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Hello everyone!
I am sharing a short story from a fellow Local #3 IBEW sister!
“A story from me……..In 1982, while I was an apprentice in LU #3, NYC electrical union, we were outside Grand Central Station eating lunch. A few of the guys were giving compliments to some of the women walking by. Nothing nasty, but hey, you are very pretty….things like that. So I told the guys that when I saw a man I thought worthy of my attention, I would say something. 10 minutes later I finally saw a man and I said, hey, I think you are nice looking and would love to talk to you. Well, this man turned around, walked over to me and said, were you talking to me? I froze up and said no. The guys never let me forget how I had my chance and blew it. I expected him to keep walking like all the women. Anyway, I have not thought of that in a long time and thought I would share.”
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Hello everyone!
Funny jobsite memory- a brief Construction Tales chapter clip below:
I was working on a job where guys were plastering photos of naked women on the gang box. I had a coworker ask me if I was okay with the nudity.
My smart ass reply, “Why?? Are they pictures of me??”
A moment of fear flashed over his face. Then humor consumed his face when I flashed a cheesy grin from ear to ear.
“Bro, I don’t give a shit! As long as my name and social is right on the check.”
I decided to even the score of smut on the walls of the metal gangbox. I picked up a magazine with guys wearing leather hot pants while shirtless. Those babies were plastered all over the inside lid of the second gangbox. It looked like a collage of man meat- perhaps a middle school girl’s locker. I didn’t post nude photos- just super provocative. Come on, I had to demonstrate some class…haha!
I walked back to the gangbox to get some material. The fire alarm guy comes running up to me and says, “Ohhh thank God!!” I stared at the man for a moment perplexed yet highly amused. He says, “I was trying to figure out which electrician was the gay guy! I’m so happy to see you on the job!” Laughter erupted while I gazed at the man collage behind him. Now that, my friend, made my day!
This was a short story I am sharing from Construction Tales- enjoy! I am going to get back to writing Volume 2- My Illuminated Path Continues..
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Hello everyone!
I am sharing that my book is available in the Katonah library in Westchester County, New York. It was a pleasant surprise. Here is a screenshot of the listing on the library website.
I am going to offer the teen version of my book to a few independent book fairs this year. The book is entitled, Construction Tales: A Young Person’s Guide to Accomplish Anything in Life
As soon as I get my first review, I will post it. I will see what other venues I can find to get involved in within the next few months. Thanks for reading my blog!
You can now click on the above “LISTEN ON SPOTIFY” (WHEN AVAILABLE) to hear this in audio!
Hello everyone!
Here is a short chapter clip from the book series known as Construction Tales:
Construction Tales short story-
We were doing boring things in a small shop I worked for during my 5th year of my apprenticeship. We moved our shop from one location to another. During the move to the new space, I noticed an empty gumball machine.
After walking past it a few times, I stopped to check it out. The date on it was from 12 or so years ago! No one is coming back for it! I wonder how much money is in it??
After wrestling with the devil and angel, I dragged it into the shop. I pulled out my drill and sawzall and went to work on it. I did get help from a few coworkers. One helped hold it while I cut the back out. Another coworker helped me dump the “dead soldier”.
I even got busted cutting it open by both of my bosses! Known in the shop afterwards as “bulletproof”.
For the rest of the story, check out my book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes!
You can now click on the above “LISTEN ON SPOTIFY” (WHEN AVAILABLE) to hear this in audio!
Hello everyone!
Here is another chapter clip from the book series known as Construction Tales:
Funny jobsite memory- Construction Tales
I was working on a job where guys were plastering photos of naked women on the gang box. I had a coworker ask me if I was okay with the nudity.
My smart ass reply, “Why?? Are they pictures of me??”
A moment of fear flashed over his face. Then humor consumed his face when I flashed a cheesy grin from ear to ear.
“Bro, I don’t give a shit! As long as my name and social is right on the check.”
