Almost.

I'm a pretty careful driver, regardless of that ticket mentioned below. I always check the intersections and never trust the lights. You'd think I was paranoid if you saw me driving.

This morning I got off the expressway and pulled up to the light which was green, with no one in front of me and a semi to my right.

I had the green, but I slowed and almost stopped at the light.

That's when the cop blew through, lights on, no siren. He was doing 70 easy.

I'd have been late to work for sure.

I thank God.

Scofflaw citizen Ed Bonderenka was apprehended by police on his way to work, Saturday.

Police clocked him at an amazing 72 mph in a 60 mph construction zone.

Amazingly enough, he was only awarded a ticket for 5 over, which normally fined at $100, was doubled due to being in a construction zone. On a Saturday, with no crews present, and with cars passing him.

When questioned by the apprehending officer: "Do you know how fast you were going?", he calmly replied: "65 to 70" without adding "like everyone else". The officer then informed him that he had indeed been clocked at an amazing 72mph! The driver then informed the officer that he was carrying a loaded gun in the car! This however, was not perceived as a threat by the officer, who merely asked where it was, and that it remain there. He then offered that complaints had been made that enforcement was lax in that area.
The officer informed the offender that he should write a letter to the judge about the matter, and how to do it.

OK, I saw him start to turn his vehicle as I approached him. I slowed down to 60 and he pulled behind me. I don't know how I knew it was me, but I did not wait for the lights, and pulled to the shoulder on a diagonal to afford him some protection from the other vehicles whizzing by at 70. He surprised me by coming up to the passenger window and asking only for my license, which I handed over with my CPL. He asked where the gun was and smiled as he said we were fine as long as it stayed there. He came back and said I had a clean record (I knew) and was almost apologetic about giving me the ticket, that there had been complaints, saying it wouldn't carry points at only 5 over. Before He was done, he coached me in how to try and get out of it by writing the judge a letter and what to put in it.

I can't argue with him or his professionalism, but wonder why I didn't get a warning only.

So I went in to work, and found that the work I had come in to do had been contracted out to an outside automation firm the night before. The manager of that department is not a team player, and was covering his butt, because the devices I was to wire and program weren't completed due to his lack of communication and cooperation with my boss. When I came in Monday, the devices still didn't work, and I got called over to see what was wrong. The outside guys had left wires unconnected. If I had been left to finish the job, Monday would have been a smooth start-up. And my effort to cooperate cost me $200 in fines, $12 in gas and a Saturday of my life. The company would have saved roughly $1000.  I vented to my boss (good guy) on Monday.

Today I do yardwork and home repairs BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, IT'S NOT A GOOD DAY TO GO OUT ON THE BOAT! I'm glad I'm not making payments on that thing.

Thanks for listening.

Spent all day Saturday (mostly) rewriting a vision project for work.

Spent most of Sunday after church, cleaning the boat.

Went out on the lake Monday, when Scherie noticed the bilge pump wasn't working.
Actually, she asked me if the pump was working.
It wasn't a rhetorical question. It was prompted by the back of the boats floorboards getting wet.
I tend to get upset at times like that.
Insects had nested in the discharge hose and plugged it. I know that because when I huffed and I puffed and I blew the hose out, they went in the lake.

That evening, we met some friends for dinner. On the way I was hoping we wouldn't run out of things to talk about. Silly me. Norma's been a mother, wife and businesswoman as well as a Republican precinct delegate. Nate graduated college in the depression and joijned the Navy in time to be at Pearl Harbor. Then get out and run a business for over fifty years. I was entranced listening to him and honored when he asked my opinion.

Tuesday I drove Scherie's car to work, because there was a small puddle under my truck. I overheated in Toledo when I stopped at a light. No clue before that.  Blown head gasket.
Got it towed back from Toledo to my brother’s last night. I’ll get it back Saturday. Water pump blades eroded away.
Had a new radiator put in the Ranger today.
Driving a rental. All this being late for work stuff and a deadline of 9 am on a major work project tomorrow calls for late hours.

