Staking

Today we actually went out and did some work. We drove out the site and planted stakes with the station number every 500 feet. There were 4 of us, 2 north-bound, 2 south bound. Nothing like walking/driving on the should of the highway, periodically running out into traffic to spray paint the station number. Parts of the highway have the station stamped on the surface, which we just highlighted with orange paint. Other parts we had to measure out the distance, and write new markers to go along with the stakes. Driving along the highway at 5 mph, you start to notice all the failures, which explains why we're out there. We took our time, went from 9am-11am, broke for lunch and finished the 2 mile stretch from 1pm-2pm.

I actually like going out to work, because it forces me to talk with my co-workers. In the office, the talkative people are on the other side, though it's very quiet most of the time. People just doing their own things. I'm extroverted, but I can't just walk up to people and start up a conversation without knowing something about them.

Phone

Today they gave me cell phone. I currently have no use with it. Maybe next year when I start managin projects, contractors will have to get ahold of me, until then I have a worthless candy bar phone.

I finished The Penultimate Peril today, with like 40 minutes left in the day so I decided to watch some Scrubs. They were having a pre-construction meeting for the other project so some of the higher up people were around, including the Metro Engineer. The Metro Engineer is the main guy for the city, and he told me that I shouldn't be watcing TV shows, because it's KDOT time. I should have known better, but if I had something to better to do I would. I tried asking for things to do in the beginning, and there simply isn't anything to do. The bulletin board with important dates is now empty.

Visiting the Site

Today, I actually left the office for a project related thing. Four of us just drove out to the two mile stretch of highway, looked the road, and visually marked the boundaries. Not much to it, I still have no clue what exactly I'll be doing the project.

I finished The Da Vinci Code today, and started on The Penultimate Peril, which I'm halfway through already. It's an interesting change to switch to a children's book. It's nice to know that the final book in the series will be released October 2006. I've complete 11 books so far. I've actually started watching more TV shows to slow down my reading. I can read out on the job site, but I can't watch TV shows. Though I guess I do have a laptop, so it's possible, but inconvenient.

Super Scout

Today was the pre-construction meeting with the contractors and sub-contractors. It was somewhat interesting to watch. I paid close attention to my boss, since he was conducting the meeting, and that I'll be doing this in a few years. The purpose of the meeting was to see who was doing what, and to set some ground rules. The contractor unfortunately wants to work Monday night through Friday, which takes away my Friday night. We in the office originally planned on Sunday-Thursday. Apparently it costs the contractor more to run the concrete plant on Sundays. So we'll see what happens when the project starts, but it'll most likely be the Mon-Fri schedule.

The boss gave a lecture on appropriate internet usage today. We have a program called Super Scout that watches over us. Three people got flagged for going to inappropriate site, two were repeat offenders and will mostly get their internet shut off. I got off with just a warning since it's my first offence, kinda. I got flagged three times in a month. When you go to an inappropriate site, it tells you that you're in violation of the policy and gives the reason, then bring up SOM 1.9.8. The reasons are remote proxy, sexual content, hacking, and some some 4th reason. I've seen this page several times, but ignored them since nothing has happened until today. But of all the times, I only have three occasions. I know better on how to surf at work, but I occasionally forget or don't expect certain things to be flagged.

I had to meet with my boss and explain my actions, and made sure that I knew the rules. My first offence was going to a site called musicwhore.org. This is just a simple music news site, but the word "whore" set off the sensors. My other offences were for going to bittorrent sites. The first time, I just didn't know. The second time, someone in the office was wondering about where I got my TV shows from, and I tried to show him, forgetting that I can't look at such things. People were complaining about Super Scout, about how it's too sensitive, and unfairly flags people for seemingly appropriate things, like breast cancer. Being here for 6 weeks, I think I've found my daily sites, and will not stray from them anymore.

clothes

Today was another quiet day at work. Every year we're given $250 for PPE (Personal Protection Equipment). Which is basically OSHA orange shirts, jackets, and coveralls. Despite the color it's still free clothes. There really isn't a dress code here, just long pants (preferably jeans) and ankle covering boots. If you're out in the field, you have to wear an orange safety vest, unless you're already wearing an orange shirt. So I ordered two t-shirts, two polos, a hoodie, and a jacket, which still hasn't used up half of the money, but I don't need to fill my closet with orange clothes.

