Progress

It has been four and a half weeks since day one and I'm telling you my forearms are MASSIVE!!! Just kidding, because considerng before I started working in sheet metal I had an interesting sagging effect going on with these muscles of mine, I'd have to build them up a lot more to even come near massive, haha. I do however have noticable muscle mass going on! I also have friends asking me how the "man hands" are coming along. Interesting path my friends must see me going down with questions like that. Well I have one friend that sees all the good in it. Andrew is the one that came along at the right time and talked to me about it, and he has expressed how proud he is of me. Keeps calling me young padawan.... So I'm building stamina and strength. I think it's almost time to seek out those bullies from school days!! LOL (Now how sad is THAT...)

Heard from my father today through the powers of email. Haven't seen him since just after new year. I guess it's coming somewhat close to an annual visit. Love him, just wish we were a bit more social with each other. New years resolution....

Off to Toronto to visit my sister and check out the big Aboriginal gathering at the sky dome. Haven't gone to a pow wow in a long time, should be loads of fun. Will be accessing the TTC (Toronto public transportation). Will see if we get lost making our way around the city. Although in googling a map of the subway system in Toronto I came up with a map of Tokyo's system and in comparison... TTC subway is kindergarten to Tokyo's spagetti system. So we should do alright.

Grrrrr rrrrrr

I've decided to name my air hammer!! And I'm going to luv it... and hug it... and call it Kirby!!

Yes... Kirby!! Why you ask? Well the reason is two fold. First off Kirby is a nintendo game character and if you know anything about me, you know I LOVE my games! Secondly, if you saw Kirby you'd know he's this round pink doe cheeked cute thing and... well.. you know these women that insist on owning these little adorable cute cuddly ooooh ur such a sweety, poochy coochy coo dogs that if you get within five feet of it, it will rip ur head off... Well that is my air hammer. It is a rather small thing in comparison to some power tools out there, but it packs a punch! Treat it well and it will treat you well. I've gotten on it's bad side and payed the price! He can be tempermental, as the gash on my ring finger will attest. If I hit him unexpectidly he growls to let me know I've gotten too close. So I am ever careful not to piss off the hammer!

Don't worry, I have lost all my marbles... just don't tell the foreman that!!

I've cracked! I caught myself humming CHRISTMAS tunes today at work!! What on earth would possess me to do THAT! I'm commercial now......

One Of Many

Well it is done!! I have become one of the many...

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What... that's it? Well of course that's it. My job is now just that... a job. I am in the assembly line starting sharp at 6:30, break from 9:15-9:30, lunch at 12-12:30 and off home at 3:45. Don't for a minute think I work until 3:46 EVER!!!! So yesterday and today were rather good days. Simply because I have fused into my work. When I got off work yesterday I realized that I wasn't in a constant panick wondering if I was doing it right, or if I was going to be taught something new. I've used most of the machinery in the shop and have a PRETTY good idea what sort of order goes to the assembly of duct work. So now it is just a matter of getting into the assembly line somewhere and going to town on metal! Of course now that I've found a "comfy" niche (and I use that word loosely), I'll probably get shipped off to some slab site to start the learning process all over again.... now.... in the middle of November.... in the midest of natures winter prep.... cold.................................... Welcome to tinbanging apprenticeship I guess eh?

Sadly my daughter has been very sick as of late. She refuses to get a flu shot. She's decided she'd far rather live through every disease and sickness out there, then get an excruciatingly painful prick from a needle. Just wait until she has to get another immunization shot and realizes it's not a choice... the fun that will be................. (I DO like using those periods....)