Good night.

It just occurred to me the other day, that there are people would like to write for a living.

And I do.

You will never read my professional writing, but people who have, have complimented me on it.
I have to be readable to those who can read it.
I have to be concise and logical (like Charles Krauthammer), and clever (like Ann Coulter).

And I have to write in different languages and get different entities to work together because of my writing. It can't be divisive.

Now the analogy starts to fall apart.

I write programs that govern robots, presses and other machines.

I just finished writing a robot program to take parts out of an injection molding machine and place them in a trimming fixture. I also wired and programmed the trimming fixture. They only crashed into each other once (eggs, omelets).

My boss complimented me on the wiring, which has a design asthetic itself. Functional, pleasing to the eye, and easily understood.

I then went back to work on another device that will test washing machine consoles after they are built. These are not your mother's washing machines. There will come a day when you will re-boot your washing machine.

I wrote the overall controlling program for this device, but the device was designed by my co-worker, Dave, and he did a fine job. There are other writers involved. I had already written the vision system program that checks the lights and console color.
For a few hours, Dave was writing his robot program (it tests the buttons) and I was writing the data acquisition routine (to see how hard the buttons are to press!) and the IT guy was wriiting his stuff to get the data, tell us he got it, and allow the robot to continue.  Thee guys, three different minds working towards one goal. That calls for some good communication skills, patience and cleverness. At 6PM we decided we'd run out of all three and would try again Monday.

Just got off the phone with my boss.

He won't be in today.

That tornado that hit that high school in Ohio? It took out the house behind him, his shed, some of his siding and his power.

Some guys from his church are coming over to help him.

Puts my problems in perspective.

Nice vacation last week. Thorough cleaning of my garage/shop on Saturday so that once again people who enter will say that it looks good.

Sunday, kinda lazed around. Felt guilty, but I was tired. Seven PM, my son comes over (after calling) so that we can fix his exhaust rattle on his truck.

So instead of getting a little more sleep, I got a little less.

Woke up, and my beautiful bride says we don't have any hot water. I figure it's the pilot light again. Simple.

We have a tankless water heater, so I don't have to wait for the water to heat up.

I was on a home improvement show Saturday, and I cautioned people against getting tankless water heaters, unless they can't do without. They are high maintenance and high installed cost.

This morning, I had water coming out of my pilot light tube.

I had fixed this last fall, and now I had to fix it again. At least i knew how, if I could remember.

Some prayer, some cursing, (not supposed to work like that) and I got it back together with the leak gone.

I would still get to work on time, since I usually go in an hour early (to leave early).

On the drive in, my feet were cold, so I turned on the heater. No heat.

Temp gauge was OK and remained so. I'd look at it when I got home.

Ten miles from work and as I accelerate on I-75, I hear a noise that sounds like a minor exhaust leak. I look down at the gauges and I'm overheating.

I coast to a stop right in front of a "Welcome to Michigan" rest stop.

Of course, that would be on the other side of the very busy expressway, as I was headed into Ohio. I crossed the traffic, went inside and met a nice lady who was pushing a mop bucket.

I asked whether I might obtain a jug of water and she took me to her supply closet and filled two jugs for me. Cross traffic again. Start engine, fill slowly. Filling quickly can crack an engine block.

Drive away, get to work 15 minutes before work starts.

Proof once again! that there is a God in heaven, and he answers prayer. Probably my wifes, though. She prays every day that I'll get to work safely. Thanks, Scherie.

Of course!

Coincidence is when two things happen simultaneously. But it does not explain away the causality.
Someone prays, God answers.
Coincidence? Of course!
But not "merely" coincidence.

I've been working on a brand of robot that I'm not as proficient in as others. And I've been trying to get it to pull parts out of an injection molding machine. A real learning experience.

