The construction engineer and the specialist are away at some concrete conference that I wasn't even invited to. She left one of the seniors in charge which is fine by me. That just means I won't have to answer any questions on the phone. During this time of freedom, not that it would matter if they were still, I've been playing some Sim City 4, trying my hand at city planning, mainly for the transportation planning aspect. I went broke the first time because I was busy building and neglected the budget side. It took a while and lot of proper cost cutting and allowing the dumping of toxic waste, but I was able to get a positive cash flow after going into debt the 2nd time.
Aside from playing games, I've been watching more shows besides my usual Avatar over lunch. I started watching Flight of the Conchords. It's a great show about a New Zealand comedy-folk duo, playing characters of themselves, trying to make in New York. I especially enjoy the songs. I might look into finding their albums, but I doubt it'll be as funny out of context of the show.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Superpave
I had a fairly good time in Manhattan. I got to go to 4 yosakoi practices and even got to perform. Pity messed up on the first dance. On Tuesday there was the engineering career held in the same building as my class. I saw several friends representing their companies and as applicants. We had a nice long break in the class that I was able to wander around for an hour talking to people.
The Superpave class itself wasn't too bad. It was half lab work, half lecture. We never stayed the whole time, usually left 2-3 hours early, and they even gave us lunch 2 of the days. Being half lab work really helped tie-in all the stuff we covered in lecture. That's part of the reason I was able to get through my civil engineering classes in college, because so many had labs. Another bonus from the lab, was that we got a black apron, which I'll probably never use for work. Actually most of the stuff I learned in class I won't use, but I need to be certified to enter asphalt information into our database. Pity this class's certification is once every 5 years. I don't get many opportunities to come up on the state's dime. There's this and the annual KSU transportation conference, which should be in a couple of months. I should look into that and make sure I'm registered to attend. I missed last year's because I had a class in Salina.
The Superpave class itself wasn't too bad. It was half lab work, half lecture. We never stayed the whole time, usually left 2-3 hours early, and they even gave us lunch 2 of the days. Being half lab work really helped tie-in all the stuff we covered in lecture. That's part of the reason I was able to get through my civil engineering classes in college, because so many had labs. Another bonus from the lab, was that we got a black apron, which I'll probably never use for work. Actually most of the stuff I learned in class I won't use, but I need to be certified to enter asphalt information into our database. Pity this class's certification is once every 5 years. I don't get many opportunities to come up on the state's dime. There's this and the annual KSU transportation conference, which should be in a couple of months. I should look into that and make sure I'm registered to attend. I missed last year's because I had a class in Salina.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Manhattan
Every other Friday, I come in 30 minutes early so I can leave early, so I can make it to Manhattan by 7pm for yosakoi practice. Though today I forgot to come in early, I'm still going to leave though since I got some extra time from the Monday field trip. I'll be in Manhattan for the next week, taking a 4-day Superpave training course. It's taught by the only CE dept teacher I never had. I'm sure it'll be boring and simple, since techs have to be able to pass it. Though I've heard its one of the harder courses. I look forward to my week up there, though I don't look forward to living off fast food for the week. I'll be staying at the hotel across the street from the Union, so I won't have to worry about the parking nightmare.
Yesterday, I went to a couple beauty supply stores to find some special dreadlock shampoo, no place had what I was looking for. The Nubian Beauty Store, which was run by asians, had a conditioner, but the not the matching shampoo. I ended up picking up a "dry" shampoo. It sucks, I'm not supposed to wash my hair for a week to give the dreads time to lock up. My head itches.
Yesterday, I went to a couple beauty supply stores to find some special dreadlock shampoo, no place had what I was looking for. The Nubian Beauty Store, which was run by asians, had a conditioner, but the not the matching shampoo. I ended up picking up a "dry" shampoo. It sucks, I'm not supposed to wash my hair for a week to give the dreads time to lock up. My head itches.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
New Hair
Today feels like Monday to me. I took yesterday off, and went on a field trip on Monday. I decided to get dreadlocks, which was a 3 hour ordeal, so I decided to take the whole day off. I also went and got fitted for contacts. So came in today looking fairly different, and one of my coworkers felt the need to reintroduce himself to me. He did this to me once before after I came back from rotation and had shaved my head and goatee.
