8-8-05 Trying to be timely!

A view of Downtown Grants pass.


Hello everyone,
I have started my second week with my new employer. Today was good. I began my first actual production drill job. I began the dentist's ceiling panels, they will be shooting stars, constellations, and twinkling stars. I was a bit tense as I started the drilling. I use a button operated pneumatic plunging drill, and have to hit dots on the artwork that is attached to the face of the display, the drill bit is very thin ( 30 thousands of an inch, a little thicker than a sewing needle) so naturally I'm taking it slow and careful. After about a half hour of drilling, the boss comes over and tells me to relax. He takes the drill and starts working on the piece. Moving along at 3 times the speed I was. He says, " get a rhythm going, and let it flow". He put me at ease, and I "let it flow". The people I work for, and with, are very supportive. Definitely the kind of place I want to be working at. I will be doing more than just drilling. I'll be shipping products, receiving incoming supplies, assembling the light sources for the optics, learning to make the cabinets the assemblies go into, and over time will probably be trained in everything to do with this business. It will not be a boring job. I like to learn, and I enjoy being good at doing what ever I do. Just keep me out of "management"!
You Remember I mentioned the irrigation dam in my last post? Well, let me tell you a little more about it. Back in the 30's, when this area was being settled by "homesteaders", (the government granted 40 acres to people who would live on, and work the land). People needed water to irrigate the fields and crops in this wet in the winter, but dry in the summer valley. An irrigation dam was proposed, and patrons were signed up to fund and support the project. A dam was built on the Rogue river that flows through the town to the ocean. This dam supplied water in the summer months to the ranchers and farmers. This dam, and the patrons, have lost the dam to environmental activists. The activist's concerns are that natural fish passage up the river have been compromised. Even though this has never been proven to be fact, the Federal government mandated that the dam be removed. It is to be removed, and be replaced by electric pumps in 2006. I'll be sad to see it go.
A view of the irrigation dam, a couple of miles east of town. Remember, click on the picture for a larger view, click on the "back" button to return to the "blog".


This is the "fish ladder". During the migration season, salmon return to their birth place. The ladders aid their upstream migration. Much easier than the natural barriers they have to pass on their journey "home". Where of course, they spawn,(lay their eggs) and die.



All in all, things are good with me, I feel like I'm back home. I know I'm going to have to deal with the winter blues. But from the forwarded e-mail I've received, banana's may be my salvation! If they don't work, I'll try WD-40! If that doesn't work, I'll start forwarding the messages to at least 10 people so that I'll have good luck in the next ten minutes!
Thanks for tuning in. My love, Bob.