Changes aren't always a bad thing - NE Louisiana Powerline Project

This photo is not of the line being built in NE Louisiana, this is a line we were apart of building in Albion, Mi

People that talk about things they are not fully educated one has recently become a really big pet peeve of mine. So instead of complaining why not use this as a time for inform those who are in the dark. (haha that will make sense later on!)

I came across a post this morning about people being upset about a proposed power line coming across North East Louisiana.  The complaints are great

• Ruin land, over running it with more power lines
• Ruin lively hood of farmers, disrupt irrigation, and current farming practices.

And my absolute favorite

• It wont benefit Louisiana (Seriously????) 

So lets start with the obvious that was stated in the news release, no right of way has been obtained yet. If this power line was proposed to come through my property I would use this as an opportunity to help myself. Whether they follow existing power lines or construct a new right of way, more than likely new right of way will have to be purchased. The amount will depend on the size/voltage of the line.

Ruin lively hood of farmers? Last time I checked farmers get compensated for any damaged to crops, again make the contract work for you. In the past I have seen farmers get paid for damages for 3 years. What about the part where the project spokesperson stated clearly that farming is encouraged. And the irrigation issues, really? Our guys have worked with drain tiles and irrigation on almost every job because yes transmission lines go through rural areas that usually include a lot of farm land because that the easiest where the LESS amount of disturbance will be. Seriously imagine if every transmission line was made to go through a city, impossible and impractical.

What really burned me what the comment about how Louisiana would not benefit from this. Really Louisiana couldn’t benefit from the jobs? This size job, does anyone realized how many people it will take to build a line this long? Engineers, project managers, safety crews, flagging crews, tree trimmers, utility contractor, suppliers. And guess what those guys will need food, gas, and some where to sleep.There is also the possibility of this job allowing local guys to be able to come back home for work. If the right contractor got a section of this job, there would be no doubt we would be packing up and headed home yesterday. Who’s to say that in the future, another stage of this project isn’t to connect to Louisiana. Our whole national power grid is a loop feed anyways and Louisiana tying in at some point later on isn’t a far off idea. 

I have been by Dylan’s side since day one in this trade. Do I know it all, no, but I know enough to realize these complaints are from those who are uneducated. I will be the first to say I believe that local utilities need to do a better job communicating and informing their customers. On the same hand customers need to do more to be informed rather than going off what they think is right. We see it on every job some property owner ins’t going to like something. The location of the pole on their property so they move the stake, you are just making yourself look like the bad person and causing more work for the contractor because now they have to check every pole to make sure it is in the right place. Another is people think if they don’t like the style structure the power company is using they do not have to allow it to be installed. That is absolutely false, remember that right of way contract that was signed. Please I beg, do not make the contractors job any harder. I hate when Dylan comes home and tells me a land owner pulled a gun on them because they thought they could bully their way into getting the power line built the way they wanted it. He has a lot more tolerance then I do, that said person would have gotten a free ride down to the local jail for endangering a utility worker. Not all land owners are bad, we have met some great people through Dylan’s job. We both have relationships with several land owners across several states now. 

On to my next point, let say this project goes through, which it probably will a few disgruntled land owners is not going to stop a project this large, wouldn’t everyone feel better knowing the linemen installing the line are working as safe as possible? Cramming yet another transmission line into an existing right of way isn’t always the best and clear choice. Several transmission lines in a small space feed off of each other making it a very dangerous place for linemen. Even the parts and lines that are not energized could become energized form being so close to the other lines. Now one could argue that this makes the power lines dangerous to the public, the answer is yes and no. This is why crowded corridors usually run through unpopulated areas or for a few short distance before splitting apart, but honestly most of the time lines are going to several different places thats why this isn’t very common. 

Currently the foundation work for this job is beginning so there is no stopping it now. Lets try to embrace this new change and get informed about all the benefits it will have for not only North Louisiana but all of Louisiana. We are here if you have any questions. We not only work for the power company, we work for each other, we have helped several land owners get issues resolved in the past. 

There is Power In Prayer

I haven't posted anything on here yet as I was hoping to have more and better new buy now. This morning I got to thinking, I do have good new, we are lucky - GODS IN CONTROL.

