Journal of a Wireman

Gossip Spreads Wild On The Big Job: Early Beginnings

December 26th, 2025

You might consider this next story a folk tale of the building trades. There is a version of this story that is true and it has been told over and over again. Everyone from Meiner Electric has heard a version of this story. There is no lesson to this tale, no moral, only pure entertainment.

In the early 1960’s, Meiner Electric was awarded the electrical package for the College-Conservatory of Music, in Cincinnati. Jon Meiner was a sharp businessman that had no time for nonsense. Jon broke into the union 12 years ago and the first few years were lean ones. After year 7, Meiner Electric was finally becoming a well-trusted, small, family shop. By year 10, Jon had return clients that kept his men steadily employed, which gave him confidence to bid larger jobs in the city.

Jon was very proud of how far he had come and rightly so, He didn’t have any connections in Cincinnati. Jon got in the union with grit and determination. Jon was so proud that when he did walk-throughs of the job, he brought his twelve-year-old son along. Jon would introduce his son David, to all of his workers. Jon told his son, “David, these men that have been with me since the beginning, I consider them family. When you are old enough, you will work alongside with them and learn the trade before coming into the shop. I want you to know the business inside and out, learn the trade, learn the contract and learn how to bid work.” Of course, David hung onto every word his father said.

As the College-Conservatory of Music picked up, Jon realized he needed more journeyman, so he called the hiring hall. Jon put a call in for five more journeymen and they were to report to the jobsite first thing Monday morning. Jon liked to meet the guys before they went to job but they were falling behind. Jon trusted his instincts and decided he would pull the men aside next time he made it to UC.

A few weeks went by and Jon got word from his foreman Jack, that the new guys were working out really well. Jack suggested that now they were caught up, it would be a good time for Jon to stop by and see the progress. Jon agreed and told Jack that he would stop by Wednesday, which was payday. Jon was going over some paperwork at the shop, and he thought to himself it might be best if let a couple of the new guys go. Construction work is a tricky business. There was future work that Jon bid on, but Meiner Electric hadn’t been awarded it yet. Jon was very torn on what to do so he decided he would meet the new guys and wait to make a decision.

Wednesday came and Jon brought his son along to meet the new hires. Jon met three of the guys right away and felt really good about keeping them. When he couldn’t find the other two guys, Jon asked Jack where they were working. Jack looked up from his set of blueprints and said, “Pete and Michael are working together up in the balcony.” Jon turned to his son and said, “I guess we’re going for a walk.” When they got upstairs, Jon noticed right away two guys sitting down and smoking cigarettes. Jon was furious and his son knew it, “What are you going to do about this dad? Jon told his son to follow him and see. Jon marched over to them with his son just behind him. Jon looked at the two men sternly, “I will not have guys sitting down on my job!” Jon pulled his wallet out and two hundred dollars for each of them and shoved it down their top bib pocket. “Go back to the hall, I’m done with you! Let’s go son, I’m sorry you had to see that.” Jon and David walked back to the car a drove off.

A month went by, and The Conservatory of music was wrapping up, so it was time for Jon to make his final walkthrough. Jon met Jack at the front of the building, “Where’s David?” Jon smiled, “School started back, thanks for asking.” Jack gave Jon a tour of the finished project, “Inspector should be here later today.” They continued walking around and Jon was very pleased how it all turned out. As they were getting ready to head upstairs, Jon turned and saw the same two guys he laid off a month prior. Jon walked over to them with a very puzzled look his face, “Didn’t I lay you two off a month ago?” The two guys looked at each other and laughed, ” You did. We’re not electricians, we’re plumbers.” Jon was so dumbfounded that he turned around and went right back to shop. He vowed he would not speak of this to no one. Evidently someone said something or I wouldn’t be telling this story today.

I’ll see you on the next one.
The Day Before Christmas

December 25th, 2025

It was the day before Christmas at the jobsite,

Not a foreman was stirring to the workers’ delight.

The gangbox was open, our tools were not far.

We were waiting for noon, to head home in our cars.

Johnny was sweeping, Dave was having a smoke.

Tony was telling us another old joke.

The pipe racks were hung with much adulation

But the project itself, was only halfway through its duration.

Paul fixed our bender with WD40 and some grease

That grumpy old man kept our equipment running with ease.

I was organizing material and when I heard such a commotion.

Brandon came back with donuts from Holtman’s.

Pull up some chairs and I’ll pour some coffee that’s fresh

Soon we’ll go home to our families and rest.

We shared a few laughs at the table and told a few lies.