Several employees took a trip to Tulsa, Ok to tour the lab facilities of a major asphalt producer, Sem Materials. They provided two charter buses for a Wichita and Topeka group. I slept for about 2 hours each way. It was a nice tour, it would have been a little more interesting if I worked with asphalt testing, but it was basically a day off. They had a beautiful facility, it's almost tempting to start looking for a job in the private sector. After the tours, they gave us lunch, then some VPs came, gave a presentation basically kissing our collective asses. I guess that's business though. We're one of their biggest customers, and we're usually the first to try out their new and unproven designs.
Last week, he had our annual District Construction and Materials meeting. It wasn't too bad, and our office surprisingly won the District Safety Award. They got their picture in the monthly newsletter, but I missed out since I left quickly. At that meeting, our Metro Engineer asked if I was interested taking over the Hutchinson construction office, since the engineer that they were grooming for the position just quit at the end of last year. It'd be a promotion and a nice pay raise, but I'd have a lot more responsibility that I don't think I'm ready for. Plus I don't want to move or commute to Hutch. I told him no thanks, and he easily gave up.
Several employees took a trip to Tulsa, Ok to tour the lab facilities of a major asphalt producer, Sem Materials. They provided two charter buses for a Wichita and Topeka group. I slept for about 2 hours each way. It was a nice tour, it would have been a little more interesting if I worked with asphalt testing, but it was basically a day off. They had a beautiful facility, it's almost tempting to start looking for a job in the private sector. After the tours, they gave us lunch, then some VPs came, gave a presentation basically kissing our collective asses. I guess that's business though. We're one of their biggest customers, and we're usually the first to try out their new and unproven designs.
Last week, he had our annual District Construction and Materials meeting. It wasn't too bad, and our office surprisingly won the District Safety Award. They got their picture in the monthly newsletter, but I missed out since I left quickly. At that meeting, our Metro Engineer asked if I was interested taking over the Hutchinson construction office, since the engineer that they were grooming for the position just quit at the end of last year. It'd be a promotion and a nice pay raise, but I'd have a lot more responsibility that I don't think I'm ready for. Plus I don't want to move or commute to Hutch. I told him no thanks, and he easily gave up.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Profilograph
Yesterday I went to very simple class about reading the results of a profilograph. Basically after a major paving job, they run a profilograph over the surface to test the smoothness. It'll probably be a long time before I ever do one of those, since we're focused on repairs instead of new construction. But the class got me out of the office. I rode with the office admin and on the way back I got to hear some office gossip, which I usually never hear. I usually prefer to mind my own business and just listen to my music. I do talk with my coworkers more often now though. They'll all bored, spending their days playing games and watching DVDs.
Recently our Field Engineer Administrator announced that he's leaving us for a job that pays more and doesn't require a 50 mile commute. He is a fellow KSU alum and very easy too get along with. Yesterday, my boss was making a giant KSU banner for him. His position, FEA, is one step above Construction Engineer, EAIII, and requires a PE license. So if my boss wanted to move up she could, and then I can move up to her position. Though I don't want to move just quite yet, I don't want the responsibility of running an office and conducting meetings with people who clearly know more than me. Plus I like my boss and her cooking. Though there is the possibility that they'll keep the position closed until the EAIII from the north shop passes his PE test, so he could take it. I'm not too crazy about moving to that office either. Though it's not like I'd automatically get the position anyways, I still have to compete with the other EAII from the north shop. Ideally I'd like to stay in this office and take over in 6 months or so to get more experience, but that's not going to happen.
Tomorrow, we have our annual District Construction and Materials meeting. It'll be the end half of Thursday and beginning half of Friday. I'll be napping in the back. I have yet to make it through a conference or class without falling asleep once, though it not like it's a goal of mine to stay awake either.
