Snow shift (star watch) went well. It was nice to be on my own and not have any "looks." I didn't see any stars either. I thought I wouldn't have much to do but kept busy with driving the road, fueling (which takes awhile for 42 gallons-and that's only half a tank) and then washing the truck as the "biodegradable" products that we use are very corrosive to metal. It took me more than two hours at the wash bay and I still don't think I got it all, and online learning. B and C2 called to check on me which was nice and if I had any questions. Nope, all went well.
Side note, earlier that afternoon The S was supposed to be helping Q and Q came in to tell B and M1 that The S was in the bathroom watching a movie. What a chump S is. Do you have to deal with co-workers that sneak to the bathroom to watch movies? Q needed to leave to deliver equipment and The S was supposed to go with him and help. Q left without him muttering under his breath what a lazy so-and-so The S is. B told me that M1 should have went and told The S to clear out as that behavior is totally unacceptable. Instead The Company gets to pay him for another few days of non-work. ugh.
I listened to Harvest radio while I drove with earplugs in my ears as the trucks are very loud. Don't know how the guys hear anything since they don't wear them while driving. Anyway the message was about how not to make judgements of others. As the same judgements you make of others will be the same ones you are judged by. The Paster went on to state that observations are a different story and the reason I bring this story up as it bugs me how filthy mouthed the guys are at work and their claim to fame is that of being Christian, which makes me cringe at times. Their walk confuses me since they are so filthy mouthed and other behavior too. This doesn't match the talk. Anyway, the Pastor stated that he was on the football team and was filthy mouthed and someone he looked up to asked him if it was difficult being a Christian when he spoke the way he did. The person was not judging just observing. I thought to myself, wow how tactful those words are. I hope that I can be that tactful with the people I work with and make an impactful statement like that and not be made fun of by the guys. I'm not usually lucky to be so insightful. Maybe one day. Although, now that I think about it, I don't think the guys would even understand the question let alone the reason behind the question. sigh. Is that a judgement??? Hopefully, just an observation that they just don't get "it."
I think the guys tend to believe that all they have to do is believe and keep doing bad stuff, which makes me laugh inside. If they've read their bibles correctly, if at all (ooops is that another judgement???) you don't get to go around being a bad person after you believe. You must live your life as Christ-like as possible and when you don't it's questionable as to the belief in the first place.
Heard something funny sad: "Good things happen to bad people."
Anyway send me all the news.
Love,
L
Friday, October 27, 2017
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Dear Friend...
Just had to give and update. The Sloth (I cringe when I write that because I think it's cruel) showed up for work on Monday. I guess he has more grit than I believed. I really thought he'd never come back and return to his previous job. He got to work on trucks all day greasing (sigh, that's my favorite thing to do) and changing out oil filters. I mowed again.
Tuesday, I had new employee orientation at the main HQ in Denver, which would have been helpful to have the first month of employment not the fourth. The guys told me it wasn't worth going to, I should have known better. They always tell me this and it's rarely the case. The information given was about making informed choices for health care and retirement. sigh. I now have to wait for open enrollment to make any changes, which is a year from now.
Today is Wednesday, and The S has turned in his resignation and is going to return to his previous job. I see the smug smiles on my co-workers faces and they are all secretly happy and J1 did an imaginary boot kick. I'm a little glad too, because The S let me do all the work when I worked with him. Although, (and I hate thinking this) now the focus has shifted back to me. I wonder how happy they will be if I ever leave.
I have to work snow shift tomorrow night, 3pm to 3am. It's mostly called a "star-watch" since there won't be much snow. But the higher-uppers believe that we must show our faces for PR purposes. I hate when my tax money is wasted this way. It's done because some dopey taxpayer who has moved here from another state and doesn't know how to drive in snow has called and complained. grrr.
Anyway, send me all the news.
Love,
L
Tuesday, I had new employee orientation at the main HQ in Denver, which would have been helpful to have the first month of employment not the fourth. The guys told me it wasn't worth going to, I should have known better. They always tell me this and it's rarely the case. The information given was about making informed choices for health care and retirement. sigh. I now have to wait for open enrollment to make any changes, which is a year from now.
