Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The Swivel is King
Cal Manufacturing, Inc., patented the Swivel King in the 1990's for the Robotic Welding Market. The Video shows the Swivel King as it twists...this benefit is unique in that it will allow the welding cable to twist 180-degrees with as little as 15-pounds of pressure and is ergonomically built to relieve stress, function more efficiently and prevent down time!!
The Swivel really is King and to view our entire product line, visit our website at www.calmfginc.com In the meantime, entertain yourself with a little You Tube Video we made, with plans to make additional videos in the future which will include soundhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yksJKKyF6Og
The Swivel really is King and to view our entire product line, visit our website at www.calmfginc.com In the meantime, entertain yourself with a little You Tube Video we made, with plans to make additional videos in the future which will include soundhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yksJKKyF6Og
Monday, November 29, 2010
Happy Holidays!: Hope, Life's Necessary Little Ingredient
Happy Holidays!: Hope, Life's Necessary Little Ingredient: "If I asked you to define 'Hope' into words, what would you say? Myself, I'd have to answer 'it's something you can't see, but feel..a belie..."
Hope, Life's Necessary Little Ingredient
If I asked you to define "Hope" into words, what would you say? Myself, I'd have to answer "it's something you can't see, but feel..a belief in a positive outcome". A more "clinical" answer may say that it is distinct from positive thinking, referring toa therapeutic or systematic process used in psychology for reversing pessimism. So, why am I not sold on that definition? I think it's because hope is as unique to me as it is to each and every person.
When Barack Obama was still a senator yet vying for office of the President of the United States he wrote a book "The Audacity of Hope." People must have bought into it because it became a bestseller on the New York Times List and was endorsed by none other than Oprah Winfrey. The title of the book, Obama stated, was from a sermon delivered by his favorite pastor, Jeremiah Wright, and his pastor was inspired to name his sermon "Hope" from a GF Watts painting, the subject of the painting described as "with her clothes in rags, her body scarred and bruised and bleeding, her harp all but destroyed and with only one string left, she had the audacity to make music and praise God...in other words, to take the one string you have left and to have the audacity to hope, which is the real word of God."
I have not read Obama's book, I merely wondered if the title of the book struck a chord amongst millions of people who had..lost hope. All politicians, especially those vying for public office seem to include the word "hope" in their speeches, and for good reason, too. In the face of our economy, mortgages in default, job loss..hope is sometimes all that we have left. I'm not sure that politicians can deliver on the definition of hope and I'm pretty sure many people will say it's government that has influenced hope (or lack thereof) with current economic status. Maybe hope should be a sacred term used only when a politician is intent upon a "positive outcome actually occurring."
A famous Benjamin Franklin quote reads.. "I hope...that mankind will at length, as they call themselves reasonable creatures, have reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats; for in my opinion there never was a good war, or a bad peace." I'm pretty sure he was referring the state of the union at that time, yet his words are still relevant today even though the same wars are not being fought, they are different ones.
Adversity transcends time and is everywhere; it cannot be escaped. Hope says to adversity, "so why not try to figure out a way to use adversity for your own advantage"?
Emily Dickinson wrote a poem about hope, it goes like this:
Hope
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
Emily Dickinson defines hope by comparing it to a bird - which, if my English Class had any impact at all, means this is a metaphor. Hope is a "thing" because it is a feeling. When she talks about the bird "singing", the tune is "without words"...Is hope a matter of words or is it a feeling about the future, a feeling which consists of both desire and expectation. Psychologically, is it true that hope never fails us, that hope is always possible? I think Emily Dickinson was trying to describe hope using a poem much like songwriters and authors have done throughout time. Sometimes, a reminder of what hope is, even through the a poem or a song is enough to restore it within our souls.
I've yet to find a definition that is compact and completely clear. Most definitions are thought out references of where hope has been written about in a book, sung about in a song, rhymed in a poem or exemplified in life experience. I remember a book I read called "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. If you have read the book, you know that this was written initially for his children to remember him by. Yet, along the way, he did something really unique. He inspired each of us with his story by sharing everything he was going through and the things life taught him (or didn't teach him) along the way. He was dying from pancreatic cancer, he knew he wouldn't survive, yet I really believe that he held onto hope and faith regardless of the outcome. I wondered to myself, how did he hold onto hope when he knew he would not survive? I mean, he was an engineer and engineers need science and theory to back up every theorum. So, it seems that Hope is a real entity necessary in the lives of each and every one of us, yet I am no better at describing hope to you. I can only point it out and reference it as it permeates everyday life and is present in countless aspects of popular culture phenomenon such as jokes, fairy tales, politics and daily life.
I googled Hope and found it is the Seal of Rhode Island and features an anchor below the word "Hope", the state motto. This is taken from a Biblical passage in Hebrews 6:19(1).
1 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; The King James Version.
Wiki recommends "See Also" - Chance (disambiguation), Disappointment, Fear, Optimism, Risk, unrequited love, Statue of Hope. I could google away all day on the topic of hope, but it seems to draw me to site after site of references to Hope without an actual, concrete definition. Or maybe, just maybe, I'm looking for an answer that suits me...maybe I aready know the answer and I don't realize it.
I definitely think that hope is some positive outcome (whether we see it that way at the time or not) predicated on uncertainty. It is a word that describes a feeling of being unsure about a current circumstance and then essentially desiring an outcome that is good. Hope is based on faith, hope and faith are almost interchangeable. Faith is more "now" and hope describes "positive outcomes based on our fears". To be left without hope leaves us feeling deflated and without purpose. Faith is the knowing peace that the outcome is for the better, again whether we see the reason at the time we may not know. Hope is an idea that is spread through an understanding that one one is perfectly sure there is a sound outcome to their situations. Hope is a destination, so to speak, rather than an actuality. This is about as close as I can come to describing hope in my own words. Hope and Faith - you cannot see them, they are like the breeze blowing on your face, you feel it...you just cannot tangibly see it.
I think about hope and faith a lot in my life lately. Sometimes, hope and faith are the most tangible things we have. Each of us has had moments in our lives where we have felt hopeless at one time or another and my wish is that these moments are few and far between. The holidays are fast approaching. I think each of us has the capability to provide a definition of "hope" in someone's life by giving. I don't mean financially giving, I mean by passing on the spirit of the definition of hope, which clearly is undefined as a whole, yet is present in each of our lives as much as faith. Are random acts of kindness hope and faith? I don't know the answer myself, but I think each and every one of us holds a unique definition of hope with faith and that we have the ability to inspire that in those around us, each and every day if we choose to. Adversity is everywhere; it cannot be escaped...so why not try to figure a way to use adversity for your own advantage? I think I'd rather hear a policitican say those words in a campaign speech instead of using Hope to tease us into thinking they can provide us with the answer, because, in the end, they cannot...but we can.
When Barack Obama was still a senator yet vying for office of the President of the United States he wrote a book "The Audacity of Hope." People must have bought into it because it became a bestseller on the New York Times List and was endorsed by none other than Oprah Winfrey. The title of the book, Obama stated, was from a sermon delivered by his favorite pastor, Jeremiah Wright, and his pastor was inspired to name his sermon "Hope" from a GF Watts painting, the subject of the painting described as "with her clothes in rags, her body scarred and bruised and bleeding, her harp all but destroyed and with only one string left, she had the audacity to make music and praise God...in other words, to take the one string you have left and to have the audacity to hope, which is the real word of God."
I have not read Obama's book, I merely wondered if the title of the book struck a chord amongst millions of people who had..lost hope. All politicians, especially those vying for public office seem to include the word "hope" in their speeches, and for good reason, too. In the face of our economy, mortgages in default, job loss..hope is sometimes all that we have left. I'm not sure that politicians can deliver on the definition of hope and I'm pretty sure many people will say it's government that has influenced hope (or lack thereof) with current economic status. Maybe hope should be a sacred term used only when a politician is intent upon a "positive outcome actually occurring."
A famous Benjamin Franklin quote reads.. "I hope...that mankind will at length, as they call themselves reasonable creatures, have reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats; for in my opinion there never was a good war, or a bad peace." I'm pretty sure he was referring the state of the union at that time, yet his words are still relevant today even though the same wars are not being fought, they are different ones.
Adversity transcends time and is everywhere; it cannot be escaped. Hope says to adversity, "so why not try to figure out a way to use adversity for your own advantage"?
Emily Dickinson wrote a poem about hope, it goes like this:
Hope
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
Emily Dickinson defines hope by comparing it to a bird - which, if my English Class had any impact at all, means this is a metaphor. Hope is a "thing" because it is a feeling. When she talks about the bird "singing", the tune is "without words"...Is hope a matter of words or is it a feeling about the future, a feeling which consists of both desire and expectation. Psychologically, is it true that hope never fails us, that hope is always possible? I think Emily Dickinson was trying to describe hope using a poem much like songwriters and authors have done throughout time. Sometimes, a reminder of what hope is, even through the a poem or a song is enough to restore it within our souls.
I've yet to find a definition that is compact and completely clear. Most definitions are thought out references of where hope has been written about in a book, sung about in a song, rhymed in a poem or exemplified in life experience. I remember a book I read called "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. If you have read the book, you know that this was written initially for his children to remember him by. Yet, along the way, he did something really unique. He inspired each of us with his story by sharing everything he was going through and the things life taught him (or didn't teach him) along the way. He was dying from pancreatic cancer, he knew he wouldn't survive, yet I really believe that he held onto hope and faith regardless of the outcome. I wondered to myself, how did he hold onto hope when he knew he would not survive? I mean, he was an engineer and engineers need science and theory to back up every theorum. So, it seems that Hope is a real entity necessary in the lives of each and every one of us, yet I am no better at describing hope to you. I can only point it out and reference it as it permeates everyday life and is present in countless aspects of popular culture phenomenon such as jokes, fairy tales, politics and daily life.
