Friendly Robin

My parents will never believe this, but after work today I was doing some more yard work in the tiny garden space we have in the back pulling weeds and turning over the dirt so that Amy might have a chance to plant something there. While I was doing all this, I was sharing time with a robin in search of grubs and worms. The smell must have attracted it because as soon as I had turned the first shovel of earth, it was hanging around waiting for me to stop digging. Whenever I stopped to take a break, it would run around near my feet where I was working pulling out the easy pickings.

Party Weekend

Went out to Huettenbar this past Friday to see Molly off as it was her last day at PIL. Lots of Spaten with a dash of Jägermeister. Yum. Everyone got a little crazy but it was a good time.

Sunday was my birthday and since the partying was already out of my system, I spent the day napping on the couch. All this fun and relaxation made it hard to go back to work today, but I dragged myself out of bed this morning despite my complete willingness to stay in bed.

Nashville

Amy and I took a trip to Nashville, Tennessee last weekend as a present for my birthday. I had never been there because it's only been in the last five years or so that I've developed a taste for bluegrass music and older country music like Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, and Hank Williams. I still maintain my general distaste for popular country as I think it sounds like bland pop rock with an accent. But, despite my genre quibbling, I can still respect the songwriters and musicians that play the music and it was a treat to go see and hear musicians playing the music live.

One of the sites we visited was the Ryman Auditorium which was the old home to the Grand Ole Opry before it closed in the early 1970s. Apparently, back in the early days, people would bring their picnic lunches in the concert hall and eat them during the concert. One artist was quoted recalling the aroma of fried chicken permeating the auditorium on Friday nights.



Just a block or so away from our hotel was Cooter's, a gift shop/museum of Dukes of Hazzard memorabilia. We stopped in just to check it out. It was kind of cool to see all of the stuff that a collector would drool over although I'm not that person. However, it was fun to see some of the toys I had as a kid that were marketed with the show.


On our way home, we stopped by a little fun park in Kentucky that Amy had remembered going to in 1982 when her family to the World's Fair. She could vividly recall her frightened trip down an alpine slide, so we stopped by to let her relive the memory. It was a fun ride, but I think the park might need to thing about a re-branding. I mean, I know they're in Kentucky, but other meanings that one could get from the name are perhaps colorful to put it one way.


Speaking of re-branding, there was this just across the road.


It was closed permanently, but their were still remnants of a dilapidated mini golf course with broken fiberglass statues of Jesus and other major biblical figures. I could only assume that they were part of the challenges that at one time lay ahead for any good God fearing mini golfer who liked the idea of getting some good family time and maybe a vanilla ice cream cone at the site of a crucifixion.

Shaft!

Some bad news today. I learned that the current crop of employees up for review this month in my department are receiving between 0% and 1% increases in salary. This is down from our customary 3% to 4% and far below what I have received in the past. How sad and disappointing it is to know that despite already being approximately $10K below what I should already be earning, I will more than likely not even have the opportunity to keep up with that ten thousand dollar deficit come my own review in November.

When I first heard that this was happening in other departments within PIL, it was my concern that this phenomenon would quickly spread to the audio department and, lo, my fears have come true. I could only hold out hope for so long that things would eventually turn around to my benefit and I believe that this news may be the final straw for my stay with the company. I know the search ahead of me will not be quick or easy, but it is obvious that I should no longer hold much confidence under PIL's umbrella. I'm hoping that it takes me no more than two(ish) years to secure another position as by the end of that tenure, I should be approaching a six year stint.

To temper the bad news somewhat, I also learned that Molly has accepted the position with Fisher Price that we applied for. I definitely hope to stay in contact with her because I did very much want one of those positions that opened and I would only ask that she let me know when they might need to replace someone or add more fresh blood to the team. The pay is better, the perks are better, the benefits are better, and it's closer to both Amy's and my family. Plus, no holes in the building, which is nice.

Too Many Birthdays!

We've returned from PA over our long weekend celebrating both my mother's birthday and Amy's father's 60th birthday and retirement. Amy had planned a big surprise party for him across three states and it actually worked out really well. He seemed very surprised so that's what I would call success in this case. Brenda, a girl I knew in high school, ended up being there and I haven't seen her in probably six or seven years at a different friend's wedding so we said a quick hello and caught up before she had to leave. Her daughter was super cute and one of the only children I've met that isn't frightened to death of me.

I played tech support on Saturday and helped my dad figure out how to get his music scanned and resized with his new computer and peripherals. OK, dad, it's all up to you now! Just do it and unplug that old Win95a beast! We'll hold a remote retirement party over the internet for it if you want. I also set up my mom's new computer and peripherals which she considered part of her birthday gift, but really, it was just fun for me. I'm just glad I could help out. For her birthday, we took my mom out to dinner and gave her the annual double whammy of gifts for Mother's Day and her birthday.