Dear Friend...today was my last day

with the company.

Dec 20 was our Christmas party and I had the pleasure of providing a 3-week notice with only having to serve 8 days of it.  The new post company actually told me how to do this and have it actually work out. I spoke with 53-E this day and let him know I was leaving.  TMIII-CC had to call TT admin into his office to set my resignation in motion.  I figured she would tell everyone because she has previously violated my employment privacy, and if not her then DDBB because he really has a big mouth and neither one seem to know (care) about employee privacy.

I have been wondering if I should say anything to TwoNewbie but the way he has treated me he really didn't deserve or earn my respect.  He talks nonsense about everyone ALL the time and I did not want to be fodder although I suspected that he and L2 already knew.  They acted surprised - but not much.  I did get to quietly say goodbye to 37-1O, shake his hand and he said to call him on occasion.

L2 was funny about the whole thing when he saw that I was turning in my phone, keys and id to CC. and that it was my last day.  He said,"no, no. I wasn't that mean yesterday!!"  It was funny and we all laughed. L2 asked me where I was going and I said on a new and terrifying adventure.  I shook his hand and said goodbye.  He told me to keep in touch and I said ok.  I asked CC what coats he needed and he said none.

As I walked out of the office to throw things out of my locker away, 69-A came into the office wondering what all the sad looks were about.  I walked out and into my P58 bay where our lockers are.  I had previously and casually unlocked my lockers and placed the locks in my lunch bag.  TwoNewbie saw me do this so I figured he suspected but I did it so casually I don't think he realized.  I then walked to my locker and threw my hard hat out and my old boots I use for crack sealing out and my old gloves out.  I had asked CC in the office if he wanted my coats and such and he said no so I put those in my bag.  TwoNewbie said why are your throwing your hard-hat out? You're gonna need it. I said it's my last day today.  He said what you're kidding.

No. not kidding.  TwoNewbie then asked why and I informed him that I have been treated very badly here.  I shook his hand and said goodbye.

37-RL was standing by him and said what?  I said again that today was my last day. TwoNewbie did seem surprised. I then thanked RL for all the help he gave me when SA retired (who by the way passed on Christmas Day this year. Geez, two years retired and already gone seems such little time for him.). RL said no problem.  Yeah, don't be fooled by him either he's really mean too but he did help me a lot.  He sabatoged my truck and hid the keys to his one-ton so I couldn't use it when my one-ton was broke.

I walked out and left.  For the past four weeks I have had little thoughts of this is the last time I will do this action.   Like: I will never plow snow again, which makes me sad as I was really really good at it.  I was good as a tandem asphalt driver too.  Last time for a blade change, thank God!! as TwoNewbie and L2 go through the blades like water and they are heavy, awkward and dangerous to change.  And 5 each that's a lot!! 4 too many.

We were supposed to leave early today at 16:00 but the only one leaving was me at 16:15.  So long you meanies.  I made sure they could all hear my car leave.  It was fun.

Cheers and send me all the news,

L

Dear Friend...TwoNewbie Flash Froze my road...

....and is very proud of himself.

I have never been treated with such hate from the traveling public as I have these past 3 long, long long years that TwoNewbie is in charge.

I get flipped off and cussed out all the time.

This never happened before TwoNewbie.  He is so proud of flash freezing Hwy 115 on the last snow storm, Dec 9, 2024.  We had 9 crashes on our road because he shot it and shot it and shot it and kept scraping off my sand and flash froze it - 3 crashes maybe but not not 9.  He is so lousy at plowing snow it's laughable only I'm not laughing because it's actually a safety hazard.  It just makes me think, GRRRRR how I hate the cronyism that goes on here at the company and HR is part of allowing the cronyism.

4 of the wrecks was going northbound up Sullivan Hill.  I have NEVER seen crashes in that area before.  TwoNewbie did a great job!

TwoNewbie was so proud of himself and what HE did to our road.  Ugh, it makes me sick to my stomache to think about it.

The road was frozen clear to Penrose because the Penrose guys didn't do any better. They had a jackknifed semi-tractor trailer on their road. They sprayed a bunch of liquid too.

I will state, management has a lot to do with it and their encouragement to spray liquid when it shouldn't as a frozen road is all you are going to get.  I felt sorry for our night guy, but he surprisingly did a great job.  I put out 54 tons of sand and still couldn't stop the train wreck of TwoNewbie.

