Thoughts of a Tru Virgo

Day 4 of Carribean Cruise

2010-08-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

Day 4 of the Carribean Cruise. We have reached the Gulf Stream, so that means going from 4knts to about 0.8 to 1.0, switched our heading somewhat east and are making better time.

Manage Change

2010-07-18T14:27:00.000-07:00

I have wondered how things go at work when I am gone. I had been told about how confusing some explainations are. Yesturday I saw an example of how this worked.

In a meeting there was discussion of mangement of change. It went:

When you have change, you need to manage it. And manage the change, cuz there is always change to manage. When we change, we need to manage it and manage all the change.

What the hell????? Is this a dime or a quarter????

I think it is time for me to go home.....24 days, and I guess I have no $en$e left....

Columbus, Georgia

2010-07-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Columbus Georgia to attend a one day medical course on Advanced Burn Life support. Never being here before, all I knew was it was a 30 minuet flight from Atlanta. Of course the flight to Atlanta was over four hours, in which I adequately could read the required text and prepare with the assorted exam that accompanied. Me, on the other hand, choose to read USA Today, The Oregonian, Star and of course the latest People.... by breakfast I was wore out and slept the rest of the way. Poor use of time on my part.

I land in Columbus, on a small commuter plane full of military personnel. Dressed as such, and if they weren't.... they were wearing military ID. The sign says "Welcome to Fort Benning" ahhhh I get it now.

The sign says there are seven gates, I see three. There are two baggage carousels, one ticket counter and every car rental vendor. As I approach the car rental they ask if I need directions to the base. No, s the give me a list of hotels they have pre-printed, hen tell me I can get information to the base. No. They keep talking like I just don't know that I need to go to the base. And of course, I will need to check in at he visitor center when I arrive ON BASE.

I typically rent with Hertz, but as of late keep forgetting to list that on the travel request when I submit it. Which in turn means that I have become somewhat adapt at in my cell phone as a gps. Not a skill that I thought I would need. Even thou this time I brought my gps, but did not get the base, that it needs to plug into. Again, poor planning on my part.

I finally find the hotel, pick up a salad on my way. It is hot enough that the locals at the restaurant are complaining. Off I go to the pool, with text book in hand. Might as well use my remaining daylight usefully.

Pool is not crowded, but there is a woman with her child discussing current events with two older guys (that say they are Vietnam Vets) while playing poolside. The woman is balancing her Lite beer, while dressed in a swimming top and oversize men's boxers (not pretty ones but functional ones). -wonder if her husband is missing them?-
This woman, offers them a beer and they proceed to discuss the Iraq/Afghanistan occupation. She is convinced that Saddam never had the intelligence or the means to hide weapons of mass destruction. The old guys are preoccupied with what it was like to be in Vietnam and keep relating how the two military actions and locations are the same. Neither of which I agree with - and one of which I experienced!
When they all decide that they have figured and solved the Iraq issues and how great it is to be back from Vietnam they venture on to more current things, like the Horizon incident.
The woman -again I do not use this term to define the gender- is convinced it is all a government plot to raise oil and gas prices in the United States. The two old guys buy into her theory. Her whole basis for this was - if it was not a government conspiracy then why don't they just send divers down with a cap and close the well in?

Wow, I didn't expect any great revaluations from someone of her education and vast background. However, the realization of the vast ignorance does speak volumes as to the public response of the oil spill.

God Bless those lives who were lost....

The next morning was the class. Hope to find some intelligent life... I had directions - address - and map in hand. Looking at the map I thought it would probably take me 20 minuets to get there. So, if I leave one hour ahead of time I can find Starbucks - see some of the sites and get to the class on time.

No Starbucks!!!! Anywhere..... no Starbucks. I will not settle for coffee when I am on shore. If I am buying coffee it will not be Dunkin Donuts supreme or McCoffee Pleasure.

I find where the class should be held. It is at Columbus University. Being a saturday morning, there is no traffic and no problem after finding the address to wonder off and find coffee. Again. No Starbucks. Damn IT! I go to a convince store and get two iced bottled Starbucks Vanilla Frapacinno and a cup of ice. Guess in Georgia the theme is adapt - improvise - and back to adapt.

I get back to the address of the class about 30 minuets before it should begin. The problem was, there was no building at that exact address. There was one before - being a teen shelter, and then an empty store front. Then the one after was the entrance to a dormitory. There was a key pad at the dormitory entrance, but the door was ajar, so I went on it. My thought was to find someone that could direct me in the correct direction.

The entrance was typical brick building and you could see the back door, which lead to a courtyard. There were tables set up all along the walls. labeled with "flowers", "gift baskets" and all types of gift bags setting around. But, there was no live body in the lobby.

I wander around, call out "hellllloooooooo", no answer. I thought I would set up my netbook and see if I could get a wifi signal and get a phone number to call or another contact to find the class. An older lady got off the elevator and was visibly disturbed that I was in the lobby. She shouts at me "how did you get in here?" I told her, the door was open - I walked in. she checks all the door to secure the building. I asked her if she could direct me in the right way to find the class. i showed her my registration information and the map. She was no about to help me - and still disturbed I was in the lobby. So I packed up and left.

When I walked back toward the rental car, there was a middle aged gentleman, well dressed, similarly confused. I asked him if he was attending an Advanced Burn class - and sure enough, he was. We discussed the addresses and the information that was sent with the registration. No conflicting information there. However, he is from the area and said that he thought it was odd they were holding a class on the school campus.

I tried calling work, to see if my relief would be able to find me a working contact phone number, since it was Saturday. I will give him credit for trying - but he was still no help.
The gentleman says "why don't you follow me and we will go up to the hospital where they usually have these type of courses and see if it might be there" Ok, that's the best plan I could agree with.

As I was following him to the local hospital, I was thinking. humm, fly from Oregon to Georgia for a one day class. This encompasses a three day adventure on the companies dime. I am sooooo going to get in trouble if I do not come back with this certification. But, on the upside - I did pick up a brochure at the airport of '50 things to do in Columbia Georgia' - maybe it wouldn't be a complete loss.

We travel for about 10 minuets and find the hospital annex that is the auditorium. Guess what.... they were holding the class there. As I am signing in, I would be about 30 minuets late by now. they announce that they had 30 people signed up, and still only 14 people have arrived, but they are going to go ahead and get started.
I told the lady that was facilitating the class that the wrong address along with interactive mapquest was sent out. She was like, oh. And class started. Nice, they just made $400 per person - and they have an entire herd of people wandering around Columbus University. I hope they didn't pay out of pocket for this. But, sure glad I don't have to explain how I went to Georgia for a day tour.......

A Thought...

2010-05-21T11:47:00.001-07:00

I might not be the most beautiful or the sexiest, nor have the perfect body. I might not be the first choice, but I am a GREAT choice. I don't pretend to be someone else, cause I am too good at being ME. I might not be proud of some of the things I've done, but I am proud of who I am today. Take me as I am or watch me as I GO !!!

The spill from the Horizon

2010-04-28T15:09:00.000-07:00

The latest forecasts through the end of the week show the expanding oil plume in the Gulf of Mexico reaching the Mississippi River delta and the Louisiana coast by late Friday, response officials said at a news conference that just wrapped up.

It's not THAT easy

2010-02-21T10:06:00.000-08:00

One of the perks (that I love) of my current house is the gas fireplace. When we first moved in, there seemed to be a trick to lighting it, and even thou I read the instructions (that are conveniently located AT the ignition switch), I would have problems. The instructions read something to the effect of:

Turn Knob to Pilot

Push and Hold knob in for 5 seconds, while depressing the ignition button.

Sounds simple. NOT.

You then have to turn the knob to the desired flame height. If you do not have decent gas flow, the pilot will go out - and you have to start over. After mastering the pilot knob. It takes maybe 10 seconds to light a fire. This will nicely heat the living room and subsequent rooms, quickly and efficiently.

However, I really never thought that I would be at an age, where I actually discussed the weather with my friends....? But, the time has come in my life when I ask "what's the weather like there?"

This was a discussion that I was having with one of my friends the other day. I was telling her how nice the previous days had been, then we had a morning where there was a heavy frost on everything, and I even started the fire to warm things up quicker.

With this she responds - well, its not like you have to BUILD a fire!!!

You're right, excuse me, I was not implying how labor intensive it was. I was just saying it was a bit chilling that particular morning.

This discussion resolved quickly and no further fire was spoke of. We went on to discuss more important things, eg. work-children-lunch plans. What has life progressed to?

So I was telling my daughter about this, the next day. Her comment was.....

Well its not like all we do is flip the light switch, like some people do....So, apparently the whole holding the knob in and pushing the ignition button IS LABOR INTENSIVE... who'da thunk.....

Who Dat Nation....

2010-01-25T05:06:00.000-08:00

Who Dat?

Its the New Orleans SAINTS.....

Playoff game was yesterday - the galley could have been a tail gate party, less the alcohol.

The majority of the rig was all into the game. I did fall asleep a couple of time, however the noise and the pages being made - I knew when the game went into overtime, and of course THE WIN ! ! ......

I was looking at the origin of "who dat" - it does start from the 1920's and 1920's from the jazz and big band performers. We all know where jazz is big. Guess I am just gonna have to go with it is a southern thing....

G O S A I N T S !!!! I will be home for the Super Bowl....

What is a Virgo

2010-01-17T05:52:00.000-08:00

With the first of the year arriving, of course it is time to check the upcoming year of horoscopes.

I found this decription of THE VIRGO.....

Virgo
August 23 - September 22Virgo is the sixth sign of the zodiac, to be exact, and that's the way Virgos like it: exacting. Those born under this sign are forever the butt of jokes for being so picky and critical (and they can be), but their 'attention to detail' is for a reason: to help others. Virgos, more than any other sign, were born to serve, and it gives them great joy. They are also tailor-made for the job, since they are industrious, methodical and efficient. The sense of duty borne by these folks is considerable, and it ensures that they will always work for the greater good.

Virgo is represented by the Virgin, although this association should not be taken literally. Rather, Virgos tend to take on some of the qualities of a Virgin, things like modesty and humanity. Some might consider them repressed, although Virgins would argue that it's a noble quality, as opposed to a negative one. Most of all, Virgos enjoy indulging their practical and logical side and poring over their projects to the nth degree. To say these folks are good at fact-finding almost understates the case, since Virgos revel in their exacting (some would argue pedantic) behavior and are a whiz with minutiae. Virgins are an asset in the workplace as they can be counted on to get things right the first time, every time -- and no detail will be overlooked. They are also balanced and fair in their assessments in keeping with the Mutable Quality assigned to this sign.

Virgo is ruled by Mercury, and as portrayed in ancient Roman mythology, Mercury wasn't one to sit still for long. This swift-footed god was a bundle of energy, both physically and mentally, and that pretty much sums up the Virgin's makeup. A Virgo's brain is in overdrive most of the time, which is why these folks get so much done. Those born under this sign are also able communicators and use their mental acuity to maximum advantage. All of this brainpower can make Virgos prone to skepticism, and can even lead to the kind of over-think that surely leads to overkill. Thankfully, though, Virgos are also a studious lot and can temper their worst impulses with a bit of careful analysis. Virgos enjoy studying a situation in great detail, whether it's a work project or a friendship. Virgins are truly interested in understanding things. The bane of many Virgos is the perfectionism that can get in the way of their usual clear thinking. 'I'm not a perfectionist; I'm discriminating!' a Virgo would say, happy in the knowledge that their taste is unparalleled. Along those lines, Virgos are also neat and clean, save for the occasional sloppy Virgin (they do exist). Virgins are also reliable and practical and oh-so-useful to have around.

