Forklifting wonder!

Last week on Wednesday, I was given the opportunity (finally) to get my fork lift license through work. I was excited to begin operating this new and interesting machinery. I watched three videos of people doing things that were illogical and dangerous that anyone with common sense would avoid. All criticizm aside, I learned about the forklift. My driving test followed.

I passed with flying colors. A brief handshake from our instructor, I was now allowed to drive a forklift. A handshake that said, "your good to go" just go slow. I followed this handshake with practice. I did great.

Friday. The sun rose over the hills, I made my way to work and thought and pondered how I would practice this new skill today. Forklift dreams, forklift operation, forklift "mad skill." My pride was challenged on this Friday morning.

I was deemed with the task to unload my first truck...alone. The FedEx man was patient for 2 pallets, then growing tired of waiting, and a sigh of irritation from the man, I called in backup. Oh and by the way, back up was also my girlfriend's older brother. Setting my macho pride aside, I gave up my captains seat to what was my "U.S.S. Enterprise" as if Kirk to Picard and walked back away to let him show me how it is done.

Pallets unloaded, the FedEx man leaves and I am handed my "ship" back and given new orders. The pallets must be moved approximately 50 yards to another location behind a manufacturing area. Perfect. I can now regain my pride and trust as a driver who knows his equipment.

Lifting my first pallet to relocate, I felt as if the seat had maybe gotten taller. Commanding the vessel with the turn of the wheel, the lift of a hydrolic leaver, the seat belt resting against my waist. I am the man.

Arriving at the needed destination, my eyes passing over the ground for imperfections that could slow down my progress. A glance left at a pothole, a glance right at a mound of gravel, and straight ahead at a puddle of water. An amount of water so small could have been caused by various reasons. Little did I know this puddle was a mud hole 6 feet wide that the back end of the forklift would fit very nicely in. Oh remember? Back up is my girlfriend's older brother.

Looking at my submerged forklift, I layed down the pride of controls and called for help. "Back up" showed through the door, as my announcement over my personal radio call for help ended. He came through the door, folded over with his hand clutching his mouth and laughed. Hysterically. Did you know Mr. Back up has back up? Apparently, Back up's back up consists of many of the guys who love to make a trek over to see me, (the new guy) and my handy work. Needless to say, we got it out with another forklift, passed around a few jokes and said "That was fun." and went back to work.

Tell me something. Anyone have an embarrassing story? Leave me a comment and follow my blog. I would love to hear.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate all of my readers. Have a great day, stay safe out there, and most of all, let your life shine.

love,

Keith

Iced tea and a cool western breeze...

You might think, Keith must be on some gorgeous plain, or perhaps a a beach in California, or maybe even his back porch. None of which are true. I am in fact sitting in the shipping and receiving department out in the Idaho desert on a trailer manufacturing plant...cool thing is, I'm good with that.

You see in the past few months I have been job searching. I landed a job as a parts runner here and I believe I am one of the few college students ok with working a blue collar job. In fact, I am happy to. So happy that I think it is a story that needs to be told to the college students, men and women, and teenagers of the United States.

I will do my very best to communicate my experiences to my readers (however many of few) that a blue collar job is very VERY valuable to learning what you are called to do in your future. The men who work in the plant are men who come from all walks. Some have decent pasts. Some, not so decent.

Take Jimmy. Jimmy works in close proximity to where I work in the purchasing department. He has had his mistakes from what he has told me, but Jimmy has so much heart. You can always count on him to say "Uh oh!" when he sees you and ask you how your day is going. Jimmy has also expressed his interest in my education. Men like Jimmy make me happy to work here. Not only Jimmy, many others make me happy to work here.

In closing, feeling a cool western breeze here or on the beach in California, my backyard, or on some far away plain its the same breeze everywhere...it is merely the way you feel it. All walks of life are different, but we are all living our lives at the same time.

Remember to tip your waiters and waitresses, tell someone you love them, and most of all Let Your Life Shine.