Operating a Ram Truck, Again.

Named my truck, "MUD HOPPER" -- 2013 RAM 1500 Tradesmen 4x4. 

It is so good to be back operating my own pickup truck.  It has been 7 long years trying to operate a ranch without a truck.  That was not easy.  Trading in my Mazda 3 was a great decision.  I wasn't planning to do it.  Since I may need a second vehicle.  But using that car to travel to construction job sites for my clientele, or for the company I work for, took a large toll on the car's maintenance.  So trading it in was a good investment.  It did serve it's purpose well.

Sold?!  I was treated better at Cars Plus and approved. 

I was trying to purchase a 2006 Ram 1500 Mega Cab 4x4 from Auto Spot two weeks ago.  After turning in the needed paperwork, I was just waiting on approval.  I followed up with the sales person, almost daily.  Then last Tuesday, I learned that they sold the vehicle from under me.  I was more than upset.  I was so upset that as I drove past Cars Plus at their Maite Headquarters.  I turned around and pulled in.  I wasn't looking to buy a vehicle.  I just needed to cool off and walking the lot would do that.  Tom, the sales person, came out to greet me.  He forgot that we knew each other.  Tom is a good friend of Primo Ted, and occasionally hangs out with the boys at the Nelson Ranch in Guae.  I kept quiet about it.  My main reason was that I wanted to get the truck on my own without pulling strings.

Awesome Truck! 

Anyway, Tom talked to me about the safety aspects of the truck.  Which I enjoyed listening too.  Since I am a Site Safety and Health Officer.  My primary reason in getting the truck is to keep my family safe on the road.  I wanted my wife and children safe.  I needed a 4x4 to get in and out of construction sites, while at work or doing safety inspections for  my clientele, and to haul livestock, materials, and equipment for my ranch. 

It felt good taking the truck for a test drive through Tiyan, the old Naval Air Station.  The truck was very responsive, has good agility, and speed for a truck that size.  Back at the lot, we did some necessary financial paperwork. After leaving the lot, I did do a great amount of praying, as did my wife and children.  I expected a couple of days of waiting to get any word back to me regarding anything.  The next morning, I emailed in my necessary paperwork. 

To my surprise, I was approved that afternoon.  I received a call from Tom after lunch to come down and pick up my new truck.  What impressed me more, was after all the papers were signed.  Tom took his time to show me where everything was in the truck.  From the latch at the hood, the lights in the RamBox, the spare tire, the controls in the cab--from left to right, how to program my monitor menu, adjustments of the mirrors, and so much more.

Now, I've bought trucks and other vehicles before.  I have never been treated that way.  That was Awesome!  Almost all of the previous dealerships that I've done business with, just gave me the keys and told me to have fun with my new vehicle.  At Cars Plus, Tom took his time and showed me where everything is at, and how to operate each one.  He didn't do that just with the truck, but with the whole facility.  I got to see where the parts department was at, the customer's lounge area, the service area.  That's Awesome Customer Service.  I didn't have to open the operator's manual when I got home.  I eventually will in the next couple of days.

So if you're looking for a new or certified pre-owned vehicle.  I highly recommend seeing Tom Tanner at Cars Plus.  He didn't give me preferential treatment because I was one of the boys that hangs out at the Nelson Ranch in Guae.  He took the time to really show me how my truck works and how the staff at the facility will be able to help me in the future.

I own this Awesome Ram Truck on island! 

It is really amazing to be driving a 2013 Ram 1500 Tradesmen 4x4.  I named her, MUD HOPPER, after my Humvee in Desert Storm.  With that white glossy skin, I definitely will have to hop over mud puddles to keep her clean.  It has a Crew Cab which will be great for my kids to ride comfortably in and grow into, when they get here.  It is operator friendly so even my wife will be able to operate it too.  It has awesome safety features to protect me and my family.  Great bed size for hauling anything around.  It has a heavy duty hitch receiver, so that I may pull a trailer for additional hauling. Nice size Ram Boxes to put my tools and safety gear in.  Bed Extender for those extra long items that is just a bit to big for the bed.  Being a 4x4 truck, I can now go back to my old stomping grounds like Janum, Castro's beach, Lost Pond, Channel 10.  Where you do need a 4x4 truck to get in and out of.  If my truck was amphibious, I'd drive it to Cocos Island.  Maybe Ram Trucks will think about that for a future truck. 

SSHO: Collateral Duties and Inexperience

Collateral Duty

There is a reason why Site Safety and Health Officers (SSHO) are not to be doing physical work or doing collateral duties at the job site.  So there is no question of Conflict of Interest between production and safety.  It's really simple.  But we all know why you catch SSHO's wearing two hats.  It's because someone in the company decided that they can save money to have one person work two positions.  Now those two positions are either as a Superintendent or Quality Control Manager.  Now a Superintendent maybe a QC and vice versa.  But never a Superintendent and a SSHO. 

