We visited Makers Mark (part of the KY Bourbon Trail) on a rainy Friday. That was 2 for 2 – rainy bourbon trail days! Makers Mark is a much larger operation than Four Roses.
Saturday was a most awesome day! We got up and had our coffee, then Bill went outside and worked on a couple things while I got the inside cleaned up – we were having company! Friends of ours, Doug and Misty Stutz, were coming to see us! We got to know them when we lived in Oldham County KY from 1996 to 2002. We attended the same church and became good friends. Doug is a math teacher and Misty is a pharmacist. Their kids, Emilie and Wesley were friends with our Michelle and Billy, but sadly they have lost touch over the years. Maybe that would have been different if they were older and FaceBook was around then. Doug and Misty were a huge support to me when Bill was working far from home in Jamaica, and gone all the time. We have missed being close to them, but now they were coming to see our home on wheels for the first time! We had a great visit, I made a big pot of potato soup and they brought apple pie for dessert. Best part was catching up with each others news! It was like they say it should be with good friends, we picked up where we left off! I’m sure we will see them again while we are in the area.
The title of this post is a clue – I am home today, on Thursday, yes, during the day. UGH! Let me explain. I was so excited yesterday, right before leaving for work, we checked at the office and our number was turned over! That means we have mail! YAY! Its our first of many expected packages – the heater thing for the water hose and our pedometers! I was so happy! I had Bill “program” it right away! So, I did a total of 28,626 steps! Sound good right? NOT! By the end of the night, my knees were SCREAMING at me! Thankfully, I only had to climb the stairs once and only to the second floor! I slowed down to a snails pace, literally. People were buzzing all around me, and I was just plodding along. I could not wait for 10:45 came along! What actually happened was I checked my scanner screen for the next pick and it said “P-4-B (and the rest of the spot info)” and I said NOPE – no more stairs for me! (the 4 in the middle designates the 4th floor) Thankfully, it was 10:35, so I just VERY SLOWLY walked to the punch out area and waited til it was time to punch out. Actually, didn’t have to wait that long, it took me so long to walk there at all!
So, I am home. Worst part is, my knees hurt. Not as bad as earlier b/c I took a bunch of Advil and have been icing them. Second worst thing is I am here feeling a bit like a failure. I know, that is somewhat exaggerated, but the closest thing I could come up with. I realize that is a bit of crazy talk, but I am “off” today, so that’s the best I’ve got. Third, I had to take a point for this. The whole week, at the end of our “start-up” meetings, there has been VTO (voluntary time off) available. So, the plan was, I would go in, punch in, go to the start-up meeting, do our stretches, then take VTO. Considering that’s been the MO since day one since we’ve started, that seemed logical right? NOPE! Not today! UGH! So, I approach Josh, the manager on duty, and I ask about it. He says there MAY BE some available later. Ok, how later? He says, MAYBE after 2pm’ish. At that moment, it is 12:23. I talk to Bill and decide to try and tough it out. My first pick comes up on the 3rd floor. NO WAY! I log out and log back in, “P-1-M”. I can do that. Except, after trying, it becomes quickly apparent that I CAN’T. UGH! So, I go back to Josh, who says I have to go to HR and figure out what my options are. See, they did explain all that on our first day, but it’s the kind of thing you don’t think you will ever need, so you really don’t “listen”. Short version is, if I want to leave and VTO isn’t available, I will get a point. UGH! I’ve never gotten a point for anything in my life! 50 years with no points and here I am getting a point! I am NOT a happy camper! But, my knees love me, so that’s what matters most, right?
So, here’s the rest of the deal – I was actually getting my head around this whole being on my own thing. Not fully, but making good progress. Since they don’t let us have iPods, I just played songs in my head. Yesterday, I played the entire “Bat Out of Hell” album. I told my friend Tracy about that, she thought it was incredible that I actually know the whole album! I have plenty more where that came from! HA! I am still making up stories about the family’s I am picking for – Mom is getting a vibrator, baby needs diapers, Dad ordered some golf balls, older kid is getting a rated M video game, and so on. Now that I have my pedometer, I don’t have to count steps anymore, as it does it for me! Its been better. Progress being made.
Then this! I am annoyed at myself, but really, why? I am really not a failure, I just have hurt knees. I am taking care of them, what else could I do? Not much. Otherwise, I am possibly risking permanent damage, and I cannot/will not have that! I mean, how many of you could walk 28,626 steps in one day with no repercussions? Ok – and maybe one day do that, but I’ve done 7 days like that!
In case you are wondering – Bill, on the other hand is fine – his knees are completely happy walking over, up and down stairs, etc. Now THAT’S annoying!
I wanted to tell you also about Dino, our RV-Dreamer friend. He does a blog and did 2 awesome posts about Amazon – it will tell you a bit more about the whole workings of the place – in a hysterical way! Read Dino’s Blog – there are 2 specific posts – Preparations for War! and This morning I started life as an ant and went home a Zombie. Dino is a quiet guy when you meet him, but he is so funny in both these posts! I look forward to his future musings!
