…wow…

 Well, that was a year. Like I’m even late for the wrap up blog. Good gracious. I myself am disappointed in myself Kung fu wise. But that’s the way the cookie crumbles I suppose. Didn’t accomplish much in long run! Hell of a start…then work happened. 

  So, I made progress professionally, still making strides. Definitely a bit of a break out year for me! It’s still solid. Working on the coating crew, and making good time from what I understand. 

Life’s been really really busy. Not a lot of wiggle room, especially since I’ve had a total of 72hrs at home since jan2. Not all at once! Haha. Pipelining friends. It’s not a job, it’s a way of life. That’s what some people just don’t get. Some people, ya know, have said “with change of the times comes change!” The way people work is changing. The way business is done in general is changing! We are as well, just baby steps. 

I really do enjoy what I do. I am very proud to call myself a pipeliner. Some people hate me. That’s fine. I’m not here to please anyone, but myself. That’s what really matters. 

Anyhow. 

Just another day, whatever day it is!

 Hey ya how’s it going? Been a “few days” I suppose since we’ve last spoke. This job is almost done! Super duper close to being all wrapped up. We are like two weeks ahead of schedule and honestly gaining time. 

I haven’t let my foot off the gas on pushing the crew! No, to be honest i have pressed harder on the gas and asked for a little more outta everyone. The crew has responded very well, so far! There’s always one guy whom wants to try to slow the job down for another pay cheque and I’m working on him. Leaning hard on him. I make sure that if this guy is backfilling, I’m watching him! Haha. Willy don’t play games!! 

I haven’t had much time for anything else. My days starts around 5am. Gotta leave by 530. Grab fuel, get my truck loaded with the days materials and then I have a morning meeting with the crew. Now it’s 645-7am. Morning chat, give directions for the days tasks, ask for questions, tell a bad dad joke and off to the races. Typically I’m the first guy on the lease, and so, I do the site walk through, check for vandalism, stolen goods, okay we can start! The boys get to it and my paperwork starts. Safe ditch entries, start cards, steep hill forms to sign, equipment inspections….blah blah blah….okay let’s go already, (730-8ish) I don’t normally stop for morning break (10am) I’ll eat around lunch or if I’m hungry I’ll go get a bite to eat! Most days, I will throw some granola bars in my pocket and a cup of coffee in my back pocket and let’s roll!!! Haha. Noon hits and the days half over! Double check all my paperwork make sure nothing on site has overly changed! Resign and fill out what needs to be updated! Okay get back to work you dogs…afternoon break is at 3pm. Gents have a bite!! Bam! It’s 530-545, and now I’ll cut you loose! But first, we get back to the yard and unload and clean out trucks, throw out the trash, winterized pumps, ensure we get things ready for tmrw! Okay, cuts the boys loose for the day and I’m into the office (630ish) usually my paperwork takes 15-20min, but also the bosses and myself start the plan for tmrw! Sometimes, we leave at 7…sometimes it’s closer to 730….oh gawd I’m beat! Okay, cool, what’s for dinner? Oops forgot, not tonight!! It’s three day old left overs…get it into ya!! 30 min drive to motel, pack a lunch, shower, eat some more food, and most importantly, what I truly look forward to, family phone calls, and then hopefully I go to sleep around 930-10! Lately, it’s odd, I haven’t been sleeping! Nopers, I’m getting 3-4hrs and that’s about it! Staring at walls, and blinds and roofs! Haha.

You wanna hear something odd? I have learnt that, if I’m watching people work, just being a boss and not one of the boys, I get anxious and start to stress out! Yeah for reals! It truly bothers me to not be in the ditches. So what am I gonna do about it? Well, I have to learn to handle this new found “stress”.  Like it really bothers me. Its been pointed out that I’ll slowly move around in large circles or I’ll medium pace pace. Or I just stand there all tense like. A fair bit of the time I do not realize I’m doing these things until I’m knee deep into a hole I just walked!! I have to learn, that’s what the crew gets paid for, that’s literally why they got hired… doesn’t mean I’m not going to get in there and work, but I do have to almost take a step back and let them have at it. This crew we have been together for four and a bit months. We know what to do. We know who does what and when they should do it. Everyone knows their place! 

