109 - Jobs I've Had IV

Seneca Spring was in a building owned by one of the oldest families of Southington, one town over from Bristol. The building was actually in a town called Plantsville, but it was part of Southington. Why I mention this... I have no idea.

This was the epitome of the "Mom and Pop" shops, with the owner being the president, vice president, secretary when  needed and taught me how to set up "coiler" spring making machines.

To clarify, there are basically 3 types of spring machines. Coilers (that I worked on), Torsion (that my dad worked on) and Four-Slide (that my brother worked on, but not at this company).

Coilers can make:

Compression springs, like the ones at right (I've made many like those below.. I mean hundreds of thousands to millions of them).

 

Extension springs, like those at left (and I've made many of these too) and lastly, Coiler machines could also make, to some extent, torsion springs like those to the right below.

The machine that makes these springs, was actually pretty easy to operate, and I caught on quickly.

In no time, I was operating 9 Coilers myself. Set up, test, operate. Keep in mind, that it's not just making the springs, they all have certain weights they should carry whether it be any of the three kinds. Specialized inspection machines are used to make sure they're done right. I'm sure this is bringing back memories for my brother.

Now, my bosses name was Joe, and during the time I worked there, he was like a second father to me. Seriously, even though my own dad worked there, Joe watched out for me as much as my own dad did. He was a mentor, and a good friend even though he was a lot older than me. The other funny thing about Joe, was he loved Rock music like most of the kids at the time. I was shocked when he told me one of his favorite movies was Eddie and the Cruisers!

Well, I was starting to do just about every job there. If my dad was out, I ran the torsion machines (my dad worked on torsion spring machines). I couldn't set them up well, but I could run them if they were set up. I also set up kick-presses when needed. Joe had a unique way of looking at the work week. We worked 9 hours a day, Monday through Thursday, then half a day Friday.

After a few years, we were all a pretty close knit family there. I was, at any one time the Coiler man, secretary when she was out and the phone rang (we kept the office door open for just such an occasion), vice president (I had to play one for a customer), to heat treater and plumber when things went wrong. It was fun.. I admit it. I saw many people come and go while I was there, and for a time, I even had Steve working there helping me in the coilers. Literally, I made over a million springs a week, something nobody in any other spring company in the area did. One reason, is we had one very high speed machine that could honestly make over 30,000 springs an hour. They came off the machine in a line that looked like they were all connected.

This post is already pretty long.. I'll continue with Seneca Spring on Friday.

Have a great Hump-Day all!

108 - Jobs I've Had III

Ok, I've started putting an - between the post # and the title.. so that it doesn't look like I've had over 100 jobs. *LOL*

Lets see, I left off working for NAPCO as a machinist, and learned a lot there. It was a good job, but in 1976, my Dad had just been offered a job opening a wire warehouse in town, and he needed some employees he could trust, so he asked me to come work for him, as well as my friend Steve.

Before I go any further, I want to mention that my dad, and brother had been in the Spring industry for almost all their lives. Even my mom had worked at a few spring shops kicking a foot press.

Now, you have to understand, the area where I live.. within 20 miles are probably 30 spring making companies. They all need wire to make the springs, and this place, Industrial Steel and Wire (ISW) wanted to move into the area from their parent company in Chicago.

Steve and I were the first employees, and with two old fork trucks that people in Chicago must have been laughing at when they sent them to us, we managed to unload over 4 trucks a day (we actually had to call Chicago more than once to tell them to send more trucks as we could handle it). Full, 40+ foot long tractor trailers full from front to back and top to bottom with wire.  The owner had come from Chicago after we were open for about 4 weeks, and he had to see how we were unloading now up to 6 trucks a day. He was amazed at the teamwork between Steve and I, and how we got things off the truck, staged, then put away before the next truck rolled in. On the spot, the owner told my dad to give us raises.

After the company was well on it's way to success, my dad left, for reasons of his own, and it wasn't long after that Steve and I left.

Next, I went to work at the same place my dad landed, called Seneca Spring. I need a LONG post about Seneca Spring, so I'll stop now and say, have a wonderful Monday!

