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Multiply announced they're focusing on eCommerce. We'll be able to download our blogs, pics, videos, and others or migrate them over. I may migrate over to Blogger...I have an account there. Read the yellow banner on top of your multiply page for more details. It's been fun y'all...time to do the great exodus again.

We're in the process of cleaning up Matua Ranch. Spent to much time down at the other ranch. I still go there to help out a bit. Now, I'm focusing on my ranch. Getting ready to order my own egg layers in September.

Traffic Work Zone Incident

Yesterday, students from my Cycle 2 class were working on their operator skills on 3 pieces of heavy equipment: Skid Steer, Backhoe, and mini excavator. It was a really hot and humid day. We were along the road, next to the campus, playing with a stockpile of dirt. Although, the students were done with my safety course for the day. I stayed back to act as the Site Safety, while the Heavy Equipment Instructor did some one-on-one instruction time with all the students with the mini-excavator.

At the same time, I went around the "job site" taking pictures of each student as they took turns practicing on each of the heavy equipment. All of them were having fun on the equipment or hanging out under the shade of the nunu tree patiently awaiting their turn.

While taking pictures of the current students on the backhoe and skid steer. Some of the students under the shade tree got my attention that a green tinted sedan ran over one of our traffic safety cones. The first thing I did was take a look where the cone was knocked over and made sure not one of my students was hit. Good thing it was just the cone.

The students pointed out the car, as it drove through the back gate of the campus, and parked in the Technology Buildings parking lot. I watched as the car parked and the driver exited the vehicle. A part of me wanted to jump on the mini-excavator, drive over to that car, and tear it to shreds. I had to settle with my imagination. I had to set the proper safety example to my students, remain cool, calm, and collected.

Everytime, I do work in a Traffic Work Zone. It never fails. Some idiot purposely hits the cones, barrels, or barriers. Back in the mid 1980's we used to put concrete in those traffic devices. We stopped because people who were hitting them were getting hurt running over our modified traffic devices. The Feds didn't want the contractors injuring Joe Public, even though he deserved it. Now, we have to protect them, the public, and our workers during roadway construction. I have no qualms with that. But the idiot drivers, should be fined and their vehicles impounded.

There was enough room for the driver to avoid the cone. There was no traffic from the opposite direction.

It's a beautiful Saturday Morning. Nice breeze coming from the Pacific.

Apprenticeship and Goals: Making that roadmap to succeed.

This evening, I deviated from the course material in Basic Rigging to talk to my class about goals. A lot of them were never taught on how to plan their goals. How to make a road map to succeed in their careers. So I took the time to show them. First off topic I hit tonight was the Apprenticeship Program. Like most in my class, I was misinformed and I parroted the misinformation to others. I once believed that attending classes at GCA Trades Academy meant that they were apprentices. I held that belief for a long time, until last Thursday. I prepping for my Basic Safety Class (T/TH) in the conference room. Then our Education Director comes in with one of my colleagues and starts showing him the Apprenticeship Program model. I learned a lot of what an Apprentice is and is not. An apprentice has to be hired by an employer and registered with a sponsor, enrolled in a school program, and learning skills from OJT's. All the classes that my students are learning at the academy will help them as they complete each level of their Related Crafts Instruction. Although, it sounded complicated it really was not. An apprentice has to be employed and then enrolled in a school. Once the apprentice graduates from the program. It does not stop there. They now have to study to take their Journeyman's exam to get certified in their chosen field. I basically showed my students that steps they need to become an apprentice. Then I worked with some on how to make a road map to succeed in their chosen trade. For those students who have chosed the safety field. I sat down with them and showed them exactly what safety classes they need to take in and in what order. There is so much misinformation floating around out there. My students needed to know the truth. ESTA

CHEAP: All for free coffee.

