Man in Tweed dot Com

Hi. This is me. Startling isn't it? Me writing on my own blog?

Enough of the silliness.

On Tuesday November 4, 2008 I got a call that officially marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life.

After gaining a Bachelors and Masters degree in English Literature and a Masters of Library and Information Science and spending over $45,000 on education I said screw it. I'm tired of the stress of having to constantly search for someone who will hire me. I'm tired of working hard for an organization and getting nothing back when it comes to job security. I'm tired of working contract after contract with no end in sight. The result? I became a construction worker, a commercial and industrial insulator to be specific.

This blog is now an attempt on my part to let those around me know what it is like to change a life so drastically. Can a man with three degrees successfully wear a hardhat? Let's find out.

The adventure begins here.

Books 11 — 14

This post was written by Mike

The one nice thing about excessive amounts of  laundry days is that I can finally get caught up and finish the 8,000 books I have on the go at any one time.

Book 11: Undead and Unworthy by MaryJanice Davidson

So I was wrong. This is the book where the series changes. Thank goodness I asked to have it brought home as I had no memory of what happened. The summary: Quick, tie up any loose ends and dramatically change the series in one fell swoop. And make sure that when you fell swoop, you fell swoop. Rating: B

Book 12: Undead and Unwelcome by MaryJanice Davidson

Quick: crossover all unresolved werewolf plotlines that bled into this series from the other one and stuff all the plot you can think of into this book so you can do little bits of the consequences over the next four titles (a standard Besty trope btw). Rating: B

Book 13: Peter and Max: A Fables Novel by Bill Willingham

This was a nice story about some of the stories Bill wasn’t able to put into the story about the Fables. Or something like that. I really enjoyed it even though it took me forever to read it. I think that’s more the fault of my wanting to switch genres to hard-core sci-fi than anything in the book. When I did sit down to read it I was absorbed. There are some nice little tie-ins to the overall Fables universe that I think add an amazing amount of depth and answer a question I had not really even thought of asking. I love how Willingham takes some of the cute little rhymes we know and turn them on their head.  Rating: A, A+ if you’ve read the graphic novels.

Book 14: R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton

In anticipation of U coming out I’m rereading the last few. Can you believe that she has been writing this series since 1982? Crazy. R is essentially summed up in the epilogue “In the passing drama of live, I’m usually the heroine, but occasionally I’m simply a minor character in someone else’s play.” I thought it was a neat twist to the series having Kinsey essentially just along for the ride without anything to really solve. She just has to survive. Rating: B+

Tags: 95 Books

Book 10

This post was written by Mike

Book 10: Plum Lucky by Janet Evonovich

This is the third between the numbers novel and although it started out slower than the others I could not stop laughing towards the end. The final phone calls to Morelli and Ranger were great. The bits with Connie and Lula towards the end were awesome. And, honestly, this was the best destruction of Stephanie’s car EVAR! I’m still giggling at the end sequence. Rating: A

Tags: 95 Books

Books 07 — 09

This post was written by Mike

Book 7: Undead and Unappreciated by MaryJanice Davidson

The wife brought this home from the library by accident she was trying to get Undead and Unworthy so I can catch up before reading the newest.  This is a Betsy the Vampire novel. Light, little nutritional value, but sweet and happy. The series is the lemon meringue pie of the literary world. And I love it. This particular book starts getting into the whole Book of the Dead and what can happen if Betsy actually reads it. We meet a new character, kill off a bunch of stupids, meet an old character in a new way.  Rating: B

Books 8 and 9: Dead Witch Walking and The Good, The Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison

My biggest problem with Kim Harrison is the fact that I’ve read her completely out of order and haven’t the foggiest idea where anything is supposed to happen in the Hallows series. We were house/dog sitting for my in-laws and they have the omnibus collections and the novels that follow. I decided it was a good a time as ever to try and read the series properly. DWW is a great introductory novel to a rather neat universe. Instead of focusing on hard science the world went to microbes and genetically modified everything.  Tomatoes killed the world by accident and the ’supernatural’ element came out of the broom closet to keep life working. Harrison works hard at pointing out the little things that make her universe unique like mundanes having a panic attack at tomatoes (and the subsequent move of pizza parlours to the realm of the vampiric) to witches not knowing how to swallow an aspirin.  The GB&U however has always bothered me. I found it boring in parts and this time around I just skipped over a whole section (dinner in the restaurant). However I now know what it is that bothers me. These two novels should, by rights, be one gigantic novel. I understand why they aren’t. I understand why the second novel can stand on its own. I simply like it less and quite frankly there are probably a lot of readers out there who will consider it to be the deeper novel of the two. I do like the series and will keep reading it, in order this time. Rating: A + B = B+