I recently got the Rip Slyme Orchestra album. It's an interesting/funny concept. One disc has orchestral vocal-less versions of the songs and the second disc has different people reading the lyrics like it's poetry over the orchestral versions. One on of them, the poet completely over-acts, and it ends up sounding like a drama track. What makes it more entertaining is that Rip Slyme is a hip hop group, and like most Japanese groups intersperse English in their songs.

Detectable Warnings

Today we went to a presentation by this companies that makes Detectable Warning Panels. Those panels are basically the textured off-colored panels at sidewalk ramps. They're required by the American Disabilities Act. The presenter was very good, I didn't get bored in the one hour he spoke about these panels. Even though I don't imagine KDOT using them, because we mostly do highways. There was free food provided so all the upper level employees attended this, six of us total. Took two suburbans, it was a relatively quiet drive, not much talking. The bad thing about it though was, the driver smoked, which he didn't do until the drive back. Me, being the new guy, I didn't want to stir anything up. Plus the other passenger, the boss, chews tobacco, so obviously he didn't care. Another thing that annoyed me was his choice of radio stations, country. Country seems to be the preferred choice for most of the people here, that or talk radio. I personally hate the radio, but if forced to, I listen to NPR or oldies. I figured the guys would listen to oldies, being as they're old.

It official that the new truck isn't mine. So currently I have no state vehicle. Luckily I don't need one for while. I don't have any classes or meetings to attend on my own. The only thing I have to look forward to is the pre-construction meeting next week, and the Transportation conference at K-State in April.

It snowed here, third bloody day of Spring and it snows. I hate the snow, it's always been an enemy of mine in college. Making my feet cold and ground slippery. I shake my foot curled into a fist at thee snow.

New truck

Today, they took in my Ford extended cab truck and traded it in for shiny new Chevy Truck. Even though it was my truck, they didn't have me do it. I thought the new truck was going to be mine, since they traded mine in, but the way people talk about it, it's unknown who gets it. Apparently, engineers and Seniors get extended cabs, so the new truck probably won't be mine. There's apparently more trucks coming in.

The first aid class was canceled for tomorrow, so I'll have more time to read tomorrow. I finally finished the final book of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It only took me 12 days to read it, when I assumed it would only take me 5 days. I attribute my slowness to the fact that I fall asleep reading it everyday. It's not like the books are boring, it's just something that happens to me, and I refuse to drink coffee, that's kindly provided in the office. Next is The Davinci Code, and ASoUE: The Penultimate Peril, which I finally found my copy of.

The Kojima Mayumi album was awesome as expected, but not as good as her previous one, Pablo no Koibito. The John Lennon tribute album was a disappointment, including the Bonnie Pink song. Two more months until the new Bonnie Pink single comes out.

Meeting

We had a meeting this morning regarding the project. It was brief, mainly talking about things to expect. Like just because the early start date is mid-April, the actual project won't start until late May or even June. I was totally wrong about the temperature thing. We need a minimum nighttime temperature of 60 degrees F, so it won't be as cold as I thought, but still colder than I would like. We'll on the road from 7pm-6am, that doesn't include the setup time, so I'll be getting more hours than expected. We're planning on working Sunday nights to Thursday, so I still have my weekends. There was very little discussion on the actual work. We'll probably go into more details when we have the meeting with the contractors.

I finally raided the office supply closet for some folders. I had no idea, I was free to take whatever I needed. They really need to develop some sort of orientation. Or maybe they did explain this me and I just forgot, since they told me so much crap on the first day.

