Hey Now:
Here is Part 3 of the first blog post in over a month.
FAREWELL TO BVA
Our very good friend, Mr. Brian Van Alstyne, of Rensselaer and Colonie, has decided to transfer to Amtrak in Sanford, Florida (near Orlando), which is one of the stops of the AutoTrain. Brian is a wry studier of life and enjoys the little (or tremendously huge) quirks he observes in folks over a period of time. He's one of those guys that you work with that does dead-on impressions of co-workers. He generally does these as asides to friends, making them bust a gut with laughter. Brian is a great guy to have around, whether golfing, drinking, attending sporting events, whatever. Brian is funny in that, even though we consider him a good friend, he likes to keep a distance and a major part of himself to himself.
As a worker, Brian has too much brains for the job he is doing. He could be making alot more money doing something in the private sector. But like some of us, he is either too complacent, too comfortable, too lazy, or too apathetic to go out and find more. I really believe that you don't need success in business, vocation, or your monetary situation to be an actual success. I think happiness is more important. I think guys like Brian, Roy, Rob, and myself are able to get themselves to a point where you can say, "No. I don't have all the money I'd like, but, Yes, I'm happy with what I have, my family, the friends I hang out with, and the things that I do.
I think Brian will always be like that. Brian's love above all is Horse Racing. I think he and Chuck the E.o D. would make a good television analyst team for the OTB network. I think a perfect day for Brian would be a morning round of golf at Hiawatha Trails (a tough Par-3 course near here), Lunch and all the festivities at Saratoga Race Course, followed by a quick trip to the Bronx to watch his beloved Yankees kick the shit out of the Red Sox. Or the NY Giants NOT getting their asses handed to them by someone from the NFC EAST.
Brian, you are truly one of the most interesting people I have ever met. Your view askew of the world, along with your unique insights have given me alot to think about and alot to laugh about. I always have fun playing golf with you and will never forget the day you got hit by Grugan's shot. I will also never forget "entertaining you" by trying to hit the ball out of the water on the 11th hole at Schenctady Muni. There are people that you are happy to see when you go into work. For me, Brian is one of them. A voice of reason (except when discussing baseball and rock music), a bringer of humor, and an understanding ear. Roy, Rob, Tim, Jeff the Palooka, and I will miss you alot. I think so will Rich, even though he can't "hit his iyahns."
I wish you all the best in the Orlando area. Please don't marry Vicki. I'm sure there is some hot Florida mommy with an oddly bent view of the world who you'll hook up with down there. Peace and Happiness my friend.
I know Brian will do well, because LEN IS RIGHT.
I am,
Len Tollerton
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
HOW YOU DOIN'? Part two
Alright here's some more:
I split these up so you didn't have to read one long post. You could take it as you wanted. Anyway...
THE STORM AND THE TREE
The day before golf, we get this tornado-like wind and hail storm on my way to work at 4:00. I get the call from home that wind has blown down a tree from an adjacent property and taken down our power lines (and our neighbor's). We have no power, no phone (because we have Time Warner digital phone), can't get in our driveway. Not to mention that it's, like, 87 degrees, and there's no air conditioning. Plus, no power to run the sump pump in the basement. I leave work and come home. Power company ends up coming by 4 times and telling us they'll need a crew (no duh). 25 hours later, with Patty at the end of her rope, the power people finally show up and reattach in less that 1 hour. This would not have happened if Patty had not been extremely assertive on the phone with NIMO.
So we're all hooked up (power, phone, and cable), but we still have an 80-90 foot tree lying across two yards. So, Saturday I'm mowing my back lawn and notice the neighbor trying to cut some of the smaller branches wih a hand saw. Then, Don across the street, comes over with his electric chain saw. Then another couple shows up and then the widow from across the street (who we shovel out occasionally) comes over. So we're all working along. Just as I leave for Jackson's soccer game, Super John from down the street shows up with his "real" chainsaw and cuts the tree back to my lawn so I can get in my driveway.
Another guy (from the Eddie Burgess-group) comes up with a guy who's looking for firewood. I just want the tree gone. So, it's taken several trips over a few days, but we finally got the yard back so it's usable. I just have to vaccuum up wood chips before my lawn is a total mess.
