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?Michael:So what's your favorite cookie, Tommy?Tommy:Well, you can call me basic if you want to, but I have to go with chocolate chip. I've seen recently people are trying too many things with their cookies, putting different toppings on them. If you got something that works, stick with it. Chocolate chip works, brings the whole family together. Santa loves it. Talk to him several at a time about his favorite cookie. So, I would definitely say chocolate chip.Recorded voice:You're listening to Further Together, the ORAU podcast. Join your hosts, Michael and Jenna, as they discuss all things ORAU. Through interviews with our experts who provide innovative, scientific and technical solutions for our customers. They'll talk about ORAU's storied history, how we're impacting an ever-changing world, and our commitment to our community. Welcome to Further Together The ORAU Podcast.Michael:Tommy the Elf, this is your second visit to ORAU. How are you?Tommy:I'm doing well, Michael. Thank you for having me.Michael:Thank you for coming back to spend the holidays with us. We're very glad that you're here. We're coming up on the end of your second visit to ORAU. What have you learned? What's your favorite thing that you've learned about ORAU and ORISE in the time that you've been here?Tommy:My favorite thing I've learned about ORAU and ORISE. Well, there is still so much to learn. I've had such a great time meeting all the different people here, seeing the work that they do, and I really don't understand very much of it. There's so many acronyms, so many operations going on here. But I do know everyone has been absolutely great, and your Christmas decorations are top notch here, I must say.Jenna:That's fantastic. I know there's a lot of people that have put in some very hard work in their Christmas decorations. So I'm sure that they would appreciate your applause to how they're celebrating the holidays in their work environment.Michael:We should probably give a special shout out to the people in PMP and payroll.Jenna:Yeah.Michael:Yeah.Jenna:They went above and beyond with their Polar Express-Michael:Polar Express.Jenna:And the other one was-Michael:The Grinch.Jenna:The Grinch. Yeah, Whoville. Yeah, it was pretty [crosstalk 00:02:35]-Michael:[inaudible 00:02:38] 12, down the hall here in the printer room.Jenna:They've done a good job, yeah.Michael:Any particular favorite that you have, Tommy?Tommy:I will say [inaudible 00:02:44] travel on the third floor of [inaudible 00:02:46] 100 definitely looks pretty good. Also Christopher Giles in human resources has a very interesting Rudolph set up in his office. I recommend you go and see it.Michael:That is not surprising [crosstalk 00:00:03:07].Jenna:No. It doesn't.Michael:At all.Jenna:Not at all. Not at all.Michael:So ,let's talk about Christmas, because I assume Christmas is your favorite time of the year, as it is for many of us here at ORAU.Jenna:And your busy season.Michael:That's right, very busy.Tommy:We are definitely busy at Christmas, but of course it's my favorite time of year. It's really about the only time of year.Michael:It's the only time of the year that matters.Tommy:Yes.Michael:Right. So what's your favorite cookie, Tommy?Tommy:Well you can call me basic if you want to, but I have to go with chocolate chip. I've seen recently, people are trying too many things with their cookies, putting different toppings on them. You know, if you got something that works, stick with it. Chocolate chips works, brings the whole family together. Santa loves it, talked to him several a time about his favorite cookie. So, I would definitely say chocolate chip.Michael:Speaking of Santa, have you had the opportunity to go with him on his annual rounds around the planet?Tommy:I have only flown with Santa once, but I must say it is a well oiled machine. It was back in the 1980s, he did not ask but I'm 100 years old. I'm in midlife, I've seen enough but I still got a lot to see left to see. It was in the '80s but it was, it was a great experience. We started practice on the 25th of October actually. You start early, filling your addresses, the children's names, the presents I have with the presents put like in a bag so we can make sure we get them down the chimneys as fast as possible. I mean, you understand.Tommy:But I must say, it's something I would recommend for every Elf to go on. It can be hard getting in the schedule. You've got to put your name in early. I was lucky, but I have gotten to fly with a big man and it was definitely one of my favorite experiences of my career.Michael:1880s, 1980s...Tommy:This was 1980s.Michael:Okay. Just checking you know you said '80s but you're hundreds of years old so it's just checking.Tommy:No worries.Michael:Do you hope to fly again?Tommy:I do. If I fly again I would like to be on the landing crew, which is responsible for jetting grades and slopes of various roofs. black tops, surfaces in which way we'll land our reindeer. It takes a lot of work, but I know a lot of guys in that department, they seem to always have fun. So, that's where I would like to work if I did fly with Santa again.Michael:So, the STEM thing is kind of working for you? I mean-Tommy:Yeah. I don't know really what STEM stands for because it's one of those acronyms. But if you say it's working