Friday, I got done. I'd learned a lot of arcane things about this brand of robot (I should get og's phone number) that I'd never needed to know before.

Sunday morning at 6am my phone rang. It was a friend of mine. We'd worked together at two previous jobs. He's a production manager.

He said he couldn't get any of his engineers to answer the phone, and he saw my name in his phone, and would I please talk his maintenance guy through getting this robot to pick parts out of an injection molding machine. He was going to miss a shipment, and perhaps lose the customer.

I told him that there was no way I could come in since I had church coming up and dinner with friends after. I talked to his guy and set him on the right path. I lay back down.

I knew in my heart God wanted me to call him up and offer to come in to his plant, so I did. He was excited, said he'd get me paid.

I drove in and a few hours later, using the knowledge I had gained recently, got him up and running.

During this time, one of their engineers had come in, but he was unfamiliar with robots.

Together, I showed him what I was doing, and why. We worked on the PLC code together, also.

The plant manager also had come in. He was encouraging us with phrases like: "This needs to run! Now!" and "Do I have to call someone else in?".

I took Steve aside and told him that I wasn't there to get paid, but that God had sent me to assist him. I told him that I could probably best assist him by walking up to his boss and slapping him. Steve did not agree, but he smiled.

I got a lot of smiles and thank yous from everyone when we were done. Steve looked like a hero.

That night, Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, Steve called me up again to thank me again, and that he'd try to get me paid. I told him that God had told me to go in, so he owed God. God wanted him to live for Him. Steve said that he had made that decision since we had last worked together, and coincidentally, there were a few believers in the plant who had been praying that the shipment would not get missed, and that they were telling everyone that I was an answer to prayer.

I've been paid.

Did I say Woot!!! ?

Just got off the phone with my new employer.

I'll be doing exactly the work I do best (and enjoy most):

"Automation Engineer"

at a price that's better than anything I've made in a year.

I start Monday.

God is good.

Thank you to those who were praying for me.

I had a job interview this morning. The interviews were being held in a local church because the staffing agency knew people at the church and could use the facility.

I met a couple of guys from the agency (I think I was the first there) and turned in my application. One of the guys took my social security card to copy and left. The other and I talked about the position. A little bit later, the first guy comes out and asks me where the nearest hospital was. I told him, and he asked how long it would take to get there.

I told him, and asked why. He said he wanted to go. I asked if he was kidding, and he said no. I asked whether he wanted me to drive him or call 911. He said 911.

I called 911 and while I was talking to the dispatcher, the gentleman walked away into the sanctuary. I turned to follow him and he was laying down on some chairs (no pews).

911 asked about his condition and I relayed questions to him. They said they were on their way and would call back if needed. I went back into the sanctuary and his partner walked in behind me. Two guys from the front of the church walked back to us and the four of us laid hands on him and prayed for his health.

I was then asked to go into my interview. My interviewer was a little shook up by the incident (as she said), but it went well enough.

I was thanked for praying for the guy.

Do I get bonus points? I doubt it.

I wish I could bottle some of this for later.

I know that's not an original thought but I’d give you some if I could.

Well, the sun is shining and the snow is gone, and I can walk outside without a jacket!

Went out for a job interview in Chelsea, MI. What a beautiful town. Stopped and got a coffee from a shop in the old town district. I'd love to move there.

Interview seemed OK. Who ever knows?

Another interview this afternoon. Had one yesterday afternoon. Wow!

On the way to the interview yesterday, I stopped by the corporate HQ for the company that let me go after a week, last week. Talked to the CEO! Seemed like a nice guy. Acted surprised at the situation, took my number and said he'd call. Still waiting... Not holding breath.

Anyways, God is good. All the time. Up or down. God is good.

Today's not too shabby either.

Addendum:

Just got back from second interview today. This is for a spot here in Ypsi on days that is so me. Recruiter agreed. Now to get the employer to agree...

