The Hero of the Rig

I’m definitely getting tired of this rig right now. We need to pick up the pace and get this well finished.

Today’s Exploit:

The other night we started a new run, but the tool that we were removing from the drill-string got stuck. So we had to lay down the whole collar. 

Price, the guy working nights right now, was unable to get it to budge. So he woke me and we measured and calculated and programmed a new tool for a new collar length.

It didn’t fit, so we repeated the process.

It took 2.137 hours.

The next day I tried to get the tool out of the collar, just for giggles.

It worked.

I pulled it so that it was easy to grab, and then went to one of the roughnecks for help carrying it. 

And all was well.

But Price has worked with this rig for many moons and knows everyone out here quite well. So he has a while to live down the fact that he couldn’t get the tool free, but a GIRL was able to with minimal effort.  

I have a feeling that his next few safety meetings will be spent defending himself rather than discussing safety or the plan for the night.

So Much Sugar!

This week’s recommended reading:

I read this book all the time! It is one of my 74 billion favorites.

Today’s Exploit:

The other day one of the roughnecks stopped me and asked for a grocery list so that he could buy ingredients for cupcakes. He didn’t care what kind, and he was going to get everything I needed for them. So I puttered around the internet for a while to find one that looked interesting. 

I finally settled on Turtle Cupcakes. The recipe was for chocolate cupcakes with homemade caramel sauce and caramel cream cheese frosting. Then they’re topped with some chopped pecans drenched in some more caramel. 

I decided that it would be better to use less frosting and cut out a bit of the cupcake to make room for more pecans. 

Turns out this was a good idea and everyone at the rig was excited about the secret stash of extra pecans. 

They were also really confused that I hadn’t asked for caramel sauce.

I tried the caramel, and I tried the caramel, frosting and cupcake combination. It was good, but 2 bites was more than enough! They were so rich and super sweet! I can’t imagine eating multiple cupcakes at one go.

My Abnormalities

Today’s Exploit:

According to George I seem to be the abnormal as an MWD. 

The first time he told me this was when we were picking up our tools to get ready to drill. All of the roughnecks were off doing other things when it came time to pull the slips (move the fancy wedge-thingy so that the drill string could move up and down) on one of the sections. George was going to pull them himself, so I went over to help and my night hand decided he’d help too. 

I didn’t think it was a big deal, but evidently I am the only female that he’s ever seen pull slips. But really, it’s not like they give us much of a chance. The last time I did it was when we were almost finished with a well and it was the middle of the night when the big boss-types were in bed, and not out making sure that all rules were adhered to.

My other instance of MWD abnormality was the last time I carried water into the trailer. I do this on a regular basis, we keep at least 2 bottles inside so that they’re not quite so hot when we need to use them. 

George: PJ, I think you’re the only MWD that carries water. I’m pretty sure that most of them would die of thirst before they’d carry water.

I Have a Valentine

Countdown:  32 Days.  Also, Day 10 for my new workout.  I can almost walk like a normal person again.

Myrtle Mint has not yet gotten her haircut.  I have been too busy reading about Bloody Jack, a crazy pirate girl.

Today’s Exploit:

I have a Valentine.  

I had forgotten what the day was.  I mean, I knew what the day was, because I have to note it on all my paperwork.  But I’d forgotten that it was a holiday.  

I’ve even been thoroughly enjoying the flavor of the month Blizzard at Dairy Queen.  

But then my good friend Larry, one of the company men, came out.  He had a plastic bag with him.  I was at a loss as to what this might mean, but I was sure to be entertained.  Larry is an accomplished story teller, if you catch the start of the story.  Otherwise it’s a bit hard to understand his accent.

Turns out he’d gone to town and gotten boxes of chocolates for both Jeana, the other MWD, and me.  

Larry:  Happy Valentine’s Day, Miss PJ.

Me:  Wow, thank you Larry!  That was so nice.

Larry:  Well, I know how you women get about these things.

Me:  Haha.

Larry:  So, I thought I’d better get something for you ladies, since you’re out here.