The Element associated with Virgo is Earth, and in keeping with that, most Virgos are grounded, salt-of-the-earth types. The flash and dash can go to others, since Virgos would much rather be humble and easy-going. That said, Virgins do enjoy material possessions and are (dare we say?) picky about what they bring into their lives. Some might even go as far as calling them self-centered, but it's really more of a desire to surround themselves with what's right -- for them. This knack for discernment also serves Virgos well in business, where their decisions are usually dead-on. Those born under this sign are eminently sensible and use their critical eye well. While Virgos can be worrywarts, they do their best to temper these impulses. However, if this nervousness goes unchecked, it can lead to hypochondria, that ugly skeleton in the Virgo's closet. For that reason, Virgos are extremely health conscious, to the point of being storehouses of information on diet and hygiene. Many Virgos even choose a health or medical career so they won't miss a beat.

Working out is elemental for Virgo, if only so they know intellectually that they're helping themselves physically. See, the benefits of exercise are far more important to Virgo than the process itself. That's why Virgos are likely to time themselves on their runs and get in those 300 sit-ups every day. When it comes to the game of love, Virgos are able to loosen up somewhat and are devoted to their lovers, even if they can be a bit jealous. Since Virgo rules the intestines, worried Virgos need to be wary of bowel upsets. Soothing relief often comes in the way of earth tones, which is why Virgos like to be surrounded by shades of tan and a warm yellow.

The great strength of the Virgo-born is in their practicality, sharp mind and attention to detail. When merged with their willingness to serve, Virgos become essential helpmates. They can be picky -- so what?

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T07:38:00.000-08:00

This was my favorite email of the Christmas Season this year..... Just loved it!!!!

I came home after spending a day in New Orleans. Actually did some tourist stuff, went to the Civil War museum (no pictures allowed, but the nice gentleman let me take pictures of the inside of the building - Outstanding).

Went to the Chalmette Battlefield and Cemetery.

The Cemetery was a mess! It is a National Cemetery, not taken care of at all. The interesting thing there was the headstones. They are a certain shape for different wars. We were not able to go to the Malus-Beauregard House, due to construction. I took all sorts of pictures and was so excited to share them. Spent the night at the Historic French Market Inn. The past few times I have booked at a 'historic' hotel I have been greatly disappointed. This was no exception. I did not get the room that I had reserved, the courtyard was invested with rats. In the evening you could see them running around the courtyard and hear them talking, fighting or whatever they do when they screech in the bushes. I would expect rats in the City and especially a couple of blocks from Bourbon Street, but they really need a couple of cats!!!

Then what i discovered when I got home, was that - when messing with the camera, and under the tab marked 'tools' there is another button 'format disk' - guess what that does???? It erases the pictures on the memory card, so you have more room.... Lovely, I deleted all the pictures.

I also had pictures of the rig in Pascagoula, MS and the torturous stair tower that was all of 11 flights! All nothing but a memory now.

When I came home, I had doctor appointments lined up each and every day (seemed like a good idea at the time).

On Wednesday I had a dermatology appointment. I was somewhat anxious about what the procedures might be, so the doctor I saw on Monday gave me ONE Valium. No more of the mothers little helpers do they hand out without good reason, then it is strictly monitored, so ONE it was. I took it 40 mins before the appointment. It all went good, felt some pain, so when I left I took a Vicodan, then went shopping. Apparently this all works well together about 15 mins into a shopping trip.

I had been fussing over a Christmas tree. When you are native to the Pacific Northwest it is a sin to have a fake tree. However, I did not want the mess on the wood floors. I kept after my daughter we would put a real tree in the yard and decorate it and have a fake tree in the house. She was not buying this solution. But we looked at fake trees anyway. That was when I discover the Cherry Blossom lighted tree! Oh how kewl! There was no talking me out of it, so I thought we got the white lights..... Next was the wine section, so much to choose from! My daughter walked off, when she heard all sorts of clanging and banging - she peeks around the corner thinking I had knocked the entire row over. Ha, it was not me - they are restocking the shelves..... One more stop for her to find a gift for her friend and we were out of there.

This is what we ended up with for a tree - certainly a drug induced haze.......

Next year will be better - its gotta be!!!!

Thanksgiving Dinner

2009-11-28T06:16:00.000-08:00

I came back to work a few days early. I had some extra work that needed to be done, along with I would have been scheduled to travel on Thanksgiving day.

The catering crew did excellent with the dinner. They had all the traditional menu items. Of course, we had what is traditional in the South.

The novel item was a whole pig...... They had it set up on a table with a heat lamp, similar to what you see in a buffet for Prime Rib. I guess I didn't realize how they were planning to display the pig for carving.

There he lies........... Apple in his mouth - Marciano cherry in the eye socket - some type of rice stuffing ... gave the impression of maggots.
Sometimes I just don't get it..........I am just going to stick with "its a cultural thing". Could bring myself to 'get me sum' and went with the smoked turkey. Thankfully they took the feet off!!!!!!

Another Store

2009-11-28T06:09:00.000-08:00

When I was in Missouri in July, I posted about the convenience stores they had there.

When I was in El Paso, Texas in September I saw another store......

Liquor Dicks........

Do they not think of this when they do the licensing????

W T F ?

2009-11-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

My daughter is posting things on Facebook. She posted this, at the same time she posted a picture of me.

What is that all about????? She says it was just "random"........

Have a seat anywhere........

2009-11-21T13:48:00.000-08:00

I was coming home from Houston on Wednesday night.
So very thankful that I got my First Class upgrade... That way I don't have to sit and chant "they are touching me..... they are touching me....ewwwhhhh".
I get on the plane, I am in the third row. I was probably about the tenth or so person to get on. I am getting situated and have a window seat. The Flight Attendant comes by to see if anyone would like something to drink while we finish boarding. My standard is Baileys or Kahlua, helps with the nap I plan on taking for the next four hours....
This young kid sits down next to me, very polite - asked if I would like the isle or am I happy with the window seat. I tell him, that it doesn't really matter to me, if he would prefer the window - I would switch with him. He seems all good - and orders an orange juice.
About five mins into the boarding process, an India (that would be with the dot) in a business suit stops at the isle. Looks at his boarding pass, and says to this kid - are you in 3D?
The kid, gets out of the seat, doesn't look for his boarding pass or question the other guy, and walks straight for the back of the plane.
I kinda give the guy across the isle a funny look - as he does me. Was like "wow glad I didn't switch seats with him, or I would be in the wrong seat". The flight attendant is watching all of this, and comes back over and says to the business man. "Would you like something to drink, or would you like that guys orange juice?"
I guess you never know - if you don't try?????

Back in Baltimore

2009-11-17T05:00:00.001-08:00

Back in Baltimore doing my hours for my paramedic certification. I was just here in February, but that was an under the gun thing. I did not have all my hours for my March recertification, so that wasn’t going to happen again. I was going to get my hours done ahead of time.

I was to leave work on a Friday, go home, pack, leave for Maryland on Monday and get here for my class. As it happened. Couldn’t leave work until Sunday, arrive in New Orleans shop for some clothes and leave from there to Maryland. It worked out. The catch was, since there always is a catch. My relief was doing HIS hours and couldn’t come to work when he was suppose to. The person that was going to cover for him, was covering for another position. That left me working, whether I wanted to or not.

When I talked to my relief and ask him when he would be coming to work, so I wouldn’t miss my course his comment was I HATE IT FOR YA. Fuck you buddy. You are going to regret saying that to ME.
I did have a nice time in New Orleans, ended up getting in a lot earlier in the day than I thought I was.

When I got up on Sunday morning, thinking I would be leaving around 1330 hrs. I was getting ready for my day, when around 0630 I was told the first helicopter would be arriving around 0715. Kewl, problem being my relief wouldn’t be at the heliport until noon. Then I was told that didn’t matter they weren’t bringing anyone out and would be evacuating the entire rig, for the hurricane. There would be 5 helicopter that day. I didn’t have things ready to leave in a half hour, and everyone was in a fluff trying to find people and tell them what flight they would be on. Aaauuuugghhhh what a mess!

I get to the beach, a rental car (Volvo station wagon) was there, it was left by a new hire who left the rig on Friday.. Nice car - lots of creature comforts. Meet my love in the city and went shopping. When for a ride to visit some relatives. Went to dinner at the Olive Garden, that was a nice surprise. Hadn’t been out for a nice dinner in along time!

Next morning got ready for my flight to Baltimore. Went through Atlanta, no problems there. Did sit by a young guy that was going home to Charlotte. He had been on a Carnival Cruise line, and they had some adverse weather due to IDA. He was not happy about flying and still somewhat upset about the hurricane thing. It was raining hard at the New Orleans airport, but the winds had not arrived. The air plane ride was uneventful, except. I was stuck riding coach, since I did not check in 24 hours before the flight to secure a first class upgrade. I keep learning this lesson over and over again.

I get into BWI in the evening, and one of my coworkers also was taking this class. She had arrived about an hour before me, picked up the rental car and checked into the hotel. She picked me up at the airport and we travel about 10 mins to the hotel. It was the BWI-Ramada Inn.

The course was being held at the hotel, so they had cheap rooms and an attached restaurant. Last year when I was here, I stayed at the Hilton and the course was held at the UMBC campus. That was really hard to find, traffic was a mess, and all around hated experience. The Hilton had the worst service I have had at one of those hotels.
Why not try the Ramada, the class is right there. I haven’t stayed at too many Ramada’s and really don’t see making it a habit of it.

Clean rooms, however when I checked into my room the heat didn’t work. I called the front desk and they said they would send someone up to check it, I told them I was headed to dinner. When I got back to the room, it was still the temperature of a meat locker - I called the front desk and they said that the heater was broke, and I would need to move rooms.

Back down to the front desk, get a new room key, back upstairs to move it. First thing I checked was the heater, it worked. I was good to go on that one. I started unpacking, went to turn the TV on and it didn’t work. I checked the remote, it was sending a signal. Tried pushing the button on the TV, still nothing. Followed the cord, it was plugged into this mayhem of extension cords. I Called the front desk, they sent someone up to check the TV (carrying an extra extension cord) changed out the cords, plugged it all back up and wa’la I’m in business again.

No place to plug any anything in except into that area or the bathroom. The lights that were mounted to the wall above the bed had no plug in’s either. Lights almost mounted above the bed, one of them was hanging more wires than anything else. Oh well survived. Even thought it meant hanging off the edge of my bed to talk on the phone while it was charging.

Flew back to Oregon on Saturday and thought I had the weekend home, but that was a no go. I had a flight on Sunday to go to Houston for 4 days for another class. Good thing Pepe brought up that he was driving to see me on Sunday or I wouldn’t have been ready for that. Less than 24 hours to unpack, repack and get laundry done. Along with a month worth of mail (still not gone through) and my daughter picking me up from the airport. Whirlwind!!!!!!!!!!!! That is all I can say.

But, I did remember to check in online the night before. Put me on a waiting list First Class upgrade. However, packed flight. I was trying to finish my Baltimore story with people pushing and pulling the airplane seat. Reminds me of one of the guys I work with, he has a very LOUD and gruff voice. Short prison history - it WAS self defensive (I believe him). Anyway, when people touch his seat - he gets all ugly at them and yells “Did you buy this mutherfuther seat? Keep your hands off it or I want my frickin money back!” He will then enlighten them with “if your fat ass cant get around what I PAID for, maybe you should buy a gawd damn row to yourself” I am proud that he can say that, cuz I am feeling it NOW!!

Three rows back in COACH. Good news is there is a bathroom between coach and first class, being on the aisle I get to have everyone rub their asses on me as they board the plane, go TO the bathroom and RETURN to
their seats.

I HATE riding coach ! !

Hurricane IDA

2009-11-07T11:06:00.001-08:00

Hurricane IDA.....

Official end of Hurricane season is November 30 - we almost made it..

Last year I was in the middle of Gustaf and Ike. Spent several days on the rig between both hurricanes, with a skeleton crew.

NOT FUN, if you are wondering.

I was to have left the rig on 11-6, unforeseen and welcomed events changed that. I will have to elaborate on that later. But, I am scheduled for a helicopter tomorrow. I have been pacing and worrying if I was going to get off the rig in time to get to my recertification course.

Last night they said they would have a helicopter on sunday. yeeeee haaaa! Now today, they are saying with the path of the hurricane, we will have a full flight. They are sending all 'non-essential personnel' to the beach. This would be any service contractors that we are not currently using.