I googled Hope and found it is the Seal of Rhode Island and features an anchor below the word "Hope", the state motto. This is taken from a Biblical passage in Hebrews 6:19(1).
1 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; The King James Version.
Wiki recommends "See Also" - Chance (disambiguation), Disappointment, Fear, Optimism, Risk, unrequited love, Statue of Hope. I could google away all day on the topic of hope, but it seems to draw me to site after site of references to Hope without an actual, concrete definition. Or maybe, just maybe, I'm looking for an answer that suits me...maybe I aready know the answer and I don't realize it.
I definitely think that hope is some positive outcome (whether we see it that way at the time or not) predicated on uncertainty. It is a word that describes a feeling of being unsure about a current circumstance and then essentially desiring an outcome that is good. Hope is based on faith, hope and faith are almost interchangeable. Faith is more "now" and hope describes "positive outcomes based on our fears". To be left without hope leaves us feeling deflated and without purpose. Faith is the knowing peace that the outcome is for the better, again whether we see the reason at the time we may not know. Hope is an idea that is spread through an understanding that one one is perfectly sure there is a sound outcome to their situations. Hope is a destination, so to speak, rather than an actuality. This is about as close as I can come to describing hope in my own words. Hope and Faith - you cannot see them, they are like the breeze blowing on your face, you feel it...you just cannot tangibly see it.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Thanksgiving 2010
http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/Throughout history mankind has celebrated harvest with thanksgiving celebrations. Long ago, many ancient farmers believed their crops contained "spirits" which caused their crops to grow and then die. Many also believed that these spirits would be released when the crops were harvested or they would take revenge on the farmers who harvested them. Some harvest festivals were to celebrate defeat of these spirits.
The ancient Greeks worshipped many gods and goddesses and their goddess of grain was Demeter who was honored at the festival of Thesmosphoria held each autum. Possibly connecting childbearing and raising of crops, many women would build leafy shelters and furnish them with couches made with plants. They would feast on the second day and on the third day a feast was offered to the goddess Demeter including gifts of seed corn, cakes and fruit. It was hoped that this gratitude would grant them a good harvest.
The Romans celebrate harvest time with a festival called Cerelia honoring Ceres their goddess of grains (hence the term cereal). These celebrations would include music, parades as well as games and sports concluding with a thanksgiving feast.
The ancient Chinese celebrated a harvest festival called Chung Ch'ul with the full moon and this fell on the 15th day of the 8th month. This day is considered the birthday of the moon whereby special "mooncakes" were made (round and yellow like the moon). Each cake was stamped with a picture of a rabbit, as it was a rabbit, not a man, which the Chinese saw on the face of the moon.
According to legend, Chung Ch'ui also gave thanks for another special occasion. China had been conquered by enemy armies who took control of the Chinese homes and food. The Chinese found themselves homeless and with no food.
In the United States, in 1621, after a hard and devastating first year in the New World the Pilgrim's fall harvest was very successful and plentiful. There was corn, fruits, vegetables, along with fish which was packed in salt and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They found they had enough food to put away for the winter.
The Pilgrims beat the odds. They built homes in the wilderness, raised enough crops to keep them alive during a long winter and were at peace with their Indian neighbors. Their Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving that was to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native American Indians.
In 1817 New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom. By the middle of the 19th century many other states also celebrated a Thanksgiving Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving. Since then, each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.
Well...a little Thanksgiving History and traditions of other countries. Myself, I plan to lay on the couch and watch football all afternoon after I've sufficiently stuffed myself on an inordinate amount of food at my mom's house with my family. We will all give thanks for our blessings, for those who are no longer with us at the table this year and celebrate those who are. It's also a time for strategizing the Christmas Holidays and shopping for the day after Thanksgiving. I can't say I'll be one of those up at dawn to fight the lines at Target and Walmart, but I will probably shop online as much as I can. Wishing all of you a blessed and safe Thanksgiving Holiday.
The ancient Greeks worshipped many gods and goddesses and their goddess of grain was Demeter who was honored at the festival of Thesmosphoria held each autum. Possibly connecting childbearing and raising of crops, many women would build leafy shelters and furnish them with couches made with plants. They would feast on the second day and on the third day a feast was offered to the goddess Demeter including gifts of seed corn, cakes and fruit. It was hoped that this gratitude would grant them a good harvest.
The Romans celebrate harvest time with a festival called Cerelia honoring Ceres their goddess of grains (hence the term cereal). These celebrations would include music, parades as well as games and sports concluding with a thanksgiving feast.
The ancient Chinese celebrated a harvest festival called Chung Ch'ul with the full moon and this fell on the 15th day of the 8th month. This day is considered the birthday of the moon whereby special "mooncakes" were made (round and yellow like the moon). Each cake was stamped with a picture of a rabbit, as it was a rabbit, not a man, which the Chinese saw on the face of the moon.
According to legend, Chung Ch'ui also gave thanks for another special occasion. China had been conquered by enemy armies who took control of the Chinese homes and food. The Chinese found themselves homeless and with no food.
In the United States, in 1621, after a hard and devastating first year in the New World the Pilgrim's fall harvest was very successful and plentiful. There was corn, fruits, vegetables, along with fish which was packed in salt and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They found they had enough food to put away for the winter.
The Pilgrims beat the odds. They built homes in the wilderness, raised enough crops to keep them alive during a long winter and were at peace with their Indian neighbors. Their Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving that was to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native American Indians.
In 1817 New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom. By the middle of the 19th century many other states also celebrated a Thanksgiving Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving. Since then, each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.
Well...a little Thanksgiving History and traditions of other countries. Myself, I plan to lay on the couch and watch football all afternoon after I've sufficiently stuffed myself on an inordinate amount of food at my mom's house with my family. We will all give thanks for our blessings, for those who are no longer with us at the table this year and celebrate those who are. It's also a time for strategizing the Christmas Holidays and shopping for the day after Thanksgiving. I can't say I'll be one of those up at dawn to fight the lines at Target and Walmart, but I will probably shop online as much as I can. Wishing all of you a blessed and safe Thanksgiving Holiday.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The Things We Learn From Our Children...Like How To Flip A Booger
It's true, if you live long enough (or have kids) you're going to hear and see just about everything..nothing surprises me anymore, but certain things do make me laugh and I think it's those things that we remember the most and of course they had to have taught us something along the way. Here are a few off of my list..
Whoever gets the front seat of the car is absolutely PIVOTAL. Identifying the chain of command amongst children starts early. If I had a nickel for everytime my kids piled into the car and raced to the van for the "Front Seat" position, I'd be as rich as Oprah Winfrey. I don't know why this is...they're all at my mercy for the heater being on full blast, we fight over the automatic window controls (I saw UP), and of course the radio station...good GRIEF! If you're wondering what the next favorite spot is...it's in the back seat, so you can kick the back of the seat of the person in front of you...oh yes, this is undeniably torture.
Boredom is the platform for ultimate creativity... I can see it perfectly in my head...all the kids are splayed out in the living room with bottles of soda and rice krispy wrappers strewn around...I think to myself, an IV of constant fluid would be more sanitary plus I wouldn't need the carpets cleaned as much, but that's probably under the classification of some type of child abuse. Someone will inevitably conceive of the idea of flipping boogers...ultimate goal is to irritate a sister until she stomps of crying or worse yet, tags me on my cell phone with mobile uploads of the event..just in case I cannot conceive of it myself. There's a talent to flipping boogers you know and it falls under the category of fart jokes, burping contests and other imitated bodily functions that make noise. So, there has to be some creativity going on here amidst the boredom right? I mean, when I was younger we sang into a spatula to some song by ABBA like Afternoon Delight or Michael Jackson's Puppy Love. Granted, I didn't end up a singer but I still sing into my spatula when nobody's looking.. at least the one that didn't end up stuck in the blender that is (that's a blog for another day).
Kids Will Eat What They Cook... This is true actually. Around my house, Kraft Mac & Cheese rules like a goddess and is bought in cartons. This includes pancakes and waffles with the invention of a waffle maker that gives you a waffle with ABC's and cookie dough sold in the tube.
Not Everything An Older Brother Suggests Is Actually A Good Thing... Two older brothers in my household translates into a whole lot of drama on any given day. When the boys were around 8 and 5 respectively they tied their little sister to a tree...some cowboy and indian thing, then left here there for an hour until I discovered she was missing. I know that sounds bad, but I was working from home, trying to multi-task laundry, kids and work...things happen you know? There's also the time one brother convinced his sister she was adopted from an orphange in Russia which is why she resembled nobody in the family (not true!). Plus I vaguely remember ice cubes made with Kool-Aid and telling sister they were made with some toxin that would turn her the same color in 48 hours. You get the idea..
A Day Without Doing Nothing Is A Day Wasted... So, this one is pretty self-explanatory but for a mother's sanity, it means everything. Just five minutes to stare at a blank, white wall can sometimes provide the necessary resolve to push on...so, every day needs just a little bit of "doing nothing" in order to be able to do "everything".
