LAKE ADVENTURES Any one notice that driving has improved over the years? Yeah, me neither. Had the pleasure of following our trailer full of pontoon to the lake last week. She sailed majestically over the back of the truck which made it's sideview mirrors and the truck itself somewhat superfluous. She appeared to glide effortlessly down the highways unemcumbered running on air. Frustration ensued by those following our two (three) vehicle caravan which led to some frazzled nerves and impatience.
Sticking to back country two-lane roads did not alleviate the need for speed of our fellow commuters. Tailgating was expected but the ill-advised dive to pass both of us meant I had to brake and create space so the dude passing could get between us and, by the way, save his fricking life. Suitably chastened he remained there for the duration although there were ample opportunities to complete his forward pass. On the return trip with an empty, albeit a long trailer, I saw an even more spectacular near-death experience. An old Caddie (trigger "hot rod lincoln" song) took a chance on a winding two laner barely clearing oncoming traffic which would have involved our truck and trailer as well. The irony was he was then trapped behind 4 cars and a semi-truck all the way to Hastings. 😄 It's lake country people. Folks haul boats all over the place. Wait your turn. Heaven knows what these crazed motorists do when they get behind the inevitable (this time of year) farm vehicles that are twice as wide as they are tall and lumber along at a very reduced velocity.
Ironic I know. I am notoriously impatient about waiting and have been known to walk out of entertainment venues, restaurants, funerals, cruises... if the line is too long. And I never go quietly. I think it goes back to that first concert at MSU where we stood in a blocks-long line (with tickets) and then told to run for seats when we got close tempting risk to life and limb. Take a reservation or assigned seats is my motto. Now with the sciatica issue it has become excruciating to stand for long periods. I pace, do jumping jacks, bitch a lot which is probably distracting to regular people. I've gone to self-serve at the grocery store (with protest) to avoid lines at check-out.
PODDING ALONG Changing circuits (intentional pun) I recorded an interesting podcast on Lithium-ion Batteries to post this week. Although I am familiar with cathode and anode rays (opposites distract) and capaciters, he did lose me at times. He did "dumb" it down for me as far as a chemical and professional engineer can, but I know a lot of people in our industry will enjoy it. He's got me spooked to fly on a plane though now. On the lighter side he works with a museum in Flint dedicated to old fire engine toys. Cool. This week hope to record a second interview on Construction health.
WHAT'S A FUN JOB? Another little project last week. I agreed to staff a booth at a Career Day event for ninth graders. There are so many things wrong with that sentence. As one teacher put it "they don't know what they want at this age, but what a great event" Huh? My booth's intent was to expose the 'young'ins to careers in the EHS field as I know most young people have no clue this is actually a thing. We set up some interactive activities where I wielded the volt meter on a live cord (ooh ahh); Carl let people scream into our decibel meter and Sandy coordinated the students hammering a hapless hard hat to smitherens to demonstrate how it offers protection (kids wearing proper safety eyewear of course). I think that helmet took more than 200 blows before they finally got a crack in it, but our dummy friend Bob emerged unscathed! Guess which activity they lined up for the most? A lot of anger management issues in that age group apparently.
Some observations: 1) the students were pretty polite mostly (I think the blase arrogance begins junior year); 2) the differences in14-15 year olds physically is stark as some looked like they'd been driving truck for years and others looked like they barely made it into puberty; 3) apparently there are a lot of jobs in the medical field as they bascially took up a whole quadrant at the show; 4) although this was not a safety show we cringed at some of the exhibits and "interactions" like harnessing them up and having them rope and saddle up to a horticulture man(person) lift. I walked around at times boldly displaying my MIOSHA marked fluorescent vest. However the only trepidation I struck was at the Skilled Trades trailer - because they know. Of course no one seemed that bothered by the Police and FBI folks either. All good and nobody died. Peace Out....💚 💙💛
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