Happy sketching,
L
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Urban sketching...Nederland
More sketching from when I was in Nederland, CO.
This is a sketch of the home I lived in. Looking north. My rooms are located under the solar panels. In the background you will see Longs Peak its the one with the flat top. Mount Meeker is next to it. Longs Peak is one of the most difficult mountains over 14,000 feet to scale as the last 300 feet you are holding on by only your finger tips and toes with a sheer drop of approximately 300 feet. Not for sissies. Once you get to the top you are standing on a flat top the size of a football field. Many people die each year because of the last 300 feet. It's a tricky mountain. There's also a lot of sky space here and I wanted to capture that in my drawing hence the reason the mountains in the background almost look like tiny rocks on a hillside. This sketch was done in April 2017.
The next is the view from my window as I my room was on the second story of the home. Again you can see Longs Peak from my bedroom. Quite incredible since it was approximately 30 miles away. Just goes to show a person how big nature is. This sketch was done in March 2017
Happy sketching,
L
Happy sketching,
L
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Urban sketching...
I noticed that I have not shared my earlier sketches from this year when I was in Nederland and a little after I returned home.
this is the view of my living room from the upstairs landing of the place I rented in Ned. It was a beautiful home. I have a sketch of the home too.
I love this lamp. It's from the 1960"s and my mum let me borrow it while I temporarily lived in Ned. It came in very handy. I had messed up a previous sketch and decided to use the rest of the paper to sketch the lamp. I am happy with the drawing.
this is Milo the cat in one of her favorite sleeping spots. This is #2 graphite pencil. This chair is a comfy suede chair and sat in the landing outside my room. My room was on the second story and I climbed a fabulously beautifully handmade floating staircase to my room. I felt like a princess ascending to her chamber each time I went to bed. It really is the little things. And living in a beautiful uncluttered space was a meaningful gift each day.
Happy sketching.
L
this is the view of my living room from the upstairs landing of the place I rented in Ned. It was a beautiful home. I have a sketch of the home too.
Happy sketching.
L
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Urban sketching...
Hello, here are two sketches that I've done this month. It's not much.
The first is Patrols 24 and 25 where I work. The sheds don't have too much character. I was actually trying to capture the cloud shapes above them. Not certain I did. This was done during a lunch break.
This old deep dark red barn is one that I see when I take Hwy 105 home from work. I love this barn. It's so artistically made and it's really, really big. It will be a shame when it is torn down, which won't be for awhile. Someday though. sigh.
I recently noticed that at times there is an old Palomino horse in this pasture with the barn. As I was drawing the horse was no where to be seen. She blends in well with the now browns of fall. As I was finishing up I noticed she snuck out from the back to take a peek at me and I quickly placed her in the drawing. She watched me intently, most likely hoping for a carrot. I love this barn and the hillsides behind it have lots of dimension and character to draw as well.
Happy sketching!
L
The first is Patrols 24 and 25 where I work. The sheds don't have too much character. I was actually trying to capture the cloud shapes above them. Not certain I did. This was done during a lunch break.
This old deep dark red barn is one that I see when I take Hwy 105 home from work. I love this barn. It's so artistically made and it's really, really big. It will be a shame when it is torn down, which won't be for awhile. Someday though. sigh.
I recently noticed that at times there is an old Palomino horse in this pasture with the barn. As I was drawing the horse was no where to be seen. She blends in well with the now browns of fall. As I was finishing up I noticed she snuck out from the back to take a peek at me and I quickly placed her in the drawing. She watched me intently, most likely hoping for a carrot. I love this barn and the hillsides behind it have lots of dimension and character to draw as well.
Happy sketching!
L
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Dear Friend...
Last week M1 came to my patrol asking for volunteers to work Sunday and Monday night, 10 hour days, and then you could either take personal time of 4 hours or come in and work 4 hours and be off the rest of the week. Say what??? I slowly did the math in my head. Meanwhile, C2 volunteers. I did too. I could hear C2 said a cuss-word in his head because now he gets to work with me, he didn't look too happy but it was too late for him to back out (smiles). I get to work two days and have the rest off unless snowshift is called. Yeah me. totally worth it.
Sunday night was interesting and not too cold. I did wear long-johns and wool socks and layered 3 shirts and a coat. I was very confused by the traffic control being set up and kept saying "what is going on? I'm confused." C2 and I sat in the attenuator giving coverage to the Patrol setting up traffic control. C2 finally called M1 to let him know that something needed to be done. Whew, thank goodness.
We were helping with a gore-point guardrail replacement. These things are really cool and totally show how engineering and science help save lives. The gore-point guardrail collapses in when a vehicle hits it at a high speed and instead of being something solid to stop the vehicle immediately it slides in on itself slowly (it's really heavy). Slowing the vehicle. This design saves many lives to those who are "distracted" driving by either electronics, drugs, drunk or racing. I was surprised by the racing. It goes on a lot in the early morning hours in this area. In fact we got to see about 20 cars racing this night.
The replacement went well. I helped where I could and learned how this type of gore-point works.
I think C2 got tired of me because the next night I drove the attenuator alone. He seemed to regret speaking with me so much the night before. oh well. Monday night was potholing. It's so much safer doing this in the early morning in this area. The night work with all the lights blinking is a bit difficult. This night went well too.
I learned some new lingo from C2 on the first night. A D1-Dozer is man-code for a shovel. I found it to be amusing. In fact, C2 told me lots of times the guys tease the FNG by asking them if they want to learn how to operate a D1-Dozer and really build it up and then in the end hand the person a shovel and tell them to get to it. I found that to be pretty funny. Or another comment can be about a co-worker is that they don't operate a D1-Dozer, which is man-code that they are not very good at helping out.
