Every day is a new day and with that, a new opportunity.
EVERYONE is welcome and please join us each morning at 7:30 AM PACIFIC
to tell us what you're working on, share your show & tell, vent, whatever you want...
...this is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.
|
Back in February, I wrote
here about the two worst jobs I ever had, working (very, very briefly) as a grain silo man and for a few months as a garbageman.
I had a third job with some drawbacks. This was was another bit of temporary employment to cover tuition and fees and room-and-board for two semesters of university study in an era when one could actually accomplish that without having to stick up armored trucks. The job was working as a candy wrangler—Yes! they actually called it that—at the Jolly Rancher Co. in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
A candy factory! How lucky you are, some of my friends said. Uh-huh. Sure.
In case you're unfamiliar with Jolly Rancher, the company became famous after its founding in 1949 for goodies like cinnamon-flavored Firestix®, a flat, half-inch-wide, six-inch-long sucker, a concoction that also came in a bite-sized lumps. Other flavors, too: watermelon, cherry, grape. The company also made filled chocolates, ice cream and, when I was there, peanut butter-filled taffy and the filling for Butterfinger candy-bars when Standard Brands couldn't keep up with the demand.
The chocolate and taffy operations were the only place in the sprawling factory with air conditioning. Chocolates don't do well at 100°. The all-woman crew not only got to sit down their entire shifts, they were also cool doing it. Most of the rest of us, men and women, toiled in the sweatbox. That was where the 12 big hard-candy cookers did their work.
On each shift—there were three at the time—six of us waited as thick strips of molten candy were fed from each cooker onto a conveyor belt. When the strip reached the end of the belt, the candy slowly dropped into a puddle on a table cooled from beneath by galvanized water pipes. Once a puddle reached a certain size, we cut the strip, moved accumulated candy and watched the next puddle begin to form. Each of us was responsible for the output of two cookers.
At each station, there was room on the cooling table for eight puddles. When the maximum was reached, we lifted the oldest still very hot, 50-pound puddle from the table, balanced it on a shoulder, carried it to a nearby reducing, cutting and wrapping machine, lifted it over our heads and dropped it in. There, the puddle was spun by four big rotating screws into a continuous 3/4-inch strip—think garden hose—which was then automatically cut into 1-inch bits and sealed in a pre-printed plastic wrapper.
The wrapped candy was then fed through a counter that sorted 80 pieces into a one-pound cardboard box. The boxes were themselves wrapped and 24 boxes placed into a cardboard shipping box that was glued and stapled shut: 1,920 pieces of candy per case ready for the truck. The goal: 900 cases per shift, or slightly more than 1.7 million pieces of hard candy to be sent cross-country in one of Jolly Rancher's five semi-trailers.
That, at least, was the theory. The reality was elsewise.
I'm not kidding when I say the candy was molten when it began pooling on the table. Rough on the hands. And rough on our tee-shirts when we flung it off our shoulders into the wrapping machines, tearing a few threads from the seam each time. A good tee-shirt might survive a week and then need restitching. Twice more restitched and it was finished. But that didn't matter because the super-sweet stench could never be washed out anyway. One shift at Jolly Rancher and they were ruined for anyone with a sense of smell.
Other problems cropped up too. Although cinnamon, grape, watermelon and apple were the most popular flavors, there was demand for more exotic kinds, including licorice. I've always liked licorice. But this blue Jolly Rancher stuff was synthetic, and whatever it was made of, I and two other "wranglers" were allergic to it. Not just a little bit. The stuff raised a rash and bumps all over our bodies even though we had only touched it with our hands. Each of us was out several days. No sick leave, of course. The bosses conceded that we would never have to do a licorice run again though they implied we were wimps.
But the big problem, the almost daily problem, was that the cookers never stopped and the wrapping machines did. All manner of breakdowns plagued these cast-aluminum beasts. When they stopped, the candy had to be pried out with a special aluminum crowbar through the top or it would harden and have to be literally chiseled from the machine. And that could take hours.
