Friday, February 16, 2007

Such Is The Lonely Life

of a tire widow. It was about a year ago that my husband decided to get back in to the tire game - something he swore he'd never do again - after a 5 year absence. While the tire game had largely been good to him, the company he hooked up with had not. It didn't start out that way, but changes in structure and management led to a rapidly deteriorating environment.

He left for what he thought were greener pastures. We couldn't have been more wrong. He was promised so much, but so little was given. He briefly left there to try his hand at something else, but again, restructuring lead to problems, not only for him but several others working there, including my dad. Needing a job, he reluctantly returned to the not-so-greener pastures, and the next few years were a challenge. When you're truly miserable in your work, it makes life hell. I've been there myself.

I was happy in his return to the world of tires. It's something he knows and something he's good at. He decided not to fight it anymore. It also allowed him to return to the employ of the man who taught him everything he knew about tires his first time around. He had also had left the company before Nelson did, citing similar reasons. He was someone we trusted. The company had a lot to offer, and it was a done deal.

Returning to the tire world does bring one unpleasant side effect: the road service call. Like the mail service, neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night keeps the truck drivers of the world from making their appointed runs, and getting blown tires. At any time of the day or evening, including weekends and holidays, the Nextel Cell Phone will play it's annoying little ditty, and it's time to go. Tonight, it went off at 8:30. Destination: somewhere on Interstate 180 to replace two blown tires. Sometimes it's close, like the Sheetz on the strip, and sometimes it's far away, like Laporte. Most of the time it involves getting in one of our vehicles, and driving up to the shop - about a 15 minute drive - where the service truck is loaded, and the call commences. Most of the time he's gone anywhere from 2 hours to 4 hours.

It does have it's perks. It's guaranteed double time, and guaranteed 2 hour minimum. The downside is that when you're on call, you have no life. It will never fail - the moment you leave to go somewhere, the phone rings. You also get little sleep. I didn't used to mind it so much the first go-round. I was allowed to go along, and I frequently did. We kept each other awake, and we kept each other company, and in the event that there was no driver around, I was there to call for help if he needed it, and was unable to call himself. This time, however I'm not allowed to go - insurance regulations and all that, so I worry.

It's a trade off, though. He's happy at this job. He's well paid and well treated. He's about to get a nice promotion. The occasional annoyance is deal-able. Besides, the diploma from Firestone University is worth it's weight in gold...... :D

Monday, February 5, 2007

Get Outta Here....

I had my 2nd month post-op appointment with the surgeon today. The ladies in his office know me well. I don't even have to check in at the window. They just yell "Hi. Just have a seat!" through the glass window at me.

The doctor came back, and brought a student with him. That was a tad embarassing. He asked how I was doing, and then said "Well, let's see it!". I exposed my midsection, and got subjected to a lot of poking and prodding. Twice, I got the "Turn your head and cough" routine. He said it looked good and felt good, and I could gradually increase my lifting over the next few months.

I inquired about the lump on my abdomen, which was thought to be a seroma, but he has now decided it's likely a lipoma. They run in my family, and don't generally cause any problems, other than comsetic ones, and since I'm unlikely to be wearing a bikini, ummmm, ever, it's not an issue at the moment. He said he could remove it, but it would result in a long ugly scar, and I passed.

With that, he said "Call if you have any problems, and I'll see you." I said "Ok, see me when?". He said "Never, unless you have problems, and we hope that doesn't happen, so no offense, but I hope I don't see you any time soon!".

And that was it. For a moment, I was elated. When I went to check out, the lady at the desk said, "Let's see, when do you need to come back....Oh. You're done. Good." It felt weird not having to schedule any appointments or anything.

In some ways, I'm going to miss them. They'd laugh when I'd call in and say "I have another stupid question". I'll miss their reassuring "That's not a stupid question, actually". I'll miss them in the same kind of demented way I missed the orthopedic ward at Geisinger. I was with them for over a year. It's only been 4 months since I discovered my innie was slowly turning in to an outie.

However, being deemed "fully recovered" is a good feeling too. Onward and upward, and here's hoping I don't have to see the surgeon again any time soon either!

Saturday, February 3, 2007

As I Sit Here

waiting for Nelson to return from work, the question that I'm so often asked runs across my mind: what's your deal with shopping malls?

It's something that I really can't cohesively explain. I'm not a shopaholic. Shopaholics will go anywhere to shop. There are lots of places I try to avoid - Wal-Mart being one of them. Shopping is really the least of my concerns when malling. If I come across something I like, and I have the money, I'll buy it. If not, then not. Often times, I come away without buying anything.

I like to go just to look. I love the architecture. I love the layouts. I love the design. I just love being there. The mall is its' own little unique universe, and I enjoy checking it out.

Don't worry. I've seen the looks before - like the one this entry is probably being given right now. It's nothing new to me, and I'm not offended. I used to hide my love for malls, like some sort of shameful disease. I wasn't a mall chick per se. I didn't go to watch guys or get my nails done. You were more apt to find me in the record store, or the arcade.

