Tuesday, July 25, 2006

so what is it you DO anyway?

spent half of my work day in Menomonee Falls, opening the store we have there. Interesting to say the least.

So what do I do? I work for an electrical parts house. Hein is the last of the independents in Milwaukee. Everyone else has been bought and become part of a larger entity.

Here's what my job entails:
I work at the counter. An electrician comes in, and tells me what he needs for the job he's working on. I fetch the parts, write up the order, get a signature from the electrician and he's on his way. In between waiting on electricians, the other folks on the counter and I put stock away on our side of the warehouse. We also pick orders that the inside sales team writes up.

I generally enjoy what I'm doing now...it's just been a LOT to learn...basically everything about electrical distribution in homes and business, as well as data comm. Some days are frustrating because I don't know what the electrician is asking for, or I grab the wrong item for a contractor who's short on time and needs to get back to the jobsite.

Another part of my job that will increase as my knowledge increases: I'm the swingman. I cover other stores when someone needs a day off. I work primarily at the Mothership in Brookfield, but I've also worked at our stores in the Falls, Oak Creek, Downtown Milwaukee and Grafton. I've been to every store except West Bend at this point, as I do the nightly truck run on Friday nights. I do the south stock run to Pewaukee, Waukesha, Oak Creek and Oconomowoc. Basically, the stores order from Brookfield, we build the skids of stock and someone drives the North run and someone else drives the South run. I'll be learning the North run this week as well, just so I can be a backup in case of vacations, illness, whatever...

Monday, July 24, 2006

a chance to relax....?

many thoughts, little energy to type...here we go

4:12...let's not give up yet guys and gals...

Israel/Lebanon...enough already

Bush/media...again...enough already...let the man run the country for crying out loud...

Boobs...yeah..I said it...when did such young girls develop so early? and why are they wearing clothes that reveal so much?

Milwaukee Brewers...I'd settle for more consistency fellas..please

work...learning more everyday

Bible...oh how I missed thee

Sunday mornings....I've missed some..and I'm going to miss some more...and I don't want to

iBook....love it love it love it

end of brain dump

Tuesday, July 4, 2006

patriotism

the thought on my mind all day today was not one of just being an American, but being a patriot. The difference? To me, a patriot stands up for the ideals of a movement, not just the movement itself. America was founded on the belief of certain inalienable rights, handed down from the Creator, to be extended to all mankind. It seems to me that lately other's rights don't matter nearly as much as "my" rights. People are quick to anger when they feel their "rights" have been stepped on, even in a minor insignificant way. Lawsuits prevail as a means of settling disputes, and no one talks out grievances anymore, except thru lawyers.

I found myself in awe last night as I was walking to join my friends at the fireworks. I live in a country that allows me the freedom to travel at will, because I have a freely given privilege to drive; to assemble en masse and not fear retribution; to question the very government that protects me; to speak my mind and read what I want. Where else in the world can I do this? Really..where? I fear the old ways of Communist Russia are returning; you can't be a Nazi in Germany; there's genocide everywhere: Bosnia, Serbia, all over Africa; Dictators oppress those who speak against them; to be a Christian in many areas of the world will get you killed...and yet here's we complain when someone tell us that Christ wasn't who he said he was, or that there is no God.

I find myself captivated by those around me who don't realize how blessed we have been...God bless America? He has...time and time again,and yet we've tried to, or allowed, Him to be pushed aside...why have I not been a patriot for the Kingdom of Heaven? Why have I not stood up for the very One who stands up for me and goes before me daily? Partly fear, partly indifference...afraid to be bold and look "foolish", not caring enough about others to reach out to them...

Friends, do not forget the One who does not forget us.