Even the young 20 year old kid with a mouth on him! He learnt! He learnt the hard way. I tried really hard to remind him that, sure I like to joke about and have a good time, but sometimes, you gotta read the play and not spout off. That didn’t work. So I spoke about if he even knows the verbal and physical ways to tell if someone has had enough. No?!? Weeellllllll, he decided to keep digging a hole with me! He didn’t know his limits, so I taught him some manners! He ran away from interrupting me and some higher ups with his tail between his legs! I not so politely promised him I was not going to hit him, but I am going to head butt him if he spouts off one more time! Now, be a good young man and get out of this ditch and get something done! A few hours later, after keeping a safe distance, he apologized and asked what he did wrong! He truly didn’t understand! I apologized for threatening him, and asked him to really work on learning when enough is enough, because he damn near ate my hard hat! I reminded him that the good lord gave him two ears and one mouth for a reason and he best figure that one out before I sort it out for him! I don’t want your fear, but now, you start back at zero with me. Start earning my respect, not the crews laughter! The crew won’t keep him around, my reports and daily boss talks will keep him around, and yes I have had to have a conversation with the big boss about keeping him on site! He promised he’d change his attitude, and he has! We shake hands and moved on! He’s been gold ever since! Still cracks his jokes, appropriately, he’s still a great hand, and now he’s far better! Hahaha. Since that day, I’ve complimented him a few times on his work ethic and how he’s changed things for the better! 

Anyhow, that’s enough outta me I guess! Not really sure on what else to talk about! Soon I’ll be back training online with everyone! Soon! So close friends. For a few weeks anyhow. Until the next one starts! 

And with that being said

Have a great night and thanks for reading my ramblings 

Mr.Duncan

Catching up

Hey there. Yeah I see you reading this! That’s right on! Thanks. I’m in a really grateful mood lately. Yeah I had a real cool tour of around the little hamlet I’m staying in. I’m actually staying in Wasa, just outside of cranbrook. Yeah, I wrapped up Sparwood and got shipped on!! Made the cut! 

So, yeah, new shiny places! This time it’s different. One of the fellas I work with has lived here his whole life, and we share a lot the same hobbies, like work and shooting and trucks and other stuff. 

I asked for help in finding accommodations. Sparwood was acceptable but way too expensive! So he hooks me up with a sweet deal at the local motel! Yeah and it’s a really nice room to boot! Like I’m paying a month here for a weeks worth there kinda deal! I love small towns! 

Sweet deal!! This dude I working with he’s solid! I’d dare to say I made a friend! Ha!! I asked if he’d show me about! He knows every road in this place, so he takes me to places like the top of an old look out tower built in the early 1950’s!! Of course I climbed the broken stairs and stood on the rotting balcony! You just have too!! Signed the book. That stuffs important. It’s was even creepier because the clouds had settled on the mountain! The trees are all kinda stunted and visibly different from the trees further down the hill! Less oxygen there, so they don’t grow so tall!! What a time yeah!?! Definitely mini trucks for those trails!! 

And bears and more bears and elk and deer! Saw my very first blue grouse!! You only see them at high elevations and they are a beautiful bird. It is blue feathered! Just cool!! 

I did a rep of DMH up on top of the mountain. No I didn’t get pics! I was too busy living in the moment! Just enjoying the whole situation and taking it all in!! 

Anyhow, I’ve been chipping away at this blog for a few days now! My days are getting longer and longer! I have to be on site for 6:30am for meetings, before we have our morning tailgate. And unfortunately, I don’t leave site until 6:30pm at the earliest! Closer to 7. I have got paperwork and time cards and daily reports and blah blah blah…. My foreman has started to really groom me for a foreman seat! I was supposed to take a foreman a few weeks ago, but I did say, if there’s someone with more experience, then, let them have it! I can and will do it, but I feel I don’t have the experience to be pushing a full crew! Especially on this project! 

This job is the literal first of its kind with the repairs dig ups that we are doing! Last time anyone looked at this line was in the 1950’s when it was first installed. The pressure is on and so are the eyes!! Every Tom dick and Harry are out here watching how we are going to expose these lines….ugh! Not fun! The work is, the pressure isn’t. 