Comradery is needed on construction sites of any size.

So, look out for your union brothers and sisters and your tool buddy too

Enjoy your time off and Merry Christmas to you.

I’ll see you on the next one.
The Battles We Choose to Fight

October 30th, 2025

It took me about ten years to build up my reputation in Local 212, so when I took a call for J.S.I. people already knew me. J.S.I. demanded more of their employees but I was young and willing to put in the time. The foreman gave me my own gang box filled with power tools and a bender. I had an apprentice to work with and to train. It seemed like if I kept working hard, I would keep moving up in this company.

After a months’ time, there was a buzz circling around the break rooms about my work. There was at least one guy jealous of the praise his foreman was giving me. Of course, haters are going to hate, so I just shrugged it off. It seemed to me that as long as I kept a positive attitude and impressing the right people, it didn’t matter if guys got jealous. I kept my head down, as always and continued to do a good job.

After the data center, they sent me to Nippert Stadium, where I had a new group of foremen to impress. I had my obstacles at the stadium, but I maneuvered through. Every job you take in construction has two lessons. Some will tell you dealing with different personalities is difficult. I disagree; it’s not the personalities but egos people bring to the table. No one wants their ego bruised and yet we are all guilty of taking that mental swing. The second lesson is a much simpler one and can start as soon as you join the trade. As a skilled tradesman, you will never stop learning and honing your skills. Always take what you learned from one job to the next one. Never be afraid to show people what you know. If you can show your skills and do it without bruising someone else’s ego, you can go far.

Once Nippert was complete, I was transferred to a job that humbled my ego. My first twelve years, I had only worked on jobs that merely had entertainment value to the community. My new jobsite got me thinking about all the good I could do with being an electrician. My new job made me think of how I was contributing to society in a meaningful way. My new job was a new rehabilitation facility that connected to The VA Hospital.

I should tell you now that my dad is a Vietnam Veteran and I am really proud of him for that, among other reasons. When I first stepped onto the jobsite, I thought about what he did for my country. When I learned that this facility would be for the men and women coming back from Afghanistan, I worked even harder than before. There were six electricians on the job and we had only a few months to finish this facility. We kept to a forty-hour schedule, and it seemed like we wouldn’t finish in time. I remembered a time I took a trip with my dad to Washington DC. While we were there, my dad wanted to stop by The VA Hospital to show his appreciation to the young veterans injured from war. I remembered how bad I felt for them, and now It was my time to give back. I ran so much conduit on that job that I started dreaming about conduit. We all did an impressive amount of work in a very short time. No one was found slacking on this job, we all wanted to give our best and we did just that. Everyone should be proud of the work we did their because we worked with sincerity.

I worked another ten years, not giving that facility any more thought. In August my dad had heart surgery and there were many complications afterwards. My dad spent three weeks in the VA hospital, and it seemed like there was no end in sight. Once my dad was stable, they moved him to the rehab facility next door to the hospital. He is currently building up his strength so he can go back home. I never in a million years would have thought the building I helped build would one day help my dad see the light at the end of the tunnel. My dad is still recovering at the VA, and he is fighting a good fight. He has taken many steps forward and a few back but he continues to get stronger so he can soon return home.

I’ll see you on the next one.
Pizza, Pilsners and Pierogis, Oh My!

October 16th, 2025

Warning! This is not a travel blog and my name is not Rick Steves. This story is about a traveler seeking work. This story is about a man who pulled himself out of darkness and learned to enjoy his freedom in solitude. Even though you will read about Pizza, Pilsners and Pierogis, ultimately, you see through the eyes of a traveler and all that he goes through.

After wrapping up The Horseshoe Casino in April, work was still scarce, so I found myself signing Gary/Hammonds book in Indiana. This was my best option to get out to work right away. The pay scale was almost double what I made in Cincinnati, and I could be home in about four hours, so I went for it.

I traveled solo on this trip, I set goals and I crushed them. When I took the call for the refinery, I told myself I would only be in a motel for two weeks. I sat through a week of orientation and safety training. The second week I stepped onto the job I saw an old timer named Bill heading in the same direction. Bill recognized me right away, “Big Jim! How are you doing brother? Did you take a call with Newton Electric too?”

I was happy to see a familiar face, “Yeah, I just got here last week. Do you know of any places to stay closer to the job?”

“Well as a matter of fact, I do. I’ve been staying in apartment with a buddy of mine from Wisconsin. Our third roommate plans to take a call back home next week. You could move in after he leaves. The best part is the apartment is right here in Whiting. We’re five minutes from the job!”