Today is Wednesday, and The S has turned in his resignation and is going to return to his previous job. I see the smug smiles on my co-workers faces and they are all secretly happy and J1 did an imaginary boot kick. I'm a little glad too, because The S let me do all the work when I worked with him. Although, (and I hate thinking this) now the focus has shifted back to me. I wonder how happy they will be if I ever leave.
I have to work snow shift tomorrow night, 3pm to 3am. It's mostly called a "star-watch" since there won't be much snow. But the higher-uppers believe that we must show our faces for PR purposes. I hate when my tax money is wasted this way. It's done because some dopey taxpayer who has moved here from another state and doesn't know how to drive in snow has called and complained. grrr.
Anyway, send me all the news.
Love,
L
Urban sketching...
I love this little garage in Castle Rock. It's for lease. I even wrote up a business plan for it as I think it would do well as a coffee shop with art gallery with seating in the garage area. I even called the realtor. A big name coffee company (starts with an S) has the same idea and has already negotiated taking it over. Guess what the rent is? $6300 per month and the building is "as is." Yikes! That's $75,000 per year for rent. Considering where this is located it's actually a decent price. I hope they renovate the building as it's got such character.
My angles and depth perception are a bit off and I'm disappointed that I didn't catch the presence of The Rock like I wanted. I still like it and enjoyed the drawing process.
This is the photo that I drew from since I was unable to draw this on site.
Happy Sketching!!
-all photos and sketches copyright by me.
My angles and depth perception are a bit off and I'm disappointed that I didn't catch the presence of The Rock like I wanted. I still like it and enjoyed the drawing process.
This is the photo that I drew from since I was unable to draw this on site.
Happy Sketching!!
-all photos and sketches copyright by me.
Sunday, October 22, 2017
Dear Friend...
Early this month (October) there was a recent fatal on north I-25 (this person was texting and driving). Two days after, I got assigned to work on delineation and pick debris with K and J2. J2 is the driver and K and I will work on debris and delineation. I hate it when fatals happen because K is quite the socio-path. We had to head up to the fatal first thing and look for money. yep, I'm not kidding and gross. I am throughly disgusted by this and I try to pick up debris which there is very little at this place. I'm so creeped out it's creepy. K found $1.50. I just want to throw up.
Later on in the month I work with K and The Temp. Whom I later find out the guys are calling The Sloth. OMG, I can't make this stuff up. I almost spit out my drink I was drinking when I first heard that nickname. It's funny and cruel. The reason they call him that is because he limps real bad and drags his foot behind him and is really slow. I suppose it's lucky they didn't think of Igor, Frankenstein's assistant, as a nickname as that's what he reminds me of. I suppose since he's not a hunchback they didn't think it "appropriate." Anyway working with K and S is very frustrating as K is saying "make it last" and running willy-nilly here and there and then working and then running willy-nilly here and there. I keep quiet and try to pretend I'm invisible. Since S is around the guys' attention for cruelty is focused more on him than me and for that I am shamefully thankful.
Last Monday, M1 finally has had enough of the Sloth and informs him to not come back without a doctor's note. I wonder if we'll ever see him again. On this day, me and three other co-workers are preparing for a cement median demolition that needs done since the contractor who did the road did not do the median correctly and didn't put in rebar to keep the hill from coming down. The hill is now sliding down and now we get to fix it. At one point I help chain up the skid on the trailer while Q watches, (Q makes me extremely nervous)and after about 20 minutes he finally offers help. I certainly try to never ask him to help me due to our "rocky" start and of course the major attitude here. The Company lets contractors get away with lousy work and instead of fining them ignores it and fixes it. I have a problem with this but I suspect it's because the contract was give to a "buddy" and the project was not inspected like it should be to make certain the contractor doesn't go short on supplies so he can make a bigger profit. The Contractors are sneaky as they know that their shoddy work won't show up until years later and by that time the contract they signed with the Company is past the time limit that the Company can fine the contractor. It's something that is done all the time. I hope someday this greedy behavior is blown to pieces. I'm certainly sick of it. I am not voting for any tax increases. As believe me, the government has plenty of money and needs to stop wasting the tax money and start doing something about contractor shoddy work. Taxpayers are too complacent. It's sad.