I decided to even the score of smut on the walls of the metal gangbox. I picked up a magazine with guys wearing leather hot pants while shirtless. Those babies were plastered all over the inside lid of the second gangbox. It looked like a collage of man meat- perhaps a middle school girl’s locker. I didn’t post nude photos- just super provocative. Come on, I had to demonstrate some class…haha!
I walked back to the gangbox to get some material. The fire alarm guy comes running up to me and says, “Ohhh thank God!!” I stared at the man for a moment perplexed yet highly amused. He says, “I was trying to figure out which electrician was the gay guy! I’m so happy to see you on the job!” Laughter erupted while I gazed at the man collage behind him. Now that, my friend, made my day!
You can now click on the above “LISTEN ON SPOTIFY” (WHEN AVAILABLE) to hear this in audio!
Hello everyone!
A former classmate from high school out in Oregon, Danny, recently picked up my book. He has promised to offer a review when finished! Danny and I chat briefly periodically over the years. He shows me some of his residential improvement projects he works on. We discuss different construction projects. I enjoy talking shop with him on different home improvement projects. He is a nice guy and I thank him for picking up my book and taking time to read my story. I am sure we will discuss the book when he is finished reading it. I will keep you posted on his review and feedback along the way. Thanks for stopping by to read my blog!
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Hello everyone!
I wanted to share my journey to becoming a project manager for the largest electrical contractor in the city of New York. I was nervous going to the interview back in the spring of 2014. I had almost no office experience when I did the interview. I felt like I was the only coming in with some field experience. I did earn an MBA and have my OSHA 500. My OSHA gave me the ability to teach and issue OSHA 10 and 30 cards. I also teach part time for Empire College. This college offers our apprentice electricians a degree in labor studies. I was hoping my extra efforts would pay off and help me get this job.
I sat in for 2 interviews; one for engineering and the other for project management. I thought for sure that I was not going to get the job. The project manager job was what I really wanted. I had a very tense and awkward interview with the project manager executive. I left that interview pissed that I didn’t have the experience and annoyed that this man didn’t want me in the job since I was a woman. However, the boss liked me and put me in engineering making the blueprints. I vowed that I would figure out how to get that job one way or another.
I was given a 1 week tutorial with a coworker on how to use autoCAD. From then on, I was given my first job to get started working and learning on the fly. I was so nervous learning how to use CAD and learn engineering at the same time!! I was thinking how am I going to pull this off! I started getting more and more comfortable with my job as time went on. I started asking questions about project management. One guy told me to focus on engineering. I said that I had my eye on getting knowledge and work experience. I could not believe that I finally got the opportunity to learn project manager skills.
I had a project manager on the job whose family member passed away. I offered to help him work on some tasks since he was dealing with grief. I then started doing some of his work and my own work. Sometimes I felt overwhelmed but it was necessary to get my job that I wanted. It was noticed that I was doing his work. I eventually received more and more work. Before I knew it, I was approachedby a coworker that I am going to eventually get a project manager position. He was campaigning for me for months to get that job. I was happy at the thought. Until I actually get the job, I can’t get too carried away.
It took a few months to actually get the position. I was excited to move my things to my new desk. I have been working and learning in my new job for the last two months. I am working on learning the most so I can be the best project manager that I can be. I will do updates in the future to give progress reports. I do feel overwhelmed in the learning process.
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I have a friend who picked up a few copies of my books. She is looking forward to reading the book! I am thrilled she shared the selfie with my book on Facebook today! She said she will offer a review when finished! I am looking forward to hearing feedback on her read. She works in a trade oriented high school. If there is interest in the book, I will come and speak about it. When I get the review, I will share. If anyone else has Construction Tales book selfies, I would love to see it!!
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Now that I am an assistant project manager in New York City, I often have to walk the job. I take alot of photos with the intent of visually seeing our progress and determining if my field crew faces obstacles. I oftentimes use the photos to communicate issues on the job. It is no surprise that I discover some rather funny artistic creations. Here is a collection from the job and for your amusement!! I added some views of Manhattan from the jobsite as well!
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Part I: Published on 3-4-16
This photo represents my entire apprenticeship. Soak it in and I will try to get back to talking about it more in depth this weekend.