Tags: 95 Books

Books 04 — 06

This post was written by Mike

Book 04: Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris

Where the first book focused on how Harper Collins dealt with the emotional disruption caused by her abilities, the second book focuses on how her abilities affect the people around her. The narrative is tightly focused and brilliantly executed. Yet again the Harris is able to create another moving scene where the characters are fully revealed to the reader. The premise is dark and chilling, much like the weather in the novel. The more we experience Harper’s connection with the dead, the further we see into the darkness in the human condition. Rating: A.

Book 05: Fish Out of Water by MaryJanice Davidson

As I suspected, book two in the series exists to create the back story necessary for this novel. I found it to have far fewer moments of true hilarity than the previous two. The plot was not necessarily obvious. You knew who the “bad guys” were but you weren’t really certain what it was they were doing until the very end. Ironically, for someone trying to mess around with the Disney mermaid motif we ended with a happily ever after scene. That being said the series did portray Fred as a decidedly different Mermaid, sorry, Undersea Folk. A fun read but only if you’ve finished your other fun stuff. Rating: C

Book 06: An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris

Despite being the darkest of all the plots thus far, the third book in the series begins the process of displaying the light that can be created through Harper’s abilities. We see the characters involved moving past resentment and anger. The clients are grateful despite the horrors that are found. The human condition has both sides, good and evil. I will admit that I preferred the previous two books but that is more due to the poignant moment revolving around romantic rather than emotional revelations. I still feel that the series is a very worthwhile read and I am looking forward to the next installment. Once again I am impressed by the tight focus and narrative style. It continues the interesting weather motifs that have been building throughout the series yet momentarily juxtaposes the light and dark emotional moments of the human condition with the dark and light weather moments [Aside: This sounds clunky because I'm trying to write spoiler free. I'm seriously debating creating a literary essay for the first time in years, a shocking development seeing as I feel wretched about my abilities in that regard, based on the weather motifs in the novel]. Rating: A

Tags: 95 Books

Addressing an issue

This post was written by Mike

Of all the challenges in my life that have arisen from becoming a construction worker only one has continued to pester me at least once a week for the past year and a bit: what do I wear to work?

The blatant racism that shows up from time to time I can handle. The obvious homophobia (and occasional hatred for people in the LGBT community) can be ignored. Getting up at 5 a.m. and doing more work before most people start their day is something I actually relish. But clothing? That’s a problem.

For the past five years I worked in a community that required a semi-professional wardrobe. Khakis and collared shirts. No ties but nice shoes. Winter was wonderful because I could wear my sweaters. Before that I was in university for eight years and wore anything I felt like. As a result my wardrobe was based on living a decidedly non-labour oriented lifestyle.

Thus when I joined the world of manual labour I had some issues. For starters I work with fiberglass insulation. That stuff gets itchy. Very itchy. T-shirts? I know plenty of guys who wear them but I just cannot get over having my arms bare. My last job had me covering pipes that had hot water running through them. I’m not really paranoid about burning my arms but I’m damned sure not cavalier about the possibility.

The solution? My on-sale-at-WalMart pumpkin orange long sleeved shirts. I’m mocked every now and then because of the colour but that is not really a problem. Going through at least two a day –or going through the same number of t-shirts worn uncomfortably underneath– because they get soaked in sweat? That’s a problem. Why? Because of my pants.

When I started working in November of 2008 I had three pairs of jeans suitable for working on a construction site. By the end of that month I had one. I am very rough on jeans. To make matters worse they were so old that I ripped the knees out just thinking about climbing a ladder. So I made the switch to a pair of coveralls. I love my coveralls. Putting them on instantly shifts me into work mode. They are durable, they have pockets where I need them. They even look appropriate on the job site. The problem? They increase my overall temperature. That’s great when working in the winter in a non- or quasi-heated site. That’s not so great in the summer or when I’m working on covering the aforementioned pipes filled with hot water.  To make matters worse, when they get wet they stay wet and add at least another five pounds to their overall weight. That gets to be a problem when wearing the orange long-sleeved shirts because the straps dig into my shoulders and make life a pain.

