centerpointEx [Archive] - Lineman Forums

CenterPointEX

01-25-2005, 11:13 PM

L.A. I Got that all took care of... I got a little bed n breakfast staked out up on a hill overlooking the pacific... on being perverted er um I mean converted... It has its pros n con's... back at the light company I had 5 weeks of vacation, sick time, free tools, top notch equipment to work with, n I showed up at the same place for twenty years... The down side was they owned my a$$, I pretty much lived by thier whims. I got to go to my corner for free time ever once in a while but for the most part they owned my a$$.
The up side of tramping if you will is... let me see ... what do you call it...
Oh yea ... FREEDOM. Ifn ya don't like the man, drag n find a new gig... anywhere ya want. Need a vacation... save you pennies n drag. Ya I miss the rain days cabbed up playing poker n gettin paid. But ifn I stayed at the Light Company it would have been a long time before I got to see CAlifornia.. I'm thinking about a gig in Alaska a fella told me about next. It's like I get to go hang out in Alaska and get paid big money while I'm there... How cool is that? When I do that gig the boys want to come up n hang out a while in the summer. I'm gettin giddy... only three wake ups n a ride to the airport...

CenterPointEX

01-25-2005, 11:41 PM

Oh ya the cost of living... gas is 1.85, A big cup of starbucks is 1.80 just like it is in Houston... but the kicker is a modest four bed house is half a million... Folks are gettin interest only loans an praying the market goes up instead of down lest they be smoked liak a samon. Put that in your pipe n smoke it stockholders...

LostArt

01-26-2005, 06:21 AM

Heh. Yeah, there is some freedom to being a converted rat, I suppose. The boss did that for over 20 yrs, hasn't seen the world yet, but he doesn't seem to be interested in flying or driving. He use to drive hundreds of miles a day. It got old. And for 12 yrs that was all he did being a supervisor. Being a super for a contractor ain't all thrills. You are a certified grunt and a bonafied whine listener. On the phone all day, get home, and on the phone til bedtime.

Now at the utility, he goes in, does what he is suppose to do. Comes home, kicks back in the recliner, grabs the remote, and you know what? That phone rarely rings now. I guess it's all in how you look at it.

But, now I can travel some. If he ain't goin', I'm goin' without him. I went to San Diego last September and loved the dry weather. Daughter asks if I'd like to go to Hawaii next. Uummmm................let me think about that........
Oh duh.

Where is the Bed and Breakfast located? There were a few in Carlsbad. Nice there on the beach.

CenterPointEX

01-26-2005, 09:45 PM

It's a private party L.A., you caint come...
I figured that's why ya wanted directions.?
We got rained us out again,... Quack! Will I ever get a full week in?
Allan Reese died. I was gonna try to make it back to Alief, but it would have cost me the wife's flight out here n my last min flight back n missing a days work all toll it would cost me a grand so I reckon thats one of the disadvantages of trampin. Life back home goes on without ya. My last post put another song in my head L.A.
"Freedom's just another word for.. nutin else to loose.. Nothing.. ain't worth nutin... but its free----=."
JR, Tell Robert it's everything he hoped n dreamed of

LostArt

01-26-2005, 10:33 PM

Okay! It's a private party! Heh. Smarty britches.

Janis Joplin. Nice choice. After your private party remark, I've thought of a tune......"One is the loneliest number that you'll ever be. Two, is just as bad as one, but the loneliest number is the number one...."

Sorry to hear of your loss EX.

LostArt

01-26-2005, 10:45 PM

A pic I took in California last September near Oceanside. Do these lines look familar? Heh. How about that old Drive-in Theater screen? Now how old do you feel with memories like that? :D

CenterPointEX

01-27-2005, 11:06 PM

Is that a working drive in? It's been many moons since I been to a drive up picture show. You got me pegged lady, yur not the first one to dub me "smarty britches". Ventura if ya gotta know. I been thru oceanside but I ain't worked there ... Yet.
One of the guysdrug up yesterday, n headed back to Nevada, n one from vegas took his place, said the casinos were gettin the best of him so he hadda leave. The fella that drug was either old and he looked young or he was young n looked old, couldn't tell which. This trade does that to ya. It makes the body old fast but the heart never makes it past pueberty. It's almost like a bunchof kids with a box of... um I cain't member what ya call them things. The green n red sticks that stuck in round blocks of wood with holes in em... It wern't lincoln logs or leggos, what was them other things?

LostArt

01-27-2005, 11:29 PM

Green and red sticks? I can think of the pix stix. Or those monkey things. But, I'm not sure what sticks you are talking about EX. The games my brothers and I played mostly were with cards. We could play Crazy8, Rummy and War for hours. I remember once that my brothers and I were playing Rummy at the dinning room table. Our father was a quiet man, rarely spoke unless he needed to say something. But, always had a mischievious glint in his eye. Teasing glistening eyes, so much they sparkled. Anyway, one of us turned up the Jack of Diamonds. My dad...........out of the blue (and he NEVER SANG) started singing, "Jack of Diamonds, jack of diamonds, jack of diamonds I cry! If a tree don't fall on me I'll live til I die!" He looked at our faces and I'm sure we were in awe/shock and our jaws dropped, threw back his head and laughed. Over the years, and now that he is gone, that memory has always been ingrained in my mind.

We must be pretty close to the same age EX. Age is only a state of mind. Tomorrow my mind might be in an aged state. Heh.

Hang in there, tomorrow is only a day away. And then the private party begins. Don't forget either bubbly.

barehander

01-28-2005, 07:21 AM

I just put mine up so I can go to work......

BPUman

01-28-2005, 03:51 PM

That's hilarious! I remember Tinkertoys, but this says "Electric" Tinkertoy on the tube!

Linemen are just kids that never grew up, still playing with their electric tinkertoys... :D

LostArt

01-28-2005, 04:00 PM

BH, I think you guys are OLDER than me! I barely remember the lincoln logs. We had an older cousin that had those. But, I don't even remember anything like that Electric TinkerToy.

We did have those metal things you put together. And even my kids had the Legos. I just remember HotWheels and marbles mostly. And the Clackers drove my mom crazy! :D

Madonna

01-28-2005, 05:35 PM

I called Tim a few weeks ago. We were trying to get him to come to San Diego to work with SDG&E. He's on a 1 1/2 year contract for certified Abestos Removal in LA. Says the pay is great and he has tons of OT.

Madonna

CenterPointEX

01-30-2005, 11:13 PM

Bingo! Naked Finger... tinker toy's is what I was thinkin about. I believe I seen em around a few years ago, made of plastic instead of wood. Seems like kids don't want real stuff anymore... they is all into virtual Tink toys n stuff of that nature. Anyhow I got a call from Tim outa the blue. I'm gonna try n hook up on that job when the books clear a little so a fella can move.
MMMMMM. ohhh Ahhhh... It was just like I remembered... but even better. Absence does make the heart grow fonder. N wit the ole Lady it's like wine... better wit time. I first seen her when she was 13 at the Great Skate, n she wuz bouncin around on skates to "Hot Rod Lincoln" When she wuz 15 a mutual friend Ilene Lorente came across the floor at the Round Up Rodeo in Simington Texas n tole me I need to go ask her to dance cause she was crazy about me. I looked over that way N gazed into them big blue eyes, n... well life ain't been the same ever since. I think that was about 1978. Oh things ain't always been easy, but somehow we made it. Folks always ask me how we dun it... stayed togather that long.
I answer "see this sh!t eatin grin?"... For a guy, the secret is develope a taste for the stuff n smile when take a bite... pretend it's not such a bad thing. After a while it really don't bother ya much...learnt that from watchin her mamaw n papaw...
We spent a couple of days on Venice beach, I'm here to tell ya there's a differant kinda crowd there. We stayed at the Venice Suites. The Manager there is Randy it was his 50th B-Day. He took good care of us, even invited us to his pary on the roof. The place is right on the beach. We stayed in a one bedroom with a livin romm n a kitchenette, N a reall cool patio on the roof of the place. WWW.Venicesuites.com. When he was showin me around we ran into Butch on the roof, Butch pointed at my westco's n said "Ugg I cain't get away from em... lineman that is"... He wuz from Jersey, waitin out the strike on the west coast... He said he coulda made the same money in Mass. but... dang it's cold up there... N besides he has a fetish for Blaze Orange wit green trim ala Crinkle n Destroy.... Sweet dreams... I know I'm gonna have one!

LostArt

01-31-2005, 06:37 AM

Wow. We even got romance and ............stuff in this blog. How wonderful.
Well, at least you had a nice relaxing weekend EX. This is good.

I'll leave you with a funny true story. Many years ago, and the boss worked out of town, he was gone ......oh ....probably around 3 weeks or more. He was coming home and I was beside myself with excitement. I was going to make his homecoming special. Called my sister-in-law and told her to keep the kids. I put candles in every room and made his favorite dish, and ran to got get ready..........slip on sumptin' more comfortable, ya know.

Meanwhile, the husband is in his truck with his supervisor....

His boss says, "Are you sure it's no problem to keep me up for the night son? I mean it has been weeks since you have seen the lil' lady?" My husband, the real young and "BRIGHT" one says, "Sure. You know she likes you. No problem."

No problem......

And I see the lights to the truck and I can't wait for him to see my "comfortable" outfit, you see. So, I go storming out, with my best smile....get to the truck door and my husband is trying to get his coat out and ...........put it on me??? What is this?? Then under the coat I hear his boss chuckling and saying, "Uh..........I think I need to go and get a hotel room, eh son?" My husband said, "Uh..........take my truck."

Me??? I think I was as red as my comfortable outfit. EGADS!

That's what is so great about being married so long, you have all that .....stuff to talk about over the years. Some good, some bad, and some that is so funny, it just makes the heart grow fonder, eh?

Time for me to head to work. I'll wait for ...."As the Blog Turns" tomorrow. Heh.

CenterPointEX

02-01-2005, 06:21 AM

Candles... I hadn't thought of that. Actually I had, but I forgot... Happens to me sometimes, maybe more often than not. But candles in every room would have been grand. I reckon he'll never forgit the look on your face... I'd liked to seen it. It's funny the shape folks faces take in times of spiritual chagrin? Well they took the new kid from our crew an put him over where they needed a fresh set of hooks, n traded us the Wizard for him. Guess why they call him Wizard?

LostArt

02-01-2005, 06:30 AM

I'll bite EX. Why is he called the Wizard? Working majic with a set of irons?

CenterPointEX

02-01-2005, 10:44 PM

He's kinda off in Oz most of the time. That was suppozed to been a rhetorical question. Anyhow there are still 70 Lineman in the hole on the books, so we all bein kinda good, cause it's not a good time to get laid off n that sort of thing. The 24 thousand dollar question is will we make six days this week... ain't happened since I been here, wit MLK n the flood n the mud n all. Wife is startin to ask questions about the money I'm supposed to be makin here.

" Ok we been talkin n it's killin us so we got ta ask ya... Why ya always comin in here barefoot? I said it's cause ya got some big boots or something n ya don't want put em on till the last minute." The gal who serves up my Viente cup of Starbucks each morning with 3 honeys n a smile, gazed at me wit questioning puppy eyes...

Don't tell anyone but Oz is one of my favorite places to be...

CenterPointEX

02-03-2005, 11:47 PM

I was giving you clues... so ya could guess... but yer not playin. Anyhow religion... um that term bothers me. One can do anything religiously. One could for example come to PWL.com everyday religiously. One could face mecca three times a day n spout a cantation, or for that matter pray to a rock four times a day. Can a rock save us... don't discount that so quickly. Anyhow these things are religious an therefor possibley construed religion. Is it possible to be sincere and be sincerly wrong? If someone has perfect faith that a rock will give them knowledge so they don't go to school, I'd place money on it that they would remain uneducated. Will praying to mecca get one to heaven? How does one get to heaven? I have posed that question to many of varied religions. Invaraibly they "answer I don't know exactly but I think if ya try to live a good life n do more good than evil... your in." To which I reply "how can one know when thier good outweighs their bad?" In the answer to this question... therein lies salvation. For the guys that flew 911 planes it was thier only way in. Thier bad so far outweighed thier good they had to take the only available path left... going out in Jihad an act of Holy War guaronteed them a place in Heaven... "Sincerely Wrong"
"Sola Scriptura"= "The Word Alone"
It is the only source of divine revelation. The Bible is true and without error.
"Sola Gratia" = "Grace Alone"
Grace is receiving what we don't deserve. Because we are sinners we don't deserve Heaven. There is nothing we can do to earn it. But by God's grace a way has been made for us to receive eternal life in Heaven
"Faith Alone" Understanding that we are sinners deserving eternal judgement, and that Christ, God our Father's only Son has taken that judgement upon himself in our stead, that if we live in thru him we may share in him eternal life.
Martin Luther read the Bible N tried to convince the priests that everyone should be able to do that. The Catholic church tried to silence him... Told him that if the word was in the hands of the people... how could they any longer control them?

Peter confessed who Jesus was n Jesus said "and you are Peter (Petra, Rock) n upon this rock I will build my Church. " He was speaking not of a rock, or of Peter, but of the confession that Jesus is Christ, Son of God, one with the Father n Spirit.

Thus I ask... can a Rock save you?

3\4 German and 1/4 Mexican.. Folks look at me funny when I tell em I'm a Mexican... For that matter they look at me funny when I tell em I'm an LCMS Lutheran Usually they are speechless

Quote:

LostArt

02-04-2005, 04:16 PM

Well, I ain't gonna get into Christianity or Religion EX. I've learned enough from the past to know not to go far with it. Plus, I was banned on a Christian site about 3 yrs ago. But, I will tell you it was most definitely a learning experience. And it was a voyage I don't regret.

Swamprat

02-04-2005, 10:48 PM

"I was banned on a Christian site about 3 yrs ago. But, I will tell you it was most definitely a learning experience."

I bet it WAS a "Learning experience". I ain't never been "banned", even be'in the a$$hole I am!.....Course, I don't frequent Christain sites...

I don't EVEN want to know LA.

I don't talk religion either Mam. Politics is bad enough...

CenterPointEX

02-04-2005, 11:46 PM

LA van der blue... dilly dilly
LA van der green....
If I were king dilly dilly
You'd be my " Orange"

Orange ya glad ya don't gotta worry about things like Heaven n Hell... Just right now is all that matters. CAuse ya see we are all jus one big cosmic accident n jus like we came to pass we'll cum to pass... N yesterday will cease to exist cause there won't be anymore tomorrows. There will be none left to wonder...
What was the Point?... Center?
Not!

They inseprable WaterBug Cause they both righteously claim the people.

Righteous= Knowing n doing whats right according to God's Word.

Self Righteous= knowing n doing whats right according to one's self

LostArt

02-05-2005, 07:47 AM

I don't EVEN want to know LA.

I don't talk religion either Mam. Politics is bad enough...

Yeah, you would wanna know this Swamp. Let's just say I was defending a Christian artist that does nudes. Yep, it's true. Making a statement for the art world can also become controversal. Especially if those two worlds collide.

LA van der blue... dilly dilly
LA van der green....
If I were king dilly dilly
You'd be my " Orange"

Did you make that up EX? :D I'm still trying to get where that came from.

And did you mean the "play" on those dem words about the Coming? Uh....interesting. :D

CenterPointEX

02-05-2005, 10:23 PM

Dem (Democratic) Words... is that a Clinton thing?
" Oh where have you been Billy boy, Billy Boy
Oh where have you been Charm Silly
I have been to seek a wife she's the joy of my life
She's a young girl n cannot leave her Mother"

"Cum on N.O.W! ... a play on words me?" "Women's Libbers... I Luv em... "

The standing lineman were down to 46 on Friday... they must a put on some crews somewhere. The Wizzard got shipped to another yard somewhere downtown... Rio Hondo maybe. Dunno, Furball did'nt have the heart to fire him so he dumped him on another Foreman... I finally dune it...made a six day week, I'll get to see a real check. My little 33 hr check the first week was bigger than a 60 back home though.

CenterPointEX

02-06-2005, 12:09 AM

Teddy Bear's Picnic soundtrack... circa 1971 Thats where the ditty's came from

CenterPointEX

02-06-2005, 10:21 PM

Moving showup from Saticoy to Canoga on Tuesday. They callin for rain on Monday... dang... it never rains in california. Pat's win no boob's... well at least no uncovered ones. Hope ya had a grand day enjoyin the super bowl wit your family Mr. Bilski. Mine's 1476 miles away. Ya think one day maybe I'll quit bein pissed about that? Went to Grace Lutheran Church in Ventura today...Prayed that I'd forgive n forget. Lord forgive me my trespasses just as I forgive those who trespass against me?
... Dang! Why'd I have to pray sumtin as condemming as that?

CenterPointEX

02-07-2005, 11:35 PM

Sweet pea n his wife had irreconcilable differances... he drug up... they said he smelled bad anyhow... Dunno... I never got that close? I got rid of my TV 6 or 7 years ago cause I was a junkie... This crowd I'm hangin wit now has me hooked on "Lost" n "24"... Help!

Swamprat

02-08-2005, 09:38 PM

"Yeah, you would wanna know this Swamp. Let's just say I was defending a Christian artist that does nudes. Yep, it's true. Making a statement for the art world can also become controversal. Especially if those two worlds collide."

Those 2 worlds do and will always collide LA. Always.
That's why I don't get involved in religious stuff. I read Mr. CenterPoint's Profile.

God Bless ya man....
We don't need to be talkin to each other.

You carry your load, I'll carry mine.

CenterPointEX

02-08-2005, 11:16 PM

Got off a little early n went to watch the sunset on ventura beach... Awesome..
When I see a Line truck, I know someone intelligent made that sucker... It didn't just happen. When I see the sunset... Wow!
I guess this a lame duck thread. I didn't know time was so short. Life turns out that way. Everyone knows inherrantly about the true God... For some the cost of faith is too great.... "self will" "subjection of it"... "bondage of the will" is a cruel master. We are hungry for a perfect realationship. He who starves at a table richly set does so by his own will...

Swamprat

02-09-2005, 10:30 PM

"For some the cost of faith is too great....

"self will" "subjection of it"... "bondage of the will" is a cruel master. We are hungry for a perfect realationship. He who starves at a tabe richly set does so by his own will..."

So, dude...nowhere in your profile does it say anything bout ya doin Linework.

Are you a Lineman or a preacher? I ain't got nothin against preachers, but...if you're a lineman...I wouldn't want to be on your crew.

"self will" "subjection of it"... "bondage of the will" is a cruel master."

Damn man...you're "deep". You're right though...takin care of yourself and figurin out where ya stand in life IS a bitch.

Like I said...you're too deep for me man....

"Got off a little early n went to watch the sunset on ventura beach... Awesome..
When I see a Line truck, I know someone intelligent made that sucker... It didn't just happen. When I see the sunset... Wow!
I guess this a lame duck thread. I didn't know time was so short. Life turns out that way."

Honestly man....you sound like you're smokin some GOOD weed.

So...are you really a Lineman?

CenterPointEX

02-09-2005, 11:40 PM

Let's see riverbug... I once clumb up a pole n bumbed my head on a xfmr... Does that qualify me as a lineman? I can do the egg climb in 19secs, I can do the hurtman consistantly under a minute, 54secs was my best time. I been to Kansas twice with differant teams. Finished 12th n 14th. When It blows in Sugarland I know where to trim the trees, N which urd xfmrs to isolate out a the water, when the load gets outa hand I know better than the board what circuits to move it to. I can smell a fuse on a urd terminal pole n pretty much tell what took it out. Like any of that does meany good in california. I can splain how a xfmr works in tech or in linemanease. My shoulders are saggin n my knee's are like jelly, when I wake up in the morning my fingers are numb. All I can remember about Christmas is it was cold n wet n Denny's was too crowded to sit n wait for meal. "Which Christmas?" you ask... pretty much all of em since 1984. I remember when it was kosher to make a grunt understand if he didn't follow command he wouldn't be around long enough to hurt himself or someone else. I've heard "I heard the explosion it was over that way... what was it an xfmr?" more often that I've heard politicions tell a lie. I can pick your boogers with a scope stick fifty feet away. But all these things I count as dung compared to what is waiting for me at the end of this journey.
It is my prayer swampdude that some day you might also know the joy that is in me. That you might walk sans the burden squeasing the life from your soul.

Local 47 on tuesday no left over calls n sitton on 48 lineman
Darrel had a spat with his superiours... N didn't get laid off... didn't get fired... Um... he got released.. Worked for LC a couple of days n they made him foreman with the orange, green, n yellow boys. Imagine That?

CenterPointEX

02-10-2005, 11:45 PM

80% chance of rain tomorrow in the place it never rains...dang... Got my first 6 day check... Nice... Had a 40yr old grunt today, he's trying to break into the trade, been at it a month... slapsticks kicked his arse before he got started. It can be done I reckon but I wouldn't want to do it... I'm praying for ya swamprat.. n you too Bud I ain't forgot. Let me know when Ya've had enough, we'll talk terms.

