expensive enough in Chicago. Czerwone Jabłuszko (Red Apple) makes their food from scratch, which is rare for any buffet.


While Czerwone Jabłuszko (Red Apple) is expensive, the food was good enough that I will consider going to their restaurant again in the future. I wanna go to Polish buffets, like Czerwone Jabłuszko (Red Apple) to try out various Polish food, and eventually be able to order from the menu at a regular Polish restaurant.


A word of warning: since this restaurant allows people to eat first, then pay at the end of the meal, make sure you only take what you'll eat. They have a note on the buffet that you can take what you want, but don't waste food. They charge for any waste. If they allow the extra food to be taken out, then you'll be charged $4.49 a pound. That's the rate charged for carryout, and yes, they do weigh the food in a styrofoam container.


Payments taken are cash & credit cards: Mastercard, Visa, & I believe Discover. If you have a ATM debit card, then it goes thru as a Visa or Mastercard transaction.


This is my own review, and is done the best of my knowledge. Their website is http://redapplebuffet.com . Any information you need is on the website. If you wanna read the website in Polish, there's a link in the upperhand corner that says wersja polska (Polish version).
This review was for the 3121 North Milwaukee Avenue location in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood, and is open from 11am - 9pm Sunday - Thursday & 11am - 9:30pm Friday & Saturday. I give Czerwone Jabłuszko (Red Apple) 3½ stars.

Went to a psychic fair on 08/16/2009

I went to my first psychic fair in 3 years. I used to go to the J&M Enterprises Psychic Fair, that traveled thru Wisconsin, Illinois, & Indiana for over 30 years, until Marlena The Rock Lady passed away in April 2006 (days before her 75th Birthday). Her daughter Melody Joy took over the fair, but ran it so poorly that she discontinued it completely in 2008.

I was lucky to find True Psychic Fair on the internet, and went to their fair at the Best Western in Kenosha Wisconsin on August 16th, 2009. True hosts the fair every other month from noon - 5pm (ends sooner if crowds wind down prior to 5pm). Normally I don't make special trips for something like this, but I hadn't been to Wisconsin since 2006, and wanted to go back up there. So I went up for that, and for some sight seeing.

I went with a 20 minute reading, as I didn't need to know too much. I was mainly concerned with my job, as I've had problems with my job lately. I went to see a numerologist, named Lily. I specifically went with a numerologist, because I find that, at least for me, that they're more accurate in their readings than others have who do tarot alone. Based on my D.O.B., I'm a 4, which makes me a hard worker, someone who likes routine, and not someone who changes easily. My zodiac sign, Scorpio, also makes me someone who doesn't like a lot of change. I was told that there will be a change in jobs soon, and will be for more money than what I'm making now. I am looking at finding another job, as my last job within the company created a lot of tension, that I don't speak to people in receiving now. I do believe it'll remain in manufacturing. I just don't know where yet.

Also within the reading, I was told that I would be needing to purchase a better car than what I have right now. I was told around February is when I'm supposed to get another car. Then around June or July of 2010, I would be making a move to live on my own. I wasn't told where, but I would like it to me in Milwaukee Wisconsin. I feel that I'd be at home there than where I'm at in Gary Indiana, or Chicago (HELL NO) where some people think I should live at.