So I am left with a problem. I can wear t-shirts with my coveralls which reduces heat but increases itchiness or wear my slim fabric long sleeves which increase top of the shoulder chafing. I can also wear t-shirts under the long sleeves but this is quite frankly uncomfortable.

In addition to having physical issues with clothing there are some mild mental gymnastics I have to perform. As a member of the Insulator’s union I feel that I am representing them on the jobsite and whenever I see one of our members dressed like a slob it bothers me. Why? For starters I’ve seen drywall tapers wearing ripped sweat pants on a jobsite. Not only are they very unattractive to see (think about that and then add a large overhanging stomach and a short t-shirt to the picture and you’ll wonder how I didn’t get throw up in my mouth) it made them appear to be unprofessional slobs, a fact confirmed by a quick glance at their work.

Whenever I see the “old guys” on the site, regardless of the trade, they are wearing a collared work shirt. They look like professionals. They look like they know what they are doing and act like they are good at what they do. I want to emulate that.

So I am going to try wearing jeans and a collard shirt. I’m hoping that my issues with heat will be lessened and I can look more professional at the same time. With any luck this combination will be the one that works out for me. The last thing I need is yet another set of clothes sitting in a closet.

Book 01 — 03

This post was written by Mike

Book 01: Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris

Although she is far more famous for her Sookie Stackhouse novels I am finding this series (I’m currently reading number two) to be far more satisfying. This is another case of ‘person with a gift that makes them different from the rest of the world’ but it is not supernatural in origin, at least not yet. The Harper Connelly was hit by lightning and ended up with the ability to find dead bones and, once found, what made them dead. Is the “bad guy” obvious? I think so but I can overlook it because Harper is such a complete person. The scene where a lightning storm moves in was brilliantly done and the sorrow, agony, and tearful love described still resonate in my mind. Even if you hate True Blood and the whole southern vampires thing you should read this book. Rating: A

Book 02: Sleeping With The Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson

Let me start by saying I adore Betsy the Vampire Queen. It’s fluff and it’s funny (well at least until Undead and Uneasy at which point it looks like it turns fairly dark in addition to the frivolity) so picking up another one of her books was fairly easy. Fred the Mermaid is a neat character with little to move her out of the “stock” range of ‘professional woman with otherness that makes her a commitment-phobe but is sweet at heart’ but with enough to make her not a total cardboard cut-out. The character does interact well and is a good focal point. A nice touch is that while Fred is the romantic lead it is the best friend character who gets the sex scene. The plot is predictable but that’s not a problem. I read it for fun, which is it, rather than deep dark plot. It’s no Betsy but it’s a MaryJanice Davidson so it’s quick. Good solid fluff.  Rating: B+

Book 03: Swimming Without A Net by MarJanice Davidson

This is book two of the Fred the Mermaid series. The author admits to having to pad it out to make it a useful length and I believe that it could have used a little more depth. It was still fun and quick but it feels like it is just setting up for the next book. At least I hope it is. It has some moments that are laughable but it could have used more, especially when the King is speaking to the bipeds (I don’t want to spoil anything).  Rating: C

Tags: 95 Books

95? Books

This post was written by Mike

Apparently the Interwebs are a flutter that George Bush read 95 books in 2006 as a contest between him and Karl Rove. Many believe that if “W” could do it then so could they and have started their own comptetition over at tumblr.

I don’t really have a stake in trying to one-up a president but I do feel like seeing how many books I read over the course of a year and I could really use some help getting back into the habit of writing more so I will start by recording everything I’ve read this past week with a few rules:

1. I have to read it in book form. This will hopefully get me away from the bloody computer. I may change this rule later on if I get on another old fashioned sci-fi kick via Project Gutenberg as I did a year or so ago.
2. I will keep track of books I have previously enjoyed and have decided to read again (see most of the paperback novels in the house)
3. I will definitely include fluff reading. This may come as a shock to some but my not-really secret indulgence is romanticish urban fantasy (more because trying to find urban fantasy without romance limits you to about four books and because the relationships are funnier than most)

I hope you enjoy.

I hope I can keep up.