Local 47 Thursday 44 in the hole... 9 went out today.

Swamprat

02-11-2005, 08:59 PM

"I'm praying for ya swamprat.. "

Thank you sir, I probably need it. But I like to think the Big Guy and I have come to terms.

I appreciate any other words to help support that.

LostArt

02-11-2005, 09:22 PM

Bless that 40 yr old grunts heart. I'm betting he ain't the underdog yet.

I know. I think positive. What is wrong with that? I pull for Swamprat most of the time.......

CenterPointEX

02-12-2005, 12:24 AM

You guessed it... rained out again.
"Back at home... a young wife waits.... her Green Beret... has met his fate... he has jumped n died this day... he was one... of the Green Beret"
Barry Saddler circa 1969.
I was pissed when Vietnam ended...It ended a couple of years before I was old enough to join. I grew up watching it on TV wit Walter Cronkite doing the daily body count... I wanted to go over there n kick some commie arse... We won by the way... It wasn't a battle over territory, but over idiology. We were defending a way of life... goverment of the people,by the people, for the people. The enemy was the godless form of government espoused by the USSR. It was a battle worthy of the blood of our forefathers. The people of Vietnam had the unfortunate honor of being the turf upon which two souls collided. When the day was over and night came soul searching began. The next morning our cause enabled us to stand again n walk with purpose. The USSR on the other hand no longer had the will to defend an albatros. They spit on some of ya when ya came back, but in my eyes you were and always will be heroes... defenders of the life we proudly call American...
Welcome home boys... carry on... Godspeed!

Local 47 Friday 56 Lineman in the hole

CenterPointEX

02-12-2005, 11:43 PM

Got my Baurista to go outside n do a cartwheel with me. Splained to her that life always changes after a cartwheel. The look on her face when we went feet up was priceless. Cousin Rich n his gal didn't know what to make of it... but they were smiling just like everybody else in OZ... Do BAurista's n thier customers really do cartwheels? "Whats a Baurista?"... thats what they call the folks who serve coffee at StarBucks... Wish I'da bought some of thier stock when I first got hooked on the stuff. I'm a genuine card carryin Starbuckian... The rain held off n we did the double time dance... woo hoo. Trixie been lettin me drive the last couple of days... I played hell gettin a tool from him... said he was daydreamin... said his back hurt... I accused him of being mezmorized from staring at my butt. Told him about Jimmy Garcia having that problem. Jimmy always let me know when I looked good. Trixie accused me of maybe having something to do with Jim... Jim's dead n I'm alive... Jimmy died of Aids about ten years ago... He was a good lineman n a good guy... cept for the gay part... we talked about that towards the end. Even in the throngs of death he couldn't bring himself to consider faith because it meant recanting the lifestyle.
Is it possible to be sincere n be sincerely wrong?

LostArt

02-13-2005, 06:49 AM

"Let's go fly a kite....." ---From Mary Poppins

Cartwheels are good. Flying kites with the kids in the neighborhood is better. I don't know what it is about having one that has the kids come running, but they will. Kinda fun actually. And the more colorful the kite the better.

"Dancing in the rain is good for the soul.
But, I'll wait til April showers when it ain't so cold."

CenterPointEX

02-14-2005, 11:58 PM

Ugg they are calling for three days of rain... then D.W.P. is off Sat n Mon for presidents Day... but guess what? They ain't off at all for Easter... L.A.D.W.P. don't believe in God holidays... they don't want to offend anyone... Don't the folks in California understand that they teeter on the edge of fallin in the Pacific? N they want to splap God in the face by observing MLK day N Presidents day but outlaw Good friday n Easter... It would be a shame if someone had to explain the holiday to their kids. Swanprat is worried about our guns bein taken away... When they take our Bibles then the end won't be far away... Is it possible that this country will turn back to its roots and return to bein a Christian nation? Swamp you can attack the messanger all you want. The nation Isreal killed most of the messangers that called them to repentance in order to avert their demise... GodSpeed Ladies n Genleman

Saline

02-15-2005, 12:31 AM

Hi,

Thanks for cutting in there Swamprat, for a while I thought this was turning out to be a two way thread.

Hey, LA you're just like my bird, there a song in every word. It's a battle trying to say anything without it being finnished with a line or two from some golden oldie from the fifties or sixties. I must say those were the best years to be young.

Stay alive and keep the note rolling, this is the latest addition to my garden.

LostArt

02-15-2005, 06:25 AM

My mom use to do it also. I grew up hearing her records. You know, those 45's and 33's? My favorite has to be Tom Dooley. "Hang down your head Tom Dooley, hang down your head and cry. Hang down your head Tom Dooley, oh boy your bound to die."

Nice garden Al! I love the stone and rocks buddy. Husband won't let me do the bird bath thing anymore now that we left home. And I use to have a a couple of fountains. I love hearing the water run and listening to birds chirping. Where we are now, you don't have to lure them in. They run wild here. Kinda nice. Except for the salamanders. The boss said it is salamanders instead of moles diggin' up the yard.

EX, we as a nation, have come to the point where we can't "offend" anyone. All I see is folks sittin' on a fence.

CenterPointEX

02-15-2005, 10:19 PM

Quote: LostArt "EX, we as a nation, have come to the point where we can't "offend" anyone. All I see is folks sittin' on a fence."[/QUOTE]

That's funny... Only in a Christian Nation is that possible... Ya see in nations that are not Christian, folks don't have the right not to be offended. Ya have to deal with and submit to the them wit the biggest sticks. Be it Stalin, Arrafat, or Sadman H. . That we have freedom of will, or the right to "life, liberty, n the pursuit of happiness" is a testimony of our forefathers to their faith in the God of Abraham, Issiac, n Jacob... our Lord Jesus Christ n His Holy Spirit which dwells in us. They asked Jesus, "Which is the greatest commandment?" He replied, " Love God with all ur heart, soul, n mind... n love ur neighbor as yerself. Upon these hang the rest of the commandments."
When America's morals\laws cease to be grounded in Judeo\Christian moorings, America won't be able to reproduce itself as it has for the last two hundred years. Daily as I read the newspaper I hear groanings from the infrastructial stress of a nation adrift in the quagmire of self righteousness.

The 40yr old grunt was sent down the road... a native kid came in the revolving door. Trixie has a new tradition... when we finish a pole he tops the bucket out n burns one... just like the Marlboro Man... Talked to Darrel today he did'nt seem real thrilled about bein on D.W.P. property... but what's a fella to do?... there was 64 standing journeymen at local 47 today...2-15-05 The Canadians n F.E. Boys are wintering here...

Swamprat

02-15-2005, 11:09 PM

"That we have freedom of will, or the right to "life, liberty, n the pursuit of happiness" is a testimony of our forefathers to their faith in the God of Abraham, Issiac, n Jacob... our Lord Jesus Christ n His Holy Spirit which dwells in us."

Be that as it may, and not sayin I don't agree with ya,

But,...Nowdays, ya better have faith in your OWN SELF too, and YOUR direction on the road of this life we are livin.

"The lord helps those that help themselves".

Terriorists believe in Their God too. So Centerman,
...does that make it "Their God against Our God"?

My personal belief. There's only one God. Supreme Being...whatever ya want to call the "Big Guy"

It's organized Religion that's fcukin up the whole concept of the Big Guy.

I mean, really....Is he givin different "rules" to Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus?

I don't THINK so. He gave 10 Commandments. Period. They're real straight forward, and they're for ALL of humanity. Pick your religion.

He didn't say nothin about beatin your head on the ground 5 times a day, or treatin cows as sacred. The Big guy gave 10 rules. Religions "incorporated" all this other BS to...."attract followers". Organized Religion is THE problem in our world today.

The 10 Commandments are real easy to understand. I don't care what religion you are. They are the foundation of my life.

I was raised Catholic. I eat what I want to on Friday. Meat or Fish. Fish on Friday...is "organized religion". Ain't got nothin to do with God, or his wishes or the 10 commandments.

Ya either "get it" or ya don't.

I don't like talkin about religious beliefs, but your little "richious" post....just sorta....let me post my richious post.

God bless ya man.

CenterPointEX

02-17-2005, 12:23 AM

ShallowRodent... Your blood is the epitomy of that which courses thru the veins of the American circulatory system. Our blood runs Luke warm..." I desire that you were either hot or cold, but you are lukewarm n putrid to the taste, so you are spit out." J.C. We are schitzo... on the one hand we lift up the righteous, loving, champion of justace n freedom we call America... N on the other hand we not only tolerate, but we champion also evil as outlined in the last five verses of Romans Chapter One... O.K. class time to dust off those Bibles so ya won't be left out in the cold... The Koran, The Book of Morman, and the Bible are mutually exclusive... if any one of them is truth, then the other two cannot be... the are unreconcilable. Swamp... what does one have to do to get to heaven? Are you gonna make it there?

The rain held off... The Rodeo Queen got to perform pole top rescue at safety meeting for the masses. Met the legendary L.C. he brought me the phone N J.R. was on the other end. He said if me n Donald was speed demons C.A. was backin up... I said, "Yup... theys 65 linemen backed up today at Local 47.

Swamprat

02-17-2005, 09:56 AM

"ShallowRodent... " Heh, heh, heh,... I Like that. :-) :-)

"Swamp... what does one have to do to get to heaven? Are you gonna make it there?"

Sure! I may not be on the first bus of 144,000, but I'll make the next ride!

technic

02-17-2005, 01:00 PM

[QUOTE=Swamprat,...Nowdays, ya better have faith in your OWN SELF too, and YOUR direction on the road of this life we are livin.

"The lord helps those that help themselves".

Terriorists believe in Their God too. So Centerman,
...does that make it "Their God against Our God"?

My personal belief. There's only one God. Supreme Being...whatever ya want to call the "Big Guy"

It's organized Religion that's fcukin up the whole concept of the Big Guy.

He gave 10 Commandments. Period. They're real straight forward, and they're for ALL of humanity.

He didn't say nothin about beatin your head on the ground 5 times a day, or treatin cows as sacred. The Big guy gave 10 rules. Religions "incorporated" all this other BS to...."attract followers". Organized Religion is THE problem in our world today.

The 10 Commandments are real easy to understand. I don't care what religion you are. They are the foundation of my life.

Ya either "get it" or ya don't.
[/QUOTE

Right On Swamp!!

You might as well be debating with one of those cypress knees.
The fanatics are always right.... Point, Batts, will never waver.

BPUman

02-17-2005, 01:28 PM

Well, I guess that means all the rest of us are 'moderates'...funny :D Sometimes I think I have more things in common with both CenterPointEX and Steve and less in common with all the others in the middle, considering I go to church AND despise Bush... :rolleyes: But hey, I do love an icy cold draft...

BPUman

02-17-2005, 01:29 PM

LostArt

02-17-2005, 04:47 PM

Beer, that is...not wind.

LMAO! Heh.

Swamp, you know good and well you will be on the slow bus.

I kinda always liked what my daddy said, "Actions speak louder than words." Which coincides with, "You shouldn't have to blow your own horn, people see what you do." He always meant that the Big Guy was watching also.

Reminds me of another song EX:

"I'm a picker, I'm a grinner, I'm a lover and I'm a sinner. Play my music in the sun!"

Swamprat

02-17-2005, 06:20 PM

""I'm a picker, I'm a grinner, I'm a lover and I'm a sinner. Play my music in the sun!"

I'm a smoker, I'm a toker, I'm a midnight joker....get my lovin on the run...."

THAT's why I'm on the second bus. :-)

I ain't sure I'd take back them younger days though. The 60's were pretty cool. Course I was a democrat then. The world was a "lotis blossem". :-)

LostArt

02-17-2005, 06:36 PM

"Sykadelic man. Dig it dude." ;-) ;-) Lava lamps, flower power, tye dye t-shirts, Hendrix, women's lib...........

The 70's were mine. Not too much different from the 60's, but we did take rock n roll to another level. That is, until the disco duck crew came in. What was up with dat???? I think I was the only one that thought Travolta retarded! LOL! 'Course now he is pretty cool. Heh.

Hang Ten, bellbottoms, colored beads, chokers, Mini-maxi-midi skirts, mood rings, 8tracks, Mork and Mindy, "Nahnoo-Nahnoo", Archie Bunker, .........."...those were the days!"

woody

02-17-2005, 09:26 PM

woody

02-17-2005, 09:32 PM

and I'm near the man that did all those things...steve miller lives around here. woody

CenterPointEX

02-17-2005, 10:17 PM

Beer, that is...not wind.

Wow what a concept... Beer that is not wind ;... Lineman that is not hot air ...God that is not love... Martin Luther was a windy, drafty fellow... some folks accuse him of being a drunk. There was, in not too distant history a time in which commoners were not allowed to posses a copy of the scriptures. Just before Martin n the reformation. Let me think... what did they call it ...er... um... oh yea, medieval er ah Mid Evil... Martin being a good Catholic boy held to all of traditon taught to him. He strove to be the Catholic's Catholic. The more he tried to abide by their rules, the more he came up short... But then, in his studies he came upon the book of Romans. N he beheld the passage," The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus." This went against all of traditon he had been taught. He began to question his superiors.. "Hey guys, have you seen this? It's free... we don't have to work or pay for it! Why don't the people know about this?"
N they tried to silence young Martin "If ya tell the folks that, we won't be able to control them anymore... then where will we get the money to fund our church n build our cathedrials?" So Martin bein a good German left the church, translated the Bible into the the common language, n started havin Keg Parties where they talked about God n life.. n linework not.
Folks took notes that exist still today in a collection called "Table Talks" ... Man what I'd give to have a drink.
Which reminds me of another song L.A. ...
"I like beer... it makes me a jolly good fellow... I like beer... it helps me unwind and somtimes it makes me feel mellow... makes him feel Mmmmelllloooow."

CenterPointEX

02-17-2005, 10:25 PM

Drink beer and talk religon or about general life or politics or linework. geez guess I'm not gonna be back here...don't have any sheep either...worked around em once and found them to be filthy and dirty. woody

My man Jesus is a sheppard of sorts Woodster... I reckon I'm guilty... of bein a sheep that is.

Thursday Local 47 is down to 37 standin Lineman either they is buggin out or work is pickin up.

Swamprat

02-17-2005, 10:46 PM

ya know centerman,

You and bup boy need to get together and set up a "Religious" thread.
That way you can seperate your discusion, where only the "faithful" will post.
bup seems to like your thinkin.

"psychological achillies hell and poking it wit my proverbial finger."

Well, it's spelled heAl man... and "wit" is with...

And, you just might want to pull your proverbial finger out of your butt, and stick it in your mouth, instead of pokin it at other people.

Just ....for a "proverbial" finger for ya. Startin from the thumb..."count 3".

CenterPointEX

02-17-2005, 10:53 PM

ya know centerman,

You and bup boy need to get together and set up a "Religious" thread.
That way you can seperate your discusion.

Um... did ya happen to notice the title of this thread fur mud sucker.
N it's resident forum.. I'll give a hint... heavy on the BoVine Excreament AKA B.s.
Man... he plays inta ma hands bettern any of em. I kin count on it Eh L.A. L.M.A.O.

How many times have ya tried clickin on the link to my website in my profile Swamp? Do rats really chase "there tales"...? Strike that... reverse it... then proceed to square one...
"It's like De Ja vu all over again" Tommy Ladorda

Swamprat

02-17-2005, 11:21 PM

"Um... did ya happen to notice the title of this thread fur mud sucker."

Yeah.

It's your handle. So?

This ain't you're "Blog" man. This is a Chat forum on Powerlineman.com.

Sorry you thought all your "Blog work" might have been lost.....when ya were bitchin on that ...other site.

Well, check it out....All your sh!t is still here. I heard you were gettin tired of "loosin your Blog" and may not come back to PL.com...

BTW...a Blog, is something you create yourself. Ya don't do a "Blog" off of somebody elses Forum.

Continue with your "blog" centerman...........

CenterPointEX

02-18-2005, 02:51 PM

"psychological achillies hell and poking it wit my proverbial finger."
Well, it's spelled heAl man... and "wit" is with....
Swamp pulled that out of my profile.

Some have accused me of being a word smith.. I prefer the term "Communicalical Butcher" I often coin words; Case in Point, for communicadical sake. If ya wanna match "wits" remember the early bird really isn't "concerned wit" how much sleep the worm gets. On occasion I spell saudways for effect, to break cadence N make the mind N the heart linger on a phrase to drive home the CentralPoint. You may someday learn that for back water cheese eaters more often than not the best response is no response. You said once you were glad not to be on my crew. Your ability to succumb is uncanny Swamp... I dare say each day your crew is giddy with anticipation of the forthcomming fingering. I do gotta hand it to ya though Swamp... touche on the "three count"
Welcome the the thead dude... your own personal, virtual, proverbial, "Hell"

Which as always brings to mind another song L.A.
"You can check out any time you like... but you can never leave"

We got rained out again today... yesterday we woulda, but we did a complicated cut&kick before lunch, when it started rainin we couldn't leave it so we got a full day in.
Friday Local 47 dispatched 16 Lineman left only 27 on the books.
"Tune next time.. same "Batts" time, Same friendly Web Log...A.K.A CPXBlog

LostArt

02-18-2005, 04:30 PM

Okay, I got lost somewhere with the pokin' fingers and hells own fury, not to mention bringing in the sheeves. Too much utter chaos.

I like this blog and don't really care whose it is.

Eagles. Good choice EX.

So Woody, how is Steve Miller?

".....keep on ah rockin' me baby... keep on ah rockin' me baaaby.........baby, baby, baby!"

Swamprat

02-18-2005, 10:53 PM

"Some have accused me of being a word smith.. I prefer the term "Communicalical Butcher" I often coin words;"

Yeah, you're the next William F. Buckley man. :-) Yo got a long way to go...

I "coin words too". "Crims" was my latest.

Chrome Rims.

" Swamp pulled that out of my profile."

Yup, put my rubber glove on and "Went up and got it"!! :-)

Ya know, on second thought...It would be grins to work with you on a crew.

Swamprat

02-18-2005, 11:13 PM

Oh...Ok...I get it CP.
No man, I actually never noticed your "website" under your profile. http://www.powerlineman.com/lforum/showthread.php?t=31

Cool! So THAT's a Blog, huh? Direct people to your comments on somebody elses BBS.

Actually, I thought a Blog was when a person had their own website, and broadcast their opinions and retoric from that site. Like...the Drudge Report is a "Blog".

Hay, 'live and learn".

CenterPointEX

02-19-2005, 10:54 PM

Wouldn't ya know it... we gotta be off today for Presidents N it went N rained all day... I tink I really am gettin a web foot...<--- that statement has dual conotations Swamp... If yer readin this ya must be just as bored Sh*tless as I "is"... N ifn yer Clinton fans I reckon that depends on what the meaning of "is" is? Furrball called n they may send us out to Edison Property in the morning on storm. D.W.P. will probably have a harry agin ifn we do. I really don't understand that, D.W.P. must have a bigger cache of Lineman than Edison, in that they don't use contractors for storm like Edison does. Anybody know what up with that? Is there any local 47 brothers listening in?
It's cummin Reliant boys... they started the experiment with the St. Light Dept. to see if they could control the work n not get screwed n keep the public happy... It's working... One of the light Co. paper pushers cum out on a job we was on N brought us some pizza cause we had done so well on the timeline of a job. They couldn't believe how fast we got it done. Ya cain't compete wit guys that don't use sticks on 19...N ain't got no vacation or sick time. He said the Light Co. was contimplatin gettin rid of some more hands N takin slack with Contract like they doin out here in California. Only problem I see is they ain't payin market price... All the 66 hands is out here where they kin make a livin N not get road hard n put up wet doin it.
Maybe ya can ask him for me Ron... I'm thinkin from the way he was actin that Hanzelka had prior knowledge. I was walkin down the dock n he went down n around the trucks not to walk by me... Did they poll the headlineman or sumtin beforehand lookin for marks... I still ain't got a straight answer how all that went down. Probably never will. How bout some of you friggin foreman... any of you lap dogs got the balls to come off the truth? Harvey? ,,, Talked to Hillick... he's workin at a Church... N talkin like a Christian... Imagine that?
I know...I know Ron... ya believe in freedom from religion... n are probably relishin yer freedom from the likes of Hillick... N myself... I'm thinkin I got me a captive audience?

Swamprat

02-19-2005, 11:04 PM

LostArt

02-19-2005, 11:15 PM

"that statement has dual conotations Swamp... If yer readin this ya must be just as bored Sh*tless as I "is"... "

No, not really man,...at all.
You're doin your "Blog". I just happened to get caught up in it.

You go ahead and talk to your "boys" CP.... I was just passin thru your "blog"...

"God bless ya".

