Like a waterfall in slow motion, Part One
2 years ago
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Unsuccessful
The rocket launch last night was great, but the outcome was not. Read the story and see video here.
We watched an incredible sight of the rocket lifting off and going up, up, and way up. The sound was great! It was spectacular! We say the first and second stage separation, and then it was out of site at our location. We soon found out the the final separation of the metal fairing holding the space vehicle did not open. It plummeted to the antarctic ocean.
My own video tape of the launch proved a failure. I have nothing but other peoples video and pics to show you all...
Monday, February 23, 2009
Rocket Launch
Tonight while you are sleeping, Sarah and I will be looking to the sky as another rocket launches at Vandenburg Air Force Base. The last time a launch happened, it was cancled, then when they did launch it, we missed it.
So, we try again to see a launch go off. This launch is a smaller 4-stage rocket which will deliver a scientific instrument to measure the atmospheric carbon dioxide. Click here to read more about it.
So, we try again to see a launch go off. This launch is a smaller 4-stage rocket which will deliver a scientific instrument to measure the atmospheric carbon dioxide. Click here to read more about it.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Death, Taxes, and Cats Laying On Laptops
It's tax time. I know this because I'm staring at documents that make no sense to me, no matter how many beers I drink. -- Dave Barry
Ahhh, the joys of arranging stacks of 1099's, w-2's, forms 8889, 8880, 8917, and 1040 (with schedule B and D of course). All this crap sent from the many jobs, banks, and various other sources of taxable income. They say it's the digital age! I lay it all out on the floor, organize it, start a spreadsheet to tally up our data, and then come the attention-starved Feline Buzzards of the vast and boring house...
As you know, you can never attract only one buzzard to the tax carcass...
It is hard enough to even start doing this excruciating task, but add the cats and soon I was playing with feathers and catnip toys and forgot whatever it was I was doing. And yes, I did take a lofty deduction for cat-interference.
...24 hours later, I finally completed the taxes for our first joint return. It was interesting doing both Sarah and my taxes this time. She has many things that I have never seen before. I think I got it all worked out, mostly due to the fact she had last years return to aid me. It looks like Uncle Sam has been robbing us blind this year! Thanks to all the losses in stocks, investment funds, high costs of school, we will get a decent refund.
Regarding our home state of California: Uncle Schwarzenegger ain't paying anything...unless I send my ferocious tax cats to collect...
Ahhh, the joys of arranging stacks of 1099's, w-2's, forms 8889, 8880, 8917, and 1040 (with schedule B and D of course). All this crap sent from the many jobs, banks, and various other sources of taxable income. They say it's the digital age! I lay it all out on the floor, organize it, start a spreadsheet to tally up our data, and then come the attention-starved Feline Buzzards of the vast and boring house...
As you know, you can never attract only one buzzard to the tax carcass...
It is hard enough to even start doing this excruciating task, but add the cats and soon I was playing with feathers and catnip toys and forgot whatever it was I was doing. And yes, I did take a lofty deduction for cat-interference.
...24 hours later, I finally completed the taxes for our first joint return. It was interesting doing both Sarah and my taxes this time. She has many things that I have never seen before. I think I got it all worked out, mostly due to the fact she had last years return to aid me. It looks like Uncle Sam has been robbing us blind this year! Thanks to all the losses in stocks, investment funds, high costs of school, we will get a decent refund.
Regarding our home state of California: Uncle Schwarzenegger ain't paying anything...unless I send my ferocious tax cats to collect...
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Valentine's Day
Wondering what we did for February 14th? This is all you need to know...
(click on picture to enlarge and drool)
(click on picture to enlarge and drool)
Sunday, February 08, 2009
A week has gone at the new job. The week went fast. Things seem to be going well. I look forward to the next week.
This weekend, there was a break in the rain, so we went to see the Elephant Seal colony just north of here (see video below). It was fun seeing those huge, randy animals mating. There were new babie seals (pups) everywhere.
This weekend, there was a break in the rain, so we went to see the Elephant Seal colony just north of here (see video below). It was fun seeing those huge, randy animals mating. There were new babie seals (pups) everywhere.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
While my chicken Currie is simmering, I thought I might type up a little blurb here.
The new job is going great. It is not a job for people who think about germs as a "bad" thing, don't like rain, panic easily, or don't like sick humor. I must not mind all this since I only think of this when I am telling others what it is like.