I shall have to get more ice cream for him this afternoon.  

NO DIRTY HAT FOR YOU!

Countdown:  36 days.  Eek.

So.  Cherry M&M’s are no longer just a Christmas thing.  They have them in a white bag for Valentine’s day.  Yay.

Today’s Exploit:

I just had my hat forcibly cleaned, even though I clearly said I liked it dirty.  They took it anyway.  So it was shiny and white, just like everyone else’s.  So I never knew which one to pick.

Then we had to change our tool for a new one.  And when I was working it was raining mud.  Not so bad as a shower, but drip-drippy.  It got all over me and my hat and my coveralls and my sweatshirt.  

When I went back to my box I had a pretty dalmatian-like spackle on my hat.  I was excited and wiped just enough off that I wouldn’t smear my hand in slime every time I wanted to take it off.

BUT... Then I had to go back up to take some measurements.  And Company Man Larry attacked my head with a towel.  He told me that they couldn’t have me walking around with a dirty hat.  Now it’s just a streaky muddy brown.  

And no more pretty speckles.

My Hat is Clean

Countdown:  T minus one less day to prepare.

I started the Insanity workouts today.  All I did was the Fit Test and I’m exhausted.  I will be sore for the first real workout tomorrow.  

Today’s Exploit:

I was very proud of my dirty hardhat.  The one that was black with mud after my stupid mud shower.  The one where I had black hair and mud in my ears and up my nose and soaked through my coveralls.  

The one that made me stink for a week, no matter how hard I scrubbed.  

Well.  

Since I got here the roughnecks have been asking what happened, and why it’s dirty, and telling me how to clean it.

Today one of the roughnecks came over and asked if he could look at it for a minte.

He STOLE IT!

When he came back he had a nice, clean, white hardhat.

Now I can’t tell which one is mine.  And I look like a newbie.

Darn those guys for trying to be nice.  

I was proud of that mud.

Remembering the Hillbillies

Countdown:  58 Days.

I. Love. My. Job.  In a demented, angry sort of way.

Today’s Exploit:

Today I was remembering some of the people I know from Louisiana.  Lots of them are called Coon Asses.  I’m not sure why, and I’m not sure what region contains them.  But they’re funny.

I remembered Mr. Doyle’s story about beating his brother with a dead raccoon, er possum.

And the time everyone on the rig floor danced a jig when I brought food.

Also, that there are people who still name their kids things like Billy Joe.  And those kids are both very sweet and a bit loco.

Sleep Mode: A Baffling Experience

I finally read those dragon and wizard books by the scary octopus lady (I still equate the name Ursula with the evil witch from “The Little Mermaid”).  The ones my mom told me to read about 15.2 years ago.

A Wizard of Earthsea

The Tombs of Atuan       

The Farthest Shore

-Ursula K. Le Guin

I also just found out there are 3 more in the series.  Time to go to the bookstore...

Today’s Exploit:

Sometimes I wonder about the roughnecks I work with. 

Half of them are super-smart and I can’t hold a candle to the things they know.

But then I meet the ones that I rather doubt could find the on/off button on a computer without help.  

Yesterday I got a call saying that the computer I have on the rig floor wasn’t working.  

Me:  Hello?

RN:  Your computer isn’t working.

Me:  Ok, let me check that it’s still on the network.

RN:  The what?

Me:  It’s still communicating, you’re sure it’s not working.

RN:  Nope, it’s just a black screen.

So I walked up the 48 stairs to the sweltering doghouse.  I trudged over to where 3 guys are standing around a blank computer looking stumped.

I touched the mousepad and turned around to go back to my box.

RN:  Wait, what did you do?

Me:  Nothing.

RN:  Let me see your fingers.

Me:  What?

RN:  I want to see if you have a magnet there, or something.

Me:  The computer just went to sleep mode.  All you have to do is touch the mousepad or press a key.  

RN:  Wow, I thought it was broken!

They Try To Make Things Harder Than They Are

Boys are not good at re-stocking the toilet paper roll.

