Dear Friend...do as you are told...

I got taken to task in January 2024 by the company for "not doing as I was told," and this lame'o excuse became the reason why the Ltc Ops would not back down even though I proved my point that I did not follow what I was told due to a safety issue and the HR said they would not do something if it was not safe but still let the Ops carry on.  I still remember the smug look on the Ops' face when he said I didn't do as I was told, as if it was my "fault" for being taken to task.  Very smug and ended with "your are to do as you are told."

I have since returned to work and recently we went to weed whip an off ramp.  It is the company's directive that signs are to be placed no ifs, ands or buts about it.  Its a "safety issue." and if we do not the we just cut our workers comp in half for not doing so.  

I was confused as we did not approach the work area in a safe manner and neglected to put out signs.  I was informed that we did NOT need them because we were not working near the road.  This in fact was false. We would be working right on the road and I again asked about the signs.  I was informed that we would not be putting them out.  YIKES.  ok I just got an image in my mind of a smug irritating look from the Ops 9 months previously for not doing as I was told even though it was a safety issue, and so I did as I was told.  The TWONEWBIE even shut off our lights to the truck. DOUBLE YIKES.  I was not happy but did as I was told.

I finished where I was working and felt very concerned working as we were for not setting up signs which is in direct conflict with Prime Directive 1501.1 and 1501.2.  UGH

After working awhile, I decided I was done due to the safety issue and feeling uncomfortable about it, and went back to the hot truck and turned it on and its lights on so at least traffic had some warning.  I then wondered where TWONEWBIE had disappeared.  None of my business.  To my absolute shock!!, I  later saw him on our main highway in the center medium weed whipping guardrail with absolutely NO SIGNS AND NO PROTECTIVE VEHICLE.  OMG, OMG OMG!!!!   I am sick to my stomache.

Later as we all meet up in the truck I stated my concerns about the no signs and him being on our main highway with no signs or protections, and TWONEWBIE states "I saw our signs they were right there. You saw them too didn't you? "  

I said no --- feeling quite sick about this additional situation.

P58-2M said that he saw them.  I was shocked and really felt quite unsafe with these men deliberately and blatantly lying like this.  It gave me the chills and creeps. 

58-2M then said how if anything really bad happened that his wife was taken care of.  I'm pretty certain any insurance has a clause in it that if you are found in any way responsible for your death they don't have to pay and I informed him of such and also that I would not be lying.

I suppose the whole thing is most shocking as TWONEWBIE personally knew the two men who were recently killed in another area.  I guess he blames the issue of putting out signs when it was the driver who hit them was on his cell phone.  Very sad, very tragic.  And the biggest reason why I do not answer my phone while driving although I have had TWONEWBIE  and the Ops both call me expecting me to answer as I drove.  Catch 22- damned if you do and really damned if you don't.

The Ops should be proud of me - I did as I was told...

Send me all the news,

L

PS I guess God watches out for fools and children

Dear Friend...

I'm back from my two-week excursion with training. They call it Camp George because it's located at a minimum security prison. The prisoner's serve the breakfast and lunches and the Colorado State Patrol training academy is also located at this site.

The training was interesting at times. I was informed that if we were late we were to call and that we would not get credit for the portion missed. There was one guy that was habitually late and never called. How do I know this, I asked him. In fact, the first day he didn't arrive until the day was half over. He still got credit. He kept getting "better" about being less late each day. It was ironic that one guy got in trouble for being a little late and this guy never got in trouble. I laugh inside at such irony. On the first day, the trainer said, "well guys..." and someone piped up, "and lady." yep, I was the only girl. sigh

Overall, from the two weeks I could tell that I won't be getting to my home region EVER. I met two ops and the TMIII from that area and I could totally tell by the body language and how they spoke to me that they were not going to hire me because I'm female. sigh. These guys act like they have no men that are or have ever been lousy workers (not that I am a lousy worker because I'm not). I am already classified as a lousy worker just because I'm female. I know for a fact that there are and have been lousy male workers. Good grief, I miss Region 4.