Anyway back to last Monday, while riding with my co-workers C2 says, "B you need to get back on the hiring board because M1 is batting a thousand." Meaning all M1 has hired are lousy workers that they cannot stand. C2 goes on and on about the Sloth and how horrible and slow he is and how horrible all the workers that M1 has hired. I let him dig his hole for awhile knowing that I'm going to interrupt and spring a lovely surprise on him. I finally say, "hang on, what exactly are you saying? Because M1 hired me." At this point the two guys up front hoot and holler and laugh so hard they are almost crying. And they say to C2, "yeah, what are you saying?" C2 has the decency to turn red and he backs up saying, "well, I didn't mean you and no I meant 50-50." Too late, damage is done. The guys like this so much they talk about it the rest of the week, still laughing about it.
Friday, I got to mow. Wow, this is really tricky in some places and you can roll the equipment easily if you are not paying attention. I finally got out at one point and had to have J1 help me out. In fact, when I got out I did not realize I was on the precipice of about either getting stuck in a deep weathered erosion ditch or rolling it. Yikes!!! J1 finally got me to a "safer" gore point and I happily mowed the rest of the day (thanks J1 - I'm going to miss him when he goes to the mountains as he is one of the few that's been helpful to me). The guys worked on shoulder work.
Anyway that's most of my news so far, send me some news of your own.
Love,
L
Later on in the month I work with K and The Temp. Whom I later find out the guys are calling The Sloth. OMG, I can't make this stuff up. I almost spit out my drink I was drinking when I first heard that nickname. It's funny and cruel. The reason they call him that is because he limps real bad and drags his foot behind him and is really slow. I suppose it's lucky they didn't think of Igor, Frankenstein's assistant, as a nickname as that's what he reminds me of. I suppose since he's not a hunchback they didn't think it "appropriate." Anyway working with K and S is very frustrating as K is saying "make it last" and running willy-nilly here and there and then working and then running willy-nilly here and there. I keep quiet and try to pretend I'm invisible. Since S is around the guys' attention for cruelty is focused more on him than me and for that I am shamefully thankful.
Last Monday, M1 finally has had enough of the Sloth and informs him to not come back without a doctor's note. I wonder if we'll ever see him again. On this day, me and three other co-workers are preparing for a cement median demolition that needs done since the contractor who did the road did not do the median correctly and didn't put in rebar to keep the hill from coming down. The hill is now sliding down and now we get to fix it. At one point I help chain up the skid on the trailer while Q watches, (Q makes me extremely nervous)and after about 20 minutes he finally offers help. I certainly try to never ask him to help me due to our "rocky" start and of course the major attitude here. The Company lets contractors get away with lousy work and instead of fining them ignores it and fixes it. I have a problem with this but I suspect it's because the contract was give to a "buddy" and the project was not inspected like it should be to make certain the contractor doesn't go short on supplies so he can make a bigger profit. The Contractors are sneaky as they know that their shoddy work won't show up until years later and by that time the contract they signed with the Company is past the time limit that the Company can fine the contractor. It's something that is done all the time. I hope someday this greedy behavior is blown to pieces. I'm certainly sick of it. I am not voting for any tax increases. As believe me, the government has plenty of money and needs to stop wasting the tax money and start doing something about contractor shoddy work. Taxpayers are too complacent. It's sad.
Anyway back to last Monday, while riding with my co-workers C2 says, "B you need to get back on the hiring board because M1 is batting a thousand." Meaning all M1 has hired are lousy workers that they cannot stand. C2 goes on and on about the Sloth and how horrible and slow he is and how horrible all the workers that M1 has hired. I let him dig his hole for awhile knowing that I'm going to interrupt and spring a lovely surprise on him. I finally say, "hang on, what exactly are you saying? Because M1 hired me." At this point the two guys up front hoot and holler and laugh so hard they are almost crying. And they say to C2, "yeah, what are you saying?" C2 has the decency to turn red and he backs up saying, "well, I didn't mean you and no I meant 50-50." Too late, damage is done. The guys like this so much they talk about it the rest of the week, still laughing about it.