Our road is still condensating from all the liquid.  I came down 24 Ute Pass as they sprayed too much up there too. I almost slid off the road today up there because of it.

Dear Friend... dereliction of duty

The Company is so cruel and lazy that it can't even check on a coworker to make certain he is ok.  I said hey, before you write him up for Dereliction of Duty someone needs to go check on him and make certain he is ok.  Perhaps he is unable to contact us.  This is not right.  My suggestions fell on deaf ears.

Turns out...here's the rest of some of the story...

Said worker did not fail to come in he was prevented from coming in and is missing...

Leave it to the company to want to write someone up for crap because the company is too lazy to figure it out and send someone to his home to find out if he is ok and treat people decently.

Dear Friend...TwoNewbie strikes again!

 On Monday, Dec 23, 2024, I am told by TwoNewbie to go out and pothole in a live lane of traffic in the middle of the day without an attenuator truck (safety vehicle); with no lane shut down and no traffic plan, which is against EVERY rule of the company.  In fact, he told me to do it South Bound on Hwy 115 at Lake Bridge and North bound at the same bridge.  FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

WHAT THE FUCKKKKK!!!!

It is so disgusting that this guy is a TMII in charge of my patrol.  He's going to get me killed, on purpose.  I just feel it in my bones.  What a JERK!!

The ltc ops should be happy, I did as I was told.  I won't be doing it again, EVER!!!

and I will be complaining to my TMIII every day that I can.

FUCK!!!

Send me all the news,

L

Dear Friend...dream state.

I had a horrible dream last night. Not that anyone cares and if it's a TMI for you quit reading here.

My Dream:

I went to work in my pajama pants and shirt (thank God I was dressed!!) thinking that it was a Friday as a minimal amount of men are present (2) that day. Instead it turned out to be a Monday and everyone was there (30 at this shop). I nonchalantly turned in my paperwork and pretended that I meant to be there as I was , I think I pulled it off pretty well even if it was a dream.

Strangely there were potted planters full of wonderful flowers and vegetables growing and trees in each one. It was wondrous to behold! I was fascinated by each planter and there was one in front of each patrol. I was dazed by the beauty of it all.

Then a Newbie was speaking to me and told me to hold on as I was leaving and that C wanted to speak to me. C is my boss, although no one thinks so including him, but he is.

I waited for C and as he came walking up to me, I woke up.

Here's what I think and my explanation of my dream:

1. Lately I've been a little worried that I'll forget what day it is. Hence, me going to work on Monday thinking it was Friday.

2. the planters: I have no clue as the shop is NOT a wondrous place to behold. Nor does it daze anyone by its beauty and if these men had to take care of anything green I am certain it would be weeds.

3. C: I keep thinking (hoping) he's going to walk up to me and say, "I'm letting you go." I guess the alternative is number 4 below because he can't actually do that.

4. I am nervous about returning to work as the last time I returned it only took 3 days before I was called into the LTC OPS office (big Boss) to be given a talking to and less that 2 weeks before I was written up. It amazes me that even HR can't see that I'm being targeted. ugh. As any one of the situations would have been ignored if I was a man.

I have been wondering how long it would be before a similar situation happens when I return to work. In my head I've been thinking by lunch time of the same day I return, if history is anything to go by (sigh). I'll bet you a lunch its before the end of the week of my return (IF NOT DAY OF).

That's it in a nutshell.

Good day.

L

Dear Friend...Confessions and John Hughes

I recently had dinner with a best friend and that's the best part of this story.  This woman thought she was in a John Hughes movie were the ugliest of actions are forgiven and things suddenly work out. 

You know the movie, Sixteen Candles, where the cute girl ends up with the handsome boy.  Well, here's the real ending to that story... the handsome boy takes her virginity and dumps here the very next day and most likely gets here pregnant too.  Or how about "Some Kind of Wonderful?"  The real ending is the beautiful girl keeps the diamond earrings and walks away $7k richer. Screw you John Hughes, you have made a mockery of what really happens.

Although, I will admit to searching for those red leather fingerless gloves with fringe all my life.  Still looking.  I think I'm going to end up DIYing them.

So check this out, BFF (NOT - unknown to me) decides to confess that the only reason she was ever my bestie was because I had a good looking older brother with a bunch (and I mean a bunch) of good looking friends.  I just looked dumb-struck at her and went, "huh."  She then goes on to thoughtlessly to say,"and look how well that's turned out."  REALLY??  YOU ARE SUCH A CLUELESS BITCH!!!! I'm thinking this about both of us right now. Oh man, what a nightmare although it does explain a lot.  