Anyway send me all the news.
Love, L
Sunday night was interesting and not too cold. I did wear long-johns and wool socks and layered 3 shirts and a coat. I was very confused by the traffic control being set up and kept saying "what is going on? I'm confused." C2 and I sat in the attenuator giving coverage to the Patrol setting up traffic control. C2 finally called M1 to let him know that something needed to be done. Whew, thank goodness.
We were helping with a gore-point guardrail replacement. These things are really cool and totally show how engineering and science help save lives. The gore-point guardrail collapses in when a vehicle hits it at a high speed and instead of being something solid to stop the vehicle immediately it slides in on itself slowly (it's really heavy). Slowing the vehicle. This design saves many lives to those who are "distracted" driving by either electronics, drugs, drunk or racing. I was surprised by the racing. It goes on a lot in the early morning hours in this area. In fact we got to see about 20 cars racing this night.
The replacement went well. I helped where I could and learned how this type of gore-point works.
I think C2 got tired of me because the next night I drove the attenuator alone. He seemed to regret speaking with me so much the night before. oh well. Monday night was potholing. It's so much safer doing this in the early morning in this area. The night work with all the lights blinking is a bit difficult. This night went well too.
I learned some new lingo from C2 on the first night. A D1-Dozer is man-code for a shovel. I found it to be amusing. In fact, C2 told me lots of times the guys tease the FNG by asking them if they want to learn how to operate a D1-Dozer and really build it up and then in the end hand the person a shovel and tell them to get to it. I found that to be pretty funny. Or another comment can be about a co-worker is that they don't operate a D1-Dozer, which is man-code that they are not very good at helping out.
Anyway send me all the news.
Love, L
'tangle - Tri-Rose
I took a zentangle class back in July and have been hooked ever since.
The Tri-Rose was one of those patterns that I just could not wrap my head around to draw. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. I had to draw it about 20 times before I ever got it right. It's such a beautiful pattern and I was determined to get it. It's one of my fav's. Alena Light is the originator and she has lot's of cool patterns.
I made this out of a magnet that I got on the front of my yellow-pages book and I glued black paper on it and drew this. I also sprayed it with a clear acrylic spray to make the drawing last a little longer. Gotta be careful to not spray too much or it will ruin it (ask me how I know).
I'm happy with it and it's now on my refrigerator.
Happy Zentangling.
The Tri-Rose was one of those patterns that I just could not wrap my head around to draw. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. I had to draw it about 20 times before I ever got it right. It's such a beautiful pattern and I was determined to get it. It's one of my fav's. Alena Light is the originator and she has lot's of cool patterns.
I made this out of a magnet that I got on the front of my yellow-pages book and I glued black paper on it and drew this. I also sprayed it with a clear acrylic spray to make the drawing last a little longer. Gotta be careful to not spray too much or it will ruin it (ask me how I know).
I'm happy with it and it's now on my refrigerator.
Happy Zentangling.
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Dear Friend...
Answer to the terror:
Keep making each moment, each day, each year your own kind of blessing. Stay determined and never give up, never give in.
Live by being proud of each decision made and each moment lived. If you feel uneasy or made the wrong decision, make it right.
Love, L
Keep making each moment, each day, each year your own kind of blessing. Stay determined and never give up, never give in.
Live by being proud of each decision made and each moment lived. If you feel uneasy or made the wrong decision, make it right.
Love, L
Friday, November 17, 2017
Dear Friend...
Does the terror of each day ever go away???
I went through a time period as an adult years ago not being able to sleep for fear I would never wake up, and when I did sleep I would wake up in a cold sweat with a scream at the edge of my throat about to erupt.
I eventually worked through those nights and learned to let my fear go. I don't really recall what got me through this time. I do recall hearing or reading that no matter what I do or feel, it wasn't going to change that I was still alive, still going to go to sleep, still going to most likely wake up (law of averages), and that I should enjoy life, not fear it.
These days I'm just terrified most of the time. Putting one foot in front of the other can be one of the most difficult things I do. Having a job that is mostly male-orientated doesn't help either. My terror doesn't come out of the fact that I'll never wake up anymore, it's that I'm not doing enough.
What is enough?
I try to look at each day as an adventure. Some days this works and some days it doesn't.
I wish I had something more profound. I don't.
Send me all the news.
Love, L
I went through a time period as an adult years ago not being able to sleep for fear I would never wake up, and when I did sleep I would wake up in a cold sweat with a scream at the edge of my throat about to erupt.
I eventually worked through those nights and learned to let my fear go. I don't really recall what got me through this time. I do recall hearing or reading that no matter what I do or feel, it wasn't going to change that I was still alive, still going to go to sleep, still going to most likely wake up (law of averages), and that I should enjoy life, not fear it.
These days I'm just terrified most of the time. Putting one foot in front of the other can be one of the most difficult things I do. Having a job that is mostly male-orientated doesn't help either. My terror doesn't come out of the fact that I'll never wake up anymore, it's that I'm not doing enough.
What is enough?
I try to look at each day as an adventure. Some days this works and some days it doesn't.
I wish I had something more profound. I don't.
Send me all the news.
Love, L
Friday, November 10, 2017
spinning...
spinning:
Dragon Faery Dyeworks, LLC - colourway: orchid ombre style - a merino bamboo mix (60/40)
spindle is a lovely Jenkins Finch.
happy spinning!
Dragon Faery Dyeworks, LLC - colourway: orchid ombre style - a merino bamboo mix (60/40)
spindle is a lovely Jenkins Finch.
happy spinning!
