Favoritism,Unions and The Smell of B.S.

This is the part of the blog where I get angry at work,put my foot in my mouth and spend a few months explaining to co-workers that I wasn't in fact bitching about them.Watermen,Seaman,Merchant Marines,whatever you call them they have been around for a very long time.The major companies have been around for a very long time and so have the Unions.I'm not necessarily for or against Unions.I am however against favoritism which the Unions don't even try to hide.The current company I work for is a typical old school Southern non union company,a dieing trend in this industry.Given the current economic situation in the world I decided last year to spruce up my resume and see what was out there.Yeah I know,great timing numb nuts.Leave it to me to pick the worst time to try and switch companies.So I decided to look into unionized companies.I made some calls,I mailed some resumes,I even banged on a few doors.What it all boiled down to is that I wasn't born into the industry,I had no relatives in the union and they had hundreds of capable men waiting in the union halls for very few jobs.So why would they still try to convince me to pay dues?Why would they tell me they could help me if I helped them.I actually went to a union hall which on a good day is a sketchy place.Over fifty men showed up at 7am for what turned out to be 3 jobs.Guess who got the jobs,some guys who weren't even there.Explain that to me!This leads me back to let's call it a completely fictitious story.

So I know this guy who has worked on the water his entire life.He decided to tamper with a random urine test and got caught.The company then decided to hire him a lawyer free of charge.He ended up getting a light suspension,one year,and is working on the water making the same pay as an advisor.Somebody want to explain to me how this is fair?Well it's not but it is a non union company that can hire or fire anyone for any reason at anytime with no explanation.AMERICA!That's the deal I guess,it smells like B.S. to me but it pays the bills.I wouldn't say it's the worst thing I have seen happen.A non union company can have favorites just like a union does.That's how it works in today's world and I have come to terms with it.It's all in who you know and what have you done for me lately.Will it ever change?I think it will,I'm almost positive it will only get worse.So what am I going to do.I'm going to do what my dad always told me to do,"keep your nose clean son".

A Perfect Day

yes it's a Chevy,I know

2011 Yankees

100 mph fastball by the one and only Mariano Rivera

The old saying,when it's good it's great,has been stuck in my head over the last few weeks.My highly anticipated,by me,trip to Maryland to watch the Yankees play went as the saying goes.More on this part of the last few weeks in a moment.Let's flip the script for a second,when it's bad it only gets worse.I have been on the look out for a used small 4 wheel drive truck for the last few months.I have done my research and I have test driven,drove,whatever,way to many trucks.I found a few that I liked but wasn't willing to pay what they were asking,so I kept looking.I took a drive 80 miles north and found a vehicle that I settled for,first mistake.It's a nice truck,with a powerful motor,4 wheel drive bla bla bla.The key was it was in my price range and everything SEEMED to be in good working order so I bought it.The next day I took it up the road to have it checked out,yes after I purchased it.My father is reading this and now wants to slap me.I never do stupid crap with my money,EVER.So the short of it,1600 dollars worth of repairs,300 reimbursed from dealer so I'm out 1300 and change.The vehicle that was in my price range quickly went out of my price range.So I got the truck back the day I came back to work and literally have not driven it but for 7 miles.All I know is that damn truck better be solid as a rock and do what I need it to do.It's my first Chevrolet so you can see how this isn't a great start but I'm willing to give it a try still.So what about when it's good it's great.

The short trip to Maryland has been in the works for over a month so there wasn't much that would keep me from it,including the rapture.The truck of doom wasn't repaired in time for the trip so a last minute call had me packing up the Ford Ranger that I love and will never betray again.I arrived in Maryland in time to help move some concrete around at one of Swamp Thing friends house.It's one of those help me with this and I will take you hunting later this year.I usually jump on these opportunities as we both did this one.After a few hours of sledgehammer swinging and wheelbarrows full of concrete we retreated for the night.The next day had us up early dropping Swampy little one off and us on the road to the Eastern Shore,I think.I get a bit confused but I know we stopped by Havre de Grace and then to Elk Neck Sate Forrest,I think.A little noon time fishing,with great results and then on to the great event,the Yankees game.At this point I should let you all know,I have been to a few major league games and hundreds of minor league games.Never have I had the seats we had at this Yankees vs. Orioles game.The only way to describe it is awesome.Great view,courteous employees,decent baseball fans,just decent though,it was Baltimore not New York.After 15 innings of baseball,yes 15,the Yankees won,no matter how ugly it was.A long day for sure,followed by another early wake up call so i could get on the road and get home.Upon returning home I retrieved the Chevrolet and went back to work.Like a charm everything worked out.Now I sit here pondering how to invest my money in a 401k.Yeah somewhere along the line I started thinking about the future,I'm still dealing with it.

Nottoway River Finally

I finally made it out to fish The Nottoway River/Swamp a few days ago and it was a blast.Let's start this off with,I bought a new used truck,with 4 wheel drive.The next day I set out with my old truck,2 wheel drive,and ended up at the wrong boat ramp because I stink with directions.It's not so bad,I ended up at a ramp on the correct body of water.The "ramp" was more like a ravine cut into the hillside and I really could have used my new truck and it's 4 wheel drive.Oh well I out the old ranger to the test and it did fine actually,a bit scary though.I met some great older folks out fishing for panfish and catfish.The fishing was good,I caught about a dozen panfish and one bass.Having never been to that River I consider it a good day.I even found a completely legal duck blind tucked into the swamp,quite odd in an area that is overrun by deer hunters.I almost lost the lower unit off my outboard on a random log three inches below the surface in the middle of the River.I'm hoping to get out one more time before I go back to work but I'm cutting it close.I will just let the pictures do the talking.Enjoy the weather while you can and GET OUTSIDE!

A Quick Word or Two

It's been rather hectic at work the last few weeks.It seems like everytime I turn around we are heading out on another run.The time is passing quickly so I haven't had much time to catch up or even think about making many plans this Summer or Fall.One of the good things about being on this run in the Chesapeake Bay is I have an actual schedule which pleases me.So I started thinking last week,I have fished just about everywhere in Virginia for just about every kind of fish.This leads me to believe it's time to expand my horizons.For some reason borders scare me,like I'm going into another country where I stick out because of the way I dress or talk.I can't get it in my head that,it's still America and I do in fact belong anywhere inside it's borders.That being said,I'm trying to get a plan together for later this Summer to,Smoky Mountain National Park and it's surrounding area.The plan is still in it's infancy,but I have wanted to do this for quite some time.The other idea floating around in my head is Nebraska/South Dakota.You may ask why,well because one day I want to retire out there,away from all the BS that people bring into the world and in the bird hunting capital of this country as far as I'm concerned.So there it is,I'm off the boat next week and going to continue my search for a truck and maybe watch a baseball game,GO YANKEES!