pbh4
7.13.2007
Company Picnic - 2007
Had the company picnic with the new division on Friday. New faces, good food. Got in a few activities
Some of the people --- me --- more people, the guy in the middle illuminated by the light is my current 'boss'
scenery --- throwing bean bags (mom made 'em) --- more leaves
little vb action...
Some of the people --- me --- more people, the guy in the middle illuminated by the light is my current 'boss'
scenery --- throwing bean bags (mom made 'em) --- more leaves
little vb action...
Labels: work
¶ 3:00 PM 0 comments
7.03.2007
Running at Work
Here's one of the runs I do at lunch time when I'm at work. A good run to squeeze in at lunch. A little over 5 miles. Link
PR: 40:23 (7.1 min/mi pace) on 7/17
PR: 40:23 (7.1 min/mi pace) on 7/17
Labels: running, training, work
¶ 1:33 PM 0 comments
7.02.2007
Riding into work
Ok, so I'm cutting a little off the ride into work by driving in a little. It gives me a straight 10mi on the American River Trail and then about 4 off to get to work from there. Not too bad and a pretty nice and managable distance. This morning there was a little activity on the ride. I went for a little while and then a guy asked if he could just ride behind me and catch the draft. I said ok, but that I wouldn't be that fast. He got pulled along for a while but then when we got to a little curve he totally wiped out! His face and legs and arms were all bloody. I guess that's why a lot of cyclists don't like it when other people ride with them that they don't know because it could be them they cause to wipe out. He was ok, a bit shaken up though...
Here's the ride (link) using a website on the net.
Here's the ride (link) using a website on the net.
Labels: cycling, training, work
¶ 9:18 AM 0 comments
3.14.2007
1st Ride into the New Job
So it's a little bit farther ride from my house into work now. To downtown it was 11.2mi, taking me on average about 40 mins of riding time. Today I logged my distance at 20.7mi with a riding time of 73 mins. That's about an 84% increase. Which may mean riding in fewer times during the week. I would probably be happy riding in about every other day. Just have to make sure to pull myself out of bed a little earlier now. The ride is the same up to mile 8 at which point I head down the American River Trail for about 10mi. Which is actually nice because I don't have to worry about cars while I'm on the trail. We'll see how it goes, but that's the latest on the bike ride into work...
I may need to keep at it because not only is the relay coming up on May 5th, but the Davis Double Century is two weeks later on May 19th as well. I did it in 2004 & 2005 and missed it last year. The plan is to do it again this year, we'll see how I hold up.
Also note the drive into work now is about 15.5mi at approx 25 mins. Compaired to the about 10.5mi at approx 17 mins that it was before to get to work from home. I also had some more options to get downtown than I do here. I could take a community shuttle that went by my house 2 times a day (twice in the morning and twice in the evening) and dropped off downtown in front of my old job for $1 each way. Or I could even ride the bus which had some additional times but was a little further from drop off and pickup points. Just some thoughts on getting to and from work right now.
I may need to keep at it because not only is the relay coming up on May 5th, but the Davis Double Century is two weeks later on May 19th as well. I did it in 2004 & 2005 and missed it last year. The plan is to do it again this year, we'll see how I hold up.
Also note the drive into work now is about 15.5mi at approx 25 mins. Compaired to the about 10.5mi at approx 17 mins that it was before to get to work from home. I also had some more options to get downtown than I do here. I could take a community shuttle that went by my house 2 times a day (twice in the morning and twice in the evening) and dropped off downtown in front of my old job for $1 each way. Or I could even ride the bus which had some additional times but was a little further from drop off and pickup points. Just some thoughts on getting to and from work right now.
Labels: cycling, training, work
¶ 9:44 AM 0 comments
1.28.2007
Caution: Changes Ahead
It's official, the word is out: I'll be starting a new job soon. Looks like my last day at my current job will be Feb 9th. I will still be at the California Dept of Water Resources, but I will now be working in power rather than construction engineering projects.
This is a change in direction as far as work exposure and projects worked on. But a good change and I'm interested to see where it goes. I said 2006 was the year to 'BE READY' well, this year has started on a change. I knew for a while that this is something I may have been pursuing. The boss that hired me into the enigineering position at DWR completed his MBA at UC Davis, then proceeded to work his way around (working in the executive wing, then in the federal side of things, back over to executive, then they liked his work and knowledge so much, the govenor appointed deputy decided to create a new branch within DWR to analyze and put forth a businees plan to keep the dept competitive in the energy game especially after the power crisis a couple of years ago as we were the only state agency that was able to enter into any of the power contracts on behalf of the state) and after talking with him I thought it would be a great way to continue to work with great people and expand my knowledge more into the businees side of things. I've been thinking about the posibility of going for my MBA for a little while now and I think this will give me a lot of great exposure to make a bit more of an edcuated decision on that.