When the mechanic-on-duty got behind and two wrappers went MIA simultaneously, the candy puddles had nowhere to go. In a pinch, 10 puddles could be squeezed onto the table at each station. After that ... well, we improvised. Which meant puddles on the floor. The floor everybody walked on. That hand-carts were rolled across. That looked as if it hadn't been scrubbed since the factory was built. When the broken wrappers were up and running again, the candy on the floor, which cooled slower than the puddles on the table, was lifted into the machines carrying whatever dirt and other debris had attached itself, and was cut and wrapped like all the rest.
If we got far enough behind, some of puddles on the cooling tables turned to stone. Completely unusable. And that, even though we had no control over it, caused frowns from our bosses and our bosses' bosses because it meant missing the 900-case shift quota. Suggesting that a second mechanic be hired for each shift to remedy the slowdown caused by the breakdowns was met with a harrumph.
Believe me. While we sometimes laughed at the situation out of frustration and despair, it was never as funny as Lucy and Ethel at the chocolate factory.
In July 1966, my second summer at Jolly Rancher, it was announced that Beatrice Foods had bought the place. When the company inspectors came through, they smiled and announced to our shock that the factory was the cleanest of any of Beatrice's operations.
As you can imagine, I haven't knowingly eaten any Beatrice products since. And even though Jolly Rancher has since changed hands twice more and is now owned by the Hershey Company, I've never eaten a piece of that stuff again either.
So, have you ever had a job other people thought was cool but you hated?
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Below the New Day sunrise cloud
:: COMMUNITY BUILDING UPDATES ::
|
Let's build communities!
Every region needs a meatspace community like SFKossacks.
We take care of each other in real life.
I urge YOU to take the lead and organize one in your region.
Please tell us about it if you do and we're here for advice.
•
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
>>>Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
NEW GROUPS IN THE PROCESS OF ORGANIZING:
Send a Kosmail to the organizers and ask for an invitation to the group.
• Northern Indiana Area: Kosmail Tim Delaney
• Long Island: Kosmail grannycarol
• Northern Michigan: Kosmail JillS
• Nebraska: Kosmail Nebraska68847Dem
• Westburbia Chicago Kossacks: Kosmail Majordomo
• New York Hudson Valley Kossacks: Kosmail boran2
• North Carolina Triangle Kossacks: Kosmail highacidity
• Caprock Kossacks (Panhandle/Caprock/Lubbock/Amarillo area) : Kosmail shesaid
• West Texas Kossacks (including Big Bend Region and El Paso) : Kosmail Yo Bubba
Note to the above new leaders: Feel free to leave a comment any day reminding readers about your new group. Also, tell us about your progress in gathering members. Kosmail me when you've chosen a good name for your group and have created a the group. Then I'll move you to the NEW GROUPS LIST. When you've planned a date for your first event I'll make a banner for you to highlight your event in our diaries and your diaries.
These are the groups that have started since * NEW DAY * began. Please Kosmail navajo if you have started a group before that.
NEW GROUPS LIST:
• California Central Valley Kossacks - Formed: Jul 29, 2012, Organizer: tgypsy
• New England Kossacks - Formed: Aug 6, 2012, Organizers:
Clytemnestra for Lower New England (Conneticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island)
nhox42 for Upper New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont)
• Houston Area Kossacks - Formed: Aug 7, 2012, Organizer: Chrislove
• Kossacks in India - Formed: Aug 14, 2012, Organizer: chandu
• CenTex Kossacks - Formed: Sep 9, 2012, Organizer: papa monzano
• Central Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Sep 26, 2012, Organizer: VetGrl
• Kansas City Kossacks - Formed Oct 15, 2012, Organizer: [Founder stepped down]
• Phoenix Kossacks - Formed Oct 16, 2012, Organizer: arizonablue
• Chicago Kossacks - Formed: Oct 31, 2012, Organizer: figbash
• Koscadia the Pacific Northwest coast from Northern California to Alaska
- Formed Oct 17, 2012, Oganizer: Horace Boothroyd III based in Portland, OR
• Boston Kossacks - Formed: Nov 7, 2012, Organizer: GreyHawk
• Motor City Kossacks South East Michigan (Detroit) Area - Formed: Nov 10, 2012, Organizer: peregrine kate
• Pittsburgh Area Kossacks - Formed: Nov 12, 2012, Organizer: dweb8231
• Salt Lake City Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: War on Error
• Twin Cities Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: imonlylurking
• Dallas Kossacks North Texas - Formed: Nov 21, 2012, Admins: Catte Nappe and dalfireplug. Please contact them to join the group. An Event Organizer needed.