Grandma's House Is Sacred Ground Where Magical Things Happen... My kids figured out pretty early on that when things weren't going quite their way, a trudge over to Gram's house may make things better. It doesn't help that grandma lives a few hundred yards away, that she has an endless supply of chocolate hoarded in the house just for them, a WII Fit game in the basement for endless hours of play, a willing shoulder to cry on and spill out all the "mean things mom makes them do"... (i.e., the dishes, laundry, run the sweeper)...I'm okay with this..after all, we all need a break. I've been known to flop down on her couch more than once and vegetate as if I were 16 again.
Probably one of the most important things I've learned from the kids is forgiveness...I've seen them forgive each other, forgive friends and most of all forgive me. Mother's are not perfect, we are human and make mistakes...it's the ultimate unconditional love. As Thanksgiving Day approaches, enjoy a wonderful and restful holiday season and remember to give thanks...
Whoever gets the front seat of the car is absolutely PIVOTAL. Identifying the chain of command amongst children starts early. If I had a nickel for everytime my kids piled into the car and raced to the van for the "Front Seat" position, I'd be as rich as Oprah Winfrey. I don't know why this is...they're all at my mercy for the heater being on full blast, we fight over the automatic window controls (I saw UP), and of course the radio station...good GRIEF! If you're wondering what the next favorite spot is...it's in the back seat, so you can kick the back of the seat of the person in front of you...oh yes, this is undeniably torture.
Boredom is the platform for ultimate creativity... I can see it perfectly in my head...all the kids are splayed out in the living room with bottles of soda and rice krispy wrappers strewn around...I think to myself, an IV of constant fluid would be more sanitary plus I wouldn't need the carpets cleaned as much, but that's probably under the classification of some type of child abuse. Someone will inevitably conceive of the idea of flipping boogers...ultimate goal is to irritate a sister until she stomps of crying or worse yet, tags me on my cell phone with mobile uploads of the event..just in case I cannot conceive of it myself. There's a talent to flipping boogers you know and it falls under the category of fart jokes, burping contests and other imitated bodily functions that make noise. So, there has to be some creativity going on here amidst the boredom right? I mean, when I was younger we sang into a spatula to some song by ABBA like Afternoon Delight or Michael Jackson's Puppy Love. Granted, I didn't end up a singer but I still sing into my spatula when nobody's looking.. at least the one that didn't end up stuck in the blender that is (that's a blog for another day).
Kids Will Eat What They Cook... This is true actually. Around my house, Kraft Mac & Cheese rules like a goddess and is bought in cartons. This includes pancakes and waffles with the invention of a waffle maker that gives you a waffle with ABC's and cookie dough sold in the tube.
Not Everything An Older Brother Suggests Is Actually A Good Thing... Two older brothers in my household translates into a whole lot of drama on any given day. When the boys were around 8 and 5 respectively they tied their little sister to a tree...some cowboy and indian thing, then left here there for an hour until I discovered she was missing. I know that sounds bad, but I was working from home, trying to multi-task laundry, kids and work...things happen you know? There's also the time one brother convinced his sister she was adopted from an orphange in Russia which is why she resembled nobody in the family (not true!). Plus I vaguely remember ice cubes made with Kool-Aid and telling sister they were made with some toxin that would turn her the same color in 48 hours. You get the idea..
A Day Without Doing Nothing Is A Day Wasted... So, this one is pretty self-explanatory but for a mother's sanity, it means everything. Just five minutes to stare at a blank, white wall can sometimes provide the necessary resolve to push on...so, every day needs just a little bit of "doing nothing" in order to be able to do "everything".
Grandma's House Is Sacred Ground Where Magical Things Happen... My kids figured out pretty early on that when things weren't going quite their way, a trudge over to Gram's house may make things better. It doesn't help that grandma lives a few hundred yards away, that she has an endless supply of chocolate hoarded in the house just for them, a WII Fit game in the basement for endless hours of play, a willing shoulder to cry on and spill out all the "mean things mom makes them do"... (i.e., the dishes, laundry, run the sweeper)...I'm okay with this..after all, we all need a break. I've been known to flop down on her couch more than once and vegetate as if I were 16 again.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Walter Rhein, Author of The Bone Sword: Author Interview, Walter Rhein..Balancing Work and...
Walter Rhein, Author of The Bone Sword: Author Interview, Walter Rhein..Balancing Work and...: "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004AE34RI/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1M5S8GJWNYF1C7X2DBH4&pf..."
Author Interview, Walter Rhein..Balancing Work and Family With a New Baby
About the Author...
Author of newly released "The Bone Sword", Walter Rhein was born in northern Wisconsin. After earning a degree in English literature, he began traveling and teaching English in various parts of the world. Currently, the author splits his time between South America and Wisconsin.
A new book, wife Zulma and new baby....
The culture in the United States and Peru have some significant differences; however, parenting is a universal language. Finding time to write, balance work and responsibilities of family is something all of us struggle with...I asked author, Walter Rhein, how this affects his writing schedule.
Taking care of daughter Sofia has been the greatest privilege of my life. I don't know if it is because I was raised to be forward thinking, or if it's just how I'm wired, but there has never been any doubt in my mind that 50% of the child-rearing responsibilities are mine. However, even with that mentality, I found it was hard to pry my daughter away from her mother. I say that affectionately, but there is a certain amount of truth to it.
I think any young parents are going to find that they've just been hit by a nuclear bomb's worth of new worries and concerns. My wife felt she had to be by Sofia's side 24/7, and that if she faltered even in the slightest it meant that she was a "bad mother". This, of course, led to her nearly collapsing from exhaustion, so I had to figure out ways to get Sofia to myself so that mommy could sleep. My wife is, of course, a wonderful mother (and I tell her that all the time, a all new fathers should), but I think it's natural to try to do too much, especially when you have something as unquestionably precious as a beautiful little baby in the house.
We've settled into a good routine now. Sofia takes two or three of her daily naps on my chest (I'll remember every second of those naps forever I think). She's already almost four months old and she's getting HUGE!
As far as how it has affected my writing schedule, I am definitely cramming my writing into free moments rather than setting aside time for it these days. There are days when I just get rolling and Sofia starts crying so I run and take care of her. In the past, interruptions used to bother me a little bit. But honestly, if it's my daughter crying I am instantly 100% focused on her.
It's pretty easy to get her giggling again. Usually, she just wants to nuzzle into my chest and go to sleep (and that's fine with me...I can write again when she's too big to cuddle)!
She is a beautiful baby...
Spending 10-years in Lima, Peru, meeting wife, Zulma and finding time to write... I know I should be spending time talking about the author's new book, The Bone Sword, which is wonderful, but I'm fascinated by the time he spent in Lima, Peru because I think it is a wonderful opportunity to experience life instead of "reading about it" so I asked about his time and writing while down there.
I didn't meet my wife until about year seven of my time in Peru, so I had nothing to distract me from writing. Having time to write was the main reason I went to Peru. It's very inexpensive to live down there and, as a writer, your income is generally limited. I figure that if you're going to have your "starving artist" period, it might as well be in a place that only costs you pennies a day to live.
Peru is a great environment for creative pursuits. In the US, people are very "achievement" oriented, but in Peru, they're a little bit more accepting of the idea that you're committed to some sort of artistic or philosophical endeavor.
In addition to writing, I spent a lot of time teaching. I was also an editor for a few publications which was great for learning the craft of writing and making new contacts. Despite all that, it was definitely a "road less traveled" sort of lifestyle. There were many nights that I laid awake at night wondering if I was making a horrible error. I usually took solace in the fact that, if nothing else, I was learning Spanish and that, at least, should be a marketable skill.
Things seem to have worked out though!
I'm looking forward to visiting Peru again and showing it to Sofia. She's a daughter of two worlds after all which is pretty exciting!
Being bilingual in the United States is a terrific advantage....readers learned from the first interview with Zulma that she is working as a Bilingual Assistant which there is a great need for in the States...as a daughter of "two worlds", Sofia will probably also grow up learning both languages!
"Getting out of your own way...the difference between good writing and great writing"...This is a quote from writer, Walter Rhein and I think it is significant advice to a writer trying to find their "true voice"..not an easy thing to do...here's what he said..
He started out by stating that this is actually a question he has been pondering a bit lately since he is about to start teaching an AP English class. The class is filled with very bright students who know the value of good grades and are making a sincere effort to be the best they possibly can. To that end, part of the class structure is to do "grammar diagrams" in which they break down the works of great writers into their component parts and then analyze them.
He goes on to state that although he feels that this is a good exercise for learning what adverbs, gerunds and prepositional phrases are; he doesn't know if it is a good exercise for actually "learning how to write."
I think one of the most important things about writing is that it has to come naturally. It can't be artificial, overworked or forced. Essentially, the most important thing a writer can aspire to do is to take himself or herself out of the equation.
The counter-intuitive part of this is that when you are writing well, you are, in fact revealing yourself. You see, it's best when you just present yourself honestly and hope that presentation makes a connection without underscoring it too much. It has to be subtle and potent and all at the same time. For example, when your wife gives you a gift on Christmas, that's nice and everything, but it doesn't surprise you because it's Christmas and you are kind of expecting a gift. But, compare that to the times when you come home from work after a bad day, and without saying anything or asking you about it, your wife puts her hand on your back and just renews the sense of self and your positive equilibrium. That's the difference between good writing and great writing. In great writing, you get of of your own way, don't try so hard to create some "magical moment" and just let the feelings flow.