There has to be something wrong when you go to a grocery store just to drink their free coffee. Then you brag about it with your other cohorts, who do the same thing, loud enough for people passing by to over hear your conversation. Hanging out in the entrance aisle like nobody's business. Not a care in the world. Don't you rent an apartment upstairs? You're a renter, so you do have money. Or are you that downtrodden. No, you're just cheap. Not just any cheap. But penny pinching cheap. Just because they the grocery store provides that service to their customers. Does not mean you can abuse it. Just because you can does not mean you should. At least, ask one of the grocery store workers for a broom and mop, so you can sweep and mop up the entrance aisle. Earn that cup of coffee. Don't be cheap about it. Yes, I remember you. You used to come into my postal service store next door, and swipe the candy in the candy bowl that I left out for my clients. After 10 years, you have not changed! SMH ESTA

Don't ask me for referrals.

I don't understand some people. Why ask for referrals for a job, then you don't take the job when it's offered because it is to far from your house?! I went out of my way to help someone.. But it appears that they can't take the job because it is to far from their residence. It's not like they're going to have to walk to work. That person has an SUV. For crying out loud, if you can spend on the gas to fill up that truck. Then you could, should have taken the job. This island is not that big. We can get most anywhere on this island in an hour's drive. It's not like you live in a state and have to commute 100 miles to work twice a day. Listening to excuses from to far, out of the way, or whatever was exhausting. Just tell me the truth. You're to lazy to work in construction. Don't waste my time and the company's time. Oh, here's something since it's close to your house. McDonald's is looking for a part-time worker. You should fit just right in. Worthless piece of ......... ESTA

Why?

Earlier, I was looking in my freezer to cook something for lunch. I started pulling different packages of meat out and putting them on the table. Along with the meats, I was pulling bag, after bag, of plastic bags. There was more plastic bags then there were meats. I even found the bag of fish that my sister, Ris, gave me months ago. Last year, months ago. I thought that was eaten or thrown out. There is a bag of manahak that was under some ice. I'm gonna eat that tomorrow. Why, in the world, are grocery plastic bags being stored in the freezer?!

Collaboration didn't work. Focus is now back on Matua Ranch.

Malfunction deters safety course.

I was browsing my blog entries this evening. I didn't realize it has been awhile since I posted a blog. My time has been really busy the last couple of weeks with safety trainings. I had a class today to teach Forklift Safety. Everything went well during the classroom portion off the safety course. All five students took the written exam. They all passed. When we went into the Construction Lab of the Trades Facility to do the performance test. I got the forklift out of the warehouse with a nice sized load for the students to use. Brought the around forklift to the other side of the building. Got it set up. The first student to do the performance test was the only one who passed. Unfortunately, the forklift had a major malfunction. It ran out of fuel. So I was only able to observe one student to do enough to complete the performance test. I didn't have much choice but to reschedule the other students for a later date.

Learned this yesterday. MA108 College Algebra is required for welding students at GCC to get a certificate. Why??? What in the world is a welder going to use algebra in his craft for?

If you thought I was being to hard. Well you deserve it.

A couple of days ago, I was told that I was to hard on the last group of students who failed their safety exams. In that group of 6, only 1 passed. I did not teach this group. I only helped proctor the exam. So that day, after I was told that I was to hard on the students who failed. I reflected on it for some time. Yes, I was hard on the five who failed. They failed an open book exam. All the answers are in their handouts. How in the world do you do fail that? I thought it could have been a comprehension issue. Well for one student who got 25% wrong. Yes, maybe he may have comprehension issues. I'll lean towards the maybe, on that student. For the other four, they have no excuse. They answered more than 25% correctly. For one student who was looking over my shoulder as I corrected his paper. He jokingly said to his buddy, "Hahahaha, I failed". I glanced at him for a second and just shook my head. I do not think failing is a laughing matter. It may cost you your job. The other three guys were all smiles, like there was nothing wrong. One even commented, "It's okay...we'll take the retest". He even asked if they can take the retest right then and there. I don't know about you. But I get upset when I get a wrong answer on any of my exams. Yet, the only person upset among the six, was the only student that passed. He was upset for getting 4 questions wrong. There is something wrong, when the students taking the course, feel it is okay to fail the test, because they know, they will take a retest. I don't understand that concept. I get upset whenever our locals on island...When I say locals, I'm talking about Chamoru, Filipino, Chuukese, Yapese, Palauan, and others who live here and make Guahan their home...I get upset when they don't push themselves to be better than their past. I've heard all the excuses. "I'm a mason. Why do I need to learn safety?" "I'm a laborer. I don't need this." "I don't use computers, so I know I'll fail". "I didn't want to be here." "I don't have any construction experience. So I don't know." "What's the point of learning this? We're not going to do it." "I'm old school." There are much more that I have yet to write down. but you probably get the gist of what I'm getting at. I know these folks can do a lot better. I know they can. Some people reading this will probably think that I'm crazy. But I am sick and tired of seeing many locals get passed over by foreigners. I'm sick and tired of seeing locals doing hard menial labor while the foreigners are in management. Yes, it is their responsibility to better themselves. But as long as I am a Safety Instructor. I will kick your arse so many times to move you in the right direction. You're going to have to reach deep inside you to find that spark to motivate yourself to do better, than what you're doing now. I'm also sorry that you think that I was hard on you. IF you thought that was hard, You're a panty. That's not hard. My MATUA SCOUTS will tell you what hard is from me. Coming from a construction worker, that I was being hard. If you can take the time to think of how hard I was towards you, and complain to your supervisors or to the training coordinator on how hard I was towards you. YOU should have taken the same amount of time if not more to pay attention during the safety course. So you can PASS an OPEN BOOK EXAM!!! I can only guide a horse to water. I cannot force it to drink. Due to the retest issue, I've instructed my GCC safety students. They can only retest with the next cycle or whenever the department head schedules the retest but not less than 1 week from the previous test.

