So, I've been meaning to write a little blurb about my 'new' job with the construction company but more as a result of a lack of energy, rather than a lack of material, I didn't really finish any of my posts. I find it therefore ironic that I choose to write about it the day before I quit.
The Job:
Hired as a first aid attendant, the actual administration of first aid only takes up about .5% of my time, and even that time is frowned upon it seems. I did however do a lot of hauling garbage, cleaning and stacking bricks, skill sawing, cursing at the weathered and warped ceiling beams that I have to work around, measuring and remeasuring then cursing when it doesn't fit, not to mention the 100's of flights of stairs I've walked up and down searching for tools or trying to figure out exactly what I should be doing. My foreman and supervisor don't always say/bark the same message. At least my foreman doesn't yell...too often...at me.
The Site:
Hastings and Cambie. East Hastings meets Gastown. Models meet stoners and angry yelling vagabonds stumble past backpackers.
The north-east block, also previously the home of the Woodwards building, is where my construction site sits. The project is to renovate the 120 year old building into retail, office and residence space (for perspective, Vancouver is only roughly 140 years old). It'll be neat to see how it turns out.
The wake-up:
Ready to work at 7:00am on the dot. I often pushed said dot...
The punch-out time:
3:30pm. This is my favourite part.
The after work shower:
20 minutes minimum. I used to be the queen of 5 minute showers (no seriously, I was in a parade), but now I require an extra long time in order to scrub every part of the body. I find I'm using more product than ever in order to be "normal". My singing is getting better though.
The skin:
Itchy, dry, and clogged. One of my bosses told me about an ex-boyfriend of hers that died at young age - they think it may have been related to how long he worked in construction. Yes, I've only worked a month, but you never know...
Some things I learned:
I have a mild fear of heights that surfaces when I'm nailing things to the ceiling in precarious situations ~ I'm a hard worker and it feels good to be recognized by your 'foreman' ~ I have my limits on the dirtiness scale , a scale that takes into consideration duration of dirty state, content of 'dirt', and ease of cleaning ~ Steel toe boots are great for helping to tone your buttocks. So are stairs ~ Carpentry is fun ~ I'm still the math nerd I was in high school.
The reason I'm hanging up my tool belt:
I got offered a full-time ski patrol position (I had applied for part time) on the same day we found out that they would have to fire 5+ people since the head company who is contracting us refuses to pay for more than 15 people on the site. I got picked to stay, but for how long?
There you go. As of Saturday I will be working for Grouse Mountain on their ski patrol (!), which makes this the 4th company I'’ve worked for this year. Hmm.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
No way!? Yay!!
Does this mean there will be hot tub parties with rich dudes in neon ski-suites with the Beegees playing in the background? I'm all for the ski patrol. Now that I know you're there to save my ass maybe I'll actually learn to snowboard once and for all this winter.
There had better be hot tub parties!?! - with or without the Beegees. (though the Beegees do set a certain tone for the evening)
btw, the conditions at Grouse have been great. They're closing runs because there's too much snow! I don't know what it's like up there today (monday), but it's still snowing in Vancouver, so...
Holy crap, talk about the greatest job EVER! Seriously though, congratulations on the new job!
Linds - that's awesome! Both the construction job and the ski patrol job. I definitely wish I had more exercise in my job than running (re: strolling) from one cubicle to the next. Or on really hard days, walking to the boardroom.
Congrats!!
Post a Comment