Tuesday, June 17, 2008

I'LL PROBABLY FEEL THIS TOMORROW

Today, at work, we had a job at a chemical plant. Before we started to do anything, the Director of Environmental Safety, Sharon Something, had us all file into the breakroom so that she could run down the rules of the place.

The place is called Gage Products Company, and they specialize in "solvent-recovery and waste-stream management programs for the pharmaceutical, chemical and paint industries." Needless to say (but I will, anyway) there are a hell of a lot of chemicals there--Sharon said that the score or so of silo-like towers contained approximately one million gallons of a highly flammable substance used to change paint colors for the automotive industry. Yes. One million gallons of paint thinner. So the company was concerned about our safely doing our necessary "hot-tapping"--er, welding--seeing as how their gaseous chemicals--if there were a problem--would sink to the ground, where we (the gas- men and woman) were. In the ditchy-ditch.

Test question: Paint thinners and welding torches equal...? Class? Class?

Ka-boom. Yes! You get gold stars.

Sharon assured us that nothing had ever happened during the twenty-four years that she had worked there. Reassuring words, sure, but still, when I walked back out of the breakroom after the safety quiz and looked up at the 20-plus "silos," I gazed with new respect (and wide wondah) at those silver metal gods.

So, anyway, I was talking about the rules that Sharon Something had proffered. One, there was to be NO smoking on the grounds. If you simply had to smoke, you could cross Wanda Street to inhale the blasted carcinogens. (Ironic in a way, huh?) Also, absolutely no cell phones within the circumnavigation of the fenceline. They be ignition sources, don'tcha know. And also--this is funny--if the loudspeaker were to ever scream EVACUATE! we were to do so promptly and meet down the street in the church parking lot, across from the elementary school. Good Lord, God is good.

Man. Doesn't that just makes one's asshole pucker!

Oh, wait. I forgot something. Sharon Something, resplendant in her personalized green Gage hardhat, said, too, that the company had been around for seventy-plus years and, as a matter of course--seeing as how the environmental laws weren't as stringent back in the '40s as they are today--spills did happen. And, thus, the ground was perverte, contaminated, and it was in our best interests to wear yellow slush boots. "Gosh," she said, "I can't imagine doing something like this every day."

I nodded. "You're right," I said, "usually we don't work around a million gallons of highly-flammable liquids." I raised my eyebrows in mock horror.

She sniggered.

So, anyway, I entitled this post I'll Probably Feel This Tomorrow. It's really not because Sharon Something informed us that the toxic soil--non-cancerous! non-cancerous!--could, could, if absorbed through the skin, cause a narcological reaction, meaning--of course!--that one would feel somewhat spaced out, drunk. No, rather, the reason that I entitled this post I'll Probably Feel This Tomorrow is because, damn, we had to--I had to--break out about nine square feet of concrete in order to get to a gas service that we had to transform from "metal" to "plastic." That jackhammer is 75 pounds. It does a good job. It cuts through pavement. Annnnnd...it rattles the arms and it shimmies the back. It's a workout. And so I get paid for working out. And I love it.

I love Destruction.

I love my job.

How many people can say that?


14 comments:

Laura said...

Feel the burn Adam!

At least you know if it's hurting it's probably done you some good.

Glad to see your enjoying your work again.

Adamity73 said...

Thanks, Bunny Bleu! I *am* feeling the burn! =o) But...it's a good burn. Something that only physical exertion can bring.

I'd recommend it to a friend.

I hope that you're enjoying your bean-job, too!

:-P

(You go, girl. Smile amd the whole fucking world smiles back.)

=o)

Anonymous said...

man, i hope you don't have many (or 'any') more days like that one. what's wrong with walking through suburbia reading 'clean' meters and keeping your heart cardiovascularly (a word?) sound?
advice only a mother could give. in the meantime, a good hot shower does wonders on worn out muscles.

Heather said...

I'm so glad to hear that you're enjoying your job again, hon. :D Also, big piles of chemicals are very, very scary. I'm kinda with your mom on this one ;-)

Melissa said...

Geesh! Reminds me of a friend of mine who worked at a place that repaired and calibrated gauges and precision tools. Doesn't sound like much, does it? But the solvent they used was highly toxic and a buddy of his died from cancer before he was 30. Keep your gear tight! That's an order.

Laura said...

I am, very much so in fact :D

What an ace pair we are!

Frank said...

It's pleasing to know that my native state is home to such a fine and safe establishment.

JenBun said...

Ummm... don't touch the dirt!!! And if they say "evacuate," DO IT!

Now I'm gonna worry...

Me_Again said...

After reading this, I believe a "happy blog" is in order!
Maybe you could write about your DAISY-CHAIN-OF-WONDERFULNESS ;0)
"I love Destruction.
I love my job.
How many people can say that?"

I love you. xoxoxxoxox

Adamity73 said...

BooBoo: *Never* back to meter reading! Never! :-P Okay, only as a last resort. But thanks for the concern.

Heather: Oh, yeah, being with amiable co-workers does wonders for one's outlook! =o)

Melissa: That really *is* scary. Geesh, is right! :-\

Bunny: Great! I'm very glad to hear that. :-D

Frankie: Oh, c'mon...you *know* you wanna come back! ;-)

JenBun: Don't worry...be happy! :-) We're not here for a long time, but rather, a good time.

Happy blog, Meegie? I'll see what I can do. =o) And I love every facet of you, too. =o) =o) =o)

Jay said...

My brother in law is an electronic warfare office on B-52s. They're basically doing demolition work too. He also loves his job. LOL

Adamity73 said...

And can you blame him, Jay?! Blowing shit up, un-constructing, can be heaps o' fun!

=o)

Anonymous said...

Well, you say it well! Great post! Be careful! Find another job already..

Adamity73 said...

Thanks, Alex! =o) No. I like the one I've got. :)