Here's a list of what it explains:

1. for years and years, she would never share a locker with me back in the day until senior year in high school.  in reality she couldn't stand me. She made up lousy lame excuses and I fell for them all.  One of them was, "I got caught off guard and didn't know what to do!"  Really??? It was something we had talked about for months!!! What kind of loser am I for believing her??? UGH.  I had friends telling me that she was just using me I didn't believe them. Turns out they were right.  I did not understand because I thought my brother and his friends were ugly.  WTF - just goes to show you how clueless I really was.

2. she was back living in our home state and didn't contact me until she'd been back 2 years. 2 years!!!  Why even bother at this point.

3. after she had returned and let me know she was back, I would contact her and say "hey lets go out"  she would reply "I'm too depressed to go anywhere."   So clueless me, once again, would text her happy little thoughts for a FUCKING YEAR!  I bet she laughed hysterically at me over that one. Later when we were both out with several friends, she stated how much fun she had the past year at several functions that she neglected to invite me to.  WHAT A BITCH. and now she thinks I should still be friends with her.  What a laugh.  She is totally clueless to her meanness and thoughtlessness.  Talk about a mean girl, she takes the cake.

At least always, in the back of her mind the only reason any of the people that my brother knew that speak to her or even give her the time of day, is because of me.  And that will ALWAYS be there.  And these people will always be happier to speak with me.

Here's what I'd like to say to her and her self-centered thoughtlessness and the things she thinks are important:

I am no longer useful to you because...

1. I am no longer young and beautiful;

2. I have never been wealthy nor will be;

3. I do not know people of influence; AND MOST OF ALL

4. My brother is dead.  (mike drop)

Send me all the news,

L

Oh and fuck you too John Hughes.

Dear Friend...I'm not a man...

2023 update: my TMII retired Nov 2022 and I am the most logical replacement. At least I would be but I’m not a man. So instead its given to a man who is promoted as more knowledgeable than myself. This would be ok IF it were true. I am finding, after working with him, its not. And that gross unfair business practice is difficult to put up with. If you quit, they win. If you keep quiet, they win. 

I hate this next paragraph (because this is not me, its the person who has been continuously bullied for 5 years):

I hope someday these men have vicious prostrate cancer. That’s how unfair they are as I would not wish this type of illness on anyone. Geez, God were are YOU???? And the women here, they are just as mean and vicious and agree and promote the type of hateful behavior that has been the example here, deserve something similar.

end negative thoughts here. 

Be like water.

Send me all the news, L

Dear Friend...Abortion Supreme Court fallout...

 how ironic is it that the idiotic Health Care Center took this "right" to the US Supreme Court and lost? 

I thought to myself, something is awful, awful fishy here.

What's that you say?  Why, why would anyone challenge this with a Conservative Court in power? 

 Well...ironically the "health care" center arrogantly took this "right" to the Supreme Court, again, because they wanted to perform abortions after the allowed 15 weeks, and also after birth, which in my mind is no longer an abortion but murder.  But what do I know, eh?  FYI abortions are only allowed up to a certain week, which is 15, and then not after that.  This health care center wanted to perform abortions up to 22 weeks and also after birth.  There is one exception and that is the health of the mother.

Really?  You couldn't be happy with 15 weeks? What the hell?  and now look at the mess this healthcare center has placed everyone.  Why doesn't anyone mention that little tidbit?  

It's a crazy world out there.

Send me all the news,

L

Dear Friend... Pueblo HQ - the simplified rest of the story...

 Hello,  I was reading prior posts and felt that if it was me reading this blog I would want to know what happened next on the Pueblo HQ issue.

Well friend, it's not as good or as hopeful as it should have been.  In fact, things got worse.

first, yep, the investigation happened.  Unfortunately, HR was confused on the legalities of things, namely how to keep things confidential.  HR-SB informed our Ltc Ops, word for word what everyone said, which BTW is illegal (total breach of employee privacy laws) on her part.  Here's the hysterically laughable part, she got a promotion to a more sensitive job with the Dept of Labor and gets paid more money. OMG!!! is there a God out there? Sometimes I wonder.  And if there isn't a god, wouldn't her evil manifestation be rewarded with evil.  That's not what I see happening.

