Let the poo roll...

So, I have been out at this poop plant for two or three weeks now... Overall, it has been a good experience so far. There are a few thing s that I am learning...


1) Even though you may not have a whole lot to do now, if you slowly work your way through what you have to get done later, it will make for a much easier life. I have been trying to work through drawings and figure out exactly how I want to do what needs to be done. By figuring out all my issues now, it should make life that much easier when crews come on site. The nice thing is, I wont have crews for probably a month and a half.


2) The unknown can be good. I have met some really cool guys down here. The rumors that go from one company to another are ridiculous sometimes.

3) and most importantly, I still have a lot to learn. God has been working on my pride down here. I am working in a part of the company that is very unfamiliar. So, pray that I can keep my head down and working, and this should make my life a heck of a lot easier.


One more thought...

I am dating the best girl ever. If you haven't met her, you should. She is something else (in a good way) =)

A return to my roots

So, I have been working in Tulare for the past three days. I will be working in Tulare for the next year and a half... With that being said, I have had a return to roots, on two fronts...

First, I grew up in Visalia (woot woot!). Visalia is about ten minutes from Tulare, and I feel like I am in my old stomping grounds. I can remember late nights getting stuck in farmers ponds, cruising Mooney, and eating at Mearls drive in. Well, It is now illigeal (as it was then) to cruise Mooney, Mearls drive in closed, and the farmers pond is still there. Ah, the memories! It has been alright being here, but it sucks to drive an hour each way to go to work. At least I can come home though.

When I first started at Lyles, I was working in Madera at the ethanol plant. My first day, I was given five stacks of plans, each about four inches thick. On these five sets of plans were miles (literally) of pipe. My job was to highlight them. I had to use different colors, distinguishing paint or insulated, and how thick of insulation. I worked forty hours a week for three weeks to accomplish this. Needless to say, I was going nuts.

Now, for number two... Part of my job here in Tulare is to define the scope (what work we will be doing) that My company is going to be doing for our sister company. So, you guessed, the Coloring is back!!! This shouldn't be nearly as bad though, because I have one set of plans, and it is only about a half inch thick. But, I am having flash backs, and this isn't a whole lot of fun. So, I will color for a while, then take a break and check espn.com. Then, I will color some more, and go and get a drink... I am just trying to find ways to break up the monotony. I almost got a stapler to put next to me, just so I could hit it a bunch to release a little tension.

I dont have a whole lot more to do, but I still have some. I am finding out that my job is going to be, at least for a while, the same thing, over and over. I get to try a process, become good at it, and then repeat it many times over.

Let the repitition continue

The Update to end all Updates

Well, by popular request, I have decided to sit down and pen another blog. Sometimes, I lay in bed at night thinking that maybe I should update my blog for all my fans (and stockers), but heck, she already knows all of this, so why bother. (You aren't really a stocker steph, partly because if anything, it is the other way around)

Work has changed for me, I am now, as of today, stationed on a poop plant in tulare. It smells like poop, it looks like poop, and it will probably be home for the next year and a half. I sat down this morning, and am only beginning to see how much I need to catch up on. Hopefully my mind will prevail, and wont make this too hard.

If you have read steph's blog, you will find that we have been to DC (which was incredible), and to the coast a couple of times. My life has been amazing since she has been a part of it. She has been someone that has fit so seamlessly into my life, that I honestly dont know what life without her was like. She is always making me laugh. I have been truly blessed by her being in my life.

All except one thing...

Well, as of today, she put her family and I on diets. This is completely understandable. We have all eaten poorly for the past couple of months, and it is starting to show. She says that she isn't making me do it, and she isn't, but it sounds so much cooler for me to say that my girlfriend put me on a diet. In fact, I find it kind of funny.

Speaking of funny...

