'16/36 Looking At The Jello!

We have been here at Amazon for 4 weeks and we are looking at things differently. I know we are 4 years older and feeling pretty good but things have changed. It is taking us longer to get used to the rigors of the job and the end of December is still a long way off. We are going to do our best but will keep one good eye on the jello!

On a more positive note we have been looking at opportunities for next year. We always look in areas we want to visit and see if there is a work camping job that will allow us an extended stay to see some more of this wonderful country. There are a couple of jobs that we have applied for who have shown interest in us. Heck, why shouldn't they? Confidence a little too much? Maybe, but it works for us.

Well we will keep plugging along as long as we can, here in our home in Campbellsville Kentucky because......

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'16/#35 Time To Relax And Think

Nothing real exciting going on here in Campbellsville. We have been busy working and recovering. This time around at Amazon seems harder than the last time. I don't know if we are getting older or we just remember it differently than it really was. Maybe a little of both. We are giving it a bit more time before we make any decisions. The thought of leaving is on the table though. That means we will have to make new plans for the next few months. Oh well, that's the jello in our life.

We have met a bunch of really nice people here at Amzon. Work campers almost always show up with a good attitude and a smile. I guess that comes from being hired as a "short timer". Most of the full time employees are pretty decent also, but there are a few that look at us like something stuck to the bottom of their shoe! Now I know how the casuals felt at the P.O. every Christmas. I tried to treat them with respect but, I know that some of my coworkers resented them being on the workroom floor. Seasonal supplimental workers are a necessary evil. Without them the temporary surge in work would never be completed or would be an impossible burden to those who had to deal with the extra work. I guess I have a new perspective now that I have been on both sides of that fence.

Another difference this time at Amazon is the benefits. Apparently health care insurance is now being offered to the work campers and some of them are excited by this. I guess if you have no insurance it is a big deal. We are fortunate to have our insurance through our retirement and are not interested. The bad part is now that insurance is offered there is no longer a shopping discount at Amazon. BUMMER! We were looking forward to saving some money on Christmas shopping and a few other things we needed to get. Oh well, I guess Amazon isn't going to get as much of their money back from us as we planned! LOL!!

We are off the next three days and are going to relax and run some errands from our home here in Campbellsville Kentucky because.....

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'16/#34 Are We Getting Older?

We have finished our first 2 days of 10 hours each at Amazon and are really feeling it. My feet are sore and my back is achy. Mary's hips are hurting and her knee is acting up. We knew it was going to take time to get into the swing of things but....WHY? I guess as we get older it takes longer to acclimate ourselves to the physical rigors of a new job. At least we have 3 days off to recuperate.

Another sign that we may be getting older is our reaction to some of the items we come across here at Amazon. Do you remember the candy necklaces we had as kids? You know, the colored sugar beads on an elastic string? Well I found a "G"string made of it! Maybe , but why? The first thing that came to mind is how messy and sticky they got if you actually wore them around your neck. Maybe if I was younger and more adventurous in the bedroom my mind might go in another direction. I guess I'm not that old. My mind went there eventually! Mary found a 5X bikini. Really?!?! And that is all I am going to say on that. But in the same vein I found a mesh body stocking in a 3X with 3 openings. Two were in front above the equator and the third was lower and around the back! I guess everyone deserves to feel sexy!

Now we get to the kinky stuff. There was a "Gay Male Chastiy Device" that I am glad was in a plain wrapper. On the other hand Mary found in a clear plastic bag a uretha enlarging penis plug! I am cringing just writing about it. Some things need plain wrappers!

I am signing off now, Mary has breakfast on the table in our home in Campellsville because....

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'16/#33 The Amazon Trek Continues!

We are enjoying our one day off before we go into the normal 10 hour days they work here at Amazon. The first week of 5 hour days was a nice break in period and also let the work campers or Camper Force employees know what it will be like. We are guessing that 3 - 7 campers have already quit. This job is not all rainbows and unicorns, but it also is not the hardest in the world. A lot of the campers are retired and haven't work like this in a long time or never worked anywhere but behind a desk. This is true factory work! Concrete floors, constant noise, moving equipment, etc. I hate to say this but the PO plant has trained us exactly for this kind of job. We have also been able to impart some of our acquired wisdom to others about how to deal with the conditions here. Things like lifting, the right kind of shoes, stretching exercises, and others have already helped a few of our Camper Force co-workers.

Like I said in the last blog, this building is mostly clothing so the unusual item of the day is hard to come by. Since it is clothing, Mary had to pick a "Lacey Jock Strap". To paraphrase "an ass for every chair" how about "a sack for every pair"? And it rhymes!! My pick was a complete tuxedo set with shirt, tie, cumber bunt, etc. The odd or cute thing is it was sized 8-12 months. How adorable! The most common thing we are noticing is the sizes. Common, ordinary, every day items in sizes you don't find at Walmart. How about lady's thongs in size 5XL or bigger. If you are that size isn't all underwear a thong?  Men's belts in size 50" or 60" or larger? That is a lot of leather!

Well I've got a few things to take care of around the trailer and then I am going to relax the rest of the day. Tomorrow starts 10 hour days. We only have to work 2 days before our 3 days off so that worked out nice! Until the next blog good bye from our home in Kentucky because.....

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'16/#32 Setting Down Temporary Roots!

It's been a while since I have blogged so let's try and catch up. Our 10 days in Pigeon Forge were relaxing. There was nothing we had to do but get in touch with some of the friends that we made when we worked at Dollywood 5 years ago. We only knew these people for the 5 1/2 months that we worked there, but became such good friends that it was like we had never left. We also had a few things looked at on the RV and are planning to do some more to make our travels easier and more enjoyable.

The next leg of our adventure took us 5 hours down the road to Campbellsville, KY. We will be here for the next 5 months working for Amazon.com. We worked for them several years ago and they have been asking us to come back since. Amazon uses a lot of work campers to staff during their peak season leading into Christmas. We are part of the first group of 80 that is starting earlier than ever before. Apparently Amazon is doing well and they rely on work campers to get them through the rush.

Since our last time at Amazon things have changed. This Fullfilment Center(FC) no longer has everything under the sun on the shelves. Campbellsville is now primarily a clothing distribution center. Other FCs will specialize in books, electronics, etc. No longer will we be able to compare the weirdest thing we have picked from the shelf. I take that back. We will still compare but I don't expect as many off the wall items as we once saw. In 2 days Mary has found an inflatable gorilla suit and a pair of size 15EEE cleats. I found a sew on patch that says "Embrace The Suck". Today I also picked at least a dozen leopard pattern pregnancy bikinis. Is the whole Swedish bikini team in the family way?!?!? I'm sure there will be more odd items to report.

I will have more tomorrow  from our home in Campbellsville, KY because...

Home is where we park it,
Frank and mary