Part II: Published on 1-24-21
I had previously posted this photo and had forgotten to return and explain its representation of my apprenticeship. After 20 years of successfully getting out of my apprenticeship to become a journeywoman electrician, this photo still resonates as a theme during that time as well as my entire career. Few people work in occupations where they must wake up and prove their worth daily quite like working as a female in construction. I never felt relaxed and that I was just able to just merely show up on a jobsite. I felt like I had to perform and there was always a spotlight on my head. I say that as a fact of life and not as a complaint. In my mind, it was all a part of the job.
In the beginning of my career, I was eager to prove my worth each day. I even felt like I needed to go above the requirements just so I would not be on the jobsite’s first layoff. Over time, it becomes exhausting to maintain that high level of energy. I was even afraid to become friends with any females that were not equally hard working. I didn’t want the stains of their “laziness” to rub off on me. The guys knew that lazy, untalented women were a thorn in my side. I was often teased by my crew about putting the female on the job under my wing. In hindsight, I should have been a better trade sister for the woman that was struggling to find her way. I admit that I had caved into the pressure of putting in some distance. For many years, I felt like I was fighting to survive in longevity on the jobsite and fighting to maintain my reputation. It was hard enough to swim solo. Never mind having to help another woman swim to shore. I had no problem, however, helping a male on the job who needed help with various things on the job.
My reputation on the jobsite preceded me. Typically, the crew knew of you and any following rumors, no matter who you are, prior to you coming onto the jobsite. I had strongly desired to keep my work reputation as clean as possible. It was not possible to be totally free of any vicious rumors or gossip. I never wanted to give a perception that I was associating with multiple men in a personal manner. I did not want to get a stain on my reputation as being a woman who sleeps with her coworkers. I was a widow and I didn’t have much free time to hang out. That fact helped my reputation tremendously. I did think about, during my early years, how a good reputation was important also for my son’s sake if they chose to follow me into the business. My son Tom did indeed follow me into the business over three years ago.
I took great satisfaction in a project considered well done. I took any of the “not bad for a girl” comments with great pride. It was an honor to have a male coworker convert from having a negative perception of women to making the exception for me. I willingly became “one of the guys” on a jobsite amongst my crew. I never desired to stick out of force the men to walk on eggshells around me. I was always in favor of jokes being told on the jobsite and not holding back. I learned to have thick skin and some quite sharp retorts when I was on the receiving end of some chop breaking. I am so accustomed to the filthy exchange of jokes, I would feel weird working in a “clean” environment. I like coworkers who are direct with their issues, communicate, then move on and close the subject. A level of comfort evolved over time amongst my crew. I often became the gangbox psychologist telling my coworkers how to better approach their spouses. I have saved some marriages along the way.
When I was pushing through my apprenticeship, I was not doing for the overall good of all women. It didn’t even occur to me that I was attempting to do something few women even tried. I was accustomed to exchanging with men as a far back as boys in the school yard. I was close with my father and grew up sweeping and sorting material and hardware in a truck shop where my dad worked. I reached a level of comfort along with motivational coaching from my dad. He used to tell me that I was strong and smart; capable of doing anything I put my mind to doing. It really didn’t cross my mind that I was smashing barriers. I was just doing what I wanted to do and chasing that dream with fierce determination. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized I was on a path that was unique. I see the value of it today as a woman and work to encourage other women to go on my same path. I no longer concern myself with a fellow trade sister’s reputation having an impact on my reputation. The mindset indeed evolves with age. What doesn’t change is my mindset that I can do anything I set out to do. It is helpful to have the long work experience behind me as proof that it can be done.
What words or phrases come to mind when I see the photo? Strength. Deep determination. Perseverance. Hard work. Strong work ethic. Never giving up. Proving people wrong. Motivation.
What do you think of when you see the picture below? Let me know your thoughts on that as well as the theme of my writing. As always, thank you for taking the time to read my work. The internet is loaded with amazing content. You took the time to read my content. You are appreciated. I thank you and have a great upcoming work week!
Leslie's Verbally Disastrous Podcast & #ConstructionTales Blog 