Note to self...wishing I would have asked a follow up question here on what exercise the author might assign his AP English class to help them get out of their own way and find their true voice...Reading his book, The Bone Sword, I could sense the author's "true voice"....I really think this is the difference between a "good read" and a "great read".
Incorporating life experiences into writing has to affect your writing...I asked the author how his 10-years in Lima, Peru, meeting his wife, Zulma and a new baby affect his writing....(if you can't already tell...I've enjoyed getting to know Zulma, her family culture and what it's like to balance work and family with a writer).
Writing is a great way to process the things that have happened to you. Each and every one of us carries regrets and these are the types of things that eat at you as you turn them over and over again in your mind. If you are not careful, you can be a little too hard on yourself and even punish yourself in a way that is far more brutal than is warranted for any transgression you might have committed against anyone.
In writing, you only have your own experiences to draw on. All good characters are idealized representations of yourself and the bad characters are the parts of yourself that you despise. It is fairly common knowledge that bad characters are always a little more "interesting" than good characters and this is probably because we're all so hard on ourselves that we can't conceive that we really know what "goodness" even is. Taking a step back, this tendency is reassuring (people who think they are 100% right all the time are terrifying!!). However, it is really too bad that aspiring to greatness requires so much self-chastisement.
The "Bone Sword"... If you like an action packed, can't put down type of read, you will enjoy author Rhein's new book whose main character, Malik, a deserter on the run emerging from the swamps of Plaiden to seek only shelter, food and some necessary time to take the chill of fever out of his bones...a barroom brawl lands him in deep trouble with local authorities and he escapes into the mountains with two orphaned children who have the power to heal. (At first, I wasn't sure if he was a good guy or a bad guy as he entered the tavern....but Rhein's description of how Malik is hunted down in the forest made me feel like I was right in the action). He is relentlessly pursued by Father Ivory and his Nightshades, and finds himself in a Sir Lancelot type of revolution that weaves in Malik's former Captain, a legendary swordsman who will not cease until Malik and his followers are eliminated. Malik faces an inner battle of demons and his former master in a duel that will determine the fate of the people of Miscony and their freedom.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Walter Rhein, Author of The Bone Sword: My Interview with Walter Rhein, Author of Newly Re...
Walter Rhein, Author of The Bone Sword: My Interview with Walter Rhein, Author of Newly Re...: "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004AE34RI/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1M5S8GJWNYF1C7X2DBH4&pf..."
My Interview with Walter Rhein, Author of Newly Released "The Bone Sword."
I asked Zulma a few questions, one of which was to describe the culture of Peru for readers.
Zulma thanked me for the interview (it is I who thank her, however). Zulma is very humble and shares the spotlight with her husband/father/writer, Walter. I listed husband/father/writer in that order because as I have gotten to know him, this is definitely his priority in life.
Zulma is Peruvian and lived in Peru all of her life until October of last year. Walter and Zulma were married in Peru and decided to move to the United States to study, get more qualifications so their children's lives would be better than theirs.
Zulma describes Peru...this is in her own words... Peru is in South America and Lima, as you know, is the Capital; which is on the coast and it is a very big metropolitan area. There are 24 states and one Constitutional Province called Callao. Peru is also divided into Coast, Mountain and Jungle. I am from Callao which is the Principal port of Peru.
There are about 17 million people living in Lima and what I find different from living in Peru than living in the United States is that in Peru, you don't have your own car. Of course, having your own car is more convenient and comfortable, but everything is nearby in Peru, it is not like here where you have to drive almost everywhere you go. In Peru, depending on where you live, you can walk, take a bus or a taxi, and it is not expensive.
Peruvian people are very friendly and warm. We usually "adopt" a foreigner and he/she becomes a member of our family. We love dancing and celebrating things. There is at least one celebration each month if not more. The celebration could be religious or not, but we are always celebrating something. We are very proud of our culture and customs. Most people in Peru speak Spanish but there are places (especially in the mountains) where people speak Quechua (the language of the Incas).
Zulma points out some other main differences between Peru and The United States as far as family life. As I said before, Lima is a big city and most of the best schools, universities and job opportunities are in Lima so when you finish school you don't have to move to the university campus and leave your family. Of course, some people do that but they are not from Lima, they are from other states and they come to Lima looking for better opportunities.
That being said, Peruvian children don't usually move, they live with their parents until they get married (that is when they move) so the relationship between parents and children is very close. We like celebrating Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas, all together as a big family. That doesn't mean that we are not independent...we are! We just happen to have our parents closer and they love it that way. I can tell you that I lived with my parents until I was 31-years-old. Of course, I was working, and from the moment I started working I helped my parents with the economy of the house. I paid my bills (credit cards, cell phone) and my bus or taxi fares and I was responsible for any other expenses that I made. I also helped them by paying the cable, Internet and phone from time to time and I gave them some money (every month) for anything they wanted to use it for.
Zulma talks about her education and career in Peru. I studied Business Administration (which I also paid for myself) and I was an English teacher for 12-years. I started studying English the year I finished high school, then I got my certification as an English teacher. I used to work from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. and then from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday (I never liked working on the weekends). Living with my parents gave me freedom to enjoy my salary to travel around Peru and to go abroad. I know 18 states from the 24 that are in Peru.
Living with a writer... Living with a writer has definitely changed my life. It was a shock when we started to live together. I love music, I can study work, and do almost everything with music, but when Walter was writing I couldn't listen to music or sing because he couldn't concentrate. So, I started reading. I have to confess that I was not a big reader. I read the newspaper every day and that was all. When we moved in together, our apartment was very small, so I happened to be in the same room as Walter. One day, he say that I was very bored and asked me what the problem was. I told him it was nothing, that I was just bored because I couldn't listen to music, so he said "why don't you read? Walter has a lot of books (more books than clothes) so he gave me "Post Office" by Charles Bukowski and I started reading. Since then, I read book after book, I have read Charles Bukowski, J.K. Rowling (all the Harry Potter books), Ronald Dahl, Dan Brown, and many others. He said that I read more than he does now. I discovered a new world of stories, happiness, drama, fantasy in all those books. Of course, since I got pregnant, I changed by adventure books for baby books. Now, I am reading "What to expect the first year" which I find interesting. It was a gift from a friend and I find it very useful.
"What to expect the first year" is a wonderful book, Zulma, and is on my bookshelf as well as many, many of my friends who are mothers...with my first child's birth in 1992, I don't know what I would have done without that as a "manual" of sorts!!
Life in the United States for the growing Rhein family... We came to live in Wisconsin, USA on October 26, 2009. In December, we found that I was pregnant. Being pregnant was a challenge. It was pretty hard because, as I said, we Peruvians like having our family close to us, and when we moved here, I was far from my parents. It was just Walter and me.
There were so many things together, the weather, for instance. Wisconsin's weather (in winter) is not the right way to start. It was so cold for me. I can say that the coldest weather in Lima is about 50-degrees Fahrenheit and here it is soooo SO cold. I didn't want to go out, not at all. I went out only when it was strictly necessary. It was beautiful though, we don't have snow or heavy rains in Lima. Lima is a humid city. Many people say that we breathe water because of the humidity in Lima can be over 80 or 90%. I guess because it is on the coast of the Pacific Ocean and we don't have rains, but we do have drizzle and now snow. I never had a WHITE CHRISTMAS, until last year. I know I have to get used to it and I guess I am. I feel cold now, but it is not that painful as it was last year, I am enjoying it more, I can walk outside when it is 40 degrees Fahrenheit. I guess I am more prepared now.
Zulma...we Michiganders (a stone's throw across the beautiful Lake Michigan), share the cold winters as well, especially with that "Lake Effect"...can't say we get used to it, we just "adapt"...watch out for the crazy drivers!
Birth of Baby changes things for the Rhein family... Since our baby was born, we are no longer the owners of our time. Now, Sofia is the one who says when things have to be done. Since we came to Wisconsin, I have been looking for a job. I worked for a long time and not working is fine for a maximum of two months then you become so bored, because you have nothing to do.
I clean the house, cook, do the laundry and then...I had nothing to do. Let's face it, there are no good programs on television, plus the weather was so cold it was boring.
Then, we found out that I was pregnant and I decided to avoid stress and not start looking for a job until after I had the baby. I had the idea that having a baby wasn't that difficult because my mom had four children and she and my father did a good job. I soon discovered that having a baby and it being oly the two of us was hard. I had to give a lot of credit to my beloved husband, Walter, because he helped a lot, and also hugged me when I felt lonely and exhausted.
Balancing Work and a new baby...
Then, I got a proposal to start working as a Bilingual Assistant in a school. Part of me was jumping because I felt so happy about the idea of working again and the other part of me was crying because I didn't want to leave Sofia. I am breastfeeding her and I didn't want to interrupt that. Happily, it is a part time job, only four hours a day and it is the perfect deal.
I feel productive and have some time out of the house, but I have plenty of time to be with Sofia. I started pumping breastmilk in the mornings, leaving a bottle so Walter can feed her while I am not here, then when I am back, I continue breastfeeding her. Nothing has changed, I get up early, feed Sofia, put her to sleep, then have a shower, get dressed, have breakfast with Walter, feed Sofia again and get ready and go to work.
My current job is from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (the perfect schedule), so I feel productive and at the same time I keep feeding my baby. As Walter is a writer, he works most of the time from home, so he stays with her while I work. This is also good for Walter...we (mothers) tend to think that the baby is ours and only ours, that the baby is our property and I guessed that was my case. I didn't give Sofia to Walter for more than 30 minutes so he couldn't spend time with her, but since he stays with her every day for four hours, he has developed a very nice relationship with his daughter. He says that it is very rewarding to be able to feed the baby, to change her diapers, to play with her and make her sleep.