Today’s Exploit:

Today I had to change a sensor, so I called to the rig floor to ask them to shut down the pumps and send someone to close the valve in the drill line.  I didn’t want to get a mud-shower.  

I got my replacement sensor and the tools to change it.  But by the time I got to my old sensor 4 roughnecks were trying to take the sensor base off.

I yelled for them to stop, and they all looked at me blankly.   

Me:  I only need to change this piece!

RN1:  You don’t need the whole thing off?

Me:  No, I just need to take this protector piece off.

RN2:  It comes apart there?  

Me:  Yep, just have to take out these bolts and then take the sensor off.  

RN4:  Wow!

So we took off the protector.  They wouldn’t let me do any of the work, as usual.

Then Number 3 started looking for a wrench.  

RN3:  Do you have a smaller one, thinner?

Me: What?

RN3:  It doesn’t work, it’s too big.

Me:  Oh.  

I took it off by hand.  

Number 3 looked really embarrassed, and Numbers 1, 2 and 4 laughed at him as he proceeded to take the sensor off and give all of us a mud-shower.  

PS Oil based mud smells really bad.

Just Another Number

I made Balsamic Chicken Alfredo.

Yum.

Cream and butter and Parmesan and Balsamic vinegar.

Today’s Exploit:

I was fighting with my computer when Tony came into the box.

Ryan was sitting on the bench watching me alternate between sweet-talking and yelling at Betty-Sue.  He thought it was hilarious.

Tony:  I’m going up to slide.  Also, Hector wants your number.

Me:  Nope.  Come on, buddy.  You can do it.

Tony:  That’s it, huh?  Just nope.

Me:  Just nope.

Tony:  Ok, I’ll tell him.

Later he came back and told me that Hector was surprised when Tony said I declined to give him my number.  

Tony:  I think he was surprised I actually asked you. 

My thoughts:  At least it was a little better than asking him to deliver a note.  Still...

I am glad he didn’t ask me directly.  I have a hard time saying no to people.  

You Should Ask For Help

I got to sleep in the rain, and the next night it frosted.  Brr.  It was amazing

Today’s Exploit:

Yesterday I got a delivery of some new tools.

But the delivery guy didn’t tell me that they were here, so I spent half the morning tracking them down.  When I finally found them I had to drag them 57.2 feet to my box.

I was at 49.7 feet when two of the roughnecks came to help.

Joe:  Here, let me help.

Bob:  I’ll take this end.

Me:  Fine. Here.

Joe:  Where do you want it?

Me:  I need it moved another 8.1 feet.

Bob:  Ok, there you go.

Me:  Thanks.

Joe:  You know, you can ask for help.

Me:  I know, but you were busy and I am able to move my stuff.

Bob:  But you should ask for help.  We’ll help.

Me:  Ok.  Sure.

I WANT!

Today one of the roughnecks made a sno-cone for me.  

It was more syrup than ice.  MAJOR SUGAR RUSH.

Today’s Exploit:

Basil and chives and lemongrass and pansies and carrots.

I want this in my reading corner.  And I want it to be filled with herbs and grass and pretty flowers.  And nasturtiums.  I NEED nasturtiums here.

I will be attempting to make it as soon as I have a window with a space around it.

Got Plenty Help

According to George:  Women are taking over the oil-field.  And they know their s***.  

Today’s Exploit:

Yesterday we were rigging up.  

That means we roll around in the dirt and mud to get all our gear working. 

Actually it means we set up a lot of computers.  And fight with them for 3 hours.

When we had to set up our pressure sensor we went and asked one of the roughnecks for help.  He was happy to once we were able to translate the request.  

While he was pounding away at the pipe to get our sensor on the driller came up.

Driller:  You guys got no help?

Us:  Nope, just us this time.

Driller:  Oh, you guys.  You get plenty help here.  You office know this.

Us:  Haha.

Driller:  Everyone want help you here.

It’s true.  They always ask to help.  Or they give you tacos, or sno-cones.  Or they fix your car.  