107 Jobs I've Had II

I left off Wednesday leaving my cooking job, and yes, it was hard to leave a career like that, as I enjoyed it so much. (michelle, I'll have to tell you via email what they did.)

There's definitely something to be said for taking a raw material and making a finished product out of it, and the best part was when a customer sent his appreciation to the kitchen, or the ones that insisted we slip into the dining room so they could tell us themselves (meaning we'd have to put on a new, dress white chef jacket and go out, then back into the hot kitchen and switch back to the other jacket. On hot, summer nights.. the walk-in refrigerator was a welcome friend that we visited often.  Remember, this was a 5 star restaurant. We served Steak Diane made at your table by the Maitre D, a home made salad dressing that was the invention of the head chef, Cherries Jubilee and Baked Alaska for dessert, and something you pretty much can't find anymore as an entree, Steak Tartar. Yes Mark, it broke my heart to say no.. and I've often said "what if..."

But, I digress.

Upon leaving cooking, I heard a place the next town over was looking for workers. It was a machine shop named Chapman Machine Shop, and they made a lot of parts for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. I interviewed, and the manager said he'd train me, offered me a fair pay and I said yes. I learned how to run vertical and horizontal milling machines, surface grinders, and tapping machines. I lasted there over a year, until my boss retired and then got another machinist job at a place called NAPCO (National Plastics Corportation).  I had a great time there for a year or so. I remember I was working there during the blizzard of 1978, and I had a big Dodge van with my snowmobile in the back. I ended up taking people home on the snowmobile all night!

More on Monday... (yes, there's a LOT more to go)

Have a great weekend all!

106 Jobs I've Had

I was thinking back going home Tuesday, at all the jobs I've held over the years. I'll try to recount them as best as possible, but some may be out of order.

Keep in mind, I went to school for cooking, to become a Chef.

When I was about 14, I worked under the table for a caterer that my mom worked for. I think my brother worked for the same place for a time.

While still in school, I had the requisite job at Food Mart bagging groceries (where I met my wife)

Then I had a short stint when I first got out of school working at the local General Electric plant in the cafeteria and pushing a coffee cart around.

I then got my big break, working at a 5 star restaurant (The Iron Horse) with waiters in tuxedos, bus-boys (I was one of them), and a Maitre-D with a German accent. I started as a bus-boy, then when the Head Chef learned I had gone to cooking school, he pulled me into the kitchen to cook with him. After about a year, I became the First Chef, directly under him. It was a great job, but the restaurant changed owners, and the new owners wanted to make a "Family Style" restaurant. The Head Chef left to become the Executive Chef at the finest restaurant in Connecticut, and asked me to come with him. The restaurant was at the shore, about 50 miles away, and while I was tortured, I decided not to go as I didn't want to move away from my hometown just yet. I continued as the Head Chef of the Iron Horse, but it just wasn't the same. Then, one day the owner came into the kitchen and did something that I felt was unsafe and contrary to my standards, and I threw in my apron and quit on the spot.

While I loved cooking, I didn't like the fact that I only had Sunday nights and Mondays off. It was hard to find a date as all the girls wanted to go out on Friday or Saturday nights, my busiest nights.

I decided to leave my cooking career behind and look for something new.

More on Friday about this... just giving you a taste of my careers.

Have a great  Hump-Day!

105 Pickled Peaches and Other Bits & Pieces

Ok, so I did a bit of research on Pickled Peaches. I almost hurled when I saw the recipe for Pickled Peach Ice Cream!

Now Curt... this just CAN'T be normal!

Wickipedia even has a page all about Pickled Peaches! Good grief, there are thousands of websites with recipes for pickled peaches.... *chuckling*

Curt posted in his comment the URL for his church website. Please check it out here!

As I said, he's a multi-taltented guy.

One of my wife and I's favorite shows on TV is something on Mojo (a High Def Channel) named Three Sheets. It's a comedian (Zane Lamprey) who travels all over the world drinking with people and learning the local drinking customs, all for our entertainment. The guy usually ends up "Three Sheets" and in the morning searches for a hangover recipe. Well, on http://www.hulu.com you can watch Three Sheets now! All the episodes, all 3 seasons. It's extremely funny, and hopefully you check it out. For a direct link to see him, click here. There's a lot of great TV/movies you can watch on Hulu. If you haven't been there, check it out.

