Speaking of Precision Blog

Speaking of Precision

Speaking of Precision is a knowledge preservation and thought leadership blog covering the precision machining industry, its materials and services. With over 36 years of hands on experience in steelmaking, manufacturing, quality, and management, Miles Free (Milo) Director of Industry Research and Technology at PMPA helps answer "How?" "With what?" and occasionally "Really?"

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What Are You Thankful For?

Posted November 24, 2010 4:40 PM by Milo
Pathfinder Tags: Thanksgiving Day 2010

As an American, a dad, a son, a husband, a professional, and as a guy, I have much to be thankful for.

I am grateful that the member companies of the PMPA continue to find value in my work. It is the basis of my family's economy.

I am grateful for the service of the men and women of the armed forces, my daughter and son-in-law included, who put duty, honor and country ahead of all the stuff in my list below.

Just another guy thankful for the tools he can use.

I am thankful that I was born an American and am thankful that my life choices have resulted in a life worth contemplating.

I hope you'll take a few minutes this Thanksgiving Day to contemplate what makes your life worth living too.

A few of the things I am thankful for include:

- Still having a couple of $20′s in your wallet the day before payday.

- Nobody in front of you in the passing lane.

- Waking up after surgery.

- The smell and taste of the summer's first burgers on the Grill.

- A high draft number.

- Honest gratitude when your kid says "Thanks Dad."

- Solving a million dollar process problem with your brain, and a pencil and paper.

- New Friends. OLD FRIENDS.

- Meals by Candlelight.

- Dropping the deer with a clean single shot using iron sights.

- It's A Girl.^2

- It's A Boy.

- The whole body wiggle and smile you get when the baby sees that you are going to pick them up.

- The squeal in your little girl's voice when she realizes that you aren't holding her bike up…

- Having a customer you haven't heard from in years track you down in another state to ask your opinion.

- The sound of the carabiner snapping onto the bungee cord at the top of the tower.

- Being able to say "We handled that," when the boss rushes in with that look in his eyes.

- Great optics, space on the chip, and adquate light.

- Being elected president of the club that didn't want to let you join.

- Hearing the piano coda in Layla emerge from the layers of guitar.

- The smell and feel of real leather- work gloves or baseball gloves.

- Flying to Washington D.C. with the CEO to handle "That Department of Commerce issue."

- Strawberries from your own garden.

- The flash of headlights in the driveway 5 minutes before your daughter is due back from her date.

- A graph that makes sense.

- Getting the tool on center with the first 'tap.'

- Hearing Carlos Santana bend and sustain a high guitar note for what must be 200 heartbeats.

- Pepsi right out of the fountain.

- The thoughtful email you get in the middle of a 7 alligator morning from your friend who "just knew."

- New Books. Old Books.

- Solving a problem that no one else in your industry has ever solved.

- The wind and scenery rushing by as you pedal your bike.

- Not winning the election, but having received the endorsement of the local paper and the Chamber of Commerce.

- Watching your son put on an exhibition on how to play first base during a playoff game.

- The awe in your father's eyes when you show him the plant that you run.

- Hearing the change in her voice when she realizes it's you on the phone.

- Watching your kids graduate and knowing that their grades were WAY better than your own.

- The look on your daughters' faces as they started down the aisle with you, when you tell them how many heartbeats they had had since you first welcomed and loved them into our world.

- Eliminating the root cause forever as a result of what you learned from your designed experiment.

- Kneeling at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, in your suit, while on a break from a trade show, taking a moment to reflect and be thankful for all of your blessings, and all of your problems, happiness, and tribulations, while a busload of foriegn tourists try to figure out what the heck you are doing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am grateful the members of the PMPA continue to find value in the work that I do for them. It is the basis of my family's economy.

Editor's Note: CR4 wishes Milo a Happy Thanksgiving and thanks him for sharing this blog entry, which originally appeared here.

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#1

Re: What Are You Thankful For?

11/24/2010 10:57 PM

I am a Canadian and I am thankful for being One and still alive. More important I am thankful for the many people I have known during my working days and for my great family. Since I have joined CR4, I find many thoughts and ideas can be shared in many variety of topics.

