Well, more to consider in the decision to stay or go. I have not heard from the other store yet, but most likely won't until early next week. In my current department, I was given a person that I did not think would be an asset for a long time. This person's background was as far from electrical as the sun is from Alpha Centauri. But they proved me quite wrong. I am finding this person to be very reliable, consistent and thorough. I believe they will never be knowledgeable about electrical equipment or wiring, but there is a lot of other important things to do in the department other than being saavy about electricity. And we really don't need electrical experts anyway. If you don't already know what you are doing you need to stay AWAY from your electricity and let someone who knows how do it.
The other surprise to me today was the possibility to have as a team leader someone who is extremely knowledgeable about the products, especially in rough electrical. If that happens, I am going to have to take a hard look at what the other store offers me to switch. I believe, that with the two new people I have, and getting the schedules of the three part time people ironed out I can saturate the department with excellent coverage and push the department up several levels.
The department is in OK shape now, but there are a lot of issues, mostly tending towards the minor side, that need addressed. Some of them affect sales, I am sure. And those I need to get straight immediately.
So we wait to see what the package offered will be.
I hope to get some good pictures on this 5 day mini vacation we are taking. We plan to return to Gettysburg on Monday, spend the night there, exactly 36 years since the first night of the other nights we spent in Gettysburg on our short honeymoon. Then return home on Tuesday.
If I do get some thoughtful pics, especially of Gettysburg, I'll post some. If you really are not familiar with the events at Gettysburg you owe it to yourself to read about them. This nation is in very large part what it is today because of Gettysburg. Other battles as well, but Gettysburg is the epicenter of those terrible days of brothers against brothers.
Cheers.
7.31.2008
7.26.2008
Details
Since most parties involved now know what is brewing, I can let the rest of the world in on it. On Tuesday another Lowe's store called me and asked me to talk to them about the manager's position in their electrical department. I told them that I had just been named manager of the electrical department in my own store. Long story shortened, I have met with the store manager of both stores and it now sits in the other store manager's hands. My manager is OK with me leaving because the move would be advantageous to me in several ways. But the advantages are not major. So stay or move, I will be happy. A new adventure is always rife with excitement and apprehension. I just want to get settled in as manager and begin growing a department. I believe I have learned enough and will learn a lot more that will benefit the department. Either department.
Today was supposed to be my first day as manager in my department, but there were no visible changes. They have not given me a new name tag yet nor have they given me the computer privileges as far as I know. I also do not have a card department managers carry to help with over-rides at the registers. That part I can do without for sure. The computer privileges will enable me to better fine tune inventory as needed. The name tag, well, I'm not not much for name tags with positional status anyway. I have always liked the fact that every employee of Lowe's wore the same color vest (well with the exception of the PSAs). We talk of being a team a lot, and by not having overt distinctions between the different levels we are seen more as a team by customers. My opinion.
I am a hands on person, regardless of my position, anyway. When I was a field service manager for Diskriter I had my own territory of computers to take care of. I wasn't a bossing manager. Nor will I be here.
More when it happens. Daniel and I took a 3 mile walk yesterday evening back over the large hill behind us. Took us about an hour to cover the distance. It is so very peaceful behind this ridge line that is just 500 yards or so west of us. You pop over the ridge and into a valley that could be a thousand miles from paved roads. No traffic sounds. Just birds chirping, a dog or two barking at whatever they need to, cows mooing at us as we walk by their domain. Sure makes me wish we had looked there for a house. Probably couldn't have found one. There are about 6 or 7 on the entire road. But one of our neighbors bought some land and built a new home. They have a driveway that looks like it's a quarter of a mile or more. Just a very serene setting.
Lots of places like that left here in Virginia. I am so glad most of the country moved on west!!
Today was supposed to be my first day as manager in my department, but there were no visible changes. They have not given me a new name tag yet nor have they given me the computer privileges as far as I know. I also do not have a card department managers carry to help with over-rides at the registers. That part I can do without for sure. The computer privileges will enable me to better fine tune inventory as needed. The name tag, well, I'm not not much for name tags with positional status anyway. I have always liked the fact that every employee of Lowe's wore the same color vest (well with the exception of the PSAs). We talk of being a team a lot, and by not having overt distinctions between the different levels we are seen more as a team by customers. My opinion.