I was later pulled into my "real boss's" office for.... wait for it... cussing.  OMG, you would not believe the filthy filthy mouths around here and I said one "ass hole" and get pulled into the office for a write up.  I did ask my "real boss" I hope you're doing this with everyone.  He said yes they were. but NO THEY DIDN'T.  HR-KG was part of that set up.  I have since learned she has moved on herself.  

Anywhoooo, I digress.  The investigation happened, big whoop.  I totally get the phrase, "Much Ado About Nothing" because that happens around here ALL THE TIME. sad that, unless you have a target on your back like myself, which means I can NEVER let my guard down, NEVER, and my DD says I have PTSD from it.

Anyway, HR-SB, Ltc Ops, 69TMII, TMIII-2, Mean Admin and several others went to Castle Rock in Aug of 2019 and got smashing drunk (several complaints were made against them by others in the hotel) and this is where HR-SB made fun of all of us regarding the wasteful investigation that happened. Being that drunk and causing that much offense should be a fireable in itself. Which was recently for some city workers.  But isn't for these people because they are (insert your own words here).

Anyway, long story short, I've been in and out of the "office" for ridiculous reasons for the past 5 years, ie, they've been trying to fire me since I got down here.  Talk about harassment.  And now we have to deal with socialism of "equity" at work.  Keep in mind "equity" is someone else decides what's good for me.  Sorry, but that is TOTALLY OFFENSIVE to me.  I will decide not some hateful co-worker who abuses their power what is good for me.

Cheers and beware the "new socialism" that takes away ALL of your rights.

Send me all the news, L

PS - socialism throughout history has NEVER worked.

Dear Friend - best day ever

Hello, it's been awhile...

 I was recently reflecting on "the best day ever" in my life and then what would it be for others. 

What would it be for you? Would it be the day you got married? divorced? 

or the birth of a child? 

 the day you learned to play an instrument? 

 riding a horse?

 purchasing your first home? 

 starting a business? 

 starting a new job? dream job if you're lucky. 

 listening to music? 

creating music? 

 making cool stuff? whether it be artwork, metal work, glass work, textiles? 

 a concert? 

I went to Bruce Springstein's Born in the USA tour and attended the stop in Denver (1980's). My brother waited overnight in line to purchase tickets. It was realy cold and they took their sleeping bags, lawn chairs and alcohol and made a party of it. Is that even available anymore, waiting overnight in line for tickets (with alcohol?) now that everything is done online?

 I work with the homeless at times and I wonder what would their best day ever be like? a warm coffee? a safe place to sleep? 

 What would your best day ever be like? Is it epic or is it simple? 

 Cheers and speak soon, L

PS sadly I couldn't come up with a recent one for myself.

Dear Friend...

life is an adventure...

the pre-story...

...to the last post is me being forced to Pueblo HQ for a safety stand-down meeting. My Ltc Ops was hysterically wild with me this day. You could see the crazy in his eyes. Let it be known that the only thing he offered me was a hand picker before this unfortunate meeting. Yeah, a picker. It's distinctly laughable.

He yelled at me four (4) times "are you refusing to do your job?" Four times I replied, "NO, I'm requesting that I be able to do my job in a safe manner."

Tricky that, Management is taught to ask these questions in a tricky way because if you answer incorrectly then you are you, and you are screwed. It's a fireable offense if you get it wrong. Unfortunately for management I listen to questions and usually answer correctly and I've taught my Darling Daughter, same.

Side note: It's been interesting to me to find that most people do not realize how many times when asking a question that the way they phrase it will mean that they will receive a negative answer for the positive response that they desire. example: Do you mind if I sit here? Response: No

Anyway, the safety suit (although it's laughable), gloves, mask (which when wearing glasses causes depth perception issues) and that's dangerous in itself when walking among such incredible biohazard.

So back to the meeting, where instead of sticking to the safety agenda I was personally attacked for no reason. I sat there in disbelief wondering when the district superintendant would step in or the acting Superintendant would say something. It's a good ol'boys network for sure here. The safety issue wasn't even addressed until the Civil Rights (CR) person stepped in. Really??? OMG!!!

Although, at the end of the meeting the CR person stated to me, "You're going to want to speak to me after aren't you?" shaking her head yes as she repeated this 3 times, while I was like no-ooo, yee--ees??