Today was a muddy mess, but a good day. I got rain gear, which was much needed since it rained all day. I was mentored by a different person today. He was eccentric but the best trainer I have had. I realized today that I am not intimidated by the wastewater plant as much as I thought I would be.
We had a safety meeting today that comprised of me signing my name, hearing gossip, then leaving. Unlike my last job, they have Internet and server access on a thing called a computer. We had a seminar today about a chemical pump system that will be used in the new plant. After the overview, we went out to physically check it out. The company who was installing it tried to show us how it worked, but the city plant workers noticed right away something was wrong. They found a valve closed nearby that was very important to the system functioning. It keeps us on our toes. As this new plant is being constructed around us, we will do our best to keep an eye on the functionality of what will be left for us to operate.
When I was out doing plant checks or rounds, I found water bubbling up from a gravel road. I called another operator over and he asked me if it was hot water. I touched it and it was warm. Apparently the construction crew had crushed a pipe. I even got a compliment from the operator today when he said, "At least they didn't hire an idiot."
At home, Sarah is having a tough time with her classes. She studies all the time. We have been trying to watch a rocket launch from the local Air Force base, but they keep postponing it and now the weather is bad. So, it is not likely we will see one launch for a month or so.
Well today is Sarah's Friday and tomorrow is my first Friday at this new job.
The new job is going great. It is not a job for people who think about germs as a "bad" thing, don't like rain, panic easily, or don't like sick humor. I must not mind all this since I only think of this when I am telling others what it is like.
Today was a muddy mess, but a good day. I got rain gear, which was much needed since it rained all day. I was mentored by a different person today. He was eccentric but the best trainer I have had. I realized today that I am not intimidated by the wastewater plant as much as I thought I would be.
We had a safety meeting today that comprised of me signing my name, hearing gossip, then leaving. Unlike my last job, they have Internet and server access on a thing called a computer. We had a seminar today about a chemical pump system that will be used in the new plant. After the overview, we went out to physically check it out. The company who was installing it tried to show us how it worked, but the city plant workers noticed right away something was wrong. They found a valve closed nearby that was very important to the system functioning. It keeps us on our toes. As this new plant is being constructed around us, we will do our best to keep an eye on the functionality of what will be left for us to operate.
When I was out doing plant checks or rounds, I found water bubbling up from a gravel road. I called another operator over and he asked me if it was hot water. I touched it and it was warm. Apparently the construction crew had crushed a pipe. I even got a compliment from the operator today when he said, "At least they didn't hire an idiot."
At home, Sarah is having a tough time with her classes. She studies all the time. We have been trying to watch a rocket launch from the local Air Force base, but they keep postponing it and now the weather is bad. So, it is not likely we will see one launch for a month or so.
Well today is Sarah's Friday and tomorrow is my first Friday at this new job.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
2:22 am
What are you doing tonight at 2:22 am?
Watching a Delta 2 rocket launch from Vandenburg Air Force Base? Me too.
Here is a site about it...Click here
Poo Plant Diary: Day 2
Day two at the poo plant was a bit more interesting.
Of course we had our usual breaks every two hours and then an ice cream break, but I actually participated in dirty work today. I assisted in the inspection and repair of a part covered in poo. We replaced some parts and tightened others. I was the "gopher" for tools and holding the ladder. I had to get some wrenches twice since they were dropped into the aeration basin we were working in. I even used a pipe wrench, twice!
After lunch, a low pressure alarm for the plant water system buzzed. I threw on my hard hat* and safety glasses and followed the operator in charge of me, Brian. We went to the site of the water tank and checked all the pumps. We radioed the boss. He radioed the construction boss. They radioed us. No one hit a pipe and no one knew where the water was going. After running all around looking for water, we found out two tanks were being filled by the construction crew. They talked about telling us, but didn't think it would impact the system. We reset everything that needed to be and what do you know it was time for the daily meeting. Nothing was discussed that I can repeat here, and certainly nothing useful was done here.
For the last half hour of the day, I took a nice walk around the plant. I looked at the new parts of the plant (Not online), since they contrast the old plant so well. I walked through each area and each building trying to trace the water or other products as they go through the system. I got to know her a little more, since it will be my home for a while.