I am a hands on person, regardless of my position, anyway. When I was a field service manager for Diskriter I had my own territory of computers to take care of. I wasn't a bossing manager. Nor will I be here.
More when it happens. Daniel and I took a 3 mile walk yesterday evening back over the large hill behind us. Took us about an hour to cover the distance. It is so very peaceful behind this ridge line that is just 500 yards or so west of us. You pop over the ridge and into a valley that could be a thousand miles from paved roads. No traffic sounds. Just birds chirping, a dog or two barking at whatever they need to, cows mooing at us as we walk by their domain. Sure makes me wish we had looked there for a house. Probably couldn't have found one. There are about 6 or 7 on the entire road. But one of our neighbors bought some land and built a new home. They have a driveway that looks like it's a quarter of a mile or more. Just a very serene setting.
Lots of places like that left here in Virginia. I am so glad most of the country moved on west!!
7.24.2008
Toy troubles
Boys and their toys. We bought Giann an HP laptop last August from an Internet store out of Miami which she was quite happy with. Until the hard drive quit on June 2. The online store is, you guessed it, no longer to be found by Internet or by phone. So I am going around the dance floor with HP trying to get a new drive and WinXP for it. I can replace the drive with no problems, and load the software, but I need both.
I won an auction on a combination belt/disk sander about a week ago and it still does not come up as shipped. It does show that USPS was electronically contacted for pickup, but USPS does not show any action, pickup or otherwise, of the sander.
So, the more toys you have the more maintenance you have. Living with nothing does have small perks. But I guess I'd rather have some thing at least. Don't need too many.
I am also waiting on a answer about a career development. And that has my mind churning today. Ack! So much for days off to relax.
I did get, this morning, a pair of shoes I ordered yesterday. I think I can do my own advertising here, if you buy shoes you might want to check this place out. http://www.zappos.com/.
We had thunderstorms move through the area Tuesday evening and most of Wednesday and today is absolutely beautiful. Temps in the mid 70s, clear blue, Carolina blue, skies and a slight breeze. If my knees wouldn't protest so much I'd take Daniel dog for an extended walk around the village. May in spite of them protesting. There's always Advil and Ben Gay. The grass has finished it's mad reach for the heavens and doesn't need mowed on my day off. I actually can let it wait until next week's days off. Bushes need trimmed out front, but they will wait as well.
Enough already. Be gone wid ya. Wadda doin wastin my time?
I won an auction on a combination belt/disk sander about a week ago and it still does not come up as shipped. It does show that USPS was electronically contacted for pickup, but USPS does not show any action, pickup or otherwise, of the sander.
So, the more toys you have the more maintenance you have. Living with nothing does have small perks. But I guess I'd rather have some thing at least. Don't need too many.
I am also waiting on a answer about a career development. And that has my mind churning today. Ack! So much for days off to relax.
I did get, this morning, a pair of shoes I ordered yesterday. I think I can do my own advertising here, if you buy shoes you might want to check this place out. http://www.zappos.com/.
We had thunderstorms move through the area Tuesday evening and most of Wednesday and today is absolutely beautiful. Temps in the mid 70s, clear blue, Carolina blue, skies and a slight breeze. If my knees wouldn't protest so much I'd take Daniel dog for an extended walk around the village. May in spite of them protesting. There's always Advil and Ben Gay. The grass has finished it's mad reach for the heavens and doesn't need mowed on my day off. I actually can let it wait until next week's days off. Bushes need trimmed out front, but they will wait as well.
Enough already. Be gone wid ya. Wadda doin wastin my time?
7.21.2008
It's all in the timing
I had an interesting thing happen to me today. Less than a week after being informed of my new position as manager of electrical, and less than a week before my duties as manager officially start, another store's HR manager called to tell me their electrical manager position was being posted and they would like to talk to me about it.
I had interviewed with this other Lowe's for a manager's position in a different department because I wanted to relocate so my driving mileage and time to work was reduced. That position was not offered to me at that time. Now the position I REALLY wanted is open.
Oh well. Might be a reason for the timing. I am going to stay put. I have a lot to learn about being a manager of a department without having to learn a new store which is laid out differently and learn a lot of new names and personalities.
