Tundras live: Dumb Dad Jokes, Incorrect Opinions, and Relationship Advice.

Yeah, I'll have to check the rear leg room for my fast growing girls.

 

It's pretty tight.

 

IDK, I've not rode in the back seat of a double cab. Rode in an access cab for about 25 minutes though. That sucked.

 

Hmm..

 

I agree. Have a 07 4Runner and I had a 06 tacoma, more room in back of 4Runner.
I imagine the 2016+ tacomas are the same for back room but not sure.

 

I noticed. Glad for the company, though.

 

I'm knocking out some online training due at the end of the month. BORING!

 

See if it qualifies as a defensive driving course. If it does, you might be able to get a discount on your auto insurance for it. Sadly, Progressive doesn't offer a discount for it. Bummer, too, because every two years I have to take the companies defensive driving class.

 

Yes, but you are being paid to be bored. There are worse things to do that pay far less.

 

A little bit of that random training but this is industry related, mostly just going through the motions and taking the quiz at the end.

 

True true. There is a ton of federally required training for my position in a power plant. Not complaining, it's just mind numbing.

 

Don't lie. You were complaining. And that's ok. I complain too. Gotta check the boxes for the guberment, though.

 

Dang it! You're right, I was complaining.

Got that right, lot of those silly boxes to check.

 

So, to break up the monotony, can you share what you do? I know it's hydro power related, but little else. Do you have an official job title? What's a typical day like (in caveman terms)?

 

Journeyman hydro wireman is the title, (dam electrician).
It's a maintenance position for the hydro, so I fix/upgrade everything electrically from the sign at the front gate to the generators themselves in the powerhouse. Lot of PM work on the systems that run the turbines. My favorite part is all the reactive work that comes up, ya never know what's going to break.
This week I was rehabbing some motor controls that were 50+ years old, installing new wiring and components. Love it

 

Damn. Wait, spelled that wrong, Dam.

So you are doing all the electrical on the site, basically? Not at all how I would have thought it would work, obviously due to my ignorance about electrical systems and such. I would have thought the power generating equipment would have specific specialized "experts" dedicated to just that aspect, and general electrical work would be with a different group/person. That's a lot of responsibility for one job position.

 

I was a commercial/industrial journeyman electrician before I came here so I love the broad scope of work.
Our generation work is definitely top priority though, sometimes contractors are called in for basic electrical work if we are busy in the powerhouse.

 

It's good to enjoy the job. Definitely makes it easier to get up and head to the office in the morning, or evening as it is.

 

Yes it does.

How's your world? Has shit dodged the fan tonight?

 

Odd night. Good, overall, but odd. Had a conversation with my supervisor for about 2 hours earlier, good convo, and then SHTF for a couple hours. Nothing super actionable/solvable right now, but definitely took digging to get to where I currently have it.

 

Sounds like a decent night so far with a little excitement.
How many are on with you on an average nightshift?

 

Like other co workers? None. We have a call center/operators, but that's a different department that is actually in a different town. On we are a one man monitoring operation.

How about for you?

 

That's nice, must of been a phone chat with your supervisor?

Just me and the Chief Operator in the whole damn dam.
He's in the control room 95% of the time and radios me if we have any issues. @ColoradoTJ knows all about that control room life!

 

Yes, Sir. Phone chat. Outside the norm for sure. He was apologizing because he thought he stepped on my toes when he responded to an email right before I sent my response. It was just a comedy of errors, and he wanted to follow up on my annual review that I got yesterday. All good things, and a positive interaction.

Well that's not terrible, right?

Is that what his cushy job is? @ColoradoTJ

So, is there upward mobility for you, Zach? Other positions you want to move into/advance toward? You gunning for that control room life?