He helped me with my guilty feelings, the first week I felt that I was the worst mom in the world for leaving my baby (who was one month and a half), for more than four hours and feel good and productive out of our home. I wanted to quit, but then I realized that I am not the first and won't be the last woman in the world who has to make that sacrifice. I love being with our baby, but I need to go out and focus my energy on something else other than the house and the baby. As I say, "my parents didn't raise me and give me an education to be a housewife a hundred percent of the time", I love to do the things on my own at home, but I also need to go out and feel productive. It is a nice feeling to get your own money and not have to ask your husband for it when you want something.
I have enjoyed getting to know Zulma, wife of writer, Walter Rhein, very much and appreciate her openness in sharing the culture of her country, Peru. I think it is important to understand different cultures and how families raise their children...it makes the world seem a "little smaller" when we know that all mothers, regardless of their geographic location, experience a little "mommy guilt".
It is striking that in the United States, most children at the age of 18-years, are off to college campuses, dorm rooms, or apartments in order to strike out on their own. I have always felt (as do the Rhein's) that 18 is still much too young to leave home. In Peru, children remain with their parents until they marry...Zulma was 31 when she married and left home; however, Zulma contributed financially to the home, assisting with expenses and taking responsibility for her own living expenses.
More on this interview with Walter Rhein and excerpts about his book "The Bone Sword" will follow. I hope you enjoy Zulma's experiences as much as I did...
Calcables Pages...: Welcome to My Monday, Funday...Blog about Someday....
Calcables Pages...: Welcome to My Monday, Funday...Blog about Someday....: "Hope you like Howie Day's 'You and I Collide'....someone shared it with me, I liked it and shall share it with all of you today. I've got..."
Welcome to My Monday, Funday...Blog about Someday...
Hope you like Howie Day's "You and I Collide"....someone shared it with me, I liked it and shall share it with all of you today. I've got new things on my blog - you can stay and visit with a little "wic wac woe", which is actually tic-tac-toe...or pinball...or listen to some music while you read if you can effectively "twofer"...
It's Monday, November 15th and my boys are out hunting...opening day deer season is a long held tradition in my family and I hope they enjoy the outdoors.
Take a minute and review an excerpt from an upcoming article I am writing for Working Mother Magazine. It is an interview I was able to obtain with a new author (new to me), Walter Rhein. His new book, The Bone Sword, was available November 1, 2010 and is a sci-fi/fantasy...if that's your genre for book reading (think Harry Potter), this is a really good read.
I was really impressed with Walter..and I'm embarrassed to say, he's the closest thing I've come to meeting a "real celebrity" (unless you count Channel 3 Clubhouse), let along have a chance to interview him...I was nervous, afraid of looking stupid, and not at all sure what I was doing interviewing him in the first place. I found out, he's just an average guy, married, new baby, writer, taking college classes so he can get "a real job" teaching English in school and raise his family. He is such a down to earth kind of guy, willing to share details of his life, his 10-years he spent traveling in Lima, Peru (where he met his wife) and how wonderful it has been to become a new father (his new daughter Sofia is beautiful). This proud daddy literally exudes with love for his new daughter and he has truly enjoyed his time parenting her while his wife works part-time.
They currently live in Wisconsin and, his wife Zulma, has had a little difficulty adjusting to the Wisconsin winters which are much like Michigan (since it nevers hows in Peru, this last year was her first white Christmas)!
Anyway, if you'd like an inside look at this up and coming author, I will be posting a full interview and where you can find access to his books. He also has a great website about Lima, Peru and if you are ever interested in travel, this looks like a beautiful part of the world to visit. It's interesting to not that in Peru, the culture is significantly different than in the states. Children actually live with their parents until they marry...this culture thrives on raising their young until they are ready to start their own family. They reach responsibility and children are expected to contribute financially to the family unit as well as for themselves...what a unique concept! I personally think 18-years of age (while it may define an adult) is still an age where there is a whole lot of growing up to do..not to mention the economics of paying for college and the benefits of living at home while this is accomplished.
In the past two weeks, I've managed to step out of my comfort zone and start blogging about things that people really want to read and I hope I'm slowly getting there. I have found it is very difficult to find my "true voice"...something that I have practiced keeping quiet for so long, I'm having trouble hearing it. Strangely, at the encouragement of my two teenagers, to just "say it as it is" is what seems to work the best. There is a lot of room for improvement..appreciate your comments and assistance.
My website is under construction, but soon to be available and I am excited to have one central place to categorize blogging for technical issues relating to resistance welding cables, book reviews, an ongoing babble about the vertically challenged (notes from the tall girl side..my own frustrations with being a little too tall) and hopefully a few issues that empower us to be a little better or just consider it.
Have a great Monday, wishing all the deer hunters good luck..."if it's brown, it's down"...as my son says!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Becoming In Sync With Your Passionate Side
I truly believe that we all have a deep-seated memory that whispers within us that tells us why we were born and what we came into this wonderful life to experience. I also perceive this embedded echo within our soul as our "true voice" which is the guidance we follow to life out our life's passion. As grow older; however, marry, have children, work/family responsibilities the white-noise in our daily lives pushes our "true voice" back somewhere, so far away, that we cannot hear it anymore. The result? We become less passionate in our lives or worse yet, forget what our passions once were.
So...why bother finding passion?
What's the point in identifying passion in our lives and living these out? I guess you have to ask yourself if you believe that your life is truly filled with joy, meaning and improves your health, relationships, self-image, creativity and maybe even your income?
Understanding or being in touch with what we are passionate about helps find a source of joy, inner peace, inspiration, success, improves our relationships with others and points us in the direction of a positive outlook.
In the book, The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch he made a number of compelling observations in his own life...one of which was something like this.. "Brick walls are there to help us know how bad we want something?" I added the question mark so you might ask yourself if this is true..and I think it is.
Passion Has Its own energy... Passion is a gift of the spirit combined with the totality of all the experiences we have lived through...each of us is endowed with the power to live and communicate with unbridled enthusiasm. Passion is most evident when the mind, body and spirit work with each other to create, develop and articulate feelings and ideas. Passion will enable you to overcome obstacles (real or imagined) and to see the world as a place of infinite potential.
You cannot fake passion...we sense it in the lack of sincerity, authenticity or lack of quality in a product...the power of passion forces us to see others for who they are, who they are becoming and often...and unfortunately, who they can never be.
Many men and women run from personal or professional passion for fear of being hurt. Past experiences dwell deep within each of us as a reminder of the searing pain of being hurt or burned and rears its ugly head in relationships, love and work. Sometimes, we become afrraid to take risks that come with living life to its fullest.
Most people, I think, when they have touched the fringes of true passion in their lives, if only for the briefest moment, at the most unexpected juncture in their lives, having the chance to inhale the "aroma of chance", "caressed themselves with the true passion of genuine affection"...we experience a glimpse of what passion has the potential to claim in our lives..
Which is frightening...
And some choose not to return to passion, staying far away, opting for the...predictable existence without passion.
Rather than taking a leap of faith...
Immersing yourself in the waters of the deepest joys...
Insisting instead on the safest "bubble"
That becomes...a sanitary, loveless, lifeless, colorless world where nothing new ever happens...day after day..month after month...year after year....until we forget what passion in our lives has the potential to become...
Imagine...instead....how much more meaningful your life would be with passion...as a person, as a lover, as a friend, as a business owner, employee, writer, artist, musician, husband, wife....
Imagine, for a moment...a world where we lived for the moment, spending more time enjoing reality than trying to escape it...a place where we don't need lawyers to stand before judges, psychologists to tell us we have emotional problems, or clergy to talk to the God on our behalf...
Living With Passion...Daily... The real sin in life is lacking the courage to express our convictions and zest for life....it should be a crime to bottle up passion you have once felt in order to "bottle it up" in a controlled fashion of literal non-existence.
In fact, I can't think of a worse existence than one where we are unable or refusing the things in life that need to be said, not singing what needs to be sung or forcing ourselves to no longer feel what was intended to be felt.
PASSION..shapes our existence and fuels the fire of inspiration and makes the heart and mind open up to change. It is fuel for the soul...a spark that illuminates our purpose.
Passion is yours to experience and revel in...even if it causes you to fall down and scrape your elbow ..in this world called "life", passion is your birthright..it is within you..it is yours to discover and master...it is yours to share with the world to make it a better place.
Passion...in love...is sparked by desire, fueled by love, sustained by hope, and re-defines itself over time to become stronger, deeper and more satisfying...passion in love is necessary to maintain a solid relationship between a man and a woman. When one or both loses passion, a significant link is broken and if broken over a long period of time becomes buried in the mundane activities of daily life until it dims to literal non-existence. Passion in love is what drew a man and a woman together in the first place...love is what sustains passion over time and differentiates itself between the impatience and "have to have it now" demands of lust. A relationship without passion, changes the definition of love and instead of being "in love"...we co-exist with love for another..they are two very different things much like empathy and sympathy. Living a lifetime without passion can seem more of a dull existence or become a "sentence" than choosing one with passion.
Passion in our daily lives with work or creative outlets is fuled by passion. Many people walk through the phases of life where their ideals, goals and desires change...everyone has a "fuel" for living..it is not something that is slapped into our genes by evolution (also known as survival)...we all want to survive! What is survival though if we are unfulfilled? What are we passionate enough about to feed our souls? At some point in life, each and every one of us may ask the silent question... what is my purpose? This is probably one of the most well-known rhetorical questions of the universe.
