Friday, June 29, 2007
Openings and Closings
| Today was the last time I have to teach the Lightline/Industrial Area Driving Safety class at work. After teaching it 22 times in the past 5 weeks, it got old, FAST. Combie that withe the act that we were given a "new and revised" course with MANY errors in it and you begin to understand my joy at being DONE with it. Since I was teaching it so many times in a row, I was assigned to "find the errors in the course." Within a week I had a 3 page document describing why 23 of the 25 questions on the test had problems, including 3 questions that could not be answered because the correct answer was not among the given choices, and 2 question where the "correct" answer was not correct. Three days later I had produced a 5 page document listing all the errors in the PowerPoint presentation. Of course the fact there were errors in the course meant little to the people in charge as I was directed to continue using it and to "make it work." All I can say at this point is: not my problem anymore. Earlier this week I also taught my last Corrosion Control class (pause for applause). I have called for a 2 month ban on any corrosion related terminology. If anyone says "Cathode" or "Anode" or the word "Galvanic" to me, I'm going to kick them in the knee very hard. I'd like to add the word "Electrolyte" to the list, but sadly, I am still going through PowerAde like crazy at work since I sweat off a pound or two a day in my Speaking of the heat. After Brian more or less challenged me in his comment to yesterday's post, I simply couldn't back down. Since Brian and I are fraternity brothers, he knows exactly how to motivate me. It's the classic fraternity brother challenge. Step 1) insult their manhood (the calls of "tease"). Step 2) Repeated chants of encouragement ("Push-it"). You may have seen or heard this in other contexts like this: "Drink up, you sissy! Drink it! DRINK IT! DRIINNNK!!!!" or the classic: "Eat it! Eat It! Eat It!" Ahh... I miss college. But anyway. Having been summarily insulted and forced to "step up" I returned to work with a mission: Crack Open the Cabinet. Because I taught the "Lock Out/Tag Out" course a few weeks back I knew that opening an electrical device could be dangerous. The fact that were was no lock out or tag out device on the cabinet did not soothe my fears. Also the fact I have never actually locked or tagged anything didn't help. I went to get Glenn. Glenn has the awesome camera, and Glenn also has a background in electronics. Plus if something went wrong, Glenn would get electrocuted instead of me. We waited for classes to end and for the boss to leave for the day then scurried downstairs. I pointed out the cabinet in question and Glenn calmly informed me it had to do with the heating and cooling system. So I was right! But I still had to see what was inside.  But then Glenn informed me there was another cabinet, with two switches! Giggling like wild jackals we ran around the corner to the CBT lab to find:   Click the picture to zoom in. With two switches on the outside it must be at least twice as complex inside, right?  I have 3 more classes to go, and 4 more days working on the base, and then I am D-O-N-E! I wish I could say I am going to savor these last few days. But I won't. Bring on the beach! Bring on real barbecue! Bring on a new job, new challenges, and normal working hours! Bring on classrooms without magic cabinets that keep the temperature at 80+ degrees!  |
