Ahhh work, isn't it dandy

 Hello there. Its me, Mr.D. yeah back for another instalment of whats going on today!?!?!

Well, let me tell you what. It has definatly been a few days. I mean, where does a guy start? All sorts of issues kind of hitting us all at once. Like seriously. What the heck. Too many people looking at the mountains and not enough people looking at their jobs? I don't have the answers. I have only a speculatin or two, and that's one of them.

Yeah, i had a guy on my crew. No, he is still a kid and he needs to find his own path. I have had this young man under my wing for five almost six months in total. I have worked near him a total of ten months. Solid hand! Great worker, indeed. But an attitude that just like, holy cow, boom outta no where absolute refusal to do the task i gave him. and no, its not the best job, it sucks. It was flagging on a road. No, not the coolest job, but, i had my reasoning. One, When asked to put my crew together, I had in mind a go-to truck. The boys that can do it all for me. Dig, flag, move equipment, help set-up sites, so on and so forth. ANd ya know, it was pretty solid, until, he had to flag for me. 

Now, because, this young lad was such an awesome worker and just solid to have around, yeah, here, go flag dude. have a free afternoon of just standing and chilling about. I know standing there sucks, but, it will be on quiet roads only, and ill try to find you shade. From both guys, yeah no problem. It will be great Will, we have your back, blah blah blah...

So he pulls a refusal to do dangerous work! Now, that is actually really serious. I go to start the conversation about how we can mitigate and understand what is going on with the dangerous work. 

The roads busy and he doesn't want to dodge the cars speeding by.. We are on a quiet residential road. 3 hours, six cars. All driving slow, because ya know, no one actually wants to hit anyone..

There is not enough communication between the signal persons...we gave them working radios that i made sure work. We are within speaking distance to the work actually being done. There is no lack of communication

He did not have the proper gear, because he refused to go get the proper gear from the tool crib him, as i asked and not tell me about it until I asked him where it is when it was time to go and get to work. he was mad I sent him back to the tool crib to get the gear. 

His final argument is he didnt have his paper copy of his flagging ticket on him, so he legally could not flag. He told me this after i made up my mind to drive him into the yard and give him to safety to deal with. did not have it because he threw it out the window of his vehicle. 

Blehh... not even excuses man. After, we give him truck privildges, after raises, after praise, he thinks he can pull a stunt like this after ten months of pipelining? You do not pull that stunt after ten years experince, unless, it actually is dangerous. Then, all the power to ya. Not for this one. This is lazy. And unfortuanatly, everyone in the offices know this. All the bosses, the other spreads and bosses over on the other few projects... it is too bad, he had second chance after second chance. I literally got into an argument with the boss over even hiring this kid. Yes, bossman, you where right. 

Learning curve I suppose. So much so, I kinda sat a really contemplated if this is on me. I needed to know. One way or the other. And i honestly know, that i am "clean" in this situation. This is all on that young fella. It is too bad. maybe he can get another shot at another company, but, we are a very tightnit group. There is only so many of us in all of western canada. And we all know each other. 

I know people on three major projects, and i dont know how many smaller projects. I personally have been around for the better part of six years. My boss has fourty-two years in the buisnesss. He knows everyone. Ha. I almost feel bad for the young lad, but, you dont get to pull stunt after stunt and disrespect every single person you want just to get out of flagging. That is not how its gonna work. Ever. 

I mean, besides that, the job is going well. I feel anyhow. I am trying to slow down and follow the steps. Really concentrate about just making sure I have my paperwork my ducks and, especially my path forwards.  One foot in front of the other. so to speak. 

Anyhow, talk at ya later

Mr.Duncan

July 2, 2011

Well then. 11 years of continuous sobriety. Man that feels great. I have definitely had some ups and downs. I was thinking about things and, ya know the last time i camped for work, it was the summer i quit drinking. Ha. I am camping here for work. I have always been nervous about doing that again; and have stuck to apartments and hotels. so much nicer this time around. This time, its not psychotic. I am not so nervous about everything. i am pretty chill. Pretty calm. For the most part.

