Adventurers of the Lucky Vale XXII

[Sciread77]

16 hours ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

I love this! I am so excited for you!

Thanks, me too!

 

So there are a lot of steps that I think we can further automate. My dad spent almost his whole career as an electrician working on/installing/upgrading automation tools for a car production plant, and there are a bunch of robots/machines that could help take human error out and probably do it all faster as well. 
 

Anything we can do to save time and improve quality will help. After meeting the owners and managers of the clients we sell to, I am confident we can sell literally every pretzel we make.  It is a blessing but, until we fix the process, also a curse 😂. I am confident that 1. Adding people will really help right now and that 2. In the long run we can automate a lot. Heck, getting a few 12-wheel pastry rollers will cut a lot of time and simultaneously reduce the variability of the overall product, and also reduce the learning curve. 
 

[Sciread77]

13 hours ago, Sciread77 said:

In the long run we can automate a lot

As a note, we’re planning to continue hand-rolling the pretzels even if we use additional tools to make it easier. This will not become a fully-automated factory; those pretzels are never quite the same and the hand-rolled process is part of what gives our pretzels such an edge. But we CAN reduce variability and make the whole thing a lot faster, and automate things like measuring flour, packaging the pretzels, route planning, and invoicing. The biggest innovation we’re going to bring, though, is a multi-person team, which dramatically begins to speed up production, as well as basic things like using multi-wheeled pastry cutters. 

 

My dad did go pretty left field and fixate on the dough rolling portion, and at the party started mansplaining the process to Jessie.  He also apparently did his own thing instead of what he was trained to do and wasted dough. It was a mistake to involve him at this point, especially without really asking the others and especially with the way my family tends to ignore boundaries and take over. I was so focused on getting extra help so we could catch up and have the party today that I didn’t stop to think about it, and I’m kicking myself. I like working with my dad but I also think that it’s going to be best to keep it to home projects or specifics within his wheelhouse. I have to draw a boundary and show it wasn’t a Pandora’s Box that I just opened. My parents like to take over things when they’re helping and while I appreciate the help what I agreed to was help and an idea or two about how to improve those things we’re looking to automate. I was surprised by and poorly handled the other direction even if I should have seen it coming.  
 

I’m at least as upset with myself as him.  I should have known involving them wouldn’t lead as much to temporary help until the permanent people came on and the new freezer came in as much as it would lead to bulldozing in conversation and a problem.  My denial clearly stems from seeing the best in people and hoping the worst doesn’t show up or pretending it will be different this time. Another thing to work on in therapy. 
 

Bo Peep’s birthday party was a success. It ended up being us, the neighbors, and the grandparents sitting around a bonfire while the kids ran around. Jessie made an epic unicorn castle cake and it was generally a lot of fun (minus the negative facts about yesterday’s help and between my parents and Jessie).  Bo Peep had a lot of fun, and I think we all did altogether. 

[Teros]

15 hours ago, Sciread77 said:

My denial clearly stems from seeing the best in people and hoping the worst doesn’t show up or pretending it will be different this time.

This hits like a dumptruck.  Totally relatable.

 

Also CON-FUCKING-GRATS on the new biz!

[Sciread77]

1 hour ago, Teros said:

This hits like a dumptruck.  Totally relatable.

 

My ability to stubbornly see the best in people is simultaneously my best and worst trait. It’s been invaluable in helping/enabling others to see and be their best selves. It’s been really good in my corporate job. 
 

The issue is identifying people who aren’t ever going to change.  Or coming to grips with the fact that not everyone’s best self is what I imagine it to be, or that there are simply style and personality conflicts that make some people less optimal to work together. My dad is a generally good and helpful guy but he tends to mansplain pretty badly and treat women like they don’t know what they’re doing with anything he’s used to doing (like processes). Forgetting that Jessie is an expert baker and a lot of his ideas won’t work because of the nature of baking. 

 

Quote

 

Also CON-FUCKING-GRATS on the new biz!