The Ltc Ops accusations were that 'all the men refused to work with me' and that when my TMII was asked for a worker to not bother with sending me. Both of which are untrue. The last is untrue because from September 1, 2018 to Feburary 19, 2019, I'm all that he could send and everyone knew this. So why ask if I'm who you are going to get? The first isn't true because I've asked and if it were true I'm not the only 'guy" this pertains. There was one last accusation, in that one day I'm happy and one day I'm mad and 'the guys' don't know what they are gonna get and this makes it supposedly difficult to work with. Truth is all the guys are like this except C67 who is always angry or V69 who is always happy. So essentially that sentence describes everyone except those two.

After the safety meeting, there was an additional PDF which is a company write up for a wrongdoing. Guess what that's for? I'm snorting as I write this.

"Disrespectful Texts." OMG, yep. It is laughable. You'd think they would be for writing Mother F or A-hole. Nope. It's for being insistent that my TMIII not my TMII is my supervisor. Whereas, my TMIII insists that my TMII is. Yep this is not a joke. I almost laughed out loud when the Ltc Ops handed it to me. In fact, I couldn't read all the way through without laughing so I stopped while reading and refused to sign it, refusal to sign is allowed.

Anywhoo,

Unknown to myself when you speak to civil rights an investigation starts. WOW, WOW, Wow. I'm not even the one who wanted to meet. How ironic is that??? But when I did you can bet I had everything in order and used facts not fiction, unlike an Ltc Ops I know, and blasted away.

Currently the fall out is unknown, other than I am certain one Ltc Ops, and one TMII who set this all up have a lot of resentment towards me. Which I find ironic as the Ltc Ops caused the whole thing, and I am certain he doesn't see it that way.

Anyway, watch that 'disrespectful texting' you mother f'ers.

Send me all the news,
Love L

Dear Friend...

life is an adventure...

Take a look at this...




...it's actually a hundred thousand times worse and the stench is so bad it's indescribable. We still have more than half a mile of clean up. The reason is these people have more rights than you or I. Sad that. Please please please I beg you to stop giving anything to these people. The true homeless do NOT live this way. Nor do the true homeless beg for money.

Please Please Pleas, Stop "helping" these people because it's costing YOU a lot of money!!!

Ironically, a company (not mine) wants to build a wall to keep these people out. Because it's the only thing that will work. Hey, Trump come see our wall too!! (insert hysterically ironic laugh here)

My friend, this stuff is bad (please refer to photo above) and enabling these people does not work. My poor city is a waste trap, a bio-waste trap and I want something done. Not what has been done by allowing these people to trash it.

Send me all the news,
Love L

PS this is one type of aftermath that happens when you legalize marijuana in your state. Another type is all the wrecks that happen while people drive when high. We had a 68% increase. ugh. I have no problem with medical MaryJane but that's the first step in obtaining legal MJ. Beware that the above is what happens. I don't personally believe in walls but if you look at the wealthy homes...all you see are fences, gates and walls. hmmm...

Dear Friend...

Not a lot going on here. The coolest snow activity this winter season was plowing snow during a snow cyclone that we had. It was fun and dangerous all at the same time. No one should have been out and there were lots of people out. Interesting thing, if you go past a closed road barrier and have to be rescued you will be charged for your rescue (unless you die, ahem). There were six snow cats being used for rescues and it still wasn't enough. Four more were called to come in from other areas. The only thing is, it takes time to move equipment around.

...and..more recent...

Life has had it's ups and downs. Once again, I am singing the same old song and wondering "what the heck am I doing here?"

I was once wisely told that I bring change in a good way wherever I go, and with that change, it makes for a trying life for me. Truer words were never spoken.

The winter season is essentially over and now we concentrate on making our roads snow and ice worthy (safe), for lack of better wording.

In just the past 3 weeks I got to:

- be an eyewitness to an amazing accident in where I actually saw the semi-tractor trailer get hit on the side back passenger area, which caused a tremendous sound, and rolled the whole tractor trailer with cab onto it's side. I thought I'd be checking on a very hurt driver for both vehicles and miraculously neither driver was terribly injured. Both walked away. Unfortunately, the law gave the ticket to the tractor trailer guy, which was the wrong person in my view as he was almost through the intersection when the dump truck with pup trailer hit him. Reminder, just because you have a green light doesn't mean you have the right away. People who are turning get to finish their turn even if you get the green while they are turning. Anyway, the law was having a tough time not showing a big ego.