As I finished moving into my new place I thought to myself everything was working out great. The apartment had a living room which George and Bill had put up heavy curtains as a divider. There was a small kitchen. I had the only bedroom which I would find out later I was paying an extra fifty dollars a month for. But having my own room was well worth that extra fifty dollars. After they showed me around, I decided I should grab a bite to eat and then buy some groceries.

The first restaurant I tried in Whiting was The Purple Steer. I ordered a three egg, texmex omelet and it was amazing! As I was leaving the restaurant I noticed a flyer that read, “Join us as we bicycle through the city and light up the night on this date.” Every traveler I spoke to so far had reminded me we are in Gary Indiana and to be safe at night. After reading the flyer, I realized Whiting was as safe as the city I grew up in. This revolation allowed me to take a deep breath and really start to enjoy the town.

I kept a budget and stuck with it. The longer I worked in Whiting the more I got to know this town. One night a week I would try a new restaurant and it never disappointed. It was Wednesday evening, and I just had the best Chicago Style pizza from Capri’s. After dinner I met the guys from work at Center Lounge for a few beers.

During the day I installed heat trace at a refinery which required me to climb great heights. Monday through Saturday, sixty hours a week, the job was very physical. At night I would call home and talk to my wife and daughters. I would have dinner and then sometimes make a trip to the bar. I would wake up at 5AM the next day and repeat. I never felt tired; in fact, I felt like Superman.

I was feeling really good about taking this job. The money I was making allowed my family to have a better life. When I was feeling down, I would occasionally take three days off to go home. One particular weekend, I was so ready to get home that I didn’t notice I was speeding. I saw flashing lights behind me, then I noticed I was going about 100 miles per hour. I remember think to myself, don’t hit the brakes, that’s an omission of guilt. I took my foot off the gas to slow down, and the state trooper just sped pass me. Like The Blues Brothers, I was on a mission from God. I suppose that’s why I didn’t get pulled over. I was desperate to get home because seeing my family was rejuvenating to my soul.

It was now Summer, and I was still working at the refinery, so I decided to make the best of it Whiting had a small town feel with flavors of Chicago. There is a strong polish heritage in Whiting. You could pick up freshly made Pierogis at M.J.s Polish Deli. Whiting has a beach along Lake Michigan and The Indiana Dunes were close by. If you like The Blues Brothers, check out The Calumet Fishery. This is where they filmed The Drawbridge Scene. Another thing about Whiting is The Pierogi Fest! Every July, The City of Whiting Draws in over 300,000 visitors from all over. The more I worked there, the more joy I discovered.

Although the money was great and Whiting had many things to offer, I really needed to get back home. My oldest daughter was learning to read. One night, when I called home, she asked me when I was coming home. I was getting closer to taking a call back home, but it was still a waiting game. I could only tell her that I would be home as soon as I can.

There still were no jobs in Cincinnati and I found myself drinking more and more. I started meeting up with the guys at The Center Lounge every night of the week. My daughter’s question kept running through my mind. I was working towards being debt free. I was working in another local to keep putting into my pension and my insurance. I kept telling myself that if I made enough money that I wouldn’t have to travel again.

The drinking, the depression, never really bothered me at work that is, until we started working Sundays. I remember going in one day and I couldn’t hold a screwdriver. I was losing hope; I was losing focus and wanted to see my family. I was getting closer to taking a call back home, but I couldn’t back in the state I was in.

I started spending my evenings at The Whiting Library. It was quiet there, and the smell of the books and chilled air was calming to me. I would write my thoughts down and my goals for when I got back home. I would read magazines and bring books back to my apartment. Doing all of this instead of drinking every night quieted the noise and helped me get back on track.

As work began to slow down at the refinery, my mental health was improving. I could see a light at the end of the tunnel, and a smile returned to my face. Work was still slow in Cincinnati, but it didn’t matter, I was going home. I could take off a month and spend that time with my family. I said goodbye to my roommates and my tool buddy, Dave. I said goodbye to Whiting as I drove past the refinery one last time.

I’ll see you on the next one
The Aviator Of Evendale

September 1st, 2025

It was December and I was working inside for a change. We had working toilets, a break room and my Journeyman’s name was Tim. Tim had a grey beard, wore bibs, and always had something interesting to say. He was the kind of old timer that sat on his tailgate at the end of the day to change out of his weathered boots. This was a trick I would appreciate later in life but as a young 20-year-old, I poked fun at him. I would always tell him “See you tomorrow, Tim.” He would correct me, “Just say see you around. You never know if you might need to take off tomorrow or maybe just quit.” Tim would laugh and leave me wondering if he really intended to quit but he never did.