Writing is a creative outlook I have developed a passion for over the years..it is only recently I made the conscious choice to find my "true voice", buried deep within years of practiced "blocking" to accomplish the goal of meeting survival needs in my own life (providing income, child-rearing, maid, nurse, friend, mother, daughter, employee....). I ask myself, just how difficult is it to take a giant leap of faith, to listen keenly to a voice that has become so distant it is a soft whisper...to begin to hear it come closer and more audible?
Living Passion ....Discover what matters the most to you...passion is what you hunger to do, life is your blank canvas to create a masterpiece. Make the decision to choose in FAVOR of passion...opportunities that come your way, make a selection in the honor of your passion in your personal life and your work life.
Understand that we all have limitations, fears, moments of confusion and paths to take to arrive at chosen or preferred destinations...it takes time to heal, to transform ourselves to achieve these objectives. Rather than stall in your tracks...find the resources that will reveal the passions for your ideal life.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
50 Things About Me You Probably Don't Need To Know...
I woke up this morning and it was freezing out, so as usual went to pour myself a cup of hot coffee to get myself moving except there was none. Frustrated and not even remotely excited about a run to the grocery store with my wrinkled jammies on and cookie crumbs stuck to the front of my shirt I make a mental list of a few things we need just in case....so this gets me thinking about lists in general. Lists are pretty helpful at work, the infamous grocery list (see above), don't forget the spelling lists in grade school so..why not a blog list about myself? Can't hurt..probably won't help...may make you laugh or see a little bit of yourself? I hope so! Well, here we go...
1. My hair color is naturally brown.
2. It is now whatever "natural color" is on the box on the shelf at Walmart.
3. I am a closet lover of Barry Manilow's music... (Remember Mandy?)
4. And, of course David Cassidy (I think I love you), Elton John and Neil Young (Harvest Moon)
5. I try to read as many books as I can.
6. I try to exercise, if you call racing through the grocery store, fighting through a herd of women at a JC Penney sale and running the sweeper on three household floors (including steps) exercise.
7. My first job was as a receptionist in a beauty shop.
8. I really need to spend more time in the beauty shop.
9. I once ran over a goose driving downtown near the ponds. Although I cried, I didn't report it...and years later I'm told it is a punishable crime...so I cried again and still don't think I've recovered.
10. My best friend dated my first boyfriend in high school.
11. We're still best friends, but neither of us is still dating him.
12. I annoy my friends with advice on medical issues/health, relationships, and the like. It helps to always have a listening ear and I get a lot of blog topic ideas.
13. A therapist would probably love me.
14. My father and step father died within two months of each other in 2005.
15. I will never completely recover nor will my life ever be the same. I am still coming to terms with this while everyone else has moved on.
16. I lost a piece of myself that year, forgot how to fall asleep without the television on because the feeling of being alone was as palpable as a pulse.
17. A therapist would probably love me.
18. Five years later and I am starting to heal. Healing feels good.
19. I love to take pictures.
20. I am horrible at taking pictures.
21. I love to crochet and sew. I figure I'm an old grannie at heart and yet I neither crochet or sew well. Case in point, my oldest took his varisty football jersey to the local cleaners who had a seamstress he paid to sew his nameplate on....lest I sew it crooked.
22. I am lucky enough to have a few really good friends.
23. One of them lives far away.
24. I miss her.
25. I love Victoria's Secret.
26. I only buy the Victoria's Secret perfume or wait to get it at Christmas or birthday as a gift.
27. I don't do justice to the "lingerie" as pictured in the catalog, even though after having four kids I finally can vouch for having boobs now.
28. My boobs sag and droop southward since I have had four kids. Thankful for the "push-ups" and I am not talking about the ice cream.
29. I love chocolate and wine.
30. Together or separate.
31. I once got so many parking tickets from the local university I was banned from parking on campus. Might have helped had I paid them.
32. I am a crybaby...cry on cue at movies, a good book, my daughter's essays, Mother's Day Cards, Father's Day Cards, birthday cards, weddings, funerals...well you get the idea.
33. I am not smarter than a 5th grader.. I've seen the show and I apparently am dumber every day.
34. We have over 300 channels on cable television. Can't get Internet unless you buy the "package".
35. I don't like television except for the occasional good movie...I'd rather read a book or sit outside in the sun and take a nap.
36. I can bake a really mean apple pie, can my own jelly, pickles, salsa, applesauce.
37. This usually indicates I have too much time on my hands.
38. My children are my happiness.
39. I would love to go to Italy.
40. I decided that after I saw Julia Roberts in the movie Eat, Pray, Love.
41. I can cook a turkey.
42. Would rather go to mom's and eat her turkey - it's always better when someone else cooks for you..not talking about Little Ceasars.
43. I do love to grow things...kids, flowers, shrubbery.
44. The kids are growing okay, flowers and shrubbery never made it.
45. We have three cats and a new puppy which we did not need since we are trying to sell our house; however, it was important to my daughter so I caved in.
46. Need my carpets cleaned BADLY (see 45).
47. I gave my oldest child the middle name "Patrick". He was born on St. Patrick's day and after 72 hours of grueling labor, a kind anesthesiologist put me out of my misery with this wonderful invention called an EPIDURAL....
48. I miss my father's voice every day.
49. Learning to live with loss is a part of my journey and has had a part in making me who I am today....Healing is a good thing and writing a blog has proven very therapeutic at times as well as a bit humorous.
50. A therapist would probably love me!
I wasn't sure if I had 50-things...probably could have kept going. The Internet is a vast sea of blogs and some are so well written and thought out they make me sit up and take stock. HOW do they share their experiences and write them with such clarity? I think you have to start within and build off of your own experiences....even a silly list like this one builds on the fact that I, like you, am an original and each of us as a story to tell....tell me yours?
1. My hair color is naturally brown.
2. It is now whatever "natural color" is on the box on the shelf at Walmart.
3. I am a closet lover of Barry Manilow's music... (Remember Mandy?)
4. And, of course David Cassidy (I think I love you), Elton John and Neil Young (Harvest Moon)
5. I try to read as many books as I can.
6. I try to exercise, if you call racing through the grocery store, fighting through a herd of women at a JC Penney sale and running the sweeper on three household floors (including steps) exercise.
7. My first job was as a receptionist in a beauty shop.
8. I really need to spend more time in the beauty shop.
9. I once ran over a goose driving downtown near the ponds. Although I cried, I didn't report it...and years later I'm told it is a punishable crime...so I cried again and still don't think I've recovered.
10. My best friend dated my first boyfriend in high school.
11. We're still best friends, but neither of us is still dating him.
12. I annoy my friends with advice on medical issues/health, relationships, and the like. It helps to always have a listening ear and I get a lot of blog topic ideas.
13. A therapist would probably love me.
14. My father and step father died within two months of each other in 2005.
15. I will never completely recover nor will my life ever be the same. I am still coming to terms with this while everyone else has moved on.
16. I lost a piece of myself that year, forgot how to fall asleep without the television on because the feeling of being alone was as palpable as a pulse.
17. A therapist would probably love me.
18. Five years later and I am starting to heal. Healing feels good.
19. I love to take pictures.
20. I am horrible at taking pictures.
21. I love to crochet and sew. I figure I'm an old grannie at heart and yet I neither crochet or sew well. Case in point, my oldest took his varisty football jersey to the local cleaners who had a seamstress he paid to sew his nameplate on....lest I sew it crooked.
22. I am lucky enough to have a few really good friends.
23. One of them lives far away.
24. I miss her.
25. I love Victoria's Secret.
26. I only buy the Victoria's Secret perfume or wait to get it at Christmas or birthday as a gift.
27. I don't do justice to the "lingerie" as pictured in the catalog, even though after having four kids I finally can vouch for having boobs now.
28. My boobs sag and droop southward since I have had four kids. Thankful for the "push-ups" and I am not talking about the ice cream.
29. I love chocolate and wine.
30. Together or separate.
31. I once got so many parking tickets from the local university I was banned from parking on campus. Might have helped had I paid them.
32. I am a crybaby...cry on cue at movies, a good book, my daughter's essays, Mother's Day Cards, Father's Day Cards, birthday cards, weddings, funerals...well you get the idea.
33. I am not smarter than a 5th grader.. I've seen the show and I apparently am dumber every day.
34. We have over 300 channels on cable television. Can't get Internet unless you buy the "package".
35. I don't like television except for the occasional good movie...I'd rather read a book or sit outside in the sun and take a nap.
36. I can bake a really mean apple pie, can my own jelly, pickles, salsa, applesauce.
37. This usually indicates I have too much time on my hands.
38. My children are my happiness.
39. I would love to go to Italy.
40. I decided that after I saw Julia Roberts in the movie Eat, Pray, Love.
41. I can cook a turkey.
42. Would rather go to mom's and eat her turkey - it's always better when someone else cooks for you..not talking about Little Ceasars.
43. I do love to grow things...kids, flowers, shrubbery.
44. The kids are growing okay, flowers and shrubbery never made it.
45. We have three cats and a new puppy which we did not need since we are trying to sell our house; however, it was important to my daughter so I caved in.
46. Need my carpets cleaned BADLY (see 45).
47. I gave my oldest child the middle name "Patrick". He was born on St. Patrick's day and after 72 hours of grueling labor, a kind anesthesiologist put me out of my misery with this wonderful invention called an EPIDURAL....