Any which way, I have a bit of a slow day today! I’ve been placed to watch the welding crew. It’s funny we had a office dude out here the first day watching these guys and they dropped the ball on getting things done on time. The office guy was… kindly told to not come back out, and now, I am here! Oh I’ll tell you what, we are back on par for hitting the appropriate finish times! I had to straighten out a few poor attitudes and sort out a thought process that this is a place to waste time. As in, I’m really unsure why the welder is not running! Can you mr.welder please explain to me why in the #*^% this is taking so long? No?!? No good reason? You best get back at it….But, we are friends now, and nobody wastes time here anymore….hahahaha!! 

Oh a funny-ish story. We had to unload around 100 sandbags! So we set up a line of hands and started throwing them down the line! And typical pipeliner mentality, we started “gentle” and by the time we are like 5 bags in, we are throwing the sandbags at each other! “Hurry up! Come on catch it!! What is your problem? Can’t catch a 25lb sandbag?? Hahaha  my foreman, big big old farm boy, waited until I had a sandbag in my hands and turned to look at him, ready to toss the next bag, I see him holding the sand bag, so I says, what you need a break big guy? Need a hug for motivation? So he does his small smile and blasted me in the face with this sandbag…hahahaha…so I threw it back!  He throws it back at me, but harder, darn near knocked me over!! Hahaha!! Gotta have fun I say!! All in good fun!! Hahahaha!! Best crew I’ve seen in a long time!! 

Outside of that guys, I don’t know what else! Boot camp looked like a lot of fun! Kind of disappointed I’m missing so much, but, it’s part of the gig! School looks great! Thank you for everyone’s hard work getting the Kwoon looking so nice! Great job everyone! 

I guess that’s pretty much it for now! 

Have a great day 

Thanks for your time 

Mr. Duncan  

Wasa

 Hey there everyone! Yeah hey it’s great! Just plugging along!! I’ve moved towns now, I’m no longer in Sparwood! No we moved down to Cranbrook!! Oh wow what a place this is….like super sarcastically….I’m sure it has its diamonds. 

 I elected to go to this awesome little hamlet called Wasa. An older Swiss couple own it. Honestly, I think the muppets when I hear a Swiss accent!! Hahah. They are real neat to talk with. I enjoy them. I quite enjoy my time here. Loving it!! 

I have started putting thought to make efforts and plant seeds to move out in this general direction…. I dream of places like this! My kinda world. Decent sized lots for an acceptable price!! Holy moly!! Even larger parcels outside of town. 

Anyhow one of the guys I’m working with, his 3x grandfather was a founding member of this town! Ha. How cool is that?!? And then, everything came together with this fella! He scored me the room! Lines everything but the payment up! I got this for ya Will. He’s good people. He knows who and what and where!! Just a gem. 

Oh you should have seen the size of this black bear we saw a few days ago at end of shift!! Holy cow, she was big! We slowed down to take a look, but, couldn’t stop as I was heading a convoy of trucks down this logging road…hahaha. Man what a time!! I wish I could have stopped though, just to watch and see her! You could tell it was a sow. The ears are different between boars and sows! Bears are cool! She had no cubs and she was older, getting on in age! The dude I ride with, schooled me with bear knowledge and how to identify sow or boar. Guess age correctly! A better way to identify grizzlies other than just looking at the hump! Learnt a lot today! Good time!! 

Adapting and growing

 Why hello there! How are you? The kids? Dogs? Cats? Cool!! Sounds great!! I’m doing well! Real good still. Yup just got back on shift. I had a good set of days off. Never long enough, but, seems too long at times! 

Soooo, plans. Organizing skills. Setting up the days work. Tomorrow’s work plan as well at this point. Adapting and changing. 

Had a 5am out the door kinda day today and I’ve honestly just stopped! 8pm. I had to be in Cranbrook for 7am and I took the company whip, so, that’s really have to drive nicely…I get rewards for driving properly!! Haha. Ahhh what a place. Seriously my company handed me a 600watt work flood light, for driving properly…mind blown, but thank you! This is great! Anyways, back to the point. Last night we/I had a chat with the crew about today’s work. And we had a plan that was deadly! We would have been off of the lease and near done the second lease, across the street! Cool, I talk to the bosses and lay out the plan! Bosses like it, makes sense! 

