Making Rolls and Building Walls

I still hate intervals just as much as I did in high school. Yet I’ve convinced myself that I need to do them once a week. This better pay off in November.

Today’s Exploit:

I got to help with a building project last weekend. 

I went to Kevin’s grandparents house where I was force-fed ridiculous amounts of food and listened to a crazy-overwhelming amount of chatter. Everyone there likes to talk and the babies like to get their opinions in just as much, and there are lots of them. 

Glenda (Gramma) told me she’d teach me how to make “hot rolls”, which I’ve finally discovered are just dinner rolls. And Kevin told me I am required to learn this trick. And Dale (Grampa) made Kevin let me help with the framing for the addition on to their house. So I spent the weekend covered in saw dust, occasionally peeling potatoes, moving 2x4s and holding them steady, and sweating through my cloths just in time to go inside for a break. 

And then they looked at me like I was crazy when I offered to help with the dishes.

What I Learned Today

I went and bought a cheap travel mug last night.

I was tired of fighting for and/or cleaning mold out of the one mug in the trailer.  

Now I have one that’s “burnt orange” with the goofy lid and the rubber band around the middle (that’s supposed to look like a cardboard sleeve) to make it look like it came from a swanky coffee shop.  

Today’s Exploit:

Yesterday one of the guys in my trailer, the one who never has anything good or upbeat to say, walked by and said:

“Well, on the bright side, the trailer’s so old that the formaldehyde is probably gone.”

I was a bit stunned.  My first thought was science class and pickled animals floating in green tinted fluid in jars.  And that smell...

I thought maybe he was talking about asbestos, but that didn’t seem right either.

So I had to look it up.  

I never knew formaldehyde was used in particle board, or drapes, or paint.

I just imagined it would smell too terrible to use in a home.  

So.  That was my new thing learned for today.  What’s up for tomorrow?

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.  

Searching for Boxes

My friend Kevin finally got his stolen truck back.  He says he’s never going to Oklahoma again.  Except next month to help me move.  

Today’s Exploit:

I got boxes today.  Some plastic ones to save my pillows and blankets, the ones that I’m not willing to sacrifice for the safety of my table and chairs and futon and bed.  I believe those will be protected by my fire sheets and 400 year old towels.  

I was going to get some cardboard boxes, but it was not a delivery day at Target.  So they told me to come back on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday.  Naturally I would manage to go on the day they didn’t get one.  

The guy I asked was very helpful.  After he told me what days to come back he followed me out of the store and suggested I go to the liquor stores or bookstores for boxes.  But I should make sure I call ahead to have them held for me.  

Good advice for a Sunday afternoon.  

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.  

My Little Peach Cobbler

I’ve been asked to make cinnamon rolls.  And we’re going to have a barbecue for the holiday this evening.

I’m kind of excited.

By the way, Happy 4th of July.

Today’s Exploit:

I made friends with the driller on this rig.  He is funny and nice, and scary.  I definitely would not want to be on his bad side.

But I’m not, because I made cookies for him, with honey and not sugar since he’s a diabetic.  He did share with the rest of the crew.

And I take popsicles to them on a regular basis.  

So I go and talk to him and we laugh and he tells me stories and talks about his family.

And he tells me all the cheesy oilfield jokes that he knows, and that are appropriate.

He pretty much treats me like a granddaughter.  

When I’m in my box, and he has a question or has to change the depth of the well, he’ll call.

Me:  Hello?

Doug:  Hello, my little peach cobbler!

Me:  Hahahahah!

Doug:  I need to change the depth.

Me:  Ok, thanks for letting me know.

Doug:  You’re welcome.  Bye my little peach cobbler.

I don’t know why he decided to call me that, but I like it and it makes me laugh.  k

And now Tony, one of the DDs, calls me that as well.

A rather odd nickname.

He claims it’s because I’m sweet and peachy.

Whatever that means.

Now We Are Thirteen

I woke up early today.  Then I decided that I’m going to procrastinate and do my workout this evening. 