My foreman and the rest of the crew just tolerated being around Tim. They thought he talked too much and maybe he did. Looking back, I think they were envious of a man that had so much freedom. Tim was a hobbyist mechanic, he flew remote control airplanes, and he didn’t mind being off a few months in the winter to tinker around in his heated garage. As for the rest of the guys in our crew, they were married to their jobs and felt a great importance to stay with one contractor. Tim would say staying with one company might be nice, but often you could get pigeon-holed. Tim was one of the many journeymen that taught me there are endless opportunities to further your education in this field. Stay in one place if you like but the moment you feel stagnant, it’s time to move on.

Tim did talk a lot about the things he knew. He was a WW2 history buff, and he liked his muscle cars. He talked about jobs he worked on and about his family. Like I said before, Tim enjoyed his remote-control planes and used to fly them at Lunken Airport once every couple of weeks. Tim told me more about his life than most journeymen I worked for. I’ve always felt respect is a two-way street. I was polite when he told his stories, and he was patient with me when he taught me the trade.

It was Thursday morning, and tomorrow was Christmas Eve. Tim was listing some random facts of World War 2 as I was on the struggle bus and not really listening. I was trying to fish a half inch flex down the wall for a receptacle. “How’s it going Jimmy?” Tim could see I was getting frustrated. “Sometimes you have to whirry it in.”

I quickly looked down at Tim from my ladder, “Are you saying worry?”

Tim chuckled, “No, it’s whir-eee. One of my mechanic friends used to say that, I figure it’s kind of like a wiggle with a slightly different rotation.”

We were both laughing now as I finally got the flex down the wall. “What do you have for me next?” I had some hand tools in my back pocket, tape measure clipped to my belt and I was ready for my next task. Tim was on his ladder, taking measurements and doing some figuring in his head, “I need you to bend a stub ninety with a 24-inch back-to-back ninety. Let’s see if you can bend it all on one full stick of 3/4 inch conduit. “

I nodded as I took out my tape measure. I marked up my conduit and grabbed a 3/4 hand bender. “Here goes nothing.” I placed the pipe in the bender and went to work. I took great care to make sure all my nineties were true and square, double-checking it all with my level. It all looked good except my back-to-back was about an inch short. I shook my head as Tim asked what was wrong. “The back-to-back is short by an inch so I guess I have to cut it and start over.”

Tim came off his ladder, “You don’t have to do all that.” he grabbed the pipe and the bender from me as he explained how to fix it. “You are a very respectful apprentice, and I know you really care about the trade, that’s why I want to show you this trick. ” I watched him as he put the pipe back in the bender. “You see Jimmy, conduit bending is a dying art. I only show my best tricks to the ones I think really care and I feel it is important to pass this down to guys that want keep this skill alive. ” Tim reworked the conduit a little and believe it or not, the back-to-back was an inch longer. I was amazed and now, I too knew the trick. Tim did tell me that if it was more than an inch short, it couldn’t be fixed. He said this was taught to him on rigid conduit and it was a way to save on material.

After that, I felt like I was part of, “The Few” that knew that trick and I was honored that Tim taught me. “Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, are you coming in for a half day?”

Tim nodded his head, “You bet I’ll be here Jimmy. Christmas Eve is the easiest day of the year and the only day we get paid a full 8 hours for showing up.” We had packed up our tools and we were heading to the parking lot.

It was Christmas Eve morning and all I could think about was the family parties I would be going to with my wife later that day. I opened the gang box and started bringing out the tools. We were all there but honestly, we milled around a bit and listened to our journeymen tell stories. Around quarter till nine we sent a first year to pick up biscuits and gravy from Cracker Barrell that was down the road. This was the best Christmas Eve at work I can remember. After we ate breakfast, Tim got up and asked if I was ready to get back to it. Tim had a surprise for the whole crew, and we knew something was up by the big smile on his face. I noticed this big cardboard box he had brought in and now was reaching inside.

“Are you guys ready for this? ” Tim asked. Tim was like a kid in the candy store as he brought out one of his remote-control airplanes. It took him a little to get it started but then Tim was flying this plane all through the building.

I was in awe but also a little concerned, ” You might get in trouble for having this here Tim.”

The plane whizzed by my head, “Nah! Look around Jimmy. Construction workers are the only ones here today. Just enjoy the show.”