I’m finished my reading and have finally made it back to site! Dudes, I roll onto site and nothing has changed! Not one piece of dirt, not a rock, nothing!! What is “tarnations?” That’s not what I said, use your imagination! Not you kids, just the adults. Yeah there’s my operator! Yeah his hoe is not broken, what the front door is happening here!! I’m mad, but, I gotta be calm! That’s the boss I wanna be! Not going to let this ruin my day! Nope! Lead by example! 

Allan, jumps outta his hoe, speed walks over and starts spilling the beans! Dude, you’ll never believe this! Well this morning, in my absence, the boss changed the plan, and told my operator to just kinda take the day and be chill, nap if you want, it doesn’t matter….. Oh I said! Well than! Isn’t that neat! Well, whatever then! Sorry dude but get back in that hoe and let’s get to work I suppose! He does and we do! 

The boss shows up later on and is like, what are the odds you are going to be done tonight will? It’s supposed to rain tmrw! 

I’m pausing, and collecting my thoughts! Oh I’m choosing my words wisely right now! There’s so much I want to say!! I’m staring dead at him and ask, “Pardon? I didn’t hear you properly what did you just say to me?” So he repeats and I’m like, “ya know something here boss, if the plan was left alone today, we would be done, but it wasn’t and because of that we won’t be done tonight, at all!” “Oh well can we make this happen?” “No, not tonight, too much too do!” He says thanks and leaves. 

And you know something team, I put my anger into my task and, by golly, we would have got it done tonight, I truly would have even in such a short period of time, but alas the boss calls and changed the plan, again, and completely sent it all for a ride, again. I was so impressed! Like super happy he did that! 

I had top soil left and that is fast and easy! Two hours no sweat!! Now, abandon this site, loose two hours+travel back and forth and we just lost 3-4 hours and we honestly went and did all the work we could do in the rain for tmrw…

Boss shows back up to drop off stuff we needed tmrw and is like, “yup, I screwed you!” 

Man I stopped dead in my tracks and simply said, yeah, you did! But imma tell you this for free right now! I’ve screwed up on site and you covered for me! Its my turn to cover for you! Don’t worry about it boss! I’ll still make you look good!”

“Okay, good, I though you where gonna beat me up! Okay cool Will, see you later” 

“That’s not off the table yet, but have a nice night, see ya later”

I was pretty proud of myself! I stayed calm, I didn’t even raise my voice! I had impulses, I wanted to just explain things, but, what will I gain? Nothing! He’s covered for me, so that would be rude for me to do. I could have just walked away, not even speak to him, like I first wanted too, but that’s childish! 

What I did do was put myself in his shoes an try to understand his logic! Make sense of his mess, maybe I’m not understanding it! Maybe I just can’t see the play! Maybe he’s still feeling the days off? Man, I don’t know! What I chalked it up too, is he has his reasons why! It’s my job to do as instructed and learn. 

My temper has always been my Achilles’ tendon! I could get mad at my pants forgoing on to easy…. Always, finally, after many many years of slowly working on it, I am starting to calm down! Starting to see more of the grand picture. Especially since the pandemic started! I’ve honestly tried really hard to not jump to conclusions and try so hard to see it from everyone else’s perspective! To lead by example as best I can! Be the boss everyone wants to work for!!

Today team, outside of the actual training itself, my day flopped, it sucked, it was dog poop! Never should have gotten outta bed! Could have thrown a fire extinguisher, I was so pissed!! But today, I stayed in that positive mental attitude! I took breathes!! Deep ones!! I stayed “for real” smiling and kept it cool! Even my partner commented on how calm I took the crap show!! 

Today, I took a victory for myself! Chalking this one up to the higher power and giving thanks for the strength to stay calm! 

Fist pumps and high fives!! 

Anyhow, everyone, I’m starting the head nod, I am gonna shut this down for the night! 

And such, I say good night!