I really like the store I am in, and like the people I work with. I am a bit apprehensive about tinkering with those two parameters. I believe I get along with most everyone and I appreciate my managers and their work ethics.
So, staying put for a while.
Nothing new done with the camera lately. I need to take some pictures and post them. I am in the middle of a project to put a railing up on the front porch. It is mainly to keep Daniel from wrapping himself around one of the porch columns. But it will add a little pizazz to the front I think. I am off Wednesday and Thursday and I hope to have it finished.
I think our next major project around here is the family room. We want to remove the half height paneling and pink carpeting. I sure hope the previous owners got the deal of a lifetime on the carpet because it is beat senseless ugly.
Georgiann and I are going to Lancaster PA on the 2nd of August. An interesting place, Lancaster. Just down the road from Fertility, Bird in Hand, Intercourse, and Strasburg. And not but a few minutes east of Gettysburg. Between 46,000 and 51,000 lives were lost in the three day battle around the town of Gettyburg. A very solemn and sacred place to visit.
Maybe I'll have pictures of that. Cheers.
I had interviewed with this other Lowe's for a manager's position in a different department because I wanted to relocate so my driving mileage and time to work was reduced. That position was not offered to me at that time. Now the position I REALLY wanted is open.
Oh well. Might be a reason for the timing. I am going to stay put. I have a lot to learn about being a manager of a department without having to learn a new store which is laid out differently and learn a lot of new names and personalities.
I really like the store I am in, and like the people I work with. I am a bit apprehensive about tinkering with those two parameters. I believe I get along with most everyone and I appreciate my managers and their work ethics.
So, staying put for a while.
Nothing new done with the camera lately. I need to take some pictures and post them. I am in the middle of a project to put a railing up on the front porch. It is mainly to keep Daniel from wrapping himself around one of the porch columns. But it will add a little pizazz to the front I think. I am off Wednesday and Thursday and I hope to have it finished.
I think our next major project around here is the family room. We want to remove the half height paneling and pink carpeting. I sure hope the previous owners got the deal of a lifetime on the carpet because it is beat senseless ugly.
Georgiann and I are going to Lancaster PA on the 2nd of August. An interesting place, Lancaster. Just down the road from Fertility, Bird in Hand, Intercourse, and Strasburg. And not but a few minutes east of Gettysburg. Between 46,000 and 51,000 lives were lost in the three day battle around the town of Gettyburg. A very solemn and sacred place to visit.
Maybe I'll have pictures of that. Cheers.
7.19.2008
The Dark Knight
Todd and I went to see THE movie of the season according to the critics. Yes, it was a good movie. If you are really into Batman (which I am) and really into action flicks (which I am NOT) it should be on your list of must see.
While it is a lot more cerebral than any other super hero show I have seen, it was short on plot and story line in my opinion. Being a literary person with an education in English I am much more intrigued by intricate plots and subplots. Like the books "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown and "Map of Bones" by James Rollins. I have the DVD of "The Da Vinci Code" starring Tom Hanks and directed by former Opie Ron Howard and like to watch it from time to time. But that movie owes its intrigue to Howard as much as Brown. I'd like to see Howard take on "Map of Bones." Maybe I ought to suggest it to him, what say ye?
If it hadn't been for Heath Ledger's performance the Dark Knight would not have been worth my time. But, as I said, if you like action and special effects, it is a great movie for those. The scenes where Batman is running the streets at high speed in the Batmobile and on the Batcycle (whatever it was called) were well done to over done. Of course we always want chase scenes over done with cars, trucks, trains, buses, buildings and etc blowing up and tumbling end over end wrecking havoc as they go knocking people a city block into walls which fall down when hit by them.
Ledger's part was well scripted while the other lead characters seemed very flat to me. The subtle humor of the Joker leaned to the cerebral at times and on several occasions what he said had to be taken on a sub level from the obvious.
This movie would have propelled Ledger into even greater fame. It's too bad he's gone. And I understand one of the special effects guys died in a dummy film run of one of the chase scenes. An Australian named Conway Wickliffe. Wickliffe, according to NPR was a master welder of special effects and had built the entire Batmobile used in the last Batman movie.
But, LOTR remains my favorite of all time. The ultimate good verses evil fiction ever written. And yes, I watch parts of it frequently. Mostly the Helms Deep sequence in the Two Towers part of the trilogy. No matter how many times I watch it, Helms Deep survives the onslaught of Orcs.
