A break from office work

I meant to post this on Tuesday, Jan 18, but the internet was down. Anyway, here it is.

It has been a busy year. At work, I have been working on several projects at three different platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Besides engineering and construction, these projects have other logistical challenges. Mother Nature has her days. I was stuck all day Monday at New Orleans airport as helicopter could not fly us out to a rig because of dense fog. So, I flew back to Houston wasting an entire day. When the seas are rough, our supply boat cannot ride out with material and people. You pay for the boat regardless for standing by in bad weather. Everything cost a lot more offshore compared to that onshore. Even if a simple thing is missing and you have to fly it in or send it by boat, the transportation cost can be overwhelming. Obviously, when you have people in the middle of the ocean, you have to think about their safety, food, lodging, water, etc. On top of that individual personalities of the workers come into play. Some like to whine, some like to boss around, some don’t like offshore or being away from the family, and so on. So, you manage the best way possible to get the project done. The cell phone rings seven days a week. In any case, we have made tremendous progress and we are shutting down for the holidays. The crew is glad to go to the beach and head home.

I am ready for a break too. Our house will soon be full and humming with people. Our older daughter, her fiancé and his parents, the younger daughter, her boy friend and his parents, and my niece’s family will be arriving soon. We are planning to have a little celebration at our house. It’s time to count our blessings, enjoy the holidays with friends and families, and bid adieu to 2006.

Let there be peace and happiness on earth.