Naturally I can’t go back to sleep.

Today’s Exploit:

Yesterday morning I got to sleep in, and putter around doing a lot of nothing.  We’re still on casing break; therefore my entire day consists of being lazy, baking and/or harassing the roughnecks.  

When I finally got myself moving and went to the rig I was greeted with a series of guys asking me if I’d gotten a note.  

I had no idea what they were talking about.  

After asking a few more times to make sure that I really didn’t know what was going on they told me the story.

The night before the cement crew had been out to cement some casing into the well.  Cement crews are like a hive of ants, swarming all over the place and building their nest (or in this case, lines to spew cement into the well from their delightful trucks).  

Apparently after my run one of these cement guys had been watching me as I talked to “my” roughnecks.  (I refer to them as mine because they are my friends.  Therefore no one else can have them.)  And when I went inside he approached “my” roughnecks to ask about me.  

They thought it was hilarious and immediately told me that “all those cement guys want to holla at you”.  

Thanks for making me self-conscious, guys.  Love ya.

At the end of the night this particular cement guy wrote a note to me (Aww, memories of 6th grade).  He told me that if I ever had “half a mind to call, here is my number.”  Then he asked one of “my” roughnecks to relay the message.  

Unfortunately, while everyone else on the rig read the note, I never saw it.  Chris believes that if you can’t ask for a number yourself, you don’t deserve to be called.  I guess he decided that I might call this guy, so I wasn’t allowed to have it.  

So now they all tease me about my fifth boyfriend.

The After Party, Breakfast Style

When I got back to this rig one of the first people I saw was my friend Joseph.  

Joseph:  I haven’t seen you in forever!

Me:  It has been a long time.

Joseph:  I’ve been crying every day since you left.  That’s why I’ve lost so much weight.

Me:  Hahaha

This kid weighed about as much as a toothpick the last time I saw him.

Today’s Exploit:

After dancing and putting away chairs, one of the guys I danced with came and asked if I would be Facebook friends with him.  I agreed because he said he’d be posting all the local dances, and that might come in handy.  

He also invited me to breakfast.  

A large group of dancers goes to a nearby Denny’s to eat after dancing, those who feel up to more socializing after the night is over.  

I had nothing better to do, so I agreed.  

It was an experience.  I forgot how crazy those kids can be.  And I used to be one of them.  

The had napkin wars, and played musical chairs and laughed a lot.  I also learned about 472 versions of Spiderman, including Spider-pig whose alternate identity is Peter Porker.  I learned about the problems of all computers, and how most of these kids build their own.  

Also, for the first time in my life I was not in the minority when I said I didn’t have a TV.  It was amazing.

It was fun.  I was in stitches most of the time.  

I met a kid named Chris-Matt, I’m not sure which is his actual name.  He seemed to be in the process of changing it.  

I also met Elliot, Ben, Emily, Ray, Andre, Ariel and many others.

Way to many to remember all the names.  I think I did pretty well with that 6.

Dancing the Night Away

Yesterday I made cinnamon rolls.  When I took them to the rig floor the crew actually cheered.  

Today’s Exploit:

I went dancing last weekend.  Swing dancing.  It was very exciting.  I haven’t been swing dancing in ages.  

This dance was in Dallas, and it lasted from 8:00 - 11:59 pm.  Lots of people were there.  Some really amazing dancers were there, too.  It was fun to watch.  

Being a newbie, I sat on the wrong side of the room to see them very well.  Most of the “in” crowd sat and danced on the other side of the room.  

I also danced a lot.  And had lots of people ask if I’d been to this dance before.  They were amazed when I said no.  Most of this amazement stems from another girl that apparently looks like me.

Some people were amazed because I could follow, and were a bit too dense to realize that my first time at this dance didn’t necessarily mean my first time dancing. 

At any rate, I think I made some new friends.  Certainly lots of new acquaintances.  I hope to be able to see them again.  And sit on the “cool people” side of the room so that I can see them better.