Thursday, November 9, 2017
kniting...
Let's see something pretty:
This pattern is called Summer Solstice by MeshaMarie. A lovely design. I enjoyed knitting it.
Happy knitting,
L
This pattern is called Summer Solstice by MeshaMarie. A lovely design. I enjoyed knitting it.
Happy knitting,
L
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Dear Friend...part 2
Second night of snow shift started out well, or well enough.
This night the atmosphere is more tense because we may see some "action" (snow). This is what we train all year long for, to coin a phrase I heard somewhere. I find out later their mostly upset about other things.
Anyway the guys (C1, C2, K) are more tense than last night and seem cranky. Our lead has been verbally reprimanded about his personal life by our boss. This seems strange and inappropriate for the boss to be doing. But whatev, you can't change stupid, as the guys would say. Me, I look at it as a bad decision. So, the guys are uptight about this inappropriate decision. I am later informed that this all came about by social media, which is how the guys keep up with each other. Whatever happened to speaking directly to each other? sigh Anyhow, I say "oh, well then you asked for it. When you let people in your business like that you never know what repercussion you'll get." The guys asked what social media I use and I said none other than a knitting site because it brings nothing but trouble and the first thing everyone in this room needs to do is delete your account to all social media. Same goes for this blog (irony it's a bitch).
Anyway, I finally get training on my liquid truck. C1 and C2 instruct me on it. C2 takes over the training and does a good job with it. He's really good at training and even if he thinks I'm an idiot he's better about his tone and takes me through the steps. He doesn't just show me he actually let's me do all the steps myself. Most people get inpatient and have to finish the step themselves. C2 realizes he should let the person do it and interrupts for guidance only. Lucky for me that he did so well, as later C1 and I get mad at each other and I am damned if I'm going to ask any ONE of them for help even if I need it.
The liquid truck is a bear. The hose to hook up the APEX weighs a ton and then it's partially filled with unused liquid from the last fill it weighs even more. It's like a big reinforced firehose. Reinforced because the APEX liquid is dangerous to handle. All the valves and valve covers are huge and thick and heavy too. I struggle each time to hook up this hose. It's like struggling with a big anaconda snake. I hate it and it's even worse when it's cold. There are a half dozen valves to remember to open and close and if you get it wrong...well let's just say, get it right every time because there are no second chances if you get it wrong. This is a bit of an exaggeration but not by much.
Anyway, hook up everything and latch it all down; open up all half-dozen or so valves and press the start button on the pump. Fill the tank up to 925 gallons. It's pretty quick. stop the pump. There is no walking away from it to do other stuff. You must stay outside and observe to make certain that nothing happens like a hose collapse or a valve breaking. I get guidance from C2 twice and by the third time I'm so irritated with C1 and the rest of the guys (by association with C1) I hope that I get all the steps right because I'll die before I ask for help from any ONE of them. Luckily I get it right all 5 times I have to fill my tank.
On the fourth fill, C2 tries to help me out and I inform him succinctly, no thanks. He informs me "I was just trying to help" and I inform him "no thanks." He know's I'm irritated with him and is now trying to be nice. Really??? He's seen me struggle so many times before with other things and not offer help. What is the difference now? Besides in my mind, at this point it's not really good because he's not always going to be there to help me.
Anyway, the guys are brats (in my mind) this night. They are a close-knit team. They leave me behind and expect me to run red lights, which I am NOT going to do, to catch up with them. It's not their license. sigh. As we drive in the half-V formation, I am in the #3 lane (I am later switched to the #4 lane) and I can't see anything because they are dumping material so fast my windshield becomes so thick with sludge from the slicer that I can't see to drive. My finger is on my windshield wiper cleaner the whole time I'm driving. I feel like I'm on another planet. Driving like this is crazy!!! and unsafe. I later find out this is how they are all driving and that they fill up with washer fluid everytime they load their trucks with slicer. This would have been nice to know and OMG that's about 20 gallons of washer fluid for each truck each night. No joke!!! The washer fluid reservoirs on these trucks are from 3-5 gallons.
Anyway, I am now finally understanding why all these trucks have problems with the wipers so much.
I get a reprieve and get sent to another patrol to put liquid on their roads. So much for MB adamantly informing that they would NEVER send a newbie to another patrol to run their roads. This was said in my training with him when I asked him to show me this other patrols roads that we work with a lot just in case.
I am informed by C1 that I will be with this other patrol for the rest of the night. Say what??? I later find out from our boss, M1 that what M! informed C1 to send one of the other guys up to help this patrol. C1 just wanted to get rid of me this night. OMG, I am totally frustrated, confused and lost---literally on the road. I inform C1 that I will need someone to show me the road since I was informed that this would never happen and I am not familiar with the roads. C1 calls M1 and informs him that I need an escort. I find that M1 is my escort. Later by the guys' body language, the boss M1 is not happy this night. He seemed fine to me. M1 was just mad at the guys. M1 escorts me on the roads he wants liquid applied. Keep in mind this is my first time running the liquid in this truck and I am confused and dazed and trying to keep the thing on the road. At one point, M1 has me pull over so he can show me an adjustment because he wants 80% application of liquid being put on the road and I can't figure out how to change the application rate from 50% to 80. My patrol guys think I am in trouble over this and ask me about it later, which is when I find out how bratty they are this night for not telling me they made M1 mad. It's all a cluster and if this all sounds confusing you shoulda' been there. Ha.
After running the other patrols road where M1 wanted, M1 sends me back to my patrol. I say ok which exit do I take and he says just go back and I say yeah but which exit. He informs me that I am already headed south. Yikes. I am so turned around up here I'm lost even with following the boss. Good thing I requested help or I would have been lost all night.
