Wow!!

fdd2blk said:

This section kind of scares me now.

I've calmed down and become so peaceful over the past 2 years. I don't know if I could survive in here these days. I'm clean and sober now so I have nothing to numb my mind. I think I'll just lurk awhile and have a cup of tea. I still miss you all though.

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heckler73 said:

Were you an angry person before?

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fdd2blk said:

This section kind of scares me now.

I've calmed down and become so peaceful over the past 2 years. I don't know if I could survive in here these days. I'm clean and sober now so I have nothing to numb my mind. I think I'll just lurk awhile and have a cup of tea. I still miss you all though.

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desert dude said:

Sober is the best way to live your life! It's good to hear from you.

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fdd2blk said:

Thanks. I like it. It's nice not to be under the control of a "lifestyle". I used to base a lot on my drug use. It controlled where I went, when and with who. It's the first time in 30 years that I have been completely sober. It feels good.

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fdd2blk said:

Thanks. I like it. It's nice not to be under the control of a "lifestyle". I used to base a lot on my drug use. It controlled where I went, when and with who. It's the first time in 30 years that I have been completely sober. It feels good.

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heckler73 said:

Yah, times of sobriety seem to be necessary. Different people, different chemistry.
So what do you plan to do with your brain cells now?
Any particular career intentions or hobbies?
Or are you still in that limbo mind-set just absorbing it all in for the time being?

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desert dude said:

Yeah, I agree. I hate to be a slave to something. I used to smoke cigarettes. Man, that is one hell of an addiction, and hard to quit. After you do quit, though, it sure is nice to have that monkey off your back.

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fdd2blk said:

I am back at work at my previous welding job. the owner is merging his business with another gentleman and things are looking really good. i am coming in on the ground floor of a new thing and if it all works out i will hold a very good position. The money isn't all that great right now, but if things take off I will be rewarded heavily. I'm a lot more focused and have a lot more respect for my boss. he actually pulled me aside the other day and complimented me on my work and said he was really happy to have me back. this is the same guy that fired me 6 years ago for my attitude. So it really meant a lot to me for him to say that to me. He's a hell of a boss and friend. He even bought me a new pair of Carhartt overalls.



I don't want to be one of those reformed anti-pot guys, but I do feel better without it. I don't have anything against marijuana, I just think at this point in my life I am better without it. On one hand it was doing good things for me, but on the other I think I took advantage of what it had to offer. I lost focus and allowed it to control me. It's good to be "free".

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fdd2blk said:

This section kind of scares me now.

I've calmed down and become so peaceful over the past 2 years. I don't know if I could survive in here these days. I'm clean and sober now so I have nothing to numb my mind. I think I'll just lurk awhile and have a cup of tea. I still miss you all though.

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desert dude said:

I am glad to hear you are doing well and enjoying life. Does this mean you are no longer a "guest" of the feds?

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fdd2blk said:

I am back at work at my previous welding job. the owner is merging his business with another gentleman and things are looking really good. i am coming in on the ground floor of a new thing and if it all works out i will hold a very good position. The money isn't all that great right now, but if things take off I will be rewarded heavily. I'm a lot more focused and have a lot more respect for my boss. he actually pulled me aside the other day and complimented me on my work and said he was really happy to have me back. this is the same guy that fired me 6 years ago for my attitude. So it really meant a lot to me for him to say that to me. He's a hell of a boss and friend. He even bought me a new pair of Carhartt overalls.

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It's kind of funny. I look back at my welding (and other work) history and all the bridges I've burned in the process.
Not literally, mind you...
except that one time where I was welding a stainless pipe to a galvanized roof of an enclosure.
Someone thought it was a wise idea to install the insulation underneath with plastic vapour barrier on it beforehand.
I'm finishing the weld, and look through the pipe to see if anything was on fire.
I see the little flaming drips going "zip...zip...zip...." towards the floor.
In a panic I shout something about "fire" and begin running down to the other end of the enclosure (about 25 feet long), jump down to another smaller one on the shop floor, do a 180, jump down through the doorway of the one I was just working on, run to the fire, jump on a ladder and begin frantically trying to put it out with my gloves while little flaming globs are splashing on my sweat covered face (therefore not burning me)...
I get it out just as a mohawked co-worker comes rushing in with this large extinguisher in his hand...
We look at each other and just start howling. It was a fuckin cirque du soleil performance.
And that's why it's always important to have someone on fire-watch...but private industry is always trying to cut corners. Go go go...

But like I said prior, different people different chemistry.
So how long before you're in management?

heckler73 said:

It's kind of funny. I look back at my welding (and other work) history and all the bridges I've burned in the process.
Not literally, mind you...
except that one time where I was welding a stainless pipe to a galvanized roof of an enclosure.
Someone thought it was a wise idea to install the insulation underneath with plastic vapour barrier on it beforehand.
I'm finishing the weld, and look through the pipe to see if anything was on fire.
I see the little flaming drips going "zip...zip...zip...." towards the floor.
In a panic I shout something about "fire" and begin running down to the other end of the enclosure (about 25 feet long), jump down to another smaller one on the shop floor, do a 180, jump down through the doorway of the one I was just working on, run to the fire, jump on a ladder and begin frantically trying to put it out with my gloves while little flaming globs are splashing on my sweat covered face (therefore not burning me)...
I get it out just as a mohawked co-worker comes rushing in with this large extinguisher in his hand...
We look at each other and just start howling. It was a fuckin cirque du soleil performance.
And that's why it's always important to have someone on fire-watch...but private industry is always trying to cut corners. Go go go...

But like I said prior, different people different chemistry.
So how long before you're in management?

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fdd2blk said:

Good times. lol

I hope to be a lead guy by this time next year.

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schuylaar said:

um, hmmm, how do i say this?..

could you end the big debate and tell us who the snitch was?

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fdd2blk said:

"Big debate?" I don't understand.

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MuyLocoNC said:

Glad to see you back.

Would you still have to have regular piss tests if you relocated to Washington or Colorado?

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fdd2blk said:

Thank you.

It's Federal so it goes with me everywhere.

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fdd2blk said:

"Big debate?" I don't understand.

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