She Claims We ARE Twins

I just made it through my 5th week of P90x.  

I still get sore every day.

Today’s Exploit:

I met my sister at the Denver airport and we had the same flight to Oklahoma City.  We didn’t get to sit together because we got tickets separately, but that was ok because I think we both slept most of the trip.  

When we arrived I waited until she was free to get off the plane before I did.  As we exited the plane to the gate one of the flight attendants looked at me, a little in awe, and asked if we were twins.

It reminded me of the time we were in Encampment for a concert by an acquaintance. We went up to the bar because she wanted a drink.  (She was underage at the time.)  The bartender, either flirting with her or in awe, asked if we were twins.  

Cupcake:  Yep!

Bartender:  Wow!

Cupcake:  And only the younger one needs to show ID, right?

Bartender:  Sure.

Cupcake:  Ok PJ, show him your ID.

She got away with this, even though our parents were right outside the door.  And we went back to sit with them.  She claims she felt guilty since they were there, but not enough to waste the drink.

Conversation on an Airplane

Cupcake has been singing to me and being even more goofy than usual all day.  I keep telling her that something is wrong with her.  But she denies it, so I’ll have to wait a few more days before I can perform an intervention. 

Today’s Exploit:

During my flight from Denver to Seattle I woke up in time to see the snow over Utah.  My neighbor was using her digital camera to film sections and take pictures.  

I commented on the view and she proceeded to tell me the story of her entire life.  

But she spent 42 minutes telling me how scared she was to transition from her rusty trusty 35mm camera to her new-5-years-ago digital camera.  She told me about forcing herself to only take the digital on her trip to Colorado where she’d lived for 7 years.  

I then learned some other random stuff about her job at NASA and living in Virginia.  She told me about getting a divorce and going back to Estes Park after 14 years.

Then she decided I needed to see every picture on her camera with a detailed description.  ...But it did make the flight go faster.  And she had some pretty amazing shots of the view from her front window.  Of the ocean.  I think I might need to move there.

I Thought You Might Want To Call Some Time

The roughnecks called and said the computer got unplugged, and they needed the screen to keep drilling. So I got all my gear on and went up to the dog house and asked.

“Is it really unplugged? Or are you lying again?”

I’m on to them. But it turns out the computer really was unplugged. As for unintentional or not, I don’t know.

Today’s Exploit:

Recently I had to go up to the rig floor to fix the computer. On my way back to the box I passed through the parts room to get to the stairs. One of the roughnecks was in there and he stopped me.

Chris: Hey, babe. How are you?

Me: Fine, just fixing the computers.

Chris: Well, I wrote down my number for you, if you want. I enjoy talking to you.

Me: Oh, thanks. (I’ve only talked to him once before, and that was about carrying the tool)

Chris: We should keep in touch for the company.

Me: Ok, I’d better get back to the computers.

Chris: Bye babe, I’ll talk to you later.

I tucked the paper into my pocket and laughed all the way back to my chair. That was probably the awesome-est way anyone’s ever given me their number. Usually they ask for mine and call my phone so I can save theirs in the contact list.

Also? Sorry Chris, but I don’t really like talking on the phone. I’m socially inept like that.

The Computer Broke Again

I:


I just called myself a crazy chicken, out loud.

I just learned that Oklahoma City has a zoo, and it’s supposed to be a good one.

I could sit and stare at Myrtle for hours. I think I might. She’s more interesting than the computers.

I like fresh pineapples. And crunchy grapes.

I met a dog with a green head.

Today’s Exploit:

Last night the DD answered a phone call from the rig floor.

Dane: They said something’s wrong with the computer again.

Me: Uh oh!

Dane: (into the phone) She said, “Uh oh” and she’s on her way up.

And when I got to the rig floor.

Me: So, what’s up with the computer?

Driller: Oh, nothing. I just wanted to see you.

Me: …

These guys are kinda sneaky and manipulative sometimes.