Far be it for the crews to start messing with me, telling me that they will not bring my relief out here. "We are sending people in, not bringing them out" OH HELL NO!!! Been here 25 days, not funny.

You Don't Say.....

2009-10-27T06:32:00.000-07:00

The police department in the small Minnesota town of Proctor will put a motorized lounge chair up for auction next week after it was seized in a drunk driving incident. The black and blue pleather lounge chair, pictured in this undated police handout, comes complete with stereo, footrest, cupholders, headlights, a nitrous oxide power boost system, drag racing style steering wheel and a parachute.

This was the topic of conversation on the rig yesterday. Interesting enough, however not a conversation that I participated in.

We had a situation during drilling operations, that I needed more detailed information from the Mud Compliance Engineer. These people come on the rig as 'third party client contractors', they are only here while we are actively drilling using the product that they supply.

This person I had never met before and spent the better part of the day looking for him, to speak with him. After we had our discussion, him and I needed to meet with the Company Man to finalize reporting and findings. We are having some well control issues, being that we are drilling what they term a wildcat well. Going into new formation and and getting gas kicks are serious business.

Anyway, that isn't the point of this - the Compliance Engineer was sitting in my office waiting for the opportunity for us to talk with the Company Man. Several other people started congregating waiting on the same opportunity. To give you a visual of this guy. Probably stands about 6'2" in coveralls that are about a size 65 - however, they are loose. Looks like he has had recent lap-band surgery. Fat - not quite fat - certainly not tone! Curly short hair - way bad receding temples, starting to gray. NO NECK - looks to be about 40ish, probably in actually 30. Anyway, I am sure that I am not doing justice to the look. You could look at any college football stadium in the alumni section and find 100 of these characters.

As most of you know, I am not one to make new friends. The idea of having my office full of people that I DIDN'T INVITE doesn't make my day complete either.

So, this news story comes on the television. The mud guy starts talking about when he was in college he almost got a DUI for being on a riding lawn mower. He was telling about how he was going down to a frat house to use the lawn mower to write them a message in the grass. Ok, I can see this happening. I guess since he felt he had a captive audience he then went into his other stories of college life. Seems that he was required to take a bowling course, which he felt that he had mastered. He asked the instructor what it was going to take for him to get an 'A', because he was not going to participate. He relayed the conversation going like this:

Teacher - you need to complete the course and participate in the activities

Student - I am not bowling with you

Teacher - why not, you think you can beat me?

Student - yep, I was a professional bowler for 5 years

Teacher - really?, so you think you know all there is to know about bowling? I bet you don't know all there is to know about bowling balls...

Student - oh yes I do!!! I was a bowling ball physicist.........

At that point I had to turn around and reply with "You don't say........I bet you have an impressive resume. Welcome to the Oil Field".

How the other half lives

2009-09-09T12:42:00.000-07:00

We docked in Galveston around the 13th of August. We will be here for probably another two months.

Across the canal is where Carnival Cruise Lines docks. There are two different ships that we see regularly.

Every Sunday the larger of the two comes in, it is the Carnival Conquest. We all go out at 0600 in the morning to watch it come down the channel. When it gets just past the pier, it utterly spins 180 degrees, then slides sideways up to the dock.

Here is another view.........

This is from what we call the "back porch", coming off the rig floor - looking starboard/forward, over the helideck.

09/09/09

2009-09-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

Why 09/09/09 Is So Special
LiveScience.com

Have special plans this 09/09/09?
Everyone from brides and grooms to movie studio execs are celebrating the upcoming calendrical anomaly in their own way.
In Florida, at least one county clerk's office is offering a one-day wedding special for $99.99. The rarity of this Sept. 9 hasn't been lost on the creators of the iPod, who have moved their traditional Tuesday release day to Wednesday to take advantage of the special date.
Focus Features is releasing their new film "9," an animated tale about the apocalypse, on the 9th.
Not only does the date look good in marketing promotions, but it also represents the last set of repeating, single-digit dates that we'll see for almost a century (until January 1, 2101), or a millennium (mark your calendars for January 1, 3001), depending on how you want to count it.
Though technically there's nothing special about the symmetrical date, some concerned with the history and meaning of numbers ascribe powerful significance to 09/09/09. For cultures in which the number nine is lucky, Sept. 9 is anticipated - while others might see the date as an ominous warning.
Math magic
Modern numerologists - who operate outside the realm of real science - believe that mystical significance or vibrations can be assigned to each numeral one through nine, and different combinations of the digits produce tangible results in life depending on their application.
As the final numeral, the number nine holds special rank. It is associated with forgiveness, compassion and success on the positive side as well as arrogance and self-righteousness on the negative, according to numerologists.
Though usually discredited as bogus, numerologists do have a famous predecessor to look to. Pythagoras, the Greek mathematician and father of the famous theorem, is also credited with popularizing numerology in ancient times.
"Pythagoras most of all seems to have honored and advanced the study concerned with numbers, having taken it away from the use of merchants and likening all things to numbers," wrote Aristoxenus, an ancient Greek historian, in the 4th century B.C.As part of his obsession with numbers both mathematically and divine, and like many mathematicians before and since, Pythagoras noted that nine in particular had many unique properties. Any grade-schooler could tell you, for example, that the sum of the two-digits resulting from nine multiplied by any other single-digit number will equal nine.
So 9x3=27, and 2+7=9.
Multiply nine by any two, three or four-digit number and the sums of those will also break down to nine.
For example: 9x62 = 558; 5+5+8=18; 1+8=9.
Sept. 9 also happens to be the 252nd day of the year (2 + 5 +2)...Loving 9
Both China and Japan have strong feelings about the number nine. Those feelings just happen to be on opposite ends of the spectrum. The Chinese pulled out all the stops to celebrate their lucky number eight during last year's Summer Olympics, ringing the games in at 8 p.m. on 08/08/08. What many might not realize is that nine comes in second on their list of auspicious digits and is associated with long life, due to how similar its pronunciation is to the local word for long-lasting (eight sounds like wealth).
Historically, ancient Chinese emperors associated themselves closely with the number nine, which appeared prominently in architecture and royal dress, often in the form of nine fearsome dragons. The imperial dynasties were so convinced of the power of the number nine that the palace complex at Beijing's Forbidden City is rumored to have been built with 9,999 rooms.
Japanese emperors would have never worn a robe with nine dragons, however.
In Japanese, the word for nine is a homophone for the word for suffering, so the number is considered highly unlucky - second only to four, which sounds like death.
Many Japanese will go so far as to avoid room numbers including nine at hotels or hospitals, if the building planners haven't already eliminated them altogether.

For me,???
It's my birthday!!! at work (bummer)...

I actually have a list of things that I am going to post - just have been too busy to sit and type them up.

Convenience Stores

2009-07-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

Being able to travel, you take for granted that every convenience store is a '7-11', because that is what we have in this area.

When I first started working in the South, we would be on the way to the heliport and they would ask "does anyone need to stop at the race track?" - well no, we are going to work. I was thinking this was some type of horse racing track. It's not, it is the name of the convenience stores in the area.

Last week I was in Springfield Missouri, guess what their convenience stores are called.....

Yep, that is it..... Kum & Go

I stopped to take a picture, but the camera was out of batteries. I went inside and next to where they sell the batteries were the hats that said "Kum & Go"... who cant live without that? I picked up a hat, went to the counter. Hats are buy one get one free - wow!!! My kinda deal, so why not?

Got batteries, pictures and two hats - what a deal!

7-5-2009

2009-07-05T09:53:00.000-07:00

Notice anything exceptional about today's date? It's July 5, 2009 (05/07/09) -- and three consecutive odd numbers make up the date only five times in a century.

My Front Yard

2009-06-29T12:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we forget just how good we have things.

I was sitting at the desk this morning, when Abigail jumps down from the window - something scared her... I saw a shadow move, and this is what it was.

A Momma and a baby!!!!

Of course, I had to run and find the camera. This was taken from my office window, but how KEWL.... I didnt see them stop to eat my flowers, so I am still blaming that on the bunnies!

Banking

2009-06-29T08:29:00.000-07:00

With all the changes in the banks recently – I experienced a frustrating display of customer service…..

I really liked Washington Mutual. They were friendly, they had branches all over the country, the online bill pay was exceptional… All good.

Well as you know, they were bought out by…..da da dahhhhhh

I don’t know where they come up with their customer service, or their policy and procedures. All I know is that I dislike them immensely!!!!

Being offshore, I do all my banking online – I hardly EVER write a check. I live by my debit card and try never to carry cash. Not to mention when you have a son with some addition issues – you don’t have cash for long…..

What happened was:

I was at work, and my boy had his car impounded – for good reason:
No drivers license (a piece of plastic doesn’t mean he cant drive)
No insurance (see above)
Previous tickets for the before mentioned items….
Oh and lets not forget – the license plates and vin numbers on the vehicle do not match.

I was going to Western Union some money to him, to help him out of his predicament. But to do Western Union online they apparently pull your credit report and ask you questions. Stuff that I am sure you should know off the top of your head like:

You opened a credit card in 1998, what was the amount of the first billing statement?

If you don’t answer all these questions correctly, they deny the transfer. Ok, I can understand that. I am sure that Western Union has experienced all sorts of fraud – and I was not set up in their system.
Ok, no problem. I will have him figure out how he is going to receive money.

What I didn’t know was that this tags my debit card that I was trying to use. They shut my card OFF….

I come home, and try to use my debit card to get out of the parking lot. No go…. This had been a problem a couple weeks before hand.
I came home from Vegas and my card would not work – I also called Chase at that time, they said there was nothing wrong with my card. I was the parking peoples transmittal machine. At that time, I told them well it is YOUR problem, since this is how I get out of the parking lot! I let it go, and thought it was the same issue.
Like I said, I never write checks, but do carry them – thank goodness, since I have written more with the banking change than I have in the last two years.

The next morning I go to the grocery store – my debit card will not work…. They take a check, but the system shows the account is invalid. They take my check anyway and let me write it for $20 over. Need diesel – light is on!!!!
As I walk out – I am on the phone with Chase.
I initially speak to some dude with a heavy Eastern Indian accent – play hell trying to understand him.
After about 15 mins and repeating the debit card number, checking account number and my social security number. He says “you have no account, you have nice day” whoaaaaaa buddy, wait a min!!!!! Yes I do have an account, and you are sitting on all my money – you will find it….He finally finds my account after making the statement “you Washington Mutual customer” – “you take down this number”… NO – I PAY FOR GROCERIES, what number are you taking about? I called the number on the back of the card – you fix the problem…..He then transfers me to the debit card division.
I have lost all patients and humor with this system by now. Still sitting in the parking lot at the grocery store.

Some lady gets on the phone. She says, we have a hold on your account for a fraud alert. She then asks me about a couple of bill pay items that I had sent out. I tell her yes, I did pay those – and my daughter has been on the phone with you in the last week – verifying the same information. She then asked about the Western Union deal. I told her yes I did try to do that, it didn’t work – no problem there. She then asked about a charge for almost $20 at a Valu-Max, hummmmm. I just came in the day before, was in New Orleans, and didn’t use my debit card at all…. I'm thinking, thinking….. She then states I Have Closed The Account….. wait a minute lady!!!! I just explained to you how I am off shore and when I come home, I have things to do – I am only here for the day and fly to Houston tomorrow for a week… what do you mean you just closed the account???? She responses with “There seems to be fraud, and my name is Toni!” Well Toni!, what the fuck is wrong with you??????? I have no cash, and need diesel, food, and cat litter!!!! She then says “go to a branch for a temporary debit card, or go to an ATM and call us and we will issue the debit card transaction” NO!!!!! I want you people to leave me alone! I want you to communicate issues and concerns and not just randomly cut me off from my money! I want Washington Mutual Customer Service!!!!! Where is the nearest branch from where I am at???? She response with, we have no branches on the West Coast and listed off like 10 states on the East Coast…..