I'm back at my patrol and crimmineee, it's like it's my first day all over again! crap! I'm still the kid that's picked last to play on a team. God I hate that. whatev. I'll never get picked first, even if I'm the best player. It's my lot in life, no doubt.

This week we are cleaning snowplows after a snowstorm. They pull the sanders each and every time. In Ned we didn't because we always had another storm coming in and didn't have the manpower or time. Because it takes a lot of time and a lot of manpower. Here we have both.

During one of the lunches this month, C1 asked what I was doing. I about jumped out of my skin as the guys rarely speak to me directly and I showed him a sketch I did of an apartment building on I-25 and Hampden, waiting for everyone to show up for mid-day potholing in Patrol 08 (my guys didn't like the idea as it's really busy through this area at this time --- I agree, not that I know anything). It was pretty interesting potholing, as C2 was driving and he had to miss getting side-swiped by the BC from Patrol 08. It was really great driving and I still don't know how we missed getting creamed by BC (P08). We were cold mix potholing and it's quite the very quick production. Clean the hole out, slap the cold mix bags down on the ground all around the hole; smash the bags open with a shovel; flip the cold mix into the hole; smash it down with a shovel. All this is done in about 7 seconds. I was totally lost and it was amazingly quick. The guys are really good at this. Denver Traffic hates us for this as we shut off two lanes. It's amazing the hate that this generates when it actually saves vehicles from being damaged. These were pretty big potholes. Anyway I showed C1 some of my favorite sketches. Don't know if he was interested or not (probably not) and I eventually shut down my conversation quickly before I said something stupid. I'm not used to them speaking to me like this and I prefer that they don't. It makes me nervous.

At the end of this week, we drove around willy-nilly, getting some work done, wasting time, and then getting some work done. It's very frustrating to be doing this especially since we have a new temporary co-worker who's being taught very bad habits by the others. He told me he's loving all the down time and not having to do much.

Today I got to be the lead, which was shocking and I thought the temp was going to duke it out with me regarding what I wanted done. He only wanted to weed-whip delineation and light posts and I wanted to do it all. The excuse I've been given and keep getting is that the mower will be used to get the rest. The truth to that is the excuse for not using the mower right now is that it's broke, or it's too wet or it's to (fill in the blank here). I say we're here, let's get it done now because the mower is never going to get here, and we have another storm coming soon, so DO IT NOW and be done. I've been previously told that if the mower is not in service weed-whip it. No blade of grass untouched, no weed un-whipped, etc, etc. All the excuses I hear make this "motto" sound like a lie or at the very least ridiculous. The contradictory actions is all very confusing to me. I don't like it and the men don't like me.

Man-o-man, the straight south-bound Lincoln on-ramp looks impressive. That was all me because the temp decided to walk down to the guardrail and pretend to work on a guardrail that didn't need whipped, he really just sat and pouted and smoked cigarettes. I cleaned out the weeds like it should be done. I hand pulled them and instead of leaving them on the side of the road like the others do. I put them in a garbage bag. We then worked at the Ridgegate on and off ramps and got a curly-que that was missed the day before. I don't know why K kept passing it by but whatev. K is always saying "make it last." The others do this too. Me, I say "get 'er done" and "get it done now," then I don't have to keep coming back and back and back, which is very frustrating and doesn't make any sense to me. Once again the men sense this and now I am beginning to realize after writing all this why I'll never be the kid picked first. What a pain in the @ss I am. (smiles)

I don't conform and never will. This makes me absolutely zero friends and less likely to be promoted. This makes for a hard life. I accept it and sleep well at night.

One thing I have learned around this place is to keep my thoughts to myself more. I was asked how things went by M2, and I said fine. He did ask what got done and I said Lincoln and Ridgegate. All of it this time --- I said the last part in my head to myself. I may go back and take a picture of it all as it finally looks nice and complete and not half-@ssed.

Today was nice to be the lead as I got to do the work "MY WAY" and get things done, FINALLY!!!

Send me all the news.
Love,
L