Thanks! It’s overwhelming right now. It will be less so when we get a team in place and actually have access to our money.  The bank opened the account but didn’t provide debit cards, online banking access, checks…. It’s pretty obnoxious.  I’m sure it’ll be rectified next week. And the previous owner couldn’t keep up. Current demand is almost 3x what she quoted earlier this year in her financial statements. But as things reopened it just exploded. I mean, it’s a good problem to have as far as problems go, but it still kinda sucks since we all also still have other full-time+ jobs.  So we’re working 1-3 at a time but mostly me all day with someone else part of the time. A team of 4-5 could really utilize the kitchen, smooth the kinks in the process, and churn out the pretzels, all with the capacity for breaks. I’m hoping that we can get part timers on the weekends and upgrade that freezer capacity so we can be well stocked and have some cushion. 

I think I’m repeating myself a lot in these posts. I’m tired and overstretched. We’re at a place, sales-wise, that I didn’t project to hit until year 3,  so… yeah. Like I said, a better problem to have than the opposite one. 
 

 

[Snarkyfishguts]

16 hours ago, Sciread77 said:

I think I’m repeating myself a lot in these posts. I’m tired and overstretched. We’re at a place, sales-wise, that I didn’t project to hit until year 3,  so… yeah. Like I said, a better problem to have than the opposite one. 

dont' worry about it. It has to be all consuming right now, and it's okay if you repeat yourself. Just treat yourself as well as you treat your dough and get rest when you need it (but no punching down!)  

[Sciread77]

3 minutes ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

dont' worry about it. It has to be all consuming right now, and it's okay if you repeat yourself. Just treat yourself as well as you treat your dough and get rest when you need it (but no punching down!)  

*pauses mid-punch over his dough* Wait, what? Yeah no never!

[Snarkyfishguts]

1 minute ago, Sciread77 said:

*pauses mid-punch over his dough* Wait, what? Yeah no never!

LOL! dough is good! Sciread is not for punching!  

[Sciread77]

2 hours ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

LOL! dough is good! Sciread is not for punching!  

😂 

 

Technically, I beat the dough, cut it up, stick it in an oven, and then freeze it before it is ultimately baked or deep fried again so that bar is pretty low 🤣 

[Sciread77]

This is the best smelling job I’ve ever had. 

[Aquarii]

27 minutes ago, Sciread77 said:

This is the best smelling job I’ve ever had. 

 

Is that a benefit or is that torture? haha.

[Sciread77]

10 hours ago, Aquarii said:

 

Is that a benefit or is that torture? haha.

I’m sure it’ll be both. 2/3 of my customers are a great local restaurant that grew into a chain in hot area. Their kitchens smell amazing. Their freezers smell amazing. And then my place smells like freshly baked bread, which is actually a great background scent for me. 
 

Deliveries ran late last night, and lasted from

about 6:30-10. I took the 2 youngest kids with me and as expected they slept except when Jessie called (and they woke up at her voice). I’m super tired and must have turned off my 3rd alarm. I’m seeing a light at the end of the tunnel on the overwhelm though. Our first part timer can start soon because she’s a softball coach and the season is ending. 
 

The boys both ran their best ever cross country races last night. Jessie got to see it. I’m super proud of them. They listened to my coaching after the race earlier this week and jogged most of it, saving up their energy for the end. It was a breakthrough because they thought “run” means all-out, so when I said to run slow 

it didn’t compute.  I needed to use the word “jog instead. I’m really proud of them.  They’re still not strong distance runners but they seek to have finally started to learn the lessons I want them to from distance running. 
 

Spooky season is upon us and we still have ent decorated. That’s MUST happen this weekend. At the least we gotta get the stuff out of storage and get the main decorations up. 
 

 

 

[Ranger Hal]

1 hour ago, Sciread77 said:

The boys both ran their best ever cross country races last night. Jessie got to see it. I’m super proud of them. They listened to my coaching after the race earlier this week and jogged most of it, saving up their energy for the end. It was a breakthrough because they thought “run” means all-out, so when I said to run slow 

it didn’t compute.  I needed to use the word “jog instead. I’m really proud of them.  They’re still not strong distance runners but they seek to have finally started to learn the lessons I want them to from distance running. 

Very cool to see things start to click!

[Sciread77]

On 9/24/2021 at 5:53 PM, Snarkyfishguts said:

I love this! I am so excited for you!

 

4 hours ago, Ranger Hal said:

Very cool to see things start to click!

 

Thanks! Finally got online banking activated and usable. Thank goodness. It sure took long enough! (A day short of 2 business weeks). 
 