I do admit that I do need a better car than what I have, as the car I have is more than ready for the junk yard. Also, the reason people believe that Chicago is a better choice for me has to do with more job opportunities. That might be true, but the cost of living in most of Chicagoland is too expensive. Cook County has high property taxes, high sales tax (most of Cook County averages 9¢ on the dollar for sales tax, while Chicago averages 10-12¢ on the dollar, since Chicago has a 10.25% sales tax (11.25% in the immediate downtown area). Even if an item isn't taxed at the state level of 6.25%, county & local sales tax still applies to everything else (including groceries). It's all the different sales tax that makes it expensive to live in Cook County (especially Chicago). Rent is also expensive. Most people that tell me to look at Chicago are looking at Boystown, and think I'd want to live in the Boystown area. That is one area I hate the most (besides downtown), due to too much traffic, not enough parking, and one of the most expensive neighborhoods to live in. Most apartments in Boystown have rent for a studio apartment going for $800 and up. One bedroom apartments go for more than $1000 a month. In order to live in Chicago requires living in less trendy neighborhoods. In some cases, it requires living in rundown neighborhoods to get affordable rent. For me, I can not go without a car, since my line of work is overall in the suburbs, and not in the city of Chicago. Many people refuse to see that, and only look at Boystown as a reason to want to live in Chicago. I've been up to Milwaukee, and while it's a smaller major city than Chicago, it's more affordable. There's higher income taxes & property taxes (for those owning their homes), but factoring in that, rent, sales tax (most of Wisconsin averages 5.5%, while Milwaukee, Ozaukee, & Washington Counties have 5.6% sales tax), and it's just slightly more than Gary Indiana. I can handle up to an additional $3000 a year to live in Milwaukee vs. at least $10,000 to live in Chicago. Besides, my soul mate is already living in the Milwaukee area. I have the full name of this guy (yes people I'm gay if you don't know already), but I'm only revealing the guy's first name of Michael, and lives just outside of the Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha. He's a Virgo, which I was picking up on. He has a birthday coming up, while I have a birthday coming up next month. He'll be turning 41 this month, while I'll be turning 36 next month. He's a blonde haired, blue eye guy, which past psychics have picked up on, and I dismissed it until a few years ago. I do know I'll be meeting Michael either before this year is up, or next year in person. My only contact with him was thru Match.com a few years ago, and lost contact with him. I did find him on facebook & myspace, and will eventually be making contact with him again soon.

Before I go, Lily did mention that based on my D.O.B., that I'm most compatible with Virgo, with Taurus second, and Cancer third. She also saw me compatible with Leo, which I don't agree with, since my last boyfriend is a Leo, and we were both too stubborn to make anything work. Leo's need a lot of attention, while I'm someone that needs "Me" time. That is something many Leo's I've met that can't handle. So I don't see any Leos working out with me. Lily did agree with me that Capricorns don't work out with me. Lily sees Capricorns as being dominating for me. While I don't agree with that, my reason for not working out with Capricorns overall has to do with Capricorns I meet not being serious people. They want to do things their way only, and don't always finish what they do. I'm told by other psychics that I should be compatible with Capricorn, as they see Scorpio & Capricorn as more compatible than Scorpio & Virgo. But most Virgos I meet usually get along with me, and see me as a person they can work with than most Capricorns I meet (including my own brother, who is a Capricorn).

That's all for now, and work on finding another job. I will have another blog ready related to work, as I have some gossip I want to disclose, and refuse to stay quiet about it. Yes; I'm willing to risk getting fired from my job, as I'm fed up with my job.

A long overdue blog

Sorry for those who follow my blog, but I've been busy until recently. This blog is about work. Things in receiving initially went well, but since June, it's been nothing, but bullshit. I have not learned D-e-l-f-i-n-a's job at all, other than receiving in vendor stock, and a little of other purchase order stock thru our label program, Current Directions (or CD as we call it). I haven't learned anything else, and I believe that was Delfina's plan, just so she thought I couldn't go after her job. Unlike Chris, I'm not after her job. In fact, she'll be there well after I'm gone, which might be soon. My co-worker T*o*n*y P_E_R_O_N_I_S (did this intentionally) wrote a nasty e-mail about how I wasn't supposed to keep the labels on my desk to a certain shipment that came in, and that the loads are supposed to be shared. He also stated that he trusts D*o*n*'s judement much better than mine at getting work done. I don't believe I needed to share my work with asshole D*o*n_a_l*d F_O_R_D, who had his own work. He also had plenty of help with his, but fucked up on it by not scanning everything. He took my work, and finished it, while sticking me with his work that he didn't finish. Add to it, he dumped everything in my trash can into my desk drawer. That is fucked up. I feel that despite Dick's efforts to bring someone over to days, and into receiving based on qualifications, D*e*l*f*i*n*a, T*o*n*y, & D-o-n seem to want me gone from receiving. Dick doesn't seem to be taking the issue seriously, that I'm considering leaving all together. There's more to this than what I disclosed.