Thanks for your time

Mr.Duncan

All In Good Time

 Well, it’s been a while I’d say. thanks for the poke there, Mr.B! I have honestly lost track of time. And now, its near september. Getting stuff done homies! Just killing things….man mad props from everyone out here! People real pleased with the jobs we as a crew are doing. It’s nice. And we really are doing a bang up job. I mean, it’s pretty cool. 

We had black bears come and check us out wednesday! Two cubs and mom was spotted off in the trees, I’d say they were 80-90 years away, heads just peaking over the tall grass!!! They split a rotten tree stump and they were busy over there. It was cool!! And some people have to stop on the highways to see that, I just go to work!! we watched them split a rotten tree root and start digging. It really looked like the cubs where having a blast. I did not see mama bear, but, honestly, its a black bear. so, do not go poking them and they will leave you alone. its not like it was a grizzely who, will literally bluff rush you, simply because it can. Grizzelies know how big they are, black bears do not, or they just dont care. dont poke the black bear and you get to live!! haha. what a day that was. 

I feel a lot like I getting rewarded for my efforts at work. I giver and I care! It honestly sets me apart from others who don’t carry an attitude like mine. Once I’m committed, I’m all in. No excuses. Ha ha!  I don’t mean to toot my horn… too loudly, but it feels good, for a fella like me, who pours his everything into the project, to get a few atta boys!! 

For example, The head inspector, him and I work closely together. He knows I’m new to integrity digs and management on the pipeline. He’s working with me. Tips, advice, a heads up on how to be more efficient. And actually helping get stuff done. He literally gets i the ditch and gets dirty with us. That is absolutely unheard of. most wont say boo, and most just run and tell on you. Positive reinforcement. Helpful advice. Explains himself,  the whys and how’s. I listen and grow. I pay attention and ask questions. I see what’s going on here. 

He says to me, “ya know will, you’re gonna be a foreman one day here real soon, you’ll see!” I kinda laugh, “sure, sure, I’m like a dog driving a car dude!” He responded  “laugh now and make sure you laugh later when I say I told you so!” 

A few days go by and I get called in to talk to the superintendent about, well, a utility foreman seat! They like my clean up and how I conduct my small crew and leases I do “run”  everyone’s real happy with everything I bring to the table, haha!! Oh I laughed!! my quality of work is very high. I do not leave any garbage, messes and unless you know what to look for, you wouldn't even know we where there. Yeah baby, yeah!!

To be honest with a whole crew of like minded positive people, things are just better! well, this blogg has been in the works for a few days, and a few days ago, i really enjoyed everyone. two people decided to blow two shifts, to basically go get drunk. I want them off my crew, like yesterday! Fired! You're fired, but, the big big boss, has decided for one more chance.....I am floored. Me? I do not have patience for people like that. Absolutely shocked....i told him, this is a terrible exapmle to set. You do realize we will pay for this now and later, when people figure out they can just no-show, whenever they want to. A very dangerous standard to set. How do i know? Because ive seen it all too many times. 

I still like that vast majority of people here, now, i just have to be a little more attentive. All i need is an excuse at this point. Whats the big deal? sure ill tell you. What would happen if my boss decided, naw, im going to get drunk and blow off two shifts? The project will come to a screatching halt. What happens if I blow shift? My truck doesnt move, and no one on my crew gets to site, the plan for the day gets screwed right up. Both fired, these two degenerates......

Anyhow, what about training you say? Its okay. i have kinda dwindled out here. I am beat. I figured it would be easier to get back into full swing once i was used to working again, but after a 14hour day, one of the last things i want to do, is go anywhere and do anything. so, yeah I'm slacking and slacking hard. i know excuses, excuses. Hahahaha. 

Now that im managment, theres extra training and courses, i have to keep up with, and that eats up alot of my spare time. Its all computer work too boot, and we all know how much i suck with computers. Ahh well, welcome to the big leauges. 

the bits of trraining io do do, i try exceptionally hard for clean and precise movements. why am i practising? to get better, so, be better, in my practicing. Lock those stances, before moving on. Get those push up and sit ups in. Come on man, i know im tired, I know its been a hot and dirty long day. But, come on man, lets get rolling. And after a few moments of the body fighting and being stubborn, i start the training again. 