When a SSHO works a craft to help catchup production or to even help a worker out.  That SSHO puts himself and the rest of the crew in jeopardy.  What happens if the SSHO while working a physical task gets hurt?  He's out for days due to an injury that occurred doing physical activity.  That job stops until that SSHO returns to work or the company finds a replacement SSHO that meets the same credentials as the primary SSHO on that job.

When a SSHO wears two hats on the job site.  A conflict of interest will arise between production and safety.  A SSHO/Superintendent will sacrifice safety in order to meet deadlines.  It has happened before. There's a reason why the federal government wants the two positions separated.  I, myself, am currently seeing this happen with a SSHO that I know, working as a Superintendent/SSHO.

Yes, a SSHO may help to lend a hand.  But not help to keep production going.


Inexperience

We all have to start some where.  And, usually that somewhere is at the bottom of the ladder.  That's in every industry that you can possible work in, in the USA.  With that said, You can't expect to go to "SAFETY SCHOOL"  to become a Site Safety and Health Officer.  Construction Companies, Federal Agencies, or Military departments have their own requirements to become a SSHO with them. 

How can you identify a safety hazard, if you don't know what to look for? 

I'm not perfect, but I have kept my crew safe because I knew what to look for and how to correct the issue before someone gets hurt. 

Rained on, Soaked to the Bone.

Rain Squall behind me.  Already Soaked.

Got home about an hour ago.  I didn't realize that we would be working overtime today.  Someone forgot to tell me about that little bit of information.  At least the guys got the pipes in with the 3 valves and T-connection.  I would have been really upset if we all got soaking wet for nothing.  

We got rained on 5 times the whole afternoon.  The first one wasn't bad.  It was hot and the rain cooled us off.  I started getting  the chills after the 3 squall.  I was totally upset on the last rainfall at 1745.  It was getting dark and I was already miserable.  

Top it off, I was supposed to teach a class this evening at 1700.  I could not call the Operations Manager for my client company.  Since both my phones (personal and company) died out at the same time.  When the manual says battery lasts for 8 hours.  That's all you're going to get before it shuts down on you. 

As soon as I got home, still in my soaking but now dripping wet clothes.   I made the call to cancel class tonight.  There was no way to teach tonight with the chills and the onset of the fever coming on.  I'll have to make up the class on Saturday afternoon.  

I could have just left.  But there is no way that I'll do that.  As long as my crew is working, I'm there.  That's the life of a Site Safety & Health Officer--First in, Last out.  



Keep Smiling  
 

My new Polish AKMS

AKMS Folding Stock Deployed. 

Polish 7.62x39 AKMS with 2, 30 round magazines.

Brought my newest addition to my armory home Friday evening.  I finally acquired my Polish AKMS, an AK 47 variant.  I even bought a couple of boxes of ammo for it.   Excited to take it out to the range later this month, to put some rounds down range. 

The last time I fired an AK47 was back during Desert Storm.  My patrol had liberated a depot of weapons and ammunition in the Iraqi Desert.  It was fun shooting it all up, until we had to turn it in.  The only way to go home was to give up our new toys.  

SAIGA 7.62

At the gun shop this past December, I was actually looking to buy the Saiga 7.62.  I saw it on Saturday, went back on Tuesday with my money to purchase it.  Only to find out that after I left Saturday, someone came in after me and paid for it.  

My eye caught the AKMS on the wall, so I asked to see it.  It felt good in my hands as I handled it.  So I made the decision and downed it right there.  I didn't even look at the price, just downed it.  With the way things are going stateside regarding gun grabbing from law abiding citizens, I didn't want to take a chance not being able to have my own long rifle that will help defend my family and property, and provide food on the table during my hunts.  Oh yeah, when the Zombies come, I'll be prepared.  

Some of Many...adding more. 

My new acquisition brings my weapons inventory up to a comfortable level.  But I'll be looking to getting more weapons.  Not because I need it, Because it is my Right.   

My new AKMS is pretty cool.  I especially like the underfolding stock.  I'll be able to carry this in my vehicle at the ready when I go to the other ranch.  

Midnight Rush to the Hospital.

Frenfren being himself. 

Waking up this morning to a text message from Rhoda, brought to past one of my greatest fears. 

Frenfren going to the hospital is no big fanfare.  He's been in and out a couple of times.  So getting the text was not that alarming.  Until I read that he had convulsions/seizures, turning blue, foaming at the mouth, and high fever.  Reading what my boy was going through, got to me.  I did not know what to do.  

I immediately tried calling Rhoda.  For some reason, I could not get through to her cellphone.  As much as I wanted to jump on the next plane to get there...I couldn't do it.  I was helpless over a thousand miles away.  I couldn't hold my baby boy to comfort him.  All I could do was pray.  That was it.  That was all I could do. 