- my snowplow has been deliberately disabled by "someone" twice within two-weeks, if it's management I hope they kept a record of it and disabled 3 other working snowplows from 3 different patrols to show non-bias. If it's a co-worker doing this, it's not very funny.

- "The company" issued a couple of "prime directives," which the first one has caused my job to be 3 times more dangerous, and the second PD just causes animosity, dissent, and negativity since "the company" completely exempted themselves from it. Which was silly because State law exempts everyone from it. So the whole thing is moot anyway, and very pointless unless the point was to cause negativity. Then I say good job, point thoroughly accomplished.

- next, I innocently asked our safety officer a question about the "prime directive" that causes my job to be more dangerous, and my LTC OPS was present and upset that I had done so and called my TMII to take me to task and blew the situation totally out of proportion. My TMII informed me that I was NOT to speak to the safety officer anymore and that the only people I need ever speak to would be him, my TMIII, and my LTC OPS, which is total phony baloney. Essentially, I was being bullied by my TMII with permission from the LTC OPS, and both should know better.

Don't know what to do about the last issue because if I say something then I will be targeted at work with the excuse that I should be doing my job and that the "targeting" means nothing and management has every right to "target" me to make certain I can do my job. I've seen some of the men they've hired here that have left (and that still work here) and I am a much better worker than most of them and yet, they would still be chosen over me to work here. Being targeted like this does not make your employee better, it causes anxiety.

I did inform my TMII that I had every right to speak to whomever I wish regarding work and most especially our safety officer and that he was trying to make his issue mine and that I was not going to allow him to make his problem mine. He bullied me like this in front of our TMIII and a coworker. I informed the TMIII at that moment that I did not appreciate how this was being handled and that I was not going to be bullied and that I may be speaking to HR about it.

Anyway, I hope things are going better your way.

Send me all the news,
L

Dear Friend...

There's been a couple of storms here lately some weather related some not.

The last weather related storm was an ice storm and it was frightening to be in a snowplow sliding sideways down a 6.5% grade hill and wondering if I would make it without harming anyone. This went on all night long. It was so bad I thought I might quit.

Ice is the great equalizer.

People believe that large vehicles have better traction, the truth is that no vehicle has better traction or any traction on ice.

The other "storm" is one when I was on-call. I was mis-informed by a co-worker that there was a north on-call and a south on-call. I would be the south "guy." I was called at 2:30am and informed to move a light post off I-25 and Baptist Road, which is north. Unfortunately, I dared to question the "authority" about why the north guy was not taking care of it. ooops. I was taken to task this morning at work, my bad. The TMIII had to show me who was "boss." I got the message, loud and clear.

Send me all the news and I hope your days are better than mine have been lately.
Love, L

Dear Friend...

It's been awhile since I posted about work. Work has had it's ups and downs.

I told my co-worker A about my cartoon with him and E53. I have him in one truck and E in the other truck and A asking E if the truck he's driving makes his butt look fat. A is really skinny so this is never going to happen. The idea for this cartoon came when the guys were talking about their better half stating that when they ask you if an outfit makes them look fat it's a no win situation and A said, "yeah, what if they're fat in the first place, which would mean that every outfit makes them look fat." I had an incredible light bulb moment just after A said this and E53 is his BFF at work and came up with the cartoon. I am refining now. A looks too much like a praying mantis and E looks like Mr. Potato Head. Although, to be fair E does have a long face. I hope to share one day when it's refined to my liking.

A recently transferred to another Patrol. No, he wasn't upset about the cartoon and I occasionally tell him that the truck he's driving makes his butt look fat. He laughs.

My snowplow is broken. I blew the turbo in it (it was old and nothing to do with me) and it would be a quick fix but management refuses to fix because it would cost too much, which bothers me a lot as they have no trouble paying administrative assistants more than me by almost a thousand dollars and buying new office equipment, yet, emergency snow equipment can sit in the yard and rot. My apologies for the run-on sentence this really bothers me.

My TMIII and TMII, hounded me so much last week about how wrong I am for any idea that I have even though on one idea was the same as they had only stated in different wording. I was so fed up I took Friday off last week.

Today my TMII and I went out to fix a sign that's been down for months and I mistakenly understood "fix" to really mean fix. Instead it meant look at it, stare at it for awhile (smoke break), stare at it some more. Oh, my teeth barely made it without being broken I was gritting them so hard. I just want to work. sigh Anyway, needless to say I made my TMII so mad at me about this standing around that he barely spoke to me and acted like such a baby when we got back to the shop he wouldn't speak to me the whole way back and I had to approach him regarding work since he changed his mind about what we would do that day after I pissed him off and he wouldn't tell me about his new work plans.