Thanks to the Owens', Don and Charlotte Van Keuren, Mary Mancuso, the Trainors, and Super John from down the street for all of your help. Thanks also to Paul for doing all of the cutting and hauling. The town wouldn't take the branches.
AMTRAK GETS WORSE
As hard as it is to believe, things at Amtrak Rensselaer got worse this week. Our Chief Mechanical Officer came and told us that the P.M. work we do on a certain line of engines was being moved to Chicago, where they want to centralize the work and inventory for the program. They have no problem with the quality of our work. Business-wise, it's a smart move. Unfortunately, it's going to cause us to lose 22 jobs. 16 of those will be people retiring whose jobs they will not fill. The other 6 are actual jobse we will lose. It doesn't seem like alot, but when you only have 153 and they want you down to 131, it is alot. Never mind that we had 200-300 people at one time.
My craft of 10 workers was reduced by 2 in this move. This was done because management doesn't like the man who was second-from-the-bottom on our roster. See, our local management manages with the style of VINDICTIVENESS AND DEGRADATION. The guy who makes the rules and schedules has admitted that if he is mad at one guy, he likes to punsih the WHOLE craft. How do you like that? I won't go too far into the other archaic and childish things they do and say to and about the workers, because I could write for hours. Suffice to say that it is an abominable place to be, and I am physically nauseated when I am in their presence.
You COULD say, "Len, if you hate it there so much and it sucks to be there, why don't you leave?" No diploma. Golden hand-cuffs (decent pay and can't aford to risk being without benefits). Not enough money saved to allow for flexibility of not working at this time. I should probably go and get my Real Estate license, even with the market being bad right now. I actually figured I'd retire with the railroad. My job is safe for now, but it's only a matter of time. Amtrak is going to, over the next few years, turn the Rensselaer Maintenence Facility into a gas station. The trains will come in, get fueled, toilets serviced, cleaned and sent out. No mechanical repairs will be made.
You know, it's bad enough that we haven't gotten a contract for almost 8 years (no raise and gasoline costs over $3.oo/gal), but to have jobs abolished and a local management that will not communicate "en masse" to the employees, and operates on the, "You're lucky to have a job" mentality, is a kick in the teeth. I find myself often wishing for the embarassing and painful death of those in control. And then I think, "Hey, what kind of thinking is that?" So, I guess I'm going to put a resume together and see what's out there that I can do that will pay me what I'm making now. No construction work. I freaking hate it. I need a large comapny to hire me as a liason to big-wigs who come into town. That would be good for me. HIRE LEN IS RIGHT, NOW. YOU WON'T BE SORRY.
You know what, though? I'm healthy. I have a nice family. Things could be alot worse. I at least have the ABILITY to take care of my family. If I have to end up working 2 jobs and 60-80 hours to make the same money as I'm paid at Amtrak, I'll do it. Fuck Amtrak. You're not going to beat me. In the end, the upper hand will be mine AND I WILL PISS ON YOUR SHOES, YA BASTIDS!!
This ends Part Two. Part 3 to follow. LEN IS RIGHT. ACCEPT IT.
I am,
Len Tollerton
I split these up so you didn't have to read one long post. You could take it as you wanted. Anyway...
THE STORM AND THE TREE
The day before golf, we get this tornado-like wind and hail storm on my way to work at 4:00. I get the call from home that wind has blown down a tree from an adjacent property and taken down our power lines (and our neighbor's). We have no power, no phone (because we have Time Warner digital phone), can't get in our driveway. Not to mention that it's, like, 87 degrees, and there's no air conditioning. Plus, no power to run the sump pump in the basement. I leave work and come home. Power company ends up coming by 4 times and telling us they'll need a crew (no duh). 25 hours later, with Patty at the end of her rope, the power people finally show up and reattach in less that 1 hour. This would not have happened if Patty had not been extremely assertive on the phone with NIMO.