Running the other patrols road was the only pleasant part of my night.
The rest of the night was spent trying to keep up with the guys, and being left behind all night long. At one point, my windshield is so dirty and I have no more wiper fluid they totally leave me all alone and I have to limp into the shop to get fluid going 25 miles per hour. What bothers me so much is that earlier in the evening C1 had informed me that we were not to split up. Yeah right.
I had brought my dinner this night and the guys had not. C1 asks me what I want to do, which was dumb because this is the point where I say what is happening. He informs me that we all have to go to the fast food and they buy it and sit on the side of the road to eat in their trucks because M1 doesn't like us to be out of our trucks. Oh boy, I inform him why did he ask me what I want to do when I don't have a choice? (creep) I think he heard that last word too. I could eat at the shop while they get their dinners and then let me know when they are ready to roll. nope. I got to sit in my truck all cramped up. ugh.
As the evening progresses, C1 tells me where to drive and who to follow too late for me to even follow the person. He does this with each of us only he lets the others know before it's too late. The only thing that saves me is that I can read his mind this night and I follow the person he tells me to before he tells me on the radio (such a brat).
During the night we all pull over at the Lincoln exit for a short break. This is where the guys get out of their trucks, have a smoke break and chit-chat. Plus we need a break from all our lights blinking the blue and ambers can get to be a bit much. I don't get out. I put my head down and close my eyes because I need a break from the lights and the guys. They leave without me (meanies). I notice they have left and I hope that I am caught at a red light. I'm tired of their chit-chat on the radio and the chit-chat at the short breaks is irritating because it is "much ado about nothing." In fact, the chit-chat is so inconsequential it's irritating.
On our last break, I finally get out of the truck because the short breaks help with keeping your limbs from atrophying, which is smart. I get out and do not go into the convenient store we are at. I look at the moon and the trees and stretch a bit. I finally decide it's a good opportunity to look at the truck windshields to see if my suspicion is correct. The guys finally come out and they actually come over to speak with me. Usually, they stay away from me. In fact, I've learned that a good way to clear a room out is to enter it. Or if they are outside and I go outside they go inside. Yep, so true and yes I do feel like I'm in junior high.
At this time, snow shift is winding down. We speak about the windshield issue, which would have been nice to know. And they all admit that they are all pressing that button like it's their next fix and that they fill up that reservoir each time they fill up with slicer. Who knew? I need fuel and I need to clean my truck. I'm pretty useless at this point and it's decided that I should go and fuel up and use the wash bay to clean my truck. What a relief.
Truck washed and time to go home. The guys all stay to speak with MB (our foreman) about me. I bet he got an earful. No matter. I'm tired and I hope they say horrible things about me. I go home and have a long drive through dense fog.
There are other little tidbits but that's enough for now.
Send me all the news.
Love, L
This night the atmosphere is more tense because we may see some "action" (snow). This is what we train all year long for, to coin a phrase I heard somewhere. I find out later their mostly upset about other things.
Anyway the guys (C1, C2, K) are more tense than last night and seem cranky. Our lead has been verbally reprimanded about his personal life by our boss. This seems strange and inappropriate for the boss to be doing. But whatev, you can't change stupid, as the guys would say. Me, I look at it as a bad decision. So, the guys are uptight about this inappropriate decision. I am later informed that this all came about by social media, which is how the guys keep up with each other. Whatever happened to speaking directly to each other? sigh Anyhow, I say "oh, well then you asked for it. When you let people in your business like that you never know what repercussion you'll get." The guys asked what social media I use and I said none other than a knitting site because it brings nothing but trouble and the first thing everyone in this room needs to do is delete your account to all social media. Same goes for this blog (irony it's a bitch).
Anyway, I finally get training on my liquid truck. C1 and C2 instruct me on it. C2 takes over the training and does a good job with it. He's really good at training and even if he thinks I'm an idiot he's better about his tone and takes me through the steps. He doesn't just show me he actually let's me do all the steps myself. Most people get inpatient and have to finish the step themselves. C2 realizes he should let the person do it and interrupts for guidance only. Lucky for me that he did so well, as later C1 and I get mad at each other and I am damned if I'm going to ask any ONE of them for help even if I need it.
The liquid truck is a bear. The hose to hook up the APEX weighs a ton and then it's partially filled with unused liquid from the last fill it weighs even more. It's like a big reinforced firehose. Reinforced because the APEX liquid is dangerous to handle. All the valves and valve covers are huge and thick and heavy too. I struggle each time to hook up this hose. It's like struggling with a big anaconda snake. I hate it and it's even worse when it's cold. There are a half dozen valves to remember to open and close and if you get it wrong...well let's just say, get it right every time because there are no second chances if you get it wrong. This is a bit of an exaggeration but not by much.
Anyway, hook up everything and latch it all down; open up all half-dozen or so valves and press the start button on the pump. Fill the tank up to 925 gallons. It's pretty quick. stop the pump. There is no walking away from it to do other stuff. You must stay outside and observe to make certain that nothing happens like a hose collapse or a valve breaking. I get guidance from C2 twice and by the third time I'm so irritated with C1 and the rest of the guys (by association with C1) I hope that I get all the steps right because I'll die before I ask for help from any ONE of them. Luckily I get it right all 5 times I have to fill my tank.
On the fourth fill, C2 tries to help me out and I inform him succinctly, no thanks. He informs me "I was just trying to help" and I inform him "no thanks." He know's I'm irritated with him and is now trying to be nice. Really??? He's seen me struggle so many times before with other things and not offer help. What is the difference now? Besides in my mind, at this point it's not really good because he's not always going to be there to help me.