• The Southern California Inland Empire Kossacks - Formed: Dec 3, 2012, Organizer: SoCaliana
• Los Angeles Kossacks - Formed: Dec 17, 2012, Organizer: Dave in Northridge
• Northeast Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Jan 16, 2013, Organizer: GenXangster
• Kansas & Missouri Kossacks - Formed: Jan 17, 2013, Organizer: tmservo433
• I-77 Carolina Kossacks who live from Columbia, SC to north of Winston-Salem, NC. - Formed: Jan 30, 2013, Organizers: gulfgal98 and eeff
• Indianapolis Kossacks - Formed: Feb 6, 2013, Organizer: CityLightsLover
• Southwest Ohio Kossacks - Formed: May 10, 2013, Organizer: Dr Erich Bloodaxe RN
• Northern Arizona Kossacks - Formed: Jul 5, 2013, Organizer: Sam Sara
• Mexican Kossacks - Formed: Apr 14, 2013, Organizer: roberb7
ESTABLISHED GROUPS LIST: (List will grow as we discover them)
• SFKossacks Founded by navajo, Formed: May 2, 2005
• Maryland Kos Founded by timmyc, Formed: Feb 23, 2011. Contact: JamieG from Md for a group invite.
• New York City Founded by Eddie C - Contact the group organizer for meet-up events: sidnora
• Baja Arizona Kossacks, Event Organizer: Azazello
• Three Star Kossacks Tennessee, Founded by maryKK, Formed: Apr 8, 2011
• Nashville KosKats, Founded by ZenTrainer Formed: Jan 30, 2012
• Virginia Kos Founded by JamieG from Md, Formed: May 3, 2011
• Kos Georgia Founded by pat208, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• Colorado COmmunity Founded by Leftcandid, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• New Mexico Kossaks Founded by claude
• Philly Kos Founded by mconvente Formed: Aug 29, 2011
• DKos Florida Founded by ThirstyGator, Formed: Feb 14, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail Vetwife to be included in next event.
• Oklahoma Roundup Founded by BigOkie, Formed: Feb 13, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail peacearena to be included.
• DKos Asheville Founded by davehouck, Formed: Feb 13, 2011 - Organizing Assist by: randallt
:: Events Currently on the Books for ALL Kossacks ::
|
Saturday, August 31st
Houston Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Hollywood Vietnamese-Chinese & French Cuisine
2409 Montrose Boulevard • Houston
ORGANIZER: Send Chrislove a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Chrislove
2. jmbar2
3. cosette
4. mister mustardhead
5. Bree Davis
6. doraphasia
6. Libby Shaw
7. suesue
8. mr. suesue
|
Maybees:
Mr. cosette
|
Latest diary: Houston Area Kossacks: Meet-Up Scheduled for Saturday, August 31!
Sunday, Sept 15th
Chicago Kossacks Meet-up at a Powwow!
TIME: 11:30 AM
LOCATION: Chicago's 60th Annual American Indian Center Powwow
Busse Woods Forest Preserve • Elk Grove Village
ORGANIZER: Send figbash a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. figbash
2. broths
3. Mr. broths
4. Satya1
5. Liberal Granny
6. Railfan
7. Expat Okie
8. LeftOfYou
|
Maybees:
peregrine kate
palantir
edwardssl
Millie Neon
|
Latest diary: Chicago Kossacks Go To A Powwow: Sunday, Sept 15 2013
DeKalb, Illinois Kossacks
|
Saturday, September 21st
DeKalb, Illinois Kossacks Dinner & a Show!