My Sunshiny Shadow

I’m ready to go home and take a nap.

Today’s Exploit:

I have a new shadow.  

This one is much more perky than the last one.  

She’s also a lot smaller and less intimidating.  

She follows me everywhere, once she sees me.  When I walk outside and catch her attention (even if someone else is petting her) she will perk up, her ears will go up and then she will start galloping at me.  Or gallumping.  Anyway, she’s still a puppy so she’s not entirely in control when she does that, therefore I must always be on my guard or I might get taken out at the knees.

I have been going for walks in the evening.  She follows close enough on these walks that she steps on my shoes.  

Occasionally she will run off to find a stick that she can kill, to show off for me.  Once the stick is thoroughly dead she will come prancing back to follow right on my heels again.  

I want to adopt her.  And take her home, and go for runs in the park.  Also, probably give her a bath.

But I’ve been good and haven’t even named her.  

The Secret of the Breakfast Taco

I’ve found a new author.  She combined murder mystery with faerie.  I like her books.  

Today’s Exploit:

I’m working with Matt again.  He’s the one I convinced to run with me.  He decided we should go on my normal run of 4-5 miles.  He hadn’t run in 6.1 months.  I thought he was going to die.

Anyway, this rig that we’re on is mostly populated by hispanic roughnecks.  

That means they cook tacos every shift.  

Morning = Breakfast tacos (Egg and bacon and chorizo, and sometimes peppers)

Evening = Fajitas (Whatever they have on hand)

Each morning they call and tell me they have tacos.

So far I’ve gone up, even though I don’t like eggs or bacon.  I went to be nice because they get offended if I say “No” too much.  

Roughneck 1:  You’d better get some before it’s gone!

Me:  I will, I’m just waiting for the line to get shorter.

Roughneck 2:  Don’t be shy, go get some!

Me:  Ok, I will in a minute.

Roughneck 3:  Oh, look.  No line, you’d better go get a taco before they’re gone.

Me:  Ok, ok.  I’m going.

Roughneck 2:  Only one?

Roughneck 1: Have another, before it’s gone.

Me:  Give me a minute!

Roughneck 3:  You’d better get in there before the line starts again.

Me:  You called me up here to finish this for you, didn’t you.  You’re not really worried about not having enough.  I heard you talking about having leftovers yesterday!

Roughnecks:  ...No?...

I Have a New Shadow

I made a deal with K.J.

He won’t set his alarm.  I’ll wake him up in the morning

He suggests poking him in the foot, it’s safer than poking him in the arm.

Today’s Exploit:

The other day, when I was past delirious from exhaustion, I met a roughneck.  Or rather, I talked to him a bit.  

He told me about San Antonio, and that the Riverwalk was an awesome place.  He said we should hang out since we’d both be working nights.  He made jokes and chattered about a lot of things I don’t remember.  

The next time I saw him, after I got some sleep, he didn’t talk to me at all.  

He did, however, stand as close to me as possible any time I wasn’t moving.  Now every time I go to the rig floor, if he’s there, I have a second shadow.  A silent second shadow.

I’m not sure if he’s stalking me or if he’s worshiping me.

I wish he’d go back to work.

It makes me nervous.

What is Wrong With Me?

I think Doug-the-Driller was about to cry when he had to leave for his week off.  

We were buddies for sure.

Today’s Exploit:

On my way home I decided to stop and do some internet shopping for apartments in Texas.

I know, I know.  I didn’t think I’d ever WANT to live in Texas, but this durn job is cramping my home time.

I have decided that it will be worth it to live in this horribly freakishly hot state so that I don’t have to drive quite as far to work.  

After two years of making 8-10 hour drives I’m ready to give up on working in Oklahoma.  And I’m rather giving up on a chance to move to Colorado any time soon since my manager laughed at me when I asked about it.  

So I am stuck looking for places to live that meet my ever-increasing criteria.  

Number one at this moment:  Sunlight.

Number two:  Kitchen

Part C:  Washer and dryer.

The order changes, and the list lengthens, but those three are always at the top of the list.