Because the hearts of men, dwarfs and Elves were pure.
There is a lesson in there!
While it is a lot more cerebral than any other super hero show I have seen, it was short on plot and story line in my opinion. Being a literary person with an education in English I am much more intrigued by intricate plots and subplots. Like the books "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown and "Map of Bones" by James Rollins. I have the DVD of "The Da Vinci Code" starring Tom Hanks and directed by former Opie Ron Howard and like to watch it from time to time. But that movie owes its intrigue to Howard as much as Brown. I'd like to see Howard take on "Map of Bones." Maybe I ought to suggest it to him, what say ye?
If it hadn't been for Heath Ledger's performance the Dark Knight would not have been worth my time. But, as I said, if you like action and special effects, it is a great movie for those. The scenes where Batman is running the streets at high speed in the Batmobile and on the Batcycle (whatever it was called) were well done to over done. Of course we always want chase scenes over done with cars, trucks, trains, buses, buildings and etc blowing up and tumbling end over end wrecking havoc as they go knocking people a city block into walls which fall down when hit by them.
Ledger's part was well scripted while the other lead characters seemed very flat to me. The subtle humor of the Joker leaned to the cerebral at times and on several occasions what he said had to be taken on a sub level from the obvious.
This movie would have propelled Ledger into even greater fame. It's too bad he's gone. And I understand one of the special effects guys died in a dummy film run of one of the chase scenes. An Australian named Conway Wickliffe. Wickliffe, according to NPR was a master welder of special effects and had built the entire Batmobile used in the last Batman movie.
But, LOTR remains my favorite of all time. The ultimate good verses evil fiction ever written. And yes, I watch parts of it frequently. Mostly the Helms Deep sequence in the Two Towers part of the trilogy. No matter how many times I watch it, Helms Deep survives the onslaught of Orcs.
Because the hearts of men, dwarfs and Elves were pure.
There is a lesson in there!
7.16.2008
New Job
Well, I made it to my second step of three in my goals for my career with Lowe's. I was promoted to department manager today for electrical. It took me 19 months to the day. When I hired on with Lowe's and got a few weeks in I made a personal goal to be a department manager in 1 year and a zone manager in 5 years. I missed my goal of department manager by 7 months. I will have to work harder on the zone manager job. I may have set a very optimistic goal, but it is definitely possible. Others have done it in less time. What was the first step you ask. Team Leader. A necessary step towards department manager. I don't know for sure, but I think I made Team Leader in June of '07.
I have been doing most of the duties of a department manager for about 45 days now, although I have not been able to completely finish everything required. I have at least seen nearly every facet of the job and have some understanding of the hows and whys of each part. We have been very understaffed in the department for a while, and that issue is slated to be resolved soon.
That will be my greatest relief, having enough people to cover the tasks and the hours we need to cover. The money isn't/wasn't an issue for me. I'd love to make more, but we are doing OK. The status and "prestige" mean nothing to me. I am not on an ego trip. Don't need to be. I work because I need to but more than that because I like to. I manage to have fun every day at work.
If you haven't checked Chad and Lesa's blog or Jill's blogs lately you should. Both Madison and Amari are growing so fast. Very mobile now and Mari especially is becoming a handful to watch. She seems to move much faster than she actually does. At least she's into things faster than I can keep up with.
Georgiann and I are going to Pennsylvania to Amish country to celebrate our 36th anniversary. Thanks to Todd and Diana we have tickets to see the Sight and Sound productions of "In The Beginning" and "Abraham and Sarah." We will see the shows on Saturday, then stay until Monday, our anniversary, to come home. Short trip (about 5 hours I think each way) but should be fun if the weather is decent. We hope to tour the Hershey plant as well. Goodbye diet. Hello chocolate paradise. If you have never heard of Sight and Sound Theaters here is their link: http://www.sight-sound.com/WebSiteSS/getlanguages.do. They have theaters in Branson, MO as well as Strasburg, PA.
Been hoping to get some weight off to help my knees to heal so I can go biking with Todd and anyone else that wants to go. My friend Bob stopped in the other day. He is an avid runner/biker and I hope to get some miles in with him soon as well. I want to one day ride across the country on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail. Looks like fun.