It has been a day! And it’s one that’s ending early. Yesterday was really late. I need this evening to be more normal, and to do some laundry, and that sort of thing.  Also rest. Also set up the POS. Also finish setting up Quikbooks. Also officially switch phone ownership. Also… 😂 

 

But in spite of the things there are to do, it’s ours. It’s hard work but I like hard work when there’s meaning behind it and when the things I do matter. 

***********
 

It was a hard day’s night, but I got a lot done in spite of a raging headache (thanks dehydration!) and this being Woody’s late night. Hurrah! Tomorrow I am to be far more careful with the water, like I have been every day but today. Working by and in front of the oven kinda cooks ya!

 

 

 

 

 

[Snarkyfishguts]

So many good things happening for you! Yay!!

[Sciread77]

4 minutes ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

So many good things happening for you! Yay!!

I keep bouncing between “this is awesome” and “I don’t know how the hell we’re gonna do it.”

 

Hiring will help. And I’m sure our newfound sort of access to our bank funds will help, too. 

[Snarkyfishguts]

53 minutes ago, Sciread77 said:

I keep bouncing between “this is awesome” and “I don’t know how the hell we’re gonna do it.”

 

Hiring will help. And I’m sure our newfound sort of access to our bank funds will help, too. 

Honestly, from getting to know you, I absolutely believe in your ability to handle this.
 Accessing funds is always helpful!

[Sciread77]

44 minutes ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

Honestly, from getting to know you, I absolutely believe in your ability to handle this.
 Accessing funds is always helpful!

Thanks! I also think that bouncing between those options is pretty close to my natural rhythm 😂 

 

In all seriousness, the work itself is hard but good. The hours have been murder and hard on the family. So I’m some ways it’s an improvement and other ways it’s been extremely difficult. I feel guilty being away so much, and don’t want that to just be the new norm. 

[Sciread77]

What it’s like working in a bakery: a randomized series of bullet pointed thoughts. 
 

-The work is pretty simple 

-Flow is everything and is actually, often, most of your day 

- People absolutely love pretzels. Am I selling crack? Because the demand is like crack

-People panic when they’re out of pretzels. Am I selling crack? Because…

-I need to hire people. There so very much money here. We can sell every pretzel we can make and people are beating down the door to give us more money but we just don’t have enough hours in the day

-I can’t imagine getting tired of the scent of freshly baked bread products and dough 

-Flour boogers. Nobody warned me. NOBODY WARNED ME

-Baker’s asthma is a thing, from flour inhalation. It probably isn’t a huge risk with our current process but it becomes hugely more risky with automating the flour division, meaning we’d need special ventilation equipment or to all wear masks. I’m not about to turn my bakery into some kind of health hazard for anyone working in it. Since I want it to be like another part of home. 
-Baking is very sciency. Which I knew. But what’s cool is this: the humidity increased the weight of our flour, and by the exact amount we needed to reduce the water we add to make the dough just right. I mean down to the freaking ounce. I crunched the numbers this week. So very cool. Sciency but hard to automate because of all those variables we can’t control very well!

-I’m still losing weight but not too fast, largely because I don’t eat my product. I added another notch to my belt today because I had to. 

-As a person following keto in a pretzel shop, I’m feeling A LOT like Sam Malone from Cheers and it isn’t going away 😂 

-I am doing a TON of squats and lunges. So I don’t destroy my back, I squat or lunge every time I place a tray in the lower oven or lift anything. The weights aren’t huge but it’s happening dozens of times a day. 
-Dividing flour is an especially shocking workout. I mean, it’s like moving a 1-2 lb weight between my waist and my forehead in height and often pretty far from my body, in the neighborhood of 150 times a day. That’s been all on my right side so I’ve been trying to compensate by lifting the 6 lb bags in a similar way with my left but I may just need to switch sides sometimes to keep from getting weirdly unbalanced or a repetitive use injury. 
-My core muscles are really engaged a lot

-I feel better physically now than I have since I was a teacher and wrestling coach, the last time I had a job that did not force me to sit most of the day. 
-Baking is a lot harder than regular cooking, even if you focus on the one product. I love it. I also want to get back to flipping burgers someday and perhaps even smoking meats. We have some specialty pretzel meals that include a wide variety of stuff that I am straight up aching to play with, but that’s gonna have to wait until we put the fire of business being incredible out 😆 

-My parents are still shocked that I am by far the minority owner in this. 
-Our logo is awesome and I’ll drop a pic of it once we launch it. 
-Sometime soon we gotta actually do our remodeling!

