Monthly Archives: September 2014
Why did the Armadillo Cross The Road?
Gate traffic really picked up today with 144 vehicles through, most of them big trucks bringing in the drill rig that’s going up across the road from us. But things quiet down a good bit after dark. I normally only get 3 or 4 vehicles between 11pm and 7am.
This is what it looks like so far. I’ll post more photos as it goes up.
One thing nice about these rig trucks coming in is that it’s the same ones over and over, so once we recognize the tag number then we can just wave them through. Really speeds things up.
Now that the housing trailers are in place and set up, we’re getting the first of the crew in who will live onsite, either in one week or two week shifts of 12 hour days, seven days a week.
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The armadillo apparently crosses the road to get to the scummy pond behind us.
He came across the road about 3am, and along the way, he bumped into the light stand and then into the generator trailer before he disappeared into the dark behind the rig. But about an hour later, he showed up again, heading home, I guess. Unfortunately I didn’t get the flash turned on on my phone camera in time to get a photo.
When I first saw the pond I was worried about mosquitos, but so far this gate has been remarkable bug-free. No tarantulas. No scorpions. And no enormous grasshoppers.
Besides the scummy pond we do have a nice view in the other direction.
Certainly a lot different than our gates in the Whitsett area.
Lowell sent over this photo of Landon at T-Ball practice. He’s playing pitcher, though the pitcher doesn’t pitch in T-Ball. It’s mainly a fielding position as the pitcher and the first baseman get most of the action since 4yr. olds can’t hit the ball that far.
Since he’s a lefty at writing, I assume that he will be at ball-throwing too, although that’s not always the case.
For dinner tonight Jan fixed up another batch of her wonderful Nachos, and like the other day, made them with crushed canned Hot Chili Beans, rather than bean dip.
Quick, easy, and delicious. One of our favorite gate meals.
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Thought for the Day:
“A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.” — Sir Francis Bacon
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Found’em . . .
Well, today was a little quieter on the gate than yesterday, with only 119 vehicles coming through, against yesterday’s 130. Of course, that really means 238 vehicles, counting coming in and going out. But they’ve been bringing in house trailers for the new well, so we’ll be having people staying over pretty soon.
Another gate guard company is looking for a couple for a gate near Bristol, TX, about 30 miles southeast of Dallas. It pays $200 a day, which sounds great until you get to the kicker.
It’s a 600 vehicle a day gate!
So let’s see. $50 more a day than our $150, and you get to quadruple your work load. Sounds like a great deal to me. I wonder why they’re having trouble finding anyone?
In other news, I found my set of longer cables for the satellite dome, so Jan has TV again. The cables were right where I left them, but not where I remember leaving them. That seems to happen a lot lately. But the real culprit is the fact that before we left Houston I went through and reorganized all the basement bins in a logical fashion.
But apparently, what was logical then is not quite so logical now. That’s what I get for tidying things up.
Unlike a lot of gate guard couples, Jan and I don’t work 12 hour shifts. We find it much easier to split it up.
Jan works from 7am to 2pm, and brings out something for breakfast that we eat together. I’m scheduled come back at 2pm, but usually it’s earlier and I bring out coffee.
So I work from 2pm to 6pm, and Jan brings out supper that we eat together. Jan then works from 6pm to 11pm, and I work from 11pm to 7am.
Wash, Rinse, Repeat.
So Jan works a 7 hour shift and a 5 hour shift, and I work an 8 and a 4. Works for us.
Today was a sad day. Dinner finished off the last of the Sonny’s BBQ we got in Pensacola, FL while we were staying at Gulf Shores, AL about a month ago. We went there twice and always bought extra to freeze.
But on a bright note, there’s a Rudy’s over in College Station, not too far away.
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Thought for the Day:
I base my fashion taste on what doesn’t itch. — Gilda Radner
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