Happy Anniversary Michelangelo!

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Today marks a fun day in history – Nov 1, 1512, when Michelangelo invited folks to finally view his amazing work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican. Can you imagine being a local resident, knowing he had worked on the project for four years, and finally walking in to see this masterpiece? Talk about a PIA (Pain in the #%$) Job! – WOW! So much more than “just another local art show,” Michelangelo and his work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling are considered iconic symbols of the Renaissance, embodying one of the most remarkable achievements in Western art. I’m amazed at how beautiful the images are – especially from a guy who struggles drawing stick figures. I researched the project (tons has been written) and tried to pick info I think you’ll find interesting and enlightening. Special thanks to Wikipedia.org, google, YouTube.com, and pivata.com for the info – enjoy!  And if you’ve had the chance to visit firsthand, please share your experience (it’s on my bucket list).

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Pumpkin Spice

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Pumpkin spice. It has become synonymous with autumn, evoking images of cozy sweaters, falling leaves, cool nights, and warm drinks. I thought I’d search out the origins and history of this beloved spice blend, and found out it stretches far beyond recent association with trendy lattes seasonal baked goods, and craft beers. The origins of Pumpkin Spice, or the flavor/blend known as “pumpkin spice” actually date back to the culinary traditions of colonial America. I think I remember the first time I tasted it –  in a cookie, and realized it was not good! Full disclosure, not everything needs or should have pumpkin spice added! 

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Wine About It

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As summer gradually draws to a close, farmers nationwide are focused on harvesting – major crops like corn and grains, soybeans, all sorts of apples and of course grapes, not only here in the US, but throughout the world. This annual ritual marks the culmination of months of careful cultivation and anticipation, marked by intensive activity in vineyards, where growers aim to harvest grapes at their absolute peak ripeness. Knowing when things are “just right” takes experience, science and expertise, to be sure the grapes have fully developed and can become part of a wonderful harvest. (Talk about a PIA (Pain in the @%$) Job! – wow. Here at KHT, so many of our processes involve the right temperature and the right timing – come to think of it, I’m sort of a thermal processing “vigneron”, carefully managing time and temperature to make your parts we process “great”… (wonder if my wife Jackie agrees?). I dug into the fall harvest of grapes and found some really fun and interesting facts and trivia I think you’ll enjoy. For those reading after hours, be sure to pour yourself a glass of wine, and celebrate along with the wonderful people and industry that makes this possible. Enjoy!

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Live From New York

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Ever since I can remember, and mostly during my teen years, Saturday nights were reserved to watch) Saturday Night Live (SNL), an iconic American television show that has had a profound impact on popular culture, comedy, and television since its debut – it first aired today on October 11, 1975… can you believe almost 50 YEARS!! Created by Lorne Michaels and originally titled NBC’s Saturday Night due to a naming conflict, it was envisioned as a live comedy show that would blend sketch comedy, political satire, and musical performances, presented by a guest host each week. Like many of you growing up, there are SO many skits and characters I’ve fallen in love with. But there’s still something about the original cast, referred to as the “Not Ready for Prime-Time Players”, including comedy legends like Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman.  What they did on live TV had never been done before. They set the standard for what would become a launching pad for comedic talent and a fixture on Saturday nights.  As you can imagine, there is a “ton” of information and memories about the show (Wikipedia alone lists twenty separate write-ups broken into 5-year segments. I’ll do my best to hit some of the highlights of the “early” days. Special thanks to Google, Wikipedia and YouTube for the info.  Enjoy!!

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Cheesy

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Cheese, glorious cheese. I think I just about like every cheese I’ve tasted.  I like it cold, gooey warm, and piping hot.  I put it on top of food, eat it on crackers (nothing quite like a slice of cheese, a piece of salami on a good cracker with a glass of my favorite vino!), love cheesecake, melt big slabs on my burgers and even go for those little corn curls that make my fingers turn orange. Yep, I’m a cheese lover. I did some digging and found it’s one of humanity’s oldest culinary creations. Research says cheese has been around for nearly 4,000 years and comes in more than 1,800 varieties. Here’s a “sampler platter” of facts about everybody’s favorite dairy product. Thanks to interestingfacts.com, youtube.com, Wikipedia, and Facebook for the info – Enjoy!