So my new fancy-smancy title will be: Assoicate Hydro Electric Power Engineer. The position will entail a lot of the many facets of the power industry. We actively enter into power contracts, both for the long and short term, and in a variety of different arenas to supply our power. The contracts are also based in the policy of California's politics and how the assembly and senate decide our power goals should be. For instance we stay away from a lot of the higher polluting sources and try to maintain a higher percentage of cleaner sources while looking out for the states economics.
My position is brand spanking new, and I'll be working with our portfolio of contracts and actively engaging in the power market as well as looking for possible changes to our system to optimize our use and disribution of. An current example was a small reservoir we put in up in the grape vine. This reservoir gives us flexibility when we pump water up the hill, we are able to purchase power during off-peak use and then generate during the high-demand, higher profit timeframes.
Anyway, I may plan to take a little time off in between assignments, so if you've got any good ideas of things to do, places to go, books to read, let me know. And pray for snow!!!
This is a change in direction as far as work exposure and projects worked on. But a good change and I'm interested to see where it goes. I said 2006 was the year to 'BE READY' well, this year has started on a change. I knew for a while that this is something I may have been pursuing. The boss that hired me into the enigineering position at DWR completed his MBA at UC Davis, then proceeded to work his way around (working in the executive wing, then in the federal side of things, back over to executive, then they liked his work and knowledge so much, the govenor appointed deputy decided to create a new branch within DWR to analyze and put forth a businees plan to keep the dept competitive in the energy game especially after the power crisis a couple of years ago as we were the only state agency that was able to enter into any of the power contracts on behalf of the state) and after talking with him I thought it would be a great way to continue to work with great people and expand my knowledge more into the businees side of things. I've been thinking about the posibility of going for my MBA for a little while now and I think this will give me a lot of great exposure to make a bit more of an edcuated decision on that.
So my new fancy-smancy title will be: Assoicate Hydro Electric Power Engineer. The position will entail a lot of the many facets of the power industry. We actively enter into power contracts, both for the long and short term, and in a variety of different arenas to supply our power. The contracts are also based in the policy of California's politics and how the assembly and senate decide our power goals should be. For instance we stay away from a lot of the higher polluting sources and try to maintain a higher percentage of cleaner sources while looking out for the states economics.
My position is brand spanking new, and I'll be working with our portfolio of contracts and actively engaging in the power market as well as looking for possible changes to our system to optimize our use and disribution of. An current example was a small reservoir we put in up in the grape vine. This reservoir gives us flexibility when we pump water up the hill, we are able to purchase power during off-peak use and then generate during the high-demand, higher profit timeframes.
Anyway, I may plan to take a little time off in between assignments, so if you've got any good ideas of things to do, places to go, books to read, let me know. And pray for snow!!!
Labels: work
¶ 9:28 AM 0 comments
2.01.2006
Back for Good?
Ok, I made it back from my job down south. It's good to be back to someplace where I feel more comfortable and have all that I'm used to up here. I can't complain about my time spent down there at all, that's for sure. The project was completed, the client was happy and it was a good experience for me. Everyone was asking me if I learned a lot, and yes, I did learn somethings, but what I learned may have been a little different than I would have thought I would have. Work always involves more than you think it will and pondering the issues and differing circumstances that come up everyday are what keeps you interested in working. If the job would just have been the repair of 313 joints, I would have really gotten bored, and quick. But really it's the issues getting to that end result. How are you going to contain the lead? how are you going to protect the workers? what exactly needs to be done? what if we do it this way? what needs to be fixed? the compressor went down again. so and so needs some time off. do we have anyone else qualified? it's raining. the repairs are cracking. the plant needs to coordinate some work. there's something different...and more and more of the like. it usually feels like something is getting accomplished when problems are solved. one of my experiences that was highlighted was who you work and inneract with.
that's what makes work enjoyable. working with other people with a desire to get things done and ability to work together to get to that end result. It's nice to be done with the project and be back home, but what I miss is all the things that come up everyday and working with everyone else. Maybe it'll be the same crew again next year if they decide to send me back down to work on the next line...we'll see... ¶ 3:43 PM 0 comments
Ok, I made it back from my job down south. It's good to be back to someplace where I feel more comfortable and have all that I'm used to up here. I can't complain about my time spent down there at all, that's for sure. The project was completed, the client was happy and it was a good experience for me. Everyone was asking me if I learned a lot, and yes, I did learn somethings, but what I learned may have been a little different than I would have thought I would have. Work always involves more than you think it will and pondering the issues and differing circumstances that come up everyday are what keeps you interested in working. If the job would just have been the repair of 313 joints, I would have really gotten bored, and quick. But really it's the issues getting to that end result. How are you going to contain the lead? how are you going to protect the workers? what exactly needs to be done? what if we do it this way? what needs to be fixed? the compressor went down again. so and so needs some time off. do we have anyone else qualified? it's raining. the repairs are cracking. the plant needs to coordinate some work. there's something different...and more and more of the like. it usually feels like something is getting accomplished when problems are solved. one of my experiences that was highlighted was who you work and inneract with.