Thanks for stopping by to see what's going on. No pictures this time. We don't live very exciting lives here in our sleepy little town.
I have been doing most of the duties of a department manager for about 45 days now, although I have not been able to completely finish everything required. I have at least seen nearly every facet of the job and have some understanding of the hows and whys of each part. We have been very understaffed in the department for a while, and that issue is slated to be resolved soon.
That will be my greatest relief, having enough people to cover the tasks and the hours we need to cover. The money isn't/wasn't an issue for me. I'd love to make more, but we are doing OK. The status and "prestige" mean nothing to me. I am not on an ego trip. Don't need to be. I work because I need to but more than that because I like to. I manage to have fun every day at work.
If you haven't checked Chad and Lesa's blog or Jill's blogs lately you should. Both Madison and Amari are growing so fast. Very mobile now and Mari especially is becoming a handful to watch. She seems to move much faster than she actually does. At least she's into things faster than I can keep up with.
Georgiann and I are going to Pennsylvania to Amish country to celebrate our 36th anniversary. Thanks to Todd and Diana we have tickets to see the Sight and Sound productions of "In The Beginning" and "Abraham and Sarah." We will see the shows on Saturday, then stay until Monday, our anniversary, to come home. Short trip (about 5 hours I think each way) but should be fun if the weather is decent. We hope to tour the Hershey plant as well. Goodbye diet. Hello chocolate paradise. If you have never heard of Sight and Sound Theaters here is their link: http://www.sight-sound.com/WebSiteSS/getlanguages.do. They have theaters in Branson, MO as well as Strasburg, PA.
Been hoping to get some weight off to help my knees to heal so I can go biking with Todd and anyone else that wants to go. My friend Bob stopped in the other day. He is an avid runner/biker and I hope to get some miles in with him soon as well. I want to one day ride across the country on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail. Looks like fun.
Thanks for stopping by to see what's going on. No pictures this time. We don't live very exciting lives here in our sleepy little town.
7.04.2008
A Shrinking Family
My sisters Yvonne and Ruth Ann were here a few days to visit. We had a nice time together. We managed to avoid any differences we have, so I think we all came through the visit with our love intact and no loss of attachment to each other. There are now only 6 of us left in the family, not counting our children. Just a few years ago there were 10. We lost dad first, then mom, then Frank, then Phillip. Leaving me, Georgiann, Yvonne, Susan, Ruth Ann and Jamie. I understand Susan is engaged to be married, Jamie has gone her own way which I at least understand fully. I am not necessarily happy but I do understand and find no fault with her. So out of 10 the family that will continue as a family unit may soon be down to 4. And those are pictured here.
I did not know until just now that Mari was in the picture. She is easily the prettiest one in the picture. Nice tan, as well. You can click on the picture to make it larger. Hope you have a widescreen to get all of me in.
I have not heard about when I will interview for the dept mgr position yet. I have the weekend off so it will be early next week. They want to fill the position by the end of the week. Our current mgr begins her new job on the 14th, a week from Monday. I do not know when she plans to leave our store, but she is scheduled through next week at least.
Georgiann got me a very small Sony Walkman for my birthday. It can play 33 hours of music or 9 hours of videos. It has an FM tuner as well. It is smaller than the old flip top cigarette lighters I remember people carried (like Zippos) when I was young. I think it can hold like 2000 pictures depending on how much music and videos it has on it. A cool little device. I will have to be careful not to lose it.
Gotta go to bed. More later.
I did not know until just now that Mari was in the picture. She is easily the prettiest one in the picture. Nice tan, as well. You can click on the picture to make it larger. Hope you have a widescreen to get all of me in.
I have not heard about when I will interview for the dept mgr position yet. I have the weekend off so it will be early next week. They want to fill the position by the end of the week. Our current mgr begins her new job on the 14th, a week from Monday. I do not know when she plans to leave our store, but she is scheduled through next week at least.
Georgiann got me a very small Sony Walkman for my birthday. It can play 33 hours of music or 9 hours of videos. It has an FM tuner as well. It is smaller than the old flip top cigarette lighters I remember people carried (like Zippos) when I was young. I think it can hold like 2000 pictures depending on how much music and videos it has on it. A cool little device. I will have to be careful not to lose it.
Gotta go to bed. More later.
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