COUNTING DOWN

Well as the countdown begins and it starts to get busy, my blog web pages may have to be short and sweet for now…But again-you just never know what I might write or when….with that said:
After two months of working at Amazon and avoiding volunteer time off we are now in full swing with the countdown to Christmas. Earlier this week we started with voluntary overtime that turned into mandatory for us this past Thursday for inbound.

Several folks including all that I have met and became acquainted with has been moved to outbound with plenty of overtime for them.  I have been left in inbound in receiving/prepping.  We are only getting 1 day overtime while outbound is doing 2 days of overtime or coming in one hour earlier.  Those that I have met didn’t want the overtime as I did. 

Also this past week while working on the receiving line, Christmas songs were playing, putting some of us in the Christmas spirit, then comes along those that didn’t want the music;  turned it off and started to play hard rock music. It sadden my heart to really know there are scrooges out there…
On the positive side of Amazon:  The week of Thanksgiving we had a meal catered in from a local catering company.  We had Turkey, mash potatoes with gravy,green beans cranberry salad and for desert bread pudding.  It was very tasty.  those that had to work a couple of hours on Thanksgiving Day got to take home a pumpkin pie.  This next week we are having another meal catered in and this time it’s stuff chicken breast, rice pilaf, and I don’t remember the rest of the menu.  Management also has been going around handing out small little trinkets to us workers.  Also all of us workampers received a workampers force T-shirt.

      

So the countdown begins…..only 3 weeks left and I’m done for the season with Amazon. Will I return to Amazon again next season? Probably, but not here in Coffeyville. I’m wishing for Fernley NV since we plan on spending the next several years that way touring the West.

You know I think I could get use to this kind of a lifestyle…Work maybe from Sept to Dec for Amazon.com and then the rest of the time off to tour around; Yep let the countdown begin!

Just Another Week…

aaahh…just another week around here in Coffeyville.  Let’s see, they say the ground has shook under our feet, tornadoes not so far away, amazon gearing up for the holidays, problems here in the park.  Just another week…

Let’s just start off by saying the temps have been like a roller coaster around here.  Up, down, up, down.  We get a few days into the 70’s with lots of sunshine.  But with that sunshine we also get the winds.  Then here comes a round of storms, spouting off tornados.  Luckily none near us, however this past week what was thought to be an EF2 turned out to be an EF4 and it was heading in our direction.  But it never reached us and all we got from it was winds, torrential rain and lots of lightning and thunder.  A rude awaking at midnight.

Then a few hundred miles south of us in central OK they have been having earthquakes-the strongest being 5. something on the Richter Scale.  I don’t recall feeling that particular one.  But one night after going to bed, we felt the motorhome move and thought it was just another wind downburst; but I guess it wasn’t-it was actually the earth moving.  Now scientist are scrambling to figure out if these Earthquakes are natural or due to oil pressure from oil companies drillings.

Now at Amazon.com I was told that I would be moving to a different area along with 4 other folks-which never happened and now don’t know if it will.  They started talking about the “black-out” period starting the day after Thanksgiving.  If and sound like it could be a big IF (according to the rumors that seem to fly around) we should get overtime-starting with 10 hours extra, possibly going to 20 hours of OT.  As fast as they talk about that-then they go around asking anyone who wants to take VTO (voluntary time off).  AND at the same time-they are asking for VOT (voluntary over time) for this next Thursday. Of course I was the first to put my name on the list for the VOT.  Such a crazy place I work at-but I do like it.  And will return again next year!

Here at Big Chief Park-they are having their own share of problems.  But it’s the owners own fault for these problems.  With all the recent rain and downpours, once again a large rig punch through and this time it didn’t break the water line-but the electric line!  Knocked out power to 5-6 rigs; making a few unhappy campers.  Down the road a ways seems to be yet another large water leak.  However-they claim it’s still standing water from the recent rain-although everywhere else has dried up.  The camper in that spot has to waddle almost to get to his vehicle and can’t even get to the back side of his rig.

