splatts 3Speak Podcast

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=splatts/igcitbkmlm
Springtime is here and around these parts the Tom are out strutting their stuff.

“Hey Ladies… You like what you see?”

Hens, casually walk away…

Despite that nasty head they got, their feathers are awesome!! But that dang nasty wrinkly, bumpy, bald head… what a weird animal.

I just can’t help myself when I see them. If I have a spot to pull over, I will watch them for a minute. Then mess with them a bit by honking the horn or clapping, any kind of noise. Then the group of Toms will always stick their necks out and gobble. Makes me chuckle everytima. lol.

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=splatts/hckkvmiakv
I have no idea how this thing magically came apart. Well Ok, this rig is 22 years old and has 255,000 miles. Maybe it wiggled its way apart over the years and miles. I’ll go with that.

Mama Splatts mentioned to me that she went to clean the rear window and the washer fluid shot out inside the truck. I initially thought, “Oh, Great!! This better be an easy fix!!”

I finally got around to check out what was going on with this washer fluid leak. With my fingers crossed I popped off several interior molding pieces to track down the leak. Normally I bust these interior molding clips off like crazy. Surprisingly I didn’t break a single one this go around. NICE!!

Super happy that it was an easy fix and that Mama Splatts stopped using the rear window washer fluid when she noticed it. That could have totally ruined the rear portion of the headliner in this monster. The headliner is all one piece!! How in God’s Green Earth did they get that thing in there??!!

Well one minor repair fixed and now onto the next one!!

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=splatts/vdqwqeycbc
One of the Big Farming Companies that we provide electric service to on the Snake River was ready to energize their rebuilt river pumping station. These 4 brand new pumps produce around 4,500 horse power. I couldn’t see the horse power rating on the pump but another Lineman told me it was around 4,500. They did a great job cleaning things up and this pump station looks really nice compared to the old one. Complete with a new control house even… NICE!!

As I drove down the hill toward the river pumping station I noticed a massive flock of snow geese floating on the river. Looked like a dang Iceburg out there. Getting down closer to the river, those bajillion snow geese were making quite a racket.

As we waited for the electricians to do their final checks before energized I had to have a little look around. Then all of the sudden the sound from the snow geese increased 100 times more loud. Echoing across the water. I had to catch some video of this!! What an amazing site!! I can’t believe that non of these snow geese smash into each other. I mean there has got to be at least a few drunk uncles wondering around the flock?? right??

it was insane how loud it was when they all lifted off. You know the sound when you take a hand full of small rocks and throw them in the water? Imagine that if you will but 1,000 times louder. Thats what it sounded like as they all began to splash land in the water. What an amazing site too see and hear.

It wasn’t but 10 minutes later and they all lifted off again. Me being me, I had to run over and watch it again. I just can’t help myself. lol. My Dad and Brothers are big waterfowl hunters. I sent this to them and my one brother replies… “Shoot’em!!!” LOL. If you were able to shoot them and were close enough it would be hard to get less than 5 in one shot. LOL.

After all the snow geese commotion, I checked out the older side of the river pumping station. They rebuilt this a few years back and I think those main pipes are 40 inch diameter pipes. Then the pipes from both sides of the pump station come together into a big 60 or 70 inch pipe that takes the water up ther hill a couple miles to a booster station. That booster station has another 7,200 horse power that pushes the water to all the fields. It’s amazing how much stuff the farmers grow on this land. Sandy, sagebrush covered land can produce an amazing amount of crops if you got the horse power to get the water there.

I hope you enjoyed the view of the Snake river and watching the Snow Geese do their thing. I know I did. What a cool site to see and experience.

Food Grows Where Water Flows

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=splatts/qvdfvqqukt
As far as power outages go in the Blue Moutains this winter, it’s been pretty quiet. Which is a good thing for our customers. A couple years ago we spent all summer cutting dead trees down around the powerlines. I would say all that work paid off big time. Even though it’s kept me down in the valley all winter. Call me crazy but I really do enjoy getting up in the mountains and battling the elements and obstacles that come when trying to find and repair power outages.

