My very first blog

So, here I am.....my very first blog entry. I've never done this before and I'm looking forward to having a creative outlet for my thoughts.

Here I am in International Falls, MN working the night shift in a construction trailer. It's hard for me to imagine that just a few short months ago I was in my comfy, snobby life as a banker. I lost my job, my severance pay ran out, this opportunity arose and I took it. I've been here since April 29th living at the Holiday Inn. I get to work at 5:30 p.m. and get back "home" to the HI at 7:30 a.m. I wear a hardhat and safety goggles to work. I used to wear $700 Carlisle suits to work...how's that for a switch!! I must say that I don't miss the pantyhose, though! Here's a list of my new experiences:

1. Previously mentioned hardhat and safety glasses
2. Learned to use a two way radio (10-4, come in, over, etc....)
3. Drove a golf cart
4. Learned what a "sootblower" is
5. Ate canned venison (it was actually pretty good!)
6. Bought a Boilermakers local #169 t-shirt
7. Have been dubbed "the bucket lady" because of my twice per shift duty of collecting the workers' locks at the end of their shift (and putting them in my bucket, of course)
8. Learned what "brassing" in and out is (see #7 above)
9. Toured a ten story boiler - now I can relate to my dad's boiler stories that I grew up with
10. Told a boilermaker not to get pissy with me (that was a little scary)
11. Learned that boilermakers want to be pipefitters in their next life
12. Have gone 14 hours without washing my hands (thank goodness, at least for Purell)
13. Mailed home a paycheck from a motel
14. Missed daughter #1's senior prom
15. Missed daughter #2 getting her braces off
16. Have worn each of my four pairs of jeans twice without washing them (I'm going on round three tomorrow)
17. Bought panties and socks at Kmart (see #16 above - no time to wash clothes) and here's the really sick part - I actually enjoyed my retail therapy at the KMart today.
18. Met a nearly 60 year old boilermaker who told me a story about he and his friend getting drunk at the cabin and mooning people on the road....when I asked how old he was when he did that he said it was LAST SUMMER!!!! (This is the same guy who brought me the canned venison)
19. Have used a portapotty more in the last three weeks as I have in my entire lifetime. Yuck.
20. Have met a lot of really, really genuinely nice people

That's it for now.
Peace out,
Camille



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