Karen Carpenter

Karen Carpenter....yes...from the Carpenters...is hot. Because   A: She can play the drums  
and B: She's just...well...hot.

What in the hell is that smell!?

     I went to Sushi Yama for dinner last night.  It's a little sushi restaurant that is within walking distance of my apartment.  Every so often, I like to eat there and have some good conversation with the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Han.  Last night, Mrs. Han made me "Bulgogi" and "Kim Chi". The Bulgogi was amazing, and the Kim Chi was...well..it was Kim Chi. It has QUITE a smell to it, and its spicy as can be, so I had to eat it pretty slowly.  I went down into my kitchen this morning, and I could still smell the Kim Chi that I didn't finish, and that I had boxed up, IN THE REFRIGERATOR! No..I didn't eat the Kim Chi for breakfast. I had pilsbury toaster strudels.

    I'm going to spend most of my day cleaning up, and putting laundry away.  A buddy of mine from New Jersey might be stopping by today, but he isn't sure if he will have the time.  Might wear my GOOD jeans today!

Qualifications.

It's official. Tomorrow, I will be a qualified "Rigger". In order to give commands to a crane operator here in the shipyard, you must be "rigger qualified".  I've been spending most of this week with a woman named Anita.  She is a nuclear re-fueler, the same as myself, but she also doubles as a rigging instructor.  To be honest, it's really not that hard of a program.  The only tricky part, is knowing what deficiencies to look for during normal crane operation.  You are supposed to have your trusty "Crane Riggers Handbook" with you ANY TIME you do a lift. Everything you need to know about rigging a job is in it.  From finding the angle of the lift, to determining area, volume, or weight of the load. We have also been over the different hand signals, and crane protocol used when making a lift. Here is an example of crane protocol in the shipyard

Me: Crane operator! On my command, I need you to hoist up on the load
Crane: I have located the hoist up button, and I will hoist up on your command
Me: Proceed.
Crane: Hoisting up!
Me: *Blows Whistle* HOISTING UP! ALL EYES ON THE LOAD! *Blows Whistle*

For EVERY single movement of the crane..we use this protocol.  It makes for some VERY long days, but it cuts down on alot of accidents. The last thing you want to do, is have an accident involving nuclear fuel. Tomorrow, I will have to demonstrate that I can tie a square knot, a bowline knot, a clove hitch, and a series of half hitches. Too easy. After the knot tying demonstration, I have to give Anita the proper hand signals that she asks me for. Once that is completed, I'll rig to a load, and perform my first lift.  After I complete the lift, I'll receive the coveted "Orange Ball" for the top of my hardhat.  All it is, is a round sticker that you place on the top of your helmet. Woo hoo. The way I look at it is, the more qualifications that you have, the more valuable you are to the employer. I need this job, and I need this money. Keep the schools coming Northrop Grumman.

I'm BLOGGING? PEOPLE STILL DO THAT!?

After I deleted my facebook account, I immediately started to go through "Facebook De-activation Syndrome".  Instead of caving in and going back to Facebook, I've decided to make a blog instead.  Blogs are much more entertaining, in my opinion, and require a little more time to write than a Facebook status.  Wish me luck folks.  I hope you subscribe!