9/30/08

Sorrysorrysorrysorry

I know, Grandma, I know. I can't say that I've been busy, because I haven't, but I have been lazy. So that's my excuse.

The weather here is changing for the better. Not that it was bad in the first place, but I really love this cool-ish light breeze kind of weather. It's been raining since Friday, which is a drag, but methinks that it will clear up by the end of the day tomorrow.

Let's catch you up with what's been going on since my last post:
I finished my two weeks in the sheetfed press room on a Thursday and headed to the Ink Systems, Inc. room. ISI is a separate company that is housed inside the plant. They're staffed by about 5 people, round-the-clock, and they serve the entire plant. We worked on matching colors to customer specs and mixing 20 lb batches of those colors-some of them by hand (with a putty knife on a counter). That lasted two days.
Next, we headed to the web press room. Web presses are huge, loud and fast. Presses are web presses when they are fed by a web (continuous stream) of paper rather than individual sheets. Some of these webs weigh over 3000 lbs. My job is to prepare the splice (get the roll ready to attach to the last roll), check ink levels and learn about the different operations. 
During the first week of the web room, we had lunch with the company president like we normally do at the end of each rotation. He asks us questions and sees what we learned in the department we just left. It's pass/fail (really, it doesn't count for anything)...we always pass.

This past weekend, Mom and Dad came to visit. Unfortunately, it rained most of the time, but we still managed to have some fun. When they first got here, I gave them a tour of the plant. After that, we went and purchased some new Corell dishes. They still sell those iris plates we used to have when I was younger. Dad is super picky about plates (of all things), so we ended up with beige round plates that are so boring, but whatever. We just eat off of them. 
On Saturday, we went to the downtown market and then to Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse. Later that day we went to church where I've been going. They had a very touching baptism service. Sunday, we went to the Strasburg railroad and museum. That was really cool. The train ride is relaxing and a great way to spend an afternoon. It was very sad to say goodbye, but time has started flying and I'll be home before mom knows it.

Great story: Went to Sonic today and ordered a large Dr. Pepper. Not only was it half-price drink time, but they were out of large cups, so I got an extra large for $.99! I can't describe how happy I was at the time.

Current tracks:
Plain White T's 1, 2, 3, 4
Casting Crowns East to West
Conor Oberst Cape Canaveral

Bye y'all! (I've been dying to say y'all. Up here, they don't get it)

9/14/08

Stop the presses!

Amy's in charge!
Not really, but I have been a press helper all of this past week. I get to press the buttons to start up the press. I also help stack paper and flip over skids of paper. I'm doing a really good job according to the other helper on my press. Apparently I learn much more quickly than the other people who go through there. I guess it's all that edumicationing I've had.
My room mate went home this weekend, so I'm all alone right now. Yesterday, I went to the downtown market and picked up a few things, including some Key Limes. I'm going to make a pie with those this afternoon. I've got a few loads of laundry to do, vacuuming and other cleaning endeavors to undertake. My roomie can't seem to do any of it herself. 
Everyone get excited! Cameron's coming home sometime between the 9th and 12th of October.
Happy (late) anniversary, G-ma and G-pa!
Happy (late) birthday, Sam.