Heh, heh, heh. You two are crackin' me up! Swamp, you said "gettin caught up in it" like you were one of Dorothy's side kicks. Ummm.........now what reason would you be going to see the Wizzard for? (I'm teasing you!)

Yeah, I got the Webfooted blog remark EX. Me wonders WHY "I" would get that(maybe because I called you that in your first bloggin' chapter????!!!) Soon you will be waddlin' buddy. But, just don't miss that boat now, ya hear?

CenterPointEX

02-21-2005, 09:25 PM

Damn...I finally got a crack at some... Cal storm work that is... D.W.P stiffs ifn your listenin, cut us some slack. Ifn yer gonna hold us for two n send us home... at least realease us to go work storm somewhere else. Whada ya think we is your exclusive yard dogs. There ifn ya need us, but tied to the fence If'n ya don't?... Ran ita Big Ed from C.P. also Ralph O, N Bubba from NHPL... Bubba said Uncla Earl asked what it'd take to keep him... Bubba pretty much told him a hysterectamy. The ligt company had an abortion n the bleedin's gonna take a while to heal.. Houston is kind of a messy place for lineman to be thease days. Darrel missed it, he had went home for he long weekend , did he tighten up yer ole lady Bud? I hear F.E. is gettin close to resolution in Jersey. It'll make things a little different when dem Birds flock home N leave this place. Went out Sunday n got in late monday... Some of the boys were headed out for another 32. We gonna have to get all these Texas boys togather one weekend n do a hoe down or Turkey Skinnin somewhere. It's been rainin since thrusday. Edison sent me n Trixie out to catch trash order ligh's out.. Trouble shootin for Ed. right up my alley...Trixie was so punch drunk he couldn't keep it on the green line n tellin stories about some JY saronadin him n complainin about how this state is overrun wit TExan's n Canadian's. Sure would like ta have me one of them ConEd rain suits..It'd almost be worth it ta hire on there n then drag jus ta get one of em. There is such a thing as straigt 480 from a 277 480 Pot. Ya ground a leg to chek Votlt.s Sutin about a firecraker.

woody

02-22-2005, 09:17 PM

hey word man...If your gonna quote somebody at least get it right"feels like deja vu all over again" Tommy Lasorda...NOT...it's YOGI BERRA. Also wanna be green beret; barry sadler never sang for you or anyone else other than those that were at that time green berets. Conflicting comments to pull others in or hopefully out of your reach. Save yourself before helping others, like how you talk down to others in this thread...serves well in your shallow thinking? Hey l.a. steve is doing good, does a few gigs locally when he wants...has a nice spread on the san juan islands. woody

CenterPointEX

02-23-2005, 02:50 AM

Barry put out an Album...His pic was on the front cover. There is an album hangin on the wall in Nashville at the bar on the corner next to the old opery house ifn ya wanna check it out...I been singing that song over thirty years now. N Ifn ya member right Woodster I didn't quote Tommy Lasorda... I quoted Tommy Ladorda... Ya might not know Ladorda, but I do. I'm kinda thinkin; but I don't really know, he was related to them der Delegals..
Ta quote our friend Swamp.."Are you a lineman" Woodster?... Ifn ya are, ya know as well as I do ya jus dont talk to linemen like ya do other folks... most of the time ya gotta hit em in the head wit a roll of tape or sumtin ta git there attention. They's too busy bird doggin ifn there's any to be done... I cain't save my self Woodster, nobody kin... Ifn a fella could save hisself, then what the sheppard done woulda not been necessary. That's what I been tryin to bang thru yer cockamamie head... If ya was within reach I could bang a Bible on it ta git yer attention. Not that it would do any good. Ta return evil fo good is Satanic. Ta return good fer good is human... Ta return good fer evil is Divine... Like I said before... I reckon I'm guilty... of bein a sheep that is... ya know em Woodster, ya worked around em before... Lineman... sheep... same differance, both piss where ever they feel like it...

Dem DWP stiffs musta heard me... they let us work trouble today... they got there moneys worth outta us though... got my webbed footed arse soaked... DWP puts bandaids on it in dis situation... Contractors don't have that option... Welcome back to Hell Tree Stump.. I taught ya wern't cummin back hear no more... Sumtin about freedom from from religion... N linework..
To qoute an ole friend of mine... one a Dem Delagals related ta Dem der Ladordas... "Doink!" Swamp nose... ask em?

LostArt

02-23-2005, 06:10 AM

Dem dar Da Legals come all away from the Revelutionary War I have you know EX. Yep, a pile of Frenchmen. Kinda all watered down now though.

Woody, I'm glad to know Steve is well. I was a teenager listening to his music. My brother's name is Billy Joe. Can you guess which song got the most miles?????? :D

CenterPointEX

02-25-2005, 12:15 AM

Local 47 had 11 standin calls left over today . There was a bunch of guys on book one but I reckon there skippers. There was some on DWP prop N some listed as 5- 8's Nobody really wants ether less they's hungry.
We got a little more done today than yesterday. Yesterday me N Trix was so punch drunk with hangovers from the 54 hrs of OT in 3 days we didn't know which way was up... thats real impotent when ya workin a hot pole... The Kid got wind of what was goin down at the hall N drug for greener pasture... California is at 35 inches of Rain N they are callin for rain next week agin...
Hey if you are headed this way from local 66 hit me with a private message. I need a package from Houston. The way it's goin they's gotta be one of you smucks headed this way soon, N last one out turn out the lights and light a candle for Red Simpson. Space City deserves them cowboys... Thanks for the warnin about Bilski Ron... by that time it was already too late... Don't feel guilty Bubbie cause I know there is a God n he's got a plan for me. He ain't brought me this far to let me down. Evil dudes like Bilski come N go, but God never changes... Do me a favor N say a prayer for Bilski would ya.. so's I won't be the Lone Ranger. To return good for evil is divine...

CenterPointEX

02-25-2005, 11:31 PM

Local 47 9 calls left over

They had a Houston style thunderstorm today, hail N the whole bit. I'm beginnin to wonder if God's had it with California...
We had little ole lady driving a Mercedes try to use a pole we was draggin as a speed bump. The grunt tried to stop her but she rolled up to the stopsign, looked both ways N punched it like she been doin the last 25 years, only this time we had just come around the corner with a 65 foot pole... next thing ya know we had us a real expensive teeter totter. Crinkle n Destroy will prob buy her a new attitude for simplicities sake...
DWP musta heard me bitchin... The gonna try to get us workin on rain days ifn there is trouble...

CenterPointEX

02-26-2005, 11:49 PM

Tex Drug... I reckon two Texans n one Canadian on one crew was one too many Texans... how many more months ya gotta stay here in the Land of Fruits N Nuts Coppin?

DWP said they liked how we worked trouble N they are probably gonna use us next time. When the inspector came up we were gettin it in a downpour.

Talked to Darrel... he said he took care of your ole Lady when he was in town Bud... J.R. broke his finger showin a grunt how to skin wire?

After I got laid off from CenterPoint\HL&P I spent 6 months of restless days N sleepless nights tryin to figure out how not to get laid off from CenterPoint.
They escorted us off the property at gun point (off duty HPD) They didn't let us get our rags... fedex'd em to us a week later. At the same time CenterPoint stock went from 48$ to 4$ N I had 6000 shares of that crap... Warren Buffet loaned em 2 Billion dollars at 12% interest to bail em out... I wonder what Warren knows that we don't. Thought I was gonna retire at 55 wit a million dollars in the bank... Here I am at 44 Trampin? It's been two years now since that wonderful day... I'm just now gettin to where I don't wake up in a cold sweat anymore... I was one sick puppy. I asked Ralph Obegone "Ya miss the Light Company?", he said, "Hell No!" I looked him in the eye N knew he was a lie'n Mother F^$$er... told him so N he didn't protest.

LostArt

02-27-2005, 06:04 AM

I can't even imagine a big loss like that EX. 'Course the Boss and I are comfortable and it's because of his job. But, I know my loss would be greater if I lost him.

I watched my mom lose the best part of her in '91 and then became "comfortable". If you asked her today which would she take, she would tell you my father instead of being "comfortable".

What you never had, you never miss. But being loved and to then lose it, is better than never being loved at all.

CenterPointEX

02-27-2005, 09:01 AM

Imagine this... you don't lose the Boss per sey, but the Boss gets wiped out financially, then loses hiS ability to work... What you would have at that Point, would be a shell in which the Boss used to Exist. You would go to work to support him N that would whack his pride, and even further the downward spiral... He would get depressed, despondant, N be a Downright pissed ole' fArt... How would a LostArt relate to a person like that...? Would he still be the Boss...?

By the way L.A. you gave a perfect analogy of Hell. That's what hell will be. Currently we reside under the wing of God\Christs Love. Evil in this place is not prevented but it is restrained.
Hell is a place a person will eternally dwell on their eternal loss of that love.

LostArt

02-27-2005, 09:13 AM

LA would still say he is the boss even if he was in a wheelchair. I'm not saying it would be easy. I'm not saying that I wouldn't want to knock his block off at any given time that he acts like an @ss. I'm no saint. And neither is he.

But, you forget EX. The Boss and I have a living example that is in our family of knowing sacrifices. He has experienced the wife that left him, the loss of having no children, the loss of working a regular job and most of his physical abilities of being independent. But, by the grace of God he still has a wonderful attitude about life.

I hope that never happens to us. I'm sorry that it happens to people all over the world today. I'm sure it is happening to several at this moment in time.

Life can deal you some blows, but it's how you deal with it that makes you or breaks you.

CenterPointEX

02-27-2005, 11:04 PM

Life can deal you some blows, but it's how you deal with it that makes you or breaks you.

Amen Mrs. L.A., I didn't forget... U take the hook almost as good as Swamp

Some people get pissed at God when they get dealt a tough hand to play. Some give up on God N decide to live their lives apart from him... they quit reading the Word, quit meeting togather with other believers where they could be mutually encouraged by each others faith. They quit living as if there is something more to life than the moment. Some folks fold for good N walk away leavin thier chips on the table... eternally.

God dealt us a royal flush in Christ... do we have it in us to pick up that hand N play it?

LostArt

02-28-2005, 06:19 AM

Amen Mrs. L.A., I didn't forget... U take the hook almost as good as Swamp

LOL! Heh. Okaaaay. I'll let that ride for now. :p

Thanks for the pics EX. The view from the top SIDEWAYS is nice.

Yep, that is how I remember Oceanside, CA looking like. I'd like to see the Northern part of CA.

Thanks again for the pics buddy.

Swamprat

02-28-2005, 07:07 PM

"Amen Mrs. L.A., I didn't forget... U take the hook almost as good as Swamp"

You're a piece of work CP. :-) I love it...

Glad to see you're havin a good time... You and your "Blog". Heh, heh, heh....
Hell, If I was trampin, I'd be talkin sh!t on the internet at night too! Bein a fish boy, you damn sure ain't in the bars.

I'll chime in whenever ya got some good bait on the hook. :-)

LostArt

02-28-2005, 09:41 PM

Swamprat

02-28-2005, 10:14 PM

You ain't no better'n EX here Swamp! You go about aggitatin' all the time! You know you do!! (stop grinnin'!--you know I am right!) I've seen you at your finest Sir Swamp. Yep, yep, yep.
:D[/i]

Excuuuuuuse me Ms. LA?

ME? Aggitate? I was just talkin to fish boy! This is CP's "Blog"...we really ought not be clutterin it up with our trash talkin....

So, CP....What bait's on your hook this time? -) :-)

woody

02-28-2005, 10:26 PM

Tramping 101, geez sorry centerpoint-ex that you now have to travel for your high paying job. Jeez, who paid for your training? How did you get into your first linework job? These are questions that I would like to hear answers from you...not the other's that are all in code(for good reason)...with all the suffering by everybody it seems...your whinning is getting a little bit silly. Quit thinking your the first lineman that left something good or better yet; quit thinking your above all this! woody

CenterPointEX

02-28-2005, 11:34 PM

Tramping 101, geez sorry centerpoint-ex that you now have to travel for your high paying job.,,,Quit thinking your the first lineman that left something good or better yet; quit thinking your above all this! woody

Well it's not so bad Woodster... I'm gettin use to it... But ya gotta remember I came up a light company puke... Ifn ya don't already know them boys think they are a class above the tramps... Ya know they got a pocket full of fancy tools N an endless supply of new gloves. When a pair gets a little soiled ya throw em away n get new ones. Me, I used to dig em outa the trash on the dock an pass em on to the contractors that resided out in the corner of the yard. I kind felt for em... never thought I'd be one. I was a trouble shooter on nights for about twelve years... Some job's I'd take one look at... get on the radio... N tell em this job sucks... give it to the contractors... I felt for em... never thought I'd be one... they were dirty... they din't have acces to our showers n endless supply of Lava & hand soap with lanolin... I was one of them high n mighty light company pukes... I knew we had I had it good... Sittin on the dock I could see them boys in the corner of the yard lockin down their sh%t in the rain. I was one of them there country club lineman... It's like one day I'm eatin steak... n the next day I'm eating hamberger... Ya Woodster I know people in India are starvin n if I want too I could gord myself on hamberger. I should count my blessins I know... but still I miss the steak... N the 350k in my bellied up 401K I was gonna use to pork myself with.
Went to welding school cause I wanted to be a plant mechanic... the only job open was meter reader... I was readin meters N waitin for the power plant job.. the line job came open... I remembered when I was a little kid n I watched some boys change the xfmr in our back yard. I thought it was cool. I took the line job... thought I had a job for life... that's the way it used to work... I'm thinkin some time in the near future that kinda job will be a thing of the past... ifn it ain't already... Cause ya see in a place where folks could give a sh!t about God's Word n the moral principles therein, it really don't matter how ya treat yer employee's... cause ya see it's every man for hisself... like git up off yer @ss n swim ya stupid drownin MF'er... quit whining n thinkin I'm gonna git off my @ss N throw ya a line... start wit yer thumb n count ta three! Or in to quote my friend Joe Bilski... "Give the Union some more of yer money N see what they do for you!" Joe knew he had big stick in his pocket when he made that statement. Her name was Amy McCormick... a combat proven Union buster they just hired as their personal Bitch... Stay tuned boys ya ain't seen the last of her likes...

SBatts

03-02-2005, 05:55 AM

You ain't no better'n EX here Swamp! You go about aggitatin' all the time! You know you do!! (stop grinnin'!--you know I am right!) I've seen you at your finest Sir Swamp. Yep, yep, yep.

Gracious, ya'll don't reckon Mr. Batts read blogs, do ya? Just in case...**waves**......HEY STEVE!! :D

MORNING!!!! LostArt!!!!!! Never know what I would read. Right now I am reading labels on food products.Years of being tough and not going to the medics caught up to me last week in a truck stop. I stopped to get a diet Coke and on the way out to my pickup my arms stopped working. Drove to nearest hospital and spent 5 days learning that I have become a raging diabetic since my last blood work 3 months ago. Now no more CDL's, or linework even if I wanted to rejoin the working class. I have spent the last few days sticking holes in my fingers and eating 6 times a day. More work involved in managing diabetes than doing linework.

Please don't offer sympathy, it is just part of getting older. Getting sick today when young Americans are being killed and wounded is to me somewhere at the bottom of my worry list.

LostArt

03-02-2005, 04:20 PM

MORNING!!!! LostArt!!!!!! Never know what I would read.

Uh HA!! There you are! I know. I just wanted to see if you were payin' attention. Heh.

Getting sick today when young Americans are being killed and wounded is to me somewhere at the bottom of my worry list.

Yes sir. I understand. My son-in-law and all of our American soldiers are on the top of my list.

Well, I won't take up anymore space in EX's blog. Top of the day to you Mr. Batts. Thanks for pokin' your head in and saying Hi.

CenterPointEX

03-03-2005, 11:07 PM

Criminey... they pointed the finger at me today n said yer the new pusher... the sixty six HIck wouldn't piss when they tole him to do so n there was a vancancy.. member Woodster... Linemen N sheep... they piss when N where they want to... or Not... I drew the short straw... I like it way better not worrying about what I'm gonna do the next day... they can keep their silly three dollar a day pickup Truck. Darrel's lookin into a Diversified ride n he's gonna try n hitch me up ifn he gets a ride... Trixie misses me already... but he know's I'm only a phone call away...He tole me the other day he was feelin wet... I thought all Stewards had laminated union cards ta keep em dry... chingow... Es Ramon....

sixteen standin calls at local fourty seven... get em while they're hot... First Energy voted down the contract so they will start showin back up n loadin down the books agin...
Canada don't thaw out till the end of April so we're stuck wit the Kanuks for a couple...

woody

03-04-2005, 09:53 PM

Swamprat

03-04-2005, 10:18 PM

hey, o.k. your a better word man than I; what the hell is going onbetween you and LA.? Also remember (onetime only) I'm like a wolverine(if you choose to make me an animal); what I don't f@#& or eat; I piss on, HEY. LOVE IT MAN still don't love sheep...woody loving all brothers that are sheppards or shepards...or whatever...love...woody

Sorry Woodster...didn't understand a bit of that. Must be me...must be a you and CP thing.

SO...CP...Ya takin the "Boss" job or what? Did you pass the piss test? :-)

CenterPointEX

03-04-2005, 10:41 PM

Also remember what I don't f@#& or eat; I p@ss on,...
Reminds me of my early days as a meter reader for HL&P... They used to call on me for bad dog reads... I could look em in the eye N back em off. The only ones that wouldn't back off were either blind or they were crazy... But I had a way of training both of em... I'd find me a two by four, jump in wit em... when they charged I'd whump em flat on the head wit the two by... then I would find their favorite place in the yard to p!ss, whoop out the big dog, N change the smell of the place... Future encounters would consist of the dog sniffin in the air n retreatin to the corner of the yard wit thier head down N tail between their legs as I passed... I always made sure N freshined up my mark... just so's they wouldn't get any Ideas...

They didn't give me any choice on takin the Boss Job... Happy pointed the finger N said "yer it"... The last guy refused to piss, N the guy before that had to drag to get off the top of the Kanuks.

I'm tinken L.A. spends more time here that me N you N Swamp N Batt's put togather... It's like everywhere she is there we are... strike that reverse it... N return to square one... www.powerlineman.com/lforum/showthread.php?t=31&page=1&pp=10

Local 47 has six standin calls... thirteen skippers on book one N two on book two...

LostArt

03-05-2005, 06:52 AM

hey, o.k. your a better word man than I; what the hell is going onbetween you and LA.?

I'm tinken L.A. spends more time here that me N you N Swamp N Batt's put togather... It's like everywhere she is there we are... strike that reverse it... N return to square one...

Reminds me of another oldie goldie guys, "Here I am, stuck in the middle with you."

Heh. Don't be draggin' me in this and makin' an Old and the Ruthless Blog! I'm just a reading and part time participant. :D Too funny. Next thing ya know you will be sayin' me and Mr. Batts has got sumptin' goin' on. :eek: :D

Heh. Too funny. I think Woody had a few last night and this morning he will regret it. :D

Carry on Mr. EX.....

woody

03-06-2005, 08:35 PM

Hey just ya never mind...and I'm not sharing or apologizing...I am what I am...forget the rest...wish everybody else the best. Especially steve b. ...hope things are going as well as can be expected. sorry to hear the news BATMAN!...head and chin up always my man!!! woody

LostArt

03-06-2005, 08:39 PM

Well, you have quite a few of the guys here laughing at this Woody! Turkey! Sheesh.....you guys really shouldn't post and drink, ya know.

CenterPointEX

03-09-2005, 12:24 AM

Well Friends N Pals who hang our here in my own personal Blog...You guys missin me... looks like ya carried on without... I been locked up in the "Means to an End" It's like I cain't pass up a captive audience... Speakin of captive audiences, does anyone remember Laurel N Hardy?... Well git this... they been reincarnated, N every day they return to the show-up N call me Boss... "Are we done yet Ollie?"

Swamprat

03-09-2005, 08:12 PM

You guys missin me... looks like ya carried on without... I been locked up in the "Means to an End" It's like I cain't pass up a captive audience... ?

Hay man...maby you should shift your Blog to the "Means to an End" thread.
A Blog is...."ya post your stuff" and people come to you and respond. You LEFT your "Blog" man. That's like goin out to a titty bar on the sly....then reportin back home.

Ya ain't payin attention to the "home front" CP. AND...ya actually admitted, "been locked up in the Means to an End".

Shame on you...."consortin" and stuff.....not takin care of your bussiness at home.

woody

03-09-2005, 10:32 PM

Well the short answer is HELL NO cp. go fu ya stup! don't understand that...well how about looking in the mirror and think about being a racist asshole and go preach the sermon to the like minded people that most likely you hang out with. shit...miss you like a case of the clap. woody

CenterPointEX

03-09-2005, 11:27 PM

...well how about looking in the mirror... to the like minded people that most likely you hang out with.Welcome back to the "Hang Out Stiffy"...Can't stay away can ya?... Put it back in yer pants!...
I knew it... you are strokin for Swamps Poster Child Job... Ya, Ya Swamp I know... I feel like a hussy cheatin on you guys...
Butt Allass... I Digress...

