I hope everyone is getting ready for their New Year's celebrations and everyone has a safe & enjoyable time. We are relaxing at Kim's house...all the craziness of the 4 kids together behind us for now. Maddi & Lexi will be back with me on Friday for the weekend...it is great to spend time with them as they are both growing SO fast! Still a bit ratty at times, but what kids aren't???
As I look back over the past year, it has been more interesting than anyone could have imagined. As far as work was concerned we had just finished closing the North Plant and were trying to understand how to operate in one facility. I was headlong into managing Materials, Purchasing & IT...boy, did I underestimate Purchasing!!! The wheels began to fall off by the end of Q1 with all raw materials and commodities starting their 6 month bubble climb...it wreaked havoc on the automotive business. We had some fun challenges with aluminum markets, zinc markets among others, however, by the end of October the bubble burst and burst with a bang. World oil fell from a high of $140/barrel in July to now on 12/31/08 ~$38!!!! Everyone knows the status of the Big 3 (and all car companies) thanks to the banks doing their bank thing and almost collapsing the world financial system...thanks. Here's looking to a better environment as we begin 2009.
On the family front we began the year planning a Spring Break trip with all the kids and friends from Muskegon. By the first of the year I knew I wanted Kim to marry me and I proposed (with a Tiffany ring) on March 4th, 2008...let the fun begin! We originally planned for an October 2008 wedding, but ended up changing to May 16th, 2009...135 days!!!
For the Spring Break trip we decided to take Kim's Denali that really hadn't been driven that much...we should have taken that as a hint. We made our way to Virginia Beach and upon a couple of days there, the oil pump blew...oh boy. Flu went through the entire home...just about every kid and adult by the end of the week. The weather stunk, but we made it through, or so we thought. On the return trip we went through Washington DC and then just about an hour or so outside the engine blew....luckily near civilization. Overnight stay and new rental and we made it back...oh, the memories.
After this we made our way through the year...nothing of spectaculor note until Oct-Nov when both Kim & I celebrated our 40th birthdays. Aside from a big party @ Jack's in Spring Lake with Kim's friends we took a long weekend to Las Vegas so Kim could show me all the sites. I hadn't been there in 15+ years...what a change!! A great time and a great way to celebrate our 40th!
From there we sprinted through Thanksgiving and now recently Christmas. Back and forth and all over as usual. Now for New Year's Eve we are relaxing and just taking it easy. Probably watch the ball drop and go to bed...is that a sign of getting old????
Well, I wish you all the Happiest of New Year's and a very prosperous 2009!!!
Ted
Great summary! Happy birthday to you both!
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