Tim did put on a great show that day, keeping everyone entertained. Tim asked me to come out to Lunken airport in the spring but unfortunately, I never did. I couldn’t afford a remote-control plane on apprentice wages and I felt embarrassed to show up empty handed. Looking back on this I realize I should have just showed up. I did however work with Tim again after I topped out (became a journeyman), on a casino job. We got to catch up and working around him was like old times. I didn’t put myself out there enough when I was younger, so in recent years I’ve tried to be better about that. My goal is to be a journeyman just like Tim and a few others that had impact on my life. In fact, I write my blog to ensure their stories live on.

I’ll see you on the next one
Welcome New Apprentices

August 19th, 2025

So now you made it in the apprenticeship. Congratulations! Now the real fun begins. First off There’s a tool list you must have when you show up on your first day of the job. Tools are expensive. It is a real hardship to get all of them. Some guys might cut you some slack the first few months. On my first job I showed up with a complete tool list from Harbor Freight that went over like a led ballon. For those of you not familiar Harbor Freight is fine for home use but definitely not proffesional level. However, it was all I could afford at the time and I was proud that I could get all the tools on the list. My pride was incredibly short lived. Electricians use their linesmen pliers for everything, and I pull out my 6 inch handled orange pliers. “Is that your wife’s pliers you have there, Jimmy?” Tim was just giving me a hard time, of course, but he did say I should replace those first. He explained to me when I cut through live wires, I’m going to want something that is double insulated. Tim flipped his pliers in the air, caught them, and put them in his back pocket. Tim also explained to me that for cutting bigger wire, it’s important that I had some heavy-duty pliers.

Early on in my career I cut a hot wire and blew a hole in my pliers. I didn’t get hurt but it wouldn’t have happened if the head of the pliers wasn’t touching the metal box the wire was in. This leads into my next piece of advice. Always check to see if the circuit is off. If you are working somewhere, like a hospital, where you can’t turn off the circuit cut the wires one at a time. There are two types of electricians, the old and the bold. The old electricians live a long life and enjoy their pensions. The bold ones, well, you get the idea.

There are so many obstacles to overcome your first year. Construction workers don’t like working in the heat, so we start early and that might be a challenge to all you newcomers. The internet will tell you that waking up at 4 A.M. will make you more successful. Don’t believe everything on the internet, but I did alright joining the union. We don’t have running water, and we get dirty. Drywall dust, cutting oil and dust from drilling into concrete are just a few things we deal with on the daily. Some contractors provide gloves, wear them, they will protect your hands and keep them cleaner. We climb ladders and we do a lot of heavy lifting. Electricians can work in great heights and sometimes in confined spaces; I have done both. These are a few things to consider before joining the trade.

Any skilled trade is not only physical, but you will need to be book smart as well. You will have to have a good understanding of math and science. You will learn how to read prints and symbols and what they stand for. Learning how to read a code book will get you far in this trade. Believe it or not, it will be good to have some people skills as well. Out in the field a good dirty joke works for Ray and Tom but not for Dick and Harry who are the customers.

You might think you are taking break when everyone else does, but occasionally and without warning, here comes a full stake bed truck full of material. Today it looks like 500 feet of 3/4 conduit, 200 feet of 1 inch conduit, boxes of hardware and large spools of wire. On every job I’ve ever been on, the material trucks show up at break, lunch or the end of the day. Bundles of pipe and spools of wire can be heavy but there will be other apprentices helping to unload the truck. If a fellow apprentice challenges you to carry more than one bundle of conduit at a time, do not except this challenge. You have a long career ahead of you and a broken-down Journeyman holds no value.

Four years of trade school will teach you so much, but you learn how to be a mechanic on the job. I tell my apprentices to take something you learned on this job to the next one. There’s such a broad spectrum of what an electrician can do that is possible to say we learn something new every day. There’s Lighting, power and distribution, motor controls and fire alarm to name just a few. Get through the apprenticeship and then find a niche. Construction is temporary but any certification you have makes you more employable. Stay healthy, stay sharp and don’t be afraid to ask questions, even after you become a journeyman. I hope this all helps.

I’ll see you on the next one.
It’s That Time of Year

August 12th, 2025

In the most western part of Hamilton County is a small piece of Americana, a wonderful little amusement park. Old and young electricians alike gather for their picnic each year. We arrive around noon, and the grills are fired up, the rides are running, and the beer is already flowing from the taps. Ears of corn have been strategically placed and covered in burlap to be perfectly steamed. Children are filled with excitement as they race to The Electric Rainbow and then to The Viking Ship. The soft serve, snow cones, and cotton candy are all free. The kids fill up on treats and somehow their stomachs never flip and turn with the rides. I’m working on my second round as I check out the prizes. I dream of winning the big Yeti cooler, but I never do. I say hello to the business manager; I tell him great job on the picnic this year. We are cordial with each other, today is a day for positive vibes only. As I walk towards the guys selling the t-shirts, someone taps me on the shoulder. It’s my old classmate Dale. “How long has it been?” I ask.