I just regret taking the receiving job. As much as I want a day job, it's not worth the hassle to stay in receiving when the ASSHOLES in receiving don't want me there. I don't know how much of it is about me being gay. It's not obvious to most people (and people like D_e_l_f_i_n_a, T_o_n_y, & Kelly, who works in another dept.) as I don't flaunt it, nor act or look feminine. For those who do know; it doesn't bother those workers, as I don't hit up on them. Co-workers are off limits to me when it comes to seeing guys. That's just me. It might work for others though. Regardless, I don't fit in with this small group. At least if I stay, that I might be able to go back to my old job. At least Bryce & Richard on afternoons/evenings appreciate my work. Too bad receiving didn't. I believe D_e_l_f_i_n_a will fuck over the next person as well. Dick really wants me in receiving, as he didn't like the other people who applied for the job. He may have no choice since the receiving dept. chased me out, and will likely chase anyone else out that they don't like (like they did with me).

My experience with DTV

I bought my digital boxes from Walmart a year ago thru the coupon program. It took about a year to even get them hooked up, due to lack of time and not having RG6 coax cable. I worked 2nd shift for several years, and never had time to work on the outdoor antenna. I got around doing that in late April. I still use my old RCA 24" color CRT tv with NTSC (analog) tuner. The TV still works, and didn't want to give it up just yet. I have the Magnavox ATSC (digital) tuner box, model# TB100MW9.

I was using this prior to June 12th, and this was the lineup of channels from Chicagoland:

Real channel / Virtual Channel

3 2 WBBM-TV (CBS)*

17 56 WYIN (PBS)

19 9 WGN-TV (CW)

21 20 WYCC (PBS)

27 26 WCIU (IND)

29 5 WMAQ-TV (NBC)

31 32 WFLD (FOX)

36 62 WJYS (IND)

39 23 WWME-LD (IND-MeTV)

43 38 WCPX (ION)

45 44 WSNS (Telemundo)

46 48 WMEU-LD (IND-MeToo)

47 11 WTTW (PBS)

51 50 WPWR-TV (My Network)

52 7 WLS-TV (ABC)*

53 66 WGBO (Univisión)*

59 60 WXFT (Telefutura)*

Since June 12th, the 4 stations with astericks (*) changed channels, because 3 of the 4 were forced to change channels.

WBBM-TV didn't like 2 or 3, due to most people not getting 2 on analog, or 3 on digital. For some reason, 2-6 does worse for digital, though I had no problems getting 2's digital on 3. They switched to channel 12 on June 12th, and switched from the John Hancock to the Sears Tower, by using WTTW's old antenna they used for analog. WTTW had the option to go back to 11, but they chose to stay on 47.

WLS-TV didn't file an application to acquire a different channel, and 52 was out of core for the new channel lineup. So they had to go back to channel 7 for digital.

WGBO & WXFT lost both their analog & digital channels, and had to get new channels. Since both channels were out of core, they had highest priority for new channel assignments.

WGBO went from 66 on analog, 53 for digital to 38 for their final channel. 38 was WCPX's old channel, but WCPX liked 43 better, and stayed there. WGBO only acquired the old channel, but not WCPX's antenna, which is on the Sears Tower. WGBO is only 1 of 2 full power stations staying on the John Hancock. WYCC is the other station staying on the John Hancock.

WXFT went from 60 for analog, 59 for digital to 50 for their final channel assignment. They also acquired WPWR's old channel, but not their antenna, though both stations are on the Sears Tower.

WYIN had to stay on 17, since 56 was out of core. Even though 56 wasn't originally planned for being eliminated (52-59), they like 17 better, because it's at the top of the UHF dial.

So for the Chicago market, here's the final lineup:

RC VC

7.1 7.1 WLS-TV (ABC)
7.2 7.2 Livewell
7.3 7.3 Accuweather

12.1 2.1 WBBM-TV (CBS)

17.1 56.1 WYIN (PBS) (Not a full market signal)
17.2 56.2 WYIN in SDTV (like their main channel)

19.1 9.1 WGN-TV (CW)

19.2 9.2 LATV (Spanish)

21.1 20.1 WYCC (PBS)
21.2 20.2 WYCC in SDTV
21.3 20.3 MHZ programming

27.1 26.1 WCIU (Ind)
27.2 26.2 MeTV from WWME-LD
27.3 26.3 Me Too from WMEU-LD
27.4 26.4 This TV

27.5 26.5 ? (Shows What's up with THAT?)