DINNER:
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Rosita's Mexican Restaurant
642 East Lincoln Highway • DeKalb
SHOW:
TIME: 7:30 PM
LOCATION: The Stage Coach Players Theater
126 South 5th Street (2 blks. from dinner) • DeKalb
ORGANIZER: Send NormAl1792 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. NormAl1792 (on stage as Henry II)
2. winifred3
3. luvsathoroughbred
4. Mr. luvs
|
Maybees:
1864 House
Amber6541
edwardssl
jwinIL14
JeffW
Calamity Jean
|
Latest diary: Northern IL Kossacks Dinner and a Show - Saturday, Sept. 21
Saturday, October 19th
DKos Asheville Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: The Bywater
796 Riverside Dr. • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Joieau
4. Gordon20024
5. gulfgal98
6. DawnN
7. Sandy on Signal
8. Mr Sandy on Signal
9. Munchkin
10. Alecia
11. Mr Alecia
12. cultjake
13. flwrightman
|
Maybees:
Otteray Scribe
Burns Lass
people power granny
One Pissed Off Liberal
Christian Dem in NC
SteelerGrrl
SteelerGuy
polecat
Audri
Phil S 33
|
Latest diary: DKos Asheville - Weekly Open Thread
Sunday, October 20th
MEGA Philly/NJ/NYC Kossacks Meet-up!
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Stuff Yer Face
49 Easton Avenue • New Brunswick, NJ
ORGANIZER: Send mconvente a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. mconvente
2. belinda ridgewood
3. thankgodforairamerica
4. gchaucer2
5. sidnora
6. rubyr
7. mattc129
8. hayden
9. mallyroyal
10. Avilyn
11. blue jersey mom
|
Maybees:
aravir and son
ask
Cinnamon
No Exit
andgarden
asterkitty
pfiore8
joanneleon
|
Latest diary: Philly/NJ/NYC Mega Meetup! Initial Information & Interest Diary
Friday, October 25th
LAKossacks & SoCal Inland Empire See Lewis Black!
TIME: 9:00 PM
LOCATION: Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa
32-250 Bob Hope Dr. • Rancho Mirage
ORGANIZER: Send 714day a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. 714day
2. jakedog42
3. susans
4. Otoelbc
|
Maybees:
Shockwave
SoCaliana
|
Latest diary: L.A. Kossacks, Lewis Black Fans in So Cal
Friday, October 25th
Meet the Daily Kos Editorial Staff!
TIME: TBD in the PM
LOCATION: Daily Kos HQ
Address given privately to RSVP'ers • Berkeley
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
You will need to bring Potluck. Stay tuned for assignments.
RSVPs:
1. Markos
2. Susan Gardner
3. Meteor Blades
4. Faith Gardner
5. Will Rockafellow
and many more staff... stay tuned
6. navajo
7. Lusty
8. side pocket
9. paradise50
10. smileycreek
11. citisven
12. norm
13. Lorikeet
14. kimoconnor
15. remembrance +TLO?
16. Glen the Plumber
17. madhaus
18. dharmasyd
19. ceebee7
20. lineatus
21. Dave in Northridge
22. linkage
23. LinSea
24. Shockwave
|
Maybees:
Cedwyn
LaughingPlanet
|
Saturday, November 2nd
SFKossacks BBQ in the Wine Country
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: Andrew McGuire's home in the Wine Country
Address to be given privately to RSVPs • Windsor
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
Andrew McGuire is Executive Director of California One Care
RSVPs:
1. Andrew McGuire
2. navajo
3. Shockwave
4. Hunter
5. elfing
6. Hunter/elfling offspring
7. smileycreek
8. paradise50
9. dharmasyd
10. maggiejean
11. norm
12. Lusty
13. dksbook
14. Mr. dksbook
|
15. kimoconnor
16. jpmassar
17. side pocket
18. Mrs. side pocket
19. ceebee7
20. ceebee7's sister
21. leema (will carpool from Marin)
22. Meteor Blades
Maybees:
Glen The Plumber
remembrance
TLO™
|
Send navajo a kosmail if you post a diary about an event so we can update our round-up.
Okay. Floor's open.
Tell us what you are doing on this NEW DAY?