While checking out the bathrooms/showers the manager’s assistant was spraying down the showers with a combination of Lysol and bleach.  I made the statement that that won’t keep the mold and mildew away and that he’s going to have to put some muscles into cleaning.  His come back was that’s as good as it’s going to get and if they don’t like they can shower with the mold and mildew…I wonder how far that will go before campers start complaining…When he hoses down the bathrooms-they stay constantly wet and always standing water when you walk in-even in the toilet area…poor planning is all I have to say.

So as I said:  It’s just another week around here in Coffeyville-wonder what next week will be like?

ONE MONTH AT AMAZON

I have now worked a full month here at Amazon.com and all I can say is: I SURVIVED!!-So far….
This past week has been a true test on all of us-both seasonal workers and the permanent workers that work all year there. 

Just like anywhere you go-rumors fly around: some being true-some stretching the truth.   This week it’s been hard to filter out all the rumors going on.  One thing is for sure in Plant D the tension has been extremely high making it a difficult place to work almost in perfect harmony.

It all started out on Sunday when 1st break rolled around and we all were asked who wanted to take VTO (voluntary time off).  As it is, Sundays are what we call lull days; when hardly anyone is there.  I kind of liked Sundays because not too many bodies running around.  Anyways, a few took the VTO while us die-hard turned it down (like me) and continue to work.  Once again after lunch, during Stand-up exercise/announcements VTO was asked.  Again a few more left.  At 1:30pm we all were told to clock out and go home at 2pm and not to come in until 8am on Monday.

Needless to say I was actually disappointed about not receiving my full 40 hours of work this week. with it only being the beginning-what would the remaining of the week bring?

Come Monday they came around this time asking if anyone wanted to take VTO on Tuesday or Wednesday or both days!  Again my answer was NO!  Gosh darn it, I was hired to work, work and work.  I was looking forward to the extra money to fuel our motorhome this summer and finally not having to not work a summer!  Now I’m to the point that I’m really worried about job security here at Amazon.com-specially with the holidays coming up.  Also on Monday I was moved around to 3 different Prep areas (normally called Prep Cells).

Here is where rumors start. The full-time workers are blaming us seasonal workers.  They say we are coming in and taking over their job where they don’t get their time in.  Rumor is that in receiving-there will be no overtime and with them constantly bringing in more workers, they won’t be enough work for everyone. Another rumor is because of several other new fulfillment centers opening-all the products are being sent there and not to us.

  One guy that was normally in stowe (putting items in proper areas after we receive them) was brought into help with prep.  The women in that area treated him rough-so he went home (note: it was his last day as he was moving on).  Another lady was brought over from outbound due to an injury and was placed on light duty until further notice.  They have her biting bullets and she too is close to quiting.  Only thing keeping her is she knows it’s temporary and she will be back in outbound soon.  Another lady who has been in prep since the beginning-the regulars had her crying.  So the morals of the plant isn’t very good right now.

On Tuesday I jumped from receiving to prepping back to receiving; which at times a few of us stood around waiting for product to come down the line.  We all held our breath as to if we were going to be sent home….

After lunch on Tuesday I finally went to one of our person in charge and said that I really don’t want any time off and if there was maybe an area that I could move to where I wouldn’t be asked day-to-day to take VTO.  She said that there were 5 people gong to picking (where we have to locate a purchase item and send it to outbound to be package).  I asked her if I could be one of those 5 and she told me I already was. 

Now I’m excited because again rumors are that there are no VTO in picking and they will work longer.  Plus I will now get the walking that I so much miss.

Wednesday morning I’m pumped up and ready for a new adventure.  As promise my name along with 4 others (one of which I have worked with) are up on the board to report to picking school at 7:45.  Until then we go to receiving line until it’s time.  We are all there ready to go.  We get signed in and pick up a scanner just to be told: “not going to happen this week”….our mouths dropped and we asked what was going on.  They claim miscommunication.  They also claim that they are not going to train 5 when they just asked 40 to VTO and they got more Seasonal Workampers coming in on Thursday for picking school! 

At this point I’m really, really frustrated and was just about to go ahead and take VTO-go home and weigh my options here at amazon.  We were assured that we would be back to picking school next week.  But at this point I hold nothing to face value-because there is no guarantee what next week will bring.