*giggle snort* Shhhhhh

November 10th '06

Ok ok... so here's the scoop on the guys I work with!! So there's...
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HA you didn't actually think I'd gossip did you? Hey you be quiet!!
So over all things are going well. The guys are all good people's. Very helpful and definitely friendly. Didn't really notice if I got any "OMG a GIRL on site!!" looks when I started, but I don't feel any of that right now anyway. We joke we swear and we SPIT together.... lol. Hmmm talk about a stereotype eh? All jokes aside, I'm glad I'm at this job site and hope to stick with them for a good portion of my apprenticeship anyway.
I spent 8 hours putting together TDFs. They are a type of duct. One of the guys was telling me we'll be dreaming about TDFs all weekend. After that I was picturing myself running through a field of daisies with my hair blowing in the wind and a big smile outshining the sun on my face, when all of a sudden I realize I'm holding something and my smile turns to confusion. I look down to see a hammer in my hand. I lift my hand with the hammer up and catch site of my field. It is no longer a field but never ending rows of TDF parts waiting to be assembled. As I come to a stop I trip over a row sending them tumbling like dominoes and then I'm standing watching TDFs fall all around me as far as the eye can see.... *shivers* hmmm all that in a split second or two... man I dream fast.
So tonight we head over to Andrew's for pizza and movies... and tomorrow... laundry!!
I've been asked to go into Tammie's class and talk about being Blackfoot. They want to know about the Sundance and our culture. I guess their big topic right now is Natives. Not sure what kind of source I'd be. I have about 14 years of cultural knowledge in me, but it's all observation. It's not something I grew up knowing. I'm thinking about it though. Might be interesting... but of course standing up in front of her class will bring forth a whole new nightmare....

Surviving

November 4th '06

I am now two weeks into the trade. and am doing fine! This weekend my right hand is a bit swollen from all the hammering I've done, but considering some people injure tendons, or pinch nerves with sudden hard work on a limb, I'm glad this is all I'm going through. In the two weeks that I've been there, I can already feel muscle building in my arms. Considering I was probably at a minus muscle mass (lol) this is a good thing. Last weekend I worked my last shifts at the Travelodge, so this weekend is truly my first official weekend off!! It is now Saturday and I still wake up feeling something needs to be done. Not work anyway!! I'm sure this apartment could use some tidying though. I will tell you though, that I'll be glad when I get past the point where my body is still adjusting. I know that there will always be times where I work myself a bit more than usual and will get sore, but overall, when my body has adjusted to the general work habits forming here, I won't be AS exausted at the end of the day. I can tell you I am very proud of making it through each day now though!! On Thursday Paul the head cheese, gave me a Dilfo Mechanical jacket. I am truly part of the team now! hehe...
I have to do some heavy budgetting from this point on. I need to learn to save some money. To this point I have been pretty bad with my spending, and with this new job I do not want to waste the concept of making good money. As the years of my apprenticeship go by I will be making more money and I would hate to think that by my 5th year I'll be making really good money and still be squandering it on unneccesary material needs. I want a car!! Something to strive towards.
Now as a side note to good or bad spending, I bought an Ipod Mini off someone for $50. Which is a good pretty good deal. My old shuffle died a few weeks ago and I was almost in a panic as to what I would do without my travelling music!!! lol...

Here We Gooooooooooooooo

October 22nd '06

Got the word Friday. I start work at a new place on Monday (tomorrow). I officially have the "new job jitters". Everyone tells me I'll do fine. I believe them, but feel the rush! Now I have to survive my 90 day probation period and we're all set.
Went out to Value Village to buy some "work" clothes. Gotta luv them thrift stores!! Got my boots at Walmart. Good price, was hopeing for black. Still a bit of that dark child in me, lol. So I'm all set. Will have to buy my own tools, but as the apprenticeship progresses I will be able to build them up. I don't have to get them all at once, which is good, cuz good tools are DAMN expensive!! Guess I'll be asking for tools as X-mas gifts this year, hehe.
I now have a seriouse goal! A car. If I have to start work at 7am, I don't want to be having to leave two hours before then to catch a zillion buses. So note to self... learn to BUDGET!!!!

Foot In The Door

October 11th '06

Today I went and wrote my aptitude test for the sheet metal workers union. They told me it will take about a week to hear back from them. If I passed the test I will get an interview and then be put on a list to be shipped out for work! Yeeha!!
The questions on the test were very basic. Even the problem solving at the end were basic, but I still managed to get stuck on one. It went SOMETHING like this. I don't remember the exact numbers, so this may not work out, but this is the jist of it:
Three men are hired for a job. They are paid $9.65, $10, and $12.95. They work 7hrs. a day, 6 days a week. How long will the job take if they earned $6300?
I did some math and put what I thought was the answer, but who knows... I believe over all though I passed the test. Most of the work was mickey mouse. I'll keep my fingers crossed just in case though....
So here's to women out there and our involvement in getting the job done!!
Wish me luck!!!!