-I really love selling a physical, packaged product that people can experience with all 5 senses so very much more than I ever enjoyed selling services or time. 

[Aquarii]

My sister use to make homemade pretzels when we were living at home, and it always made the house smell incredible. I don't know how I would be able to stand it now, being gluten free. It would drive me crazy.

 

It sounds like your job is giving you quite the workout! I am glad you have found some work that you enjoy a lot more.

[Sciread77]

4 hours ago, Aquarii said:

My sister use to make homemade pretzels when we were living at home, and it always made the house smell incredible. I don't know how I would be able to stand it now, being gluten free. It would drive me crazy.

 

I dunno. I still love the smell of freshly baked bread. I haven’t craved it at all. It’s almost like the scent is disconnected from food for me. The pretzels smell almost exactly like (and taste almost exactly like) my grandma’s homemade, bathtub-proofed rolls and the scent is basically her love to me so it’s kinda a great thing to be surrounded by all day. 

 

4 hours ago, Aquarii said:

 

It sounds like your job is giving you quite the workout! I am glad you have found some work that you enjoy a lot more.

It really is. I hope I don’t lose muscle in places I haven’t been working as hard. I don’t think I have lost much muscle and I can definitely see more of it because being a baker apparently melts fat like a nice heat ray 😂. 
 

Seriously though, it’s very physically gratifying work and I cannot stress enough how great it is after years and years of slowly freezing up and dying at a desk. 

[Sciread77]

It’s been a rough week. Good, but rough. Finally have access to our money.  First hired help starting “soon.” Helpful equipment has been ordered. Plans have been made.

 

I worked 70 hours at the bakery plus my regular  job, then yesterday I stayed home with the kids while Jessie and Marinara went in. The kids and I all took a nap together then went to a local fair, had dinner, and went up to help at the bakery. I only went in today because I left my computer. The kids are at grandma’s tonight because they don’t have school tomorrow and Jessie and I had a date night of sorts watching Fear Street. 

Tomorrow is a new day. Beginning of a busier week for the day job but more importantly, the beginning of a more organized and better equipped week at the bakery. 

[Sciread77]

I do not enjoy dirty keto. It does keep you in ketosis which can be helpful in the short term, but Costco ran out of broccoli (technically, when I went last weekend they had 3 pallets for sale that had already gone bad) and the rest of the plant stuffs I usually eat, so this week has been waaaay heavier on sausage and cheese. I’ve still been eating nuts, of course, and in decent quantities. But as a nut free bakery, the nuts are relegated to my car and I can’t just grab a handful while working like I used to.  
 

Jessie reminded me that we’re literally across the street from a farmer’s market and my Costco lamenting seems kinda dumb 😂 

 

Apparently Woody’s 3rd grade teacher told everyone Halloween was devil worship, and I’m furious as a parent as well as a person who grew up around that inane sort of thinking. I didn’t have a lot of fun Halloween’s and didn’t enjoy it like I could have as a kid because that’s the tone our church took as a kid and I just feel rage that someone might try to take the fun and enjoyment of harvest and equinox festivals (my favorite season of celebrations) from my kids. 
 

 

[Sciread77]

On 9/7/2021 at 7:52 AM, Sciread77 said:

Goals: 

1. Sleep. I’m far behind in this goal. We bought the bakery nearing in a month ago and the volume is measured in multiples of what the seller quoted.  It’s good news. But a hard reality. I have taken up most of the slack by burning the candle at both ends go get things done.  But it isn’t sustainable.
 

2. Basic calisthenics routine at the least. I hardcore hit this early on and have barely kept up due to Bakery volume.  Woody and Rex both achieved personal bests in Criss Country at the end of the season. 

 

 

3. Take one concrete step forward per day- at least one tangible, visible thing to make life better. This ranges from things as small as “dig out the replacement toaster” to as big as “reorganize the playroom.” 
 

     I nailed this one. 

 

4.  Take one concrete step forward per day career-wise. I need my job but I’m not satisfied in it and otherwise need a change. I need to hone/adapt skills and look for other opportunities. ->Also nailed this one. 
 

 

5.  I need to retake the yard and the garden. It’s been overgrown for too long and I want it back. ->Mostly done.  

6. Therapy. A major focus, I feel good every if there is far to go