Today, I should be getting the new Kojima Mayumi album, titled Swingin Caravan, and based on that name I know it's going to be awesome , and I got a Japanese John Lennon tribute album, mainly because it features Bonnie Pink, Shiina Ringo, and Puffy. Now I'll have more music to listen to. I spend 7 hours at work listening music, so I'm constantly trying to get new stuff. Lately I got the Dresden Dolls, Beth Orton, Metric, Ok Go, and Saint Etienne.

Prepping

Today the project manager sent out an email telling us get all of our "Ducks in a Row." There'll be a meeting next Monday, and you should review the plans. I was planning on finishing my book, but I should maybe try to work. Reading the plans, there isn't much to it, but that email makes me think there's more to it. So I'm reading the contract with all its special provisions, and I have no clue on what I should memorize. Plus once you start the project, everyone gets assigned a specific task, and you basically do that the whole time. I'm not sure what they're going to do with me. I'd like to work on every part of the project, like I did last summer. I'll still read the contract, because I don't want to seem like a overpaid know-nothing.

I overheard the others talking about when the project is going to start. The early start date is based on the average nighttime temperature. I'd forgotten that concrete has to be done in cool temperatures. Which is going to suck for me since I hate the cold. I'm used to asphalt which has a working temperature of over 80 degree Celsius. So I get to work on a cold dark highway that still has traffic running on it. But at least I'll be making more money because of it.

Today the office spent their time watching college basketball. I normally don't care about sports, but I joined the pool. So I care about the results, but not the actual game. I'm the same way with Fantasy Baseball. Though fantasy baseball will be a nice way to waste time at work, I can't wait until the season starts.

Worthless

I manage to accomplish very little today. I have nothing planned for the entire week. I figured it would a good week to finish my book and further review the contract. So today I didn't even touch the contract and only read 50 pages of the Hitchhiker's Guide. I feel rather worthless since I spent most of my time reading up on FFXI. Well I guess I did manage to finish season 1 of Scrubs. I'm amazed how my episodes that I've missed. I got paid last week, so maybe I'll buy a new calendar for my desk. I've just been looking last year's calendar and shifting the days to make it useful.

SUPAA Pave

Today was the Superpave lab workshop. I had to get to work 30 minutes early, just so I can grab my truck and drive an hour to the lab. It was a very good lab, one instructor for each student. I've never had any formal Superpave training, but I watched the lab procedures last summer, so today was kinda review. I also wrote a 12 page research paper about Superpave, but didn't understand any of the technical information that I provided. Maybe now some of that stuff will make sense. I planned on the workshop to take the whole day, so I didn't bring my HD with me. The class ended at 1:30. I returned to the office at 2:30pm, and I had to find something to fill the silence for 2 hours. So I went to google and msn video for some music videos. MSN surprised me with their selection. They even had a Hikaru Utada video, You Make Me Want To Be A Man. What a horrible song title, and a horrible song in fact. I think it was a bad choice for a single if she's trying to make it in the US again. Though I stopped listening to R&B music years ago, so what do I know

Erosion control

Today I went to an erosion control class. There was useful information present, though I was nodding off in the first part. It was three parts, and third part was presented by this young lady. She spoke really well and obviously knew what she was talking about, but she kept saying "um." It was fairly distracting. Throughout all the presentations I've sat through in college, I've only noticed females that have this problem. I really wonder how that happens, and if they even hear themselves say "um." I felt slightly out of place there. Gray hairs everywhere. If I saw a young person, I automatically assumed they were an engineer, but I'm probably wrong.

Once again class ended quickly. It was scheduled for 10am-2pm with a break for lunch, but we skipped the lunch break, and finished at 12:30pm. There were five of us from the office. It's interesting listening to their conversations. They mostly talk about work, like projects, contractors, and a lot about other employees. It's very educational, but sadly with my lack of experience, I can't really participate. I don't think I will ever really fit in, because when the topic isn't about work, it's about old people stuff. KDOT needs to get on the ball and recruit more young engineers. They are so many job openings for engineers, it's a little sad.