My Mind Is Blank, Or I’m Completely Scatterbrained

My peanut butter has a recipe for Holly Jolly Peanut Butter Cookies. I bought it in March.

Today’s Exploit:

I’m all out of ideas for posts. The only thing interesting that happened to me yesterday was the dog that barked at me on my run. He barked and growled and wagged his tail.

I’ve heard lots of semi-interesting, over-sharing tidbits about the life of the night DD. He can’t hear much of what I say, but he likes to tell me all sorts of random bits. Things like getting a hearing aid, or having kidney stones.

I’m at a loss. Maybe something interesting will happen when I go into town.

They Stand Too Close For Comfort. Not Just One, All of Them

I started trying to learn Spanish on my computer last night. I remember lots of random words from high school Spanish, but I don’t remember what any of them mean. So far this session I have learned about the black cat, the blue car and they boy under the table.

Spanish interspersed with reading my Portable MBA in Entrepreneurship should keep me busy for the next few weeks. I’m only able to get through 1.7 pages at a time in the book without falling asleep.

Today’s Exploit:

The other night I made a friend.

I gave him TUMS.

Now we are best friends. Every time he sees me he has to say hi, or wave, or do something to get my attention. Tonight he sprayed me with water while washing the BOP.

I’m glad I could help, but this is a bit much.

Earlier tonight, while I was waiting to get back to drilling, I went to the rig floor. Everyone up there had to tell me 5.3 stories about Wyoming/Colorado/Montana. Because for people from the south they are all the same. They even include Utah and Nebraska in this category. Maybe a few others will be added if the particular person I’m talking to has traveled anywhere at all and ever been cold.

Any time these guys didn’t have to lift or pull something they were standing within 4.2 feet of me.

My new friend was within 6 inches.

This is why I hide in my box.

Ooh, Coconut. My Favorite

I tried quail for the first time today. It was pretty good, but it was cooked with Poblano peppers, and onions and bacon, so I’m not sure if I actually tasted the quail or just the peppers.

Today’s Exploit:

A few nights ago Chris and I watched a show that featured a guy climbing a tree to kick down coconuts. Then he smashed it against a rock until the “cork” popped. Then they poured out the milk and began shredding the meat against another rock. Fascinating.

I happened to mention that I didn’t much like coconut, so 3 days later Chris shows up with one.

Charles: Were they on sale or something?

Chris: I saw it next to the pineapple and thought, ‘maybe PJ will want a coconut.’

Charles: Oh, that was nice.

Me: Yeah, thanks. I’ve just been thinking how I wanted a coconut.

Chris: Here you go. (Tries to give me half)

Me: Thanks, but I think I’ll have to pass right now.

Aren’t these guys so nice?

They still regularly call to see if they can get a reaction out of me. And they check that I run every morning. They even watch what I eat to let me know how much I need to run the following morning.

Dolores Says...

Last night I went to the World Market. In Youngsville. It’s the first one I’ve been to, and it has lots of intriguing things. But the things that caught my attention were the wind chimes.

All of them.  For my porch.  It will be all tinkly and musical.

I want.

Today’s Exploit:

The day I met Dolores we talked about the weather, and the DD that walks all the time. And about the fact that I run nearly every day.

Dolores: I see you and Ricky out here every day! Haha.

Me: Yeah, I’ve got to do something...

Dolores: To get away from the rig. Ahaha

Me: Yes, I’ve got to exercise…

Dolores: Oh, to stay in shape. Hoho

Me: I’m really…

Dolores: Probably the only one that doesn’t need it. Haha

Me: But I mostly…

Dolores: Oh, you just like to be healthy. Hahaha.

I talked to Dolores for about 10 minutes. I don’t think I finished a single sentence in that time.

I Think it May Have Turned Into a Date

For the record, I thought I was doing a pretty good job of wearing long shirts and avoiding excessive attention to my bum. Turns out I failed utterly and completely. I’ve been told by multiple persons of the extent that the entire rig staff watches. Now I’m trying to burry my head back into my dark hole of obliviousness. I’m failing at that, too. Miserably.