Tags: 95 Books

One Year Later

This post was written by Mike

I, Michael Davis, without mental reservation, do solemnly swear on my honour to uphold the Constitution and Bylaws of the International Association and Local Union number 95 and to carry out their just demands during the period of my apprentice/improver/helper membership. I will support the rights of all workers to organize. I will support the goals of the International Association and Local Union Number 95 to organize all workers in our industry into local unions. I shall do all in my power to aid and assist my fellow apprentice/improver/helper members as well as the mechanic members of the local and shall comply with all local union laws while an apprentice/improver/helper member.

With this oath I officially became a sworn member of the Insulator’s Union. A year ago ago I started on a new path. A year ago I said “No more” to the never ending circle of contractual library work. A year ago I put the well-being of myself and my family ahead of any supposed loyalty to an industry in which I enjoyed working. A year ago I found myself in a brand new job, a brand new life, and a brand new set of surroundings.

Today I find myself enjoying what I do. I find myself truly learning a set of skills and a trade. I find myself knowing that if I do get laid off — and in a position where doing the work means you are one step closer to finishing the job — I simply have to wait for someone to give me a call because my name has reached the top of the list. I find myself surprising those around me because I not only tried this but seem to be thriving. I find myself getting better most every day.

I have found myself.

I am now an insulator.

You’ve Raised a Level

This post was written by Mike

I have a feeling that I’ve gained another skill point in construction. I was able to figure out how to cut a piece of pipe covering on a 45 degree angle using math.

Yeah. I know I’m weird but IT WORKED. WOOOOOOO.

I knew there had to be a logical math proof for it other than “hold the insulation up to the pipe and poke it where you think it needs to go.

Juxtaposition

This post was written by Mike

This past week has been a series of differences.

I went from my shortest commute ever to the longest.

I went from healthy to sick.

I went from a closed in site with plenty of obstructions to a wide open wing with next to no blockages.

I went from frustrated with my work to enjoying it.

Instead of working a fifteen minute walk from my house I was sent to a site two and a half hours away in Woodstock, Ontario. Normally when someone works that far away they get an allowance for room and board. The problem is that the site was two and a half hours from my house not downtown Toronto. From city hall the trip is an hour and somewhat under a half. That means it is technically in the furthest travel section, not the first room and board section. Most of the guys on site are still treating it like a room and board. I decided to drive it. Why? Good question.

For starters, I have no idea if I could drive that far without problems each and every day. The trip out wasn’t bad. I woke up at 3:15 and left by 4:00 getting to the site around 6:00 when I would either nap or say a couple decades of the rosary depending how much caffeine I required to get me there in the morning. Only one day out of the week was I desperately chugging coffee to keep me awake. The trip back was another story. Our shift ended at 3:30 which meant I hit the Mississauga end of Toronto near 4:30/5:00 depending on traffic. I’ve done that commute before when I worked near Jane and Finch. It takes an hour if you are lucky. So each day it took me about two hours to get to work and nearly three if not over that to get home. The commute through Toronto wasn’t bad. Like I said, I’ve done it before so I know I just need to pop on AM 590 and listen to Bob McCown for while. Driving an hour to get to that point, that was frustrating.

To make matters more frustrating I got a wretched head cold on Sunday. Thus in addition to commute from heck I went through three boxes of tissue to boot. Help the commute, it did not. My sleep was both short and interrupted by repeated bouts of my lungs attempting to remove themselves from my body.

The site itself was amazing. The site just had a bunch of wings opened up for people to get to work and as a result there is nothing in the way except the occasional drywall stud. No drop ceilings, no excess plumbing, no electrical conduits, no drywall board. Just wide open ductwork. Beautiful.

As a result I really started to get into a rhythm with the guy I was working alongside. I learned how to get a lot done in a relatively short period of time, how to choose which areas to do first, how to get a huge amount of square footage done in a day. That was something I needed. I’ve been stuck knowing that I can do work but unable to seem to get my body to follow suit. I’d get caught up in the stupid areas and struggle forever trying to get a small section done. It felt so good to see progress. It felt good to see that I can accomplish something. Since I’ve been back to work I wasn’t sure that I was making the right decision. Could I actually do this job? Now I believe that I can. For that, the commute was worth the hardship.

Nevertheless I’m very happy to be back working at the Oshawa site this week.