July 3rd, one day until I get a full days pay with no work because it happens to be the same time a bunch of important people signed an important piece of paper a couple of centuries ago. But until then, I have to make it through today. I'm writing from my office desk doing whatever is necessary to waste time. While I do enjoy my job, there are still days that are tortuous just to get through. (count today in)
I have already had to go down below the river level to collect water samples in a room of 100% humidity at about 100 degrees farenheit to collect samples for 2 hours. If the sweat that sticks to your skin isn't enough down there, the water blasts of dirty water will be sure to finish the job. The solution is to get to a part of the plant with a working temperature of 160+ and time it just right so that you dry out and then immediately leave to prevent more sweat.
There are countless jobs around this plant with little unpleasantries like that, but that's what I signed up for when I joined engineering. I never wanted to work in a clean cubicle crunching numbers to help develop a project that might end up built after a decade. The money's the same, but there's no adrenaline in that. Here, once one gets to pilot one's specialist posistion, during a problem, there's only one person in the plant who can solve it. I love that kind of pressure and it really makes me thrive.
Outside of work, Chicago is an amazing city. The suburbs are very...suburban. The family I live with is from the city and moved out so their kids could go to better schools. It's all a big stereotype. The kids have taken kindly to me at this point, the older boy draws me pictures while I'm at work, it's generally an awkward thing. Suburban life is generally unremarkable.
The city of Chicago is a great place to be out for a night. No more is needed.
It's time for a lunch break, and I depart.
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