Well, life can be interesting.
Since last October, I worked for a company in Mason, MI.
The drive was one hour each way.

I worked as a maintenance technician.
I knew that eventually I would go to the afternoon shift.
I strongly thought that I would be asked to take the Maintenance Mgr position from the day I interviewed. I have experience in that, the guy they had didn't, and his position was advertised a couple months ago.
Three weeks ago, the Plant manager quit. The new Plant manager fired the incompetent Maintenance Mgr. I resubmitted my resume.
Right after that, I got a call from a headhunter asking whether I would like a job ten minutes from home on day shift.
I said yes and they asked when I could start. I said immediately. I did not want to go afternoons.
I gave notice on Friday that that was my last day.

The Plant Mgr asked me to see him. We talked awhile, and then we were interupted by his manager. He asked me to see him before I left. When I did, he smiled across his desk and said he didn't want to lose me. What would it take? I said Maintenance Mgr. He said that was his thinking. We discussed management philosophy and we were in agreement. He asked me to give him a week. So I put off the new job one week.

I had already said goodbye to the guys (got a hug from one!) so they were shocked to see me on Monday. Some guessed that I was now their boss. When I said no, they said they thought I would've made a good one.
I've been dying to tell this story, because I thought it would be good, but didn't want someone to read it at work.

I went the entire week hearing nothing.
Last Friday I saw the Plant Mgr and asked what went wrong. He said "nothing" and then asked me to join him outside.
He asked whether I'd heard from his H.R. Mgr. I said "no". He acted upset and said that he had given her my resume and said I was the guy he wanted. He said he was going to send her an angry e-mail about it, and that he'd get back to me on Monday.
This Monday I started my new job. At the end of the day, I called Mason. I talked to the H.R. Mgr and she said she had heard nothing, but would talk to the Plant Mgr and call me back.
She did, and she apologized for the confusion, but informed me that I would not be the person for the position.
I was stunned.
At least I had the maintenance tech job, closer to home, with the offer of a controls position down the road.

Today I was let go because they are downsizing.

I wonder what's next.

For those of you who pray, there's a position open in town that is right up my alley. I've applied for it this afternoon.

Maybe this is what God had in mind all along.

One of the reasons I write here is to vent. Another is to entertain. Yet
another is to share some insight I believe I may have been given (which
implies that Someone gave it).
I am of the pentecostal persuasion of committed Christianity.

What that means to me is that God is still active in peoples lives on a personal level. He provides, He directs, He hears and He speaks to and through humans.

This is the prophetic.

He also gifts people with special abilities: the ability to teach well, to lead and guide people, manage and administrate, and to counsel.

Joseph, in the Book of Genesis, was an early example of this.
He had a vision of being in a leadership position in the family (he's the
youngest).

His older brothers decide to teach him a lesson. They attempt to kill him, but relent, sell him to some passing slavers and report him dead to their father.

Following Godly principles, he rose to managing a rich man's household from being his slave.

The boss's wife found him attractive and he rejected her advances. She accused him. He got thrown in prison, and ended up running the place.

He came to Pharoah's attention (through supernatural means) and eventually he was administrating the Egyptian kingdom.

We see Godly Business Management Techniques best exemplified in the Book of Daniel, one of the most successful business administrators ever.

The man is taken away to "business school" as a captive. He's supposed to eat what's considered the best food in the land but he argues to be given what his God requires instead, challenging his superiors to monitor the results.

They approve and concur.

Most of the other students are "going with the program".

Daniel communicates with his God frequently (prayer) and is led and guided by his God.

This later gets him in some hot water (a lion's den) but it's all resolved to his advantage (he isn't eaten, his rivals are).

Church and State issues, I guess.

Eventually, Daniel is given administrative control of the Empire.

Different political challenges arise, but he deals with them well, demonstrating that the godly mangement techniques are superior.
The owner's son  inherits the business and is not the same man as his father. Party, party, party.