So we're all hooked up (power, phone, and cable), but we still have an 80-90 foot tree lying across two yards. So, Saturday I'm mowing my back lawn and notice the neighbor trying to cut some of the smaller branches wih a hand saw. Then, Don across the street, comes over with his electric chain saw. Then another couple shows up and then the widow from across the street (who we shovel out occasionally) comes over. So we're all working along. Just as I leave for Jackson's soccer game, Super John from down the street shows up with his "real" chainsaw and cuts the tree back to my lawn so I can get in my driveway.
Another guy (from the Eddie Burgess-group) comes up with a guy who's looking for firewood. I just want the tree gone. So, it's taken several trips over a few days, but we finally got the yard back so it's usable. I just have to vaccuum up wood chips before my lawn is a total mess.
Thanks to the Owens', Don and Charlotte Van Keuren, Mary Mancuso, the Trainors, and Super John from down the street for all of your help. Thanks also to Paul for doing all of the cutting and hauling. The town wouldn't take the branches.
AMTRAK GETS WORSE
As hard as it is to believe, things at Amtrak Rensselaer got worse this week. Our Chief Mechanical Officer came and told us that the P.M. work we do on a certain line of engines was being moved to Chicago, where they want to centralize the work and inventory for the program. They have no problem with the quality of our work. Business-wise, it's a smart move. Unfortunately, it's going to cause us to lose 22 jobs. 16 of those will be people retiring whose jobs they will not fill. The other 6 are actual jobse we will lose. It doesn't seem like alot, but when you only have 153 and they want you down to 131, it is alot. Never mind that we had 200-300 people at one time.
My craft of 10 workers was reduced by 2 in this move. This was done because management doesn't like the man who was second-from-the-bottom on our roster. See, our local management manages with the style of VINDICTIVENESS AND DEGRADATION. The guy who makes the rules and schedules has admitted that if he is mad at one guy, he likes to punsih the WHOLE craft. How do you like that? I won't go too far into the other archaic and childish things they do and say to and about the workers, because I could write for hours. Suffice to say that it is an abominable place to be, and I am physically nauseated when I am in their presence.
You COULD say, "Len, if you hate it there so much and it sucks to be there, why don't you leave?" No diploma. Golden hand-cuffs (decent pay and can't aford to risk being without benefits). Not enough money saved to allow for flexibility of not working at this time. I should probably go and get my Real Estate license, even with the market being bad right now. I actually figured I'd retire with the railroad. My job is safe for now, but it's only a matter of time. Amtrak is going to, over the next few years, turn the Rensselaer Maintenence Facility into a gas station. The trains will come in, get fueled, toilets serviced, cleaned and sent out. No mechanical repairs will be made.
You know, it's bad enough that we haven't gotten a contract for almost 8 years (no raise and gasoline costs over $3.oo/gal), but to have jobs abolished and a local management that will not communicate "en masse" to the employees, and operates on the, "You're lucky to have a job" mentality, is a kick in the teeth. I find myself often wishing for the embarassing and painful death of those in control. And then I think, "Hey, what kind of thinking is that?" So, I guess I'm going to put a resume together and see what's out there that I can do that will pay me what I'm making now. No construction work. I freaking hate it. I need a large comapny to hire me as a liason to big-wigs who come into town. That would be good for me. HIRE LEN IS RIGHT, NOW. YOU WON'T BE SORRY.
You know what, though? I'm healthy. I have a nice family. Things could be alot worse. I at least have the ABILITY to take care of my family. If I have to end up working 2 jobs and 60-80 hours to make the same money as I'm paid at Amtrak, I'll do it. Fuck Amtrak. You're not going to beat me. In the end, the upper hand will be mine AND I WILL PISS ON YOUR SHOES, YA BASTIDS!!
This ends Part Two. Part 3 to follow. LEN IS RIGHT. ACCEPT IT.
I am,
Len Tollerton
HOW YOU DOIN? Part One
Hey:
Been away. Nothing to say. Events of the past month, in no particular order.
