Monday, February 28, 2011

Simply Funny

I dont know why but this made me laugh.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Work it Baby!!

I meet people all the time that are not doing what they like or just hate their job for one reason or another. I have been blessed most of my life(Even the chicken frying and concrete pouring days had their purpose) with a job that was challenging and fulfilling. Being able to take a design from conception thru prototyping to machining to working model is my favorite thing. And when they actually work it’s always a plus. I can proudly say I LOVE my job.

Even then, occasionally, I see folks doing jobs that I would like to do even if it’s only for a day. Today I drove by a construction site where they were setting steel. I was the crane operator at my old job. I would love to be in that crane seat swinging those beams and assembling the building like a big erector set.

Questions for you.
Do you like your job?
What would you do if you had your choice?
Even if you like your job what would you like to do for a day?

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Next Time You Feel The Need to Share, Please DON"T

As a note, I like my boss, alot. We talk often. He tells you what he needs and he expects it done. No over the shoulder watching or micro-managing. Just do your job.

That said, He came into my office last week sharing what began as good news. Seems I was nominated for the annual innovation award(That I wasnt aware existed)for a piece of field equipment I developed last year. I was kinda surprised because while it worked out on site very well I thought it was a one and done project.

I was excited for a minute as he said JH was really pushing for me. Thats really nice I thought. Then he said I was the only one nominated this year. OH?? Hmmmm. I'm feeling pretty good about my chances now.

Then....He tells me the board is considering not awarding it this year. Seems it's normally awarded to engineers and Phd's and the like for more advanced developements.



Not sure how to take that. While I was tickled how well the thing worked, I didnt think it was a big deal to start with so I really shouldnt be disappointed now. The boss said he told me because he thought it was important and he was putting it in my file. While I appreciate the sentiment I wonder if I really wanted to know that I may lose to nobody.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Mystery Man Revealed?

The always lovely Miss Chrissy http://www.ishouldabeenastripper.com/ has tagged me to share a bit with my readers. Waves to readers. HI GUYS!! I sense a bit of underhanded sneakyness in her request. Seems she is not satisfied with my occasional witty comments but wants to rip away my mask of anonymity. How can I be an international man of mystery if I reveal my identity. Picture and name? I have gone by many names. Growing up they called me Crash due to my inability to miss objects in or near the road. At my last job they called me Fro, not for the obvious reasons. No I weren’t named after Frodo either. Here at work the girls call me Mcgyver.

The best pic I have of me. Dressed out in hard hat and coveralls on a catwalk.



So here are the answers to the quiz.

1. If you have pets, do you see them as merely animals, or are they members of your family?
My dog Shelby is a like a kid but she is an outside dog. The cats on the other hand are like family. Like the crazy annoying cousins that just will not shut up or leave and eats you out of house and home.

2. If you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?
Prolly that my kids’ college were paid for.

3. What is the one thing most hated by you?
People that take advantage of other folk especially the defenseless one..

4. What would you do with a billion dollars?
That would pay off most of the college book fees.

5. What helps to pull you out of a bad mood?
Time. Singing in the car. More Time.

6. Which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?
Loving someone.

7. What is your bedtime routine?
Usually on the puter working or catching up on my blog list till 11:00, brush, change, crawl in bed, watch Leno for a few then I am out. Unless a cat crawls in the bed. They aggravate me to no end.

8. If you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your partner?
I chauffeured her and her date around one night.

9. If you could watch a creative person in the act of the creative process, who would it be?
I enjoy watching artist regardless of their medium create something beautiful out of nothing but I also enjoy watching craftsmen build complex creations from a pile of parts. That’s a lie, if someones building something I aint going to watch, give me a wrench.

10. What kinds of books do you read?
Few. If I read a book it usually has short stories. I started a book called Gods and Generals. It is good but I have trouble staying with it.

11. How would you see yourself in ten years time?
In a mirror wearing glasses.

12. What’s your fear?
Failing on a project. It happens once in a while.

13. Would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to visit outer space?
No, that’s nuts.

14. Would you rather be single and rich or married, but poor?
Neither but reality is married and poor. Prolly should have been the answer to number 11 too.

15. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Pee, Hey you asked.

16. If you could change one thing about your spouse/partner what would it be?
She would be punctual. She makes us late for everything.

17. If you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?
My name is a bit blah so It would be nice to have a cool name but for the life of me I haven’t a clue what it would be. Suggestions? How bout the Shadow?

18. Would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?
Forgive yes, You’d be crazy to forget.

19. If you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?
Pop Tarts. I been eating them most mornings for 40 yrs why change now. They made me the man I am today. Hmmmm. Maybe I should have changed a long time ago.

I did an earlier survey last year if you missed it at: http://simplysuthern.blogspot.com/2010/06/double-tag-team.html

Now I need to tag FOUR blog friends and I'm choosing four that I think you'll all love getting to know. I dont know any of them well enuff to make them do the quiz but I enjoy reading their blogs. I enjoy reading all I follow so feel free to check out all the others as well.

http://notsosimplysingle.blogspot.com/
http://bunnymissbrenner.blogspot.com/
http://journeyandadventure.blogspot.com/
http://andwhatdoiknow.blogspot.com/

Y'all Have a great day.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

My commute to work is about 45 minutes depending on weather, traffic and how lucky I feel on the interstate. In recent weeks as in the rest of the country we have had some cold weather. During that time my car heater quit working and it felt just as cold inside the car as out minus the wind. The fan worked so I knew it wasn’t that. My first thought was the water was low. There was the least bit of warmth coming out of the vent if I had the fan on low so I knew I had some water in the radiator. I looked at my temp gauge and it barely moved off of cold. I opened the radiator and it was full so what else could it be? HMMMMMM?

My second guess was the thermostat was sticking open. I popped the hood and looked for the ole standard gooseneck that has been common on cars for ages. They normally sit right on top the intake where they are simple to change. Wellllll, hmmmmmmmmm? Theres the top hose. Its usually on the end of that, but that’s way under there, Would they put it under there?? Uhh, well by golly they certainly did. (Makes note to chat with GM thermostat postioner/designer dude. Take cattle prod.)

This is what it looks like. $14.95 In stock.

Warning: the following pictures contain graphic images of automoble innards.


No, I dont typically jury rig my car repairs but the wire tie cruise cable repair $.25 versus $75.00 for a new cable? No contest. The Vacuun hose was done an hour prior to heading to a wedding 45 miles away. It was 97 degrees out and I will be in a suit. No vacuum means No AC and No Cruise. Sooooo it had to be done quick.


I had to take the Filter housing top off as well as the mass air flow sensor just to get to other stuff I needed to remove. I had to get physical with a couple of the water lines to get them off. Dont worry I am ok. Now. LOL You cant buy those replacement tubes from anyone but GM but if you know your local parts house dealer he will let you around back to compare with similar hoses that might work instead. I was lucky they had something I could modify to fit.


There she is. Buried way down under the throttle assembly and between the block and the exhaust header. It was hard to get the bottom bolt loose due to clearance issues but I had an offset wrench that worked nicely. I know I know you wanted to see inside the gooseneck to prove I did it but my hands we pretty nasty by that time. However, I do have toasty toes to prove it.


Here she is all buttoned back up. Well actually thats the same picture as the first one just not marked up. But thats the goal aint it? To make it look just like it was before you started? Other wise you got problems.

So now I cruising and singing in a warm car. I dont have to wear gloves as I drive and I got a rise out of the Temp Gauge needle. That was fun and rewarding.

Hope y'all are staying warm.