Then the ultimate hostile takeover occurs. A rival "corporation" raids the enterprise (not in the Wall Street sense), removes the current owners (heads) and asks Daniel to continue managing the enterprise for them.
That's impressive.

There's something to learn there.

If you read it.

I was driving to work yesteray morning.

It's an hour drive and I leave about 4:45am.

So I have I-94 mostly to myself.

I was driving about 70 at one point. I tapped my brakes every now and then to test for black ice.
Not often enough.
There was a clearing of the tree screen along the expressway and the wind was ripping across it. It pushed me into the median.
When I realized that I was leaving the road, I yelled out: "God! Help me!".
I spun across the median, lost in a cloud of snow I was spraying all around me, and came out facing traffic (not much) on the other side, still rolling. So I gave it the gas, went back across the median, and back on the expressway.
It weirded me out for most of the day after that.
God is good.

Let me start by saying that what I'm about to post has been preoccupuying me so much, I've been unable to write about anything else, but I couldn't write this, yet.

I’ve been unemployed since Memorial Day weekend.
Others have had it tougher, but this is the longest I’ve ever been unintentionally on layoff for more than a couple days since I entered the work force. Every time I’ve been laid off, or a plant has closed, the Home Planet has arranged a new position almost immediately.

I don’t know how other people handle it. I was told by my “superiors” (while working 80 hrs weeks, salaried) that we’d be rotating the layoff, to distribute the pain.
The Engineering Manager is incompetent, and I had complained about him to the plant manager repeatedly. It was affecting my ability to do my job. So each time I’d complain, the plant manager would address the complaint.
While I was off, the plant manager quit. This left the plant under an interim manager who would not override the decision of my manager to get even. Instead of being off two weeks, they'd call me.

This led to panic on my part. At that time, daily newscasts spoke of the imminent demise of the auto industry, etc.

I started occupying myself with removing the old heating system in the church with a new one, working on friend’s houses, cars, etc. Repairing what I could around our house at low expense.

Praying. Fretting. Praying. Not sleeping at night.

Wondering why I felt abandoned by the Home Planet.

After a couple months, I decided that God was going to provide, so I should act like it. Not splurge, but not live in fear. So we ate out once in a while when time constrained us. I put money into the vehicles that needed it; tires, ball joints, etc.
I bought tile to fix the kitchen floors water damage and dry wall for the sunroom repairs.
I polished my resume http://apps.bonderenka.com/Blog/?e=36211&d=09/01/2009&s=Great%20Minds%20Think%20Alike! and helped a neighbor roof his house.

I kept up with my job search.
I’ve worked as a skilled trades maintenance tech, a maintenance supervisor, a facility manager, an automation designer, controls engineer. I began to feel that employers thought I was overqualified for some stuff, and under qualified for other stuff.

I’ve been wary of writing about this until now. As you know, any HR person could Google my name and end up here. So I didn’t want to say anything too derogatory or controversial.

I went to the Tea Party (see previous entry), and heard from the Home Planet to go to Culver’s for lunch instead of Wendy’s. As I said then, it was encouraging to know that I could still hear from the Home Planet.

If you’ve read previously, you know I worked under my truck doing a lot of welding. The second day, I was very frustrated with the results, or lack thereof, and extremely concerned that I may have damaged my eyes. I ended up in the house literally crying to God to protect my eyes, and while I was at it, I asked for a job, again.

Back in the garage, I got a message (from the Home Planet) that I would get a job the next week.
I told my wife and a couple friends. I told my Pastor. I was afraid to tell anyone else. The accuracy of the previous message encouraged me, but who knows? The next week almost passed and on Friday I got an interview with a company, but no offer. The interview went well, but they often do.

This week they made me an offer. Friday, I accepted. It’s a 70 mile drive, and it’s a midnight shift.

And I thank God for it.