Thank you MILO for your wonderful introspection and for making CR4 an enjoyable experience. Life is great and cherish all your days. Have a great Thanksgiving.

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#2

Re: What Are You Thankful For?

11/24/2010 11:00 PM

Just Plain Awesome!

I'll add one more to your list...

reading this thread!

and that you have 2 canadians giving you Kudos

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#3

Re: What Are You Thankful For?

11/25/2010 1:09 AM

Beautiful Milo!

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#4

Re: What Are You Thankful For?

11/25/2010 1:46 AM

Thank you Milo. It means a lot to me to know that through CR4 I get to be part of a group of 'monsters' that still even know how to be thankful for the small things that many take for granted and many don't even have. Seeing your post reinforces my belief in this. Even the daily member contributions, shows me the caliber of those who participate. As we don't have thanksgiving day here, now I'll do it my own way. Thanks to all @ CR4, members, guests, admin and any I might have forgotten. I'll have a beer on all of you for thanksgiving, and will mark it to my calender for next year, but I think I'll add fishing + beer next time. Cheers.

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#5

Re: What Are You Thankful For?

11/25/2010 6:04 AM

Thanks a lot Milo. I am an Indian staying in India, where we don't have a thanksgiving days as such. But thanksgiving to all our fellow human beings and our Almighty is universal and knows no boundaries. Thanks to CR4 where I've been able to learn many things. Thanks also to CR4 where I've been able to read this. A great thank you once again

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#6

Re: What Are You Thankful For?

11/25/2010 8:12 AM

Gentleman Milo,

The knowledgeable Guru of CR4-for people with grace and gratitude there should be happy moments to share in all your walks. Wish that the same tempo should go on. Cheers.

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#7

Re: What Are You Thankful For?

11/25/2010 8:31 AM

Just got several days worth of wood split for the stove.

A chill in the air........oak leaves and squirrels dancing and chasing each other around the yard.

Toasty warm inside, the intoxicating smell of Thanksgiving starting to season the air.

Wife and daughter getting ready to start on ginger bread house project while I'm cooking.

I'm thankful for who and where I am, I'm also thankful that I have the ability to immerse myself in the simple things in life that have no price tag..........and yet are priceless.

Good cheer Milo and everyone else.

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In reply to #7

Re: What Are You Thankful For?

11/25/2010 9:28 AM

Sorry, my post was not complete.

Perhaps above all, I am thankful for the men and women in uniform, past and present, that are deployed around the planet making the sacrifices that allow me to enjoy the simple things. Thank You!

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#9
In reply to #8

Re: What Are You Thankful For?

11/25/2010 10:10 AM

I'll ditto that and everything Milo said. In addition, I'll add: "hearing from someone who remembered me from 50 years ago and cared enough to contact me".

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#11
In reply to #8

Re: What Are You Thankful For?

11/25/2010 7:14 PM

what kind of uniform were you thinking of Kram?

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#13
In reply to #11

Re: What Are You Thankful For?

11/25/2010 8:05 PM

That's a nice one.

Glad the wife didn't walk up behind me when I was on your link.

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#10

Re: What Are You Thankful For?

11/25/2010 12:16 PM

Nice post - thanks Milo! Great contribution to the CR4 community. Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate or just have something to be thankful for.

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#12

Re: What Are You Thankful For?

11/25/2010 8:04 PM

Oh! I am thankful for this wonderful life and the things around me - significant / insignificant, small / big and so on....

I am thankful for being able to be of some use to so many people and things around.

I am thankful for being a part of CR4 too. Happy Thanksgiving.

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#14

Re: What Are You Thankful For?

11/26/2010 7:03 AM

I am thankful to God for protecting me and giving me ample strength.

I am thankful to my parents for giving me education and bring me up.

I am thankful to my teachers for giving me education.

I am thankful to my friends for always helping and remembering me.

I am thankful to my co- workers for co-operating with me.

I am thankful to my boss who always encouraged me for 33 years of my single employment.

Lastly I am thankful to this forum and all my friends in this forum for sharing their expertise.

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#15

Re: What Are You Thankful For?

11/26/2010 7:06 AM

Sorry I did not log in for post no.17.

Suresh Sharma

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