Archive for October, 2010

You would not believe…

Sunday, October 31st, 2010

We have worked 3 days in the FC(Fulfillment Center) and as promised it is a very busy place with some cool equipment.  We don’t get to operate the equipment but still.  So far we have packed merchandise to be destroyed and packaging of items for shipment.  Paul is loving it now that we have worked on the line and it is not boring!  Our first 1 1/2 days were pretty slow with them trying to figure out where we will work.  Our second and third day we spent working in Tekho (Toys, Electronics, Kitchen, household and other)  The other is definitely interesting!  I have seen some things that I didn’t know existed.   People will order anything- toothpaste! REALLY!

So far I haven’t packed a package for one of you, but I did pack two for someone in San Jose so keep ordering and who knows.

Go GIANTS!!!!

Amazon.com

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

We arrived here on Saturday in time for the meet & greet with our representative, Alison from Amazon.com.  The meeting was informal and went over some of their expectations, answer our questions, get schedules and take a competency test.  I hate test but inspite of myself I passed!  The test reminded me of a psychology test where you identified pictures.  We also received our schedule and to Paul’s disappointment we did not get nights so our schedule is W-Sat. 7 am till 5:30 pm with a 30 minute lunch and two 15 minute breaks. 

Sunday was our first day of training and then our first day on the floor was today.  They also have a program where as senior employees we can only work 1/2 days our first week and 3/4 days the second week.  Paul and I decided we would see if we needed that.  Unfortunately, as seniors we also are not to be pickers who walk up to 15 miles each shift!  We get to have the jobs where you stand and scan or pack items for shipping – boring!!!  Apparently they have had problems with seniors making the quota’s or quitting! 

Anyway our first day was sort of slow and they moved us from shipping where you stand and put books in envelopes and add labels to Vendor returns where we get to pickup bins of old merchandise, count them, scan them and put them into boxes to ship back to the vendor.  Once the box is sealed we get to walk it to the pallet where we stack them.  Not much walking here either but everyone seems good with the job except ME!  After lunch at 11:30 we get our next break at 2:30!  By 1 pm I was ready for that next break – should have gone home at lunch like they offered!

So, at 2 pm, there was a big lull in the busy work and Paul tells the supervisor that we are opting for the 3/4 day this week as my back was starting to pain me!  I feel like such a wimp BUT my back was starting to spasm which it has a couple of times since my fall last summer.  So, being the youngest of these seniors again I am shown up by men and women (some who look like they have not exercised in years!).  How do they do it!  I am thinking Valium!! I’m not taking drugs but a few cocktails may just what is needed to keep me going through this current situation.  Sometimes when I get a moment to not concentrate on what the screen or scanner is saying I will think happy thoughts of some of the adventures we have had this year.

Enjoying the ocean breeze with our friends Connie & Charles near Pacific Grove

Paul standing infront of one of my favorite beaches

Charles & Connie - Brrrrrr....

Besides working I am hoping to get to golf a little however this week the temperature was not even 50 degrees!  The golf course is right here within walking distance of the RV park and the rate (according to a nice gentleman in the sales office) is $20 riding for 18 holes!  I keep telling Paul, let me golf 4 days a week and I will get way more exercise than standing  in front of a screen and scanning!  No luck yet, but I am not done working on him!!!

Fernley is in the desert and the scenery around here is pretty baren.  Yesterday we took a short drive and found the Carson River with the most beautiful trees that were just beginning to turn fall colors.

Fall colors on the Carson River

Fall is just beginning but the temps say Winter!

We work the next two days and then we get 3 off!  I sure hope I can stand the pressure and not think about the golf course just waiting for me!

So wish me luck for the next several weeks while I see what my body (and mind!) can handle. 

This is what Paul considers when he is standing there scanning or just anytime!

Hmmmm.....

Fernley, Nevada

Saturday, October 23rd, 2010

If you were paying attention to the weather you know it snowed in the Sierra’s today. 

Donner Summit October 2010

So much for hoping the snow waits till January when we are safely back in California!  I arrived at the RV park about 2 pm and we passed our conpetency test so we are good to go with tomorrow being our planned orientation at Amazon.com.  The good news is we are not working the night shift so we will be up at 5:30 am and on our way to WORK by 6:30 am.  Wish us luck!!!