Friday was my wife's birthday, and she seems to have had a nice time. Sunday night, my wife and I, and the two kids just spent some time together which was nice.

Other than that, it's been an uneventful weekend, though it's been very hot and humid here.. almost to the point of not being able to do anything at all outside.

Lastly, to Mark. Don't hold off posting about your buddies. It's always nice to share how you feel, it makes both you AND them feel good. Take the time. *S*

Have a wonderful Monday all.

104 Ok Curt, Your Turn!

Curtis Rice.

He's the Network/PC guy at the (formerly Torrington) Shiloh Plant, in Rutherfordton, N.C.

I first talked to Curt on the phone probably back in 1990 at some point, to tell him that I was going to come down and help in the installation of the network down there. Maybe it was 1991... those years are all fuzzy now *chuckling*.

When I met Curt, the first thing you notice, is that he's a big guy. The funny thing is though, I have no idea, even at his size, how he fits that big heart in there. He's got the biggest heart, the most calm demeanor, and widest smile of probably anyone I've ever met in my life. Curt is a devout Southern Baptist, and is heavily (no pun intended) involved in his Church. Curt, if you post a comment here, please post the link to your Church, I don't have it on my laptop. Curt is also a talented artist, and web designer which you'll see if you visit the site for his Church. If I can find them, in a future post, I'll post some of the drawings he's done. I am forever envious of his talent.. he has a hand and eye that I'll never have. He has a wonderful, beautiful wife, Marilyn who I've met a few times. If anyone can possibly be sweeter than Curt, she's it. Curt also has a dog, and I hope he'll post the info about her.

Curt and I have also had a few late-night work sessions where we've been in the server room well past 2am waiting to load just one more thing before leaving.

When once, I was working in a different plant and had a problem, Curt drove about 60 miles to meet me, to bring me a CD that I needed badly for an install.

Once, long ago, we were working and while walking by another employee's desk, Curt made some mention of "Pickled Peaches". Just the thought of those two words together made my mouth pucker and a bad look like it'd taste awful. I laughed and said "Pickled Peaches? You have GOT to be kidding!". Nope, he swore it was true.. that Southern people ate Pickled Peaches. I got a good laugh out of it, and we worked the rest of the afternoon. The next morning, Curt was late coming in but never said why. We worked all morning, and after lunch, before going back to work he said he had to stop at the store. I followed him in, and darn if he didn't find a jar of Pickled Peaches and bought them for me! He told me that he spent the morning looking for some fresh ones for me, but couldn't so this was the next-best thing. I promised to take them home and try them with my family.

Upon arriving home, I went to my dad's house, and my brother was there, and we all decided to give this... strange Southern delicacy a try.

Personally, to me...... THEY WERE AWFUL! *LOL* But my son loved them. I couldn't imagine anyone pickling peaches.

Now... as Curt asked in my last post's comments:

Has anyone BUT Curt heard of Pickled Peaches???? (Bubba, you don't count as you know this story!)

Have a great weekend all!

103 You might ask...

if the glow has worn off since Sunday and the big trophy I won.

Nope. *chuckling*

Seriously, everyone has been very supportive of my hobby and my particular fascination with cars. The good news is, it's a good hobby, keeps me out of trouble, and I can do things with my wife (cruise nights, car shows or just plain nice rides). Thank you all for your kind words in my comments from Monday.

I wanted to somehow touch once again on my friend Kent, aka Bubba. You know, for some reason, I don't remember how I came to know him as "Bubba". *LOL* Do you Kent?

Bubba also asked about all the times we disagreed. I can't remember ever.

Bubba turned me on to the BEST "Barbeque" in the South, at a place called "The Hickory House". This place smoked their own pork, and you could smell the smoker as you got near the place.

By the way, in the South, Barbeque is a noun. In the North, Barbeque is an adjective. Example. Ask someone down South for some Barbeque, and you get PORK.

Ask someone up North for Barbeque, and they say... Barbeque what? Chicken? Beef? Pork? Sauce?