I am pretty open and honest about who i am and where i came from. So when asked bluntly to go a party, i respond with the same, no thanks, thats not something i enjoy anymore. Or, i would prefer not too, but thank you for the offer. Some people ask why, so i give them, i do not drink, and i do not go to things, places like such. But, thank you for the offer. 

Drinking, more the effort to not drink, is not the same. It's something that i have practiced for so long, that its not even in my body or mind anymore. It no longer consumes me or my life as it once did. FOr example, when i very first decided to sober up, I went to a meeting a day for the first month or two, then down to three a week. Then eventually after four years i went down to two a week. then one a week. Now, its been a while since i've been to a meeting. It is not something i feel bad or remorsful about, no, not at all. I have simply moved on. I still hear those old voices and their advice whispered, sometimes yelled at me. Ha. Loved it.

Do not get me wrong, i owe my new life and my new everything to alcoholics anonymous. Yeah, even my path to Kung Fu, did not seriously start after my new A.A. journey. ah wow. For what an exciting time it was, I sure am glad that chapter is over. Well, that would be living in the past, no need for that. No, onto new things to concur and destroy.

It is very obvious a new chapter again started yet again. And here, again, pretty darn close to my A.A. bday. You know I spoke about taking a full time foreman seat, and that is the chapter. Being the boss i always wanted to have and showing the rest of them bosses this is how its done. I will get outta the guys what i want, basically when i want it. Because i lead. I am in the trenches lets go boys!!! I have a few little motivational lines i give out too, Yeah, are you trying out for Mack tools as a tool model, because, i would quit and just worry about this ditch!! haha. All in good fun.  I have more than earned my spot, and I take it as serious as such. It has been reittertated to me, that when i step foot onto that project, everyone answers to me. Third parties, inspectors, other foreman, it is mine. Yeah, i was like wow. That's throwing a guy to the wolves, eh!?! I have been entrusted with an entire section of the project, I have got to be on my game at all times!! No sweat. I can handle this, hold my soda pop and watch this.

I had the chance to have a solid heart to heart with the fella i have worked under for my entier pipeline career. He wanted to know, so he asked, and I bluntly told him who i was and where i was going, until i changed. He asked about my past and I told him quite honestly how terrible it truly was. I told him that if wanted me to drink, he should just shoot me. Its the same result. Ha. Then things made a little more sense for him. I did say, Ya know, all bull shit aside, I have an awesome killer instinct and when i lock on to something now a days, its pretty hard to get me to faulter from that goal. He said, oh yeah, whats that goal? "To be honest, i won't be satisfied until i take over all of this Jeff. I want this world now. In short, when you are done, and you say it is time, I want your position." "I appreciatye that will!" We shook hands and carried on. 

The seed for the next twenty steps have been planted. I don't control tomorrow, but, i can alter things and ask for help. I may not be able to control what comes at me, but i can plan and have plans for plans falling apart. 

Man, thinking back, it's been quite the journey. I am proud of myself on this day. 

Here's to another 24

Will

 So, here I am, in salmon arm, having the time of my life. I have officially taken the foreman seat on the digging crew! That’s mine now! Yes, me mnd my boys go and dig up a live gas line! Whooooo!!! I crushed that goal. Heck yeah. Not done though. Not done at all. Not even close.

The crew I put together is fantastic I feel. There are a few guys I’ve just met. There’s a few guys I worked with for the last year and one guy I have worked with for an honest 6years. 

These guys are great. The two I’ve had with me for a time, simply fell into line. They know what to do. They know how to do it! I’m simply just guiding and leading. 

Anyhow, we crushed our goal at work today with enough time to have a solid chill out break mid afternoon. Awesome! 

But I’m all honesty I’m just so grateful for the past few years. Two years ago, I fell deep into depression and all I had was Kung fu. Tried rebuilding best I could, tried to smile and be happy. Tried, some days I failed terribly. Others not bad. Last year, I had an opportunity of a lifetime for me. I got offered a job, that was the beginning of an absolute rocket ship for me. 