I’ve also been looking for AK jobs. At this point, I am just cold-calling, which isn’t working out too well, most places are shut down for the winter. I’ve also been just sending workamper resumes to any campgrounds that just sound good and have good reviews. Now, after saying this, it might be strange for you to hear we actually turned down a job offer. I think I’d rather not say which CG it was, don’t like to publicly “bash” b/c I have no personal knowledge, but someone we know, knew someone who worked there last summer and they, thankfully, gave us the inside scoop. We were told that after spending 5 summer seasons and one winter season workamping up there, that is the only place he would not go back to. That sounds pretty serious, so we politely declined. Now I’m in this “must find job” mode, I’m hoping it isn’t like an offer on a house, first one is usually the best. Time will tell…
Ok – my weirdest pick – a package of pencil sharpeners – shaped like guess what? Noses! So, you have to stick the pencil up the nose and turn! Something my son and my nephew would have loved back in 3rd grade! There have also been the fair share of “adult toys” – I mean seriously – I had no idea! I actually had in my hands a “Vibrating, Inflatable Anal Relaxing Plug” – I am good with the stories and making stuff up, but I can’t make this up!! Bill picked a “Pink Butterfly Tickler” – I mean really? Does it come in other colors?
We shall see what next week brings – I’ll keep you posted – ha! get it? posted?
I’m so sorry about your knees! I had problems with my feet last year. Unfortunately, I’m not going to make it to Campbellsville this year. The surgery I had on my left hand isn’t healing as quickly as I thought it would – and then I slipped in the mud on the banks of Bull Run and sprained my wrist last week. No break, thank goodness, but I figure that was the last sign that Amazon wasn’t in the cards for me.
How wonderful that you got to visit with old friends! I visited with some friends of long standing last week, too.
I wouldn’t fork over the big bucks for the booze, either! Good luck nailing down the next gig!
I sort of wanted to buy a bottle, mostly b/c I wanted to “dip” in the wax, but $48!? Not in the budget – not even with at working Amazon!
Sorry you won’t make it here, but letting your wrist/hand heal is more important – wishing you a continued recovery!
Thanks again for reading!
Thank you for sharing again, Kelly. Love to you and Bill. So glad Bill’s knees are healthy, and wishing you a speedy recovery with your knees to be pain free again.
I had no idea there are four floors there for you to ‘walk’. Do they not have an elevator?
Is this Amazon building of the same floor plan all Amazon buildings are? Like all the fast food restaurants have their own unique floor plan, regardless of where the establishment is placed geographically.
Oh my. So glad you are doing what you must for your knees to have the strength they need to recover.
It’s getting cold here…well, for me anyway. It’s not been 70 now for a couple of days, and we’re forecast to have our first freeze this Sunday.
Making progress with getting yard work and flowers/plants transplanted from our yard to planters in our sun room for the Fall and Winter. Ugh, hate that word ‘winter’.
Continue to heal, be happy and safe and keep finding fun places to go, exciting things to see, and enjoying the simple things in life.
No – there are no elevators for the “pickers” – only for the stuff being brought up to be picked. We have to climb stairs. Worst yet – if you are in one area and say on the 3rd floor and you have to go to a different area on the 3rd floor – they are mostly not connected – so down you go – then back up you go! I can almost hear the laughter if I were to write it as a suggestion – ha!
I know what you mean about the cold – Bil just finished building our heated water hose today, more on that next post!
I remember well the days of preparing the yard for winter – but they are just fond – or not – memories!
Hugs to you and Morris and Omega!
Hi! First time commenter! My recommendation for the knees: go to the nearest drug store. Pick out 2 neoprene knee braces and wear them every day. They will give you unbelievable support and keep your knees warm and lubed. Trust me!
Thanks for reading Carole!
I will check into the knee braces – I think I’ve seen others wearing something like that! I appreciate the suggestion!
What brand tracker do you have, Kelly? Diana and I have Fitbit Zips. We got accurate counts with them (we checked). I switched to a Fitbit Flex after I inadvertently washed my Zip in the laundry. I suddenly noticed my step count go up and, upon further investigation, I noticed that my hand movements were counting steps…even when standing still. Not happy about that!
Hope your knees come around!
We just have real cheap ones – from Amazon of all places – I think Pedusa or something – it doesn’t even say on it – was on the box. We entered our stride length and weight and it clips on your waistband or I had it on my pocket. It tells you steps, miles and calories burned. I think they were like $10’ish a piece, but had very good reviews!
I had a Jawbone a few years ago and same thing your saying – counted arm swings – so when I was in the grocery store pushing the cart – didn’t count those steps!
Kelly,
That really s*#ks that your knees are taking a hit!!!!!!! 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼
What about trying to switch depts???? I’m in packing and it’s more of a upper body work out. Standing and lifting for 10 hrs but not as many stairs ????
Hi Michele! It is my hope that if I continue to have a problem, they will let me switch, I’ve already expressed an interest in learning something else, either packing or gift wrap. I’m not sure how that would play out – will keep you in the loop!
Don’t worry about the point. It’s not like your are going to sell your RV and do this as a fulltime career. Thanks for the blog mention.
You are so right Dino! It’s just disheartening! I felt sort of like a kid in the principals office, ya know?
And – you are very welcome! Those posts were so funny!
Kelly, I’m so sorry about your knees, but you are so right you need to take care of them!! You have a lot to see in your travels! You don’t want to be unable to see this country!!
You are so right Sue! I didn’t come this far to let my knees get in the way! I’m taking care of them – not doing too much walking on my days off so they are rested for Monday.
Oh sweetie I was laughing as I read this. I love that you make up stories about the people. Great way to keep yourself entertained. Love your honesty as always and you can do this!!!
A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do!
Take it easy on your knees, it is definitely not worth doing permanent damage.
Hi Guys! I’m doing what I can to rest this weekend (for the most part) but tomorrow – back at Amazon – will be the real test!