I tell her, I know damn good and well you have branches here, I have been to them!!!!
Her reply… oh you were a Washington Mutual customer, yes we have branches near your location. Ok, are they open? It is Saturday morning? Don’t answer me – I know they are, go back to ruining the next persons day! And hung up!!!

I get to the nearest branch and walk in – oh, and of course, now I spill my coffee on my dirty yard work clothes. I had not showered, no make up, hair not combed – pulled up on my head, just flew in last night from New Orleans, after getting up at 0300 Oregon time. My plan was to go to the grocery store, pick up a few things to get the day started and gas for the lawn mower. Then shower, clean up and deal with the rest of the world. Not deal with BANKERS!!!!

The nice young lady is sitting at her desk, and looks up at me. My first statement was “I bet you use to work for Washington Mutual, and hate your life working for Chase?” She smiles and asks how to help me.

I tell her the entire story, and she goes and gets me a Temporary Debit Card – kewl, this is a blue piece of plastic. No visa logo, no name nothing… I asked her how merchants would react to me presenting them with a card like this to pay for my purchases? Oh,,,,, you can only use them at Chase ATM machines. How am I supposed to live this way???????

Things You Dont Say

2009-06-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

It was crew change today.... which means - I am half way done!!!!

Lunch is always fun - catching up on what the guys did at home. I swear, one of these days I will sit down and put all the crazy stories down -

What I heard today was:

One of the supervisors was saying.... 'yep it was time to come back to work. I was watching my wife in the pool - and she was so graceful swimming and going back and forth in the pool like a dolphin. But I had just watched that new Blue World Animal Planet, and I said "baby, you look like one of the Beluga whales" - It was time to LEAVE'....

He realized that after he said it - it certainly taken for What he SAID not What he MEANT.... How do you get out of that one???? You don't. You just come to work....

Yes - You can deep fry it.....

2009-06-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

The food here at work, is certainly a cultural experience..

I have never seen "fried" like they do Southern style.

At home, fried means you put it in a skillet and cook it. Here it means deep fried, submersed in 160 degree grease!

When we have "seafood day" (yuck!) every single item on the line is deep fried.... It all looks the same - small balls of deep fry.

They "fry" EVERYTHING..... I have to share what it was yesterday.

Corn on The Cob

Yep, "fried" corn on the cob. I had to ask what it was, and just shook my head.... Now why would you take something healthy - and deep fry it? Might explain why so many of the people have high blood pressure and weight problems? ya, think?

Dose of Reality

2009-06-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

Landed at home around 9pm at night. Since Chase bought out Washington Mutual and I got my new debit card. I have had nothing but troubles!!! I have had my debit card denied. I called the online banking, they said there was nothing wrong with my card. I told them I was going to need to use it to get out of the parking lot at the airport. Oh no problem!!! Guess what??? Problem.. the automated machine kept declining the card, I had to back out - go to a "cashier" and it would not except the card. The cashier went into the main place and it was still declined... Great - how much blood does it take to get out of parking? The cashier suggest I write a check. a check??? who uses checks anymore? Good thing I had that with me!

Came home in time to go to court with my ex-renters. These were the ones that I had to evict - you know, the sheriff's office and the whole 9 yards. As soon as I had evicted them, and had numerous judgements against them, they file bankruptcy. This is like $6000, that they lived off me. I filed a claim against the bankruptcy to attempt to collect this amount. Rent is actually dischargable in bankruptcy court. I have a check she wrote me for $1350 on an account that had been closed for over six months.
So, we go before the judge - when I filed I put on the petition for uncollected rent. Not being versed in how to handle these matters, I did not know the errors I was making. I did not submit any additional documentation to the court other than my original filing of judgement claims.
Here is the catch-
In order for them to "consider" the claim there has to be fraud.
Steps that I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN, and now I know are:
Rental application should have been filed with additional paperwork, showing no previous evictions (found these in the courthouse in McMinnville), they had been previously evicted.
Copy of check written on the closed account.
Since I didnt know how to proceed and did not submit additional paperwork, I could only testify - the case was dismissed - so here it is for everyone who "googles" Corina Corona is a dead beat! I also find out, that if I continue with legal action on the bad check, they can sue me for violating bankruptcy protection. So much for the "Oregon Bad Check Law".

As always parking is an issue in the City. I do not fit in the parking garages, and have to drive around until I find a open spot on the street. I have gotten a ticket for Not Having My License Plate on the front of my truck, by the parking police before. I now put my plate in the front window every time I am in the City. So I take 20 mins finding a place to park. I come out of the court house with 2 parking tickets and a red WARNING posted on the truck. I now have a ticket for not having my license plate permanently attached to the front of my vehicle and being parked in a loading zone????? oh, and the warning is that they are going to site me again if my time expires and I havent fixed these things immediately. Not only do I get taken for $6000, but now I am paying the City $100 for the pleasure. As you all know - I have issues with parking tickets, be it here or in Houston..... I HATE THE PARKING POLICE!!!!

While I was down there I also went to the attorney office that is handling my refinance on my house. Since, apparently something is missing in the paperwork and now I have nasty letters (5 of them) and this morning I found where they had posted ON THE HOUSE a foreclosure notice. I went into the office and they are moving offices, but the guy who works for the attorneys does not know the address of the new offices, I asked him "how are you going to get to work?" He says - It's in China Town. Great and after talking with my mortgage holder and providing all the paperwork they are in need of, I am going to give it to Jake, who doesnt know where he works??? What a feeling of satisfaction that is....

Paris

2009-06-02T12:00:00.001-07:00

Stayed the last 2 nights at Paris, in Vegas. Was so busy, that never even went up in the Eiffel tower. They did not publish the times for dinner - but you can tell from the previous post, it was a busy trip.

The hotel is beautiful.... The inside has cobble stone walkways, trendy little shops and cafe's.

The rooms were not to the same standard as the Venetian, and they were more expensive. They were only half the size. Did have a view of the Bellagio fountains from the window, but didnt see them much, too busy walking.

Something that had changed since I was there last, was the Treasure Island pirate show in front of that hotel. Back when I took my National Paramedic exam, it was the two ships battling out and one of the ships sinking. All pirate stuff.

Now, one of the ships is all show girls, and they sink the pirate ship with songs... Stupid! Took 2 days to catch the show, we were there for one of the shows and the wind came up and it was cancelled, so went back for the 1130 at night. Another disappointment.

Something new they added, is a clothing optional pool at the Mirage. As you know there is always a catch - women get in for free, men $40.....

Fleetwood Mac

2009-06-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

The main reason I picked this time to visit Vegas was that Fleetwood Mac had a concert date. I have always been a big Stevie Nicks fan....

I guess this is a bit of a bucket list item. Stevie is now 62, and who knows if I will ever have this opportunity again????

Started the evening with attending the dinner show at Excalibur, Tournament of Kings.

A medieval presentation of jousting and story of King Arthur. This was fun - the food was good. You are not given any silverware, your soup is in a bowl that you can drink from, and you are given a small chicken and large cut potatoes. Food was good, the show was entertaining and very interactive.

When it was over, we had about 40 mins to get to the MGM and into the concert.

Had great seats. All the other shows that were seen, I purchased tickets before leaving for the trip, but did not find the tickets that I wanted online for this show, actually got them at the box office about 5 hours before the show - that day. I always like to get upper level off to the left side of the stage.

Lindsay Buckingham is phenomenal on the guitar. Stevie Nicks, well I almost cried when I heard her sing. She can still belt it out, but can hardly walk around on stage. Mick Fleetwood, way scarier looking than he was in his younger years. The only one that was not there, was Christie McVie - I am going to say it was a bad decision on her part NOT to be involved with this tour.

The only down fall was the people sitting a couple of seats down. The woman kept getting up and going and getting a beer for her, and a mixed drink for her man. The third time she pushed past - I made a comment that maybe they should just go watch the concert for the DAMN BAR!!!

There was three standing ovations and each time they came back out and did another great song. Stopped by the bathroom on the way out (since I wasnt going to miss any of the show), and of course the "older" generation was in there. The lady in front of me, looked like your typical mexican grandmother. She said that if there were many more of these reunion tours she was going to start packing depends!!!

It was a great trip!!!!!

Bette Midler

2009-06-02T10:57:00.000-07:00

The next night - I went to see Bette Midler at Caesars Palace.... I saw her about 8 years ago when she came to town. She is the most incredible performer!! She is 63 yrs old and runs around on stage, and put on a 90 min show.

She did her Delores the fish skit, and she had this elaborate production for a "show girl" - it was well worth it.

What wasnt worth it - was

X - Burlesque...... that was at the Flamingo. Since your in Vegas, thought this would be the old show girl performance. Nope-it was basically a strip show, like any other stripper place but you paid $50 to get in. They did have a stand up comedian at intermission, who was really good. Personally I was ready to get up and leave when it started, but was with a group of people and thought would be rude for them.

So in summary - even though they have all this advertising for this show, it is NOT a typically Vegas showgirl thing, it is a over priced stripper show. And the girls, made you think "anyone can do this" choreography is something they are unaware of...

Phantom of the Opera

2009-06-02T10:48:00.000-07:00

I stayed at the Venetian Resort for the first few days in Vegas. Absolutely beautiful!!! Great service, I had booked it with a package deal to see the Phantom of the Opera.

I have always wanted to see the Phantom, and the production there was awesome!!!! Everyone talks about the chandelier scene. Personally I thought when the Phantom was hanging out of the bottom of the chandelier over the crowd - was the best!!!

The other attraction they have at that resort is the gondola rides.

You can do the inside ride - or outside. This picture is actually of the inside, and that is what I did. It was pretty hot while I was there, and was ready for some air conditioning. The ceiling of the building is painted with clouds, and as you walk along it seems as the clouds are moving - pretty kewl stuff....

When I go back to Vegas, I will stay the entire time at the Venetian. The room had a sunken seating area, large bathroom with the toilet in its own separate "closet", a vanity... oh and the drapes worked off of a remote control.

Been Busy

2009-06-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry this hasnt been updated - but I am going to get busy with it....

Work was hectic.

Came home for the weekend and got some things done on Jack McAllisters house.... we painted all the primer and paint. It is waiting for the contractor to come back and do the finish work. Still sending information to the insurance company - that is a process that is just as bad as I had envisioned. The thought of loosing an entire house is overwhelming. I think the one that I have learned from that is...Take pictures!!! Lots of pictures of all the stuff in your house. Me, of course - this is on my ToDo list for my next project.

Went to Las Vegas for 5 days - first "vacation" I have had since 9-11-2001 (easy date to remember).

I flew Southwest, which I DO NOT like.... but it was only a 2 hour flight to Vegas, so for the price I was willing to suck it up. One word of advise if you fly Southwest... Pay ATTENTION!!!

When I was leaving home - I knew the gate, but never saw any signs - I was wondering around looking at stuff. Saw them boarding, went over and asked where the flight was going - they said "Vegas"... Great, I was the last person to board.

Coming home.

Got through security - went to the gate. They were boarding for another flight. Waited - Waited - finally 10 mins before my flight was to leave, I went up and asked them if this was my flight. I was told, next flight to board. Ok, sat down. Still worried, went and checked the reader board - Oh My.... they changed gates. Second to the last person to board....

Phew..... made it home!!!

Thought It - Can't Believe Someone DID IT !

2009-05-05T17:49:00.000-07:00

Paramedic tried to buy wine wearing only his thong after supermarket staff 'refused to serve him in uniform'
By Daily Mail ReporterLast updated at 3:10 PM on 03rd May 2009

A paramedic was facing disciplinary action today after he walked into a supermarket crowded with shoppers wearing just a thong.
The ambulanceman had been on duty when he strode defiantly into the Tesco store wearing just the underwear and a pair of socks after staff refused to serve him while he was wearing his ambulance uniform.
Police were called in and interviewed the medic about his actions which were said to have left shop staff and customers embarrassed and stunned.