Awkward way to run a company.

Months ago, I entered into a private contract with a company here on Guahan. Actually, it was with the owner of the company and not the company itself. I figured it was the same thing. Later on, I learned it was not the same but separate from the company. I did not understand the big deal of having a private contract between the me and the owner. When I am actually contracted to provide safety consultations for his company. That contract didn't last long. There were provisions in there that only allowed me to conduct certain safety trainings and not others. When I first wrote that contract up, it was before I became a authorized trainer to teach the USACE EM 385-1-1, 16 and 40 hour courses. I was asked to present a new contract proposal to him. Which I did. This time, I made sure that the contract gave me the advantage and not the other way around. When I submitted the contract via my lawyer friend to his lawyer. We were told several times that it was to many demands and expensive. That I needed to lower it down some more. I refused and held fast. All the fees were below island average. The owner refused the contract. Which I was glad. Now, weeks later...He has his secretary asking me to submit a proposal for a project. I am desperately needed as a Safety Officer, according to them. I am doing a lot right now, especially with safety trainings. So I am good to go. What is awkward is the secrecy behind this whole thing. Not one manager in that company knows of the first contract and the new proposal. It was between me and the owner. Why hire the managers if you don't trust them? It just don't make sense. It's gonna cause miscommunication later down the road. ESTA...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY NEN!

Wishing my wife, Rhoda, A Happy 4th Anniversary. It's been a fun and challenging adventure these past four years. I'm so glad to share each moment with her. I should have known we would be on a wild ride during our marriage. Especially, when we decided to spend our honeymoon doing White Water Rafting on the Kagayan River. I'm pretty sure all marriages are like ours. Just like the Kagayan river, marriage has it's classes of difficulties, from Class 1 calm meandering waterway to a Class 6, a raging waterfall. It's getting through those obstacles or rapids together in the rubberized raft with close friends to help you steer through or around those rapids on the river of life. We conquered each rapid as we paddled through on the river. A lot of times it was just a class 1, meandering current taking us downstream. Along the way, we've had numerous bigger rapids. The Class 2 and 3's we kind of handled ourselves. The bigger rapids, the 4's, 5's, and sometimes 6's, we depended on Jesus to guide us around or even through each one safely. Marriage, like white water river rafting, is a team effort. Yeah, you could run the river on a kayak by yourself. It is a lot more fun going down a river with a partner, in this case my wife. It's more fun when we have our close family and friends with us. Either in the same raft or on other rafts, next to ours. Along the way, people who we considered our friends have jumped ship or beached their raft. Leaving us to paddle the raft ourselves or continue on our river journey alone. Those friends were left on the bank of the river as we continued to paddle our way downstream. Sooner or later, we were able to meet new friends along the banks who jumped in our raft, to give us a hand. On every river expedition, you still need to have a guide. On our adventure on our river of life, Jesus is our guide. Everytime, we encountered a class 5 or 6 rapid, or even thought of a 4 as a 5. We called on our guide to advise us on how to steer our raft. Many times, He would say, Be Still. And we did. We rode out the rapid putting our faith in Him. When we didn't listen, our raft overturned dunking us into the river. Rhoda and I learned quickly not to overturn the raft. These last 4 years has been an amazing adventure. I am so glad to be sharing it with Rhoda. It's not an easy journey. Especially, that we have a long distance marriage. You can only imagine how many class 5 and 6 rapids we conquered with the help of Jesus, guiding us. Technology has certainly made it easy, not that easy, but easy, mind you. We chat almost daily, sometimes texting, emails, or calling each other. Unlike the days of the snail mail of the 80's and early 90's. I'm looking forward to more high adventures with Rhoda and our children.