27.6 26.6 FBT (Ethic programming, primarily Polish & Chinese programming)

29.1 5.1 WMAQ-TV (NBC)

29.2 5.2 NBC Plus (Weather)

29.3 5.3 Universal Sports

31.1 32.1 WFLD (FOX)

38.1 38.1 WGBO (Univisión) (They now ID with their real channel, not their virtual channel)

43.1 38.1 WCPX (ION)
43.2 38.2 Qubo
43.3 38.3 Ion Life
43.4 38.4 Worship TV

45.1 44.1 WSNS (Telemundo)
45.2 44.2 WSNS in SDTV

46.1 48.1 WMEU-LD (Me Too)

47.1 11.1 WTTW (PBS)

47.2 11.2 WTTW Prime

47.3 11.3 Create

47.4 11.4 V-Me (Spanish PBS programming)

50.1 60.1 WXFT (Telefutura)
50.2 60.2 WGBO (Univisión) again

51.1 50.1 WPWR-TV (My Network)

19.2/9.2 used to air The Tube, which was a music video channel, like the old MTV, but they weren't on the air a year. They were a good channel, and miss it.

Most of the digital subchannels were the same prior to the June 12th date. So with the exception of 4 channels, everything was the same. With the current technology of ATSC, only the primary channel can be in 1080i max. Subchannels are lucky to be in the old 480i resolution. Most stations are 720i. I just wonder when WBBM-TV, WFLD, & WPWR will have subchannels. I'd like to see what they offer eventually.

As for the antenna I'm using, I'm using an older Philips VHF/UHF antenna that's made for suburban to rural areas. Since the land is overall flat, the signal isn't a major issue. Since WWME-LD & WMEU-LD are low power stations transmitting from the Sears Tower, the big antenna helps at getting those stations. Otherwise, I might be lucky if I get WWME-LD, since WMEU-LD doesn't reach most of NW Indiana. WWME-LD & WMEU-LD aren't full market signals. WYIN is a full power signal, but they're not a full market signal, due to their transmitter being in Cedar Lake Indiana, and not Chicago on the Sears Tower, as originally planned. Cost was the reason they stayed in Cedar Lake and not move to Chicago for their signal. I however don't need an antenna for channels 2-6 anymore, since both WBBM-TV & WMAQ TV vacated both of their analog channels, along with WBBM-TV abandoning their original digital channel on channel 3. So my next antenna will only be optimized for channels 7-51, since Chicago still has 2 VHF stations: WLS-TV back on 7, and WBBM-TV now on 12. But since my current antenna is still good, no point in getting rid of it, just because no station is on 2-6 anymore in Chicagoland. It still works for all other channels.

