Saturday, May 2

6:09 a.m. - Whew!  I had anticipated that package handling would kick my butt, and it did.  Last night was my first shift on the dock stacking packages in a typical truck.  We were assigned a "trainer", which was very helpful, and having Josh as my co-worker in the truck was also helpful.  We started at 4:30, and we didn't leave until around 10:00.  The whole three-day process hasn't been as effective as I think could be, but I think this facility is understaffed and lacks experience.  For example the "shift manager" informed me that he's been with the company seven years, and as I looked around last night there were many orange bands indicating new hires.  The work can be overwhelming, and it is physical, and it is fast-paced.  It's doable, but I think the learning cure is also challenging.  I can definitely see what there is a lot of turnover in employees because of the nature of the work and the pay.  $13.00 per hour may sound like a good salary, but it's a salary that is earned.  I've only been on the dock last night, but I was asked to work again on Sunday.  The incentive is an additional $2 per hour, but working four hours is an extra $8?  So the business model for shipping businesses must include a realization that employee turnover is just going to be a reality.  One thing about the new job...it's definitely going to help me jump start my weight loss efforts again!  Oh, and we were required to wear masks, and our temperatures will soon start to be taken when we enter the plant.

Today, the weather is suppose to be great, so I'll be working on the yard and working on the pool.  Amber turned the heater on yesterday, and I'm hearing that we will be having kids over.  I may not be in the pool very much today, but hopefully I can take advantage of the weather.

6:10 p.m. - Today was an accomplishment day.  I mowed the yard, sprayed weeds, vacuumed the pool, purchased chlorine, shocked the pool, cleaned up some drainage gravel, and fixed the downspout behind the kitchen.  The Harrison girls were here, so I played with them awhile too.  I started weed wacking the back 40 of the backyard, but there is still a lot of surface water, so I didn't get much accomplished.


Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (5/2)

• Illinois Stats
• February 29 was the first reported positive case in Illinois. 
• March 20, there were 585 reported positive cases.

• PREVIOUS
• 269,867 tested (+13,200); 52,918 positive (+2,563); 2,355 deaths (+140)
• 19.6% of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 4.4% of all positive cases recorded have died
• YESTERDAY
• 284,688 tested (+14,791); 56,055 positive (+3,137); 2,457 deaths (+102)
• 19.6% of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 4.3% of all positive cases recorded have died
• TODAY
• 299,896 tested (+15,208); 58,505 positive (+2,450); 2,559 deaths (+102)
• 19.5% of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 4.3% of all positive cases recorded have died
• More tests are being completed each day., and the percentage of positive cases among all tests has gone again under 20%...good news.
• Rock Island County - YESTERDAY 389 positive; 9 deaths
• TODAY - 412 positive; 9 deaths

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Paint the shed.
• Replace seals and gaskets in the pool motor.
• Fix the ditch.
• Figure out the truck spare tire.

Things At/For School

• Continue scoring research papers  - 3 sections down; 2 to go
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

Prayer for My Heart

Holy Spirit...

Help me have... 

    a pure heart, that I may see thee;
    a humble heart, that I may hear you;
    a heart of love, that I may serve you;
    a heart of faith, that I may abide in you.

• Amen

2020 - E-Learning - Day 21

9:35 a.m. -  Today is an e-learning institute day, which really doesn't mean much different for me except my "official hours" are 8 a.m.-1 p.m., and I have a virtual staff meeting at 10:30 a.m.  I hope to get a few things done and maybe start to tackle the last period of research papers.  The weather is suppose to be nicer, so I might do a couple of outdoor projects...I need to spray roundup around the house and pool, and I need to spread some weed and feed on the front yard, but I may wait for better conditions to do those things.

