You better write these stories down, these guys are going to retire in a few years.”
This quote from one of my co-workers is the reason that I decided to begin this blog. There are many stories told in a chemical plant during the workday. I am going to share some with y’all. My feeling is that we all have stories to tell. Some of them, though, are more interesting than others. My goal is to share some of these stories with you. Granted, what I find interesting might not be what you enjoy. That’s O.K. I just feel the need to relate anything that I hear or see at work so that anyone bored enough might be entertained for a few minutes.
I work 12 hour rotating shifts in a chemical facility in Louisiana.
I am an outside operator, which means most of my time is spent outside working on equipment, making rounds, assisting maintenance workers, and keeping management happy. Because we all know that when management is not happy, no one is happy.
Anyway, I’ll be back to post as I can. I have to actuall go back to work now.
L8R,
Purple Tiger 006
Here is another great photo of the Golden Girls. I hope once the season starts, I’ll be able to get some more.
I just read online about an incident at Honeywell’s chemical plant in Baton Rouge. Evidently, they had a release of Hydroflouric Acid at one of their units. I find this pretty disturbing, because they had a fatality at this same facility as a result of HF.
I know how difficult it is to prevent releases and spills on a 24 hour operation. It seems that the leak was detected by a remote monitor as well as the operations personnel and a “deluge” system was activated to prevent any additional exposure to personnel and equipment. My hat is off to the operators at Honeywell for handling this potentially dangerous situation rather quickly.
I hope no one was exposed and stay safe guys!
What a week it has been! We have been working out here all week, and here I am working nights all weekend. Don’t get me wrong, I like the money but the heat will take all of your energy after a while.
Here is a quote from the venerable sensei here in my unit. Try to guess what he is talking about, “That was just a little baby. . . In a little while there’s going to be a growed up ‘m f’ in the bathroom.” I was moving from our control board portion of the control room to the eating area when I walked into a “wall” of foulness. He ran 2 people out of the area he was in. It didn’t clear out for a few minutes.
I’ll post later when there is more to say.
L8R
My weekend at work is almost over. It is around 1230 A.M. and I am waiting for relief to get here. Well, my relief will not arrive until about 5 in the morning. I still have about 4 1/2 hours left.
I am anxiously awaiting L.S.U. football season to begin. Right now, the way my schedule looks, I might be able to make it to a few games. I have tickets to the Arizona and Fresno State games. I am hoping to get tickets to the Alabama game. Yeah, I know. . . tickets to that one are extremely scarce. It won’t keep me from trying to score some tickets. I went to Tuscaloosa last year and had a blast! My wife, brother-in-law, my wife’s friend and myself went to Alabama to see L.S.U. defeat the Crimson Tide in their own house. By the way, the Alabama fans were great. This enabled us to have an enjoyable experience. I would like to make that trip again someday.
We are trying to get some tickets to the Florida/L.S.U. game in Gainesville this year. Right now, we are not having any luck. My wife’s brother lives in Orlando and we will probably go to Gainesville, even if we do not have tickets. The bars and restaurants across from ‘The Swamp’ are a great place to see the game if you don’t have tickets. We’ve been there before and had a pleasant trip. Hope to have another one this year.
I know I’m rambling, but what do you expect from someone updating their blog at almost 1 in the morning. I’ll be back when I have something to say.
Geaux Tigers!
Don’t let the title fool you. I didn’t make it to the game Saturday night. I did, however, watch it on Tigervision.
Look, I know we were playing USL err. . . UL-Lafayette, but there couldn’t be a better way to kick off the 2006 season. USL gets a good payday without having to travel to the Big-House, and their fans get to drive down I-10 to do some out-of-town drinking on the campus of LSU.
I believe JaMarcus Russell did look improved over last season. I am a little concerned about Justin Vincent. I thought I saw him limp off the field in the 1st half. If anyone knows anything please let me know. Alley Broussard finally got in the game and looked pretty good. I know it was against a tired and almost defeated USL defense, but I think it was a nice spot for him to get his game legs back after his injury last year.
