New Years

Sarah and I had a great Christmas. We have Christmas tree with a slight lean to the left. It is nicely decorated. After New Years the house will no longer smell like pine. I'll miss the smell.

We stayed home with the cats. We opened gifts, ate sausage rolls, drank champagne, and enjoyed a relaxing day. We cooked a traditional California ham dinner.

For New Years eve, my sister is driving up with her family from San Diego. I can't wait to see my niece and nephew.

I have been waiting to see about another job. I have been offered a position at a wastewater plant, as an operator in training. I am negotiating the salary now. In pay, it is a step back, but within one year I'll be making what I typically make. After two years I can be making much more. It is a path to a line of work I enjoy. I like the problem solving nature and reliability of the job. The only way in is to start at the bottom, but I can quickly, in two years, be making a nice living, even doubling the first years salary.

The negative is the timing of this opportunity. Sarah and I are tight on cash now, and then I choose to change jobs at less than $20 an hr...I am not sure if I'm crazy, but I just can't keep working for this small oil company that is slowing corroding away. I have to change. When I go to work there are the simplest things that make me worry having a job tomorrow. Everything is falling apart at the refinery. I can't get things I need. Everyone around me struggles to solve problems with no resources. The company is on the news often for spilling oil down creeks, etc. This is one of those companies that will be left off of the resume, sadly.

Despite all the negatives, I have had a good experience at the Santa Maria refinery. I learned a lot of things I did not know and met some great people. They keep the refinery going every day with "duct tape and wire" as they say.

Look for me making a transition soon. I am looking forward to a new work environment. I think I've been alone in the lab too long.

Feliz Navidad de Pollo???

Twas two days before Christmas when I heard a knock at the door. The cats scattered about as I descended the stairs. I flung the door open and no one was around, but a box that said Chicken Pack lying on the ground!

I took it inside to see what it could be, since no one sends chicken instead of candy.

To my surprise I did find inside, CHICKEN! I mean LOTS of it.

I had Blackberry check it out to make sure it was safe to eat.

51 Gourmet breasts!

That's right.

There are several types including Cordon Bleu, which I like!

Thanks Helen and Bill!

In-laws...Some send me champagne, others chicken.

I had to clear out the freezer.

Here's before:

And after putting the chicken in:

Feliz Navidad de Pollo!

Two Cats and a Man

Here I am sitting on my lazy boy chair after work. It's peaceful and quiet except for the rain, cats meowing, and my stomach growling.

I can't stop the rain, but I can take care of the other two items. Sarah is out of town for the week, so I can do what ever I want!

First, the cats need to be walked. Normally I let them into the back yard for their half hour of play in the yard, just like prison. After the cats got some fresh air, we came inside for dinner.

I spooned out some wet cat food for each of the cats. Since Mommy wasn't home to make up rules like, "Cat's aren't allowed to eat on the counter!" the cats ate in style...



Let's see, now I need something to eat. I took a look in the fridge and freezer and didn't see anything that peaked my interest. Hmm, I did see birthday cake. What would go well with cake? I know, I nice homebrewed English ale. Ahhh, dinner is served...

Now thats a good dinner!


The cats snuggled up while I did some chores around the house.

"I Lost My Office!"

A funny thing happened this week at my work...

The word on the street was that the main offices of our company would be moved from the oil fields to the refinery, where I am. Not exactly welcome to the old timers who like the peace and quiet, but I don't care either way. A new building will be added to the current offices. Part of the plans were to remodel the current administration offices to accommodate the new group. This is were the interesting part is.

Last Friday, a crew showed up and started gutting and tearing the office interior apart. They started in the hallways, and the workers in each office kept working. Soon, the dust from the deconstruction was too much, so they wore dust masks as they worked. We even gave the construction crew dust masks to wear.

Everyone went home Friday night.

Monday Morning was when things went bad! The deconstruction laborers had worked all weekend tearing the place up. My plant supervisor came into the lab were I was working and said, "I lost my office!" I looked at him quizzically. It seems they filled his office with doors, desks, and various parts of the building. Apparently our main office forgot to tell our office workers that they should go on vacation for a week or two during the remodel.

Now if this was me, I might get a little pissed off with someone. If I had no warning that I would not be able to work, then I might have some words to share with someone.

My boss, the plant supervisor, is very different from me, and rightfully so. He has been there thirty years and is only a couple years from retirement. So, he just lets things happen and waits for his retirement.

The office secretary has lost her desk and was seen wondering around the plant today.

The plant supervisor has not been seen since early Monday morning when he lost his office.

The Week of Surprises

This coming week holds a few interesting possibilities for me.

I have two job interviews. I do already have one, but lets say I am looking for more.

My current job leaves a lot to be desired.

I am interviewing for a wastewater plant operator for a city, then the other is a wastewater laboratory analyst, grade 2, with a county.

My current job is one strange place.

I was hired with the title "Chemist", yet I am a materials strength technician more than anything. The job description for the position said "Must have experience with common organic laboratory instruments such as HPLC, GC/MS..."...WHICH THEY HAVE NONE OF! No problem, I like learning new stuff. Of course, I didn't take this job because I was going to make a career of it.

Anyways, I am looking forward to a new job in a new city.