Local 47 thirteen standin calls

Swamprat

03-10-2005, 04:39 PM

Hay CP, Check this site out! There's competition out there man....:-)
Really is sorta interesting.

http://www.godchecker.com/

JackPineSavage

03-10-2005, 06:57 PM

Hey Swamp I just checked out that site and I think it is time to re-name Cp . According to the site Zues is the Top God , he is married to the Hera but what I found interesting is that he spends most of his time lusting after "otherGoddesess ,mortals ,animals, and indeed anything that will stand still long enough".I guess that we might have figured out his dirty little secret
JP

Swamprat

03-10-2005, 10:56 PM

Be nice Savage....

"Zues" is contimplating his response. Sure as shit, we're gonna be "banished" to some god awful place for confronting the "Father". :-)

Ya recon we'll be kicked out of his "own personal blog"?

God forbid....

CenterPointEX

03-10-2005, 11:36 PM

The Wrath of God is being revealed from Heaven against all Godless N wickedness of men who supress the truth by their wickedness,
since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them, for since the creation of the world, Gods' invisable qualities, HIs eternal power N divine nature have been clearly seen... being understood from what has made... so that all men are without excuse...
Though they claimed to be wise they became fools N exchanged the glory of the imortal God for images made to look like mortal man , N birds, N animals, N reptiles... Therefor God gave them over to the sinful desires of their hearts... To sexual immpurities for the degrading of their bodies, one with another...
They became filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, N depravity, they are full of envy, murder, strife, deciept, n malice... they are senseless, faithless, heartless, N ruthless Romans Chap 1

"Lord... if there are just ten men left who fear your name... will you spare the city?"

"Lord you know that I Love you... why do you repeat the question?"

CenterPointEX

03-13-2005, 01:24 AM

The Jersey strike seem's to have broken so the boys will hook em out n be back in Jersey by Wed... Drag on Flies bittin you?... The time is ripe

Movin showups Monday... says I'm only gonna take either Laurel or Hardy n I will pickup another ape in Saticoy... Which one do I wanna keep... Um ok I'll take Ollie... Ollie looks like he understands when I tell em sumtin.. Stan just looks at me funny N his forhead wrinkles up, don't know if that means he's computin or not computin... sometimes when he talks I wonder ifn he n swamp aint the same person... easy Swamp... just kiddin.

Local 47 Friday... 17 Standin Calls left over... an unmerciful chunck of them are on DWP Property... It really ain't so bad, It will just take me a little longer to git home at this rate... When I git a years pay for I home I'm out... there's gigs where I could make more money but they are a little more intense than the Line construction antique shop A.K.A. D.W.P

CenterPointEX

03-15-2005, 12:07 AM

Moved back to Saticoy, Sweet Pea N Commando wer happy to see us
... 27 standin calls ....Goin home four days fer Easter... caint wait... JR said he's cummin soon as his hand heals...

CenterPointEX

03-15-2005, 10:51 PM

Well Sweat Pea got wound up a little too tight N the guys in the white suites came N took him away so's we is lookin for another foreman again... 18 calls left over today but they didn't say where they was so's... either he's tired of talkin or they are tryin to avoid musical chairs guys waitin fer their spot n listinin fer it on the Hot Line... Talked to JR he's said he's had it wit NHPL n soon as he's healed he's buggin this way... But he was on the trail ride to the Houston Livestock Show N he sounded like he had at least a case in em... N you thought it was against the law to ride a horse on a public highway wit a case in you... Texans git a little differant when the Rodeo comes to town... Make it down there ifn ya ever git a chance... It's unique in the world... Well Ollie drew the short straw cause Stan was a better fit fer the commando SweetPea left me...
That fellers wide open... Don't know ifn bein raked by a facile spur would even bother him.... But what ever he does gets done quicker than shoot gits open when ya nod yer head... "Outside" That was my QUE... QSL Mr Tony Olivas... I miss ya feller, xxxooo

CenterPointEX

03-16-2005, 11:12 PM

Well the boys are gettin to the wifey back home... They r 17 N 18 N they is doin what dem kind do... Ya know tickets, girls, stuff... They r runnin a little wild since I ain't there to step on em... N I got some adopted ones too... Dem adopted boys done went way off the Radar. Dey call me Pappa CPX back home... Whats a feller ta do Mr. Bilski? Ya feellin good about yerself yet? I kinda reckon you are feelin that the BAD outweighs the GOOD so ya ain't never gonna ketch up... Yer only way in is Jahid... Ya know like dem Arabs... It was the only chance they had at makin the grade... Local 47 18 standin Calls left... I'm goin home fer Easter N Whoopie! Local 66 hands ifn yer lookin to do it, give me a buzz...

Local 47 18 standin Calls left

CenterPointEX

03-20-2005, 01:34 AM

Dis Forman bussiness ain't all it's cracked up to be. Grown men oughta jus jump in der N do what dey was hired fer...Naw it ain't stand around till the Dude tells ya to quit standin around. At least move around like California does...Gives the appearance of progress...24 Standin CAlls left on Friday 13 fer DWP prop. I dun got a couple of hits, gigs lookin fer hands...Is it time yet... Nah... I'm havin too much fun yet... Talked to Freddie... He's chillin in Houston ridin out his grub from the last trip out... Hope to join him soon.. Tim Called N give me some info... he's still wit Asplaugn doin the asbestos thing... I'm tinkin Stan has a bad heart... Just hope he don't drop dead on my time... Would that be the way to check out though?... doin linework?... What a fate... Naw, I know better... there ain't no such thing as fate... Anybody checks out doin linework, musta pissed the "Big Dude" off....
Cousin Jen came over so Mom N Pop could play tug a war... It was comfortin fer her to hear from an objective view?... I'm tinkin about gettin me a wet suit N a Surf Board.... Dem Waves R callin my name...

CenterPointEX

03-26-2005, 08:46 PM

Well I'm back at the home twenty chillin... LIfe is good... will be catchin the big steel bird back to the grind on Monday... I'm over half way home on the money... Bought me an F350 wit the powerstroke n a fifth wheel, I believe I got a twenty eight footer lined up... Goin to the church at four a.m. to pray in our two day day vigil we do every easter... any requests?

LostArt

03-26-2005, 11:21 PM

Yeah, put one in for my son-in-law Ex.

Oh, what color and year is the F350?

CenterPointEX

04-19-2005, 07:48 AM

Back in Houston for ten days... my family and I do some volunteer work with the M.S. 150... we have been doing this gig for thirteen years... then this commin weekend I do a Christian Men's retreat... We camp out N have a fishin tournament at Lake Whitney between Dallas N Houston... It's a blast... My boys are goin wit me this year fer da first time...It's like a like a little fishin... a little story tellin... a little Bible study... a lot a beer drinkin, cause were Lutherans N dats what Lutherans do... Lutheran Soda's I tink dey call em... N a lot of worshipin God... cause were Lutherans... N dats what Lutherans do...AMen?...
L.A.'s Son in Law is on a slow boat back to da U.S.... Amen?[

Swamprat

04-19-2005, 07:47 PM

then this commin weekend I do a Christian Men's retreat... We camp out N have a fishin tournament at Lake Whitney between Dallas N Houston... It's a blast... My boys are goin wit me this year fer da first time...It's like a like a little fishin... a little story tellin... a little Bible study... a lot a beer drinkin, cause were Lutherans N dats what Lutherans do... Lutheran Soda's I tink dey call em... N a lot of worshipin God... cause were Lutherans... N dats what Lutherans do...AMen?... [

"A Mens Christian retreat"...Fishin, Drinkin a Lot of beer and a "little" bible study, and bringin the kids!

Damn, I got to become a Lutheran! :-)

I'd say if your pastor read that post, you and him would be havin a "talk"...about your "blog". "Lutheran Soda's I tink dey call em"

You're a hoot CP. :-) Praise the Lord.

LostArt

04-20-2005, 06:19 AM

You Lutherans can drink? And it's "okay"???? :D I think the Baptist just don't drink on Sundays. Heh.

L.A.'s Son in Law is on a slow boat back to da U.S.... Amen?

You gotta big AMEN! I'm tickled pink that he is coming back. Thanks for mentioning him Ex.

CenterPointEX

04-20-2005, 01:53 PM

Martin Luther was quite the "reluctant dragon"... He grew up in the only church around at da time... He was strong in da faith, N was da Catholic's Catholic. He crossed all his t's N dotted all his I's... But ya see the Church had been hijacked by some Roman Honcho's. They wouldn't let da folks read da Bible cause if'n da folks knew what it said... Rome would no longer be able ta control it's masses... Pun intended...(still today few CAtholics are well versed in Scripture) What Rome set up was a faith plus works salvation... meaning to be saved N go ta Heaven, ya had ta have faith in da redeemin work of Christ on da Cross, N ya also had to have yer own works dat ya done to get in. Specific works outlined by the church in "Tradition"... "Tradition" was elevated to status of scripture... "Tradition" was then... and is now... a moving target... Martin even though he followed every rule to a tee, carried an overwhelming burden of guilt... as do all Catholics... Por Que dey never know when der good works have outwieghted der bad... Martin one day read da passage in Romans ... ....."Da wages of sin is death, but da free gift of God is eternal life thru Christ Jesus"... He went to da Honchos N said, Hey! have you seen dis?" They replied "If'n you try to tell dat to da Masses, we have no option but to silence you forever...or forever lose control..."
A lot of crap went down N Young Martin felt responsable... Bein German though he liked his German Soda's... a lot... He is accused by a lot of folks of bein a drunk... but never a Homo... as young Katherend could attest...
He used ta have thease keg parties... folks would come from miles around N sit around sippin on Soda's N talkin about God... Some of da folks took notes... those notes survive today in a collection called "Table Talks" It's an interestin read...
But the point of all dis is we are saved by faith in da finished work of Christ's death on da Cross which satisfied da law in payment fer our Sins... We are assured of salvation... the fruit of our faith will be works will be works... not vice versa... Some folks just cain't or won't accept dis...

JackPineSavage

04-20-2005, 08:48 PM

CP I am truely hesitant to post on your blog because I know that I am totally out of my element talking about this. That being said do you think that the reseason that so many people are leaving the Cathlics to either Methodist or Lutherns is that the Caths are not willing to change thier a little less strict . I was listening to NPR today (ya I know awful leftist for a guy like me huh?) and they were saying that in South America in particular the flock is dwindling due to the message seems outdated and the Meths and Luths have a message that seems more rooted in the here and now. South America is really where the majority of the floock is today and if it's not looking good there where the people are ,shall we say simpler, how much longer does it have left ? thanks for your time with the uninformed. JP

Swamprat

04-20-2005, 08:57 PM

LostArt

04-20-2005, 09:23 PM

Oh, but Swamp........don't forget the extras DAT DUH Man in the new scriptures had to say to kinda add to DEM DARE 10 rules.

Like............oh, love your neighbor, love your enemies....DAT sorta stuff.

Swamprat

04-20-2005, 09:30 PM

CenterPointEX

04-20-2005, 09:33 PM

Different religions "interpert" and put their own spin on how THEY see DA scriptures or DA bible. DATS Duh problem.
The "Man" gave 10 rules CP. I try my best to live by em.
Agnostic or not...he can judge me by the way I've lived my life. "Kiss"
By the way Swamp Jesus reduced em to two... "Love the the Lord your God wit all yer heart, soul, N mind... N Love yer neighbor as yerself."

Ya see Swamp thats the problem ya got... The ten rules he gave ya... if'n ya break just one of em just one time... thats called sin... In Romans it says the wages of sin is death... hell fire N brimstone... thats what ya get... If'n God judges you or me by the way we lived our life... we are toast...But ya see God sent his Son to pay that penalty for you...But death couldn't hold him because he had no sin in him... But if'n you trust in Christ you passed thru death with him and will be raised to life in him... eternal life... your philosophy Swamp judgein by your word is that in the end if'n you good outweighs you bad you are in... like I pointed out above... problem is you can never be sure that that is the case... so you will live your life with that burden of... overwhelming guillt... The reason Catholics are leavin the faith is because they like Martin Luther are beginning to read their Bibles... N discovering that they don't have to live with that guilt... they can be sure of thier salvation apart from works... In what Christ did for them...
The fish... N da headbangin... N Hail Mary's...etc. those are folks who believe like you, that if'n they do enough works... the right works... they are good to go... If'n dat's da case What Christ did was not necessary or maybe not enough to save you... If'n you use Bible to interpret Bible you will never go wrong... the Bible never disagrees with itself... One could build a case from Judas, that if'n you felt bad about what you did you should hang yourself. You could pull a verse out of context and support that Biblicaly... But you see that interpretation would not agree with the rest of Scripture...
,,,Many denominations are moving away from the Bible as truth... they are replacing it with humanist values and so called truths that don't condem them for the way they live thier lives... The antiChrist will rise from just such a venue...
.....The Bible is unchanged in context from the earliest scripture to what we have now...I challenge you to provide evidence to the contrary... I know without a doubt that you will not be able to do so... I know... I have spent hours researching this... Any works based salvation Swamp is a one way ticket to Hell... I leave you with this question... "Is it possible to be sincere N be sincerly wrong?"...

LostArt

04-20-2005, 09:44 PM

What?

Now you're tellin me God's a LIBERAL!! Don't Push it LA....:-)

LMAO!!! Oh my gosh! I spewed my water all over my computer you darn rascal!!

Swamprat

04-20-2005, 11:25 PM

Ya see Swamp thats the problem ya got... The ten rules he gave ya... if'n ya break just one of em just one time... thats called sin... In Romans it says the wages of sin is death... hell fire N brimstone... thats what ya get... If'n God judges you or me by the way we lived our life... we are toast.

Naw man, I don't believe in a god like that. Your god is not the Christian forgiving God I was brought up with as a catholic as a kid. Maby guys like you are why I'm Agnostic.

I've "sined". Sorry for it. Ain't done it again. Black mark on my slate? Bein held against me for eternity? Don't think so. That's not the type of god I believe in.

Ya know, the more you talk about your god...the more I don't like him. I don't like bein called Toast for one mistake.
Aside from killing another human being in cold blood...now to me...THAT classifies as Toast.

Maby I'm just "Toast" CP. We'll see. I really ain't worried about it. I feel good about myself, and the way I've lived my life, and will continue to live my life.

"I leave you with this question... "Is it possible to be sincere N be sincerly wrong?"..."

Yes sir CP it is.

For Both of us. Can YOU think about the possibility that YOU might be wrong, honestly?

I do. Do you?
No.

JackPineSavage

04-21-2005, 08:12 AM

Call me agnostic or the reincarnation of the anti Christ ifn ya whatns ta but what if wes alls wrong and wes git ta heaven and he seys yous alls rong an the cow worshipin sheep fuc\ers was the only one that had it rite .

Thats my problem with "orginized religion" is that so many of the "faithful followers" have no use for the views of others faiths.

I was raised a good Baptist switched to Luthern after I got married . Now I don't go at all cause I'm fed up with all the judgeing that people like you do CP. Sorry man just don't have any respect for anyone who judges someone else . You ain't the Allmighty it ain't yer place. What if the sheep fuc\ers were right and the God you thought you knew was just all in your head?

Huh maybe I just hit the nail on the head maybe God , faith , and rightusnes is just all in your head . Maybe it's not the building that you go into maybe it is the relationship that you have with whats-his-name (GOD,BUDDA,JAHOVA) .........

JP

CenterPointEX

04-21-2005, 11:29 AM

Swamp how can you not accept Christ Sacrifice on the Cross as payment for your sins? I am not judgeing anyone, I am simply relaying the message of the Bible... Without exception everyone who has ever done so has been crucified in some form or fashion for doin so... Like I said, the Bible is unchanged in context from the earliest manuscripts till now... The Message is unchanged from Genisis to Revelation... The Message is we are all sinners from birth, because sin came into the world thru Adam, we deserve Gods just and eternal punishment... God provided a way around that in Jesus Christ his only Son. But those who refuse this, do it for the same reason Satan N his hosts fell... For the same reason Adam N Eve fell in the garden... It is best sumarized by Satan hisself in Genisis... "God don't want you to eat from the tree of knowledge of good evil cause he don't want you to be like him... If'n you partake you can be your own god and you won't need him...PRIDE... Folks don't want a savior... PRIDE...they want to save themselves... PRIDE...make up thier own rules... PRIDE...live however they want to... screw God or anyone else who would dare to suggest to them how to live their live's.... Pride! Calls the kettle black... I would dare say I also have been judged... the question is when you dudes judge me... what do you use for a rule that I might measure up to... I know the answer... I am held to your self righteous rule... Righteousness is knowin and doing what right accordin to God... Self Righteous is knowin and doin whats right accordin to self... Self is by nature relative... therefor your morality has to be relative... each to his own...
If''n I'm wrong... so what... I live a life loving, trying to love my neighbor as myself... big deal... nobody's hurt... N all the other socalled paths to salvation say without exception, that at the end if your good outwieghs your bad your ok... if'n not your toast... It's impossible for anyone to live a life in which thier good outweighs thier bad so anyone on that path is toast... so if''n I wrong about that we're all in the same boat anyway... except those who are gauronteed a spot in heave fer takin out infidels with an airplane N the like...

Swamprat

04-21-2005, 03:47 PM

Huh maybe I just hit the nail on the head maybe God , faith , and rightusnes is just all in your head . Maybe it's not the building that you go into maybe it is the relationship that you have with whats-his-name (GOD,BUDDA,JAHOVA) ....

Ya know, I seem to remember somethin about that. "My temple is in yourself". Or somethin along those lines....

LostArt

04-21-2005, 07:43 PM

I told myself that I wouldn't do this. But, you guys know me by now. I do research. No matter the subject.

Ya know, I seem to remember somethin about that. "My temple is in yourself". Or somethin along those lines....

KJV version: 1Cr 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Cr 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.

*******

NKJV version:
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Swamprat

04-21-2005, 10:26 PM

I told myself that I wouldn't do this. But, you guys know me by now. I do research. No matter the subject.

KJV version: 1Cr 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Cr 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.

*******

NKJV version:
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Thank you Mam.
I knew I remembered somethin along those lines. Ya don't need a building to go to with a bunch of other people, or a "retreat", to pay respect to God.

Ya do it, or ya don't do it on your own.
It's "Your" call.

Ya either follow and believe in "The 10", or ya don't. Everything else is politics, and "social".

Wait....It's Friday!!! Shit, I had a steak!
Damn,.... forgot, there for a minute...
I USE to be a catholic.

m_kohner

04-22-2005, 09:03 AM

wow....this is funny stuff...keep it up....mike

CenterPointEX

04-26-2005, 09:53 PM

"Let us not give up meeting togather..."

"I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith
so that you will have a full understanding
of every good thing we have in Christ. "

"I Long to see, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong... that is that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each others faith... "

"Where two or three are gathered in my name there I am also"

In the book of Revelation who were the letters written to?

Did Jesus go to church?

What is the Biblical definition of Church?

Are the Koran, the book of Morman, N the Bible compatible... or are they mutually exclusive?

Swamprat

04-27-2005, 09:58 PM

Swamp how can you not accept Christ Sacrifice on the Cross as payment for your sins? I am not judgeing anyone, I am simply relaying the message of the Bible... Without exception everyone who has ever done so has been crucified in some form or fashion for doin so... Like I said, the Bible is unchanged in context from the earliest manuscripts till now... The Message is unchanged from Genisis to Revelation... The Message is we are all sinners from birth, because sin came into the world thru Adam, we deserve Gods just and eternal punishment.

Sorry CP, wasen't ignorin ya, just missed that post.

Well, actually, by what I've read and heard, there are many different "interpertations" of what is written in the bible. Not to mention the fact that it had to be translated god knows how many times to even GET to a sembalance of English. I've lived in the middle east for a number of years, I know a bit about the culture. "Interpertations", widely vary...from tribe to tribe.

As for bein born "all sinners"?....I just can't look at a little "freshie" as I like to call em, and think "god" holds a grudge against this completely innocent life.
That's called "The sins of the Father", and I don't believe in that either.

So, I guess in answer to your question CP. I don't have, and never will have Blind Faith.

I'm a very logical person...maby to my regret, but that's the way I am. I'm not sayin I'd have to put my fingers in the holes in his hands, but I don't base faith on just scripture, and the "word" from the pulpet. The feeling of "God" and the belief in him, is within you...or it ain't. I guess agnostic don't classify as believing in god to you. You're all hung up on Jesus Christ.

Last I checked, that was God's son. Ya tellin me I can't talk to god? I need to go thru an "intermediary"? Even when I was catholic, I prayed to God, not Jesus. I would drop a prayer to Mary Mom every now and then though. Always liked to keep on her good side.

