[See if cut and paste works]
I have not be connected for the past week.  No wi-fi, no uploads.

10/17/2011

Large international European chemical Manufacturer, Washington, NJ

Lost in translation?

When I went to the office to pick up the shipping papers, I noticed a bank of what looks like cement bags parallel to the walkway. The bags were piled up about 4 high as if making a tiny wall/barrier.  The bags were store bought and new.  The large red label on each bag read “PLAY SAND”. 

Later while sleeping I think I figured out what was going on.  Or at least a theory. This facility has signs in bad stilted English that only barely make sense in English but probably make sense in the language of the fatherland.  So my theory is that somebody ordered the walkway to be sandbagged, a somebody was tasked with doing that.  Where does one find ‘bags of sand’?  [it is crazy but that is what the boss demanded!!!]  buy ‘bags of sand’ and place by walkway. Job done.   Or maybe somebody needed playsand for his kids and will be taking the bags home after the waters recind??

10/18

At major soap and toiletries maker, mentioned to unloader that tankwash should be glad to wash since getting rid of surfactacts (soap) should be really easy. He said that they have to have spills, offtest product,  etc hauled away.  The guy that does it (probably a ‘honey dipper’) arrives with a stinky, smelly dirty inside tanker. When questioned as to when he washed it last, the reply is that “ he is about to wash it with the load”

At the tankwash, they took my soap contaminated tanker immediately even though I was 2 hours early and there were many others to do.  Stealing an easy one from the next shift’s work??

10/19

Zanesville, Ohio – “EXOTIC ANIMALS LOOSE STAY IN CARS”  electric sign on the side of the road. Went through around 0500, radio said 50 animals from a wild life animal rescue hospital had escaped and were roaming the area.

10/20

Delivered at Muscle Shoals, Alabama.  Plastizier to a plastic manufacturer that makes among other things the plastic mats that go on top of rugs under desks for the rolling chairs to roll on.

10/21

Chattanooga, Tn.

Pickup special latex to eventually go to some place in Mexico.

The folks at this plant are amazingly nice. While reading my (last of the known Nesbo translated from Norwegian to English in Kindle format) book in their break room/cafeteria, I was continually interrupted by the query “How are we doing today?” by  each worker as they passed through. The usual answer of “fine” clearly was not a sufficient answer, for they all wanted a little chat.  All very sincere.

The  guy that signed the bills according to the typed bills has a first name of Forrest.  Yes like Forrest Gump.  He is about my age or maybe slightly younger, diffidently in his 50s.  He signed his first name as “SPEEDY”.  His last name was the same as the motel in  the movie Psycho.   

So after getting everything signed, Speedy sent me on my to Houston.  Some other poor soul will be taking the special latex to somewhere in Mexico.

10/22

In Houston, will be going back up North (sort of) to Roanoke, Va.

LOOKS LIKE THE CUT AND PASTE WORKS!!