Friday, I got to mow. Wow, this is really tricky in some places and you can roll the equipment easily if you are not paying attention. I finally got out at one point and had to have J1 help me out. In fact, when I got out I did not realize I was on the precipice of about either getting stuck in a deep weathered erosion ditch or rolling it. Yikes!!! J1 finally got me to a "safer" gore point and I happily mowed the rest of the day (thanks J1 - I'm going to miss him when he goes to the mountains as he is one of the few that's been helpful to me). The guys worked on shoulder work.
Anyway that's most of my news so far, send me some news of your own.
Love,
L
Friday, October 13, 2017
Urban Sketching...
Here's a sketch that I mentioned in an earlier post of an apartment building at I-25 and Hampden, looking east. Sketched while waiting for everyone to show at our staging area.
happy sketching!
-photo copyrighted by me.
happy sketching!
-photo copyrighted by me.
stitch magic...
I got sucked into a really coolio machine stitching, mixed media class. I just happened to go to my local art center needing supplies for book binding (I'm totally hooked on bookbinding right now--photos on that later, promise) and walked into a stitching class that was happening.
It was fun and really interesting.
Libby Williamson (Blue Denim Designs) is the artist who teaches this type of art; using paper, fabric and machine stitching. The before and after photos are fun to see.
Here is some of her artwork:
and here is my before and after from class:
We "made" the paper that we used in our projects by using different types and making designs on them with acrylic paint. I love that I had this image in my head and that it came out how I wanted. I was worried that my sewing would mess up but using the darning setting really is easier than it looks. I love the Bingo paper that I "made" (decorated) and used for some of the mountains. the background is heavy canvas.
and here is an idea I had in my head that had to get out. It's already been made into a book cover. I'm 'tangling on the inside book cover's stitching, which is pretty fun.
The flower centers are buttons and I made machine stitching marks without thread that lean toward the umbrella that you may not see but used to simulate "rain."
It was fun and really interesting.
Libby Williamson (Blue Denim Designs) is the artist who teaches this type of art; using paper, fabric and machine stitching. The before and after photos are fun to see.
Here is some of her artwork:
We "made" the paper that we used in our projects by using different types and making designs on them with acrylic paint. I love that I had this image in my head and that it came out how I wanted. I was worried that my sewing would mess up but using the darning setting really is easier than it looks. I love the Bingo paper that I "made" (decorated) and used for some of the mountains. the background is heavy canvas.
The flower centers are buttons and I made machine stitching marks without thread that lean toward the umbrella that you may not see but used to simulate "rain."
Dear Friend...
I'm back from my two-week excursion with training. They call it Camp George because it's located at a minimum security prison. The prisoner's serve the breakfast and lunches and the Colorado State Patrol training academy is also located at this site.
The training was interesting at times. I was informed that if we were late we were to call and that we would not get credit for the portion missed. There was one guy that was habitually late and never called. How do I know this, I asked him. In fact, the first day he didn't arrive until the day was half over. He still got credit. He kept getting "better" about being less late each day. It was ironic that one guy got in trouble for being a little late and this guy never got in trouble. I laugh inside at such irony. On the first day, the trainer said, "well guys..." and someone piped up, "and lady." yep, I was the only girl. sigh
Overall, from the two weeks I could tell that I won't be getting to my home region EVER. I met two ops and the TMIII from that area and I could totally tell by the body language and how they spoke to me that they were not going to hire me because I'm female. sigh. These guys act like they have no men that are or have ever been lousy workers (not that I am a lousy worker because I'm not). I am already classified as a lousy worker just because I'm female. I know for a fact that there are and have been lousy male workers. Good grief, I miss Region 4.
I'm back at my patrol and crimmineee, it's like it's my first day all over again! crap! I'm still the kid that's picked last to play on a team. God I hate that. whatev. I'll never get picked first, even if I'm the best player. It's my lot in life, no doubt.
This week we are cleaning snowplows after a snowstorm. They pull the sanders each and every time. In Ned we didn't because we always had another storm coming in and didn't have the manpower or time. Because it takes a lot of time and a lot of manpower. Here we have both.