Ask my other Southern bud, Curt, and he'll tell you real Barbeque comes on a roll with 'slaw'. (ask him the story about the Pickled Peaches some time!) Ok, maybe a blog post some day about that.. and I'm sure there'll be one about Curt one of these days.. and about Tim, another Southern bud.

Memories... writing about these guys, thinking about the food we shared.. makes me feel downright wonderful. *S*

Well, that's it for today... hope you all have a wonderful Hump-Day!

102 First Place - Best In Class

 

Through a lot of elbow work, and the help of my good friend Ray, at Sundays 16th annual All Corvette Show in Guilford CT (right near the shore), I took First Place - Best in Class for my Corvette!!!!

They finally put me in the correct class this year (last year they had me in the hardest class, "Show", which I knew I didn't belong in, and this year they put me in the Street class where my car better fits. The show class, you have to wax your wheel-wells, and take all the pebbles out of your tires.. etc. It's for complete fanatics, and yes, some of them trailer their cars to the show. I lost miserably last year, and it bothered me. This year, I'm floating on Cloud 9. The trophy is huge, and having my name called in front of hundreds of people and having them clap for me and my car... well, was outstanding.

There was over 300 Corvettes at the show this year, and the day was wonderful with temps in the high 80's and a nice sea breeze.

Here's my friend Ray putting some finishing touches on the glass on my car. As soon as I parked, we both got to work on detailing the car. You wouldn't believe what a long ride can throw up on a nice yellow paint job behind the tires, and bugs on the front not to mention brake dust on the wheels.

When done, we walked around and looked at all the gorgeous cars for an hour or so, then retreated to a nice cool shady place under a tree and have some refreshments.

Judging went pretty well, with the judge at my car doing his job, then pointing out to me things that were minor infractions, some not not my fault (very minor panel fit) to some that were (a few fingerprints,  a smudge or two on a window, all in all very minor. He had mentioned before he left not to worry, almost insinuating that I was in the "trophy" hunt.. but I couldn't be as optimistic.

Here's a picture at right of some of the cars in my year range, though not necessarily my class. There was one other area this size with Vettes of the same years.

The classes work as follows:

For all 2001-2004 Corvettes, there are separate categories for Coupes (like I have), Convertibles and Z-06 (high performance) Vettes.

More pictures Wednesday, but for now.. suffice it to say, I'm on cloud 9 over this win! Next year, I'll move up one class and see if I can win there.

Have a great Monday!

101 Memories of a Not-So Distant Past

I got an email from my good friend "Bubba" today. Bubba is the name I use for my dear friend Kent Herrington, formerly from Pulaski, Tennessee, now from somewhere up in Kentucky (probably some town named something like Podunk).

I met Kent when I worked for my former company and I used to do a lot of traveling. See, Kent is an Engineer who thinks he's an IT person (or at least he did at the time). Truth be told, I think after knowing Kent, that most IT people should get an engineering degree. Not only is he one of the most personable people I've ever met, but he's got a wonderful wit, great smile and always makes you feel like family. When we first met, I was wondering what an Engineer was doing working in the IT department. I soon came to look up on Kent as not only a friend, but as a fantastic IT asset to our company. Did he miss being an Engineer.. I would say yes, as he eventually did go back to it, after letting a manager's son (Bubba Jr.) take over the IT reigns. Even after that, Kent was always willing to help, even when I was hundreds of miles away with a server totally mucked up, on a Sunday morning, he went into work while I faxed him some changes that had to be made (that he could do remotely), and he spent his Sunday away from his family, helping me and my bud Curt.

The picture below is of Kent sitting on the floor in the server room where we worked at about 3am one late night when we were doing a server operating system upgrade.

(bet you didn't think I still had that Kent!)

We spent a lot of time together, working, talking about our kids, our jobs, Tennessee.. everything you can think of.

His email today touched on the need to keep in touch with those "special" friends we've met and shared our lives with over time. He also mentioned that he missed working with me as I do him, and I hope beyond all hopes, that I will shake his hand in person one more time again.