48. I miss my father's voice every day.
49. Learning to live with loss is a part of my journey and has had a part in making me who I am today....Healing is a good thing and writing a blog has proven very therapeutic at times as well as a bit humorous.
50. A therapist would probably love me!
I wasn't sure if I had 50-things...probably could have kept going. The Internet is a vast sea of blogs and some are so well written and thought out they make me sit up and take stock. HOW do they share their experiences and write them with such clarity? I think you have to start within and build off of your own experiences....even a silly list like this one builds on the fact that I, like you, am an original and each of us as a story to tell....tell me yours?
Monday, November 1, 2010
Calcables News and Information for November 2010
Cal Manufacturing, Inc., or kindly referred to in the industry as "Calcables" decided to exhibit our cables at the Fabtech Expo in Atlanta, Georgia this November 2-4, 2010 among many others in the industry. I have spent the past couple of months reviewing the attendees and exhibitors which is wonderful. We are living in a tough economy and, as a small business in Vicksburg, Michigan, no one knows that better than Cal's. In every business, it becomes necessary to constantly "reinvent" the wheel, so to speak and evaluate products, services and how we present our business to potential clients.
We Look Forward to Seeing you at the Expo...please stop by our booth and meet with Brian Benson, our expert inside sales representative. Brian will have many cables and castings on hand for display as well as variable terminal ends and laminated shunts. We're also pleased to hand out some specialized key-chains with our 1-800 number, which is by the way, 1-888-272-5446 and our website URL...we're very excited to meet new faces, see some new technology and get to know many of you we already work with on a regular basis, a little bit better. Calcables values its clientele...we've been serving the same companies now for over 50-years...if you have weathered the many ups and downs of this economy with us...we're all here to stay!!!!
Speaking of the economy...something we all watch like the weather forecast and, like the weather forecast, when the economy calls for "rain", we're grimacing right along with you! Some thoughts from the Calcables perspective....
Striving to Thrive...Calcables working WITH you to ensure we both strive to thrive... We receive e-mails daily on SEO techniques (search engine optimization) and ways to improve the visibility of our business via our website. Big search engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing are where we plaster our URL in the hopes that our ranking in the search engines climb. As we seek to do this for Calcables, why not also help those we build cables for? Bringing the spotlight onto your business is what keeps all of us working. I have always believed in "Reagonomics", but maybe that was just the era of the 1980's and endless hours of listening to my dad and grandfather debate about the state of affairs in our economical climates. My dad always liked Reagan and he made a good point which I have never forgotten and I think it should ring true in our times as well... Trickle Down Economics. Trickle down economics makes sense and I'm sure all of you are seasoned in economics to understand that what this means is that Blue Collar Jobs= Blue Collar Spending (i.e., automobiles, computers/electronics, clothing, entertainment...etc)=increase in supply and demand and then, like it says on the shampoo bottle, wash, rinse and repeat... when jobs are eliminated consumers halt spending or use credit (cash is king!) and in our current state of economy even businesses who have maintained good credit ratings have banks lowering their credit and diminishing our ability to purchase new tools and equipment for our businesses which drives the economy!!!
Well, I'm off my soapbox and back on theme here for this blog which is how we can help each other to strive to thrive in this economy...we are all in this together so small business needs to link hands and create one strong BIG voice for government and big business to make no mistake...small business is what drives the backbone of this economy!
That said...what can we do once our hands are linked? The resistance welding cable industry works with companies large and small, distributors and users alike. I am suggesting to many of the companies we work with to link our websites...driving traffic in an SEO fashion to all businesses in the resistance welding cable industry helps all of us thrive. At Calcables, we're not in business to "get rich", we simply wish to thrive which I define as very simply, making payroll every week, paying bills on time (keeping our loyal and steadfast suppliers in business), and socking a little in the savings account to spend on research and development of new technologies and practices to make welding cables State of the Art!
Keeping Our Promise... Cal Manufacturing, Inc., or Calcables as we are often called by industry insiders, delivers cables same day. We advertise to be the Red Cross of your resistance welding cable needs, delivering cables same day if needed and shipped to whatever location you request...we understand that keeping machines up and running is what drives this economy, keeps jobs stable and, if you're the distributor required to supply the cable, we're here to make you look good without exorbitant pricing.
How do we do this? We have a simple formula at Calcables...low overhead, a staff with a combination of over 50-years in the resistance welding cable industry and a management staff willing to roll up its sleeves whenever the need arises.
October 2010 was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Calcables proudly stood in support of this cause. Calcables is woman-owned and woman-run and all of our staff (men and women alike) participated in education and awareness about breast cancer, The Susan G. Komen Foundation and research and preventative care to keep breast cancer statistics a thing of the past.
Writing a blog for Resistance Welding Cables is usually technical, but the economy is in the forefront of all of us... It is for this reason I felt it was important to reach out to all of you who view our website of products and services either as a new business considering our services or as a returning customer. Calcables is committed to not only its own survival in this economy but to those we work with or potentially could work with. We believe that our products and services all MADE IN THE USA and hand-made to meet the specifics of each order will guarantee that the businesses who order from us will be 100% satisfied or we'll give you your money back!! That's my promise and you can bank on it.
Social Media...No matter what business you are in these days, the social media is out there within your grasp! Calcables can be found on Facebook, Linked In, Twitter as well as Hub Pages and Google Blogger...yes, we're out there with you trying to get to know our global friends with a "virtual handshake" as it may be, yet nonetheless, we appreciate getting to know others better and meeting new people as well.
Have you met our newest staff member? Cheryl Benson is the step-daughter of the late Bill Morren for those of you who remember him. Bill had asked Cheryl back in 2005 prior to his death to step into his shoes and keep his dream alive and running..his dream was to see his small business employ 10-15 employees full time, offer benefits and pursue his ultimate goal of researching and developing new products and services. Bill was an optimist at heart, his glass always "half-full" and known for his warmth and straight forward personality. While he is missed to this day, nearly five years later. Cheryl is committed to her loyal staff at Cal Manufacturing, Inc., to creating new jobs and venturing into new products and services in the future.
Get to know Cheryl better...if you haven't done so already, create your profile and business profile on Facebook, Linked In and others...if you're unsure how to find me, my e-mail is calcables@aol.com and I'd be more than happy to assist you. Cheryl is also writing a blog for Working Mother Magazine...on how to manage and balance family and work, something we all do, I just have to make some time to talk about it!!
STOP IN AT THE EXPO...CAL MANUFACTURING IS BOOTH 7939...GRAB A KEY CHAIN, CHECK OUT OUR CABLES AND DON'T FORGET TO GRAB A BROCHURE AND TALK WITH BRIAN ABOUT ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS...
Signing off for November 2010...wishing all of you continued success and looking forward to getting to know you better.
Cheryl Benson
Cal Manufacturing, Inc
PO Box 180
5500 East "V" Avenue
Vicksburg, MI 49097
www.calmfginc.com
Now that you know our guarantee on quality, what about pricing and delivery? Pricing in the resistance welding cable industry is always challenging. As many in the industry know, we work with copper and copper is either way up or down....this volatility depends on the market and we are always at the mercy of the market. Calcables steadies itself and braces it's feet solidly in the ground to hold prices steady...we try to be the one "constant" thing you can count on in the marketplace. This is not the case in many materials, as these materials fluctuate in the marketplace price-wise, so do the price graphs that accompany many of our invoices. We want businesses to be able to count on us...so for now anyway, you have my word that our prices stay the same, we just try to work a little smarter, a little harder and our management rolls up its sleeves on a regular basis to push it's little small business whenever necessary. Back to the basics I believe they call this theory!!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Emily Dickinson - She Was Way Ahead of Her Time
In my opinion, Emily Dickinson was way ahead of her time. Born in 1830, she lead a relatively normal life until her 20's when a series of events forced her into seclusion where she wrote poetry most of which were never published until after her death. She wrote her poetry from a broken heart which was a catalyst to an outpouring of emotion whereby she penned what is said to be over 1,800 poems including this one:
I Shall Not Live In Vain....
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life of the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain
Emily Dickinson (1830-1866)
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Being Innovative in A Tough Economy for Industry
The better we define our targets in the manufacturing industry, the more innovative we will become and hopefully, more successful in achieving the desired outcome. Well, that is a lot of jargon in one sentence so lets define that a little more specifically.
To reach markets globally we need to be innovative in who we target. It is necessary to do some research to find out who are markets are. So, how do we start that whole process? There are several ways to search your target market.
First, search the website for sites that will list your company, industry specific. It is interesting to note that Thomas.net and Squidoo.com are very popular and can save us a lot of time pasting our URL in places they will automatically reach. Squidoo.com will provide many applications to allow a "lens" of your products and business which helps company visibility in the marketplace. The use of pictures as well as text will help place your product higher on the visibility scale. Recent studies also find that most people have a very low attention span. Information on products needs to be easy to find and hold the interest for at least 10-seconds. In this way, we better define who we want our communications to resonate with and allows us the opportunity to craft our sales approach using presentations, websites, whitepaper, brochures, print ads, etc.
Finally, it is important to recognize what is critical for the business that is your target market. In that way, you can determine how to meet these needs in cost effective ways that position you to be that much better than your competition in the marketplace. This strategy will also give youa foundation to build on and effectively coordinate and formulate your marketing and sales strategies.
