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...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...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...let's use a firehose?

 I am currently learning how to run a street sweeper.

The old street sweepers were pretty much disaster proof and could survive a nuclear blast.  The new street sweeper cannot.  It is full of sensitive electronics everywhere that need to be treated delicately.

Here's my story and set up for failure:

Sweeping all day in Palmer Lake, CO and dumping sweepings 6 miles away at the County Line shop.  Was told to meet at the 105 shop to clean out the sweeper with a firehose.  Yikes.  I always confuse the 105 shop with the 83 shop because the 105 shop is unmanned and isolated.  After sweeping, I am told by my new TMII to meet him at the 105 shop after I dump out the hopper. I say ok see you at 83.  He says no 105, I say ok, sorry I confuse the two.  I go and empty out the hopper and proceed to the 83 shop because I can't seem to remember shit!!! and wonder where the TMII is.  UGH. Talk about short term memory, I cannot get anything right.

I start washing out at the 83 shop.  My new TMII calls me to ask me where I am.  I tell him I'm at the 83 shop.  UGH - He is pissed.  He has had to pull out a bunch of equipment including the firehose.  I am profusely apologetic about my mix up and tell him that I constantly confuse the two shops (in fact, I am still apologizing for this mix up to this day, which I should not have to do --- men don't).  There is no reason for me to confuse the two shops. I just do and cannot seem to get it out of my head.  He says that's ok (it's NOT - he complains to our boss and our boss's boss -- what a baby).  I inform him I'll head over he says no. 

end of first day.

THE VERY NEXT DAY I am told to finish sweeping Palmer Lake, CO.  Sweep until 3pm and clean out at the 105 shop by myself.  I state that I am uncomfortable cleaning out here as I am unfamiliar with the shop and firehose and it is unmanned and if anything happens to me no one will know or care for that matter.  I have not mentioned in my story that I must be on a janky ladder with a firehose that uses a high psi (pounds of pressure), which makes things very shaky if you are by yourself.  My TMII will be at the Commercial Blvd shop and I am supposed to call him if I have any questions.  There is no reason why I cannot be at the Commercial shop other than because I was "told" to use the isolated 105 shop.  At the Commercial shop I can control the psi and lower the pressure and be on a staircase ladder instead of a janky unstable ladder.

I state my concerns and my TMII says "just do it."  Instead of arguing I say "ok."

As 3pm arrives, I have my co-worker pack up signs and return to his patrol.  I thank him for his help.  I go to the 105 shop.  No one is there but me, and I drive around in circles deciding what to do. Since I feel unsafe, I go empty out at County Line and make the decision of safety for myself to clean the sweeper at Commercial Blvd where I can control the water pressure and be on a safer ladder.

Wouldn't you know, TMII heard me and my stated concerns and arranged to have JP meet me at 105 and purposefully neglected to inform me of such plan.  JP calls the co-worker over the radio that is helping me  and he informs JP that we are no longer in the area.  My phone blew up after that.  I have a firm discussion with my TMII informing him that there is no way for me to know that he had arranged for help for me when he doesn't let me know.  I then inform him that he's going to tell E (the boss boss) all about how I "went and did my own thing when that is not what happened."  

TMII has me on speaker phone and purposely has someone else listening in on the conversation without letting me know. I actually am ok with this as I have nothing to be ashamed about.  I am driving down the Interstate talking on the phone I finally mention this fact and state that I am hanging up.  During the conversation I offer to go back to the 105 shop.  I am told no, just come to Commercial and we will talk about this later.

We never talk about this later.  TMII complains about me to our boss C and boss boss E.  What a baby.  Cannot even handle anything in a business-like or professional manner.

I am written up for not doing as told and for being rude on the phone.  What a joke.  Women are expected to be bare foot and pregnant and keep their mouth shut here.  Even if a safety issue.

Funny thing though, my cooworker who is also being trained on the street sweeper has not once had to go to the 105 shop to clean the sweeper. He comes to Commercial Blvd.  What kinda' crap is that???

These people be crazy!

Send me all the news,

L

Dear Friend...be friendlier?

Hi,

I bet if you are a man you have NEVER been called into the boss' office to be friendlier. Especially in the career that I am in, which is mostly men.

I confess when this happened to me I laughed in his face, which of course, did not and does not help my case at all.  Because the one thing anyone should NEVER do is laugh in the boss's face.  Especially when he is F@%king serious about his request.

Oh dear God if you are there did you laugh like I did???  If You did I bet You kept it to Yourself like I should have. 

These pitiful pathetic men expect ALL women to be their "mother, sister, girlfriend, mistress, or wife," and certainly cannot handle a businesslike or professional relationship with women.