I was in my first real mall when I was 3 or 4, with my Uncle. It was somewhere in the Dallas area. He took me for a ride on the escalator. I demanded we go up and down several times. Upon leaving, I wanted to be taken back so I could ride the "eskimo" a little more. I still haven't lived that down. We got our own mall in 1977. I was very disappointed that there were no "eskimos" to be found. It's a smaller one story mall. On my first trip to our mall, when it was brand new, I was so taken by the sights that I walked away from my mom and grandma, and got lost.

Over the years, my affection for malls has not dwindled. I got good at spotting who owned (or formerly owned) a mall just by the look of it. I could spot a Crown American or DeBartolo mall at 20 paces. I also began discovering that little slice of heaven known as a dead mall.

Dead malls come in varying degrees of deadness, and I found my first one when I was preparing to leave for college. My mom was diappoined that the place was a bust, but I was enthralled by the emptiness - the eerieness of the muzak playing, lights and fountains going, and hardly anyone shopping. Dead malling becomes a game after a while. Trying to figure out what store was where, and laughing at attempts to make a go of a former store facade without changing it much. I hid my delight in finding such an establishment. Then came the internet.

One day, someone turned me on to deadmalls.com, and I found out I wasn't alone. There's a vast network of people out there who enjoy doing what I do. I've made a lot of friends through that site, and I proudly proclaim my love of shopping malls.

My name is Railyn........and I'm a mall addict. Hey, it could be worse.

Friday, February 2, 2007

Yes, Life Has It's Ups And Downs

and I get motion sickness, so this week kind of stank. Thankfully, the cosmic forces smiled on me, and everything seemed to even out in the end.

It's major state and national tournament time at work. Things had been going slowly, and people were getting nervous. "Don't worry" I said. "Things always come around at the last minute". Truer words were never said. So last minute, in fact, that I've got little time to do anything else but make sure that everything is go for the tournaments. Thus, my desk really looks bad - I'm quite embarassed by it. Every day I tell myself that I've got to do something about it, and then it's time to go home before I even realize it.

Everyone is on me about getting stuff out to production. I understand that it's their job, but it's like that part in Office Space where Peter says that every time he screws up a TPS report, he has 8 people coming by to tell him about it. I don't have 8 people, but I find myself repeating the same information over and over again. I don't fault them for checking - it truly takes teamwork to pull this kind of stuff off, but everyone gets tired in the home stretch.

All week long, I wanted to get groceries. Didn't happen Monday. Didn't happen Tuesday - we had a snowstorm. Wednesday? Nelson worked late and was too tired. Didn't happen yesterday either - same thing. Tonight? Snow again..... I'd go on my own, but I'm still on lift restriction, and I can't carry the bags unless I take one at a time - not gonna happen.

All week long, the crazies seemed to crawl out of the woodwork. We were asked the most bizarre questions. I had an upset customer the other morning. I understood why she was upset, but it just went to the next level. Long story short, she accused me of being a "fake company" - one that sits in a basement somewhere stealing credit card numbers. I have a great customer who wanted to place an order, and I just dropped the ball in some ways. I forgot that nothing was shipping with the month being closed, and she was watching and waiting for her tracking numbers. She was very understanding about it, and I told her they'd go today. Then I come to find out that our shipper took the day off. I tracked down the department manager, and he was kind enough to get them out. This morning, I got yelled at by the boss. Never fun. It was an honest "mistake", and we later discussed it and came to an understanding, but the little voice inside me that said I should have stayed in bed today was correct.

On the good side, after years of paying in heavily to the IRS, it appears we may be getting some back - yay! I have to confirm that with the accountant, but I'm a happy camper. It's also looking like that vacation fund we set up was a good idea. We're finally going to be able to travel this year, for the first time in ages (more than just weekend junkets). We've got a few things lined up, including our long-awaited return to Caesar's after a 6 year absence. First up, if everything works out, will be a nice extended weekend in Cleveland to meet up with friends (some coming a great distance) and to do some dead malling with said friends.

I gave in and bought a scale for the house, at Nelson's request. He's tired of running up the road to weigh in. Having it in my house goes against every fiber of my being, but in some ways he's right, and if it keeps him on track (which helps keep me on track) then I'll deal. Sunday is the day to step on it. Yesterday, I thought I'd sneak a peak. I'm sure the neighbors heard my cry of "HOW THE $#$%)(*^ DID I GAIN 5 POUNDS IN 4 DAYS!!!!!?????!!!!!". Now I know better - I'm sure it was fluid or something, but in the early morning psyche of a non-morning person, it makes little difference.

I was feeling pretty bummed today. It was the end of a long week, and the highs and lows were having me pretty drug out. Then Nelson came home and said that he didn't have to do fleet maintenance until Sunday, so did I want to go malling tomorrow - just name the place. I said "How about Park City in Lancaster? Haven't been there in a decade or so." He said "It's not outlets, is it?". I replied that I don't do outlets, and that Park City is a super regional (and not dead) mall - 2nd largest one in the area, out side of King Of Prussia. He said "Let's do it".

And now all is right with the world...... ; )