Anyway, the guys are brats (in my mind) this night. They are a close-knit team. They leave me behind and expect me to run red lights, which I am NOT going to do, to catch up with them. It's not their license. sigh. As we drive in the half-V formation, I am in the #3 lane (I am later switched to the #4 lane) and I can't see anything because they are dumping material so fast my windshield becomes so thick with sludge from the slicer that I can't see to drive. My finger is on my windshield wiper cleaner the whole time I'm driving. I feel like I'm on another planet. Driving like this is crazy!!! and unsafe. I later find out this is how they are all driving and that they fill up with washer fluid everytime they load their trucks with slicer. This would have been nice to know and OMG that's about 20 gallons of washer fluid for each truck each night. No joke!!! The washer fluid reservoirs on these trucks are from 3-5 gallons.
Anyway, I am now finally understanding why all these trucks have problems with the wipers so much.
I get a reprieve and get sent to another patrol to put liquid on their roads. So much for MB adamantly informing that they would NEVER send a newbie to another patrol to run their roads. This was said in my training with him when I asked him to show me this other patrols roads that we work with a lot just in case.
I am informed by C1 that I will be with this other patrol for the rest of the night. Say what??? I later find out from our boss, M1 that what M! informed C1 to send one of the other guys up to help this patrol. C1 just wanted to get rid of me this night. OMG, I am totally frustrated, confused and lost---literally on the road. I inform C1 that I will need someone to show me the road since I was informed that this would never happen and I am not familiar with the roads. C1 calls M1 and informs him that I need an escort. I find that M1 is my escort. Later by the guys' body language, the boss M1 is not happy this night. He seemed fine to me. M1 was just mad at the guys. M1 escorts me on the roads he wants liquid applied. Keep in mind this is my first time running the liquid in this truck and I am confused and dazed and trying to keep the thing on the road. At one point, M1 has me pull over so he can show me an adjustment because he wants 80% application of liquid being put on the road and I can't figure out how to change the application rate from 50% to 80. My patrol guys think I am in trouble over this and ask me about it later, which is when I find out how bratty they are this night for not telling me they made M1 mad. It's all a cluster and if this all sounds confusing you shoulda' been there. Ha.
After running the other patrols road where M1 wanted, M1 sends me back to my patrol. I say ok which exit do I take and he says just go back and I say yeah but which exit. He informs me that I am already headed south. Yikes. I am so turned around up here I'm lost even with following the boss. Good thing I requested help or I would have been lost all night.
Running the other patrols road was the only pleasant part of my night.
The rest of the night was spent trying to keep up with the guys, and being left behind all night long. At one point, my windshield is so dirty and I have no more wiper fluid they totally leave me all alone and I have to limp into the shop to get fluid going 25 miles per hour. What bothers me so much is that earlier in the evening C1 had informed me that we were not to split up. Yeah right.
I had brought my dinner this night and the guys had not. C1 asks me what I want to do, which was dumb because this is the point where I say what is happening. He informs me that we all have to go to the fast food and they buy it and sit on the side of the road to eat in their trucks because M1 doesn't like us to be out of our trucks. Oh boy, I inform him why did he ask me what I want to do when I don't have a choice? (creep) I think he heard that last word too. I could eat at the shop while they get their dinners and then let me know when they are ready to roll. nope. I got to sit in my truck all cramped up. ugh.
As the evening progresses, C1 tells me where to drive and who to follow too late for me to even follow the person. He does this with each of us only he lets the others know before it's too late. The only thing that saves me is that I can read his mind this night and I follow the person he tells me to before he tells me on the radio (such a brat).
During the night we all pull over at the Lincoln exit for a short break. This is where the guys get out of their trucks, have a smoke break and chit-chat. Plus we need a break from all our lights blinking the blue and ambers can get to be a bit much. I don't get out. I put my head down and close my eyes because I need a break from the lights and the guys. They leave without me (meanies). I notice they have left and I hope that I am caught at a red light. I'm tired of their chit-chat on the radio and the chit-chat at the short breaks is irritating because it is "much ado about nothing." In fact, the chit-chat is so inconsequential it's irritating.
On our last break, I finally get out of the truck because the short breaks help with keeping your limbs from atrophying, which is smart. I get out and do not go into the convenient store we are at. I look at the moon and the trees and stretch a bit. I finally decide it's a good opportunity to look at the truck windshields to see if my suspicion is correct. The guys finally come out and they actually come over to speak with me. Usually, they stay away from me. In fact, I've learned that a good way to clear a room out is to enter it. Or if they are outside and I go outside they go inside. Yep, so true and yes I do feel like I'm in junior high.
At this time, snow shift is winding down. We speak about the windshield issue, which would have been nice to know. And they all admit that they are all pressing that button like it's their next fix and that they fill up that reservoir each time they fill up with slicer. Who knew? I need fuel and I need to clean my truck. I'm pretty useless at this point and it's decided that I should go and fuel up and use the wash bay to clean my truck. What a relief.
Truck washed and time to go home. The guys all stay to speak with MB (our foreman) about me. I bet he got an earful. No matter. I'm tired and I hope they say horrible things about me. I go home and have a long drive through dense fog.
There are other little tidbits but that's enough for now.
Send me all the news.
Love, L
Dear Friend...part 1
I've been on snow shift for two nights now. I don't count the first one as I was by myself, which was more pleasant than I knew. Due to the following:
Snow shift on the really busy Interstate is so much more different than in the high Rocky Mountains it's almost like being on another planet.
