Counting down....

Music: Thunder
3:30p

It's been an interesting week. Where I last left off, I was about to face the second jury summons in 5 years. I went in, spent all day waiting, only to be told that my group wouldn't be needed, as the court reached a verdict without the need for us. Awesome! I'm free! I went home, shedding off my dress clothes as I went. Freedom! No, I wasn't happy at all. :P

I managed to spend the last of my vacation with friends, adding to all the stuff I did while on vacation. And I wish it would have lasted longer: going back this weekend was really tough. My body was happy to be back on its 'normal' schedule, but once again, the weirdness that only I can conjure up made sure I knew that I was truly back at work. Friday left me totally exhausted after 11 days of rest, and of course we got off late. I hit my numbers with what strength I had left, and just could not drive any more. Saturday was a strange day. After not having enough freight to haul on the docks (bad enough we had 'extra help' from Shipping, taking all our very little production), I was sent across the street. I had forgotten just how empty, dark, eerie, quiet, and backwards Phase 1 was. The last time I was there was a year ago, training as a hauler, then coming right back a couple weeks later to see for the first time what the building is like when it's actually full, during peak season. I was completely lost then, and that didn't change. After finding the only PE amongst the row of machines, I took off for B shipping. After asking for directions with where the freight was going, I was set. Most everything went to the same spot, making hauling *very* boring. So quiet, and dark, but not having to worry about other traffic! For that part, it was nice.

Things were going good, and I was happy to be making production (thanks to double-stacked hauls). DTS had started over there, and the freight was all easy hauls. I pulled in to grab a single pallet, and the PE started tipping. Whoa...so I dropped the forks, and stared down the pallet. What the hell? The pallet was fine! Even with the ground, nothing loose, no wood. A fellow hauler passed by then, and pointed down. I looked down..and followed the cord to my scan gun...it wasn't where it should be, tucked safely in my box, but...

I'd just run over my scan gun. Not just run over, but smashed. Congratulations, Jamie Lynn, you're having an awesome day! Glass from the gun covered the floor, and the gun was done for. I'd run over guns before, but caught them before I could do much damage. I'd never seen something so totaled like the gun was. It was twisted and mangled, and obviously not going to see the light of day again. I ran up to the office, and they had to fill out a report. I'd just destroyed a $250 dollar scan gun. Way to go, idiot. What was worse, I had to wait for my manager to come back to the building to sign off on the report, before they could let me have another scan gun. After last break, we finally got a hold of him, and when he found me, he joked that maybe that was my sign I shouldn't be leaving. I got a new gun, and found a safer place for it this time. After a couple more bumps, I managed to hit my numbers, but just barely. 

Sunday was an awful day for numbers; the trailer count just wasn't there, and that means no freight. I didn't even pull 175. I was super disappointed, and I tried all afternoon to get out, to save myself the stress of finding production, but I kept having to do housekeeping. Why he didn't just let us leave, I have no clue. After this weekend, I'm glad I got the QA job, and I've been told all weekend just how hard it is to get in to QA. I believe it, but I'm just glad I had the seniority. So many things I won't have to worry about, but hoping I just get to verify and scan freight. Feeling hopeful. :) 

This will be my last full weekend hauling, so I have to get my kicks in one last time! A new chapter awaits....

For now, I'm off to go wreak havoc in Cypress with my family. Until next time....