Sorry man...don't get it I guess, but god bless you in your beliefs.

CenterPointEX

04-27-2005, 11:05 PM

That's what I been trying to tell ya Swamp... you made up you own religion... you believe whatever suits you... N you don't want, nor will you let any God dictate how you live, believe or think... therein lies the problem... cause if'n each man makes up what God is in his own heart... then there cain't be just one God... You just don't get it... If the Bible ain't true... then there is no truth... Can't you see Swamp if'n there is no truth, then nothing matters... Swamp can do whatever he wants... I kin do what ever I want... cause at the end of the day none of it really matters... I repeat myself... the Big Bang reveses itself... N then there is no memory or record of mankind... so the only thing left to do is what ever floats your boat right now...
... If'n you had read the Bible you wouldn't be sayin the bull about the "interpertations". I challenge you to give me just one passage that you believe, or someone else believes has changed... just one that does not agree with the whole of scripture. You won't be able to do it... You qualified that statement with, "I heard"... now Swamp folks kin say all kind of crazy stuff N you kin hear it... does that make it true?
...I know, I know... In Swamps religion truth is whatever each persson decides it is... so your answer is "Yes" for that person it is true... unless that person is a Bible believing Christian, in which case the answer is "NO!"

Swamp prays to Mary? Does Swamp pray to wood statues, N bricks, N trees? I hate to be the one ta break it to ya Swamp but if you're prayin to a tree... that tree ain't gonna help ya... You're just wastin breath... just like anyone prayin to Budda or Alla, or the great architect of the Universe... Karma dude!

So tell me Swamp... what do you do with your guilt?... If'n you say you have no guilt, then I'll have to call you a baldface liar... N you know that's the truth!

Swamprat

04-28-2005, 07:46 PM

So tell me Swamp... what do you do with your guilt?... If'n you say you have no guilt, then I'll have to call you a baldface liar... N you know that's the truth!

I'll tell ya My truth CP.
It's been fun talkin to ya, but your "faith", and my Logic really don't go too good together.

I GET your faith man, to my way of thinkin. You just can't get any of my "Logic", cause you are blinded by faith.
That's a good thing for you. God bless ya man.

I got faith "God" sees me as a good person who has lived a good life, and no sir, I don't carry around guilt as baggage. And I have never had any soul hurting guilt.

So I guess that makes me a bsldfaced liar , according to you. But it ain't the truth.

JackPineSavage

04-28-2005, 07:53 PM

...
Swamp prays to Mary? Does Swamp pray to wood statues, N bricks, N trees? I hate to be the one ta break it to ya Swamp but if you're prayin to a tree... that tree ain't gonna help ya... You're just wastin breath... just like anyone prayin to Budda or Alla, or the great architect of the Universe... Karma dude!

You know CP I have alot of respect for the strength of your convictions. That being said what if some poor child born in India into a good hindu family that worship their God in their way and lives their life in his name . What if that child dies at birth . Are you trying to tell me that child DESERVES to burn in hell because he and his family didn't worship YOUR GOD. That is my problem with you is that you have no respect for any other religion. I asked you before and you didn't answer so I will ask again , what if you get to those pearly gates and you find out that the God that you worshiped all your life was the wrong one , it turns out that you should have picked the Jewish God. What if you picked the right one and you arrive at the same time as that little Hindu baby how you gonna feel when that innocent soul burns in eternal hell.
See what I'm saying is that why can't you addmit the legitimacy of other religions ? Just because it don't work for you why can't it work for someone else?
Heck what ifn ya wuz born inta a Jew family ?
Ain't it better to live a good life governed by whatever book and whatever God leads you down a road to rightousness than to listen to an extemist like yourself who thinks that there is only one church and one way to worship?
JP

barehander

04-28-2005, 09:18 PM

Amen JPS...................

From a "Born Again" Agnostic......

CenterPointEX

04-28-2005, 11:03 PM

. Are you trying to tell me that child DESERVES to burn in hell because he and his family didn't worship YOUR GOD.
I asked you before and you didn't answer so I will ask again ... it turns out that you should have picked the Jewish God.... how you gonna feel when that innocent soul burns in eternal hell.
See what I'm saying is that why can't you addmit the legitimacy of other religions ? ...
Ain't it better to live a good life governed by whatever book and whatever God leads you down a road to "rightousness"
JP

Righteousness = knowing & doin what's right accordin to God's Word...

Agnostic= a subspecies of athiest = If there is a God we can have no knowledge of him.

The Question is not "why does anyone burn in Hell?", the question is,
"why does anyone go to heaven?"

Let me see... If'n a man comes to the Uninted States; from let's say umm Iraq, N he kills a person whom he believes is an infidel, cause the Koran tells him it is meek, right, & salutory to do so & that man gets in a court of law & says I shouldn't have to pay any penality...umm because I didn't know it was against the law to kill an infidel... matter a fact it is the right thing to do accordin to my religion... would he still have to answer for his crime?

By the standard of all other religions If yer good outweighs yer bad yer in...
a man under that system will never know if'n he's in or out...

Like I said before JPS, If'n I'm wrong I lived a life striving to love my nieghbor as myself... loving N prayin fer my enemies... nobody gets hurt... quite the opposite... but if'n I'm right then fellas like yourself, who have heard the word N rejected it; who have rejected Christs sacrifice for your sins, are in an eternal bind... I live my life trying to do good according to God's word revealed in the Bible... by that standard I'm in according to all other religions... but by God's word that ain't good enough... that's why Christ's sacrifice for my sins was necessary. L.A. is doin the research for us, but I'm sure when she gets done we will find that the Bible, the Book of Morman, the Koran, N whatever it is the Hindus read... are mutually exclusive. If one is true then the others can not be.
By the way the God the Jews worship is the God of Abaham, Issiac, N Jacob... same one the Christians worship... the only differance is that the Jews have rejected Christ who died fer der sins as the Son of God... The Jews are still waitin fer da Christ to come and save them... Jesus was a Jew.. Jesus claimed to be King of the Jews... Paul was a Jew... Peter was a Jew... Mattew was a Jew... John was a Jew... etc.
"No a man is not a Jew if he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision merly outward and Physical... a man is a Jew if'n he is one inwardly, and circumcision is circumcision of the heart by the Spirit not by written code..."
another one fer ya to look up L.A.

JackPineSavage

04-29-2005, 10:03 AM

[QUOTE=CenterPointEX

Like I said before JPS, If'n I'm wrong I lived a life striving to love my nieghbor as myself... loving N prayin fer my enemies... nobody gets hurt

Thats what I'm getting at man who says that your right? Your God ? What about those who were not lucky enough to have know you God ? Does that mean that they will go to hell ? Just don't seem fair to me .

... quite the opposite... but if'n I'm right then fellas like yourself, who have heard the word N rejected it; who have rejected Christs sacrifice for your sins, are in an eternal bind... I live my life trying to do good according to God's word revealed in the Bible... by that standard I'm in according to all other religions... but by God's word that ain't good enough... that's why Christ's sacrifice for my sins was necessary. L.A. is doin the research for us, but I'm sure when she gets done we will find that the Bible, the Book of Morman, the Koran, N whatever it is the Hindus read... are mutually exclusive. If one is true then the others can not be.
By the way the God the Jews worship is the God of Abaham, Issiac, N Jacob... same one the Christians worship... the only differance is that the Jews have rejected Christ who died fer der sins as the Son of God... The Jews are still waitin fer da Christ to come and save them... Jesus was a Jew.. Jesus claimed to be King of the Jews... Paul was a Jew... Peter was a Jew... Mattew was a Jew... John was a Jew... etc.
"No a man is not a Jew if he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision merly outward and Physical... a man is a Jew if'n he is one inwardly, and circumcision is circumcision of the heart by the Spirit not by written code..."
another one fer ya to look up L.A.[/QUOTE]

I'm have not told you if I have been baptized ,if I worship my God or you God or the God of the Cheese Tree Indian, but what if I do ? Why can't you just addmit that what ever God someone worships the important thing is that they follow the basic rules of morality? I am not going to try to stand up for the Islamic terrorist who think that they should kill the infadels and get the herd of virgins from Allah. The true believers of that or any religion will tell you that is not the true teachings of the Koran , Bible , or any other teachings of God.
For being such a self proclained man of God you just seem to be awful quick to judge . I don't know about your book but my book says that ain't your place.

JP

Swamprat

04-29-2005, 11:06 PM

Here ya go CP. No matter WHAT your religion is...it's real simple.
Follow these, and ya can't go wrong. All the rest of any "religion" is politics.

1. I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

3. Thou shalt not make unto thyself any graven image. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.

4. Remember the sabbath day, keep it holy.

5. Honor thy father and thy mother.

6. Thou shalt not kill.

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

8. Thou shalt not steal.

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.

He probably should have put somethin in there about "common sense".

Ya know...Don't drink too much, don't smoke crack, watch out for HIV, wear condonms, etc, etc. I just sorta figure he gave us the "Drift"...the rest he hoped we could figure out.

CenterPointEX

04-30-2005, 12:16 AM

that is not the true teachings of the Koran ,
... you just seem to be awful quick to judge . I don't know about your book but my book says that ain't your place. JP

Exactly what book do you read Jack? Tell me sir, what does it say about judgeing? Have you judged me Jack? If so by what measuring stick have you done so? You are wrong sir about what the Koran teaches... Most of the followers of the Koran\Islam have not read what that book says. Just like the Catholics they leave the reading to their leaders, so they only know what those leaders have shared with them... When you do confront someone who is familiar with the Koran, they will tell you that the English translation does not truly reflect what it actually says... when you ask them to enlighten you to what it actually says they will tell that the only way for them to do that is to explain it to you in the original language... which of course we don't have command of, so any attempt to do so would be futile... The truth is that the English translation is correct, but they ain't about to admit it... fifth ammendment style.. All ya gotta do to know the truth is take a gander over yonder way and watch how dem folks over there live out thier faith. The Bible says you will know them by thire fruits... Their goal is to destroy the Jews... Judiasim and Islam can not peacefully co exist because they are diametricly opposed... Jack the Bible says no man can be saved by keeping the ten commandments... quite the opposite... because all men have broken them, all men are condemmed. The ten commandments only serve as a mirror to show folks their true nature, how truely they have turned away from God. The Bible says, "thier is no one who does good, no not one" "all our good works are as filthy rags in the sight of the Lord" The only way for Jack to get around that is to say the Bible is not true. That the translation is bad... Just like Satan explained to Eve in the garden... He told her her inturpretation was wrong... then Satan gave her the word accordin to him N she swallowed the hook... she followd a new morality, she decided what was true or not in God's stead,... instead of trusting God's word. Just like you and Swamp are doin... ya'll are deciding what is truth and not trustin God's Word/the Bible. The Bible explicitly says we can not be saved by works/"followin the basic rules of morality". Now don't get me wrong... following those rules will make life civil and enjoyable and bearable... but following them won't get you to heaven... cause you, Swamp and myself have broken and will continue to break them this side of Heaven... Some will repent of that and be forgiven... some will refuse to repent, some will refuse to even admit that they have broken them. Some will even refuse to even acknowledge them as God's word... Listening to you guys talk, I dare say that you N Swamp fit into at least one if'n not all three of those catigorys...

LostArt

04-30-2005, 07:46 AM

Oh my. I've missed Sunday School again! And have been called to task yet again! :D But, I stay in trouble. Just call me trouble.

Ex, I read and caught up on this thread. But, from past experiences I have learned that even the most educated and sincere Christians will use God's word to their benefit. Not saying you are, or that any of the rest of you gentlemen are. But, I've seen it done. And I personally don't think that is what God intended.

Now, JPS brought up a good question about an adult that has never heard God's Word. Say he/she died tomorrow, is Our God going to judge that soul to hell? Or is it WE, that are to spread the Word, going to be judged for not reaching that soul?

CenterPointEX

04-30-2005, 10:59 AM

I'll anwer that question by asking another L.A.... Lets say ya stuck a sword into a tree with the blade pointin out about four feet off the ground... N ya put a sign on it sayin if you run into this sword you will die... Now let's say someone who don't know about, or cain't read the sign runs into it... is it fair that that person dies?... It really don't matter if'n or not it's fair... the person is just as dead... The analogy is a little extreme, but you git the drift... The ten commandments are that sword... if'n you break them you die... every single one of us has broke them... All hell is is permanently being out of the presence of God... a place where evil is unrestrained... people choose not to be with God... God honors that... That decision will be confirmed in you when you breath your last... Why does God not just destroy before they are born those he knows will choose Hell?... for the benifit of those who will choose him... that we might truly know Him... the extent of his love, consumated in the sacrifice of his Son who took the full force of the sentance we recieved at our judgement.
God did once destroy those he knew would never choose him, he knew also that none of their decendants would choose him... for the benifit of NOah's decendants he destroyed them... God thru history has blessed nations that honored him... later to destroy those mighty nations once they had forgotten Him... America is a nation blessed of God because it was founded by those who made God first in their lives... "In God We Trust"
....In the last fifty years America has dived into a downward spiral... because we have endeavered to remove God from any public venue... Public school's used to use the Bible as a text book, begin the day with prayer... knowledge of God is the beginning of all wisdom... If'n you poll current sixth graders about the nature of Jesus Christ they will answer, "Jesus Who?".....
Romans chapter one... "The wrath of God is bein revealed from heaven against all the godlessness & wickedness of men who supress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, becuause God has made it plain to them, for since the creation of the world, God invisable qualities... his eternal power & divine nature have been clearly seen... bein understood from what has been made... so that all men... are... without excuse"...
........... How could a good God destroy those created in his likeness? How could a good God force those who don't want to be with him to spend enernity with him?.... The choice is yours folks... if'n yer serious then check out the other religions read their stuff N discover fer yourself the hopelessness they teach... when you understand that desperation... know that there is hope... God will fill with a new restored joy, hope in those who choose him... those who are livin life without him are filled without exception with guilt, doubt, fear, and despair... you guys want desperatly to believe... I sense that... I feel the despair in you... Know my friends that God has no use for an unbroken man... any man who's hopes still lie in this world has no part in God... know when you get to the bottem...& you will cause God will give you every oppertunity... that God will be there waitin fer ya, to pick you up N make you His... my advice... take His hand when he offers it...
N fer L.A. I'll give ya a leg up... spread the word like ya said... N all those who benifit will be fer you, a treasure stored up in Heaven... though you will not be saved fer doin so... you will reap an eternal reward.... ya might even say "usein God's Word fer yer benifit" to quote an ole friend
.... If you so Choose

CenterPointEX

05-04-2005, 12:45 AM

Well I done it... I pulled da plug on DWP work monday befer last... what was I thinkin stayin der so long? Took a call wit HotLine in Ventura workin on Edison property... I'll miss da gas card N da truck but I'm only five mins from da show up now so dat's way good... the gig is only fifty but I hear da guys are gettin call outs N stuff... N ya don't have dem Inspectors breathin down yer neck n flippin yer gillet on Edison prop... it's one twnety , two fourty, N git on down da road... none of dis yer square washers a millameter out a square b.s...
Da wify is gettin ancy fer me ta get back ta da home twenty N stay... That's da trouble of bein a tramp... I reckon I gotta figure out how ta live a little leaner out here on da road... she's complain about da money it's costin me ta live out here... tinks maybe I'm spinnin my wheels... don't know what ta do... they are still runnin dem boy's in da ground in Houston fer twenty two dollars n some change... I'm not da only one in dat boat... ders a buch of hands out here from sixty six fer da same reason... what's a feller ta do? Who did that tumble weed song L.A.? Dease tramps are kinda like modern day Cowboys... drifters as it were.... Limeman married to da line.... searchin fer another overload...

CenterPointEX

05-14-2005, 12:51 AM

Seen Bubb's little brother at da showup... I thought he was Bubba... Is there anybody but J.R. left at North Houston? I'm missin home sumtin terrible... could be almost time ta drag back to da home twenty fer a spell... The road does have an alure about it though... I hope I ain't addicted... The thing about Houston though is... when I hang there... I start gettin all twisted inside... thinkin about Bilski... all those years on nights... the sacrifices I made fer da Company... or maybe what it cost my family... all the years I spent apart from them, cause it's what I had to do to keep my job... how little that ment to CenterPoint in the end... How Jay n Joe simply did what they had to do to get their bonus... wrecking lives ta buy the wify a new car... they know the truth... ask em... I ain't talked to one of em yet that ain't looked down in the dirt n started kickin rocks... they know what went down was wrong... but ain't nutin can change what happened... one of them decisions ya live with the rest of yer life... it sucks hurtin folks... especially if'n it's irrepairable... I'm just like the rest of us... not much else I kin do but live with it... askin fer Gods forgivness... N gettin on down da Line... helpin a brother when he put up his hand fer a lift... never know... ya might be entertainin an angel...

CenterPointEX

05-29-2005, 08:05 AM

I'm gettn so close ta home on da money I kin smell it... woulda been gone if'n my dumbarse hadn't spent so much time on DWP Property... when we was rained out, all the others were doing thirtytwo n outs... Oh Well... live N learn... hopefully. Anybody out there missin home besides me?

CenterPointEX

06-07-2005, 12:53 AM

Flew home for the weekend to attend my boys graduation... seem like just yesterday I was all excited about him being born... If'n ya got young'uns... don't blink... or dey will be gone... God has truly blessed me with some great kids... N a wonderful Wife... N the abiltiy to do linework... ain't life good?...

Local fourty seven.... fifty one standin calls

CenterPointEX

06-27-2005, 12:47 AM

The Chinese are gonna buy Unocal? What ya reckon UnaCal got the Chinese want? Revelation talks of a one hundred million man army marching on Isreal... Up until now that kinda army didn't exist... wanna guess who sports one now? Merchants give allegence to no country... The only thing that made American companies great was the moral fiber which grounded their worship of the almighty dollar... but no more... Jesus Christ and his old man are on the verge of being outlaws here in thease Uninted States. Don't think so... try to speak of thier message in a classroom... try it in your work place... dare to hang a copy of the ten commandments in a public venue... dare to speak out in public of the last ten verses of Romans Chapter one... dare to suggest that there are more important things than the bottem line dollar in Corperate America... dare to suggest it takes more faith to believe in Evolution than it does to believe in Creation... Dare to suggest that the root of Islam seeks world domination and will stop at nothing short of it... Dare to suggest that Socialism is a Godless cruel form of slavery into which this country is cartwheeling headlong.... God help us... short of some kinda major revival we are toast...

Local Fourtyseven... thirty one standing calls

SBatts

06-27-2005, 05:55 PM

No they put in a hostile bid. Congress said it ain't happening.

Check the supreme court ruling today. your phoney god ain't going anywhere. It didn't even take dabyas court lackeys to produce the vote.

Class rooms are for learning not praying. That is what is going on in Muslim schools. That and bomb making.

Your quoting the bible and your trash talk in public forum is your choice, mine is to shout you down.

CenterPointEX

06-28-2005, 09:52 PM

Your phoney god ain't going anywhere.
Class rooms are for learning not praying.
Your quoting the bible and your trash talk in public forum is your choice,
mine is to shout you down.

You do know Batts that the Bible was once used as a textbook in American schools and prayer was part of the normal day?

Local 47 sixteen standing calls... some hands musta drug in from somewhere

Swamprat

06-28-2005, 10:21 PM

You do know Batts that the Bible was once used as a textbook in American schools and prayer was part of the normal day

Times have changed CP. Not sayin I like it, just sayin..."that's the way it is"...

I was brought up in those times.....good times.

Nowdays, I'm an Agnostic. What to do....

CenterPointEX

06-30-2005, 12:22 AM

Times have changed CP. Not sayin I like it, just sayin..."that's the way it is"...I was brought up in those times.....good times.
Nowdays, I'm an Agnostic. What to do....

That's exactly the point I been trying to make Swamp... they were good times... but they are no more... and you are not alone... the better part of America ;like Swamp, has given up on God... They say were is your God? look around you... Evil men prosper, and those weak saps who trust in that God cower in the corner in fear... giving away thier hard earned dollars to a hopeless cause... hopeing for a better life... they should stand up and trust in themselves instead of some stupid useless God. Thier God is for the weak and meek who use this so called God for a crutch. The agnostics N athiests, N humanists laugh and spit N drive more nails in the cross and say... like Pilot... "truth... truth... what is truth?" History repeats itself Swamp... we would not be the first late great nation that wished it had not turned it's back on the God of Abraham, Issiac, N Jacob...

Local Fourty Seven... Seventeen standing calls... some boys from Detroit rolled in... must be gettin thin there...

CenterPointEX

07-06-2005, 12:55 AM

Went home for three days fer the fourth... We had a family reunion of sorts... chillin by the lake house sucking down red N whites... there was so many of us there me N my Lady had to get creative to do our thing... It was kinda like the old days when we was sneakin around... makin our own fireworks... Some more boys from Detroit rolled in... bottem musta fell out up yonder...
Boy I hate to see a man suffer when a beer can got em by the balls N won't let go.... I seen so much talent neutralized in my day...

