TEST ME AND SEE....

The joys of job hunting aren’t what they are cracked up to be! I find it’s rather tiring to negotiate for everything, even if I am in a Union, where the Union is supposed to fight for me. Ironically, the Union isn’t even going up to BAT for me! I’ve been doing that on my own!

I have been in contact with 3 Mechanical Contractors; trying to sell myself. I suppose I’m like every other “Joe” out there who thinks he’s worth more than the offer. If they would just put me on the payroll and try me out, I could prove to them what I’m worth. Apparently, they aren’t biting today!

This reminds me of the passage of scripture in Malachi 3:10 that talks about our responsibility to “tithe” to the Lord. He says, “Bring the whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this”, says Yahweh of hosts. “if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough for.”

I know many Christians who have little faith to believe that passage and actually put it to the test in their lives. I have been saying to potential employers, “test me and see…”. I am NOT God who can most certainly “deliver”. I am but a man who can only do his best.

I say, “try me and see”. I bet you have thought this of yourself, also. Right? I am convinced that God will supply me with a blessing.

So, how is your giving??

A QUICK POST for those of you who want to know......

My job search is going well. I have contacted two potential employers and both have offered me a job. The second contact gave me the best offer that amply matches what I have had for the past 10 years. I have also had a third offer that is the best of all, except that it pays much less into the change purse and would not add to my retirement....however, it would be the most fullfilling of anything I've ever done.

So, because of my financial obligations, I am very likely to take the second offer as soon as the paperwork is processed and I take a look at the details. If all goes well I will be working there next week.

CHOW!

Make A Wish …

To Orlando, Florida

My grandson, Aaron, received his “wish” from the Make A Wish Foundation for a trip to Disney World. It began with a kickoff luncheon Saturday the 3rd of February. His pick was The Mongolian Grill, one of his favorite places.

The Wish Coordinators presented Aaron and his family with everything they needed to enjoy a week in Disney world. The limited edition ball cap for Aaron would identify him as the recipient of the wish and the large blue buttons would give them preferential treatment in all Disney Theme Parks. He would be treated like a King! Virtually anything he wants will be given to him, including unlimited rides, free food, lodging, medical treatment if needed, and all the frills that go along with this special vacation.

The day began Saturday morning, February 10, 2007, with a big, white stretch limousine pulling up in front of the house and a tall, older gentleman, dressed smartly in a suit and smiling like he had won the lottery, stepped out to greet Aaron. He and his younger brother, his Mom and Dad, were taken to the airport for their flight to Orlando, Florida.

Deb and I we privileged to be a part of this adventure. We bought airline tickets several days ago, arranged for our stay in a Worldmark condominium and purchased Disney Theme Park Tickets in downtown Portland. Our youngest son will be flying from Dallas, Texas to join us in Orlando. This would be an exciting adventure!

Their stay in Orlando was at a facility called “Give Kids The World”. It was an amazing place! The Duplex was very roomy, the food was excellent, the volunteer staff members were extremely nice, and everything was perfect. It was also, ALL FREE!

The Theme Parks were not overly crowded as this was school season and the weather was rainy. We grandparents joined them Sunday morning and rode together (as they had free parking passes). We spent the day at “Animal Kingdom”. It was great! We came back in the early evening and had a Devotional together in the Duplex. Afterwards we enjoyed a free dinner (Pot Roast with mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, salad, etc…..).

Monday we parked at Epcot and rode the Monorail to the Magic Kingdom and enjoyed a myriad of rides and stuff. As evening fell, we hopped onto the Monorail again and went to Epcot to catch a few rides and the Laser Light Show on the Lake. It was amazing!!

Tuesday we returned to Epcot to enjoy more rides and a little rain. We loaded up in the afternoon and went to MGM Studios for more rides and their Laser Light Show that evening.

Wednesday came early as we headed for the airport for our trip back to Portland. The kids would remain behind enjoying 3 more days in the Theme parks, where they were treated even better than before.

The very cool thing about all of it was that Aaron and crew would be ushered past the crowds waiting in line for rides, to the front of the line! Yes! No Waiting!! That was pretty cool!

We are very grateful to Make A Wish for their generous gift to our grandson’s family! It was a very special treat for him to go to Disneyworld. It was a trip of a lifetime! Aaron had a wonderful time and enjoyed himself immensely. He remained in fair health during the whole ordeal and was able to make some great memories.

Thanks to everyone who played a role in this event, especially to those of you who are faithful to keep him in your prayers! They did work!!

May God bless all of you who give to kids!

Job Security II..... The Axe.

There's an old saying that says, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life". I suppose that's true for the most part. Some people, however, soak their whole life into being somebody, or something, and when that comes to an end, so does their life. It reminds me of investors during the big crash of the stock market in the 1930's. They woke up one morning and found their entire fortunes were gone. Everything that they "were" was no more. Many committed suicide by bailing out of upper story windows because of their great "depression". Others would hang in there and make a go out of what was left. Still, others who had no $fortunes simply found that life was a little bit harder now and food was more scarce.