An Update on myself

It's been over a month since I typed up something on here, and my myspace blog. Since taking the daytime receiving job, I feel a lot more tired than I did when I was working afternoons/evenings as an order picker. I haven't learned the job as a Receiving Clerk as I should have been. Delfina seems to want me to do all the heavy work, while she gets to sit on her ass doing all the paperwork. If I'm expected to know how to do the job while she's gone, then I need to learn everything there is to do the job. I don't see it happening, and I'm thinking that my job as a Receiving Clerk might be short lived. I'm trying to stick it out, but I don't know how much longer I can take it. I hate my job even more. I don't know if I'm gonna look for another job completely, or ask to go back to afternoons/evenings. Either way, I'm not getting anything done at home. It either I work late, and come home to someone who sleeps, while I still had some energy, but couldn't do any work around the house. Or, work during the day, be exhausted when I come home, and usually sleep by the time I get home. I also hate Gina's husband, Greg from Vitran. Gina works in QA for the Warehouse side, but isn't supervised by my boss, Dick. Greg & I got into an argument over petty shit a few weeks ago. Other than work, I did make it out to Touché for their IML (International Mr. Leather) festivities. Chicago Eagle is normally in on this, and the big sponsor of the contest. The weren't in on this this year, due to being forced out of their old location on September 1, 2008. They were supposed to have been opened at their new location before Christmas, but something happened that delayed the reopening. But back to Touché. I went there on Saturday & Sunday nights. Saturday night was gear night (wish Sunday was as well), where guys had to have some leather (or a military, police, or fireman uniform) on in order to get into the backroom. It should have been that way last year. I'm glad it was put into place. It kept the twinks, and other people not into that stuff out of the backroom. At least it kept qnomeiu tramtqeu out, along with hisher buddy. Sunday was their night with the people from spankthis. I had an ok time, but wish it had been more exciting. I'll have a separate review on a Polish restaurant I went to, called Czerwone Jabłuszko (Red Apple). It was my first time eating Polish food, and it's a lot different from American food, where Polish food doesn't use a lot of salt & sugar. Most of their food has been incorporated into American cuisine, but theirs isn't salty or sweet like American food is. I'll go more into detail in another blog. I went there on Memorial Day. My niece graduated from high school in Lafayette Indiana, and is looking at college. She's thinking about college down in Indianapolis, rather than in the Lafayette/West Lafayette area. No decision has been made. My brother always bitch that he's broke, but always seems to manage to find the money to go down to Danville Illinois to see this drama bitch named Sharon he met on the internet. He drives a gas guzzling truck that he refuses to get rid of, despite gas prices going back up. He wouldn't stop driving it when gas prices peaked at $4.30 last year. I know he spend over $150 - $200 a week driving his truck. He doesn't need, but he thinks different. He won't sacrifice anything for anyone. I've sacrificed more than he has. I don't feel sorry for him because he makes about $19-$20 an hour, and gets overtime here & there. I'm only making $8.50 an hour, and struggle to make ends meet on that. I haven't been able to move out on my own, and one of my former employers bad reputation costed me jobs that I would have liked to pursue. So the only jobs I get are the ones that usually no one else wants, or leaves after a short period of time, and are low paying. So my brother is someone that shouldn't bitch about money problems. I should be the one to bitch, since I haven't been able to get a good paying job locally, and can't afford to move either, or I'd do it in a heartbeat. I have a mother that wants to stay in Gary Indiana, but I'd like to move to Milwaukee Wisconsin, but I have no family there. My family is primarily local (old retired family members), and those still working live primarily in Arizona & California. I do have family in Michigan, but jobs are that scarce. I also have family in Florida, but to my knowledge, just my cousin, Eric, who's in the coast guard, and living on a military base. So he could move anytime, just like my cousin Todd did, when he left the Marines, but his wife stayed in the Marines, and transferred from Pennsylvania to California. So unless I hit it big in the lottery or a national sweepstakes, I'm stuck, because I have no family in Wisconsin (my family frowns on Wisconsin), and the few people I knew than think I would be better off in Chicago. I like Chicago, but too expensive to live there, and I only like to visit Chicago. If I liked Chicago that bad, I'd stay by choice where I'm at. Where I'm at isn't by choice. Where I stay at is because there aren't many good paying jobs to save money to move, and no one wants to help me out out of town. Most people I meet think Chicago would be the best choice for me. So I can't win. Today's Father's Day, but doing nothing, since my dad has been dead for almost 18 years now. Both of my Grandpas are dead too. That's all for now. If I have time, I'll have that blog created for my review on Czerwone Jabłuszko (Red Apple).

My First Week on Days

This has been a rough week at work, due to a lack of time to prepare myself for readjusting my sleep to be asleep by latest, 10pm. I've made it. I feel that I work a lot harder on days than on afternoons. Other than labeling stock & putting it away, I'm also given a hot list of part #'s that need to be pulled for orders to go out that day. That means I have to get Gina & Denise from QA to check those parts right away. I also have to check the box count that the vendors provide everyday that it matches up with the manifest, and sign off on it. We currently have 3 outside vendors that put parts together, and they also do some rework too (whether problems at the plant, or parts that come back from Mexico that require rework). Besides that, there's unloading trailers that come in from various carriers, as well as a truck that brings us our shipments from Mexico (I hate that one).