Local fourty seven... thirteen standing calls...

CenterPointEX

07-07-2005, 11:41 PM

Swamprat

07-09-2005, 10:49 PM

The hills are turning brown... the Jan rain caused massive growth of underbursh... I'm tinkin dis place is gonna burn like none other... only four standin calls at 47... what's up wit that? Either we been havin an influx of lineman or the work is slowin... Hinkle pulled the pin on DWP... I'm not sure if'n they got sumtin in the works to remidy that or not... it's not like all the rotten poles went away... sumtin will have'ta give sooner or later...

CP,
Why can't you find a job closer to home man?
You seem to be a family man.
Not gettin personal, but...."Is the money" worth the space and time from your family?

Seems a man like you would be alot better off...closer to home.

CenterPointEX

07-10-2005, 05:40 AM

Back in Houston things are not good... HL&P hired a proven Union Buster to come in and do her thing... Deregulation has got the company in a zero maintanence mode fer the moment... North Houston Pole Line underbid a massive amount of work, so all the other contractors either went bankrupt or drug up... If'n yer working fer em ya hit the ground running N git whistle bit often... If'n everything goes right they make a little money... if'n it don't they are breathin down yer neck wantin to know why... There are about 150 Houston hands out here workin... While I was workin for North Houston I took three pay cuts... every time the insurance went up they took it out of our hourly wage... I just hit a years pay for Houston N it's only July... My oldest boy is startin Texas a&M this year so I'm gonna work about six more weeks to raise those funds then I'm gonna be off... fer the rest of the year... My youngest son is a Senior so's when he gets out next year me N the Wife are gonna drag Houston N find somewhere fer me to be... Hopefully a friendlier N Kindlier than Houston town in Texas... Out here doin a little healing too... losing three hundred fifty K in the company 401K , N my twenty year gig with HL&P\Reliant\CenterPoint kinda put me in an emotional bottemless pit... I was sick fer a while... a long while... the shrink called it situational derpession... all's I know is it was a funk I don't wish on my worst enemy... not even Mr. Bilski... In a few more years Houston will be in the same situation California is right now...N conditions will have to get better in HOuston If'n they wanna keep any hands there... Trampin is hard on the family life... I've heard a fistfull of crash N burn stories N then some out here on the road..."Desparado...you better come to yer senses..."

P.S. Call me crazy... but God sent me here... He has laid at my feet men who at this place n time, needed to hear my testimony... When I was at the top of my game back home, I had begun to feel proud... real proud... N my dumb ass prayed a prayer... "Lord humble me that I might be of service to you..." One night I came to understand how that prayer would be answered... in desperation I prayed...." Lord surely there must be some other way..." Be careful what ya pray for Gentlemen! I reckon at this point If'n I could go back N change what happened, I would decline to do so... Ya see ya really don't know God is all ya need til God is all ya got... Here I sit imursed in the unfanthomable overwhelming presence of God... tears well up in my eyes... not because I suffer... but out of unexpressable joy N gratitude....

LOcal 47 13 standin calls, but dey's draggin by droves storm chasin...

gloving is an art

07-12-2005, 04:20 PM

For whatever it's worth.I worked for FPL for more than 22 years.during the 22nd year went through a bad divorce.Left Miami,Central Service Center,had been there more than 12 years.Early in 2003 went to work in Hawaii,big island,my children came to visit for a whole month.Great experience,left when the fires started,August 2003 California,worked out of 1245.Stayed till summer 2004.Moved back to Georgia.I lived in a little room and made made and saved good money.I also came to realize even in my greatest moments I need God.Hell,I think that is when I need him most.After storm season I want to go back.Most of my life I have prayed for what I want,even what I am convinced I need.As I have gotten older I pray for God to help me want and do the right thing.I pray for humilty.I pray for the safety of my crew.

CenterPointEX

07-15-2005, 09:45 PM

For whatever it's worth...I also came to realize even in my greatest moments I need God.Hell,I think that is when I need him most... I have prayed...I pray for God to help me to want and to do the right thing.I pray for humilty.I pray for the safety of my crew.

Amen N Amen... G.A. ...Say one fer me would ya? You know; I reckon, the effect bein on da road has on a man...

gloving is an art

07-17-2005, 05:53 PM

Hey thanks for responding CenterPoint Ex.I don't know when I will head back to California but I expect it to be after middle of August when my children start back to school.Literally must be 8 utilities are willing to pay for a round trip flight to interview and test me.These people call me twice a week.Is everybody short on lineman?......By the way I have enjoyed the last 4 months reading this forum.Took me three months to join.In Miami we had a huge load factor and 9 out of 10 supervisors and all superintendents had never put on hooks or worked out of the bucket.They did ride in the bucket as part of their "Distribution Training."LOL.Sometimes though some of them got it....For those out there who are just starting,,,linework is tough.If your an apprentice and you get a hardnosed lineman take the cotton out your ears and stick it in your mouth and learn how to listen.You'll be so glad you did down the road.....with no apprentices,just journeyman on all crews downtown Miami,man we were eat up with linework,supervisors hated it down there,left you alone.Most troubleman down there never left you hanging.Made alot of money.Best sagging in the country with the beach right there.For those who don't know,that's what we called checking the girls out.Every truck had a set of binoculars.

CenterPointEX

07-20-2005, 10:07 PM

Well all goodthings have thier day, butt it's time fer me to start moving dat way... pulled da pin on HOt LIne N I'm headed fer Palm Springs... I'm gonna miss this breeze off the beach in Ventura... N da waves... N the friends I made here... One of the best guys I had on the pole with me in a while... Ole Swampy's a good dude... That little Rat Turner though... well I reckon I'll miss him too... gonna stop in Palm Springs N hang out wit Pastor Tom for a few weeks then drag on down the Katy Freeway A.K.A. "the ten" N chill at da home twenty fer a spell soakin up some lovin from da wife N chillins... I miss dem chillins sumtin fierce. It's enough to break a mans heart draggin on folks ya come ta know N love... Take it from CPX though... a gem ta keep a little glow on yer ass...
"Leave 'em Loving Ya!"

Local Fourty SEven... 32 standin calls left over after dispatch...

LostArt

07-20-2005, 10:14 PM

Have a good time CPX. Seems I'm not through visitin' CA. Might even head there again this fall.............hopefully not durin' another hurricane though.

Take care buddy,
LA

Outlaw Lineman

07-20-2005, 10:17 PM

CPX enjoy the time with the wife and chillins. Hope California made you a lot of money so you can stay home a while. Good luck and God Bless.

barehander

07-20-2005, 10:19 PM

CPX, take care and git home......although Palms Springs was 121 degrees this week.....I respect your dedication to your family.......

Swamprat

07-21-2005, 09:57 AM

Bout time CP. Congrats man!! Have a safe trip, and enjoy the family and a break. Ya deserve it.

I'm sure we'll be hearin from ya again. Hope so. If ya ain't got a computer at the house....GET one!! Later man.....

CenterPointEX

07-21-2005, 09:00 PM

Well I stopped in N got da Guerrero Electric Speach... I had heard tell of it but I got it up close N personal... Sounds like he runs a tight ship though... It's 7:00 P.M. Here N its a 115 degrees.... Not at all like Ventura... Whats Up... I tink I'm gonna melt... Not... I'm Super Lineman... Not... Just a Tramp tryin ta make a dollar...

Heard Dacon is gonna pick up a more substation work than they can man back in Houston... Sounds like the Light Co. is pullin the pin on thier Sub Station construction group... whats next...?

Local fourty seven... 33 standin calls after dispatch...

CenterPointEX

07-24-2005, 08:39 AM

The first day on the job here was a Motha... the hurricane swooped some humidity into the bowl to go wit da 115 temp. The forskin asked me more than once if I would be back on monday, or should he resume the call... seems they been through fifteen guys the last two months...
The dessart has a tranquil beauty of its own... I'm continually awed by Gods creation... It's a thing of incomprehensible beauty... I cain't wait to see it cleansed of the presence of Sin...

Local 47... 29 standin calls after dispatch....

CenterPointEX

07-28-2005, 11:29 PM

My pole buddy here in the dessert just got back in the trade after a few years hiatus... He had his own bussiness, but every time he drove by a line crew dem cedar creepers cried ta him like a Siren callin a ship ashore... Dem salty ole tramps of yester year wern't much differant from thease modern day drifters... lookin fer adventure on the high seas... or high lines as it were... so they cowboy up... pack der bags... N get on down the line...

Take a little advice from a fella who got a taste of trampin...
Leave 'em lovein ya... it's easier dat way...

Local fourty seven... sixteen standin calls...

CenterPointEX

07-30-2005, 09:19 PM

I clumb my but up to da top of one of dease mountains here in da dessert today... man it's pretty up der... America is truly blessed wit a land full of beauty, milk, N honey... Freedom... smell it... taste it... breath it... export it...die defendin it...

CenterPointEX

08-01-2005, 10:06 PM

Well da dessert is gettin to me... What was I thinkin?...it was 113 n fourty percent humidity today...

They got some calls in San Diago... I'm thinkin about doing my last week there just to see what it's all about... Does anybody know if'n they are workin any time down there? The calls are five eights or five nines... but ya cain't always go by that...

I got a call from Hillick... He is off the wagon... still pretty ticked about the way things went down... ya well if'n da truth be know... me too... Hey Paul.. Ya reckon someday Mr. Bilski will git a drink of da cup he so loved to serve? Maybe just maybe... If'n he says his prayers... God will spare him... Ya, Jonah didn't want ta go to Ninivah... he knew dey would repent N God would forgive them... last thing in da world he wanted to see happen... He wanted ta see 'em smoked... Dang!

Local fourtyseven 8 standin calls left over after dispatch...

CenterPointEX

08-16-2005, 11:17 PM

What da ya know... I showed up in a yard... N a fella was talkin about Powerlineman.com... talked wit one a dem der English accents... none other dan da infamous LimeyBill... didn't know he was here in da states... but der he was Limey as ever...seem like n o.k. guy... hooked up wit da Rat Turner though... cain't hold dat against a fella... we did a chopper job went real smooth... "YOu are in a hurry arn'tyou?" ... quote of da day

CenterPointEX

08-17-2005, 11:08 PM

Robert M. made it here from Houston... O.K. J.R. when you N Bud gonna make it out? Last one from Houston turn out da lights when ya leave... Oh ya... I forgot... If'n dey ain't no lineman left... dey won't be any lights left ta turn out... Hey CenterPoint\Reliant|HL&P, I'm sure ya know it already... but it's like pay us now... or pay us later... we will be home I reckon when ya get far enough behind that ya ain't got no choice but ta pay us ta ketch ya up... after ya get through bending over da customers dat is... Sh@t runs downhill don't ya know... N da tramps make a living wallerin in it don't ya know? or do ya?...

unclejohn22

08-18-2005, 07:06 AM

Hey Centre New to this forum,
i admire your balls for havin your own little forum within the forum....
You remind me of that guy who went on the oprah show then went out on his own Dr phil.. I think i have found a new nick name for you.. Have a great weekend phil :D

CenterPointEX

08-18-2005, 10:55 PM

Welcome to my world Unca John... Captive audiences are a kick... on occasion folks wanna jump down in mysh@t... I reckon on occasion I deserve it... I'm kinda like liver... love it or hate it... no middle ground... then der are dose folks who love ta hate it... dem R my favorite... but take a tip from CPX UNcaJn... Leave em lovin ya... it's easier dat way...

Local Fourty SEven... eleven standin calls left over after dispatch...

CenterPointEX

08-24-2005, 02:30 AM

On second thought I'm tinkin next time I see Mr. Bilski I'm gonna walk up N shake his hand... Light Co. Pukes R just that... They get that way cause they work in a political situation where what ya know don't matter as much as who ya blow... Ya the benneis are good but at what price... dignity fer one...

But anyhow... seein da country is sumtin I wouldnta missed der da world... N Freedom ta take a vacation any time ya want reguardless of yer seniorty... Ya drag when ya wanna... work fer who ya wanna... or not... ders sumtin ta be said fer dat... who kin count on retirement from dem der folks ya sold yer life to anyhow? For da most part American Companiess could give a dam anymore about da folks dat carry thier torches... Fodder to da Nth degree, dat's all dey are... I hope it works out fer ya Pukes... but when ya get to da end graspin fer air... well life on occasion leaves ya in da suction mode...

Hey LImeyBill.. send me a Private message N I'll deliever dat package we talked about...

LostArt

08-24-2005, 08:53 PM

Umm...........my husband didn't like that life. Well, I don't know if he "didn't" like it because at the time he had no choice. But, now working for a small REA, he actually REALLY likes it.

Sure, there is politics. When do we not have politics? I have it in the educational field.

It's all about if you like your line of work. I always told my kids, "Go to college! Make good. But, for heaven's sakes make sure you like it! Don't become grumpy old people at retirement age!"

Reading many posts from you guys and hearing my husband talk, you have to at least like the work. It's the outside interference that gets the best of you guys! :D

Swamprat

08-24-2005, 10:17 PM

Reading many posts from you guys and hearing my husband talk, you have to at least like the work. It's the outside interference that gets the best of you guys! :D

Any Lineman in the Trade "Likes" the work LA.
Otherwise, there wouldn't be guys sweatin their ass off, workin Hot 13.8, 34.5 KV.....230KV, 500KV.

There will ALWAYS be Politics my Lady. That's what's slowly killin YOUR/Our school system, Linework, and a shitload of other stuff in America.

It's called "Political Correctness". Translation? Ya can't say SHIT when ya got a mouth full!!! God forbid...we "offend" some ASSHOLE.

Ahhhhhhh....The "New" America....

I'm glad I'm gettin "older"...pretty soon...I'll...thankfully DIE. Die happy, rememberin the "Old Days".

Check it out....
When you youngens die.....are you gonna look back and remember your "Old days" with as much reverance?
I sure hope so. By then though,....the national language of America should be spanish, and we should be at war with the COMPLETE World!!!

Have fun! :-) :-) :-) It's a bitch.....growin up.

CenterPointEX

08-24-2005, 11:56 PM

Ole Swamp... bein a Rat... couldn't tell ya... he didn't have da options a Union Line Hand has ... Driftin ain't fer everybody I reckon...

Swamprat

08-25-2005, 11:00 PM

Ole Swamp... bein a Rat... couldn't tell ya... he didn't have da options a Union Line Hand has ... Driftin ain't fer everybody I reckon...

Heh, heh, heh...
I've "drifted" more miles than your ass could even imagine CP.

"Bein a Rat"...

And....like THAT has to do with what?:-)
A union guy "drifts" different than a rat guy? You're funny.

What the hell you still doin here? I thought you wrote a big "sign off...see ya later" message? Everybody wished your ass good luck and stuff.

You ain't missed a lick! :-) What was THAT "goodby" shit about? :-)

I've had "duh" options a union line hand has CP.

I just took another road man.
Worked for me. Union and god work for you.

God Bless ya.

CenterPointEX

08-26-2005, 04:44 AM

He, he, he...
I just took another road man.Worked for me. Union and god work for you.Well for one Swamp... Rats cain't just go down to the hall N take a call. It is a tougher row to hoe fer a Rat...
Ya, I called the wife N told her I was headed home fer a vacation N she made me stay few more weeks... said her boyfriend didn't ship out til the end of the month... actually some unexpected bills cum up N well... it comes a lot faster here than there... Palm Springs was too damn hot so I'm back in Ventura til the end of the month... like six days away... but don't think yer gonna get off that easy Swamp... I'll still be keepin ya posted... N on the last day Swamp... you will answer to God... even if'n he don't work for you

CenterPointEX

08-27-2005, 10:03 PM

Ok already... I'm done this week, Keith (number one son) is gonna fly out N drive back wit me... It's been real it's been good, a time of healing like only God could... Thinkin a bout stoppin N checking out the grand canyon... It's a trip... It's on... wonder if'n dey still love me back home... Pray fer me L.A. , swamp, batts I know ya do even if'n ya say ya don't... nobodys that damn stupid... The Hito man is gonna long fer yesterday, Swampy gonna follow da steps of Jonah... running from himself in the short term but from God in eternal respective..

Local 47 15 standin calls... The elephant bar... good grub der in santa Barbra... We sto pped n ate there after doing chopper set in gavoita state park... The pilot Randy did an amazing job landin da stuff...Damn I left my camera at da house... anyhow it was way cool..

CenterPointEX

08-29-2005, 08:18 AM

What a weekend... had a mini heatwave here in Ventura... I think I slept about six hours in three days... sixty four N out... I'm thinkin maybe tuesday instead of wednesday fer da big QRU on California... Be lookin ya in da eyes real soon Angel... when ya look folks in da eye ya learn a lot about em don't ya know... for da eyes truly are a window to da soul...

CenterPointEX

09-06-2005, 09:37 AM

The Grand Canyon was way cool... it was so sureal dat da boy said it looked fake... We left Ventura about four a.m N hit the Canyon bout noon...I plunked down 185$ fer a chopper ride\jeep tour... the chopper ride was thirty mins... I didn't get the full effect cause my headset didn't work, da boy said they had music from jurrassic park and from the IMAX G. Canyon,as well as a narrative... If'n ya got the extra money fer da chopper I reckon do it, but don't lament if'n ya don't, it ain't that big a deal... but just sittin on da rim of da canyon... W.O.W.! ...Words n pictures do it no justace, ya gotta see it! It's humbleing... If'n ya buy a jeep tour make sure it's a jeep N not a F350 with chairs strapped to a bed on the back... they billed it as jeep tour... they had jeeps parked out front... it wern't too bad I reckon, we went thru the national N state parks on the way to da canyon ...found some cool places to camp... but for the most part ya kin get just as much out of it by not buying their packages, N doing it on your own... Ya gotta buy a six day national park pass to get in... anyhow don't miss it in yer lifetime if'n ya kin help it...

CenterPointEX

09-13-2005, 12:01 AM

Didn't git to spend enough time at da crib... It was good sleepin next to da Wife fer a few nights... I'm sleepin on a couch in GulfPort fer a little bit... Saw AirForceOne today flyin low overhead... I may look fer a gig here when I git thru playin superhero... anybody know where to go around these parts to git on wit one of dem der contractors? I saw some Henkle & McCoy trucks on da road... Is Pike Union in thease parts?

Swamprat

09-13-2005, 10:06 PM

Is Pike Union in thease parts?

Pike ain't Union period.

But they hire good Linemen for good wages...

CenterPointEX

09-14-2005, 06:44 AM

Swamp, I reckon you sayin If'n ever I wanted to go Rat... dis is da oppertunity of a lifetime... no thanks... I coulda come out on California scale if'n I wanted... like I'm sure da Rats woulda paid me a fair wage... Not!

So Johnny calls from Houston... He's ticked cause they wouldn't let him come work storm... I tell him Bubba don't you know... Hoop ain't callin da shots... CentePoint is... they wouldn't let ya go... so he's asking me how to get a ticket out of the morass back in HOuston... said he's done, N he's headed yonder way 1 October... I feel ya Johnny... Godspeed!
......Maybe Earl will come give ya a pep talk like he done J.R.

CenterPointEX

09-15-2005, 11:00 AM

Local 903 is back on line in Gulfport... 228 863 9881.... 2417 West 32nd off Highway 49 south of 10, ten blocks down on da left... don't call that cell number OP196 posted... the problem with working here now is finding a place to stay... They said sumtin about workin thru your own locals to find a gig with accomadations... I going down to the hall today N sign da books as I have a place to stay here... I"ll keep ya posted...

It was a walk thru at da hall... start tomorrow wit da green, yeller & White\Henkle & McCoy... the scale sucks though... When I asked da B.A. what it was, he looked at da ground N mumbled 21.90... then looked up ta see if'n I was headed out da door... If'n ya come, come like a turtle, cause there ain't no place to stay... I would gander to say about fifty percent of this area is wiped off da map...

barehander

09-16-2005, 01:18 PM

It was a walk thru at da hall... start tomorrow wit da green, yeller & White\Henkle & McCoy... the scale sucks though... When I asked da B.A. what it was, he looked at da ground N mumbled 21.90... then looked up ta see if'n I was headed out da door... If'n ya come, come like a turtle, cause there ain't no place to stay... I would gander to say about fifty percent of this area is wiped off da map...

Sorry CP, I wouldn't get out of bed for that wage.....our new-hires off the street get $28.....

Swamprat

09-16-2005, 11:27 PM

Sorry CP, I wouldn't get out of bed for that wage.....our new-hires off the street get $28.....

Damn!!
With the cost of livin in Cali, compared to the cost of livin in Florida....
$25 bucks for a rat, off the street down here in Gatorland... sounds pretty damn good.

