the ride up was hilarious & fun, i talked with ppl i don't get to socialize with very often & got to know them more, which was cool. when we got to the site, they had water (and safety equipment) waiting for us, and a couple of the guys moved a bench to the shade for me, which was sweet! it was interesting to see the four vehicles (a skid steer, articulated dump truck, crawler dozer and backhoe) up close & personal, and in action by different ppl! some ppl weren't sure about it, and so the machine's movements were slower and more deliberate. others took to it like they'd been at it for years, and spent a lot of time moving dirt around! heh.
the other group met us at the test site for lunch, which was yummy and fun! and i got extra cookies because someone didn't want theirs. i'm always happy to have something in my purse for those times when i need an energy boost - even if cookies aren't the best, ya know? : ) after lunch, group 2 stayed at the site for their turn w/ the machines, and our group headed to the factory.
i seriously love visiting the factories, but would totally NOT want to work there. the office portions are all A/C'd & everything, but the facilities are just so BIG. we didn't have to walk it, thank God, we rode around on a trolley of sorts, and it still was an hour & a half tour! a lot of things i noticed and liked or found interesting - there are a ton of american flags hanging. i even saw an iowa flag as well! i love the patriotism! it was a very clean facility, all the safety stuff appeared to be in order, the break areas were rather big and appeared to have many soda/food choices.
it was a beautiful day, and there were some nice breezes coming through, but i know on the miserable days it was/is even more so for these workers. i admire them so much, for the jobs that they do!! it's nice to be reminded of where it all takes place!
we opted not to visit the gift shop, which i was disappointed with but didn't argue about or let them know i wanted to visit. i wasn't feeling very well after the ride around the plant, which i think had several causes, none of which were major - the air was very dry, the trolley, while comfortable for te most part, didn't have shocks at all, so when we went outside to see the waste treatment area (if the fishies are still swimmin, then we're fine) i got a little motion sickness. and i don't usually get that! i can ride the spinny rides w/ the best of them... or, i could a few years ago, anyway... LOL in retrospect it was good we didn't go in, as i'd just want to buy something, and i didn't have checks or cash in my purse! whoopsies! someone wasn't thinking when she packed it... heh.
the guys DID, however, take us to Dairy Queen on the way outta town. the other group met us there & we had ice cream galore! : ) yummmmmy!
we got back to the office at 4:30-ish, and i'd planned to stay for an hour, but i needed to get the camera to brenna & i just didn't have time to stay! so i left at quarter til & headed to the bank, brenna's (she wasn't there, so i delivered the camera to her mom) & then mom's. : ) we got to keep our safety goggles, so i gave mine to leyton & he was so excited! and he looked SOOO CUTE! i wanted a picture!! heh.
the three of us went to IHOP for dinner, and had a delicious meal & a good time. also, i think next time we go, leyton should get french toast since he seemed to like mine so much. *laugh* after dinner, we had to pick up phil's car from somewhere, so mom dropped me off at it & i headed back to her place. i beat her by 10 minutes. LOL that was fun! hung out there for another hour or so, cuddled w/ leyton & played w/ cars, and then headed home to chat w/ april for a bit.
have a 7:30 meeting at HQ tomorrow, so i'd better get to bed. (marz, i'm glad i'm not the only one who does the staying up thing - i think i found a cure for it, at least for tonight - pack the day so full it's all you can do to keep your eyes open! (haha, sometimes that doesn't even work, but i think it will tonight!)) : )
goodnight & ttfn! hope your friday goes FABULOUSLY! : )
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