WORKING AT AMAZON. OUCH!!!!!

Well we arrived in Coffeyville, KS to spend the next several months working at Amazon.com. Amazon hires "seasonal campers" as temporary employees to work their peak season before Xmas. Their Xmas shopping seasons with hiring "seasonal campers" starts mid August and continues Dec 23. They start anytime. We are starting September 12. We will 40 hour work week, which consist of 10 hour shifts, 4 day/nights a week, and scheduled overtime can occur at anytime. We basically pack the orders, we will be trained in other areas as the weeks progress. This first week is called our "conditioning week". We will only work 3 (5) hour weeks. OMG - my body hurts after just these shifts. Can't imagine the next several weeks. But from veterens who have done this in years past, here is their comment

• Yes we thought we knew what we were in for but I forgot to tell my body.- too funny. I feel the same.
• It's not that bad, the Amazon Veterans are just like any other veterans, proud of their service and thankful of thier survival!
• After 3 weeks your body will quit rebelling, the fat will turn to muscle, you will be able to cut back on the perfume and aftershave to hide the tell-tale ben-gay aroma, and painkillers will be desert intead of a main course.
• Of course, that is also the week YOU join the ranks of the veterans.
• 1st week Newbie; 2nd week Experienced; 3rd week Veteran...)

Ok, so on Wednesday we become experienced. Yeh, right.

I have a new appreciation and respect for the American line worker. It is interesting to have your finger on the pulse of the shopper of today. Right now we are packing single item orders, like books, videos, cd, and so. Lots of Halloween items going out.

We are in a new campground across from Amazon. Amazon provides a campground as part of it's compensation package to it's seasonal camper. Right now it's a mess because of the recent rains, but it seems to getting better. We have to take a wait and see attitude. It nice being so close. Under 10 minutes from out the door at end of shift to bed :). They do have other campgrounds in the area that we could take advantage of.