Archive for the ‘Work’ category

Angry old dude

As most of my close friends and geeks know, I was released from the Hurricane Ike Recovery project in Beaumont, TX on November 11. Here’s the story.

When I arrived in Beaumont, I met some really nice people. Richard, Toni, Dane, and Billy. Billy is the regional manager, Dane has the Beaumont area with Richard, and Toni was here to help with the repairs at Lanxess. I started handling the manpower, and hotel room tracking. The manpower was easy, but the hotel accommodations where horrible. A significant amount of them were damaged and to top it off, most of the others were filled with people displaced from their homes due to the damage from the hurricane. Every 15 days, these people could renew their vouchers from FEMA and the Red Cross. When I arrived we had 150 people in hotels from Beaumont to Lake Charles in Louisiana.

So on October 14, we had to move 60 people. ugh I just barely missed some nice rooms by mere minutes. The hotel in Lake Charles was closing for renovation and the nice Elegante hotel in Beaumont did not get the message that we wanted the rooms for longer than the two weeks they were booked for. I tried to get a hold of the person at the hotel that we thought was handling our account, my calls went unanswered. I finally contacted the right person and by then it was too late. Of course it was my fault. The night of the move, was not quite a disaster, but it might just as well have been. The manager at one of the sites didn’t check with the people to make sure everyone was accounted for at the new hotel. Of course it was my fault again. I had booked extra rooms so it was not a real problem. This was a Tuesday night, on Thursday a rain storm came through. The roof at the Travelodge in Orange leaked. My fault again.

Anyway, to the part that really made that angry old dude angrier. Now when the nice hotel was booting us out I asked EVERYONE that was there, if I could get a room there, would they like one. No one did, even angry old dude. We where very close on hotel rooms and I would take any that I could. The day before we had to move, the person at the Elegante called and told me what was up. She said they could accommodate one of us. Since I was driving and didn’t have anyone else’s room number, I gave her mine.

I should say that I was informing the people that needed to know, all about what I was doing. There were no secrets. If they didn’t read the emails, too bad. An entire month went by. The day before my release, I took a five hour safety class to get into the Exxon Mobil Synthetics plant in Beaumont. The day of my release I took the required Breathalyzer and Wiz Quiz. As I was sitting in the office we were discussing hotels. I said something that caught angry old dudes attention. He asked who was at the Elegante and I said I was. Oh My God. I told the truth and several hours later I was gone.

Thanks a lot dude. You suck. Get over yourself.

My apologies to Dane for putting him between a rock and a hard place, and having to listen to angry old dude bitch all about it.

Fair or not? What do you think?

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Filed under Business, Personal, Work : Comments (4) : Nov 26th, 2008

The new year…

A look back:

  • What was your biggest triumph in 2007? Not having to work at a regular job. I had accrued enough resources and had a plan in place to do so.
  • What was the smartest decision you made in 2007? To find someone to spend the rest of my life with. She knows who she is. :)
  • What one word best sums up and describes your 2007 experience? OMFG
  • What was the greatest lesson you learned in 2007? People will do want they want when they want to. Despite my best efforts.
  • What was the most loving service you performed in 2007? Being there for family and friends in there time of need.
  • What is your biggest piece of unfinished business in 2007? Getting my professional licenses in the western states.
  • What are you most happy about completing in 2007? Getting my Series 6 and 63 with Finra
  • Who were the three people that had the greatest impact on your life in 2007? In no particular order, first, my business partner, Brent Arnold, next my mom. We are both beyond the grind of the working world. And, then, the most important one. Our relationship is still in it’s infancy, but will grow into something spectacular. You know who you are sweetie.
  • What was the biggest risk you took in 2007? Not going back to a full-time JOB. JOB = Just Over Broke.
  • What was the biggest surprise in 2007? I actually made a cross-country flight and didn’t puke.
  • What important relationship improved the most in 2007? I made the time to get to know my immediate family, again. But, getting to know someone new and very special was clearly the most important.
  • What compliment would you liked to have received in 2007? Have you lost weight? :D
  • What compliment would you liked to have given in 2007? You look great. :D
  • What else do you need to do or say to be complete with 2007? An ending is only a new beginning.

A look forward:

  • What would you like to be your biggest triumph in 2008? Turning a long distance relationship into a short distance.
  • What advice would you like to give yourself in 2008? Get committed.
  • What is the major effort you are planning to improve your financial results in 2008? Get busy with the business of helping people.
  • What would you be most happy about completing in 2008? Moving out of this small place, and into something that I don’t have to walk sideways through.
  • What major indulgence are you willing to experience in 2008? L.A. in March baby…yeah.
  • What would you most like to change about yourself in 2008? I need to expand my comfort zone to include that special someone.
  • What are you looking forward to learning in 2008? I need to get my Series 26 and 65 with Finra.
  • What do you think your biggest risk will be in 2008? Giving myself to that special someone.
  • What about your work are you most committed to changing and improving in 2008? Just to be committed to my clients and my partners.
  • What is one as yet undeveloped talent you are willing to explore in 2008? Writing about my experiences. I have lots of them.
  • What brings you the most joy and how are you going to do or have more of that in 2008? The look on someone’s face when they see what I can do with their finances.
  • Who or what, other than yourself, are you most committed to loving and serving in 2008? She knows who she is. :D
  • What one word would you like to have as your theme in 2008? Commitment.