Tomorrow, I have SCADA training. This is the computer control system that the plant will use to monitor the plant. It would have helped us today in identifying where the water was going. Most of these guys have never seen it. I can't wait to be involved in the start-up as it happens.
*Since the plant is being completely upgraded, the entire area is a construction zone. We are required to wear hardhats, safety glasses, and yellow vests during this.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Poo Plant Diary: Day 1
Today I started a new job.
I work for a city on the central coast of California at a wastewater (Poo) plant. As, you may know, I had previously worked at a wastewater plant in the lab. This time things are not so, lets say, "sterile". I am an Operator in Training.
I have never worked in a labor union or city type of atmosphere. I noticed that things are different. The biggest thing I noticed was that people all took breaks at set times throughout the day. I am not used to this. Lunch can be the exception, but even then I commonly took lunch when there was a break in the work I was doing. the fifteen minute breaks were never really a big issue for me, unless I was working hard. To these people, a break every two hours is the way it is.
Here is what happened on my first day...
Day 1
8 am: I arrived at the plant, met my supervisor then, toured offices.
8:30 am: An Operator, Pete, showed me around some of the the plant.
9:30 am: Pete took me to a store to buy hard hat and safety/sun glasses (city paid $50)
10 am: break
10:15 am: Drove to town 30 miles away and got steel toe boots (city paid $150)
11:20 am: Stopped at Mexican restaurant and had tacos for lunch
12:15 pm: Arrived back at plant and the boss told Pete and I to go to lunch. I just had lunch, but Pete seamed like another lunch would be nice, so he went to the break-room. I walked around outside.
1 pm: More touring of the plant, got picture taken for city ID card.
2 pm: Break
2:20 pm: Took a tour final outfall or where the treated water goes to a creek.
2:50 pm: Attended a daily meeting for maintenance and operation staff. A bunch of yelling, cussing, and figuring out what got done and needs to be done. A lot of goofing around, including jokes about farting. On the up side, it lasted only ten minutes.
3 pm: Another meeting, this one was for me. My boss and I went over a list of basic items I need to complete as a new employee.
4 pm: Gone home
The plant is being completely upgraded and redesigned. If you are interested in reading more about this plant, the website is here. I am happy that I am with this team at a time when change is "king" and the old guys are crying about this new system. I thrive on absorbing all the new stuff! At the same time, I have to learn the old "hands on" with the old plant and equipment.
I work for a city on the central coast of California at a wastewater (Poo) plant. As, you may know, I had previously worked at a wastewater plant in the lab. This time things are not so, lets say, "sterile". I am an Operator in Training.
I have never worked in a labor union or city type of atmosphere. I noticed that things are different. The biggest thing I noticed was that people all took breaks at set times throughout the day. I am not used to this. Lunch can be the exception, but even then I commonly took lunch when there was a break in the work I was doing. the fifteen minute breaks were never really a big issue for me, unless I was working hard. To these people, a break every two hours is the way it is.
Here is what happened on my first day...
Day 1
8 am: I arrived at the plant, met my supervisor then, toured offices.
8:30 am: An Operator, Pete, showed me around some of the the plant.
9:30 am: Pete took me to a store to buy hard hat and safety/sun glasses (city paid $50)
10 am: break
10:15 am: Drove to town 30 miles away and got steel toe boots (city paid $150)
11:20 am: Stopped at Mexican restaurant and had tacos for lunch
12:15 pm: Arrived back at plant and the boss told Pete and I to go to lunch. I just had lunch, but Pete seamed like another lunch would be nice, so he went to the break-room. I walked around outside.
1 pm: More touring of the plant, got picture taken for city ID card.
2 pm: Break
2:20 pm: Took a tour final outfall or where the treated water goes to a creek.
2:50 pm: Attended a daily meeting for maintenance and operation staff. A bunch of yelling, cussing, and figuring out what got done and needs to be done. A lot of goofing around, including jokes about farting. On the up side, it lasted only ten minutes.
3 pm: Another meeting, this one was for me. My boss and I went over a list of basic items I need to complete as a new employee.
4 pm: Gone home
The plant is being completely upgraded and redesigned. If you are interested in reading more about this plant, the website is here. I am happy that I am with this team at a time when change is "king" and the old guys are crying about this new system. I thrive on absorbing all the new stuff! At the same time, I have to learn the old "hands on" with the old plant and equipment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