The first night we (four of us) worked on debris pickup and delineation and then drove the plows around to show a presence. GRRR, the "higher ups" dictate that we do the plow driving when we shouldn't. I see it as wasting my taxpayer dollars and just want to strangle the "powers that be." I am certain it's a silly man (smiles). As I was writing, the night went far better than what was to come the next day. This first night was interesting as I, the New FNG, did see how the night-shift works. They work well together and are quite a team. I like to see this as that means there is not a lot of wasted time (crosses fingers in hopes that this is true). The first night was just cloudy and not a whole lot to do. The guys did put down some slicer (sand, salt and chemical) around midnight as the roads were a little wet and our lead had the presence of mind to see that it would keep the road from freezing. Our Foreman the next day even mentioned that this helped them immensely. We drove in a half V formation with the trucks and each truck close enough to the other truck to keep cars from passing because it's dangerous for us and them if they do. Plus it's against the law to pass a snow truck formation like this.
The first night was busy and went fast since two of us picked up debris and the other two did delineation and then we got in the plows at midnight and drove around. I was one of the two fixing delineation.
Side note: our roads are all cement. Cement freezes quickly and does not warm up as quickly as asphalt. In my opine, we should make roads asphalt not cement. Cement is a safety hazard. From what I have witnessed with the decision making process around here from the "higher ups," the "higher ups" always want the brand new fresh shiny toy that some salesman (engineer) has convinced them is "better" instead of going with what really works. Ah well, your tax dollars at work no surprise here.
My next night was very trying on my nerves. The guys were all uptight and cranky (their menses had synced and it was recently a full moon). I drive a liquid plow truck, which I'm not happy about and here's the contradiction, I am happy to learn. I knew from farming that liquid is a whole different animal to be driving around than slicer. It's more difficult; as it moves, slicer is stationary. When you have a whole lot of moving going on with the liquid that does something to your driving and compensating for this movement can be very tricky at times. Because it's easy to over compensate even in a normal vehicle let alone a big truck with liquid, and if you do, you are SOL.
So here I am FNG to the area and new to liquid too. I'm not certain any of my bosses have really thought this out very well. They've known that I'll be driving a liquid truck for over a month now and have they bothered to train me on filling, emptying or given me any safety equipment-insulated rubber gloves, and booties to cover my shoes? Answer: NO.
oops, I have taken an online course, which is how I know I don't have the right safety equipment as this liquid is very dangerous stuff. Hands-on training is so much better. But like a guy, let's not bother with it until we have to mentality is prevalent. sigh. I call these types of people "Ostrich Heads." Explanation: an ostrich will bury it's head in the sand until whatever upsets it passes.
Ok I gotta stop now as my blood pressure is up and silliness like the above frustrates me plus I've been at work 10 days straight now and perhaps that is where my frustration is really anchored and I certainly want to present a fairer perspective no matter how silly anything is in my opinion plus I may not be making a whole lot of sense since I'm so tired.
Send me all the news.
Love, L
Snow shift on the really busy Interstate is so much more different than in the high Rocky Mountains it's almost like being on another planet.
The first night we (four of us) worked on debris pickup and delineation and then drove the plows around to show a presence. GRRR, the "higher ups" dictate that we do the plow driving when we shouldn't. I see it as wasting my taxpayer dollars and just want to strangle the "powers that be." I am certain it's a silly man (smiles). As I was writing, the night went far better than what was to come the next day. This first night was interesting as I, the New FNG, did see how the night-shift works. They work well together and are quite a team. I like to see this as that means there is not a lot of wasted time (crosses fingers in hopes that this is true). The first night was just cloudy and not a whole lot to do. The guys did put down some slicer (sand, salt and chemical) around midnight as the roads were a little wet and our lead had the presence of mind to see that it would keep the road from freezing. Our Foreman the next day even mentioned that this helped them immensely. We drove in a half V formation with the trucks and each truck close enough to the other truck to keep cars from passing because it's dangerous for us and them if they do. Plus it's against the law to pass a snow truck formation like this.
The first night was busy and went fast since two of us picked up debris and the other two did delineation and then we got in the plows at midnight and drove around. I was one of the two fixing delineation.
Side note: our roads are all cement. Cement freezes quickly and does not warm up as quickly as asphalt. In my opine, we should make roads asphalt not cement. Cement is a safety hazard. From what I have witnessed with the decision making process around here from the "higher ups," the "higher ups" always want the brand new fresh shiny toy that some salesman (engineer) has convinced them is "better" instead of going with what really works. Ah well, your tax dollars at work no surprise here.
My next night was very trying on my nerves. The guys were all uptight and cranky (their menses had synced and it was recently a full moon). I drive a liquid plow truck, which I'm not happy about and here's the contradiction, I am happy to learn. I knew from farming that liquid is a whole different animal to be driving around than slicer. It's more difficult; as it moves, slicer is stationary. When you have a whole lot of moving going on with the liquid that does something to your driving and compensating for this movement can be very tricky at times. Because it's easy to over compensate even in a normal vehicle let alone a big truck with liquid, and if you do, you are SOL.
So here I am FNG to the area and new to liquid too. I'm not certain any of my bosses have really thought this out very well. They've known that I'll be driving a liquid truck for over a month now and have they bothered to train me on filling, emptying or given me any safety equipment-insulated rubber gloves, and booties to cover my shoes? Answer: NO.
oops, I have taken an online course, which is how I know I don't have the right safety equipment as this liquid is very dangerous stuff. Hands-on training is so much better. But like a guy, let's not bother with it until we have to mentality is prevalent. sigh. I call these types of people "Ostrich Heads." Explanation: an ostrich will bury it's head in the sand until whatever upsets it passes.