“At least ten years.” Dale says with a chuckle, ” Remember that time you sunk the company truck in the mud. They barely drug it out with the lull.”

“You need to get your story straight; I was in the passenger seat. Besides that,” I laugh, “Mannequins don’t know how to drive!”

” That job was like no other, I’m glad we took that call together.” Dale says this as he pats me on the back. We talk a little more and before he walks off with his wife, he says it was good catching up with you.

The crowd has doubled, and the picnic tables are filled. The children are running around with sticky hands from the cotton candy. They get into innocent mischief; the kind of stuff the parents can ignore because they are catching up. It’s beer four for me and I mosey over to the rides to find my kids. I take pictures of them as they spin around in the Tilt-a-Whirl. They are having the time of their lives, and I am having a proud father moment. As they run over to me with excitement, I ask them if they are ready for lunch. Hamburgers, brats and metts, and of course corn on the cob are all on the menu today. Also, there are veggie burgers, for those who imbibe.

The cornhole tournament is well on its way, I’m on beer number seven. I watch as a bag is lofted into the air, it comes down on the board with a crack. I walk into the event hall to get out of the heat and pick up a bingo card. I sit next to a couple of old timers and ask them if they are enjoying retirement. Ray says he has more time for golf. Tom shakes his head, “You spent more time on the green than you did at the jobsite.”

Ray took off his glasses and started cleaning them, “Well… You might be right. Now I don’t have to call off when I go.” Ray looked my way,” How’s Meiner Electric treating you? Are you running work now, Jimmy?”

I don’t bother to tell him I go by Jim now as I clear my throat, “I’ve been a foreman for a few years now. I’m not ready for the big ones yet.”

Tom intervened, ” Oh nonsense Jimmy! You’re smart and have a good eye for detail, besides that, I taught you everything I know.”

Ray laughs, “What is that, Tom? ”

I tried not to smile as I thought things never change. ” You wouldn’t believe these apprentices nowadays! They are so sensitive, they can’t take a joke. Just the other day…”

Ray and Tom both chuckle, “That’s what we thought about you and your classmates. ”

Ray continued,” I didn’t think you were going to make it the first week, the way you were crying about the portalets. I realized you were determined because you kept coming back. You just have to find out what makes the new guys tick. “

“I suppose you are right.”

A voice called from the front of the room, “B 16! B16”

Tom jumped up, ” Bingo!”

Ray leaned over to me, “That’s the fastest I seen Tom move since our old foreman walked into the room at Great American.”

Things just never change. I tell them that it was good catching up, but I should find out where my family ran off too. We shake hands and I step back out in the heat. The sun has set and the park is colored with the neon lights of the rides. The kids are tired but happy and my youngest says it might be time to go. My wife says she will drive and my kids are talking about next years picnic. This year I won some fishing gear but I did not win The Yeti.

I’ll see you on the next one.
Just Another Sh** Post

August 5th, 2025

Today we shall talk about something that no one likes to talk about in my industry. Some construction workers will try to go all day without it. Some construction workers do not give it much thought at all. The trades will argue about many things, but when the temperature reaches 90 degrees, we all agree on one thing. You may have already guessed today’s topic, but before we get elbows deep in it, let us discuss the history of The Portalets.

As a construction worker, I have always been curious how portalets came about and why in 2025 are we still using them. Well, I did some research and the concept of the portalet came about in the 1940’s. Shipyards realized their employees were losing valuable time because they had to hike all the way back to the docks. They decided to build a wooden cabana, fitted with a holding tank. The workers could stay on the ships they were building; this made the work go faster and possibly made the workers happier. Did it really make the workers happier?

If you have ever been to an outdoor event and thought those portalets were bad, well I have some bad news. Any construction worker will tell you that these particular portalets are pristine. We deal with portalets day in and day out. If we are lucky, they are cleaned once a week, more often than not, they stay soiled until enough people complain. Dirty, disgusting portalets. Here’s something you probably don’t know. Most construction sites are smoke free, which makes the portalet a great place for smokers to hang out. Don’t get me started on not having running water. I was a germophobic when I joined the trade, not being able to wash my hands for a week cured that problem. You mean to tell me in 80 years we can’t get something better for construction workers?