Another story about the first time I met Kent.. I called to tell him I'd be coming down to meet him for the first time, and he told me he'd book a room for me at "the luxuriously appointed Richland Inn". Me, not knowing his sense of humor yet, pictured a Grand Southern Hotel, with sweeping stairways in the front door, and Rhett Butler posing on the front steps. Instead, I found a place that made a Motel 6 look like heaven.

One of my favorite things to do in Pulaski, was actually something I did on my own. Finding a nice road for a ride on a warm summer evening. Kent, do you know the road from Pulaski to Lawrenceburg? (rt 64) I used to love opening all the windows in the car, blasting some great music and cruising down this wonderful windy road. It's about a 20 mile drive, but it's a "country" twenty mile drive with no stoplights, no stop signs.. nothing. Ok, there was that restaurant Kent took me to once.. was it the Blue Light, or Blue Lantern???

Once, in December I was in Pulaski working. I got up one morning to see a light dusting of snow on the ground. I got to my rental car and noticed, "no ice scraper". Oh well, I just let the car warm up and defrost the snow/ice from the windshield. I go to the factory, and find NO cars in the parking lot! I thought it was a holiday or something before someone at the front door tells me that the plant was closed for the day. When I inquired as to why, they looked at me like I was from the moon and said "why, the snow.. of course!" like I should have known. Ok, so they don't have sanding trucks, or snow plows.. but the snow wasn't deep enough to lose a quarter if you dropped it!  Kent had a good laugh over this.

He's not the only one from my work days that I miss. Curt, from Spindale N.C. is another friend I hope I get to see again. The other person, would be Tim Chavis, from Union S.C.

All four of us know each other pretty well, but I spent more time with each of them, than they did with each other. More on the other 2 another time.

Kent, I miss you bud. You are and always will be my friend.

Have a great weekend all.

100 Forecast: Wonderful

Well, the weather's finally going to break tonight and for Thursday - Sunday, it's supposed to be fantastic weather! Daytime highs in the mid to high 80's with low humidity. Just the kind of wether I've been waiting for all summer.

By the way, when I complained about the weather on Monday, it was rain I was complaining about.. it was the threat of rain every single day for over 2 weeks, and getting very little (maybe one small sprinkle). The threat of rain keeps my toy in the garage.

That'll be great as Friday night there's a big show that closes Main Street in Torrington, about 10 miles from my house, and Sunday there's a very large all Corvette show in Guilford Connecticut, about 43 miles from my house that I'll be going to with my friend Ray. I'll take lots of pictures to be sure.

I'm curious, does anyone ever check here and read the "Twitter" box at left?

Other than that, not too much else going on lately. When the weather is so hot and humid, it doesn't even lend itself to go out and mow the lawn, so I'll have to do that tomorrow night when it's nice.

Now for a cute joke:

Two men drove to a gas station for a fill-up because they heard about a contest being offered by the station to patrons who purchase a full tank of gas. When they went inside to pay, the men asked the attendant about the contest.

"If you win, you're entitled to free sex," said the attendant.

"How do we enter?" asked the first man.

"Well, I'm thinking of a number between 1-10, if you guess right, you win free sex."

"O.K. I guess 7, " said the first man.

"Sorry, I was thinking of 8," replied the attendant. "Come back soon and try again"

The next week, the two men returned to the same station to get gas. When they went inside to pay, the second man asked the attendant if the contest was still going on.

"Sure," replied the attendant. "I'm thinking of a number between 1-10, if you guess right. You win free sex."

"2" said the second man

"Sorry, I was thinking of 3," replied the attendant. "Come back soon and try again."

As they walked back to the car, the first man said to the second man,"You know, I'm beginning to think this contest is rigged."

"No way," said the second man. "My wife won twice last week."

Have a great Hump-Day!

99 Weather Woes

I have to tell you, for the last 3 weeks or so, we haven't had one day that wasn't supposed to rain at some time or another.

I wanted to take the Vette out to a Car Show on Sunday, and it was supposed to rain. Wanted to take it out Saturday, but it rained. See the pattern?

