Something Different

Brad White_81

the pilot- she was a recently retired USAF Major and had flow AC-130's in the first Gulf War. Qualified? You betcha.

Tony_23

New hire

Had to have a new helper as we start another Ultra tomorrow.

Hired a young woman who seems interested in "how things work". Ought to be interesting

Works piling up, four more months to heating season and fuel bills

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Al Letellier_9

new hire

Congrats, Tony. We need more of this in our industry. We need more young women in our trade. Hope is works out for you. This business isn't just for the guys anymore.

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jim lockard

teach her well

We need all the skilled trades people we can get in this country. Best Wishes J.Lockard

Tony_23

Did fine today

Got her dirty and she didn't mind a bit

She said she didn't realize how involved replacing a boiler is. I explained we hardly ever "just" change one, and how we always try to improve the system as a whole.

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John R. Hall

Kudos Tony

Get me in the loop -- I smell a possible story here.

jackchips_2

Would that be

Chanel #5, John?

Brad White_9

Some years ago (and almost appropos of nothing)

I was boarding a plane, small turbo-prop commuter run on a business trip. This was pre-9/11. The pilot was a woman. One male passenger started off on her, mildly at first, insinuating that a woman pilot concerned him. She ignored him with a smile. This bozo apparently did not take the hint and got louder.

I stated that she had wings and that was good enough for me. This guy really took offense at me for saying that, sort of a "butt out" comment. I calmly replied that it was my business in that he was interfering with my flight.

Thereupon a woman in the back came forward and said, "Sir, please take your seat or you will be escorted off the plane". That really set the guy off. Too bad for him. The woman in the back was a US Sky Marshal. He was escorted off the plane -in handcuffs. The pilot arranged for me to get a free round trip anywhere they flew. Flight was on time.

I guess my point is, use of one's head is paramount and knows no gender. Physical strength is secondary and can be dealt with using the proper tools.

In short, I applaud your apprentice and wish for both of you a long association and for her a fruitful career. I am impressed and gratified to see this.

Brad

Mark_46

Brad

Sounds like you were the beneficiary of your act of solidarity.

Meat heads like the one you described deserve to be taken away in handcuffs ).

Anna Conda

Best of luck to her. Good to hear of another sister in the trade. She's in for a fine ride in a rewarding career. This beats office politics in the secretarial pool, hands down *LOL*

Tony_23

Unfortunately,

She has plans for the fall semester at the local University. Has aspirations of (gasp) law school.

Nice thing is, she's my step-daughter, and anything I teach her I hope will come back to me in the form of future "summer help" availability. She IS interested.

We had a bit of a rough time for a while after I married her Mom, but I've a feeling I'll drop the "step" part in a while

Don't know how much "story" there is to this, just wanted to share.

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Brad White_81

Tony- You are doing the work of angels

I am in a similar situation, my Susan has two beautiful daughters, ages 5 and 10. What a handful they can be, emotions right on the surface. I never take it personally and take the long view and Susan and I are waiting for them to be comfortable before we make our plans public shall we say

But your story has such an encouraging ring to it that it really struck me, gives me great hope. And having a lawyer in the family is not a bad thing, really...

Plumdog_2

heck ya

I just started doing work for a woman GC; and she is turning out to be the sharpest one I have met (and that goes back 33 years). All the nuts and bolts; what makes the best job is more important than cost, and it is a real pleasure for a change.

Tony_23

Girls

This is my 1st time with handling a girl. Boys are MUCH easier, they can take the roughness sometimes needed much better Usually....

Time and patience. A steady hand they can count on. They will notice how you treat Mom and react accordingly. Then they will gauge how you treat them. They will know BEFORE you announce it, even to them. Kids are VERY perceptive. The biggest hurdle is having them understand you're not a threat. Something you can't tell them, they just figure it out.

Good luck

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Terry St.james

I worked

with a woman plumber in 1993. Thought I was going to have longs days. Turned out she could handle her own...she was also accepted by most. The best part besides being an excellent 3rd year...she brought calm to the job sites. Took away alot of the stress. A beautiful young lady that has left the hands on part...now she teaches it.

Dave Yates (PAH)

step-parenting is parenting of the first order

As a "step"-parent (maybe that's for stepping up to the challenges and recieving the awards that go with?), I can relate too. John was 8 when I asked him for his mother's hand in marriage(G). We sat in the kitchen and had a serious man-to-man talk. The step part is simply a title. The parenting part is the real title.

Last night, we got to baby-sit Lily while her parents (my 37-year-old "step"-son & wife) went out to celebrate their anniversary. Lily is adopted, so in a very real sense, the step-parenting cycle continues - with love.

Can't ask for a better reward as a parent than seeing the wheel turn a full circle.

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