Delfina still has to show me more of the job, as I'm her backup for when she's gone for a day, or a week. It's gonna take me time, but I'll eventually get the hang of the job, even if I preferred to work in shipping. Tony also has to show me how to pull & process Pella, as I'm his backup on that. Don is a big help too. I don't know why Chris didn't like Don. Chris was trying to get Don fired by taking all credit for the work, where Don was doing all the work, while Chris sat on the forklift most of the day, and sat at his desk checking & sending e-mail (including checking & sending porn through the company e-mail). Since I came onto days, work is getting put away a lot faster than it did when Chris was there. Besides sitting on the forklift & being at his now former desk, he was also drunk everyday, which got him fired. I am definitely an asset to the shift.

My likes about the job:

It's a day job.

I'm usually keeping busy with my new job.

I have my own desk with a computer by it (even if I can't use internet most of the time).

I'm now included in birthday & anniversary parties the shift holds.

The day shift is never dull, as it's unpredictable.

I'm home in the evening hours.

I can even go out to Chicago once in a while during the week.

My Dislikes about the job:

I had to take a job in the receiving department to get a day job. Not that it's bad, but I like

pulling orders the best, and wanted to process them as well.

I now have a company e-mail address. I don't like having that, as I'm now gonna be scrutinized for any e-mails I might send that aren't good. For as long as I've been there, I've been ok w/o e-mail. Now I have it :(.

I have to hear from Bryce about Richard's b.s. Richard has become an even bigger asshole since I left the shift. Richard even tattles on Cindy's son, Brian. Brian is only part-time, and for the time he's there, he gets more done than what Richard gets done in the same time frame. I expected problems to arise when I switched to days. I was holding up the shift in overall work.

I have to deal with the head honchos (including my boss, Dick), but I knew that, or I wouldn't have put in for the job.

My mom makes me drive the P.O.S. (piece of shit) car to work, since she needs her car for her doctor's appointments. She's got the nicer looking car.

I no longer get to go to any buffets for lunch on Fridays, now that I work days. I'm gonna especially miss going to Old Country Buffet for their very cheap lunch, where one location charged $6.99 for lunch, and another one for 20¢ less from 11am - 3pm Monday - Friday. Regular price is $8.29. Even Golden Corral is now out of the question, as well as any chinese buffet.

For places I can go for lunch, the selection is limited in Lowell. All there is is: Burger King (not crazy about their food), McDonalds (gross), Subway (too expensive), Athens Grill (ok, but I've had better), McVey's (excellent food, but expensive. Only went there once because the company treated us to mark 1Million hours w/o a lost time accident). There's George's (ok, but don't have a lot of time to wait for food, and not sure if they allow advance orders, and carryout). Aurelios (pizza too greasy), Pizza Hut (also too greasy), Italian Outpost (expensive, and pizza is greasy), No. 1 Chinese (overall nasty food, but affordable), Dairy Queen (ok food, but portion sizes are too small), Schoops (good food, but unless money isn't an issue, then this place is expensive, as they don't have lunch & dinner combos). There are a few other places, but I don't remember them all. I heard Pizza House is good, but they're only open for dinner, and closed Mondays. Since I never been there, No comment. At least I'm near some restaurants, unlike when I worked in Wheeling at Hidden Valley Mfg. thru Kelly Services. Most resturants were either in neighboring Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, or Northbrook.

So while I don't like everything about my job, or things I would do at lunch time, the fact that I'm on days is overall good enough, and once I'm well adjusted in my work hours & sleep, I should be able to get some stuff done at home.

Got the Receiving job.

I was surprised when I showed up at work yesterday, May 1st, that I got the receiving job. Dick said that he was gonna interview me after interviewing 1 other person. He never interviewed me for the receiving job. I believe the reason he picked me over the other 2 was because of experience. I've been in the department for 5 1/2 years (2 years 2 months as an employee), and know parts of the job. I took the job to get on days, but would have preferred to be in Shipping on days. That won't happen anytime soon, due to 4 ladies not planning to leave anytime soon (Beth, Eva, Deb, & Dawn).