Thursday night, I went out to dinner with a friend as my wife went out with my daughter. My friend Dan and I went to a nice Mexican restaurant named Agave. We ate at the bar so I could stare at the beautiful Tequila bottles. I saw a few new ones, though nothing really caught my eye except for the Don Julio REAL, which sells for about $375 per bottle. (click the link and check out the gorgeous bottle) Just a shot cost upwards of $50 a shot (their shots are a double, 2 oz, served in a snifter glass normally).

Well, we had dinner, and I asked for a shot for my friend and I of Corzo Reposado, a very good Tequila with hints of vanilla and spices. We were talking about Tequila, when sitting next to Dan, a guy says "Let me show you guys what I like". Turns out he's a co-owner in Agave and a few other nearby restaurants. He buys us a shot of Gran Centenarrio. I chuckled when the guy slammed his shot (drank it all in one gulp). I sipped it, trying to savor the flavor. It was... ok.

Then, I bought him, a shot of one of my favorites, Herradura Reposado. I had it poured into a small snifter, told him NOT to slam it, and when he tasted it, his eyes went WIDE open and loved it!

He then called another of the owners over, and had him try it. I told him of 2 of my other favorites which we can't get in the US and he was intrigued. I told him, one of these days I'd have the nerve to try the Don Julio Real, and he had the waitress pour me a small bit in a shot glass, which I then tried. Not bad, but I like my favorites better.

Needless to say, when I got home, I was feeling great... *chuckling*

Well, lastly, someone sent me this below and I thought I'd pass it along:

'Geezers' are easy to spot: At sporting events, during the playing of the Star Spangled BANNER. Old Geezers remove their caps and stand at attention and sing without embarrassment. They know the words and believe in them. 
 
Old Geezers remember the Depression, World War II, Pearl Harbor , Guadalcanal, Normandy and Hitler. They remember the Atomic Age, the Korean War 1950-55, The Cold War, the jet age and the moon landing, the 50 plus Peacekeeping Missions from 1945 to 2005 the Jet Age and the Moon Landing, not to mention Vietnam,

If you bump into an Old Geezer On the sidewalk he will apologize. If you pass an Old Geezer on the street, he will nod or tip his cap to a lady. Old Geezers trust strangers and are courtly to women. Old Geezers hold the door for the next person and always, when walking, make certain the lady is on the inside for protection. Old Geezers get embarrassed if someone curses in front of women and children and they don't like any filth on TV or in movies or in e-mails.
Old Geezers have moral courage. They seldom brag unless it's about their grandchildren.

It's the Old Geezers who know our great country is protected, not by politicians, but bythe young men and women in the military serving their country.

This country needs Old Geezers with their decent values.
We need them now more than ever.

Thank God for Old Geezers!

Have a wonderful Monday!

98 Mid-Year Hump Day

I can't believe it's already July 2nd. Half of the summer is already over. Can you believe it?

Unfortunately, every day lately has been warm, but rain in the afternoons. I feel like I'm in Orlando! *LOL* I haven't had nearly as much time to take nice rides with my Vette as I did last year. (yeah yeah, poor me huh!)

Caroldee, in response to your comment yesterday, yes.. an 18 foot piece of plain old wire, and I was able to talk to people around the world. I oriented it North/South so that I could talk more East and West, but I was still able to talk to Canada, and into the Caribbean and South America.

I hope everyone has a wonderful July 4th Weekend, and please whatever you do, be safe in doing it.

Lastly, here's a good joke I got from my friend Mike H (the one we went to Abbott's with)

MEN ARE JUST HAPPIER PEOPLE (according to men)

NICKNAMES

• If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and  Sarah.
• If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.

EATING OUT

• When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50.  None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
• When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.

MONEY

• A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
• A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she  doesn't need but it's on sale.

BATHROOMS

• A man has six items in his bathroom:  toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a  towel .
• The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337.  A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these  items.

ARGUMENTS

• A woman has the last word in  any argument.
• Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

FUTURE

• A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
• A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

SUCCESS

• A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
• A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

MARRIAGE

• A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
• A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.

DRESSING UP

• A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a  book, and get the mail.
• A man will dress up for weddings and  funerals.

NATURAL

• Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
• Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

 

Have a great weekend!