Home Sweet Home

Friday, October 22nd, 2010
I am always excited to come home.  Having the opportunity to travel like we do is so amazing but there is still no place like home!    We arrived in Morgan Hill on Tuesday night after a quick stop to see my mom & dad in Hanford. 
We stayed at the dealership in Morgan Hill so Paul could do some technical support on site.  We also spend Thursday with friends from Branson touring the wine country of Gilroy and then dinner in Moss Landing, a short drive to Monterey and Santa Cruz.  It was so cold we never really got out of the car other than to take a quick photo.
Stephanie arrived on Thursday and spent a nice long weekend with us.  We had dinner with friends, golfed and then had a GRAND dinner with just our family at Magiano’s in Santana Row.  We had enough leftovers for most of us to have lunch and dinner the next day!  Thanks to Nick and his discount!

Stephanie left on Monday night after dinner with the Deckert’s and Paul left for Stockton Tuesday night after happy hour in Sunnyvale.  I was left to run errands.  And, yesterday I got in another 9 holes!  I played so much better than in Albuquerque that I think I might actually start enjoying this game again.

Today I am off to see about getting the car repaired from our BEAR incident in New York and then I will head to the mountains with one last stop in Coloma before arriving in Fernley for 9 weeks of HELL!  Hopefully it isn’t hell but I am very nervous

Flying Kangaroos' in Albuquerque

I love this photo!  Can you tell I really loved the balloon fiesta?

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010
 For the past 12 days we have had the time of our lives getting up at dawn and falling into bed by 9 pm! We get up at 5 am, arrive at the launch field by 6 am, ready the balloon to fly, watch it lift off into the sky with 500 other balloons of all sizes & shapes,  load into chase vehicles and try to follow the flight on city streets until the pilot finds a suitable landing field, load up the balloon, return to the launch field for some celebration and then home usually by noon for rest, happy hour and return to the field about 5:30 pm for evening activities that range from fireworks, balloon glows and dinner.  We get home about 8:30 pm and fall into bed after setting the alarm to rise again at 5 am and do it all over again!

So many balloons

Paul helps to raise the envelope (balloon)

Dawn Patrol

Dawn Patrol starts the morning flights

Over 500 balloons participated this year

Zebra's are like refs; they are incharge of sending the balloons into the air

 Thursday morning I took a break from the early morning festivites and got to sleep in until 7 am when I heard the burners overhead and had to look outside to see what was happening.  The sky was full of balloons.  It was the shapes rodeo and they were all flying our way with a lot of them landing in our field. 

The bumblebees had a baby this year!

The Wicked Witch- my personal favorite

The lighthouse passed right over our RV

Character Balloons landing in my yard

Between launching balloons and partying we did get out a little to see Old Town Albuquerque and a few wineries.  In Old Town we ate in a mexican restaurant that had one of the best chili releno’s I have ever had.  I also spent one afternoon wine tasting and found some very good Cab and Port.  They were too expensive to buy, $45 for the Cab and $41 for the Port – maybe someday when we hit the lottery!  The view of the Sandia Mountains from the Corrales Winery “Almost” reminded me of Napa Valley.  The Cab here was spectacular for only $25.  Bought only one bottle and drank it!  We are out of good wine.  Can’t wait to get to CA and restock!

Corrales Winery

Paul’s sister and her kids, Sarah & Eric came down for the last weekend of the fiesta.  They tried to crew for a balloon on Sunday but the balloon they were assigned had a crash on Saturday, landing in trees and destroying their balloon so they didn’t get to crew but saw a lot of balloons fly.

Balloons over my House

A fine landing for the Kangaroo

Flying

Saturday, October 2nd, 2010

Yesterday was an amazing day.  We were up at 5:00 and out the door by 5:30 heading out to see a couple Hot Air Balloons being flown from a local elementary school here in Albuquerque.  We helped crew  a couple of balloons and they we loaded into the chase vehicle and proceeded to follow the balloon around Albuquerque until it landed somewhere in the desert.    The balloon landed in someones backyard!  The kids were squealing; the dogs barking!!!  Then…..     

     

I got to fly all over the desert of Albuquerque!!!  So cool!  Next was a trip to Albuquerque International Airport to pick up Amy who is spending the weekend with us here.  Then in the afternoon we took a ride on the Sandia Tram       

Sandia Tram

 

An overwhelming day!  We were in bed by 9 pm!!! And up again this morning by 4:45 so we could watching opening ceremonies of the Balloon Fiesta  with over 500 balloons all in the air together!     

     

    

   

 

Wish you all could see this.  We are off to happy hour, Twinkle Glow and then bed by 9 so we can get up tomorrow and do it all again!