The Big shots (as I call them), are gearing up for black out.  This next Wednesday they are having a black out parade inside the plant, then everyone in the plant will meet in D section for a “party”.  It’s hard to be in the mood when tensions are high right now.  They also stated that work will start picking up and be more steady…

I was sent back to receiving and was told I would stay there until maybe next week…I guess only time will tell what will happen.  As down as I felt I really didn’t care if my percentage was up or down.  Surprising enough-my percentage was over hundred percent and work was constant.
After talking with some of the other workers, I soon learned that others have asked to be transfer to picking and they were not chosen….So now I’m curious as to what the new week and this next month will bring here at Amazon.com.

Yes, I’m going to stick it out.  I really do like working here, I just don’t like the uncertainty it’s bringing.  Many of us seasonal workers come a long way to work and not to be left dangling on a string from day to day.

NEEWOLLAH

Neewollah is of course Halloween spelled backwards. Every year in Independence KS, a huge 3 day celebration goes on celebrating Neewollah. this is how it got started: ABOUT NEEWOLLAH        Neewollah celebration began in 1919 as an effort to provide positive activities for kids of all ages in place of the typical Halloween pranks that occurred in the community of Independence, Kansas. In the beginning the events centered on parades, morning, afternoon, and night on October 31. The parades consisted mainly of decorated cars and carriages. Queens and princesses from area festivals rode in the parades, along with our own Queen Neelah who was selected based on votes bought at a penny each. The Great Depression and World War II interrupted the Neewollah celebration but in 1958 four businessmen revived and elaborated on the Neewollah theme bringing it back as a 3-day celebration. Today Neewollah is the largest annual celebration in Kansas. The city of Independence will grow from a town of just under 10,000 inhabitants to 75,000. Today's celebration now includes 3 parade.  Go to: www.neewollah.com to learn more about their celebration and maybe next year if in the area you will come and join in on the fun.  It’s for the young, middle and even the old enjoy and have fun.  We only went to the parade because Amazon.com had a huge float and we wanted to see what it was about.  Any Amazonian workers could join in on the float either walking next to it and passing out candy or by riding on the float.  I choose to be a by stander next to my husband. As we were waiting along with many other spectator for the parade to start, we all of a sudden heard this loud roar and up looking up here came a military fighter planes flying very low over our heads.  It was really awesome and we soon learned that was the beginning of the parade.   They had well over 130 in the line-up with lots of marching bands playing along.  One really stuck out the most only because they put lots of extra nifty steps into their march which made them very unique and good. Of course I was waiting to see Amazon.com’s float and to see if I would recognize anyone from work.  Sure enough a few faces that I did know were either walking or riding on the float. I think it was unique for the way they paraded the antique cars with a police car next to it.  It almost appeared that they were racing or maybe preventing a race. I think we even found our future camper!  Wonder if would make it through the mountains and the back woods where we like to adventure? And there were some pretty awesome floats in the parade as well! HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!

WEEK ONE-RECIEVING

I’m up bright and early to report to work by 6:00am. First thing we do is swipe our badge to clock-in, then it’s stretches and announcements. all newbies are assigned to a trainer. They need 4 people to go into receiving-not knowing what I was getting myself into-I raised my hand….

But before we can actually go out on the line we have to go through “school” or training on what we will be doing.  We have to learn what certain abbreviations mean. (And I’m still learning). After lunch then we were thrown to the wolves-well not literally. We had plenty of supervision and someone always there to answer our questions. 

We sign onto a computer with our username and password then we have to scan our badge.  Now we are ready to start receiving.  Boxes have been open and given what looks like a skew.  The boxes come down a conveyer belt and we have to put the boxes on our workstation.  Now comes the fun part-opening the boxes to see what’s in them!  Each items in the box also have skew.  We have to scan the skew, place it on the cart.  the computer keeps track of what and how many is in the cart.  And yes, we even have to scan the cart!  we have two different scanners that we can use, one is where we just swipe the item under it and it picks up the bar code (called the grocery scanner) or we have the hand held.  They prefer us to use the hands free scanner, but there are times you have no choice and you need to use the hand held scanner.  Even though we may have a dozen or better of the exact same thing, we still have to scan each item separately.