Ok I gotta stop now as my blood pressure is up and silliness like the above frustrates me plus I've been at work 10 days straight now and perhaps that is where my frustration is really anchored and I certainly want to present a fairer perspective no matter how silly anything is in my opinion plus I may not be making a whole lot of sense since I'm so tired.
Send me all the news.
Love, L
Monday, November 6, 2017
Dear Friend...
Sunday was just as busy as Saturday. There was a ladder in the road that caused an accident. No injuries and no damage to cars. One car went down the slope and through a fence. J2 and myself got to fix the fence asap as there were cows in this area. It was interesting and took a couple hours. Picked up a sign and a dead doe (be at peace). I also got called back in for and evening debris pick up by the TMIII on duty. I said ok, I'll be there in half-an hour or so. She (yep she---very unusual to have a she in this position. She is one of two), didn't get that I would be awhile. I called J2 to let him know I was on my way and that I would be awhile. He was already at the shop. He spoke to the TMIII about how long I would be and she said she didn't realize this and that they would take care of things. She texted me to stand down. I felt bad that J2 had to be out late and I got to go home. Perhaps I will be able to help out at another time.
The guys keep asking me what I'm thinking when they ride with me. It's really irritating. I'm at peace with my own quiet self and I don't believe they understand it. I just want to reply, "I'm thinking how stupid you are." Which is not true I don't think that (anymore anyway-smiles). Or what I really think is that they should be asking their wives or girlfriends this question not me. Instead I make something up, usually about the Theory of Relativity, String Theory or anti-photons, ect, ect. You get the picture. They get real quiet and don't ask me that question anymore. I just laugh inside. Because you have to keep studying that stuff to really know what is going on with it.
Anyway it's still funny to see the look on their faces. On one occasion I did speak about another co-worker who was mean to me and said that next time I was going to catch everyone's attention with my reply. He laughed and said yep, that would catch everyone's attention and I hope you get a chance to do it.
Send me all the news,
Love, L
The guys keep asking me what I'm thinking when they ride with me. It's really irritating. I'm at peace with my own quiet self and I don't believe they understand it. I just want to reply, "I'm thinking how stupid you are." Which is not true I don't think that (anymore anyway-smiles). Or what I really think is that they should be asking their wives or girlfriends this question not me. Instead I make something up, usually about the Theory of Relativity, String Theory or anti-photons, ect, ect. You get the picture. They get real quiet and don't ask me that question anymore. I just laugh inside. Because you have to keep studying that stuff to really know what is going on with it.
Anyway it's still funny to see the look on their faces. On one occasion I did speak about another co-worker who was mean to me and said that next time I was going to catch everyone's attention with my reply. He laughed and said yep, that would catch everyone's attention and I hope you get a chance to do it.
Send me all the news,
Love, L
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Dear Friend...
This past week went fairly well.
Monday was spent washing up the last of the trucks and sanders. Tuesday I got to drive the attenuator for the first time on my own. This was also the last day for The Sloth. Yeah me, I get to be with The Sloth for his last day. Makes me wonder what I'm being punished for and I know that all the guys are relieved that it gets to be me. Q even joked the next day that when Q even hear's The Sloth's voice all Q feels like doing is slitting his, Q's throat so he doesn't have to hear it anymore. I don't feel so bad calling The Sloth, The Sloth anymore as he kept touching my controls, which is really irritating and wouldn't get out to pick up debris like he was supposed to do. I had to tell him every time. He just wanted to sit and watch movies or take a nap. Grrr. Got back early from sweeping so I helped finish detailing a snowplow cab, S disappeared. The guys try to keep these cabs super duper clean as it's very helpful to do so there are other patrols not so conscientious. These guys are extraordinarily so. They do take immense pride in their work and working well.
Wednesday I got assigned the "shit" work (clean and straighten out the flag shed and flags) and since I am the FNG I get to do it. I was wondering the whole time why this type of work wasn't assigned to The Sloth. I mean S was here for 3 months and he didn't get this assigned to him??? whatev. I went through most of the flags and got things in order. The signs are big and cumbersome. The shed looks better than it did.
Thursday was more sweeping. The sweeper reminds me of Pig-Pen on Charlie Brown as there always seems to be a cloud of dust surrounding it. I hope to sketch it someday and I dream of catching that dust cloud perfectly. I made B mad at me this day. So much for keeping quiet and trying to be invisible around here, which is best. B leaves his coats and crap on the lunch table and it's questionable where these things have been, ugh or yuck. Even M1, our boss, dislikes it but sadly doesn't say anything, obviously he knows better than I do. I stupidly placed them on top of B's locker, which he hates. Wow, you should have seen him later. Yikes. Funny thing, earlier in the day BF called B a big baby, which is ironic that B has no clue why he hasn't been promoted. Geez, just ask me I could tell him, oh yeah, best plan here is to be invisible.
Friday, in the morning we had to pick up a boat load of trash that someone lost at the Lincoln exit. Good thing we got to it quickly as it was windy and that stuff was blowing everywhere. B found a dollar. I don't even know how he recognized it as money it was so faded. In the afternoon, more sweeping on Hwy 85. J2 and I had lunch at Patrol 26. Just before work ended B joked about his crap being on the lunch table again and me placing it on his locker. Because of note his crap was back on the lunch table yesterday. He made a big production about picking it up and finally putting it in his locker. Um, hey maybe this is one of many examples that um, explains the promotional issue (nobody wants to work with a big baby, ahem).