We had a couple cabins out of power the other day. I headed up there just after lunch with the side by side to see what the issues were. During the winter months these places are vacant so it’s not a huge priority. The first one was right off the road. Of course a tree fell through the service wire, tore it down, and damaged the wire. I made things safe by de-energizing the transformer and cutting the wire down in the clear. The whole service needed to be replaced, so I’m gonna need some help and material.

The next cabin in way in the hell back in the thick woods. The first couple spans are east to access until you hit a big canyon crossing. After clearing one tree off the line, I attempted to make may way down to the cabin in the side by side. The so-called driveway was badly overgrown. Cut some trees and branches out of the way, drive 15-20 feet and cut some more. The snow was around 3 feet deep and walking in it wasn’t too enjoyable. Looking at the clock in getting short on time, so I headed back to the bucket truck and loaded the side by side to head in.

The next day we brought some service wire up and got the first cabin up and going. After cutting down the rest of the tree that had caused the problem in the first place. Now we can actually see the service/meter pole. I was pretty surprised that the transformer and wire going to the meter weren’t damaged at all. That made this a pretty easy fix.

Now for the fun part… cut our way into the cabin. We had this driveway cleared out and we were able to drive our bucket trucks in there a couple summers ago. Not anymore!! I guess we better get in here this spring and do a little spring cleaning. It took us about 1 hour and a half to finally get to the other side of the canyon wire crossing. Oh look… another tree fell down and tore the wire down too. The wire was under the fallen tree and tangled up in the undergrowth and old dead trees on the ground. It was a bit of a battle getting the wire in the clear so we could pull it up without it getting hung up. Tripping over branches buried in the snow, getting hung up in the prickly vines under the snow, then stepping into a big hole and sinking up to my… ya know… yes, I took a couple hits below the belt in this battle.

That was a lot of work just to get power back to 2 cabins. We got there around 7:30am and didn’t head down the mountain until 12:30pm. At which point I was starving!!

Thanks for stopping by and watching a video edition of A Day With A Lineman… and no, that’s not my real speaking voice 😉 I just find the Snapchat voice changer funny is all and I hope you do too.

(Soundtrack is from Apple iMovie - Alvin Risk ~ Fade to You)

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=splatts/tzwkavutrv
At work we started a new way to spice up the food game for our monthly safety meetings. Each work group: Walla Walla Lineman, Burbank Lineman, Dayton Lineman, Marketing, I.T. & Internet department, and Management - take the reigns to provide food for the safety meeting. It may sound like a ton of people but there are only a total of 50 employees.

Us Walla Walla Lineman volunteered to go first. Of course we chose make breakfast burritos. Build your own that is. With a budget of $250 we went a little over.. oops. We cooked up 10 dozen eggs, 5 lbs of bacon, 5lbs of sausage, 5 lbs of diced ham, potatoes, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, cheese, sour cream, hot sauce… and some giant tortillas.

I can’t believe we tore through 10 dozen eggs!! It would be safe to say that these breakfast burritos are gonna be tough to beat in the upcoming safety meetings. Gotta set the bar high and see what the other work groups can cook up.

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=splatts/kzgdhecvsv
Ever since I picked up this popcorn maker there has always been popcorn readily available for a handful or seven… So when I got back from a week long Dr. visit with my son and looked in the popcorn machine l, I was sadly disappointed. No Frikken Popcorn!!! What is happening around this place?? I’m gone for a week and this whole place falls apart! Unbelievable…

After a week without any of this popcorn, I must have have been going through withdrawls… that crunchy salty buttery goodness… This popcorn machine makes the best popcorn. Having the warmer in the bottom keeps the popcorn warm and crunchy for days!! I think the nicely sealed door helps too. The door always helps keep the aromoma contained so the whole house doesn’t smell like buttery popcorn… which wouldn’t be a bad thing in my mind…

I guess I’m just gonna have to make some popcorn myself and get a little weird while doing it. Check out how easy it is to make popcorn better than that movie theater junk. 😉😉

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=splatts/drhbhmyqks
The Clearwater River in Idaho has some of the best Steelhead fishing around. So when my Dad booked a boat with his fishing guide friend, I wasn’t gonna turn it down. A Christmas gift to 3 of his 4 boys. 3 of us live locally and one is down in Oklahoma. We had a blast dish reeling these Steelhead in!!