Recently our Field Engineer Administrator announced that he's leaving us for a job that pays more and doesn't require a 50 mile commute. He is a fellow KSU alum and very easy too get along with. Yesterday, my boss was making a giant KSU banner for him. His position, FEA, is one step above Construction Engineer, EAIII, and requires a PE license. So if my boss wanted to move up she could, and then I can move up to her position. Though I don't want to move just quite yet, I don't want the responsibility of running an office and conducting meetings with people who clearly know more than me. Plus I like my boss and her cooking. Though there is the possibility that they'll keep the position closed until the EAIII from the north shop passes his PE test, so he could take it. I'm not too crazy about moving to that office either. Though it's not like I'd automatically get the position anyways, I still have to compete with the other EAII from the north shop. Ideally I'd like to stay in this office and take over in 6 months or so to get more experience, but that's not going to happen.
Tomorrow, we have our annual District Construction and Materials meeting. It'll be the end half of Thursday and beginning half of Friday. I'll be napping in the back. I have yet to make it through a conference or class without falling asleep once, though it not like it's a goal of mine to stay awake either.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Bored enough to update
I've been busy the past 5 months with projects. My project took an extra month longer than it should have, which is fine by me, because I can get more overtime that way. Now I have to finish up some paperwork with this project and my first project the finished up back in June. I need to get certifications for every little thing used on the jobs, like the bolts, paint, and plastic wrap used to cover curing concrete. We don't pay for this stuff, but we need to account for it. So I'm basically waiting for the contractors to send me the certs. There is some other busy work to be done, but I would rather read GTO.
Today was chili day, the boss made chili and another co-worker made taco soup. The soup was excellent, though I was a little disappoint with the chili because it wasn't as good as the soup. My boss is an excellent cook, and I generally expect nothing but the best from her. There was also garlic bread and some brownies. This past month has been good and bad, because she's been baking a lot more, so I get tasty treats, but it very bad for my weight. If I was able to so some restraint. I'm constantly walking passed the food table on the way to the restroom or to get something from the printer, and it's hard to not grab something.
Not sure how often I'm going to update, since it's fairly mundane not really worth writing about, but I guess it depends on how bored I get at the end of the day. I didn't bring enough GTO manga today, stopped at a really good part too.
Today was chili day, the boss made chili and another co-worker made taco soup. The soup was excellent, though I was a little disappoint with the chili because it wasn't as good as the soup. My boss is an excellent cook, and I generally expect nothing but the best from her. There was also garlic bread and some brownies. This past month has been good and bad, because she's been baking a lot more, so I get tasty treats, but it very bad for my weight. If I was able to so some restraint. I'm constantly walking passed the food table on the way to the restroom or to get something from the printer, and it's hard to not grab something.
Not sure how often I'm going to update, since it's fairly mundane not really worth writing about, but I guess it depends on how bored I get at the end of the day. I didn't bring enough GTO manga today, stopped at a really good part too.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Message board woes
Over the holiday, the message board that I setup rolled into a ditch. Maintenance was nice enough to put it back on the shoulder. It was apparently still working, but when my helper raised it back up, it died. Apparently something on the board burned out, like a capacitor or resistor.
I had the joy of taking the board back to the north shop. I made several mistakes when moving it. Since the board was dead, I couldn't lower the board. It stood about 15 feet, lowered its about 8-9 feet. First I forgot to rotate the sign. I was wondering why I couldn't get any speed, then I realize I basically had a giant wall behind me. I pulled over and fixed it. I thought I had locked it, but as soon as I got to about 50 mph, the sign swung open, jerking my truck back. It felt like back end of my truck was lifted up. I was worried that the raised message board wouldn't make it under the bridges and overhead signs. Hopefully the board can be fixed soon, because we really need it out, since we'll be closing off a major junction.
I had the joy of taking the board back to the north shop. I made several mistakes when moving it. Since the board was dead, I couldn't lower the board. It stood about 15 feet, lowered its about 8-9 feet. First I forgot to rotate the sign. I was wondering why I couldn't get any speed, then I realize I basically had a giant wall behind me. I pulled over and fixed it. I thought I had locked it, but as soon as I got to about 50 mph, the sign swung open, jerking my truck back. It felt like back end of my truck was lifted up. I was worried that the raised message board wouldn't make it under the bridges and overhead signs. Hopefully the board can be fixed soon, because we really need it out, since we'll be closing off a major junction.
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