Today’s Exploit:

Yesterday Mr. Chatty-driller came into my box 3 or 4 times to talk my ears off and to steal internet bandwidth. He barely took a breath the entire time he was chattering so much, yet he said absolutely nothing.

I’m still trying to figure out if there was a message behind the babble. It may take a while. My brain started picketing when my ears died.

Josh: So, I’m going to ask the guys if they want to go to dinner in town, do you want to go?

Me: Sure.

Josh: Really? I’ll go ask the guys and see what they say. I like to get away from the rig. I can’t stand staying here all the time, and…(the pointlessness continues).

Later

Josh: I asked the guys if they wanted to go, and they all said sure. But then I said I’d asked the girl to go with us and they all backed out really quick.

Me: Oh.

Josh: Yeah, none of them speak good English, and so they’re embarrassed and you’d be sitting there not understanding. They like to crack jokes, so they’d be joking with you. Oh, but do you still want to go?

Me: Why not?

Josh: Really? Wow, I’m really glad you trust me enough to go with just me. I didn’t think you’d want to still…(Insert some gibberish and you’ll have the rest of the conversation.)

We went to Chili’s. I decided we should sit at the bar because a table was a bit too personal. And I was afraid I’d learn something I didn’t want to know from the ceaseless waterfall of over-sharing. Turns out he didn’t care who heard, he was bound and determined to tell me all sorts of unwanted information.

These didn't help.  Don't be fooled by the cutsey photo, they took two hands to hold. 
And those bartenders were exceedingly generous with the tequilla.

Every so often he’d ask a question and I’d try to formulate a diplomatic response. But I was never quick enough and he’d be off and running again. Occasionally he’d remember that he’d asked a question and complain that I hadn’t answered, but still wouldn’t give me time to reply.

He also spent the entire evening leaning toward me. To which I responded by leaning into my other neighbor, who was too drunk to notice and therefore much less frightening.

Dolores, and her Dog

This morning the driller came to visit me, because he has an assistant and, basically, is not needed. He told me 36 times how he gets a kick out of seeing a girl working at the rig. And he’ll come and talk to me because he gets a kick out of it, but some of the others are scared to talk to me because something they say might get them into trouble. But he’s not and hegetsakickoutofhavingagirlontherigbecauseitsnotverycommon-andhe’llcometovisitmeandharassmebecausehegetsakickoutofit.

I don’t think he took a breath the entire 14.1 minutes he was in here.

He’d ask me a question and give me 1.2 milliseconds to answer before charging on to the next topic he got a kick out of.

Today’s Exploit:

Yesterday in the middle of my epic run I met Dolores, and her dog.

Dolores is one of the “gate guards” that check people in and out of location. Usually she is a hand waving out the door, letting me know I can keep driving without herds of oilfield mounted police chasing after me.

Yesterday she was walking her dog. Walking in the sense that she was walking and the dog was not.

The dog is probably the fattest Dachshund I have ever seen, it is definitely the fattest I ever hope to see. And I’ve seen some fat Weiner dogs. This dog was monumentally fat. It needs stilts to move its belly.

PS Who does this to their pets? Really, it’s cruel and unusual punishment.
What did that poor creature ever do to you?

Their walk consisted of Dolores pushing a baby buggy, outfitted with a cushy dog bed, up and down the bumpy, rocky, rutted road.

This dog is so fat it has to have a carriage. (Word thinks this dog is fast. HAHAHAHAHA. This dog IS a very demented, pitiful, training wheel; its not fast.)

Carriage dog also likes to bark. She’s not really on top of life, so she ends up barking at the dust settling after I run by (I really am that fast). This seriously worries Dolores. I hear her comforting the dog when I stop to walk over the ‘cattle gap’.

Fatty: Yap Yap Yapyapyap Yappy

Dolores: It’s OK, Big girl, it’s OK. Don’t worry. It’s OK. Shhhh.

Fatty: Pant pant pantpant.