The other night, we went to a ball game, and steph almost got hit by a ball, again. See her previous blog for details on the first time. Well, a foul ball was hit, and I saw it curving toward us, I told her to move, and then I moved. She was able to duck out of the way, and it hit an elderly lady behind us, but dont worry! No grandparents were hurt during the writing of this blog... So, in order to make this story more interesting, I am saying that Steph threw herself in front of the ball to protect me... That was awfully sweet of her. Like I said, she is amazing.

There is the readers digest version, I will try to update with another post later this week.

peace out.

Last Weekend

Alright, for those of you who dont know, I work for a local-based contractor in Lyles Mechanical Company. This last weekend, The company took all of the management team (from all of the companies, including american paving, kaweah construction, and wm lyles company) over to the coast for a company retreat. We stayed at a place called Fess Parkers double tree resort. It is right across the street. IT WAS PIMP!

We ended up having bonding time on the beach by way of beach olympics. Now, my company consists of much more, how shall I say, Experienced employees. I am the youngest at 25, and the next is 27. AFter us, we go to the late thirties, and then to the mid fifties...

So, I ended up competing in every event, kind of a beach decathalon, except, there were only five events, so I guess it was a pentathalon. Well, the last event was a water balloon catch. My team would launch water balloons at me, and I was supposed to catch them in this basket. See below.



I even left the competition on awe



I am quite the athlete, if I do say so myself

Blake German's Log Star date 050708

Alright, that was dumb, I admit, but its me, so get over it. Here is what my life is doing right now...

First off, God has been blessing me in so many ways.

1) I have been blessed by Him giving me an amazing girlfriend. It may sound cheesy, but there are times I will think, "Man, it should would be nice to date Steph..." Then, I remember... I am dating steph. She has a truly beautiful heart, and it has been amazing to get to know her.

2) God has been showing me a lot through readings I am doing right now. From a book "Devotional Classics" to my daily scripture reading. Its funny. I have started reading the bible in a year program... 3 years ago. I keep telling myself that it is important to read all the way through before I start a new project, and I am slowly getting there.

3) I have picked up a room mate. I am moving on may 24. If anyone wants to help, please let me know. Andrew Ellenberger is moving back from London, and needs a place to live, which is great, because I need to lower my bills. Living with him will save me so much money, yet another way God has been faithful.

Here is what is amazing about all of this: I moved out to be alone, and to learn to be ok with being alone. I am more than happy to sit with myself on a night, even a friday night. I think that is what God wanted from me, being ok in silence and being alone. Now, I will be living with a guy (in separate rooms) who can be a little bit loud, and lets be frank, my girlfriend isn't exactly the quiet type (I AM NOT COMPLAINING!!!) (You know its true steph, dont you even get mad) =)

God has given me gifts that I cannot even begin to repay Him for. I am truly blessed.

Update on trying to score points...

Here is tip number two when trying to score points, for all of those out there who still feel the need to keep track...

When your date admits she (or he, as the case may apply) has no patience, don't make whipped cream with a drill...

Thats right, yours truly decided that it would be fun to make whipped cream. So I got out my drill (it was clean...) and put the beater attachment on the end. I then proceeded to mix

and mix and mix and mix.

Right about minute five, steph pulls out her camera phone, and takes a picture, and posts to facebook...

meanwhile, the mix goes on...

four minutes later, I tell her its almosts done...

and the mixing goes on..

Two minutes later, I break down, and get out the actual mixer...

it was done a minute later...

It tasted really good, and I think thats all that matters... Sometimes quality takes time...


Good luck getting the redneck out of me. =)

When trying to score points...

I have learned something that will better my life. So, as a good natured person, I feel the need to share it.

Crisco goes bad.

You read it right. Apparently, crisco goes bad. Think about it. Crisco is 100% fat. I didn't know that fat could go bad. Does that mean that all the fat on your body will eventually melt, as long as you dont add to it?

So, because Crisco goes bad, I feel the need to share this next. When trying to score points with your girlfriend (or boyfriend for you females out there), do not try to make cookies with old crisco.

Old is a relative term, but I have found out that the shelf life is somewhere under 4 years...