I LOVE YOU NEN. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Our honeymoon adventure on the honeymoon raft. It's good to enjoy your river trip with close friends and family with you in the raft. The ladies cooling off under the waterfalls. Rhoda, Mele, Alex, and Rizza. Each stop along the river's edge brings its rewards. We went from two to three. Then three to four. We're praying to get more, naturally from within us to add to our own. I want 12. Keep Smiling

I must have punched the headboard the other night. Wrist is really sore moving it laterally, up, and down. Have to look for my wrist brace tomorrow. Glad I didn't break it.

Frenfren's Chicken

I thought giving our son Frenfren a chicken to take care of, was a great idea. Even though he is only 2 years old, he really enjoys helping out and feeding the chickens. He started off watching the new day old baby chicks as the men in the compound built cages for them. The chicks actually belong to the property caretaker, where we stay at. In return for helping him, my brother-in-law was given some chicks to raise. As the weeks turned into months, Frenfren would help with the morning chores feeding the chicks. He would get so concerned with the chicks and their feed. He didn't think they were getting enough to eat. So he'll go back in the house and get the leftovers in the refrigerator and feed the chicks, the family's food or breakfast for that morning. When the kids were getting ready to go to the family's province. Frenfren decided that since he will not be home to feed his chicken, he will bring his chicken with him on vacation. So the chicken, our two kids, and their Uncle Ronald rode the 5+hour long bus all the way to Butuan City. When Rhoda first told me that our boy took his chicken with him on vacation. I thought, ok...that's a little bit weird. It's okay. I never thought that that chicken would find it's way back home to CDO. The sensible approach would be to leave the chicken at the family compound. No, not my son, Frenfren, he decided again, that the chicken will go back with him. He can be very persuasive.. That chicken made it's way back to the family home in CDO. That's the only chicken that I know of, that rode a bus round trip and not end up inside a pot. That chicken is no longer livestock. It's become a pet. Keep Smiling

Raising up our Children.

A couple weeks ago, my family had eaten spaghetti cooked by a close family friend, Dolly. It must have been really good because my son, Frenfren, picked that dish over his mommy's spaghetti dish. Everytime they ask him, if Dolly's spaghetti is good. Frenfren would say, yes. When asked which spaghetti dish is better, his mommy's or Dolly's. Fren would reply, Ate Dolly. The other day, Rhoda tried again asking Frenfren, which spaghetti dish he liked...her's or Ate Dolly. Frenfren replied, Ate Dolly. Rhoda replied back, "Aiii...bad". Frenz said, "Mommy, I'm not bad. I'm only telling the truth". ROFLOL!!! I could not help but laugh at Rhoda's account to me of that day. I have to admit, We raised our children up really good. The other night. Rhoda was invited to a monthly celebration close to her church. When she told her brother that they are going there for dinner. Frenfren hurriedly stood up and said, "Wow good food again, let's go papa Bebot". He calls his uncle/nino (godfather), papa. ROFL... Larraine does the same thing. She speaks her mind and tells the truth. Sometimes, her timing is really off when she does, especially when she just speaks her mind. But what can we do. We taught her to tell the truth, always. Now were trying to teach her about discretion. Its no easy. I'm really proud of Rhoda for raising our children up without me there. Larraine and Frenz are very well behaved for their age. I have to commend her for doing a great job. Keep Smiling.

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