The Clearwater River canyon scenery is absolutely breathtaking!! I have tons of pictures that I will put into a blog post later. I figured I would put together a little video first. Showing the scenery and bringing a few Steelhead into the boat. The weather was dang near perfect. No wind, snow, rain, and it wasn’t bone chilling freezing. Just a great day of Steelhead fishing on the Clearwater River!!

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=splatts/qvyvrkjinr
This has to be one of the most amazing encounters with a Bald Eagles I have ever witnessed. During the winter months I see them perched on trees that line the Columbia River here at home. if I have a chance, I pull over somewhere close and get out the binoculars and watch them for a few moments. I ain’t no bird watcher but the Bald Eagle is one of my favorites. Snow white head and tail, razor sharp talons and beak, along with their size and strength make them a very impressive and beautiful bird of prey.

A couple years ago I spotted one in a tree here in town. This Bald Eagle must have had enough of a blackbird’s nonsense. The black bird was in the talons of a Bald Eagle and being ripped apart by its powerful beak. Beakfuls of black feathers ripped from the blackbird and were sent off floating in the wind. This little encounter did not compare to the one this last weekend while steelhead fishing. (Post Coming Soon)

Watching out poles waiting for steelhead to bite, Tom yells, “Whoa!! that Bald Eagle just knocked that other bird out of the sky!!” Immediately we all quit watching our poles and had to watch this Bald Eagle in action. I quickly dug my phone out of my pocket and hit record. I wasn’t going to miss this!!

The Mature Bald Eagle wasn’t having any part in this Younger Bald Eagle fishing in his section of the river. The young one can be seen swimming to shore after the mid air collision. Once on the rocks, the attack didn’t stop. The Younger Bald Eagle was trying its best to defend against the attacks of the Older one. By jumping in the air, sticking it’s powerful feet toward the incoming attack. After a couple of those the Young Bald Eagle said, “The Hell with this!! I’m outta here!!”

I guess you don’t need a play by play commentary… just watch this epic video for yourself. You won’t be disappointed!!

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=splatts/mptnzjdhis
I’m unsure as to who installed this meter back in August of last year. I know it wasn’t me because I always thoroughly inspect the meter socket before installing a meter. Once I found the meter ring (a metal ring that secures the meter to the meter base) inside contacting the metal buss bars. Those bars become energized when I make the connection at the transformer. Then the sparks would start flyin! Possibly right in my face!

In this case there is suppose to be two metal tabs that slide into place with a bolt. I’m not sure if you can see the upper two connections but that is what is missing from the bottom. The two wires looked like they were once clamped into place but they sure the hell aren’t now. Since this was just a temporary service for construction purposes they most likely didn’t notice anything. The wires were in there pretty snug and making a decent connection so who knows??

Just a friendly reminder to always double and triple check things. Even if it has been signed off and inspected… People make mistakes and can miss things from time to time.

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=splatts/dpnkuyrxef
Every month we have a Safety Meeting at work. Typically in the office kitchen there is always something to curb your appetite while different topics are being discussed. Upcoming projects, current progress of other projects, the companies financial situation, future commercial customers, accidents in the industry, company accidents and incidents… many topics get discussed and that tends to make us all a little hungry.

Last month they announced a little foodie competition. Make your favorite “tailgate party” food and bring it in for everyone to enjoy during the safety meeting. Around here “tailgate party” food are typically dips, sweets, bbq finger food, basically side dishes or snack foods I guess. Grab a plate and try 4-5 tasty snacks, then go back for more. At the end of the safety meeting we all vote for our top 4 favorites. The winners get some pretty cool little prizes. Free pizzas from a locally owned pizza joint, gift cards, water bottles, coffee mugs…

I couldn’t help myself but to try a little of everything. Though I forgot what most of them were I remember a few. Guacamole deviled eggs, peanut butter bars with chocolate and oatmeal, smoked sausage wrapped with bacon and topped with a cream cheese mixture, buffalo chicken dip, corn chowder dip, shrimp and rock fish dip, Spicy chili cheese dip, and some killer chicken legs. What a great way to keep the company moral up and have a friendly completion to promote great employee relations. Not a bad place to work if you ask me 😉