My job will be involving receiving deliveries from freight carriers, and from our Mexico plant. I'll also be pulling orders for parts to be assembled for our Mexico plant too. I'll even be putting away stock that comes in from Mexico & from deliveries made by freight carriers. I get trained Monday morning by my co-worker, Delfina. I just hope I can deal with her on a regular basis.

Even though I got the job, I still believe something else will be happening for me outside of the company that will be good for me. I still can't pinpoint it, but whatever it is, it isn't where I work at.

It's sad that my new found luck came at the expense of my former drunk co-worker, named Chris. He refused to seek help for his alcoholism, that he lost his job after being with the company for nearly 9 years. He has the nerve to even call up to get info on who's got the job. He doesn't know yet, but will sometime soon, and be pissed. At least I'll do a better job than he did. At least I'm sober.

Wish me luck.

A Quick Update On The Job

I thought I would add a quick update on the job. So far, nothing new has been heard from about who got the job. A lot of women put in for the job, and many learned what the job consisted of, and backed out. My co-worker, Terri, was one of the ladies that backed out. When she learned what the job consisted of, she didn't want the job. She doesn't do her current job that well on nights.The only reason she is in my department, had to do with cutting back the number of team leaders per shift. She is still paid team leader rate, just in case a team leader position opened up, to where she could go back to being a team leader. Had she pursued the warehouse job further, and was offered the job, then she would have had to take a 50¢ an hour pay cut to be a warehouse associate again (by choice).

Then a lady named Linda put in for the job. Patrick (a material handler) told me that she couldn't handle being in pack & label, due to her health problems. I would only hope Dick doesn't consider her, just for the fact that the job requires lifting as much as 60lbs. at a time. She has trouble with 30lbs.

Another lady named Cindy T. (not to get confused with Cindy M. in my dept.) also put in for the job. I don't think she could do the job either, just because she doesn't like to lift a lot either.

Then there's Patrick, the material handler. He works as a material handler, and lifts 50lb bags from time to time, and wheel over barrels of material. He also has prior shipping & receiving experience from another company in Lowell, that this position would go in his favor. He would also get a 25¢ an hour pay increase if he gets it, since his job is just below mine.

Then there's a temp in my dept., named Don. I don't know if Dick is considering him, but he is the most experienced out of anyone at the job (including myself). He already knows how to do the job, whereas everyone else would need some training (including myself, who only knows bits of the job). So if Dick offered it to anyone other than Patrick or me, then Don should get the job.

I heard a couple of other ladies put in for it, named Kim (pack & label) & Nelly (that's her real name, and is a processor). Kim could deal with weight issue, but her attitude wouldn't be tolerated, that I believe is held against her. Nelly would be crazy to take the job, as her current job pays a lot more than mine does. She makes at least $13.00 an hour. If she ever did put in for the job, Dick interviewed her, and got the job, then she would be taking a serious pay cut. Her position is on a different pay scale, and the possible pay cut would be a lot bigger.

I have yet to be interviewed for the job, and not sure if Dick will interview me. I won't be totally disappointed if I'm not offered the job, because I really would prefer to work in shipping pulling orders. I put in for it to try & get onto 1st shift. I'm thinking that something else might be happening for me. I don't know what it could be, but I keep having these weird dreams about living somewhere else, but not working either. I don't know, and I don't want to speculate on that one. I just know that if anyone really deserves the job; it would be Don. I would be a hypocrite if I thought I should get the job, just because I'm an employee. Dick had the rules bent in order to get me hired in over any employee there in 2007. If Don wants the job if offered to him, then I'd be alright with it. Like I said, I'd rather be in shipping. I believe something else will happen for me outside of the company.

May change jobs & shift

An opening for a receiving job opened up in my department this week. My drunk ass fuckin co-worker, Chris, got his drunk, smelly, shitty ass fired for continuously coming to work drunk. He has been warned enough times that the company fired his ass. So there's now an opening. I decided to put in for the job, mainly because I want to get onto 1st shift. The position doesn't involve a pay increase, due to the company's grade level pay scale having receiving lumped into warehouse, which is a grade 4. Since I'm already a Grade 4, there's no pay increase. Just more work & more responsibilities. I also would get my own e-mail account with the company, and that's not what I'd like, but my potential job would require it.