In a more humorous note, portalets have become part of construction workers’ culture. For construction workers, a portalet is just another social media platform. Let’s be clear, not all construction workers contribute to the portalet walls, but we all consume the content. In my 23 years of working in this trade I have recognized 3 types of portalet posters; The Portalet Poet, The Portalet Picasso and the ill-informed Political posts.

I would have to say that when I was younger, the creativity of construction workers was at an all-time high. I mean guys would come back from, “Letting go of some coffee” and talk about the latest thing written on the portalet walls. Did you read that? Did you see that? You have to check it out next time you go, it’s in the third portalet from the parking garage. It has been a form of entertainment. One of the more creative, perverse form of literature I read on a portalet wall, reads as follows.

There once was a man named Gent, His Dick was so long it was bent. To save him some trouble he put it in double and instead of coming he went.

Well, let’s move on, shall we? I hold a special place in my heart for The Portalet Picasso. On every job there seems to be one big asshole that tries to bring everyone down. On almost every job there is an artist that will put this jerk in his place by drawing him on the walls in compromising positions. In more recent years there was a guy I call Bob who made life hell for anyone that got in his way. When Bob wasn’t meeting his deadlines, he blamed it on the guy he was working with. When Bob’s tool buddy got laid off, the word spread like wildfire. I remember one morning at break; I passed a few guys snickering. When I asked them what was going on, they told me to check out this portalet they were standing close to. I opened up the portalet door and saw a big, fat worm with his hands on his belly. The worm was wearing a hardhat and seemed to be leaning back laughing. The caption read I am Bob and I’m a worm. They say karma will get you and, in this case, The Portalet Picasso got to him first. After a few weeks Bob couldn’t take it anymore and he quit working for his contractor.

Now I don’t plan to talk about the political posts, I’ve already filled your heads full of nonsense. I just want to get back to my question; Why are we still using portalets in 2025? In 23 years, I’ve been on two jobs with bathroom trailers and temporary running water. Let’s show some love to the men and women building the cities in which we live. Our jobs are hard enough as it is. As I said in the past, we live on these construction sites for 60 to 70 hours a week. It’s about time to have a thrown away from home. I want to thank you all for participating, and as always,

I’ll see you on the next one.
I’m a Prince spelled P-R-I-C-K

July 29th, 2025

My third year in the trade was a turning point in my career. I just couldn’t see it then. Before I joined the trade, I wanted to be an artist; I wanted to make people laugh. I had (still have) a passion for the arts. I was in show choir and barbershop quartet in high school. I wanted to move to New York and make it on SNL. I am a dreamer, and I have always dreamed big. As I’m writing this now, I can honestly say I’m finally bringing my dreams into fruition.

I felt like a fish out of water when I joined the trade and if I wanted proper training, I would have to fit in. I stopped talking about what made me and started talking about sports, nascar and beef jerky. Looking back on this, I didn’t fool anyone but myself. It took me a long time to be confrontable in my own skin, but I digress.

It was my third year in the trade and that’s when my foreman put me with Tony. I still remember walking over to him to introduce myself. I set my toolbox down on his material cart, ” Hi, my name is Jimmy Stu…”

Tony didn’t let me finish, “Nooo, noo no. That’s my material cart! you have to get your own.” This was Tony being helpful in his own way. He continued, “You see what kind of material I have on here? Take note. I want you to go downstairs and find yourself a material cart. When you get one, I want you to fill your cart with the same material I have. By the time you get back, it should be break time. Then you can introduce yourself. ” As I walked away, I wondered if I could even put up with this asshole.

Tony was a rough neck, red neck from Kentucky, that was his words, not mine. If you ask me, Tony looked like David Hasselhoff’s older brother. This image helped me deal with how stern Tony could be. Tony was close to retirement when I met him, and he was still walking around like he had something to prove. He worked for Meiner Electric years ago. People knew him there and he had a reputation of being a bad ass. Most guys steered clear of him, but some journeymen seemed to have a good rapport with Tony. I just wanted to make it through my apprenticeship, and I really didn’t like confrontation back then.