After we returned, I started on the book again. I finished the first story. It sounds like they're going to make me do some grunt work tomorrow, so I question my goal to finish the next 2 stories. We'll see.

Contract

We finally got the contracts for the patching project. The contract is a big thick manual. The first 300 or so pages are amendments to the policies outlined in the spec book. Only about 20 pages have actual information about the project. It's amazing that 2.1 miles of patching, grinding, and marking costs about $1.5 million. I feel the need to read the contract since it pertains to my job, but at this point I'd prefer to read my own books. I didn't get The Davinci Code, but I did get the Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, it has all five books, plus a short story. I figured I'd read one per day, but I forgot that I actually have class twice this week. So I don't think I'll finish the book this week, which makes me kinda sad, because I want to see how many books can I read before the project starts. Granted a normal person could finish the book in three working days, but I don't have the attention span to read for that long. I'm actually enjoying Hitchhiker's Guide quite a bit, I actually laughed out loud when I read this part about the non-existence of God.

"The argument goes something like this: 'I refuse to prove that I exist,' says God, 'for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing.'
"'But,' says Man 'the Babel fish is a dead giveaway, isn't it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves you exist, and so therefore, by your own arguments, you don't. QED.'
"'Oh dear,' says God 'I hadn't thought of that,' and promptly vanishes in puff of logic.

Looking around my desk, I really need to do something about it. It's pretty much left unchanged from when the previous engineering sat here. I still have the 2005 calendars on the wall. The only decorations I can think about bringing in are anime toys, but that seems kinda out of place in an office like this. Most people have pictures of their families, cars, construction, and wildfire paraphernalia. I'm pretty sure none of have any idea of what anime is, and if they do it's either pokemon or hentai. And now I have to end this, because it's quitting time.

Okinawan cooking

Finished Angels and Demons, now I'm ready for The Da Vinci Code. Since I finished the book, I spent the second half of the day watching Everybody Hates Chris and Scrubs season 1. I'm getting use to this place and feeling less of a need to make this place feel like work.

Today my mother left for Okinawa, so today's lunch is the last decently cooked meal I'll have in four months. It a dish made with papaya and kamoboko, but sure what else is in there, but I'm sure it has dashi no moto. I was supposed to be studying her cooking technique, but work coupled with laziness and FFXI kept me from it.

a job

I just checked my email, and my boss sent out the tenative field staffing for our upcoming projects. There seems to be four projects, and the staff has been decided for the first two. I will be working on a night project, 7pm-6am. The early start date for the project is April 10th. We'll be patching, grinding, and marking. It's expected to be a 50 day job. So it'll be 10 weeks of night work, not sure how much I like that, but a job is a job. Actually, looking at the other projects, 3 out of the 4 projects are night jobs.

change orders

Today I attended a little refresher course on how to do change orders, of course being here for only 2 weeks I never learned to do change orders. My boss had me drive him and the "computer guy" to the district office. The other guys gave them shit because they made the new guy drive them. On the way, they decided that we should stop the Amish restaurant for some coffee and pastries. It was good stuff, and the waitress was surprisingly cute, I attribute it to the dress. The class was scheduled from 10am to 3pm, but we were done by 11am. Since this was a district wide course for all the engineers, specialists and PSA's (Public Service Administrator, that's what the computer guy is), I finally got to meet some of my peers. I met an engineer that graduated a year before me. I didn't really know him, but I was friends with his brother. It was nice to talk to someone like me, a fellow KSU CE graduate that did poorly in school. After spending 45 minutes chatting, everybody finally went home. Got back just in time for lunch where I watched last night's episode of Scrubs. This job is great for giving me time to catch up on all the shows that I've been neglecting. Maybe I'll finally get around to watching Dead Like Me, Firefy, and Wonderfalls. Nothing like watching shows that were canceled before there time. I really hope that Arrested Development comes back.