Not So Blonde

She Works Hard for the Money

Flashdance jokes aside, working at the plant on Saturday really wasn’t that bad. Okay, scratch that… working at the plant on Saturday would not have been that bad if it weren’t for the oppressive heat.

How terrible can the experience really be when the lead guy on your “crew” looks uncannily like Tyler Florence? I nearly blushed when I saw him, this lead foreman person. Not only have I nursed a long-held crush for Tyler but just the night before, I was doing some hardcore cyber stalking of the man.

Did you SEE how hot Tyler looked on that episode of Next Food Network Star? *fans self* Don’t worry R, he’s married. The lead foreman person AND Tyler. As are the rest of the guys on my “crew” (in case you can’t tell, I feel kind of goofy saying that word).

I think the superintendent stuck me with married guys on purpose, since I expressly informed him not to stick me with any Uncle Pervys in the dark… or, light. Don’t stick me with Uncle Pervys EVAH.

So faux-Tyler, gabbing with the guys about their wives and their kids, having guys not in our “crew” stopping by our work area more than it really seemed neccessary (all the guys were intrigued there were girls at the job site) I can’t say the day was really THAT bad… if it weren’t for that dangblasted HEAT.

The heat, and, the scary bathrooms. Seriously, you have no idea how scary a bathroom can be until its pitch black, illuminated only by the feeble light on your hard hat.

I think most of the reason a pitch black plant bathroom is so scary is you’re in such a vulnerable position. Who wants to get caught by Jason/Freddie Krueger/scary plant guy in the scary pitch black plant bathroom with your pants, literally, around your ankles?

Not just your pants around your ankles, but, while ON YOUR PERIOD. I was trying to be slick and hide this little nugget of information from the guys on my “crew”… but it came to light sooner or later.

Really, there are only so many times you can grab your girly looking tote (the guys were calling it my “purse” but I was quick to correct them) and make a mad dash for the scary pitch black plant bathroom before 3 married guys start putting 2 & 2 together.

I got major props for not only showing up for the shut down (one girl committed to it but turned up wearing tennis shoes and was promptly sent home. Wearing tennies is a huge no-no and something we were told repeatedly NOT to do), working my booty off while there, getting filthy dirty crawling around in the equipment, not complaining (maybe a little) AND having Dottie roll up that very morning? Please, I’m a total rock star now. Don’t even act like you don’t know.

Growing up with 6 brothers definitely didn’t make for a wuss. I can be a girly girl (the butterfly puffy stickers on my hard hat will attest to that - the guys loved them) but when something needs to get done, I get it done. I’m pretty damn proud of myself in case you could not already tell.

After an 11 hour day in the scary pitch black plant doing some serious manual labor there’s only one way to end the day: drinking a beer.

One of the other guys (not Tyler, he doesn’t drink. A major character flaw in a man if I ever did hear one) on my “crew” and I were talking about beer pretty much the majority of the day. Which ones we like, which ones we didn’t, which ones we’d bring in our work “tote” if there weren’t so many people around. Heh. Just kidding on that last part.

Shortly after arriving home with a 6-pack in hand, I finally was able to speak with R after what seemed like an eternity (a week and change). I got to hear all about how he has been running around town in his dress whites. He said so many people stopped him on the 4th to shake his hand (Thank you for your service, officer!) that it got to be a little irritating.

What’s irritating is the fact he’s running around town looking so undoubtedly hot and I’m not there to see it. Ain’t that a role reversal? Me in the work boots and hard hat, R looking all sexified and luscious (did I just say I normally look sexified and luscious? Oh… whatever). Oh, I miss R so.

Other than working like I got bills to pay (I do), sleeping a whole hell of a lot and cooking here and there, that was pretty much my entire weekend. I didn’t even see any fireworks unless you count the photos I’ve seen on Flickr. I don’t feel like I missed much… my sleep really is THAT important to me. I hope you all had an enjoyable holiday. Back to work I go…