Things eventually worked out, the sign did get fixed, and my realization is that I need to keep my ideas and opinions to myself and the desire to get some work done. OMG, I still have a hard time believing we are actually in the 21st century with this type of neanderthal attitude. No idea is a good idea unless it's a male idea. ugh.

Send me all the news.
Love, L

Dear Friend...

Irony is at it's weirdest this week right now for me.

Work is work, in which I try to "fit in" and not bring too much attention to myself. Case in point or is that point in case, no matter, the boys at work are very into baseball and football but most especially football. They have a weekly NFL pickem'pot and I thought it would be a good idea to participate since psychologically it might bring me into the "fold" a bit more. Little did I realize that my picks for the week have set me up to WIN!!!

oi-vey

The irony is I made my choices based on losing. I mean how ironic is that???? Yep, my intention was to lose.

After 14 games, I've picked 9 correct winners! That's better than 50%!!! whew-whoooo!!
There are five of us left and I'm one of them. snort.

Tonight will tell the tale. Although I picked Detroit and NY Jets stomped them. Next game tonight is LA Rams vs Oakland Raiders and I chose Raiders. crossing fingers. I have mixed emotions over which way I want this to go because if I win, it could give me more attention than I need and if I lose, well that was the whole goal anyway. Win-win, I guess, except if I win - irony.

Send me all the news,
Love L

PS for work I cleaned and washed and washed and cleaned and washed Little Lulu (my patrol,s big tandem for plowing snow). She still needs cleaned better but I did what I could. It's a two man job and it was just me. We are getting ready for winter operations, Yay!

Dear Friend...

today was a "Brad" day.

In my family (or in my mind) having a "Brad" day is synonymous with having a "bad" day.

Brad is a real person and someday I'll explain again. I explained a long time ago but it's been awhile.
Send me all the news,
L

Dear Friend...

I can't sleep...so instead I'll try and write about the previous weeks work. I wrote posts in my head and didn't post them because even to me the truth sounded far fetched and with a little time maybe the weirdness has worn off.

Perhaps I'll just write my random thoughts that were created from my work experiences.

I hate to admit it but I have exchanged "Castle Rock's Hateful Eight" for "Stephen King's Strange Hillbilly Heaven," which is not necessarily a good thing. Things are so strange here that I just try to stay invisible. I think it's even weirder that all these strange men I work with are married and married for a long time to the same woman. I'm speechless and my hat is off to these women who must be saints in their own right for marrying them and these women all have my undying gratitude for taking the men off the market and saving the rest of us.

It is the beginning of football season so maybe the irritability and strange behaviors will slow down a bit as most of these men do not multi-task and love football.

Take Thursday: My TMII is a stickler for having time in each day and informed me that I would need to manually input a work order into my time sheet. I tried to do this because he is so bad about complaining if this isn't done. I then get the complaint from him that I need to tell him that I am doing this. Ugh. I don't get why I have to tell him I'm doing something he told me to do. Say what??? In fact my TMII's control attitude was so bad I thought he was going to tell me how and when and what time I could take a SH*T!!

Whatev or Whev...

Or take Wednesday, A driver drives around and brings a load to dump off of HWY 24 takes two of our loads and dumps, parks for two hours at a restaurant - possible morning constitutional?? --- highly doubtful --- but hey, I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt...Then leaves, drives for another hour and a half, passed a rock fall that he should have cleared from the road that was called in, but didn't clear it, and then drives around for another two hours. Really??? it was all very strange and I just didn't get it. I'm certain he was checking the road. Problem is the road he is assigned to is not the roads he was on. ugh... or Whev...


And now we have a memo from someone in an office who has never done our job putting into effect a directive that we have to shut down a lane for pot holing which means we will be in the way of traffic about 12 times more than if we do a "throw and go" plus it takes a lot longer and places us in more danger of traffic because we have to set up at least 4 sign and a lot of cones. Not to mention the angry drivers. This is a huge safety issue for us. Our jobs are already dangerous enough without having some pencil pusher making it more dangerous. He probably got a bonus for that idea too. oh, Whev...

Insert Big Sigh here.

my prediction is that potholes will not get filled.