Supermarket showdown:The Tesco store in Addlestone, Surrey, where a paramedic stripped down to his thong and socks after being refused alcohol because he was wearing his uniform
The man, aged in his 40's, had walked into the large Tesco shop at Addlestone, Surrey wearing his full all-in-one green coloured ambulance uniform.
He selected a bottle of wine but become annoyed when the check-out assistant told him it was the store's policy not to sell alcohol to people wearing uniform.
The paramedic then stormed out of the shop, walked to his vehicle in the car park and took off his uniform.
However, he didn't stop there - and stripped right down to the thong and pair of socks he was wearing. Then he walked back into the shop and asked the same cashier:
'Now, I'm not wearing my uniform any more. Will you serve me now?' The assistant refused and the manager was called, along with the police.

Refused: Tesco would not serve the man while wearing his full ambulance uniform (posed by models)
Rachael Monkton, who had been in the Tesco store shopping when the incident took place, said: 'He was shopping with a woman when the girl at the check-out said she couldn't let him buy alcohol.
'He got a bit agitated and the manager was called over but she took the side of her employee.
'So the paramedic stormed out, leaving the woman at the tills and when he came back he was just in his underwear.
'People were staring at him and laughing - I couldn't believe my eyes. Normally people would pay to see a man in uniform strip but we got a free show,' added Rachael.
A spokesman for Tesco confirmed that it was company policy not to serve members of the emergency services if they were wearing uniform and stood by the cashier's actions.
'It is absolutely right that the cashier did not serve him when he was in uniform but what happened afterwards was unprecedented,' he said.
'We realise that the customer may not have understood why he was refused alcohol but it was simply a member of our staff following company policy and the actions which followed were wholly unnecessary,' the spokesman added.
The paramedic, who is employed by the South East Coast Ambulance NHS Trust, Surrey division, was understood to have been spoken to by his managers and to be facing the possibility of suspension and disciplinary action.
It was the second time in as many months that a customer at the Addlestone branch of Tesco has stripped in the store in protest at actions of the staff.
In February, 68-year-old Norman Matthews took off his clothes after being wrongly accused of stealing a scratch card from the customer service desk.

Facebook Quizzes

2009-05-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

Some of my friends use Facebook insatiably.... So to keep up with them I login occasionally - certainly not the place to track me.
Anyway - they have all these quizzes... They had challenged me to some. I have become addicted to the damn things....
Here are some of them with the results! And my comments........

You took the Your ideal job. quiz and the result is Doctor/Nurse.
Another missed calling - who knows????

You took the Who will you fall for? quiz and the result is The Bad Boy
This is no surprise. Guess they forgot to add that he would be FRENCH....

You took the What Portland neighborhood are you? quiz and the result is West Hills
Now that your daughter finally got into Catlin Gabel, you can go pick your son up at lacrosse practice. Here's hoping he doesn't get the Lexus in an accident this weekend! If you could just figure out a way to pay less in property taxes... You enjoy coming into downtown when you have reservations at El Gaucho. Your house really does have the best view in the neighborhood. Too bad the freeway makes so much noise.
WHATEVER!!! I like my peace and quiet in the woods!!!

You took the Where in the US Should U live? quiz and the result is Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest has a diverse culture with Native American, Asian, Hispanic and European influences. Environmentalism is prominent throughout the region and there are many national parks and protected lands. Skiing, snowboarding, climbing, hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, boating, and water sports are popular outdoor activities. There are plenty of famous cities as well including Seattle, Tacoma and Portland which all began as seaport towns but grew into major industrial centers. In general this region has a reputation for openness and tolerance of others and is very left leaning politically.
Big Surprise - Guess, I will stay where I am at....

You took the How many times willl you get married?? quiz and the result is twice
Oooops - blew that one!!!

You took the What Drug Are You? quiz and the result is Pot
you are commonly a gateway drug you are the reason people get into the deeper shit that fucks them up
oh well, another (not) big surprise

You took the What does your birthday say about you? quiz and the result is September
Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people's mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Thinking generous. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves sports, leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.
good memory????? guess that relates to that POT thing?

You took the when will you get married? quiz and the result is 45
well at least you have found your true love
hummmm??? - (gonna be a busy year, I guess)

You are 93% Virgo
Source: www.blogthings.com
You are 93% Virgo
not a big surprise either - (I also know the answer that took me out of the 100%)

Leaving Maryland - Liberty Bell

2009-05-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

We were done with class by around 10am on the Friday. I called my best friend in Oregon, who was just getting out the door - to go to work. I was like, Been up - Had Starbucks - Had breakfast - Finished a module - Took a test.... glad you are starting your day!

As I have mentioned before, nothing was really opening for the season yet. The nail spa right across the street was just opening that Friday afternoon. I called my coworker to see if she wanted to go. We got there at 11, and got OUT OF THERE at 530.... What a mess that was. Then when my daughter saw my nails, when I got home - she say "oh, those are terrible". Thanks - working on it!

Went and had dinner at a place called Coins, probably the best food I had all week!

The plan was to leave the hotel Saturday morning around 8am.

My alarm goes off at 630am on Saturday. I do my typical 'snooze' - then this car alarm goes off about 10 minuets later. It continues to go off, I am pretty patient when it comes to waiting out a noise vs getting out of bed. After 10 minuets or so I go to look out the balcony - I was one floor above registration - thinking there was a vehicle parked there and the damn alarm was going off. Nothing in the parking lot, in fact, the noise isn't coming from outside - it is coming from the hallway??? I open the door and stick my head out to look down the hall. No one in the hall way, no flashing lights, just loud car alarm sounding thing. Hummm, pondering next move - pacing, pacing - make coffee.

Look out of the balcony again, cops are arriving, random cars with flashers on, all sorts of activity outside. Look back out in the hall - nothing. Humm, get a cup of coffee and cigarette - head back to the balcony...

Aaahhhhhhhh fire trucks arriving! Ok, I get it now!!!! The fire alarm sounds like a car alarm - you'd think this would be described at check-in. This has now gone on for about 20 minuets and no one knocked on the door, no announcement on the intercom, or phone call - people gathering in the parking lot. Put on flip flops, and a sweatshirt (over my cute pink Jammie's) and head to parking lot. I text my coworker "you outside in your Jammie's?" I get a "NOPE", "ok, well I am". I was outside for no more than 5 minuets - when they said we could go back in. No explanation - no problems????

Since we flew into Philadelphia (there are no large airports nearby) I wanted to see the Liberty Bell before we left. My flight was at 2pm, we would have about a 3 hour drive - plenty of time. The fire/car alarm did put a crimp in the leaving by 8am, but still do-able.

We drove up the Maryland peninsula into Delaware and then into Pennsylvania. Thanks to the gps system in the rental car. We arrived downtown Philadelphia around 11am. This is the entrance to old town and the historic section.

Market Street.

We found a parking garage a block away from the Liberty Bell Center. 1 hour of parking $10 - I didn't think that was a deal, but it was all that was available.

No charge to get into the Liberty Bell, there are all sorts of walking tours in that area. Into the Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. The first Congressional Hall - those were all by ticket and time constraints. I just wanted to see the BELL....

Inside - then the view from outside/in

Been There - Done That - I'm Happy!!! I have seen the Liberty Bell before. It was in 1978 the summer before starting high school. I went on a trip to the East Coast and all the historic and current landmarks. However, when we were in Philadelphia my allergies were so bad I could hardly stand to be outside. My eyes would immediate swell and burn like fire. So I don't remember much about that area. I was reminded by my best friend that when we went on that trip - Philadelphia was when my hair started to turn neon green from being in the swimming pools with all the chlorine. I came home looking like - what now might be considered punk rock trendy!

We got out of the area with only a slight amount of anxiety. We were almost out of gas! I programed the gps for the nearest gas station. With the one way streets and around and around, we finally made it. CLOSED... pumps had pad locks on them. I was starting to wonder if Hertz would come rescue us, or if AAA would work? Programed the gps for the next nearest gas station - back we went to where we started, over an over pass - kewl looking statue of colonial people landing in a boat - think we are missing something here - but, need gas! Back around the Liberty Bell, I am taking pictures out the car window like a Japanese tourist. Hey, its neat stuff! Beautiful buildings and landscaping. Found the OPEN gas station, and off to the airport we went. That all worked out well. Turned the car in and caught the shuttle to the airport - baggage checked in. Signs about the Swine Flu, but no additional questioning or strip searches.

On the plane - ready to head home, one stop in Minneapolis. After they close the door and have everyone shut off their cell phones, they make an announcement. Seems there is a small white suitcase - metal, not a carry on looking one, unclaimed sitting at the door of the air plane. They announce someone needs to claim this suitcase and walk up and down the aisle in display. No takers. They make the announcement again, and again they walk up and down the aisle to display said suitcase. We are now taxiing to the run way. No takers. They place the suitcase in where the flight attendants hang out in first class. Great! what is up with this? No worries, we take off. No explosions, no one claimed the bag - guess it was a good day to leave unclaimed baggage - thanks again TSA!

SEAcrets

2009-04-30T11:45:00.001-07:00

The Safety Council at Chesapeake Bay is hosting the course. They were giving us locations of places to eat. This is good information, since I mentioned there is NO place open.
This is called Seacrets. Neat concept - the first pictures are outside by the bay. The others are inside the restaurant.
All sand - they import palm trees every springs (not yet this year). Plants inside are also all real - thought it was great, until we started getting our food. Then the ants come out..... and the bugs.... I could only imagine what this is like in the summer. Lost all of it unique appeal!!!!

Another concern, and I am sure this is not an issue during the busy season - but, we were the youngest people in there by about 50 YEARS!!! I was worried about the walkers getting caught in the sand....

Ocean City Beach Pic's

2009-04-30T11:18:00.000-07:00

Picture of the Boardwalk looking North

Looking South

I attribute the poor quality of the pictures to the gusting WINDS. The weather was warm, in the high 70's. If you are wondering what the white lines are, it says TRAIN ACCESS - hum??

This was the first part of the week.

Ocean view from the hotel room. They say all rooms have an ocean view - no lie, I just expected a full view. Guess they do it differently on the East Coast.

Weather went to CRAP! ! Temp about 53 degrees, windy - icky!!!

Ocean City Maryland

2009-04-29T13:56:00.000-07:00

The sign outside of the hotel - on the sign post for "Big Peckers Bar & Grill" that is right in the same building as "Brass Balls Club".

I left Portland Sunday morning on my typical 0600 flight. My girl was home for the weekend to help me get the yard in shape, laundry and whatever else I could get done in 36 hours that I was there. She planned to take me to the airport, so I wouldn't have to leave so early and worry about parking, and all the things that go along with the airport mess. We were up early to get underway, when I went out to lock my truck and put the club on the steering wheel. Apparently the club had disappeared, since my boy is up to his normal tricks. I put her club on my truck and we headed to the airport. I was pretty angry by the time I got there. Trying to get through security - I have it down to a routine, especially if I am checking my luggage. All I have is my laptop in a back pack and a small purse.

There was an older gentleman with two large carry-on's and all sorts of electronics. Right behind him was an Asia family with three small children. He was telling everyone to go on by him, as he had about six bins full of items. The family went on by and all the children made it through security, when I went through. The gentleman was right behind me.

As my laptop came down the belt, he picks it up. He has no idea how close he came to me absolutely snapping on him, after a morning with the boy. But with that crisis avoided I was able to continue on, not being detained by security (big bonus).

Flew into Philadelphia PA, as this was the nearest "big" airport that accommodates travels from afar.

My co-worker arrived about the same time I did, and we met at the rental car agency. After programing the 'never lost' system - we were in for a 2.5 hour drive. It was like 127 miles to the hotel where the class was being held.

Ocean City reminds me of the Oregon Coast - particularly Seaside. Small - touristy type town. Not a damn thing open!!! Apparently this town does not open until after SpringFest. This is held the first full weekend in May. That would be the first full weekend that starts with a Thursday in May - sooooooo, the week following.

I am here for the week, learning about Safety Management Systems - never would have guessed that one!!!!

What offends me....