I called and sent out prayer requests through different mediums.  We need the prayer warriors from different churches to help us out.  Not knowing and not being able to do anything at that moment was the worst feeling to have.  

After what seemed like hours, I finally got a hold of Rhoda.  She filled me in on what happened.  Frenfren got up at midnight and told his uncle that he was having chills.  Soon thereafter he went into a seizure and started foaming at the mouth.  He had a high fever.  Rhoda turned him to his size and administered first aid.  They immediately left the house with their sleeping clothes on, and went to the hospital.  At one point, Frenfren didn't recognize his mommy. 

During our conversation, I learned that our baby boy was asleep and was given oxygen, and an I.V.  He was not allowed to eat until after he has lab work taken.   I suspected again that he may have something wrong with his stomach.  His lab work last week found no parasites in his intestinal track.  

I called Rhoda a couple more times.  During lunch, I talked to my Boboi.  He was awake and talking.   He recognized his mommy.  That was a great relief to Rhoda and I.  When I called, he asked to talk with me.  He told me he's okay and wanted food to eat.  Rhoda had gone home earlier to change clothes and brought back his batman action figure and back hoe toys for Frenfren to play with.    

Larraine didn't go to school.  She accompanied her brother to the hospital and stayed by his side.  Good thing the ward was empty, so they acquired the beds there.  

My last call this afternoon with Rhoda.  Frenfren still has a high fever.  The nurse gave him some meds through the I.V.  His doctor ordered lab work.  So it's just wait and see now.
 
 I appreciate and thank you all, who are praying for Frenfren.  Please continue to pray for him.  He's still not out of the woods yet. 

Right Hand Post Op Update

Didn't do much today.  Stayed home and relaxed my hand.  Woke up early this morning to excruciating pain.  It was around 0330 got up and took a percocet.  That helped.  Got knocked out and then woke up late...really late. 

I don't know why it's sore.  I didn't do much yesterday, been wearing my brace, and not doing anything physical with my hand.  But for some reason, I need to rest my hand.  So I'm one hand typing again.  Writing this post is not easy.  Have to go back to correct a misspelling every now and then.  

The picture above shows the volcano type scars are healing good.  Doc calls the scar tissue volcano because it rises above the surface of the skin.  It is still swollen, but it'll go down in a couple of weeks.  I'm hoping for a couple of days.  

Unable to do ranch work, just pasturing the goat buck on his lead is a chore.  Using my non-dominant hand to control him on the lead.  It's okay going from the pen to the paddock.  But from the paddock to the pen, the toro is trying to run back.  Holding back is not an option, as my left hand is strong but not that strong yet to hold back a 180 lb. buck.  My dominant right hand is of no use for a couple of months.  I'll figure it out.  

Good thing is that I can feel my finger tips again.  It's funny feeling a cup of hot coffee.  Haven't felt that in years.  The heat didn't bother me before, but now it does.  I can feel my trigger finger.  No guessing now on my trigger pull.  It's really sensitive now.  

It's all good.  


Keep Smiling.    

   

Jury Duty: Selection

For a long time, I despised being on jury duty.  I avoided it almost everytime my name came up.  Not only here, but also when I was in North Carolina.  I always got out on an excuse.  

Today, being on the Petite Jury.  I had to go in this morning as per my instructions last night during my call in.  The waiting was the hardest.  We reported in at 0900 but due to some court technicality.  At 1000, We were given a three hour lunch.  I took the time to call Rhoda to let her know what was going on.  Lunch was at Shirley's Restaurant. I didn't use up the whole 3 hours.  I went back at 1200.  

The waiting area is small for our group size and warm.  I don't think that there should be that many people in that small room.  But that's up to the Fire Marshal to enforce.  The only good thing was the WiFi gave out a good signal.   

At one point, we were heading down to the courtroom.  Only to be turned around at the bottom and told to return back up to the waiting room.  The system has to be better than how they're doing it now.  So up we went and back to sitting and waiting.  

After a long while, we were told to head back down to the courtroom.  Once inside, we were shown to our seats.  Yes, we sat down again and waited.  But this time, it got interesting.  A turn for the better.  We were all sworn in, then the judge introduced herself, the prosecutors got up and introduced themselves, and then it was the Defendant's side that introduced themselves to us.  

The judge gave a short civics class on the constitutionality of the defendant's right to a fair trial.  That caught my interests as she explained the process.  For the first time I was interested in serving as a juror.  I didn't want to leave after that.  But after the judge read the complaint.  I knew I could not serve honestly.  There were a series of questions that the judge asked and on each question we had to determine within ourselves if we could serve as jurors based on the facts to be presented by both the defense team and prosecuting team and instructions from the judge herself.  

Later, when it came time to stand before the judge, the defense lawyer, and prosecutor.  I went up and gave them my reason.  I was excused from serving on this trial.  It's okay.  They'll be other trials.