What a mess.  

The rest of the story is after laughing in his face, I said, "NO. Absolutely not."  Because I can see that 6 months down the line I'll be in his office again and being informed that I sexually harassed someone and now they have to let me go.  I should note here that when men sexually harass a woman  at the company they do NOT fire him, they promote him.  I informed the boss that I would be business-like and that's all he was going to get. He then had to pipe in "and professional."  I said whatever, same thing.  He said no its not and insisted on his lousy two-cent "professional."  I said fine business-like and professional.

I then had to look up the two words and my word is a higher standard.  Business-like is the highest standard in that career. Professional can be either high or low in that career.  Ironic that the boss chooses a word that can be of a low standard.  But that's what he brings to the table.

Anywhoo, send me all the news and make certain that you are friendlier about it when you do.  UGH

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 - snow day in May

How cool it that?  May 19 to 20th - 12 inches of snow in most of the areas around me and it was 88 degrees the day before.  I love this state.  Almost a best day ever category.  I will say after working the nightshift it was difficult to drive home because of all the tree limbs down from the snow being so heavy, not to mention all the water from the snow melt. I love the snow and we were about to burn up and with so many people being careless with those stupid personal burners at home it made this a very dangerous place to be.

In fact, one guy dumped the ash from one along his back fence and caused a horrible fire inside the eastern part of the city.  I bet he'll be surprised when he gets the bill for all the emergency workers and equipment used to stop the fire. Because unless you die, you get charged for your stupidity.  Something I didn't know until I started working for The Company.

Cheers and stay warm,

L

this was Saturday and that is Manny, my cat. He loves the snow.

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...

This past week at work was very hot. It was nice and quiet as most everyone is gone to meetings in Pueblo or to the Academy in Golden and we have a skeleton crew and makes work very pleasant.

The internet was down so no work orders were completed and my TMII set out a lot of work for me to get done by myself. I picked 11 bags of trash(these are big bags) which helps to prepare for the TMII to mow and learned to change the oil in the one-ton Ford pickup. F37 showed me how to do this and D37 was there too. I told my daughter the story and she laughed and laughed. Suffice it to say I created a big mess of oil on the floor that I had to clean up.

I find myself nervous for the coming week. I'll probably have a panic attack tomorrow morning.

Send me all the news,
Love L

PS last month I got to help with paving in La Veta, Colorado. This photo is at the top of Cucharra Pass 9995 feet. It was great to help out in this area.
here's a photo.

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!

Urban Sketching...

Here's an August 2018 sketch. The background on this is I'm tired of the guys complaining about every little thing and taking a really long time to get to the work site. And my co-worker A told me to go up on my own the previous week so I figured he would want the same thing even though I don't know where I am going, so I got ready and went to the job site. Anyway, I'm in the wrong spot, no surprise there. I am about a half-mile west of where I should be and have waited a good 40 minutes for the guys to arrive, which to be fair, isn't bad as they may have needed fuel, etc, etc.

Happy sketching,
L

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

Urban Sketching..

and now for more sketching:

Spraying weeds. I'm in the coverage vehicle, which should be an attenuator but there is no budget for that so I am in a one-ton pickup. I guess someone has to lose their life before that happens. sigh.

Milling. I love hauling millings. Driving a dump truck is awesome! I wait my turn and while waiting I do a quick sketch. I later get to be on the milling machine too, which was interesting.

Happy sketching! 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

Urban Sketching...

hello, despite not sharing any sketches for awhile, I have been doing some...
These were all done in April 2018:

This is "Cougar Ridge" so named because my TMII saw a large cougar lying on the rocks sunning himself and watching all movement below him. Nothing like being on the food chain for this beautiful animal. This is my first sketch done in my new Region.

I helped assist with a lane closure for the bridge crew doing work on Hwy 24 looking down into Manitou Springs. There are a lot more buildings but I didn't feel like drawing them. This is Patrol 37. Me and my other co-worker get "farmed" out a lot because our road is a "sleepy" road.

This scenery is directly across from "Cougar Ridge" and looks towards Ft Carson on Hwy 115. The Blackhawk helicopters like to pop over this ridge and do quick surveillance on people at the turn around that I am in. It's pretty cool when they do this as you don't even hear them.

This is Cheyenne Mountain drawn from the public archery range parking lot. This day was cool because I was on my own and the guys were still ignoring me and trying to figure out what to do with me at this point and it's only been a week into my transfer and my co-workers in my patrol are gone for today.

All sketches are done on down time like lunch or a break or wait time for equipment being fixed, etc.

Happy sketching!
L