Send me all the news,
Love L

Dear Friend...

last week I learned chipping. I also learned that my suggestions go unheard here as much as they did in my old Region. At least in my old Region they were honestly in my face about not giving a flying F@@@ in regards to my suggestions. Here I'm told they'll listen. NOT.

We chipped and I saw that the blotting crew needed help since our chipper wasn't working correctly and instead of having to throw a bit of chips occasionally they turned into being the chipping crew, which is way too much unless you want to "kill" them with a lot of work. I saw that we had too many on the traffic crew and lightly mentioned that the blotting crew needed help. No need to overwork that crew when you could switch a couple of people over to help and then switch them back when necessary. Boy, you would have thought that I suggested we rob the local 7-Eleven.

I later suggested that we fold up traffic signs for the second job because I could see that we were not going to get to it (if ever-especially with the chipping machine we were using) and I was informed that we would not be picking up traffic until we were told to pick up traffic and in no uncertain terms would we be picking up traffic (and how dare I even dare to be proactive especially since we had the manpower to do so). Two minutes later, I was told to go and fold up the traffic signs for the second job. grrr.

The second day got no better. Any suggestion was shot to H@@@ even if it would have relieved a slight traffic backlog. Lesson learned, it's not a good idea when it's my idea, keep mouth shut and idea's to my ownself even if asked.

This week I went to a training academy with a bunch of grumpy men and was relieved to find out that Thursday's class was canceled. I informed my TMII and he checked with the admin to see if this was true essentially pointing out that he felt I was a liar. GRRR. Just because he'll lie (of which I have caught him doing so for the silliest things) does not mean I do. sigh.

I can't sleep. I know I should just get on with life and forget.

Oh, and last week we had flood watch for a canyon and there are 5 of us at the shop waiting to be called up to help. no call, we leave, I am on the road and get a call while driving, I tried to answer my phone, almost have a head on collision, and decide it's not worth dying over and it's my TMII calling me up. REALLY??? grrrr again. and since I didn't answer my phone, I received scolding.

What am I doing here??? oh yeah, I can't find a job anyplace else. sigh.

Send me all the news,
Love L

Dear Friend...

I've been working in our storeroom at HQ helping with counting inventory, which is harder than it sounds.

I find it's helpful to at least get an idea of perspectives of different careers here at the company because then I'll have a better understanding in my mind about why things can or cannot get done. It helps me with the visual, so to speak.

All has been well until today. I'm not the only one helping out and there are 6 of us and we are from all over the Region.

Today, something strange happened. We were all told to go to lunch and come back at noon. That there were places close by to obtain lunch or there was a break room over in the main building are. Plus there is a nice outside eating area too. I chose to sit out side and take my lunch break in this area besides it was finally a lovely cool day, at least for this area even though it was still in the 80s, a perfect day to sit outside and enjoy the weather. No big deal right?

Wrong.

When I get back from lunch, I get the third degree of why didn't I sit inside in the break room? By K2 from the La Veta area. Say what??? Really??? I can't seem to catch a break!!! even for lunch!

This totally caught me off guard and I wish I would have said, "what's it to you, MF?""so, I can sit inside and you can give me surly glances and ignore me there too?" and my observation about K2 is that he wasn't that nice to me to begin with so I deigned to stay out of his way.

but no, I meekly answer, "I'd rather be outside than inside."

ugh, how pathetic am I?

Anyway, it finally hit me that this must be the guy that may have gotten in trouble up at the tunnel while J1 was up there. As he did inform me quite gruffly that he knew J1 and that he never saw J1 do any work while up at the tunnel, which I find hard to believe. I said I like J1 and jokingly said he was the hardest working man in the company. This usually gets a laugh. K2 didn't laugh. K2 went so far at to state that J1 left the trucks a mess and didn't do anything, which is also hard to believe as I shared a truck with J1 in CR and J1 made certain it was always pristine for the next driver.

The tunnel story goes according to J1 that some guys from region 2 area took a company truck went to Keystone and disappeared for over 4 hours and got into trouble for this and got sent back to their region and were not allowed to come back to the tunnel. Yeah, the company does not fire people like this. Mostly because it's hard to find replacements.

Anyway, people don't like it if you may know dirt about them and they get mad at you and offended when it should be me who's offended for the misuse of taxpayer equipment. sigh

As for inventory it went well, if not a bit tedious. It was still interesting and I finally understand certain things about supplies, plus what supplies are available.

Send me all the news.
Love L