In the end, the better your job at targeting your market, the more your sales and promotional efforts will ultimately resonate. So, hit your mark solidly by effectively targeting your business products.
To reach markets globally we need to be innovative in who we target. It is necessary to do some research to find out who are markets are. So, how do we start that whole process? There are several ways to search your target market.
First, search the website for sites that will list your company, industry specific. It is interesting to note that Thomas.net and Squidoo.com are very popular and can save us a lot of time pasting our URL in places they will automatically reach. Squidoo.com will provide many applications to allow a "lens" of your products and business which helps company visibility in the marketplace. The use of pictures as well as text will help place your product higher on the visibility scale. Recent studies also find that most people have a very low attention span. Information on products needs to be easy to find and hold the interest for at least 10-seconds. In this way, we better define who we want our communications to resonate with and allows us the opportunity to craft our sales approach using presentations, websites, whitepaper, brochures, print ads, etc.
Finally, it is important to recognize what is critical for the business that is your target market. In that way, you can determine how to meet these needs in cost effective ways that position you to be that much better than your competition in the marketplace. This strategy will also give youa foundation to build on and effectively coordinate and formulate your marketing and sales strategies.
In the end, the better your job at targeting your market, the more your sales and promotional efforts will ultimately resonate. So, hit your mark solidly by effectively targeting your business products.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Make Yourself Heard!!!
Applying for a job in this tough economy is not easy particularly if you are (like me) in the over forty crowd. It's time to make "forty the new thirty"..well at least that's my opinion anyway.
Consider YOU as the product you are marketing... Focus on your work experience. A potential employer wants someone with the right skills to match the position they offer. That means you will need a resume specific to each job you apply for, in a sense your resume is "targeted" to the unique position. While you want to list your accomplishments, it is important to focus on your work experience.
Saving Money...If you've worked for a company and saved them money, worked as a supervisor or in a supervisory position, remember to specifically state these achievements. Undoubtedly, a potential employer will look favorably upon the fact that you implemented changes resulting in savings of operating expenses in the course of a year. If you know the dollar amount, state it in writing!!!!
Looking for search terms or "key words" in your resume.... As stated above, targeting a resume for each position you apply for will allow you to place "key words" in a targeted manner. In that way, companies using programs that scan databases for your resume will check for these words...if you're not sure of what key words to use, ask your friends, previous co-workers or use the computer to search for key words.
Don't overlook the obvious.. This goes back to what my 11th grade English teacher always said, proofread your work!!!!!! There is no reason your resume should have any typos...Make sure that your contact information is up to date and don't forget to include your website if you happen to have one and it is appropriate to the position you apply for. It goes without saying; however, if your website is not suitable (including accounts such as Twitter) by all means, leave it OUT!!!
Here's my Favorite topic....the over Forty crowd... I think 40 is the new 30 myself, but that's just me. This is a great opportunity to re-invent yourself, take a look at the clothes in your closet, update your resume, focus on what you've done recently (i.e., the more recent your achievements and successes have been the better). If you've been a stay-at-home mom who volunteers at school, running the concession stand, capitalize on that experience...
Get educated and show you're technology savvy.....if you've kept a website or personal blog, use it to your advantage to show you've kept up to date on technology trends. Read, read, read...I can't focus on this enough. Being well-read shows your in touch with what's going on in the world and makes a great impression. Update any expired certifications or sign up for a class at your local community college to bring yourself up to speed with some of the popular software being used today.
Updating your closet doesn't mean you need to spend tons of money on clothes, just make sure you look the part you're applying for... I'd love to cite suggestions on where to shop, but that's a whole new blog!!
You can't buy enthusiasm ...you either have it or you don't.
Good Luck!!
Consider YOU as the product you are marketing... Focus on your work experience. A potential employer wants someone with the right skills to match the position they offer. That means you will need a resume specific to each job you apply for, in a sense your resume is "targeted" to the unique position. While you want to list your accomplishments, it is important to focus on your work experience.
Saving Money...If you've worked for a company and saved them money, worked as a supervisor or in a supervisory position, remember to specifically state these achievements. Undoubtedly, a potential employer will look favorably upon the fact that you implemented changes resulting in savings of operating expenses in the course of a year. If you know the dollar amount, state it in writing!!!!
Looking for search terms or "key words" in your resume.... As stated above, targeting a resume for each position you apply for will allow you to place "key words" in a targeted manner. In that way, companies using programs that scan databases for your resume will check for these words...if you're not sure of what key words to use, ask your friends, previous co-workers or use the computer to search for key words.
Don't overlook the obvious.. This goes back to what my 11th grade English teacher always said, proofread your work!!!!!! There is no reason your resume should have any typos...Make sure that your contact information is up to date and don't forget to include your website if you happen to have one and it is appropriate to the position you apply for. It goes without saying; however, if your website is not suitable (including accounts such as Twitter) by all means, leave it OUT!!!
Here's my Favorite topic....the over Forty crowd... I think 40 is the new 30 myself, but that's just me. This is a great opportunity to re-invent yourself, take a look at the clothes in your closet, update your resume, focus on what you've done recently (i.e., the more recent your achievements and successes have been the better). If you've been a stay-at-home mom who volunteers at school, running the concession stand, capitalize on that experience...
Get educated and show you're technology savvy.....if you've kept a website or personal blog, use it to your advantage to show you've kept up to date on technology trends. Read, read, read...I can't focus on this enough. Being well-read shows your in touch with what's going on in the world and makes a great impression. Update any expired certifications or sign up for a class at your local community college to bring yourself up to speed with some of the popular software being used today.
Updating your closet doesn't mean you need to spend tons of money on clothes, just make sure you look the part you're applying for... I'd love to cite suggestions on where to shop, but that's a whole new blog!!
You can't buy enthusiasm ...you either have it or you don't.
Good Luck!!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Life in Vicksburg, Michigan - Home of Cal Manufacturing, Inc
The village of Vicksburg, Michigan is located about five miles east of 131, and nine miles south of I94 and was founded in 1829 by John Vickers on what was then part of the Nottawa-Seepe Indian Reservation. Vicksburg has about 2,300 residents in a community of about 15,000+ and growing.
Upcoming Community Events include the popular Vicksburg Car Festival June 11 and 12, 2010. Cruise night is Friday from 6-10 p.m. and includes entertainment with a DJ and oldies music. The car show runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cal Manufacturing, Inc., is located at 5500 East "V" Avenue in Vicksburg, Michigan across from Stewart Sutherland Paper Company and has been in business for over half a century producing resistance welding cables, shunts and induction furnace cables. We're proud to say that for over 50-years we have been supplying quality products to industrial welding and other industries. Along with the high quality OEM and aftermarket products, Cal Manufacturing provides in-house repair services for both single and dual water-cooled cables.
Cal Manufacturing is proud to feature Deb Brockway, a Vicksburg resident and employee of Cal Manufacturing for over 10-years. Deb is our shipping manager, but also provides price quotes to our customers, runs our air-cooled line as well as many other functions in our office. She is a valuable asset to our company and we celebrate this in the upcoming Resistance Welding Manufacturer's Alliance (RWMA) newsletter in May 2010.
The product lines we offer will soon be featured on our website as an on-line catalog to better serve our customers and allow them to shop online as much as possible. We hope to offer one-stop shopping in the resistance welding cable industry.
We are proud to post a link and feature Huys Industries... http://www.huysindustries.com/ ..check out their website and we thank them for their business and wish them continued success for 2010
Upcoming Community Events include the popular Vicksburg Car Festival June 11 and 12, 2010. Cruise night is Friday from 6-10 p.m. and includes entertainment with a DJ and oldies music. The car show runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cal Manufacturing, Inc., is located at 5500 East "V" Avenue in Vicksburg, Michigan across from Stewart Sutherland Paper Company and has been in business for over half a century producing resistance welding cables, shunts and induction furnace cables. We're proud to say that for over 50-years we have been supplying quality products to industrial welding and other industries. Along with the high quality OEM and aftermarket products, Cal Manufacturing provides in-house repair services for both single and dual water-cooled cables.
Cal Manufacturing is proud to feature Deb Brockway, a Vicksburg resident and employee of Cal Manufacturing for over 10-years. Deb is our shipping manager, but also provides price quotes to our customers, runs our air-cooled line as well as many other functions in our office. She is a valuable asset to our company and we celebrate this in the upcoming Resistance Welding Manufacturer's Alliance (RWMA) newsletter in May 2010.
The product lines we offer will soon be featured on our website as an on-line catalog to better serve our customers and allow them to shop online as much as possible. We hope to offer one-stop shopping in the resistance welding cable industry.
We are proud to post a link and feature Huys Industries... http://www.huysindustries.com/ ..check out their website and we thank them for their business and wish them continued success for 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Cal Manufacturing, Inc
This is the first official blog for Cal Manufacturing....check out our Facebook Page and follow us on Twitter for industry news and technology updates...see who we like and follow on Twitter as well.
Hubspot....we posted our first online article. Vertical Integration....see if you like it!!!
This blog spot is new..and we are excited to feature our company's news, products, staff of specialized engineers, consultants, sales team as well as some interesting facts on the products we make that you might use in your daily life.
Thanks for your visit to our blog spot :)
Hubspot....we posted our first online article. Vertical Integration....see if you like it!!!
This blog spot is new..and we are excited to feature our company's news, products, staff of specialized engineers, consultants, sales team as well as some interesting facts on the products we make that you might use in your daily life.
Thanks for your visit to our blog spot :)
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