2009-04-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

I can honesty say that most of the people I work with are careful not to talk vulgar in front of me. They also will apologize if they have cursed in my presents.

I let alot of things slide. Since, I am in their world.....

There is one supervisor that is always asking me if I was offended, when someone is being "colorful" or has gestures along with a story. Ironically enough this person has offended me twice this hitch!!!

First time being.....

We are in the shuttle going from the hotel to the heliport, it is 0300 in the morning. There was about five of us in the shuttle. There was talk about the office being closed on friday. Not uncommon - the Houston office leaves around 1300hrs anyway. The conversation goes like this:

Me: They are closed all day?

Dumfook: Yes, they are closed all day today

Me: Why?

Dumfook: It is Good Friday, if you were a Christian, you would know this...

Fuck you!!! I am offended!!!

Then just the other day. Discussing budgets, safety items that are given as rewards and my travel to a class that, he is also attending. (My mistake of sending the email containing all the itineraries to him.) When I passed on the information of his hotel reservation. This also contained my flight information - along with hotel reservations.

Dumfook: Wow, you have a long flight. Do you ever fly through Denver?

Me: It is a long flight, but not too bad when it is straight from Houston. I have been through Denver - last time going home, in fact. It was ok, it made my total travel time about 2 hours longer, but it was ok.

Dumfook: What are you going to do if the company cuts travel benefits?

Me: Find another job!! This IS NOT my life!

Shock and dismay (is displayed on his face) - got, my point across..... Again offended. I guess if times get that bad in the oilfield I will still have the option of working, since I can be Medic also. Guess he will have to find another place to try NOT TO get dirty... Ass kisser!!!

OH, and since I am on that subject. We are planing a trip to Vegas (yeah - how kewl??) I have not had a "vacation" proper since 9/2001 - you can guess how easy that date is to remember. I was in the San Juan Islands for 9/11. Ok, anyway.... so I have been talking about some of the things we have planned. Going to Bette Midler, and Phantom of the Opera.... way excited. So, he and his wife are going to Vegas the first part of the month. They are also going to Phantom, which I guess he has seen like five times (he still doesn't impress me). He asks me if I would like to listen to the soundtrack - sure, that would be neat.

I was busy - so I didnt jump right up and run over to his office. Then the next day - he asks me again. Sure, I will come over some time. SO THEN, he comes over to my office yesterday and asked if I would like a copy of the Phantom. Sure, but again I forgot to jump up and follow him like a whipped puppy... Then he comes back by and asked for a memory drive, so that he can transfer it for me.

Dumfook: I just love the Phantom. I have the complete two disc memorized. I can recite and sing every song thru the entire play.

Me: Ok, thanks......?

Again..... Why would I want to sit in a formal event and recite the entire play? Along with irritating the fuck out of everyone around me with my singing the damn thing also????

Guess that is just why I am not as kewl as DUMFOOK!!!!

Infastructure

2009-04-20T11:37:00.000-07:00

This picture shows the infrastructure that is on the sea floor. We are in 7000 ft of water, so when we use the ROV (remote operated vehicle) it is launched from a cage, and then is tethered by an umbilical. They use this to see the well head and to hook the BOP (blow out preventer) to the top of the well.

Some general information stuff.....

Going to work.....

2009-04-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

I do have lots of things to post - lots of thoughts, but have been extremely busy. I saw this today - and had to share.

This describes the majority of the people that I work with - never thought I would see it in a "joke" form.....

A Preacher from Louisiana had a teenage son, and it was getting time the boy should give some thought to choosing a profession. Like many young men, the boy didn't really know what he wanted to do, and he didn't seem too concerned about it. One day,while the boy was away at school, his father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed five objects on his desk:- a Bible,- a silver dollar,- a bottle of whiskey,- a marijuana cigarette, an- a Hustler magazine - 'I'll just hide behind the door,' the preacher said to himself, and when he comes home from school this afternoon, I'll see which object he picks up.- If it's the Bible, he's going to be a preacher like me, and what a blessing that would be!- If he picks up the dollar, he's going to be a businessman, and that would be OK.- But if picks up the bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunkard,and, Lord, what a shame that would be.- If he picks up the marijuana cigarette, he's going to be a worthless dope-head,- And worst of all, if he picks up that Hustler magazine, he's going to be a skirt-chasing bum.'
The preacher waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's footsteps as he entered the house whistling and headed for his room. The boy tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave the room he spotted the objects on the table.. With curiosity in his eye, he walked over to inspect them. Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. He picked up the silver dollar and dropped it into his pocket, put the joint to his lips, and lit it up. He uncorked the whiskey bottle and took a big swig, while admiring the Hustler centerfold.

Lord have mercy!,the old preacher whispered in disgust, he's going to work OFFSHORE !!!!!

April

2009-04-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

Back to work is always interesting.

I am NOT going to rant about work - I am NOT going to rant about work.... ok, repeat after me...I WILL more than likely rant about work.

Some of the stories that I have heard from the guys this hitch....

Couple of the guys that I crew change with, they say at a different hotel closer to the heliport. The company has changed hotels since the last time we came to work the last time. I was asking what they thought of the hotel they were staying at, compaired to the one they had previously been at.

Apparently these two guys were going to go to the bar for a few drinks (not apparently - but commonly). One of the guys has to be mid-40's the other early 50's with very noticeably gray hair. The "younger" of the two is a heavy heavy drinker and also one of those people that is medicated (no, for real) for the good of man-kind. The other one is a standard beer drinking fool. For the sake of describing each of them lets call the older one "Don" and the younger one "Mike".

So...., Don sees a couple of young ladies headed to the bar - he says they "were not bad lookin women". When they go into the bar - it is nothing but ooollllddddddd women. And as "Don" says Ugly Ole' Women. He apparently had never been in a place when you walk through the door all heads turn toward the door. He said they felt like cheap meat.... [There are many stories that can be told about these guys - I will work on that] These old women were asking them to dance - which, they said that they were afraid they might break a hip. They said the bathroom even had the elevated toilets along with the hand rails..... Bet they don't think it is so bad in the next 20 years - when they are using those elevated toilets and rails!!!

Another story about "Mike". He was telling me about returning a dvd player that he bought at the house. He said that he took it back to the store, it was only a week old and had broke. The store refused to return the item, since he did not have the original box. He asked them if $176 was worth them shutting the store down for three weeks to remodel? Because if they did not give him back his damn money he was going to run his truck through the store. The store manager apparently took this as a threat - and told him that he was going to call the police. At which time, he told them that they might as well call a tow truck also, by the time the cops would get there he would have hung that truck up on something!!! He says, that by the time he got to his truck and had the front tires on the sidewalk - they had returned his CASH ! ! ! Good thing, huh...

Another one of "Mike's" favorite stories, is (on a different rig) when he put Alka Seltzer in his mouth (foaming effect) got a fire axe and went busting into a co-workers state room in his underwear. Acting as if he was looking for himself - generally, just being crazy.... It works for him....without the Alka Seltzer.

Happy Easter

2009-04-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Keester...

ALL I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE I LEARNED FROM THE EASTER BUNNY

Don't put all of your eggs in one basket

Walk softly and carry a big carrot

Everyone needs a friend who is all ears

There's no such thing as too much candy

All work and no play can make you a basket case

A cute little tail attracts a lot of attention

Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day

Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits

Some body parts should be floppy

Keep your paws off other people's jellybeans

Good things come in small sugarcoated packages

The grass is always greener in someone else's basket

An Easter bonnet can tame even the wildest hare

To show your true colors you have to come out of your shell

The best things in life are still sweet and gooey

Awesome Video Clip

2009-04-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

I had to share this - it is the best video clip of street performers from around the US and other parts of the world....

Crank it up - this is an incredible piece of soundmaking.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741

End of March - Houston

2009-04-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

Arrived Sunday night and went to The Warehouse, where we saw Chris Cornell… (Soundgarden / AudioSlave) Awwesome show – here is a clip from YouTube…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3nNIEt1FpI

The Warehouse was a great venue. Small in size, excellent lighting, but getting tickets was a fiasco. We tried the standard way of going online and buying them from the venue. To find they were sold out. So, after a couple of days and no tickets becoming available I went to Craig’s List and EBay…..score…..

Two tickets on EBay for $100 will ship free anywhere, not a bad deal – so I bid on them. The auction was to end on Friday evening (the day I was traveling home), so that would still give us time to do something different if needed.

The tickets on Craig’s List – Pepe contacted several people and started getting emails back. One of the places took you to an after market ticket seller, but it was on line also. There were so many people asking questions to the EBay bid, that I really thought that I would be outbid soon. We went ahead and ordered tickets through this online agency. Processed two tickets, the receipt came for one….. Pepe was going to straighten it out, but they needed to talk to the card holder. This was the last day at work – I was absolutely inundated with things to finish up. I told him – I don’t have time to fuck with this today!! – Then I felt horrible for being irritated. We got another ticket processes and sent to him. Everyone survived…

When I got home, looked at EBay – guess what???? I Won – so now we had two more tickets. Called a couple of people that were going to be in the area, and they went with us also. So it all worked out.
We met the guy at the concert that sold the EBay tickets – what a nut - he was,…he was like I’ll buy you a beer inside – so glad you could make it – man, its great seeing you (complete with hugs) what is this all about????? Sure enough we saw him inside at the bar, with his wife – they act like long lost friends – had to ditch that quick….

It was a late night – and we left just before the end of the show. But had class the next morning.

The next night – we stayed in the room, ordered dinner, drank a bottle of wine and were OUT…. It is tough getting old.

The following night we went to downtown Houston and bought tickets for Les Miserables……

Everyone else went out drinking at the sports bar in the hotel. I am sure there will be more stories about what happened there. I know I didnt miss anything there –
One story that we heard was:
One of the younger guys was hitting on the waitress, apparently she was really into him (must have been dark) and then one of the other guys that we work with – asked her if she could hook him up and if she had any gay friends because he was really into men – blew his evening…. Too funny….

The next day at class, most of them were hung over and hating life. Gatorade and Ibuprofen for everyone ! ! !

We then went to the Broadway Musical the last night there. It was incredibly. To see performances in real life is just a testament to the talent. We did the clean up / dress nice thing. That was fun. Of course Pepe was just as handsome as ever!!! Must be easy when you are that good looking to begin with. The hardest part of the evening was that it did not start until 8pm, the intermission was at 1030 pm – I was darn tired by then…. I think it got out near 1130 or midnight.

Next morning was another early one – off to the airport for a flight at 9am, which was delayed 1.5 hours. Could have slept in for a bit longer.

The Trip Home

2009-04-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

Just another note about the messed up flights that they have been booking us on.

To go home after my hitch, they put me on United. Well, no fault of United – I have frequent flier miles with them. But, I do not have any preferred status like with NW and their partners. Where I am Platinum and well deserving I might add.

So I go to check in at the airport. I am not familiar with their touch screens, which immediately irritates me. I put my card in, and bring up the information. Ohhhhh now they want $15 to check a bag…. Ohhh and if I want to upgrade, well that would be $325 and no guarantee a first class seat. Hell with that ! ! ! Here is my $15 and my bag to check. So the lady comes back by. She had been by about two times before “you doing ok?” Yeah Yeah…. I got it. So I give her my bag and say. “Corporate is booking flights differently, looks like I don’t have a platinum status and will be paying for my luggage and no first class upgrades”. She gives me a somewhat of a dirty look, but mainly perplexed look and takes my bag.

As I whine to Pepe about this, he says “what did you think they would do”. Well, if they had any customer service – I wouldn’t have been paying for my bag and would have been given a seat in first class ! ! ! And that is what I completely expected…
The first leg of the trip into Denver, there was no first class seating on the air craft, and I was in row 25. Then from Denver to Portland, there was but this time I was in row 31, oh and the young couple that were sitting in the same row with me. Had a baby on their lap…. I SLEPT ! ! ! !