for me, it's working for me.Jenna:That's fantastic. So, let me ask you this, when you are done with your busy season, what do you do? Where do you go? Do you go on vacation? Do you go somewhere tropical? What does the off season look like for Tommy?Tommy:Well, when it is the off season I do like to go with my family to the South pole. It doesn't sound very fun from an outside perspective, but it is. There's a lot of Penguins down there. They did a movie not too long ago about those penguins marching or something. We were down there at the time. It's crazy, a lot of film, a lot of guys down there. We had to make sure we didn't get seen, but that's typically our go to for January, February. And then after that you'd be surprised at how early to work starts back up at the North, so...Michael:So, it's a short off season?Tommy:It's a short off season but it is well earned, and yet again those Penguins, you've got to [inaudible 00:07:10] penguin.Michael:Excellent. So, you know the movie Elf, starring Will Ferrel very popular of course this time of year. Is that a BioPic for anyone that you know?Tommy:Elf is interesting because though it is not a BioPic, they got a lot of things accurate. And for a while we did have an internal investigation to see if anyone had leaked any kind of information. We never caught anyone. It's not accurate enough to where we think it's a security concern. But I will say no Elf is simply a story and it does miss a few things.Tommy:Our factory is much bigger than the one I'm in the movie, which may have just been the scale for Will Ferrel. He's a very Tall man. I've been to his house delivering presents to his children. So, I have been [inaudible 00:08:06] house, but one thing the movie messes up is they only list four food groups. Candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup, when there's actually six. They left out cookies and hot chocolate. So, we knew whoever had leaked our secrets that they did really didn't know too much about us because hot chocolate and cookies, then missed them, so...Michael:Tommy, what's your family situation? Are you alone? Are you married? Do you have kids?Tommy:For my family situation, I am married. My wife works in the mail room, processing letters to Santa. You'd be surprised how big of a job it is. Those folks down there they do a great job. And as soon as Christmas ends, we're getting letters for next year because people didn't get what they wanted this year. Because some people aren't very nice, as I'm sure we all know. But great things are happening in my family right now. My son just got his first job in the shop. He's working in stuffed animals right now. Definitely entry level, but we've all been there. We've all put in our time at the bottom rung.Tommy:And I've got an adolescent daughter who's really moody right now. Super emotional, never comes out of her room even. But me and my wife had noticed she's starting to develop an interest in lithium ion batteries. Which is you're up to date on a present game right now, that is what everybody's after. So, we're hoping once she gets out of the house and gets her first job it's going to be something spectacular. A lot of iPads in her future. A lot of iPads.Jenna:That sounds great. Can you tell me, Tommy, what is your favorite thing about Christmas?Tommy:My favorite thing about Christmas is the fact that everyone, regardless of where you're at or what you're doing in life, slows down a little and least thinks about those they love, and those that they like to spend time with. I know on our day to day lives, we're thinking about getting tasks done, getting things accomplished for maybe a team at work. But at Christmas time we think about our families. We think about our friends, we think about prioritizing time with them. And that's something that I think is truly special about Christmas and I wish we could get more often during the year.Michael:That is a beautiful sentiment. I like that a lot. Are you looking forward to being reunited with your family after your time here at ORAU?Tommy:I'm definitely looking forward to seeing my family again. Like I said, I've enjoyed my time here, but it's always good to get back home and see your loved ones, and sleep in your own bed for once instead of one of the back storage rooms in [inaudible 00:11:01]. It gets cold in there, and I'm from the North pole and it gets cold in there. So, definitely looking forward to getting back home and starting up work getting ready for next year's Christmas.Jenna:Well, we appreciate you being here and we've enjoyed having you these past couple of weeks, and we really hope that you come back next year and visit us. I know that there are a lot of employees around here who look forward to your appearance every year. So, we just want to say a big thank you.Tommy:I'd like to say thank you for having me, and I will definitely be back next year.Michael:Excellent. Tommy the Elf, thank you for spending time with us.Tommy:Thank you Michael.Michael:Merry Christmas.Tommy:Merry Christmas to you.Recorded voice:Thank you for listening to Further Together, the ORAU Podcast. To learn more about any of the topics discussed by our experts, visit . You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn at ORAU, and on Instagram @ORAU Together. ................
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