I have weekend duty this weekend so I will be working 10 days straight and then I have 4 days off if we are not on snowshift. Today is Saturday and J2 and myself were kept busy picking up large debris on several different areas, a big u-turn sign that was ridiculously heavy and a dead coyote and a dead deer, both were heavy. So far it's been interesting.
Anyway, send me all the news.
Love, L
Monday was spent washing up the last of the trucks and sanders. Tuesday I got to drive the attenuator for the first time on my own. This was also the last day for The Sloth. Yeah me, I get to be with The Sloth for his last day. Makes me wonder what I'm being punished for and I know that all the guys are relieved that it gets to be me. Q even joked the next day that when Q even hear's The Sloth's voice all Q feels like doing is slitting his, Q's throat so he doesn't have to hear it anymore. I don't feel so bad calling The Sloth, The Sloth anymore as he kept touching my controls, which is really irritating and wouldn't get out to pick up debris like he was supposed to do. I had to tell him every time. He just wanted to sit and watch movies or take a nap. Grrr. Got back early from sweeping so I helped finish detailing a snowplow cab, S disappeared. The guys try to keep these cabs super duper clean as it's very helpful to do so there are other patrols not so conscientious. These guys are extraordinarily so. They do take immense pride in their work and working well.
Wednesday I got assigned the "shit" work (clean and straighten out the flag shed and flags) and since I am the FNG I get to do it. I was wondering the whole time why this type of work wasn't assigned to The Sloth. I mean S was here for 3 months and he didn't get this assigned to him??? whatev. I went through most of the flags and got things in order. The signs are big and cumbersome. The shed looks better than it did.
Thursday was more sweeping. The sweeper reminds me of Pig-Pen on Charlie Brown as there always seems to be a cloud of dust surrounding it. I hope to sketch it someday and I dream of catching that dust cloud perfectly. I made B mad at me this day. So much for keeping quiet and trying to be invisible around here, which is best. B leaves his coats and crap on the lunch table and it's questionable where these things have been, ugh or yuck. Even M1, our boss, dislikes it but sadly doesn't say anything, obviously he knows better than I do. I stupidly placed them on top of B's locker, which he hates. Wow, you should have seen him later. Yikes. Funny thing, earlier in the day BF called B a big baby, which is ironic that B has no clue why he hasn't been promoted. Geez, just ask me I could tell him, oh yeah, best plan here is to be invisible.
Friday, in the morning we had to pick up a boat load of trash that someone lost at the Lincoln exit. Good thing we got to it quickly as it was windy and that stuff was blowing everywhere. B found a dollar. I don't even know how he recognized it as money it was so faded. In the afternoon, more sweeping on Hwy 85. J2 and I had lunch at Patrol 26. Just before work ended B joked about his crap being on the lunch table again and me placing it on his locker. Because of note his crap was back on the lunch table yesterday. He made a big production about picking it up and finally putting it in his locker. Um, hey maybe this is one of many examples that um, explains the promotional issue (nobody wants to work with a big baby, ahem).
I have weekend duty this weekend so I will be working 10 days straight and then I have 4 days off if we are not on snowshift. Today is Saturday and J2 and myself were kept busy picking up large debris on several different areas, a big u-turn sign that was ridiculously heavy and a dead coyote and a dead deer, both were heavy. So far it's been interesting.
Anyway, send me all the news.
Love, L
Friday, November 3, 2017
Urban Sketching...
More sweeping today. This is a quick 15 minute sketch. Not the best sketch but it's ok.
I coloured it later at home. Love my watercolour pencils and Pentel water brush pen.
Titan and Hwy 85, looking west.
Happy sketching,
L
I coloured it later at home. Love my watercolour pencils and Pentel water brush pen.
Titan and Hwy 85, looking west.
Happy sketching,
L
Urban Sketching...
I was in an attenuator giving safety coverage for the sweeper so I sketched this quickly and added the watercolour later at home.
This is looking north east on the off ramp, I-25 at exit 167.
side note: a core-drilling engineering group are taking core samples on this day in the same area so that I-25 can be widened to 3 lanes both ways, which is needed. The irony here will be that it will be a toll road. So the road will be built with Federal tax money (taxpayer money) and then the government will hand over a road contract to a contractor who will charge me and you, who subsidized it, for the use of it. And the biggest irony for it is that a contractor will run the toll road so they can make a profit with my subsidy of the road because the government cannot make a "profit." Capitalist welfare at it's best at work with taxpayer money. Another reason I never vote for a tax increase as I am tired of the "contractor welfare" provided with my money and yet my benefits are cut. grrr
Outsourcing is rarely a good idea, you actually get less for your money. I've witnessed it time and time again. shoddy work for "less." ooops sorry for the distraction.
Anyway, happy sketching.
L
This is looking north east on the off ramp, I-25 at exit 167.
side note: a core-drilling engineering group are taking core samples on this day in the same area so that I-25 can be widened to 3 lanes both ways, which is needed. The irony here will be that it will be a toll road. So the road will be built with Federal tax money (taxpayer money) and then the government will hand over a road contract to a contractor who will charge me and you, who subsidized it, for the use of it. And the biggest irony for it is that a contractor will run the toll road so they can make a profit with my subsidy of the road because the government cannot make a "profit." Capitalist welfare at it's best at work with taxpayer money. Another reason I never vote for a tax increase as I am tired of the "contractor welfare" provided with my money and yet my benefits are cut. grrr
Outsourcing is rarely a good idea, you actually get less for your money. I've witnessed it time and time again. shoddy work for "less." ooops sorry for the distraction.
Anyway, happy sketching.
L
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