The Shower

2009-04-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

The living arrangements on the rig are like a dormitory of sorts. My room is a “private room” in that it only has one bed. There are about five rooms like that. Then there are rooms with bunk beds in them – someone sleeps in there during the day, while the other person is working. Then when the other person goes to work, that person that just got done goes to bed. So they can accommodate two people in that one room. There is usually a bathroom between these two rooms that is shared by both rooms.

Then are some rooms that have two bunk beds in them and they have four people staying in them. With two people sleeping in there at the same time. These people have to share a common bathroom that is used by everyone.
When I get back to work, I typically have to clean the bathroom. Because, I share it with the two people on the other side. Here lies the problem. The bathroom is to be cleaned twice a day by the catering staff. Not sure how those people live at home, but I certainly don’t choose to live by their cleanliness standards (or lack there of).

When I went into the bathroom, there was the typical greasy hand mark on the wall above the toilet – this would be where you lean when you are urinating into the toilet. There was also snot on the wall behind the toilet. Inside the shower there was also snot on the wall. Well, since the first day you are dog tired. I choose to wait until the next night to clean the shower. When I was done for the day, I got my shower shoes on, my can of Ajax, spray bottle of Clorox cleaner and turned the shower on. I scrubbed all the walls behind the toilet, pulled the bathmat up that was growing mold and scrubbed it good. I started on the walls inside the shower. There was snot all over each wall. I had sprayed the shower down about two hours before I went into clean (good thing). As I was scrubbing the snot was just continuous. It went all the way to the tile in the bottom of the shower. The floor was icky as well as the bathmat.

Got it done, but then I was telling Pepe about how this seemed to be an excessive amount of snot.
This is how it went:
Him: That wasn’t snot
Me: What do you mean; I saw it behind the toilet. Along with the green crusty buggers on the walls in the shower.
Him: That wasn’t ALL snot
Me: Yes it was….
Him: You know what those guys do in the shower?
Me: Well yeah, they bathe
Him: That’s not all. You have heard them in there
Me: yeah and some of them pray in the shower
Him: That's not what they are praying to...............
Me: Oh dear God ! ! !

I was completely grossed out by the entire experience to begin with, now I have this visual……. Thanks BABE!!!

March Hitch

2009-03-15T10:02:00.000-07:00

Back to work ..... blahhhhhh.They changed my travel and flew me through Atlanta. So like usual I was up at 0300 and usually get into New Orleans around 1330. NOT when you go through Atlanta - got to the hotel around 1800.... company was trying to save a couple of bucks... So when we helicopter out - we again are up at 0300 (thats 0100 Oregon time) and get to the heliport at 0400 and fly around 0630... then the flight to the rig was about 1 hr 20 mins. I was whipped all day.

We are done with this well - and are unloading the rig right now. We will then pull anchors which takes about 3 days - then a 2 day tow - then anchors again. But here is the catch... they dont have anchors set - so we will be floating around the next site for about 2 weeks until they can get ready for us. We finished this well 27 days ahead of schedule....

HATE and DISCONTENT is all I can say for work. I hate my relief and I dont see it getting better..... hate hate hate...spit....spit...spit.....The crew that works opposite, are such backstabbers - I just have never seen the likes.

To put this into perspective: The contract (yep, day-rate-whore) HSE, was telling me how much he liked living in Oregon. The people there are just.......simple!

Simple????, W T F?????? Simple are the Mississippi rednecks!!! Where I come from, we do our thing and let other do theirs. We dont mess in other peoples business or really care with what they do with their business. As long as it does not affect me on a daily - or hell, as long as it does not affect me - I dont care what they are doing. But SIMPLE... NOT!!!! So I guess he can just take his complex ass right back across the hall and do something constructive or maybe send an email on ending world hunger. Oh I got it..... how about explaining to me, how if we have SAVED the Client over $200 Million on the last 4 wells we have completed, in the last four months - and just finished this one 27 days ahead of schedule. They can not afford to give a bonus.... Seems my simple mind can not comprehend how if they are budgeted X amount of dollars to finish a project - we finish ahead - they do a presentation on how great the performance was - how much ahead of the curve. How about they pay a bonus off the interest they earned on the money they did not spend or even plan on having at the end of the well?

You are right - we are just simple, where I am from....

Ok enough of that rant.

Lets get back to the hate and discontent. So, apparently the only way to look good - is to play off someone elses ideas, mess up spreadsheets (hit them with the fill button - now it looks like a damn kid was on them with a Fat Ole Crayon), move equipment into the office and not leave complete or informational handover notes. Unfortunately for my relief - I understand the game. Been played before - it didnt go well. I WON. So I can figure out what is going on. Be original. Complete a project - and look good at it.

So you can imagine my comment to the Contractor - "you know with life so simple in the Pacific Northwest, imagine how I hate working with these cut throat bastards!"

In other words.....

Fuck You - You Fucking - FUCK ! ! !

Yep, that is what is on the t-shirt I got for my best friend. Picked it up on Bourbon Street... I think that is exactly how I feel about those bastards.

Recipe for Roast Beef

2009-03-15T09:54:00.000-07:00

Gracie Allen's Classic Recipe for Roast Beef

1 large Roast of beef
1 small Roast of beef

Take the two roasts and put them in the oven. When the little one burns, the big one is done !

This is sooooooooo ....... how I cook ! ! !

Jack McAllister Shows Up

2009-03-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

So as you can see from the pictures - the place was an absolute mess, disaster, D all the above!!!!

The girl had sent me some pictures while I was still at work from her phone, so I would be prepared for the mess and not just absolutely FLIP OUT!! when I saw the ceiling on the floor and the massive water damage to the furniture.

Everyone goes home, the snow comes again, and then melts off, Pepe goes home. Now is time to get the contractor up here and the insurance company notified yadda yadda yadda.

I decide a smart thing to do is, take pictures of all the breaker panels, well head, propane tank, heat pump anything and everything that I had the girl looking at or for. Should be so much easier to walk someone through if I have pictures in front of me. yes, I do know the horse is running down the street - but hey, im catching on. Out I go with the camera, taking pictures of everything - and the damages and the property and the.... on and on. I load them on the computer, and looking through them.

scroll up and look at the first picture...

Who the hell is that? Standing next to the door, in the plaid shirt - not to mention he is taller than the door. He must be 9 foot tall. Holy SHIT!!!! I send the picture out to everyone in an email. Who is this - what is this?????

The girl is on her way back up here for the weekend, from Eugene, wasnt going to send it to her - she knows this place is possessed this would only confirm it for her.

I call Pepe - he is tripping. Tells me to go back out there and see if I can get another picture. He starts googling logger deaths in this area. There is a logging gate at the end of the road. I call my best friend - she trips out! I keep her on the phone with me, to go back out to the shop. Nothing there, phewww. BUT, there is nothing there that can be interpreted as plaid either. There isnt even anything red in that area. Only a white refrigerator. I go back in to get the camera and take a picture from the same area to see if he shows up again. Nothing....

My best friend and I start discussing the possibilities. Maybe he was killed years ago when they first logged the area. He doesnt seem to be a threat - he is just watching what is going on. That is when my phone beeped another call coming in; it says Jack McAllister. Ok, then; that is what we will call him.

This is hours on the phone, maybe I need to smudge the house and shop again. I havent had any issues with spirits for over a year. Maybe I need holy water? Maybe it is all ok, and he is just watching. Apparently not watching over me too good, or the damn pipes wouldnt have broke!!!

The girl finally shows up! I run through all the pictures on the computer. I get to that one and say "who is that?" She was like, its my boyfriend mother... Oh no, I tell her - no one was here when I was taking those pictures, I just took them this afternoon. She reassures me that they were the ones that she took with her phone and downloaded to the computer to email me. I dont remember seeing Jack McAllister in any that she emailed me. I wouldnt believe her, until she showed me on her phone the picture she had of Jack. And how did he get so tall? He was standing on a bucket.

Do we not understand the stress this just put me through? All day long, worrying that I had a logger hanging out in the shop? And who ever said I was not creative? Look at that mind, whipping up a story and running with it... not to mention the help I had from my friends!!!

Done with Classes

2009-03-11T08:38:00.000-07:00

This picture in the news for 1-9-09

So now that it is the second week of March and I FINALLY have all my recertification hours for the National paramedic - I have a couple of classes to recap...

I attended a Difficult Airway course in Portland. KEWL, it was at home (bonus column) I knew the people there (negative column). Lets discuss the arrogance of some people...

Now, typically if you work that type of job you are going to have confidence. you have to - how else are you going to perform a skill or even attempt a skill if you are not confident that you can do it??? Where do you cross the line to arrogance. Well, the best example was at this class... This guy has worked at the same company for 23 years in the metro area. Great - no problem with that. He thinks he has "got it" - he has seen all there is to see and done all there is to do. You know what I think???? "Hey if you got it all covered - do something else!" I dont want to hear about you. You bore me. You anger me. You aint shit. So of course when he starts on his "scenario" and the flight nurses are perplexed with which way to go. I stand there with a cric- going "here"... Apparently he felt that I was too aggressive and he wanted to continue to fuck with the other people. So I get a run down of his resume... Still not impressed!! and less impressed that he needs to spill his 23 years of accomplishments (or lack there of)... So, whatever man it's your show. Then he talks up this other dude - "well he has 30 years in the field" ok - I remember him, not sure how he has had so long in the field without having his certification pulled for being an idiot. And this dude, when we were all back in the auditorium taking the test. He starts SNORING, shit you not! It was quiet as could be, and he is snoring, when everyone starts laughing - he wakes up. Hummm, dont know what to think of that.

So, I guess I am ok with him finding a spot in life that makes him happy, and he can be the big fish in his isolated pond..... Good luck to ya!

Two days of that course, then it was back to the other ambulance service that I had worked with. I guess the good news is that I have aged (not terribly gracefully) over the past few years. Quite a bit heavier than I had ever been in my life - excluding 8 months pregnant. Oh and the grey hair - I call those platinum highlights. But when I havent had the rest of my hair highlighted - it looks like grey... Bastards - getting that taken care of today.

So the first person I see, that recognizes me - was just starting their paramedic carrier about the time I was leaving. She had to ride as a third person with me for a couple of weeks. She was like "oh my god! you were such fun, we had a nursing home transfer - a good song came on the radio, you cranked it - the patient was foo-barred and we sang all the way to the nursing home" ok, I dont remember that but, thinking it could very well be true...

The instructor has worked that area for ever - before time. And she still has the same stories. Living in the logging community - gutting an elk, when discussing kinematics of trauma. And stories of her child and pregnancy (note, the kid is 20 now). Again, happy in the world they know - never to move on or find new challenges....

Then some dude is there in a kilt. Thats ok, we love our freaks here in Oregon. Why Austin, TX has shirts all over "keep Austin weird" has never been to the Pacific Northwest. So we are doing a two day trauma course - I know this is going to be hands on... maybe that is why he wore the kilt? Then he was all talking he works offshore, for Frontier. Kewl - nice to be a contractor and a day-rate-whore as we call them. No wonder he is wearing a kilt. He was talking a big game, till he found out who I worked for, then he wanted contact information. He go to the web site and submit a CV like everyone else - I aint giving my name up for you.

The second day was entertaining in that - he showed up in a kilt again. There was a girl in there that had been a student about three years ago. I got to telling her funny things, and making comments and she was laughing uncontrollably. So not all was lost.

I did one day see the Operations Manager - or at least that was what he was when I was there. Thought maybe I would drop a pay stub on his desk. Best I could do, was pass him in the hall and call him by name. I think he knew who it was...... I'm pretty sure they dont still have my picture at the front desk, as a management threat......

Gotta send all that paperwork today!!!!

My favorite rig picture

2009-02-25T20:26:00.000-08:00

These are some of my favorite pictures of the rig. They were taken summer of 2007 while the rig was being towed to Columbia.

When we are on location we sit alot closer to the water. If you look through the columns near the water surface, you can see the tug boat.

Sunrises

2009-02-25T20:15:00.001-08:00

Sometimes - being offshore, there are some beautiful sunrises.... God knows, if I was home I certainly wouldn't be up for the sun rising ! ! !

A Bad CB....???