It turned out, Tony was a bit of a perfectionist, and the first few weeks were trial by fire. I still remember some of the random pop quizzes he would give me. In the middle of work, he would shout out questions and expect a quick answer. I would notice other guys staring and I just became that more nervous. Tony asked me in what direction does electrons move and without thinking, I shouted out, “From left to right!” Tony immediately started laughing. I knew that wasn’t the answer and I wasn’t happy anymore. At that moment I said something that surprised Tony and me both, “Screw you Tony! Why are you always putting me on the spot? I come to work to learn, not to be embarrassed.” With his own way of apologizing, Tony made a joke, “Everyone knows I’m a prince, spelled P-R-I-C-K. I was just trying to teach you. You have a lot of potential to be a great journeyman someday and it’s my job to get you there.”

As might be expected, working for Tony got a lot better. We started opening up to each other and that made the workday smoother. We swapped stories, told jokes, laughed about the shenanigans that happened on the job. Tony taught me so much about the trade. He said to work as hard as you can and not to worry about the deadlines. Tony said in this trade especially, we work to live, not live to work. He told me to not be afraid to talk to people, they don’t trust the quiet guys.

I didn’t know anyone when I first joined the trade, and I didn’t feel like I had anything in common with the guys I worked with. I worked for many great electricians that taught me about the trade. Tony was more of a mentor and taught me about life. Tony got me out of my shell, and I truly appreciate that. At this point in my career, I could step on any job and people know who I am and what I stand for. I’ve taught many apprentices, and I can only hope I impacted their lives as much as Tony did for me. Oh yeah. In case you were wondering, Electrons flow from negative to positive.

I’ll see you on the next one.
The Grey Fox of Saginaw

July 18th, 2025

When you work out of town, nothing is the same. You are away from your loved ones and even on the best days, you can feel a little empty inside. I can tell you that in 23 years, Edwardsport was a once in a lifetime experience. The conditions were excellent, and it seemed as if you could just open your pockets and collect the money. Any meal can taste good when you are hungry and we had all been looking for work for a long time. All the guys in our crew looked out for each other. We all became good friends, that is all of us except for Greg. Greg had other plans in mind.

When you take a call outside your home local, you must know this job is temporary. When a union contractor is awarded a job, they agree to fulfill the contract. The beauty of a union contractor is that they can supply man power for the job from all over the country. Every journeymen gets the same quality training so when a contractor hires someone, they pretty much know what they are getting. A smaller local, with less members may pull workers from book 2, Travelers that are seeking work outside their local union hall. Once the job is done, book 2 members will be the first to get laid off.

Greg saw each employee as a threat. We all wanted to keep a job as long as possible. Everyone at some point in their career has heard the expression, “We are here to make money not friends”, but Greg took this to the next level. The rest of us had the mindset that we were all there to take care of our families back home. No one wanted to leave their families for work, so we made the best of the situation. If laughter is the best medicine, we were prescribed high doses. The jokes we shared helped ease the pain from being hours away from home. Greg on the other hand, would crush your spirit if you let him. The only names that end up on the porta let walls were assholes on the job. Greg had porta let walls dedicated to him.

Another thing I should tell you about Greg is that he was the worst kind of storyteller. Greg was a Topper. If you said you caught a 10 pound Bass, Greg had caught a 15 pound Bass. We all embellish when we tell stories, it’s just that his embellishments were much taller and broader than himself. Greg would brag and boast, but no one bought into his bullshit. Greg would talk about his hunting trips in The U.P. or his fishing trips on the great lakes. He would yammer on and on.

One day at lunch, Greg started in on another story. Everyone in the trailer put their heads down as if they were asleep. Todd and I had already made eye contact with Greg, and I suppose we were too polite to not listen.

“You know Todd, ten years ago my friends and I took a boat out on Lake Superior”, Greg began.

I looked over and Todd had on a brave smile, ” Another fishing trip?” Greg continued his story. I looked around the trailer and knew it was too late to join the crew, so I kept on listening.

“It was getting late in the day and I saw the clouds roll in. I told my friend it was time to turn back but he refused to listen. He wasn’t going back until he caught one more fish. I tried to warn him again and then it began to storm. The waves were rocking the bowt and I knew we were in trouble!”

Todd and I began to lean in as Greg continued to tell his story. ” The waves were getting bigger as they crashed onto the boat. We tossed and turned until the boat overturned in the water and then….”

Before Greg could get another word in, I excitedly said, ” What happened next Greg! Did you make it?” The entire trailer roared in laughter. Greg was pissed, “No Jim, this is the part where we all died.”

Todd was snickering and I was laughing so hard I had to excuse myself from the trailer. I was tearing up and I had to catch my breath. As I calmed myself down, I thought to myself I got him. This was the day I caught The Grey Fox of Saginaw. From then on Greg tried to be more tolerable to the crew. And as for me, well I have this great story to tell.

I’ll see you on the next one.