CenterPointEX

09-17-2005, 01:30 AM

It's a funny thing life... I've found it way less taxing, not makin plans. I planned to retire at 55 with a million dollars in da bank... After giving CenterPoint twenty of the best years of my life; workin nights N bad shifts N seven hundred to a thousand hours a year of overtime, CenterPoint laid off a bunch of folks; includin me, N der stock went from fourty eight dollars to four dollars... I had six thousand shares in da 401K... That was back in 02, 911 had caught Enron with their pants down, N companies dat were dabblin in da Enron game took big hits... CenterPoint/Reliant\Hl&P being one of them... Instead of spendin the time with my wife N kids, I give them years to the god I worshiped... CenterPoint... In exchange for my loyality & sacrifice, this god promised to take care of me... Pretty much anything material I wanted I could buy... i.e. the pay was good. If'n I or my family got broken they would heal us... i.e. the insurance & benifits were good... when I needed a break it would give it to me, i.e. the vacation was good...when I got old it would feed me... i.e the retirement was good... then one day my god cast me to the wind... My god, my god, why has thou forsaken me? For months I could only sleep two or three hours a night... the rest of the night hours I spent convulsin in tremors... there was no work in Houston N I didn't know about trampin... I had bills N didn't know how was gonna pay them... I thought any day my wife would leave me....After a couple of weeks beatin da street for a job, I took to spendin da days crumpled up in a corner or walkin circles around da house insane... sometime I ran... in circles til I got worn down enough to sleep, if just for a moment... A friend of mine lost a teenage child... I could feel his wife cryin "My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?"... years later I asked how it was goin with her... he replied..."It never gets better, it just gets differant." I undestood that... sometimes still on a night like this one, I Awake in da middle of da night in a tremor, crying my god, my god why hast thou forsaken me?
Don't let anything on this earth become your god... Job, family, power, money, sex, drugs, etc. cause in the end, they will cast you to the wind as chaff... N when it happens you will experience a taste of hell... Boys N Girls... turn your hearts N minds to the one true God, revealed to us in the Father, Son N Holy Spirt... Cause after tasting hell... I want no part of it... If'n you get caught at the final 911 still rejecting Christs sacrifice\gift for you... you will enter an eternity apart from his presnece\Love... you will long forever for the perfect love you rejected... N that loss will be your own personal, eternal hell... It will never get better, it will just get differant...

CenterPointEX

09-21-2005, 11:00 PM

Well, my work here with Katrina is just about done... I got a date with Rita next I reckon... Man I hate ta see what happend here happen to anyone else... I've never seen such extensive destruction... They had a freak here today... One of the apprentices got a call from his Mom... heard they were gonna ration gas at midnight... all the boys picked up der phones N had folks at the home twenty roundin up gas cans N barrells ta fill up... there were fourty car lines at da stations... It turned out to be a rumor... Station owners tried to convince patrons that it was B.S. but the folks couldn't be dissuaded... All the radio stations were talkin about da rumor to no avail... I Reckon I'm headed back to da home twenty via Dallas I20...

CenterPoint sucks... N da scale sucks der... keep yer job N let dem folks learn ta regret doin us how they done us... Lets them RAts come in N show us what they really are made of... Let CenterPoint get their fill of em N see how it settles in der stomache... I seen thier work out here... Some Pke boys cum N stuck a pole in the ground before we got there... a fourty five foot pole... three N a half foot in da ground... wanna guess what happens when ya set a 45ft pole 3.5 foot in da ground?... Built a 208 bank without cuttin da pots two wire... didn't check voltage... Ya... I seen em work...

CenterPointEX

09-23-2005, 02:09 AM

Well I'm still here in Gulfport... I was gonna bug but inbound traffic to Houston was shut down... The family evacked to Breckinridge Tx... I was gonna head that way but since they called for evac of east Louisanna also, all the roads are jammed... the folks in east Texas N west Louisanna ain't got no place to evac to but Dallas... it's either I45 to I20 or I49 to I20... Usually I 10 is an evac route but there ain't no place on 10 to go right now... Mississippi is smashed N any anywhere else on 10 is in da path of the storm... so's the evacs really ain't got no place to go but Dallas or oklahoma... Birmingham maybe... all the nort bound hotels are currently occupied by Katrina evacs...
Them evil Sin City/New Orleans evacs are on da run again...
first..........the SuperDome...
Then ........the Astrodome...
Send em to the Silverdome next...
that will get em far away from us, so the next disaster won't affect the Gulf Coast... Either that or throw them overboard with Jonah so the storm will subside... Gee's!...

SBatts

09-23-2005, 11:20 AM

Setting in my travel trailer here in Houston. Heard from PAR friends ready to go to work. North Houston Pole line Spotted and Ready. Your hard on for Center Point is not shared with many. I think Center Point got rid of dead wood.

dungnfam

09-23-2005, 11:32 AM

Amen to those beautiful words you, Centerpoint, spoke about Christ. Stay strong in your faith and He will always take care of you and He will never put you in a situation He knows you can't handle. Like Footprints in the Sand God will carry you when you are weak.

CenterPointEX

09-26-2005, 08:38 AM

Thanx fer those words of encouragement Mr. dungnfam... My faith has been been tempered in the furnace of affliction... Being tempered sucks, but the result is worth it... A word of advice though... never pray for humbleness...

S. Batts, hangin in HOston... I'll be there shortly, maybe, just maybe I'll get to meet the infamous Batts...You parked out there on 59?... Don't take my word for it Batts... ask them CenterPoint boys about how the layoff went down... My GF Harvey came up to me in a restraunt after the layoff and apologised... He said he didn't have anything to do with it and he didn't know how we were chosen... another G.F. Russell started crying as he walked with me out the door... Another.. Bill... wouldn't look me in the eye the next time we crossed paths... See... Bill had a son at another service center... He figured if'n he could axe engough folks at our service center, his son might be spared... His boy didn't make it... I think Dustin works for Budweiser now... About six weeks later the Supervisor; whom I believe was given the task submittin names had a heart attack... He is human after all... It was about money... they targeted an age group that would save them the largest sum... they purposely over hired... got the younger ones a little training then they dropped the axe... Ask them boys what kind of company CenterPoint is to work for... You working for N. Houston Pole Line?...Ask them boys there how it is contracting in Houston for the Almighty CenterPoint... Hoop called yesterday trying to get me to come in to work... Said he was going thru his call list trying ta get some of us to come back from CAlifornia, etc. to come help em out.... They got BAtts cocked N ready?... That says something about whats goin on down there...

O.K. BAtts I'm packin my sh@t N draggin Gulfport... see ya in about six N a half hours if things go well...

SBatts

09-26-2005, 04:31 PM

Been downtown Centerpoint for lunch twice, since I have been back. Did you weigh over 250pounds when let go???

CenterPointEX

09-27-2005, 12:26 PM

205..............................

SBatts

09-28-2005, 03:13 PM

205..............................

Sorry Just a word for on high they shit canned overweight people, after givingh thema year to lose weight. Thought you might be one.

CenterPointEX

09-28-2005, 03:39 PM

A friend of mine Ed Hurta weighs over 300... He got his six foot 6 frame down to skin N bone.. didn't make the weight... Saw him out there in California workin... He is a good lineman.. one of the best... the weight thing was B.S. They targeted an age group... Ed didn't get any of the severace money... it was a way to get rid of some folks before they came out with the involuntary severace/"layoff"

Union Lawyers went to bat for em, but they lost... Ed got his own lawyer... I don't know if he got anything out of em or not... Usually when ya do that they pay ya ta go away if'n ya promise not to disclose...

wormy

09-28-2005, 05:13 PM

Thats the way work goes with them republican corporations and scab workers

Swamprat

09-28-2005, 05:49 PM

Thats the way work goes with them republican corporations and scab workers
Wait! I thought that place was Union? Wouldn't the union stand up their boys on somethin like that? Hummmm.....

SBatts

09-29-2005, 03:06 PM

Wait! I thought that place was Union? Wouldn't the union stand up their boys on somethin like that? Hummmm.....

The union can hold their breath and turn blue in cases of safety.
(Overloading equipment) They play with rules like Xcenter said. That was just what I heard and ask a real question. He answered. I was not acussing him of being a fatass, and the union was unable to overcome the guidelines of the layoffs and retirements.

CenterPointEX

10-05-2005, 08:54 AM

...Have you even looked at the ages of most of the dead in the last ten years? This industry has seen a drastic change in the last ten years. One change in particular is the number of lineman that have been retired in this last decade. How many utilities have back-filled all of these vacancees created? None of them!
We now do what we once did with half the men.This has created one hell of a nitch for contractors to fill the void that utilities use to cover in house. Its a win win for major utilities. When a highly paid chief retires, not only do they stop paying benifits and salary they also lose a crew. this creates even more opportunity to contract out work.

If this was'nt bad enough, now we have contractors under bidding eachother just to get a foothold. When you under bid a job it causes big problems for everyone. In the end the crew chief gets the heat for lost productivity.

There is alot of talent in the trade today Union and non-union contractor and utility and every day a damn good hand drags up and heads for a better opportunity leaving behind a void in which the employer has to fill with a less expierenced hand.

In the end we all have to read about another 26 year old young man who's dead and leaves behind a wife and two small children and we somehow justify it by calling it a mistake or a accident!
BULLSHIT.

........Good post TGRove... You are not alone in your tribulation... In the past Utility hands didn't have to compete with Contractors for work... they had the option of doing it the safe way no matter how long it took... Not so since the advent of Deregulation.... I don't know what the answer will be... I guess maybe if and when the Public has had enough of sub-standard electrical service... maybe when the carnage starts, maybe after a hot city goes thru a rampage after an outage of some duration... like those in California... til then I guess we gotta just stick togahter... call bullshit when neccessary... N get fired N move on if that's what it takes... That's pretty much the reason I don't work at home right now... Because of the situation with underbid work and the like... It's just not a safe or good place to be right now... I pretty much made the decision to leave just such a situation in Houston after a close call...
....I was in the bucket with an apprentice... We had built a new six pole line and we were in the process of connecting it to an existin dead end pole, which were converting to an inline pole... The job was out of hours... The foreman was pushin... it had rained some that day which slowed us down N it was late... It was 19.9\34.5... The line phases were in isolaters just on the other side of the pole we were working on (Hung with gloves not sticks I might add)... They should have been further down but we couldn't get a bucket there cause it was in the easement... So we put em as far out as we could reach with the bucket... I noticed an apprentice putting on his tools about three spans down on the new line... I should have stopped what I was doing... went down and discussed what was going on down there... But there was no time for that... Some how the neutral which was in web jacks got away from us... N bounced down toward "A" phase... I looked back the other way N noticed too late the apprentice at the top of the pole down the line with his hands on the neutral, the foreman had sent him up there to correct something... I looked back N watched the neutral bounce up N down N prayed... It came to rest inches away from becomming hot... how it didn't come hot I can only wonder... That apprentice topped out N right before I left California he showed up on the job I was working... This one made it out by the grace of God... Wanna guess how old he is?... There are places in the country that have figured this out... but it seems there are lot of places that are in the throes of a bad situation... caused by folks selling long term securitys down the river for short term gain... Testimonys to the double edged sword of greed... www.powerlineman.com/lforum/showthread.php?p=10876#post10876 Tramps with non Traveling Wives...

CenterPointEX

10-10-2005, 09:12 PM

Swamprat

10-10-2005, 11:16 PM

Ya, Well... wanna guess where my dumb ass is working now?... When I went into the tool room to pick up my rubbers n stuff... the fella looked me in da eye... smiled real big... N said, "Welcome back to Hell!"...
........ My youngest is a Senior in H.S... I'm thinkin when he's done... I'm done with this town... I've had it with Houston... It ain't friendly no more... back in the day it was a wave N a smile... Now it's the finger N a glare...It's a differant place than it was thirty years ago... It ain't Texas no more... It's more like New York or something... an maybe just a little akin to Hell....

Damn my man....
I'm sorry for ya, havin to come into a Line job, feelin like that.

Yup, shit changes after 30 years. Lighten up and roll with it, it sucks, but "what to do". Try to still enjoy the trade.

I hope it works out for ya man.
We all got our own "hell".

Ya Just got to learn to piss in the right places to keep the fire down.....

LostArt

10-11-2005, 06:19 AM

It's all them city dudes! With their high falutin' ways, ain't it?

Hang in there CP. Show'em the sunshine buddy!

CenterPointEX

10-14-2005, 06:26 PM

It's more like an immagration problem L.A.... I would gander to say illegal aliens outnumber lineman five to one in this yard... They are doing linework... Some of em are pretty good at it... That's scary... cause they didn't get good at it by just watchin... The question is how does one stop that sorta thing in a one horse town... If you put up a stink about it, a hard situation get harder... They got the Union backed in a corner...If ya wanna work in this town ya ain't got much of a choice... it's either roll with the flow or move to another city... I hear tell they are gonna get us a 3% mid contract raise to try N keep some hands here... REAd between the lines dudes... It ain't the money....

Swamprat

10-14-2005, 06:53 PM

It's more like an immagration problem L.A.... I would gander to say illegal aliens outnumber lineman five to one in this yard...

In a UNION Yard? You're shittin me....

CenterPointEX

10-21-2005, 07:03 AM

Is it just me?... or are Earth quakes...Natural disasters... Knowledge... &
wars N rumors of Wars increasing?

CenterPointEX

10-27-2005, 08:59 PM

Oh... to be a Houston Sports Fan... We expect the worst... N smile when it don't happen

Swamprat

10-27-2005, 09:24 PM

Is it just me?... or are Earth quakes...Natural disasters... Knowledge... &
wars N rumors of Wars increasing?

Yeah...So?

If you're referin to the bible...."Bring it on".
ya forgot the Bird Flu...The shit about "pestilance"....I think I spelled that right.

Humanity is gonna survive....Less the "big guy" just decides to vaporize good old Planet Earth.

That's a NOT.

Last I heard, Earth wasen't suppost to "Ceck out" till around 3000 and somethin. Cordin to the bible anyway. Or maby that was Nostradamus. :-)

CenterPointEX

10-28-2005, 02:20 PM

Yeah...So?

If you're referin to the bible...."Bring it on"...Last I heard, Earth wasen't suppost to "Ceck out" till around 3000 and somethin. Cordin to the bible anyway. Or maby that was Nostradamus. :-)

.....Don't know where ya got that from, but it sounds about right to me... It was two thousand years from Adam to Abraham...
two thousand years from Abraham to Christ...
two thousand years from Christ to now...
"A day is as a thousand years to God" it says somewhere in the Bible... And "on the seventh day he rested" it says in Genisis... So one could conclude that six days have almost passed... N the seventh day nearing... If'n the pre milliniosts are correct, the thousand year reign of Christ could be the seventh day... So about 2035 I'd say this World could be turned up on its ear, beginning the thousand year reign of Christ... N the thousand year reign of Chirst would end abruptly around 3035...
Judgement day... which would fall into line with your sources...
But don't let yer guard down, cause when ya check out from this world ya arrive, with all the other folks that ever lived, simotaniously at judgement day...

Orgnizdlbr1289

10-28-2005, 06:49 PM

CenterPointEX
[QUOTE].....Don't know where ya got that from, but it sounds about right to me... It was two thousand years from Adam to Abraham...
two thousand years from Abraham to Christ...
two thousand years from Christ to now...
"A day is as a thousand years to God" it says somewhere in the Bible... And "on the seventh day he rested" it says in Genisis... So one could conclude that six days have almost passed... N the seventh day nearing... If'n the pre milliniosts are correct, the thousand year reign of Christ could be the seventh day... So about 2035 I'd say this World could be turned up on its ear, beginning the thousand year reign of Christ... N the thousand year reign of Chirst would end abruptly around 3035...
Judgement day... which would fall into line with your sources...
But don't let yer guard down, cause when ya check out from this world ya arrive, with all the other folks that ever lived, simotaniously at judgement day...[/

CPX, I believe you are serious in your beliefs. I also believe you take seriously certain interpretations of the "Good Book" as they have been viewed over many years and by many so called theologians. I dont mean any disrespect whatsoever and I do understand the way you interpret "Feed My Sheep" and the resulting obligation you feel in kind, but I must say, again no disrespect intended, that you remind me of the guys walking around with the placards that say " The End Is Near, Repent"

linejeeper

10-28-2005, 08:13 PM

Everybody get your hard hats on...the sky is a fallin'.....

CenterPointEX

10-30-2005, 03:58 PM

CenterPointEX

CPX,... you remind me of the guys walking around with the placards that say " The End Is Near, Repent"

CenterPointEX "But don't let yer guard down, cause when ya check out from this world ya arrive, with all the other folks that ever lived, simotaniously at judgement day"...

Last I checked ogb12 ten outa ten of us die... Only two of em didn't... but they are the two witnesses who will come back to do so spoken of in Revelation...So anyhow, the end is as near as your last breath... some get more breaths than others, but eventually all of us cease to do so... N if'n we're wrong?... well then just maybe LineJeep/Chicken Little is correct in agreeing with the Scientists by preaching that "the sky is falling", in that just as the universe is expanding from the point of the big bang... it will eventually retract upon itself...
Big Bang? I concur... God spoke it into exisistence ex-nihlo....

Orgnizdlbr1289

10-31-2005, 07:59 AM

Last I checked ogb12 ten outa ten of us die... Only two of em didn't... but they are the two witnesses who will come back to do so spoken of in Revelation...So anyhow, the end is as near as your last breath... some get more breaths than others, but eventually all of us cease to do so... N if'n we're wrong?... well then just maybe LineJeep/Chicken Little is correct in agreeing with the Scientists by preaching that "the sky is falling", in that just as the universe is expanding from the point of the big bang... it will eventually retract upon itself...
Big Bang? I concur... God spoke it into exisistence ex-nihlo....

You have avoided my comment. You spoke of prophecy that assumed the END at a certain date. Your answer speaks to one's personal end which obviously happens to all of us. Of course it is an unavoidable event that is part of life....an individual must IMHO conduct themselves in a manner that reconciles ones beliefs.....we all should know what right and wrong is and follow those values. It's the preconditions of salvation espoused by organized religion and theologeons who are "in the know" that drive people away from beliefs...quite a predicament. As I stated earlier, I have my beliefs and values...I dont need a so called expert in Rome or anywhere else telling me how to act while his fingers are in my wallet.

Orgnizdlbr1289

10-31-2005, 04:50 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's more like an immagration problem L.A.... I would gander to say illegal aliens outnumber lineman five to one in this yard... They are doing linework... Some of em are pretty good at it... That's scary... cause they didn't get good at it by just watchin... The question is how does one stop that sorta thing in a one horse town... If you put up a stink about it, a hard situation get harder... They got the Union backed in a corner...If ya wanna work in this town ya ain't got much of a choice... it's either roll with the flow or move to another city... I hear tell they are gonna get us a 3% mid contract raise to try N keep some hands here... REAd between the lines dudes... It ain't the money....

This is in Houston? A utility local or an outside local? What local #?

CenterPointEX

11-01-2005, 08:22 PM

Local 66 covers both the Utility LIneman and Contract Lineman in Houston... This is going on with a contractor. The only way I figure to get a handle on it is for the Local to bring some hands from outside Houston... Sorta like salting... Have those hands work just long enough to file charges on whomever might be using illegal labor to do Union work... Ya, it is a right to work state, but come on... this is rediculess...

... and on the end times ogb12, anybody who sets a date for the end is just guessing, cause the book says no one knows timing... but it does say watch for some signs... Then it lists them... Thats all I was saying... Those things listed seem to be on the increase...

CenterPointEX

11-04-2005, 09:01 AM

CenterPoint is still hacking the mid career guys... one showed up in the yard yesterday... had 23 yrs with the company at the age of 46...heard Urbanski got cut loose... I think he hired on in 82 or 83... If'n you have twenty pls yrs wit da company are between 40 N 50 and you are not a Mason... You are a target... It's funny in a way... not... that they won't let siblings/family work in the same location... But the Masons whos ties are thicker than blood, and are born of a blood oath, thrive side by side...

Orgnizdlbr1289

11-04-2005, 10:07 AM

CenterPointEX

11-21-2005, 08:27 PM

I saw Hanzelka at a redlight the other day... Took him a few secs to recognize me... I'm not quite the same guy I was back in Jan 03... Sanity has long since eluded me... Each time I hunger for yesterday, an uncontrolable anger wells up in me... They see that in my eyes... It scares the shit out of em....

.........Heard they are whackin thirty thousand UAW jobs... I'll bet my bottem dollar they are targeting the hands that will save em the most money... You know guys that got vacation, N sick time built up... N pensions that need contributing to... They will save millions by not having to honor those pensions... N ya reckon the stock holders will get them dollars?... I'm thinkin not...