The Vice President of the company I worked for came upstairs yesterday afternoon about 3:00 PM and handed me my final check. I suppose I could have been fired for commiting a crime against the company, had I committed a crime. I could have been fired for insubordination, if I had been. Perhaps I could have even been fired for failing to meet "quotas". But, it was really none of the above. I was fired because the company eliminated my position, because it wasn't profitable.

I find it interesting that there was no prior discussion of my job with me. No one took the time to tell me that they were considering eliminating our department, and me. There were no options proposed; no questions asked. They have no problem with what I do in my "warranty" department, except that I make no profit. Duh!

Prior to my position as Service Manager, I was a service technician who went about doing the same things I have been ordering my employees to do since 1999. I was a good mechanic; good enough to be paid top dollar by the owner for what I do. I was "loyal". I received no pay increase when I became manager, but I was okay with that part.

I guess my question now is, why does it have to be "all or nothing"? I am content to go back "to the tools" and do hands on work; in fact that's what I will probably do. The VP asked if I was willing to take a cut in pay and go out on jobs and work like everyone else. I told him that was exactly what I intended to do with any other company. So he said to hold off until Monday, keep the cell phone and he would talk to the other VP. I said okay. I will do that for now because I know that "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush". If I can continue to work for this company, I will have ample time to locate another company to go to work for without having to be off work for a short period of time.

Now, the really interesting thing is that after I was fired, I still had the duty to lock up the out buildings, making sure everything was secure for the weekend and "set the alarm". I went inside and said goodbye to Katherine, who was crying. Most everyone had left by now, but the VP was still there, talking to someone in his office. I waited around for him to give me a ride home, but he was "too busy". I told Kat that I should just take my company van home and the VP could come and get it. I thought about that for a second and decided that was a good ideal.

So I did. Now I have the weekend to decide what I want to do.

This is Dawson….
my Grandson of the Heart.

I’ve been holding him since his birth.

We have grown very attached to each other.

I can’t imagine my life without him in it.

We have a lot of fun together.

He comes running to me...

through a crowd of people for a hug.
He loves Multnomah Falls

And helping me build a fire in our Fireplace.

He loves to read.

He giggles when I pretend to “bite his ear”.

He sits on my lap and falls asleep in my arms.

Love is about relationship.

I am his “Papa”.

Job Security……

There are many things in life that are fleeting; life, love, property, freedom and security, just to name a few. We aren’t guaranteed to have anything last forever on this earth. We certainly do enjoy being secure in something because it gives us a feeling of…..uhhh…. uhhh….well…security! Oftentimes we go through periods of enjoying various securities, yet they seldom last long.

Financial security is important to us because we look ahead in life and see a lifestyle that we want or need. But, we can’t have financial security unless we have job security to go along with it (unless we are independently wealthy, of course!). So, in a sense, everything works together and when something breaks down, it seems to shoot us down in other areas, too.

I have been in battle with my feelings the past three days about job security. At my age, I value job security because it’s harder to find new jobs if I lost mine. In the back of my mind I feel secure because I know my skills. Yet, I’ve heard many stories about old people trying to peddle their knowledge and skills to a new potential employer, only to come up against a stone wall and a, “We’ll keep you in mind when we need someone with your skills”.

Three days ago the boss came into my office and wanted to meet with me “this afternoon” to discuss my role with the company, making comments that we need to get rid of some overhead and “we aren’t making much profit”, etc. He wanted me to get my paperwork together to justify my position and meet with me later. So I skipped lunch to do that and pulled it all together and waited. Each time I went to him to talk, he was too busy. Soon the end of day came and he left the office. I guess today would not work out to talk. That aggravated me because I had put off some important work to make time for him.

The next day I had a job to look at and yesterday’s work to do, so I did not get to the office until the afternoon. He was here but was “busy”. The next thing I knew he was leaving. I guess today would not work out, either!

So now it’s “today” and he isn’t in.

My attitude of having to justify my position within our company annoys me in the first place! Three years ago I told the management that my department was set up for failure if they expected a profit, because, I was told at that time, to get rid of all of my clients that were not associated with the main part of our company. Well this meant thousands of dollars worth of business. But I’m not the owner, so I reluctantly agreed and did as I was told. My new duty assignment would be to do commissioning of new equipment for the construction side of our company. Also, to maintain that equipment (warranty work) for a period of one year from start-up, and to do technical installations when our installers couldn’t. So here we are, three years later and not making a profit. I don’t know of any “warranty department” in the world that makes a profit! So why do I feel the need to justify a position that I was told to create?

I don’t know. I’m still working on that.

But it sure messes with my “job security”!