Last night, I had Day 2 of my orientation at FedEx.  I must admit, I have mixed emotions.  I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, but any new experiences has those feelings.  We finally completed a walk-through of the facility, and the automation to collecting, sorting, and distributing the packages is impressive.  I'm hoping we aren't expected to load trucks anytime soon because that appears a little intimidating.  While watching the training video, I was reminded of my hay stacking days.  I was surprised that there weren't more instructions on measures to prevent Covid 19 outbreaks.  I would think there would be more of a sincere effort to decrease the chances of workers contracting the virus, but there really wasn't.  It pretty much amounted to pointing us to a table that would have masks, gloves, and sanitizer.  I can't imagine that they are cleaning that building every 24 hours like the probably need to do.  My guess is the same problem occurs at the meat packing plants.  It's not a matter of if the virus shows up, it's a matter of when and to whom and how to deal with someone who contracts the virus.  Basically, it's trying to keep the infection as limited as possible in order to keep the plant running, but I think folks need to be paid through their recovery.  It's almost like being injured on the job, right?  If I was injured on the job, the company would take care of me and continue to pay me my salary with the intention that I would return to work as soon as I was physically able.  Tonight we actually start being trained on the dock floor, so that will be interesting.  Oh, and I'm getting direct deposit, but even that was automated.  We didn't give our information to someone who took care of it; instead, we got onto a computer and did everything ourselves.  I'm finding it interesting to see how the industry is attempting to make everything more effective and efficient.  Even the trucks themselves are manufactured to get as many possible packages loaded as possible, and equipment is used to move the boxes as much as possible with automation.  Unfortunately, though, automation and innovation haven't yet figured out a way to load and unload trailers more efficiently than humans.

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (5/1)
People with assault rifles are protesting on the grounds of the state capitol...seriously?  This may be the subject of my next blog entry.

• Illinois Stats
• February 29 was the first reported positive case in Illinois. 
• March 20, there were 585 reported positive cases.

• PREVIOUS
• 256,667 tested (+14,478); 50,355 positive (+2,253); 2,215 deaths (+90)
• 19.6% of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 4.3% of all positive cases recorded have died
• YESTERDAY
• 269,867 tested (+13,200); 52,918 positive (+2,563); 2,355 deaths (+140)
• 19.6% of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 4.4% of all positive cases recorded have died
• TODAY
• 284,688 tested (+14,791); 56,055 positive (+3,137); 2,457 deaths (+102)
• 19.6% of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 4.3% of all positive cases recorded have died
• More tests are being completed each day., and the percentage of positive cases among all tests has gone again under 20%...good news.
• Rock Island County - YESTERDAY 377 positive; 9 deaths
• TODAY - 389; 9

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Paint the shed.
• Replace seals and gaskets in the pool motor.
• Fix the drain spout.
• Fix the ditch.
• Figure out the truck spare tire.

Things At/For School

• Continue scoring research papers  - 3 sections down; 2 to go
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

Prayer for My Heart

Holy Spirit...

Help me have... 

    a pure heart, that I may see thee;
    a humble heart, that I may hear you;
    a heart of love, that I may serve you;
    a heart of faith, that I may abide in you.

• Amen

2020 - E-Learning - Day 18

6:09 a.m. I woke up early, and Bella and Stormy decided they needed some breakfast.  Weather is going to change today, so getting out early for a walk is on the agenda.

• Possible
• Check out the "strong app"
• Scheduled
• 
  
• Other
• 4/29 5 p.m. orientation at FedEx Ground

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (4/28)

When all this COVID 19 shelter-at-home stuff started, the main emphasis was "bending the curve".  Maybe there wasn't a clear definition, though, of what exactly that meant.  Many states are not following the federal guidelines of 14 days of reduced cases before easing restrictions.  Iowa is beginning to reopen some counties but not others, which I find interesting, but I get it.  If I'm a person in a county that has never had a positive case, why should my county be restricted?  On the other hand, if a neighboring county has cases, will people just jump the county line to have fewer restrictions and then infect others?  The next couple of weeks are going to be interesting....have we bent the curve enough in this country, or are we easing restrictions too soon, which will just make this whole thing eventually even longer?

• Illinois Stats
• February 29 was the first reported positive case in Illinois. 
• March 20, there were 585 reported positive cases.

• TWO DAYS AGO
• 214, 952 tested (+13,335); 43, 903 positive (+2,126); 1,933 deaths (+59)
• 20.4% of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 4.4 % of all positive cases recorded have died
• TODAY
• 242,189 tested (+27,237); 48,102 positive (+4,199); 2,125 deaths (+192)
• 19.8% of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 4.4% of all positive cases recorded have died
• Numbers are all better again...I hope this keeps going.

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Paint the shed.
• Replace seals and gaskets in the pool motor.
• Fix the drain spout.
• Fix the ditch.
• Figure out the truck spare tire.

Things At/For School

• Continue scoring research papers  - 3 sections down; 2 to go
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

Prayer for My Heart

You who are over us and also one of us,

You who are...
Help me have... 

    a pure heart, that I may see thee;
    a humble heart, that I may hear you;
    a heart of love, that I may serve you;
    a heart of faith, that I may abide in you.

• Amen