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Filed under Business, General, Work : Comments (0) : Jan 2nd, 2008

so long suckers…

The SSGN Conversion is coming to an end. We have 20 people left on the project and the CVN-72 is starting up. I have a window of TODAY to get laid-off. I just couldn’t help myself.

I am no longer employed by Todd Pacific Shipyard. Out on my own again. This is a welcome break to the hectic pace involved in building warships. At the peak we had 175 people employed on the project with 4 managers and a Q.A. dude. I was one of the 4. I would like to thank Denny Rasmussen for the opportunity to serve aboard a one-of-a-kind construction project. Also, props out to Jeff O’Day, Torey Hansen , Brent Arnold, and Dale Samples for putting up with Electric Boat’s shit.

Most of all to the craftsmen and women that stepped-up and performed magnificently under the most stressfull conditions imaginable, thank you for making it interesting.

Now, where’s my fishing gear???

Slideshow

Filed under Business, Outdoors, Work : Comments (0) : Sep 21st, 2006

this explains everything…

Easy as 2 + 2

Need I say more?

If the results of this are what I fear, hell has indeed frozen over…

Filed under Work : Comments (0) : Apr 25th, 2006

the results are in…

First, a refresher,

After the John C. Stennis debacle, one of the remedies was to have anyone apply for the positions on the CV-(N) management team. After a month of interviews and selection committee meetings, the few were chosen. They were taken to Seattle and given some training to get them up to speed. Their final test was to manage a small job to judge their performance.

Guess what?

That’s right, they sucked. Now what?

When I made my routine trip down to Dry Dock 6, I was asked for my cell phone number and if I would be willing to participate in the future of the CV(N). By two different people.

How could I say no to that?

Filed under Work : Comments (0) : Apr 13th, 2006

finally…

We should know who has the most suction by Tuesday…

Filed under Work : Comments (0) : Mar 3rd, 2006

I hate excel…

Today started out in fantastic fashion.

To get a proper perspective, I have to go back to Saturday.

As part of my duties, I get to audit timekeeping for 140 people. I have to telnet, using an Attachmate client, into Electric Boats’ timekeeping system. I have to write out the info into a spreadsheet. Approximately 4500 entries per week. 8 hours per week.

God, I am so lucky.

I had finished the audit on Saturday. I had rolled up the paper, stuffed it into my back pocket and walked down to my office on Pier 4 and when I got there, I did not have the papers. A search turned up nothing.

OK, FINE!!!! Eight hours down the…

So I decided to move on. I went to lunch to gain some strength for the afternoon. I then attempted to review some other spreadsheets that needed my attention. The link I had was dead.

SON OF A BITCH!!!!

Now to Monday…

The papers turned up…WOOO FUCKING HOOO!!!!!

Tuesday…

I am locked out of the Attachmate Client. God dammit!!!

The link for my other stuff is still dead. I call my counterpart in the business office. She sends me to the file that the link was to. Wrong. The changes I had made were not there.

I hate spreadsheets.

I asked her to look into here Recycle Bin…There they were…Next time…send me a link to the network drive…mmmkay…

Filed under Work : Comments (0) : Feb 28th, 2006

just spectacular…

As I was walking to our trailer at the end of Pier 4, I noticed something soaring above. It was two mature Bald Eagles in their familiar white plummage. With the backdrop of the Olympic mountains, it was just spectacular. It really sucks that cameras aren’t allowed in the Industrial area.

Hardly a day goes by that I don’t see an eagle soaring. It didn’t used to be that way.

Good times.

Filed under Work : Comments (0) : Feb 18th, 2006

three down…one to go…

I went to my Production Manager/Assistant interview this afternoon.

From left to right, Richard, Brian, Dale, Jim, and Ed. I have never met Richard or Ed. It looks like some of the Seattle people were roped into the interview panels. Lucky them.

The interview went well, Dale wanted some more information about my work item maintenance plan. He was holding my words against me.

As I was explaining my plan, I had all of their heads going up and down.

When they asked me if I had any questions, I asked if I could go. They all laughed.

One more…

Filed under Work : Comments (0) : Feb 3rd, 2006

two down…two to go…

Now I remember why I moved out of Seattle.

Top Ten Reasons:

10. The fucking roads suck
9. The fucking roads suck
8. The fucking roads suck
7 .The fucking roads suck
6. The fucking roads suck
5. The fucking roads suck
4. The fucking roads suck
3. The fucking roads suck
2. The fucking roads suck
1. The fucking roads suck

I went the Production Supervisor/Zone Manager interview in Seattle today.

Left to right, Jim, Roger, and Denny. Jim hired me back to Todd, I have never seen Roger before, and Denny hired me for my present position, Zone Manager for the Submarine Program. The other panel consisted of my former boss and my other former boss.

Denny, “I already know what he can do.”

Jim, “I don’t see any point in asking you any technical questions.”

It hardly seems fair to them other yahoo’s.

Anyway, Electric Boat has a 120 day availability coming up in June. To keep E.B.’s costs down, they want to do it at P.S.N.S. However, that will strain the “hotel budget” for the ship. I hope they can work it out.

Filed under Work : Comments (0) : Feb 2nd, 2006

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