CenterPointEX

12-04-2005, 07:31 PM

I understand when I took this job I had to work OT when needed,but for me personally FPL is understaffed like many other power co.'s so LET IT RIP BOY's...After numerous afternoon's getting forced to work at least 16 hours a day,missing kid's birthday's,parent's birthday's ,parent's anniversary's,wife's birthday's,your own personal anniversary,etc.....put in your company name...............................Here's Mine....................
FPL...............KISS MY ASS Spent nearly twenty years in that hole... thinkin some day it would get better... silly me... Just when I thought I could see some daylight... Wham! Bam! Thank you Mam... Mr. CPX, CenterPoint/Reliant Energy/HL&P thanks you for your loyality... You have been selected to participate in our involuntary severace program...Now if you will just step outside the door, an off duty HPD officer will escort you off the property...
.....

CenterPointEX

01-20-2006, 03:50 PM

You have avoided my comment. You spoke of prophecy that assumed the END at a certain date. You got a Point there homemeal...Bible says Nobody knows the time and date, Your guess is as good as mine... The stuff on the end times is kinda hard to cipher... But you know as well as I, that what you believe in reguards to how the end time will go down, is not essential to your salvation. All that matters is that you have repented, and put your trust in Christ alone, thru faith alone, by grace alone to save you. The Bible claims that no man comes to the Father except thru his Son Jesus Christ. Nobody but nobody makes it to heaven any other way. And nobody, but nobody ceases to exist, ever. So where does that leave the rest of em who don't put their trust in Christ on the last day? I'm thinkin they will be thinking... "Crap... this cain't be good... The Mother of all understatements...

Orgnizdlbr

01-20-2006, 05:37 PM

You got a Point there homemeal...Bible says Nobody knows the time and date, Your guess is as good as mine... The stuff on the end times is kinda hard to cipher... But you know as well as I, that what you believe in reguards to how the end time will go down, is not essential to your salvation. All that matters is that you have repented, and put your trust in Christ alone, thru faith alone, by grace alone to save you. The Bible claims that no man comes to the Father except thru his Son Jesus Christ. Nobody but nobody makes it to heaven any other way. And nobody, but nobody ceases to exist, ever. So where does that leave the rest of em who don't put their trust in Christ on the last day? I'm thinkin they will be thinking... "Crap... this cain't be good... The Mother of all understatements...

Homemeal??????

Swamprat

01-20-2006, 10:02 PM

Homemeal??????

Sometimes I think CP just does this for entertainment. I'm gettin tired of playin in this sandbox. There's no discussion here, it's all preachin. And I ain't buyin into it.

CenterPointEX

01-20-2006, 11:52 PM

Wouldn't matter if'n ya did swamp... It's not for sale..

CenterPointEX

01-25-2006, 09:55 PM

I saw Mike "Red" L. the other morning... He ain't hit a lick of linework since he left Sugarland... Said he got tired of bouncing along at ten dollars an hour so he wanderd down to the hall and took a call... Reflicting on his three months of contractin...He made the understatement of the year...,
" Contractin is differant than working at the Light Company?."...
. . Come back N see me in about three years Red and tell me another story?...Boink!

CenterPointEX

01-28-2006, 06:43 AM

Man on man is there no end to the carnage... have they no shame?
When HL&P split up, they gave those holdin HL&P stock, stock in the three resulting companies... The Generators went with a company called Texas Genco... for every share of HL&P they gave you only a twenty percent share of Genco... The other 80 percent was sold to the public. They planned on repurchasing Genco and had the first right to do so at the end of a predefined period at market value, supposedly that is how market value would be derermined... The market value would be determined by the stock price. Well if you are gonna buy a company you have control of, what are you gonna try and do to the value of the compay on paper? I held my shares of the other two resulting companies CenterPoint, and Reliant cause I thought Genco would be bought back at a discount. When it came time to buy, they were in a credit fix... they didn't have any... So any how the Genco sold... if you were holding Texas Genco you were force sold at fifty dollars a share. Which a bunch of us employees were cause we were still holding trying to not sell at a loss.... It was sold for nine hundred million, the company that bought it only put down three hundred million. Today, one year later, the buyer just resold it for several billion dollars to a company called NRG ? The middle man just pocketed several billion dollars... They ripped us off... What I would like to know is how many HL&P / CenterPoint / Reliant wigs got their fingers in the middle man company... This my friends was an inside job, no ifs, ands, or buts about it...

CenterPointEX

02-19-2006, 07:06 PM

http://www.fwweekly.com/content.asp?article=3528
Ya... thats what I been saying...
I am not just a gong in the dessart... Finally somebody printed an article comfirming Chicken Littles Fears.
...Have you even looked at the ages of most of the dead in the last ten years? This industry has seen a drastic change in the last ten years. One change in particular is the number of lineman that have been retired in this last decade. How many utilities have back-filled all of these vacancees created? None of them!
We now do what we once did with half the men.This has created one hell of a nitch for contractors to fill the void that utilities use to cover in house. Its a win win for major utilities. When a highly paid chief retires, not only do they stop paying benifits and salary they also lose a crew. this creates even more opportunity to contract out work.

If this was'nt bad enough, now we have contractors under bidding eachother just to get a foothold. When you under bid a job it causes big problems for everyone. In the end the crew chief gets the heat for lost productivity.

There is alot of talent in the trade today Union and non-union contractor and utility and every day a damn good hand drags up and heads for a better opportunity leaving behind a void in which the employer has to fill with a less expierenced hand.

In the end we all have to read about another 26 year old young man who's dead and leaves behind a wife and two small children and we somehow justify it by calling it a mistake or a accident!
BULLSHIT.

........Good post TGRove... You are not alone in your tribulation... In the past Utility hands didn't have to compete with Contractors for work... they had the option of doing it the safe way no matter how long it took... Not so since the advent of Deregulation.... I don't know what the answer will be... I guess maybe if and when the Public has had enough of sub-standard electrical service... maybe when the carnage starts, maybe after a hot city goes thru a rampage after an outage of some duration... like those in California... til then I guess we gotta just stick togahter... call bullshit when neccessary... N get fired N move on if that's what it takes... That's pretty much the reason I don't work at home right now... Because of the situation with underbid work and the like... It's just not a safe or good place to be right now... I pretty much made the decision to leave just such a situation in Houston after a close call...
....I was in the bucket with an apprentice... We had built a new six pole line and we were in the process of connecting it to an existin dead end pole, which were converting to an inline pole... The job was out of hours... The foreman was pushin... it had rained some that day which slowed us down N it was late... It was 19.9\34.5... The line phases were in isolaters just on the other side of the pole we were working on (Hung with gloves not sticks I might add)... They should have been further down but we couldn't get a bucket there cause it was in the easement... So we put em as far out as we could reach with the bucket... I noticed an apprentice putting on his tools about three spans down on the new line... I should have stopped what I was doing... went down and discussed what was going on down there... But there was no time for that... Some how the neutral which was in web jacks got away from us... N bounced down toward "A" phase... I looked back the other way N noticed too late the apprentice at the top of the pole down the line with his hands on the neutral, the foreman had sent him up there to correct something... I looked back N watched the neutral bounce up N down N prayed... It came to rest inches away from becomming hot... how it didn't come hot I can only wonder... That apprentice topped out N right before I left California he showed up on the job I was working... This one made it out by the grace of God... Wanna guess how old he is?... There are places in the country that have figured this out... but it seems there are lot of places that are in the throes of a bad situation... caused by folks selling long term securitys down the river for short term gain... Testimonys to the double edged sword of greed... www.powerlineman.com/lforum/showthread.php?p=10876#post10876 (http://showthread.php?p=10876#post10876) Tramps with non Traveling Wives...

CenterPointEX

05-12-2006, 07:23 PM

So there I am sittin in the Wine Room... N Matula walks in... Just days after Jerry did an about face when he saw me sittin there at StarBucks... What are the odds?

SBatts

05-15-2006, 11:26 AM

SENT TO ME BY GRAND DAUGTHER SAYS IT ALL

God loves everyone, but probably prefers
"fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"

Swamprat

05-15-2006, 11:07 PM

SENT TO ME BY GRAND DAUGTHER SAYS IT ALL

God loves everyone, but probably prefers
"fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"

That IS Cute! :-)

CenterPointEX

06-14-2006, 09:17 PM

Olsteen came by to see if'n I was working safe today... Anymore its gettin just like the old days... cept I'm wearing a differant shirt... sometimes... I still got some CP shirts hangin around... Kinda freaks em when they look up expecting to see a Contract Tramp... N its me smiling back at em... They come down with a sniffle of Survivor Syndrome... or in some cases, unmitigated guilt... More often than not they stare at the floor instead of looking me in the eye... But always their smug little country club smile becomes fatiuged... then fearful...

There is an article in the IBEW rag this month about ENRON... How CEO's are learning the about the carnage of deregulation of the Utilities Industry... How Texas and California have been bankrupted, spiritualy, socially, and moraly; not to mention infrastructurally, by players who would sell their brothers down the river for a bigger pot to piss in... Does they even know that when America suffers... the stink does not stay confined to working class?

CenterPointEX

06-27-2006, 08:54 PM

Saw Henry Martinez... Said things were bad and getting worse at CenterPoint still... The look in his eye told me he wern't tellin a story... Tried to invite myself to lunch but Kenny just looked at the floor... The look in his eye told the same story...
...........TXU just became Infrastrux? More of the Shell game... expect TXU's assets to start hitting the auction block... TXU was one of the few still operating the old way... Thus they are a healthy company... They got plenty of cash cows laying around to me milkedd... The first casuality will be the folks they consider to be overtly resistant to change... When they get the axe, the rest of the troops will toe the line to help the raiders pillage TXU... Just like they did PG&E, Hl&P, FP&L... etc.

Houston Industries, HII, Houston Lighting and Power, CenterPoint Energy, Reliant, RRI, CNP, REI, Don Jordan, Tom Standish, Enron, Pacific Gas and Electric, Florida Power and light, SMUD,

CenterPointEX

07-19-2006, 08:55 PM

It's hotter than Hell here in Houston and the dollars per hour still suck... and you still work with a gun to your head here... But last time I hit the road things didn't go so well at home... what to do, what to do... only God knows...

CenterPointEX

11-14-2006, 07:36 PM

Been Home a year now... I think I'm at fifty K thru october? That sucks green eggs. I'm telling ya don't come to Houston... the pay sucks... Being home with the wife and kids is good. Whats a fella to do? CenterPoint is still laying off old people... They are going to run this thing into the ground I am sure of it... They Local sixty six will be holding the cards... O why o why did we sign that ignorant four year contract... ?

Hemingray Insulators

11-14-2006, 07:50 PM

CP is BACK.
I thought ya fell of the face of the earth or something. It is good to see you return.

wormy

11-15-2006, 05:59 PM

hey CP good to see you back

CenterPointEX

12-13-2006, 08:50 PM

Thanks Wormy... Its good to know yer loved... even by a fella named wormy...

I heard my buddy Swampy out at HOtLine in Cal had a heart attack. Anybody got any information on the where abouts of ole Marvin Lee? My prayers are with ya if'n ya get hold of this message... I love ya Brother... Take care of yerself... give me a call.

Orgnizdlbr

12-21-2006, 04:53 PM

Wellpp... they started with Street Light... they brought in one contractor to coompete with the Light Company fellas... Then just like that there were no more light company hands working St. Light. They just put North Houston Trucks on the dock doing Customer Meters... Soon no Light Company Hands will be doing Customer Meters... The Meter Trucks will also be catching overflow trouble... The problem they have still is that the Light Company Can not pay medical retirement for the number of hands that hired on from 1979 to 1983... They hired way to many in one lump age group after the strike because they had no choice... It was PUC mandated... So... in order to doge that bullit they have been getting rid of those folks... In any above or below table manor possible... If you are between the ages of 40 and 50 and you work for CenterPoint... you are a target for being got gone... This is age discrimination pure and simple... but nothing can be done about it. The money behind it is too big... not to mention that it is Masonic Money... Bend over and hold onto your balls lest the Evil ones use them for love handles...

CP, the local must have a Labor attorney it uses that can fight the case. Or there is real shit language in the CBA about getting rid of people!

Orgnizdlbr

12-22-2006, 05:53 AM

In the event of lay offs... "Where skills and abilities are equal, seniority will prevail."

This sounds good, but skills and abilities are not defined. So, translated, it says, " Seniority will prevail unless we decide differant."

CP, the way to have the language defined is before an arbitrator. This is a case where you better have a good labor lawyer and hope you draw a good arbitrator. IMHO a good arbitrator would interpret those words "skills and abilities are equal" as workers in same or like classifications. Not individual skills i.e. who can climb a pole faster. If you draw a lousy, niave arbitrator and he agrees with the company, you essential become an "at will" employee and all discretion lies with the company specific to this clause. That is the risk in arbitrating this case, but I wouldnt hesitate with the attorney our local has.

Orgnizdlbr

12-22-2006, 10:59 AM

When they let a bunch of us go, they offered a years pay severance if we chose not to fight. Everyone who fought it lost. Some used personal lawyers and some used the Union Lawyer. Evaluations were done on only the last year of service. If you wrecked a truck or were late to work one time that was points against your skills and abilities etc. For example, after pulling twenty two hours straight concluding at ten P.M. sunday. I was thirty minutes late to work on Monday A.M. . The record only reflected that I was thirty minutes late. Had I grieved that at the time, it would have been a non issue, I saw no reason to protest such silliness... this mistake would prove grave.

You're saying an arbitrator only considered your last year of service? The arbitrator was for shit. Any arbitrator worth his salt would consider the longevity of the employee in any case, this being a workforce reduction, and senior people being displaced should have wieghed heavyily before the arbitrator. I cannot fathom why an arbitrator would allow the exlusion of an employee's entire record. That being said, IMHO, the arbitrator missed the whole meaning of the case and really screwed you guys. My opinion is that the case rested on the language set forth in the CBA, while not perfect, the implicit interpretation should have been "in the same or similar line of work or classification" for the purposes of Skill and ability. Employees still there have been reduced to essentially "at will" employees for the purposes of your "security clause." I have to tell you, I find that very troubling, I feel for you guys. Having an arbitrator make such a stupid mistake is inexusable, I hope the Local never gets stuck with him/her again.

I have just a few questions.

From what organization was the arbitrator chosen?
Was the panel tripartite?
If tripartite, who did the panel consist of?
Did anyone appeal, either through the Local or on their own?

Orgnizdlbr

12-24-2006, 07:14 AM

One fella used his own Lawyer, Went at from the age discrimination angle. The company ended up settling out of court...they bought his silence, so no information came out of his case.

You Guys had a shit arbitrator, where was the arbitrator from?

CenterPointEX

12-25-2006, 09:13 AM

I don't have any information on the arbitraitor... The whole thing was a sham and a set up. They hired a professional big gun named Amy McCormick. She was fresh off busting a Coke union up north... She came down took one look at the language in our contract and had an orgasim... She took the language and shredded us with it.

CenterPointEX

01-16-2007, 06:07 PM

Not what I was expecting either. I had this image of CP as some clean-shaven besuited bible thumper... I once walked off a job because my coworker was bible thumping incessantly to the point of harassment. Every single attempt at conversation turned religious fanaticism. (No disrespect CP, but you have to be on the receiving end to understand.) Thought I would keep the Faces thread for faces and not talk about this Bible Thumpin HIllbilly with the fifty cent words and a heart for leading horses to water.

Harassment? Come on now BC! Seems a fella like you could put a Bible Thumper to shame. Though I do understand. The gospel offends. It once pissed a group of Jewish boys off so bad they had a fella nailed to a cross for Bible Thumpin. I sorta go commando. I serve folks and thus earn the right to give em my testimony. Ya ought to see the look on thier faces when I roll up in a new yard with windows down and the radio blasting... Mozart. Trying to judge this book by its cover will keep ya up fer a spell.

CenterPointEX

01-25-2007, 02:49 AM

...Granpa was called home... ninety two years young, just three months after his wife of sixty eight years went home before him.

... We are here today not to mourn a death, but to celebrate a life. If you are here today, you know that we are family. Because thats the way we roll. If ever a stranger had the good fortune to grace Granmaw and Granpas' door step, they were invited in and encourage to stay to the next meal, that we might break bread with them. If they did so they were fed, not just bread, but LOVE... the very Word of God. And when they left... they left full... knowing that they had been loved... Understanding that we are family... Brothers and Sisters, if you have not already... I implore you to come to the table of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to break bread with us, that you would no longer be a stranger, but brothers and sisters with us in Christ Jesus...

Orgnizdlbr

01-26-2007, 11:05 AM

LostArt

01-27-2007, 10:06 AM

I'm also sorry to hear to hear of your loss CP. It's been a good ten years and more since I have lost my grandparents. But, those are my most precious memories spending time with them. Fishing with my paternal grandparents and learning many valuable lessons of life from them. Same goes for my maternal grandmother. She taught me the importance of reading and also the craft of crocheting. I guess the craft of quilting, sewing and crocheting will die with me.

There is a different generation coming up now. Not many want to learn the old ways. Same goes for God CP. Not many want to take the time or read His Word.

Swamprat

01-27-2007, 06:16 PM

...Granpa was called home... ninety two years young, just three months after his wife of sixty eight years went home before him.

Sorry to hear that CP.
Certainly sounds like thay had a maginicant Life and Life together.
May they rest in eternal peace.

CenterPointEX

06-21-2007, 08:26 PM

You know Ron... I have met folks who believe in Heaven, but don't believe in Hell... Did I deserve what happened to me Ron?... did I?... I know you never liked me much, though you respected me... I admire that quality in you. It is a unique blessing. Not all of us are able to separate the two. You respect folks for who and what they are no matter whether you agree with them or not. That is why I would campaign for if you wanted to run this fine Union... I know you got aspirations in that direction.

... I was always there... did my job... worked hard... Ya.. I got a big mouth... But after twenty years of faithfully doing my job? Were there others who were less of an asset to the company.?.. You and I both know the answer to that question... If they really knew Rons heart... would he be with me? If truly you are a Union man Ron, then you have to say... It was wrong what they done to me and Eddie. This is exactly the kind of thing the Union is there to prevent... Folks being rung thru the ringer in the name of politics or nepotism. An honest days work for an honest days pay... etc. With seniority effectively eradicated Ron... all of you are subjugated to the whims of folks like Cogliano, Bilski... etc... If you are a minority, old, etc... That is where CenterPoint employees currently stand. The last meeting of management with the CenterPoint talking heads included the topic that CenterPoint still has an aged work force... Average age of 51... They got too many folks in the upper range and the only way to fix that is to continue to get rid of the old folks so they can hire younger ones... You have read my other stuff on the state of this industry so you know the score... Corporate Raiders rule the day... Milking assets etc. When the Cash Cow runs dry they will kick it to the curb and move on. Does any one deserve Hell Ron? Truth is each and every one of us do... Cause is Gods eyes... we have all fallen short... Just like you say I was with CenterPoint... But God sent his own Son to take the fall for us Ron... He got what we deserved... So we can keep our position... My ordeal was temporary Ron... It sucked... It hurt... but it was temporary... Should you die with out Jesus Ron... the regret will be eternal...

I love you... you know I do... Paul loves you... But most importantly Jesus loves you...

CenterPointEX

06-27-2007, 06:22 AM

I am spending a week here in Bay St. Louis building houses and hope. I have been doing this mission trip with our Church Youth Group for five years now. Each summer we go on a week long mission trip working on homes for folks in need. Bay St. Louis was hard hit by Katrina. The people here are desperate for hope. In the eyes and hearts of these high school kids they have found a flame to rekindle their own. This year we are working with Lagniappe Church in conjunction with Group Work Camp. Check the web sites for Lagniappe and Group Work Camp if you are interested... Often the folks ask us why? Why are we here?... When they ask we tell 'em... Believers believe... Disciples put that belief into action.

CenterPointEX

07-02-2007, 09:28 AM

It was a great week. The Mississippi Gulf Coast is still reeling from the devastation of Katrina. I was amazed at the progress since I was here working last... also at the amount of destruction and depression that remains.... Another Amazing thing is going on here... While the insurance companies have left these people without hope... The Christian Community is renovating the coast and lives... Everywhere you look you see white vans and pickup trucks full of folks who are taking their vacations here... Paying their own way to come and work... Rebuilding, restoring, and cleaning for folks that they don't know and who may or may not be Christians. They are doing Gods work... This operation is loose knit and massive. I can not believe that there is no media coverage on this. I talked to a lot of folks around town... The natives are lambasting the government whom they perceive to be doing nothing, and they are singing praises about the Christians. There are no Muslim relief camps here... there are no Mormon relief camps here, ... There are no Hindu work camps... Just Christians... quietly doing what Christians do... Loving folks and passing out hope... one hand... one nail... one smile... one random act of kindness at a time... I thank my Father in Heaven and my Lord Jesus Christ for allowing me to be a part of that... It feels good to be doing Gods Work. Amen?