Construction

Doesn't matter what you do for a living, you wouldn't be doing it now if somebody hadn't built a place for you to do it.





I'm not officially "in the trades" or anything even close. Sometimes I get a call from someone who is and, feeling indebted, I oblige with a few days help. Everyone in this country should have to spend a week working in construction. It might cut down on some of the complaining, or maybe provide a much needed dose of perspective for any male who spends more than three minutes in front of a mirror every morning.

If you're bummed because traffic was tough this morning or because Jeff from accounting is really up your ass about submitting expense reports on the proper colored stationary, or because you have a client pushing an aggressive deadline, try going to work without heat for a month. Climb up a scaffold and hammer some roof flashing in the rain. See if you can't walk up and down the same set of stairs all day with a board on your shoulder while you're crouching under the painter's rig. Try stuffing insulation all day. See how long you can go without cutting your thumb off.

Don't know what's up with my boots. They aren't that old, but the rubber seems to be disintegrating. As I walk around the job site, screws and nails and such seem to just sink into the sole. I got them cheap enough. That might have something to do with it.



There's a rock in there that looks like it's cut its way across the sole, forming a bit of a canyon, and the toe just plain quit. It isn't like stuff gets wedged in between the treads. It just sinks in, and when I finally pull something out of there, it's all gooey. It's really time to toss these things.

But enough about fashion. It's time for the weekly safety meeting. I couldn't decide whether to call this photo "Safety Meeting" or "How To Get Punched In The Face"


In any case, if you own a Bosch 1191 Hammer drill, you should take it back.

With the safety meeting safely adjourned, I headed back to my rounds.



Installing locksets. After about 50 or so, you really start to tire of it. I, probably like most people, am not a fan of the repetitive task. Reminding yourself that it's a favor only seems to help in small spurts. Let's just say I no longer feel indebted in any way whatsoever.

I did grab a few shots of the place though, and I'll sum it up like this -
They want damn near 3/4 of a million dollars for one of these places. The square footage is small and the deck is small and usable only about half the year, but the view is quite pleasant.



Some of the units don't exactly offer what you'd consider a 360° view.



...unless your a fan of the gravel roof. And there was one other thing... uh... Wait, what was it that...

Oh, I remember



It sits directly in the flight path of an international airport which, depending on the wind, means you get to experience full throttle takeoff or short final approach, which means not only do you get jets overhead, you get them about 150ft. overhead.

Yeah. That was it.

Today featured a C-130 Hercules performing touch-and-go's for most of the afternoon.



So save your pennies and you could live here, too.

Oh, and I don't care if you work on a porno set, you will not hear the "f" word more in a lifetime at your job than you will at this job site by noon. But hey, like the drywall guys are always saying, sic transit gloria fuckin' mundi.