During one of the lunches this month, C1 asked what I was doing. I about jumped out of my skin as the guys rarely speak to me directly and I showed him a sketch I did of an apartment building on I-25 and Hampden, waiting for everyone to show up for mid-day potholing in Patrol 08 (my guys didn't like the idea as it's really busy through this area at this time --- I agree, not that I know anything). It was pretty interesting potholing, as C2 was driving and he had to miss getting side-swiped by the BC from Patrol 08. It was really great driving and I still don't know how we missed getting creamed by BC (P08). We were cold mix potholing and it's quite the very quick production. Clean the hole out, slap the cold mix bags down on the ground all around the hole; smash the bags open with a shovel; flip the cold mix into the hole; smash it down with a shovel. All this is done in about 7 seconds. I was totally lost and it was amazingly quick. The guys are really good at this. Denver Traffic hates us for this as we shut off two lanes. It's amazing the hate that this generates when it actually saves vehicles from being damaged. These were pretty big potholes. Anyway I showed C1 some of my favorite sketches. Don't know if he was interested or not (probably not) and I eventually shut down my conversation quickly before I said something stupid. I'm not used to them speaking to me like this and I prefer that they don't. It makes me nervous.
At the end of this week, we drove around willy-nilly, getting some work done, wasting time, and then getting some work done. It's very frustrating to be doing this especially since we have a new temporary co-worker who's being taught very bad habits by the others. He told me he's loving all the down time and not having to do much.
Today I got to be the lead, which was shocking and I thought the temp was going to duke it out with me regarding what I wanted done. He only wanted to weed-whip delineation and light posts and I wanted to do it all. The excuse I've been given and keep getting is that the mower will be used to get the rest. The truth to that is the excuse for not using the mower right now is that it's broke, or it's too wet or it's to (fill in the blank here). I say we're here, let's get it done now because the mower is never going to get here, and we have another storm coming soon, so DO IT NOW and be done. I've been previously told that if the mower is not in service weed-whip it. No blade of grass untouched, no weed un-whipped, etc, etc. All the excuses I hear make this "motto" sound like a lie or at the very least ridiculous. The contradictory actions is all very confusing to me. I don't like it and the men don't like me.
Man-o-man, the straight south-bound Lincoln on-ramp looks impressive. That was all me because the temp decided to walk down to the guardrail and pretend to work on a guardrail that didn't need whipped, he really just sat and pouted and smoked cigarettes. I cleaned out the weeds like it should be done. I hand pulled them and instead of leaving them on the side of the road like the others do. I put them in a garbage bag. We then worked at the Ridgegate on and off ramps and got a curly-que that was missed the day before. I don't know why K kept passing it by but whatev. K is always saying "make it last." The others do this too. Me, I say "get 'er done" and "get it done now," then I don't have to keep coming back and back and back, which is very frustrating and doesn't make any sense to me. Once again the men sense this and now I am beginning to realize after writing all this why I'll never be the kid picked first. What a pain in the @ss I am. (smiles)
I don't conform and never will. This makes me absolutely zero friends and less likely to be promoted. This makes for a hard life. I accept it and sleep well at night.
One thing I have learned around this place is to keep my thoughts to myself more. I was asked how things went by M2, and I said fine. He did ask what got done and I said Lincoln and Ridgegate. All of it this time --- I said the last part in my head to myself. I may go back and take a picture of it all as it finally looks nice and complete and not half-@ssed.
Today was nice to be the lead as I got to do the work "MY WAY" and get things done, FINALLY!!!
Send me all the news.
Love,
L
The training was interesting at times. I was informed that if we were late we were to call and that we would not get credit for the portion missed. There was one guy that was habitually late and never called. How do I know this, I asked him. In fact, the first day he didn't arrive until the day was half over. He still got credit. He kept getting "better" about being less late each day. It was ironic that one guy got in trouble for being a little late and this guy never got in trouble. I laugh inside at such irony. On the first day, the trainer said, "well guys..." and someone piped up, "and lady." yep, I was the only girl. sigh
Overall, from the two weeks I could tell that I won't be getting to my home region EVER. I met two ops and the TMIII from that area and I could totally tell by the body language and how they spoke to me that they were not going to hire me because I'm female. sigh. These guys act like they have no men that are or have ever been lousy workers (not that I am a lousy worker because I'm not). I am already classified as a lousy worker just because I'm female. I know for a fact that there are and have been lousy male workers. Good grief, I miss Region 4.