LOSS OF A FRIEND
Good friend Ed Burgess finally lost his fight with cancer. Ed, along with his wife, Mary, hosted the (in)famous Daytona Ave. Texas Hold-'Em tournaments I've spoken about. Good friend, good guy. Eddie was one of the better tournament poker players in the Capital District area. He was the first back-to-back winner at the Albany Garden Club's weekly tournament. He was also the winner of the first two Daytona Ave. tourneys. The Amtrak guys, the poker guys, the guards, family and friends will miss him greatly. Vaya Con Dios, mi amigo.
THE PRINTERS' GOLF OUTING
June 1st brought us to the greatly anticipated Printers' outing, a four-man scramble format golf outing at Orchard Creek in Altamont. I played with Roy, the G.B. King, the Dot-Com Destroyer and our host, Chuck, the famous Edge of Darkness. We got off to a great start, making birdies on the first 4 holes (including a Closest-to-the-Pin 12'9"/189 yard Par3 by yours truly), 7 out of the first 9, and 9 out of the first 13. Unfortunately we ran out of gas and couldn't sink a putt later on and ended up making par on the last 5 holes. We finished with a 9-Under 62, a true team effort, especially over the first 13 holes. Everyone's shot was used at least once in all 4 types of shots (driving, fairway, chips and putts). Our 62 was good enough for 2nd place, losing to a 60. We really should have won it.
In between 9's, the outing had a guy grilling ribs, Sabretts, and sausage and peppers. Beer on tap and all manner of soft drinks available. After the golf, we had a cocktail 2-hour with fresh shrimp, clams, and clam chowder. We took the opportunity to play a little No-Limit in 3 Styles (Hold-'Em, Omaha, and Pineapple). I lostEnded up losing $23. Was down $60. They then gave out raffle prizes and put on a steak bake with all the trimmings. Great time. We played good golf, got hammered, played cards, and ate great food. We also won money for 2nd place and I won a Closest-to-Pin prize. We couldn't have asked for more. These outing are always alot more fun if you play well.
Well that's enough for this post. A second one follows.
LEN IS RIGHT.
I am,
Len Tollerton
Been away. Nothing to say. Events of the past month, in no particular order.
LOSS OF A FRIEND
Good friend Ed Burgess finally lost his fight with cancer. Ed, along with his wife, Mary, hosted the (in)famous Daytona Ave. Texas Hold-'Em tournaments I've spoken about. Good friend, good guy. Eddie was one of the better tournament poker players in the Capital District area. He was the first back-to-back winner at the Albany Garden Club's weekly tournament. He was also the winner of the first two Daytona Ave. tourneys. The Amtrak guys, the poker guys, the guards, family and friends will miss him greatly. Vaya Con Dios, mi amigo.
THE PRINTERS' GOLF OUTING
June 1st brought us to the greatly anticipated Printers' outing, a four-man scramble format golf outing at Orchard Creek in Altamont. I played with Roy, the G.B. King, the Dot-Com Destroyer and our host, Chuck, the famous Edge of Darkness. We got off to a great start, making birdies on the first 4 holes (including a Closest-to-the-Pin 12'9"/189 yard Par3 by yours truly), 7 out of the first 9, and 9 out of the first 13. Unfortunately we ran out of gas and couldn't sink a putt later on and ended up making par on the last 5 holes. We finished with a 9-Under 62, a true team effort, especially over the first 13 holes. Everyone's shot was used at least once in all 4 types of shots (driving, fairway, chips and putts). Our 62 was good enough for 2nd place, losing to a 60. We really should have won it.
In between 9's, the outing had a guy grilling ribs, Sabretts, and sausage and peppers. Beer on tap and all manner of soft drinks available. After the golf, we had a cocktail 2-hour with fresh shrimp, clams, and clam chowder. We took the opportunity to play a little No-Limit in 3 Styles (Hold-'Em, Omaha, and Pineapple). I lostEnded up losing $23. Was down $60. They then gave out raffle prizes and put on a steak bake with all the trimmings. Great time. We played good golf, got hammered, played cards, and ate great food. We also won money for 2nd place and I won a Closest-to-Pin prize. We couldn't have asked for more. These outing are always alot more fun if you play well.
Well that's enough for this post. A second one follows.
LEN IS RIGHT.
I am,
Len Tollerton
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