that's what makes work enjoyable. working with other people with a desire to get things done and ability to work together to get to that end result. It's nice to be done with the project and be back home, but what I miss is all the things that come up everyday and working with everyone else. Maybe it'll be the same crew again next year if they decide to send me back down to work on the next line...we'll see... ¶ 3:43 PM 0 comments
1.23.2006
Heading Home
I'm heading home on Friday. At least that's the plan right now. It'll be nice to jump in my bed again. I think I've spent two nights in it since before Thanksgiving, so I'll be thankful for reworking my contour back into the mattress. It's been a good trip down here and I've learned a bit, met a lot of new people and got some good work in. If anyone is ready for doing something give me a jingle.
¶ 7:23 PM 0 comments
12.10.2005
what day is it?
The project I'm working on here in Pearblossom is going well, the contractor is on top of things for the moment, relations are good, character abounds on the job site, and I'm gaining some good experience. The project involves cleaning 313 joints inside a 9' dia PCCP (precast concrete pipe) and filling the joints with new material. It doesn't sound that hard, but there actually is a lot that goes into the effort. The joints have lead found in them which requires containment and special handling procedures. There is a huge vacuum set up at one end of the pipe line which is constantly working to bring in fresh air and clean the airborne containaments from the demolition in the pipe. Everytime someone enters the pipe all the confined space safety steps are followed. Also, everyone in the pipe must wear a harness, a respairator and a 'space suit' to keep the dirty products off their clothes and in the pipe. Anyway take a look at some pictures from the job:
Check out some of the views in the area of the project.
A morning sunrise
On thursday morning when the sun came up we discovered snow on the mountians behind the project.
here's me in the office trailer and in the pipe
this is ron, the other inspector on the job, he's showing me the ropes and making the job intersting, enjoyable and a learning experience, you couldn't ask for a better person to work with and learn from. ¶ 7:51 PM 0 comments
Check out some of the views in the area of the project.
A morning sunrise
On thursday morning when the sun came up we discovered snow on the mountians behind the project.
here's me in the office trailer and in the pipe
this is ron, the other inspector on the job, he's showing me the ropes and making the job intersting, enjoyable and a learning experience, you couldn't ask for a better person to work with and learn from. ¶ 7:51 PM 0 comments
11.29.2005
Working in the desert
Ah yes, the high desert! Here is a view from the topmost location on my project looking back towards the pumping plant. Next to it is a rough profile of the discharge line. We'll see how this job shapes up, the contractor is cranking along. A few items of note are working in the confined spaces, working with hazardous materials (lead in the joints and paint). A few more weeks of Mon-Sat shifts and it'll get done! It is suprisingly dry here, my lips actually get chapped here...hmmm.... ¶ 6:52 PM 0 comments
Ah yes, the high desert! Here is a view from the topmost location on my project looking back towards the pumping plant. Next to it is a rough profile of the discharge line. We'll see how this job shapes up, the contractor is cranking along. A few items of note are working in the confined spaces, working with hazardous materials (lead in the joints and paint). A few more weeks of Mon-Sat shifts and it'll get done! It is suprisingly dry here, my lips actually get chapped here...hmmm.... ¶ 6:52 PM 0 comments
10.06.2005
PPPP
Pearblosom Pumping Plant Pipeline
So it sounds like I'll be heading down to work on a pipeline project here soon. The pipes running from our powerplant are 9' in diameter so no small indevor indeed. I'm guessing they'll send me down in early november for ~14 wks, but we'll see if i ever get any hard dates. should be lots o work and fairly interesting. i'll write some more later when i know some more specifics...
General views of the area I'll be in.
Some background on the plant I'll be working on.
How that plant compares to others in our project in the area. ¶ 5:41 PM 0 comments
So it sounds like I'll be heading down to work on a pipeline project here soon. The pipes running from our powerplant are 9' in diameter so no small indevor indeed. I'm guessing they'll send me down in early november for ~14 wks, but we'll see if i ever get any hard dates. should be lots o work and fairly interesting. i'll write some more later when i know some more specifics...
General views of the area I'll be in.
Some background on the plant I'll be working on.
How that plant compares to others in our project in the area. ¶ 5:41 PM 0 comments