2009-02-23T06:12:00.000-08:00

Well........

I have been called many things, but being a bad CB????

What happened was, every morning we have a supervisors meeting at 0700. In this meeting each department discussing - events, findings and current operations for the day. I usually go first - with the safety critical issues of the day. However, as each department discusses the events for the day - I typically have questions - comments - and such.

We have a deckpusher, who is very outspoken, his voice carries well and he can be somewhat abrasive. Our OIM likes to give him a hard time, so he will make him go last or skip him on purpose until he has a "rise" out of him.

Today - when he finally had his turn. At the very end. I had a couple of comments about a task that we were doing. I made comment to the Barge Supervisor about secondary communication to the boat in the bridge...yadda yadda... At that point the deckpusher, says - I think we are about to have a come to Jesus meeting!!! I was like, WHAT???? Then apologized if I offended or was out of turn. He made the comment that I run over everyone like a Bad CB.... you know like in the old trucker days. What the hell?????? I said I was sorry again - he says sorry???? You do this every damn morning.... The entire room was laughing...

W T F ???? They drag me into a meeting at 0700 hrs, which is 0500 OREGON time - and expect me to be on top of my game???? Hello...... Just waking up here..... I cant remember everything - I need the audio prompts.......WORK WITH ME HERE....

Hell with them !!! They will learn to live with me.....

Phone Call

2009-02-13T17:19:00.000-08:00

So today I got a phone call from a 'private' number. I did answer it - it was an old friend from when I worked in the Middle East.

She wanted some advise..... Apparently her and her significant other are having problems. 'The other' is a private person, and since I am also - she wanted my take on things. They are working on their friendship and in that time are not "together". 'The other' has returned to Iraq and she has to finish her medical stuff before going through the hiring process all over again.

What happened was, she had an email from this person professing her love and such. She sent it to some of her friends, saying how much she loved this person and how great they were. Well it upset 'the other', since she didnt know these people and felt that it violated her trust. I was like, well yeahhhhhhhh - that is something private between the two of you. So we discussed parameters and boundaries of what you can and cannot share. I told her I would be livid with Pepe if you sent out an email that I had wrote, and I was sure that he would be the same. I would never share a heart felt message that was sent to me. It is ok to tell "friends" that your relationship is going great and that you are crazy about this person, and they are crazy about you - without violating what is 'yours'. I also commented on "we share pictures" and those pictures are just for us. Not to be sent to everyone that I know or posted on the internet. It was a common understanding we shared and kept private.

We then discussed the friendship aspect of our lives. I told her that sex is separate as far as what we enjoy and do together. What we share in public and in the public eye does not reflect who we are behind closed doors. What makes our relationship strong, is that we are friends, and enjoy the same things, laugh at others and ourselves. We can have the best day out in public. We have the best time behind closed doors. We have an incredible sex life, but we also have that time together to laugh and share between ourselves together. I also told her, that maybe part of how we were able to develop this time was that our relationship is under wraps, especially at work. That there is no talk of what we do and where we are, publicly. It is kept on a private level, and we were able to develop our friendship, and understand how each other are on a personality level.

She also talked about how 'the other' has a 10yr old daughter. When they are on R&R that the daughter is there with them. But, she told her up front that the daughter would always come first. This person never has had children and she doesnt understand the commitment of having a child. It would be hard when ever you had actual time away from the work place to have to share them, but that is where the situation is. Like I told her, your child is a commitment that you make to give them everything until they reach adulthood. And in theory, you should have the other person for a lifetime, a child you only have until they are grown. Then you have to learn to share them with the world and the surrounds they create.

It was typical conversation for her. She is one of those people that wants to talk about everything. Some people just are not willing to share their intimate feelings with anyone other than their partner. I dont know if I helped with it - all I could talk about was how great Pepe is, and how understanding we both try to be with each situation.

I am so blessed to have the love of my life, and be able to work through difficulties and situations.

After seeing todays news - I am also glad that I am not flying or traveling on Friday the 13th.

2-13-09

2009-02-13T16:54:00.000-08:00

Today has been a slow day. I always have projects that I can work on. I have never been one to be BORED, maybe not entertained, but I can keep myself busy.

Last night, I finally completed the week long portion of my class. I decided to have dinner in the restaurant of the hotel. I am a picky eater to begin with - but if it mows or clucks I will eat it. So the special was a prime rib, but what they brought looked like rib-eye with the bone. Whatever, it was beef. Of course, I had no interest in the accompanying vegetables. The meat had what I thought was chopped parsley on top - I scrapped most of it away, but didnt pay much attention to it. I spent most of dinner on the phone with my best friend - chatting and discussing children issues. Ate nothing else other than bread rolls and had a glass of wine.

On the way back to the room - I felt HOT, and prickly. When I get to the room - my face is flushed and way red. I am covered in hives.

I do my typical Claritin, Benadryl and Tagamet to clear things up. Took awhile to start feeling better. By then the Benadryl was kicking in well and I was feeling way drowsy. Pepe had just awaken and was ready for his daily phone calls and talking. I was having the hardest time communicating and staying with it. He kept saying "well I guess you are preoccupied" mummmm whatever... Im not preoccupied - IM MEDICATED!!! so I sent pictures from my phone to his email, so he could see what I looked like. That might of helped, but I was fading quickly.
Anyway - I survived, despite whatever it was that they put on the food.

2-11-09

2009-02-11T16:59:00.000-08:00

Half way through the class. Last night was soooooo long. I had to do CPR after all day lecture. This was one of the most painful classes to sit through. The dude teaching the class was so enthusiastic, it was killing me. I kept saying to myself, it was my own fault for being there and not having all my classes and paperwork in order. But even that did not keep me from hating this Dilbert.
Down to two months before I have to send everything in and im sitting in a week long class with an additional class before this started - another weekend of classes when this is over, and THEN to add this evening class on top of it all. I WILL NOT DO THIS AGAIN! ! ! ! So I made it through it - even at one point had to say out loud.....'for fuck sakes, can I take the exam?' But we all survived.

Havent seen much of the area. It is not too cold, or bad weather. Just not into exploring off into the city. I have had enough problems getting around here by the airport. This place is nothing but a winding clover leaf of freeways, highways and routes. I looked at the brochures in the hotel lobby and I didnt see anything that I really felt that I was missing.

This is actually my view from my hotel room - looking toward BWI airport.

2-8-09

2009-02-08T15:42:00.000-08:00

Mike AINT here.....

Maryland has the strictest regulations regarding retail sales of beer. In Maryland, beer can only be bought at privately owned liquor stores. Most of these stores close at 9:00 pm, but the law allows for sale of retail beer until 2:00 am.

I was wondering why at the gas/convince stores there is absolutely NO alcohol.... I went into a grocery store and asked if they sold alcohol, and they sent me to the pharmacy area - apparently they drink rubbing alcohol. The restaurant serves drinks and wine.... But this is a further cry from the drive through daiquiri stores, that I have learned to love in New Orleans..... I have yet to see a liquor store or really any pubs.

I made it in fairly uneventful on the 5th...well I say that now, but if you would have checked with me that day - it WASNT. There was this pushy old man at the airport that actually pushed past me to get on the airplane. I was not impressed with his lack of courtesy, especially since it was the first boarding call and we were all in first class. Then to get on the plane, and attempt to organize my stuff. I was by the window in the first row - the dude that was next to the isle apparently didnt understand the word "excuse me" when I was trying to put my stuff in the overhead. The flight attendant saw my irritation and said she would put my stuff up when we settled. I then slept the entire flight (3 hours).

On saturday I was to attend a class at UMBC, put the address into the trusted 'never lost' only to be taken to the opposite end of the road I was to be at, in a bad part of town. What should have been a 10 min trip was over an hour. But, of course I stopped at the Starbucks just outside of the hotel. Not going far without my latte. Made it through the day and completed the course, how thankful I am that American Heart has made ACLS a nice process.

Houston 2-5-09

2009-02-08T15:37:00.000-08:00

What we did in Houston...

http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html
http://www.houstonpress.com/events/pretty-things-peepshow-with-dj-big-e-1090716/
http://www.gogoamy.com/prettythings.html

I had a class in Houston - Pepe', came in for a couple of days. I was done with class before noon on thursday the 5th. For something to do - I checked the events, and found that the Body Works tour was still there. I was soooooooo excited. We went to the Museum of Natural Science spent like 6 hours there and went through the exhibit. We then had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown. Complete with a $65 parking ticket - yes they will be getting a personal letter with pictures of the area NOT marked for no parking, and a non-functioning parking meter - rastards!!! Our friend Maureen came and met us there, and we went to a Traveling Burlesque show. Different, something new to do. Well, this was in the 'adult bookstore' part of town. The "bar" was upstairs from the local tattoo and piercing parlor. Tough -tough crowd.... wow... no pushing up to the front of the stage there. Maureen is a big John Wayne fan, and the M C for the show - did some John Wayne, Maureen tells me 'oh looks like the good the bad and the ugly, all in one place' I was like "and the maimed, mutilated, and branded along with them". It was actually a very entertaining show. It was the typical side show freaks, playing with fire and eating light bulbs, along with a couple of burlesque shows. The second link pretty much sums up the entire show.

Jack McAllister

2009-01-23T18:42:00.000-08:00

That is ceiling....

Coming home from a long hitch, was hard enough!!! Missing all the holidays this year. We had several good storms in the Pacific Northwest, un-natural cold. I was warned that there was a problem with the pipes in the shop. I was even sent pictures of the mess, and the dry wall had fallen, the insulation full of water. This house is only 4 years old.....

I had heard from my boy - the roof was leaking. How could that be???? Get up on the roof and shovel the snow off, if it is that heavy and causing problems. Nope he says the roof is still leaking. A week later my girl, goes up to the house. This is one kid that I can walk through the house and find out what was going on. I have her under the house, nope all dry. Walking through everything to see where the problem is - cuz now they tell me there is no water pressure in the house. I am on a well, this is new for me. She goes into the shop - sounds like she is standing next to a waterfall. Im like "where are you"...Pepe hears it, and goes Oh Pipes Broke.... what the hell???? They ran the plumbing through the ceiling in the shop. I have never heard of such a thing. Then we try to figure out how to turn the water off to the shop. Well back the girl goes under the house - mean while, her brother is inside whinning about not having water, he boyfriend is asleep on the couch.

No luck in figuring this out - just going to have to flip the breaker to the well and shut all the water off to the house. She walks out into the garage to locate the breaker - horrible noise!!! Oh, that is the hot water heater burning up, cuz it has been out of water for the week also... Auuugggghhhhhhhh!!!! Flip the breaker to that - still bad noise. She was like, well cant I just unplug it? OK? They dont just plug in, but go ahead. Noise stops - it was a pressure regulator on top of the water heater. One more thing to look at when I get there....The kids need to pack up and get somewhere else - I would be home in about a week, to deal with it

Pepe comes home with me. Since the kids had to shut the well off to the house, I had no idea where to start to get this done.

There is still like 3 foot of snow around the house - it had melted froze and snowed again. So we came in at like midnight - the girl was back at the house. With jugs of bottled water and tried to clean the house as much as possible. We get up in the morning. First order of business is to find where to terminate the water to the shop - and get water on in the main house. Digging through the snow and trying to locate the water main. No luck - so pull the insulation that is hanging in water filled plastic to find the pipes that are in the flippin ceiling. Found where they came in by the window - cut them. Now off to the hardware store to cap them and get more stuff. K, got them capped!!! Flip the breaker. Waala - water to the house. Now to the water heaters, we got running water - sounds like they are filling. Woohoo, and we finally have hot water.

Next order of business.... Oh yeah - the girl turned 21 while I was gone. So now my best friend is coming with one of the boys (nephew) that grew up with the girl. The boy is coming home - we just got water, but hey - that isnt stopping the girl from having the trip to downtown Portland that she was promised!!!! Lets get ready - we have places to go.... Lets not mind the mess the house is in - as you can tell from the first picture, what the shop looked like after having water drain through the ceiling for over a week.....