I'm back at my patrol and crimmineee, it's like it's my first day all over again! crap! I'm still the kid that's picked last to play on a team. God I hate that. whatev. I'll never get picked first, even if I'm the best player. It's my lot in life, no doubt.
This week we are cleaning snowplows after a snowstorm. They pull the sanders each and every time. In Ned we didn't because we always had another storm coming in and didn't have the manpower or time. Because it takes a lot of time and a lot of manpower. Here we have both.
During one of the lunches this month, C1 asked what I was doing. I about jumped out of my skin as the guys rarely speak to me directly and I showed him a sketch I did of an apartment building on I-25 and Hampden, waiting for everyone to show up for mid-day potholing in Patrol 08 (my guys didn't like the idea as it's really busy through this area at this time --- I agree, not that I know anything). It was pretty interesting potholing, as C2 was driving and he had to miss getting side-swiped by the BC from Patrol 08. It was really great driving and I still don't know how we missed getting creamed by BC (P08). We were cold mix potholing and it's quite the very quick production. Clean the hole out, slap the cold mix bags down on the ground all around the hole; smash the bags open with a shovel; flip the cold mix into the hole; smash it down with a shovel. All this is done in about 7 seconds. I was totally lost and it was amazingly quick. The guys are really good at this. Denver Traffic hates us for this as we shut off two lanes. It's amazing the hate that this generates when it actually saves vehicles from being damaged. These were pretty big potholes. Anyway I showed C1 some of my favorite sketches. Don't know if he was interested or not (probably not) and I eventually shut down my conversation quickly before I said something stupid. I'm not used to them speaking to me like this and I prefer that they don't. It makes me nervous.
At the end of this week, we drove around willy-nilly, getting some work done, wasting time, and then getting some work done. It's very frustrating to be doing this especially since we have a new temporary co-worker who's being taught very bad habits by the others. He told me he's loving all the down time and not having to do much.
Today I got to be the lead, which was shocking and I thought the temp was going to duke it out with me regarding what I wanted done. He only wanted to weed-whip delineation and light posts and I wanted to do it all. The excuse I've been given and keep getting is that the mower will be used to get the rest. The truth to that is the excuse for not using the mower right now is that it's broke, or it's too wet or it's to (fill in the blank here). I say we're here, let's get it done now because the mower is never going to get here, and we have another storm coming soon, so DO IT NOW and be done. I've been previously told that if the mower is not in service weed-whip it. No blade of grass untouched, no weed un-whipped, etc, etc. All the excuses I hear make this "motto" sound like a lie or at the very least ridiculous. The contradictory actions is all very confusing to me. I don't like it and the men don't like me.
Man-o-man, the straight south-bound Lincoln on-ramp looks impressive. That was all me because the temp decided to walk down to the guardrail and pretend to work on a guardrail that didn't need whipped, he really just sat and pouted and smoked cigarettes. I cleaned out the weeds like it should be done. I hand pulled them and instead of leaving them on the side of the road like the others do. I put them in a garbage bag. We then worked at the Ridgegate on and off ramps and got a curly-que that was missed the day before. I don't know why K kept passing it by but whatev. K is always saying "make it last." The others do this too. Me, I say "get 'er done" and "get it done now," then I don't have to keep coming back and back and back, which is very frustrating and doesn't make any sense to me. Once again the men sense this and now I am beginning to realize after writing all this why I'll never be the kid picked first. What a pain in the @ss I am. (smiles)
I don't conform and never will. This makes me absolutely zero friends and less likely to be promoted. This makes for a hard life. I accept it and sleep well at night.
One thing I have learned around this place is to keep my thoughts to myself more. I was asked how things went by M2, and I said fine. He did ask what got done and I said Lincoln and Ridgegate. All of it this time --- I said the last part in my head to myself. I may go back and take a picture of it all as it finally looks nice and complete and not half-@ssed.
Today was nice to be the lead as I got to do the work "MY WAY" and get things done, FINALLY!!!
Send me all the news.
Love,
L
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