Well, i guess, I dont know what else to talk about. 

Oh, have you seen Peaky Blinders? Man what a great show, BY order of The Peaky Blinders you gotta watch it. Starts in 1919, and follows this street gang, that has huge ambitions!! The guys have razor blades tied into their caps, they make examples and statements with. Oh its my kinda show. 

Okay dokay, now i think that is everything

I will talk at you soon!

Thanks for your time

Mr.Duncan

Touching Base

 Howdy ho there friends!! How’s it going? How’s the week and a bit been? Been good!? Yeah I bet! It’s been well, thanks for asking! Really well! 

Work has been great. Quite rewarding!! I’m made it through the break in period of being a mini boss, and tomorrow I start my journey on my own! It’s honestly something I’ve done a lot on the pipeline and it was my break through gig on the line! Oh, I didn’t say, you say. It’s the shading end of things. So the jobs done and inspected and crates and everything is flowing and all that’s left is covering the pipe up. There’s far more to it than just dumping some dirt on it and walking away!! I wish! 

No, there’s a lot of sand needed to lay the pipe on and we need 300mm of coverage all over the pipe, compacted to an inspectors liking and then layer by layer we cover and compact! It’s about a 16hour gig to do properly! Rules about when the compactor can go on pipe and which compactor and at what height are we to change the directions! 

Ya know and it made me wonder, if we make new rules by learning the hard way, then that’s must of sucked learning that lesson….

Anyhow, I just finished my few days off and spent them really crushing time with the family. Busy busy, seems I need to be at work to relax!! Hahaha. I’m just kidding.

The other day I was working some DMH and I’m not sure if I was looking the best or what, but man I was having fun. Snapping the body into stance, finding that ground! I was really feeling the forms. 

Dragon felt good, I’m positive I’m mixing something up, but that’s cool. Maybe I’m really not and just second guessing myself too much! I really enjoy that form. Just the power and flow, when I do find it, it’s just incredible! Like, the second last technique I keep having this feeling of face palming someone!! Hahaha! I like that even more! 

I wanna tell ya about this chat I had this a real old friend! This is the second guy in the last few weeks frond the past that has reached out to me! It’s a cool feeling, tell ya what! 

So anybow, we rolled together in high school and a bit in adult life, but, parted ways long time ago! I honestly half thought he was passed away until I saw him on the book of faces! It is funny how things work out, after the typical, how are you what are you doing babble, he opened up! He’s looking for someone to help, with different symptoms, but is at that stage of ready to accept, but doesn’t wanna take that plunge yet! And he’s happy with what he’s got!! And that’s just fine I say! Atleast he’s out there getting in touch with the good people and asking the good questions!! 

He asked about getting happier and how to try to beat these bouts of depression. I’m no expert but, I know what I know! I said, finding gratitude in what is in front of me, in my family and home, and just being grateful that it’s not worse, because it could be. The universe gives you exactly what you can handle, it’s gratitude for “the opportunity to get to work on this problem” that makes me smile! 

…from what I’ve heard…from people I really admire…and from what I’ve experienced first hand…

But I digress, I’m tired and fear I’ll start rambling about wrestling and how it’s made me mad!! Like, Getting rid of Bray Wyatt…like who does that???!? Why in gods green earth would you let go one of the hottest names in wrestling today??? Like some of the other talent I can live with, fine…but bray Wyatt?? And then you put Goldberg in the title picture? Goldberg?? Don’t ya mean Oldberg man alive! What is this? The Golden Girls?? Oldberg gave himself a concussion on the last match he was in by smashing his own head against a steel door to get amped up?? Who does that? He practically fell over in his entrance… And then you just about break the undertakers neck, not once but twice!! In the same bloody match! Literally booed outta the ring and a like 18 months later, have another title shot while we lay off the real talent!!! It’s okay to retire with grace and be the literal unstoppable machine from 20 years ago, but this is just trying to light a fart in a tornado….ahhh! That’s right! A fart in a tornado! It stinks and it blows!! And then…

Haha oh well…

Okay dokay! I’ll talk to you later

Mr.Duncan