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Red Tape

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Bureaucracy. Seems like it’s everywhere we turn these days. It’s in the news all the time, especially with big organizations (and the government), years and years of processes that are just followed, and seldom analyzed and improved upon.  One of the great things here at KHT is how my teams truly challenge themselves to “cut through the red tape”, with patience, focus, process mapping, asking the tough questions, and the building a new way to help solve you PIA (Pain in the @%$) Jobs!  As I’m usually the culprit who puts the roadblocks in place ( You know 20 steps to complete a project is always better than 5, right ?????)  I’ve found over the years that it’s best to “let my gang” have at it, come up with better methods and then test them – and WHEN they work out, we all win. I came across an article that got me thinking about this that I think you’ll enjoy.  I also wanted to see how today’s AI would recommend reducing “Red Tape” so I asked “gemini” to give us all some advice on how to teach best practices when challenging “red tape” situations.  I hope you enjoy! Special thanks to historyfacts.com, knowledgemagazine.com, Google Gemini and YouTube for the info.

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Lunch Bunch

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It’s that time of year when all the kiddies make their way back to school. Hard to believe, as it seems like last week the summer recess bells were ringing. One of the school traditions I remember is bringing my lunch. As I got older, we had the option of “buying” lunch – you know pasty macaroni and cheese, those shaky jelly squares, mixed peas and corn and then some interesting main entrée – pizza (yum) or mystery meat loaf. At our house, Mom was always busy making lunches in the mornings before school  – lots of white bread and PB&J’s and my favorite – salami with ketchup and fritos!! She had lots of help organizing and building sandwiches, then into the lunch boxes they went which were lined up like soldiers – and they were so cool – Star Trek, GI Joe, Evil Kinevil, The Hulk, and so many more. I did some searching and found a bunch of info on lunch boxes that I just had to share. If you were a “lunchbox” kid, shoot me an email and let me know your favorite characters and lunch combo and any fun stories from cafeteria days (remember clapping when someone dropped their tray). Thanks to history.com, ciachef.edu, the Thermos Company, Aladdin, lunchbox.com, purwow.com and Wikipedia.com for the info. Enjoy!

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Namely Speaking

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Just like most Americans, I have a first, middle, and last name, of which I am so very proud. My given middle name is Gerard, named after  St. Gerard – the patron saint of Mothers. Back in 1975, my father Robert S. (Stanley) Kowalski, hung a shingle on a small 3,000 sq ft lakefront facility to service the needs of the tool and die industry in northern Ohio and began what has grown over the years into Kowalski Heat Treating today. From his original vision, we remain committed to solving your PIA (Pain in the @%$) Jobs! I’m told I was named after St. Stephen – the patron saint of bricklayers (he was the protomartyr of Christianity and stoned to death – ouch!). Initially, middle names were tied to the Roman tradition, as they used three names, especially upper-class men – (back then women typically had two names, and enslaved people only one). I have friends who prefer to be called by their middle names, usually because they share a family name as a “Jr.” or “the third” – and it makes it easier to identify them in the household…, or they just don’t like their first name! Here’s some fun trivia and history on the use of middle names. Special thanks to historyfacts.com, Wikipedia, and guinessworldrecords.com. Enjoy!

Namely Speaking Kowalski Heat Treating Blog Logo Contest Image

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Coffee Please

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Coffee. That early morning jump starter. If you are like me, it’s just part of my “get up and get going” routine. And I just love the smell of fresh coffee – right after grinding, and also when it’s brewing. I like mine simple various breakfast blends)  Jackie and the girls will tell you that my coffee is just like me…sensitive (or just hot brown water)! For those who have traveled a bit in Europe, and for those who just love to visit specialty coffee shops and finer dining restaurants, you know all about coffee “options”- espresso, steamed milk, foam, etc. Across the globe, coffee – and coffee culture – has shaped the way we work, socialize, and savor our daily rituals. Today, gourmet espresso drinks are an important piece of many people’s lives, often multiple times per day (I shake my head when I see the line at Starbucks late in the day) Although I must admit there is nothing quite like a cup of steaming coffee and piece of my favorite pie or cake at 9-10 PM  to put me right to sleep! But with so many different beverage choices, how do you choose what to order? What’s the difference between a caffè latte and a flat white, and how can you know which drinks are petite pick-me-ups and which are more, ahem, “grande”?  Since there are lots of you out there who have a more sophisticated coffee palate than me here is a little history of coffee and some captivating, caffeinating explanations of well-known espresso drinks to sort it all out. So, go grab another cup, sit back, and enjoy all of the info.

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Celebrating Labor Day

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Employees.  The heart and soul of every organization. I’m so blessed to be part of our incredible team here at KHT – all committed to solving you PIA (Pain in the @%$) Jobs! –for close to 50 years. On this Labor Day weekend, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each our KHT employees – past and present. Your unwavering dedication, hard work, and passion drive our success and inspire us all every day. I celebrate your unique contributions, the spirit of teamwork, and the diverse perspectives that continue to make us stronger together. Thank you for being the heart and soul of our company.

And, to all of our customers, vendors, partners and friends, and especially you hard workers out there, enjoy a well-deserved break.