Thus far I have scanned loads of Halloween costume, power drinks, office supplies up the wazoo, tools, just to name a few things.  We have to separate apparels and they have to be on a completely different cart.  I hate doing apparels, because they come in large boxes and we have keep sizes, skew, colors all separate and that can become a nightmare not to mention slow you down.

If we have any questions on an item or something just won’t scan we have to turn on our Red Light and Yell “Red Light”.  This happens more times than we all would like.  someone comes around (they are literally called “Problem Solver”).  They make the decision if something should be prepped, or if it’s too small and needs to be place somewhere else or they decide if the product is considered damage when we get it.

On my 4th day ( and my Friday) we all started out with problems all morning long.  Apparently the night shift either got lazy or didn’t know what they were doing, but put the same skew on all the boxes and when we received it-our scanner didn’t like it and the boxes all had to be sent back!  We all kept yelling “Red Light”.  too boot we were short handed on ‘Problem solver” so the poor guy was running all over the place!  Then I got picked on-my red light burnt out on me!!!
Now that I have the scanning business down pat and I actually got my percentage up there, they move me to the prep line!  So now I’m learning yet another part of the job.

In prepping, you prep each individual item to according to it’s needs.  If it’s glass-it gets bubble wrapped, if it’s small individual item it gets put in bags.  The full-time year round workers prepare everything, so it’s easy to figure out what the item needs to be done.  We also learned recently that if it’s a liquid chemical, like car wax, it too has to be individually in a wrapper.

Each day we learn new things and as the days do go by it does get easier.  I do go home totally exhausted and a bit sore.  I’m a bit disappointed for I was hoping to walk more than I do, but I still love what I’m doing.  And I love opening the boxes, because you just don’t know what you will be getting.  I haven’t yet open an “naughty” things, just men's underwear!

Wonder what week 2 will bring?….Being first week, we cannot do overtime, and our area is doing volunteer overtime, so maybe by week 2 I can do that overtime.

Over the course of the summer I did a lot of reading on Amazon.com and some actually sounded frightful, but for me I’m enjoying this new adventure. 

WEEK ONE-ORIENTATION

The Day of Orientation I was really nervous and I was also getting over some kind of flu/bug.  So when I had to be at Amazon.com by 8:30am I prayed that I could handle it and not get sick.  I awoke feeling a bit queasy, but as the morning went on-I got better.

Not knowing what doors I was to go into, I decided to drive the first day and get there early.  So I found a parking spot and watched where everyone else was heading.  I saw a couple that I recognize from the park and I decided to follow them in.



Upon arriving I thought I was going into Fort Knox!  once you proceed through the door, your first greeted with security.  Of course they were ready for us.  We were handed a visitor badge and we had to sign in-matching the number on our badge.  I was number 22.

We then had to wait at in the lobby to be escorted any farther.  The first group was being led in while we waited.  Then came out a gentleman that introduce himself as Paul Strum.  He was nothing like I expected-although I’m not sure what I really expected…Anyways he made a point to greet each and everyone of us.  The most that amazed me of him-is the fact he just about remembered all of our names!

There was to be approximately 80 of us workampers to come in for orientation so they had to split us up in half.  The other half had orientation on Wednesday (glad that I didn’t get moved). First order of business was lining up against a wall and getting our mug shot.

the remainder of the day was spent on how amazon.com works and in the afternoon we had to go through Safety school.  Then it was time to finally get our badge; now we won’t need an escort if we left the conference room.  Oh, we were allowed to go to the bathroom unescorted-but that was it.



Our badges has to be on us at all times while inside Amazon.  It’s stress strongly to us that when wearing it around our neck it has to be a break-away necklace for safety reason.  If it should get caught in the conveyer it needs to break away from you.



We also at this time got our schedule and when I got mine I went; WHAT?  They put me on nights and in outbound.  I don’t mind outbound, but I really didn’t want nights.  My shift was to be from 5:00pm-3:30am.  Okay, the question I had is:  Would Leah let me sleep in the mornings?  probably not….