I just read a blog from tigersmack.com and came away laughing. Evidently, there is a DUDE on the Ragin Cajun dance team. WHAT ?!!??? What the hell is that all about? The poster for the tigersmack blog said that the big screen in the stadium focused on him for the entire song. I don’t know about you, but a guy on a college football dance team seems somewhat. . . wrong.
I’m looking forward to next week when the ‘Cats come into Death Valley. I’ll actually be there with the rest of the Tiger Faithful getting drunk, loud, and hopefully after getting laid. (sidenote: don’t tell my wife that I’m going to try to hit on her Saturday)
By the way, the decision to eliminate “Tiger Rag” from the pregame because of student “vulgarity” is absolutely riduculous!
Geaux Tigers and Looking for Overtime,
L8R
Look,
I’m the last one to complain about how someone prepares food in their own kitchen. On Monday of this week, one of the operators had a little ‘surprise’ in his boxed lunch from one of the trucks. Looking at the title of this post you can hazard a guess on what he found in his red beans after he had eaten half of the lunch. I have never seen lunch boxes disappear off of the table quicker than they did that day. Before, the other guys started eating they were kidding me about my frozen french bread pizzas that I put in the oven. Well, I had a full stomach while the others were left hungry for the rest of the afternoon.
The tech who found the little critter in his lunch proptly began calling the other control rooms to warn them about the incident. After that, he went out front to get his money back from the vendor. When he showed the guy the roach in the box, the guy had the nerve to ask him, “Do you want your money back?”
DUDE, What the HELL do you think ?!!???
The following day, the guard at the gate said there were no operation technicians eating from that particular truck. I wasn’t too keen on that one anyway, but this little ‘incident’ sealed the deal for me.
I have asked a couple of guys to post any stories or anecdotes they hear while they are at work. So, if you see any others posting to this blog, it is with my permission. There are so many stories here that I need a lot of help to get them down.
By the way, the Tigers will win this weekend. . . The purple and gold ones that is.
Geaux Tigers! I’ll be pulling for them even though I’ll probably miss most of the fourth quarter.
L8R,
Purple Tiger 006
Aw Hell. . .
After watching the first half of the LSU/Auburn game at my parents’ house I made my way, somewhat comfortable, to work. LSU and Auburn were in the midst of a SEC battle and I had to miss the second half on TV. Auburn’s only scoring drive left me feeling nervous but confident that there was time left in the game for LSU to put something together.
Oh, but it was not meant to be. After a penalty that gave Auburn a first down on a 3rd and 29, I had a sinking feeling in my gut. The Tigers stopped Auburn a few plays later, but with precious time coming off the clock. LSU had their chances, however, Auburn’s defense kept them from the end zone.
The penalties that were called on the two last drives of each team seemed to contribute to the outcome of the game. It doesn’t mean that the pass interference call on the interception or the overturn of the alleged pass interferene call lost the game. If Russell wouldn’t have taken the sack on the last drive with time running off the clock, LSU might have had enough time to run one more play from the 5 yard line with 15-20 seconds on the clock.
The loss was painful. Not only because it almost certainly keeps LSU out of the SEC Championship Game, but it made this night at work very long indeed.
LSU has 2 home games coming up before they have to travel to Florida to play a Gator team that pulled out a last quarter win at Tennessee. I have to revise my prediction of the Tigers’ season. I originally thought that they would drop 2 of the 4 road games. I now think they could possibly run the table if the offense can put any running game together. I really believe that Auburn’s defense is the toughest that LSU will see for the rest of the season. I know that the Tigers will bounce back. They must if they want even a chance to play for the Western Division title. I know that Auburn must lose two, but stranger things have happened. Not very likely though.
Ready for Relief and Ready for Bed,
Geaux Tigers and L8R,
Purple Tiger 006
I’m playing around with my blog layout. Please forgive any unneccessary movements. I’m just working it out.