My job would involve labeling stock that comes to us from our Mexico plant, handle consignment, pull orders for parts to be assembled at our Mexico plant, load & unload (mainly unload trucks) trucks that come in with stock of some sort. I would be a backup for pulling orders for Pella Windows and handling the receiving papers that another co-worker handles. My hours would be 6:45am - 3:15pm Monday - Friday. I currently work from 2:45pm - 11:15pm Monday - Friday pulling shipping orders and loading trucks to pickup shipments. I even handle occasional deliveries in receiving too, when everyone in receiving went home for the day. Receiving only works 1st shift, while regular warehouse associates work 1st & 2nd shifts. The only reason there's a 3rd shift, is because there needs to be someone to clear the pack & label line. Otherwise, there wouldn't be anyone needed for 3rd shift in warehouse.

I'm nervous, but I hope I do get the job, as I want days, and be able to relax in the evenings. It would even allow me to go to Chicago in the evening hours during the week. I've missed a lot of events during the week, due to working 2nd shift at my current job since October 9, 2003. Also, except for a 6 week period in 2003, I've worked 2nd shift since September 12, 2002, when I left UPS for the last time to work at a salad dressing plant, and then a window parts company, then 2 other jobs before returning to my current job. Working there 3 years & 4 months as a temp, then 2 years & 1 month as an employee, I deserve to get this job, as I know some job duties.

I'll keep everyone posted on this.

I'm preparing most of my meals now

I have taken the first step at taking away some of the cooking from my mother, as she refuses to stop fixing big meals. She also is in a rut when she makes meals. It has been a challenge for me to make my own meals, as I haven't done that in over 6 years. So I'm adding some variety, and make changes into something I might have a lot.I recently made some BBQ chicken with rice-a-roni, pasta-roni, and some fresh green beans cooked on a griddle with garlic. The fresh green beans were good, but the preparation to make them was tedious, as I've never dealt with fresh green beans. There was no way I would have let my mom cook the green beans, as she would have boiled them. I wanted them to stay crunchy. Since I added garlic to it (approximately 15 cloves of garlic), it had a lot of extra flavor. I did keep the vampires away for 3 days. The green beans were lightly coated with olive oil, and stirred constantly to keep them from burning. I forgot to add that I added a twist to the BBQ chicken. I also added a bit of Mrs. Dash to it to give it additional flavor.

Another meal consisted of pork chops (my mom did cook that, as it was Shake & Bake), cheesy rice-a-roni, pasta-roni, green beans with garlic. I bought too much green beans, that I had to have them a second day. I believe I bought 3 lbs. of green beans. It was alright. Another meal again consisted of chicken sprinkled with Mrs. Dash, snow peas with garlic cooked in a little olive oil, and some rice-a-roni. Snow peas weren't as bad, as I was able to cook them as is, unlike green beans, where I had to cut off bad parts of the bean.

Yesterday, I cooked up some pot pies with fried potatoes, and made them with a twist. My mom would just cook up potatoes to be fried in vegetable shortening. I cooked the potatoes (the portion size I wanted) along with garlic in olive oil. Within the last 10 minutes of cooking them, I added some mixed vegetables to the potatoes. It added a lot of flavor too, along with the garlic. I did use 10 - 12 cloves of garlic. So my meals will be having a lot of garlic to it.

I have yet to figure out what all I'll have. I just know that I want to have some variety, and I won't get that with my mom making my meals, nor will I have meals with the right portion sizes either with her making my meals. I haven't lost any weight yet, but I'm not gaining any either, as my meals are keeping me full longer. I do plan to have some vegetarian spaghetti within 2 weeks. I'm also working on cutting back on protein too. That'll help keep me from getting bigger, as I've been getting too much protein.

So if anyone has any suggestions on what I should make, please leave a comment in my blog. I will take suggestions, and look at what might sound good to me. I need plenty of suggestions as I'm trying to get back into making my own meals.