So I pulled Paul aside and asked him if there was any chance of changing to daytime.  He told me to give him a week and then come back to talk to him.  Okay now I’m accepting the idea of working nights and thinking maybe it won’t be so bad after all.  Then Paul’s associate, Dana calls my name and of course we all joke that I am already in trouble before I even get started!  (LOL)

She hands me a strip of paper that now has my username and password and informs me that I am now on days and I’m in Inbound/Stowe. My shift would now be 6:00am-4:30pm.  We all get our own username and password.  Even out on the floor we have to use computers.  I guess everything is computerized now-a-day in our crazy world.

So now orientation is done with and the following day (Monday) I would report to the “D” section of Amazon.com to start working in stowing/receiving. 

BIG CHIEF RV PARK

When we arrived here at Big Chief RV Park, we really didn’t have a chance to look at our surrounding since we were preparing to make a trip to WI. But once we got back and finally looked around, Big Chief is not the most desirable RV park around, but it’s convenient since it’s so close to Amazon.com.

Big Chief RV Park near Coffeyville, is a fairly new park, so it’s really hard to make any judgment on the park itself.  There are no trees, although they have planted some young trees on some sites-it will be years before they will even provide any kind of shade.

Big Chief RV Park in Coffeyville, KS

It’s easy to see that the park has been done cheaply.  they didn’t tamper down the individual sites, instead they laid large rock base for sites.  The bigger RV’s and Motor coaches are having trouble when bringing down their jacks, for they sink deeply in the ground.  Although the park is not quite two years old-they already are replacing broken water lines…

The office is the manager’s home, a small mobile home on the premises.  The downfall to that is the fact that she smokes and so when you walk in you will get a lung full of cigarette smoke; although she has never lit up while in our presence.

The Managers office/home (poor Sharon...)

Now I’m not putting her down in any way, her name is also Sharon and she seems to be a very nice lady.  Some folks are a bit leery of her because she has the “rough” look to her and her “helper/assistant” also has a rough look to him.  But  again, they have been really nice to us.  As I stated it is a new park-so what does one expect.  I’m here because of the convenience to Amazon.com and the fact that I can walk to work.

One thing I notice, is that an RV has been left while the folks to off for a spell.  Her assistant every night drives around and makes sure all looks okay with their coach and I hope while we were gone that he did the same for us.

You will find outstanding power here, the one thing that was done right was enough electric to keep even the fanciest motor coach running smoothly.  The water is city water and the only problem we have found with it, is that they seem to bleach the line often.

There is a bit of false advertisement right now on their web page.  It states that there is showers on the premises.  The shower building is up and contractors are slowly working on it-but the showers are non-operable as well as the laundry facility.  Maybe by the work we are seeing-they might get it done in a couple of weeks-or at least we are hoping so.

The new shower & laundry facility (not completed yet)

There is not too many other RV parks around or nearby.  You have the county park which has added more sites to accommodate both Amazon.com and the refinery in Coffeyville, but only a few sites have full hook-ups and when we drove by, they are literally on top of one another.  At least here at Big Chief they are spacious  and long sites, which we like.  There is another RV park in town but it’s plum full of workers for the refinery.  Otherwise you have to venture out to either the State Park or there are two Corps Of Engineer parks with-in 30 miles or less.  I think we will stay right where we are. 

We did end up with a bad site at first due to a water break behind us.  But upon requesting another site-Sharon did assist us and got us a little better site for our little dog. 

  Our site here at Big Chief-Can't complain-not a bad site


One good thing about here for sure-we can have campfires, where you can’t do that inside the city limits of Coffeyville.  We probably won’t seek out a fire grille this year or wood, but maybe next year we will-who knows.

All in all we really can’t complain.  We try not to judge people by looks or the fact that they  smoke and we do understand that it’s still a new park with lots of work yet to be done on it.  And hopefully by the amount of money they receive from Amazon.com-the work will improve each year on the property.

A beautiful sunset behind us

We will stay here at Big Chief RV and give our support to this new park and the manager that is trying to make a go of it.  They are putting on a Bash on the following Sunday (16th) for all of us here.  They will be providing hamburger, hotdogs and ribs plus music.  All we have to do is bring a dish to pass plus our own drinks.  They are doing this to where both shifts can enjoy either before they go to work or like in my case when I get home from work.

Not sure what this slab will be used-maybe an office or rec hall....