Im Going to Regret This Tomorrow

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Well, I made it to volleyball and did okay since I have not played in over three years; but I am going to regret it tomorrow! I can feel it already hitting me. You could tell I was the American out there in many ways: (1) most obvious, I did not speak Russian (but honestly got by okay), (2) my clothes were too bright and flashy, (3) I cheered after good plays, and (4) I was the only one in the sauna on the bottom step while very else was at the top where you could not even breath. I honestly have no idea how hot it was in there, but it was HOT. I wanted to try to be part of the team so I joined them, but it was so hot, I could not stand it; but they were impressed I jumped in the cold pool with them afterwards.

I started that post right after volleyball on Monday, it is not Wednesday and I am about to die. I have trouble sitting up/down. I knew it was going to hurt. It hurts so bad, I may not go tomorrow; but I will wait and see how I feel. I was surprised, Tuesday was not so bad, but this morning, it hurt so bad to get out of bed, I just laid there. Of course everything is steps around here so I felt it big time. Even standing up or sitting down is difficult.

Some good news, the mail system here does work...lol My sister's package and letter she sent about two weeks ago, both arrived today. The package was not in such good shape, but everything was still there. The letter was just like any other letter you would receive in the US so this is my first piece of mail addressed to me that I could read without a translater! Thanks Jetta!

I am not sure if everyone heard, but Moscow had a huge Salmonella outbreak this past week. You can read Margaret's posting for more details, but as I shared with Margaret, it does not surprise me. Just today we were talking about the new par-fry line and what temperature we should spec the frozen product. With hestitation, I told them -18oC (0oF) and I had all kinds of resistence and how that is way too cold compared to "Russian Standard", which is always their response, good or bad, but something about "the Russian Standard." Does anyone want to take a guess at what they think frozen meat should be coming out of a spiral freezer? The winner will get a box of "frozen" Russian chicken...lol I must give the Technologist, as she is called here, credit. After going through some of the science behind why colder was better and how we do not want to just meet the standard, which provides food safety (supposedly, please go with my logic here...lol), but we want to ensure quality and raise the bar from our competitors by NOT just meeting the Standard, but exceeding it.

I am so glad Margaret is not coming here anytime soon to do an audit! Speaking of audits, we have our first one next month for YUM, yes Gale, some of your favorite people (or were you not there when we went through the YUM audits at Bossier City)? No one at the plant is worried about the 51 page audit book they sent me. They told me they know the Techologist well and should not be a problem. I am still going to do my best to get us prepared, but I have a lot more than one months worth of stuff to do! Any consultants want to come and help...lol

I have my first medical need. I am not sure what is wrong with my eye, but it feels like my tear duct plug (from my eyse surgury) is coming out and rubbing against my eye. My eye is not blood shot, but my eye lid near the tear duct is all red, puffy, and warm. It may be some sort of infection in the tear duct that is putting pressure on the plug and it is just enough to rub on the eye. At first I just thought it was a stye (?sp?), but the eye lid is all swollen so I do not think so. I tried to see our doctor at the plant today, but he was not in so I will try again tomorrow. I am hoping it is nothing, or at least something simple that I do not have to Moscow to see a Western doctor. If I knew what it was and knew what I needed to take for it, I would just get it from the pharmacy, but since I don't, I will see if our doctor can give me any direction.

It is getting cooler here again and still raining just about every day. Today it downpoured several times and only in the lower 60's. I think by Friday it is suppose to be back to the lower 70's, but we will wait and see. Hopefully no rain while I shop at the outdoor flea market! I best get to bed, I am tired (and SORE) and sort of feel a sore throat coming on so hopefully I get past it with a couple of good nights sleep and really enjoy Moscow this weekend.

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Comments

[Margaret]

Laughing at you, sorry : )
Oh my gosh, I was laughing about your soreness, but also feeling empathy. I skin coated (spread concrete) the side of the stem wall (foundation) on our flip house on Sunday and kneeling all day and adding concrete to the side of the house just about did me in. I could hardly stand up yesterday. I'm not the "hard a**" I thought I was because those muscles were abused, big time, and are screaming. This is day 3 and it's better. If your eye is a blocked tear duct, put a HOT wet washcloth on it. Stick it in the microwave to keep it hot (the washcloth, not your eye!). Russia may not have washcloths - France and Germany didn't - but you get my drift. Missed seeing you at IAFP! Calgary was cool and clean. Robach wasn't there either. Word on the street is that Pilgrim's is taking over Gold Kist. I'll send the letter to your e-mail.

[Gale]

YUM
Yes I remember the audits but luckily I was not involved much. I have one myself in a few months if the new products come into Bossier as they're supposed to. I'll come do your audit if you take my class that I'm in now for me! lol You sound like you're in an awful lot of pain. Take some good vitamins and lots of aspirin! A shot of Jack probably wouldn't hurt either. I'll try to send some of this 100 degree weather we're having here your way. Take care.

[vkramer515]

It is funny
Everyone at work was laughing at me as well because I was "all of this talk" about playing volleyball then come to work the next day looking like I did. I have to admit, today was better, but still very sore! I skipped, not because of the soreness, but because of this summer/fall cold I am coming down with and working third shift tonight. So I left at noon then went to bed for the evening. Just now getting up and getting ready for work tonight. Was there a good showing this year? I was not sure with it being that far North and West. Good presentations? Thanks for the updates!

[donkey mom]

poor boy
Sounds like you are falling right in with the rest of us. Hard worker. Ha Glad you got to play volleyball, I know you enjoyed it in the states but is age catching up with you? That could be part of the problem. Hope your eye gets better, might have a cold in eye if you are getting a summer/fall cold never know. But hope it gets better.

[vkramer515]

Eye Is Better
I am still not sure what it is I am putting in my eye, but it seem to clear it up and I think you are right, it was a cold in the eye because I know I have a major cold in the body now! I have done nothing but sleep this weekend. I thought I was feeling better yesterday, but I do not think so. I sound terrible and still coughing, sneezing and blowing my nose!