I took the positions sent my way! Also turned down positions I did not have the experience for. I grabbed bulls by the horns and went for the ride. Still riding man, and it feels great! I honestly did this career, my way!

Remembering back, I approached this job very different than almost all my past careers and jobs. I really felt, like I was running outta options and life to do something. School was going well, but I did hate it. I truly did. I wanted to love the new career, I wanted to want that lifestyle. But let’s face things, I’m very very good at what I currently do! So good in fact, that if you where to come onto a site I’m on, likely, I’m the first guy you need to speak to before I ask you why you’re on my site. Serious, your buisness is my buisness on that lease! Ha! What a thought! 

And I always talked about being that boss! Being the boss I wanted to have! Well… time to be that boss…

Okay dokay have a good day! 

Sure

 Hey everybody. Yeah I’m still around!! Still going strong. I have t been around at all since well last spring, and I do believe that’s the way it’s gonna be for the foreseeable future. 

Career wise, I’m absolutely crushing it. The winter in Conklin proved to be instrumental for myself and solidifying my position and earning that respect from my fellow hands and bosses. 

I have spoken about holding a foreman position. That was a temporary position at the time. I did say, back then, no sir, I do not have the knowledge to hold that position properly. Some people have spoken to me, just jump in and take it!! Fake it until you make it….no. Not for a second. 

In my industry we tear people apart for that. You either know or you don’t and if you say, yes I can do that and you mess it all up, best intentions or not, you’re gonna regret screwing up the project. Because, honestly, if any of the steps in my I Duarte get held back or get messed up, it does set back every single person and crew behind you! So, only knowledge and experience are looked at. We do not care who your friend is or your family. I have fired sons of bosses because, they couldn’t cut it! I have had that chat with the dad and when you explain your side, oh we get it. 

So, anyhow, this job this summer starts in a few days, I’ll be in salmon arm. Gonna be a great summer. The bossman says to me, “I want you as a foreman! I have faith in you and honestly, it’s time you take this step!”

“Do you think I can handle this?”

“I watched you all winter and last summer! You have got this buddy! So do you want this foreman seat or am I gonna pass you over again?”

“Nope, no need to keep looking! I am you’re   foreman!”

“Awesome! Now build a crew, get guys together, and get back to me!”

And I’m off! I have my crew built! I have my boys ready to roll when that day hits. Johnny on the spot here folks. 

I’m so pumped! And you know, like pipelining man am I good at what I do! I know it seems basic and it truly can be when you break things down and go step by step! I think it’s basic, some others do not. And that’s okay. I have the ability to slow down and focus on this step and the next few steps. I can honestly take a look at what’s happening and know exactly what the next step is. I have built a knowledge base where I can honestly jump in with both feet into almost any situation on a pipeline wand not only help, but excel! And even though I was being groomed to become management, I still asked questions! Even just to reinforce knowledge. I do t care about asking questions. It’s very powerful. 

In any event, I do hold onto a lot of basic hand forms and techniques. I don’t have the same drive in Kung fu as I once did. I have other goals. My thoughts and actions have changed. My desires have stayed mostly the same, just tweaked for todays goals.

If this “pandemic” has taught me anything, it’s simply, I do not like people. Like a lot! I have grow kinda jaded on the last two years, so instead of acting the fool and trying to place blame on everyone around me, I’ll own my issues and carry on! I have a desire and the ability to move to a large parcel of land and truly have no need for most of society.

I am working a plan, when and where I will become completely self sufficient as far as food goes! I’m working on energy and heat abilities at the moment, but, I’ll build a plan. And eventually, I will pack my belongings and honestly disappear into the woods! 

Let’s be honest, I would flourish out in the wilderness! I like trees far more than 99% of people out there! I am far more at home out in the bush or tracking an animal or just napping under a tree. 

In a few more years, I will be able to pick and choose what jobs I go on! In a few more years I’ll decide what hours I will work! And so on. It’s alot of hard work and labour and just saving and saving and saving, but my mental health is worth it!

…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