Last week on my personal page I asked for everyone to pray for us. Even though it feels like we are moving at a snails pace I know He has heard our prayers and has taken control of the situation. Ever since Dylan started in this trade God as closed several doors along the way but with every door and window He has opened since then He has blessed us with a better opportunity every time.

Last Tuesday morning we got news that Dylan would be laid off after that week. Due to safety violations (or at least that's the reason the utility is giving us) they are stopping all the work Dylan's company has on their property for 90 days.  This has had a major impact on the company he works for, as it is affecting several hundred families so the company doesn't have the resources to keep everyone employed for 90 days. At the first of the week things looked some what promising that he could find another job, but as the week has gone on we still don't have anything official. Several amazing friends are keeping an ear out for us and we are ever so thankful for them. 

This isn't the first layoff we have been through nor will it be the last, but I still can't help but step back all see how God has blessed us over the last few years. Two years ago this layoff would have been and was devastating. There was no such thing as a savings to fall back on. Fast forward about two years later we can and will survive, we actually have a savings and will survive taking a few days/weeks off and as much as 3 months would hurt we could survive if we had to, it would just throw off hunting season. Yuck. We are blessed enough to say financially we are prepared for a layoff, emotionally and mentally not as much but we will make it.

I said all that to say we have total faith that God will guide us to where He wants us to be, whether it be today, tomorrow or weeks for now we will go where every He leads us.


Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you, see and will find; knock, and it will be opened to you

Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours

John 14:13-14 What ever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ


*** These "safety violations" we both feel DO NOT reflect the safety standards of the company has a whole, it was a bad judgment call made by a few men and in result has affected many.

Where are we now???

Things have been a little slow the last month or so since we got back to work. After the job wrapped up in Albion, Mi at the end of August we took two weeks off and went home while we waited for the next job to start.

Our two weeks home flew by like they always do and the time to return back  to work came to soon.

The first job back was in Oxford, Mi. It was a short job, just 15 poles had to be set and wire hung. We were there a little over a month. During that time we had to re-adjust to living in a campground all while adjusting to having another dog on the road. Our black mouth cur, Karma, is now traveling with us.

Now we are back in Illinois, just west of Chicago, and back living at show-up. We are in the middle of farm country and are positioned on top of a hill surrounded by beans and corn. Its nice since this job is currently running 5/12's with the work day starting at 6:30, Dylan doesn't have to get up super early to make it to work on time. There is a down side to staying here though, we do not have sewer hook ups or running water. Currently we are filling our fresh water holding tank with 5 gal buckets and having the use the "honey wagon" to take care of the sewer--- Both of those are Dylan's job!

Mo is his normal self, requiring all the attention. He attends the safety meeting every morning and greats everyone who comes on the property but yet wont let anyone pet him poor thing. He thinks he runs things around here and can get away with almost anything.

The plan is for this to be our last job of the year after this one we are headed home for the winter :) 

---The pictures below are from Oxford, Mi. Dylan and the other crews build the steel poles, the lattice was already there. 

Long time no see

I kinda fell off a bit on keeping everyone updated. I've tried several times but couldn't get the words to come out just right. We have been on this job for so long so not much exciting has been happening very often. But here is a little bit of what we have been up to.

In June we went on yet another vacation, our first real vacation that didn't involve going home. We went back to our favorite place, Gatlinburg, TN. This was our first time to return since our honeymoon so we made it our anniversary vacation trip this year. Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge was a blast as always and the company (Jesse and Harley) we took along made the trip even better. And of course the excitement didn't end when we left Tennessee. Our tried and trusty old truck that dad sold us broke down on us just before the Kentucky/Ohio border. The fuel pump went out, but thankfully Dylan and Jesse had the knowledge to know how to change it. And a big thanks to a local lady who shuttled us back and forth to the parts store. So instead of making it home at a decent hour we finally made it to the trailer about 12 am the next morning. 

The conclusion of this vacation trip also concluded Dylan's 1 month of working in vacation mode :) He took full advantage, while still allowing just enough time for work to get done. 

Another awesome thing we were able to do was visit a deer farm just up the road. It was so much fun seeing all the deer so up close, seeing the new babies, and feeding the deer. We can't wait to go back when the bucks are out of velvet. Plus we are watching a nice 9/10 point here at the trailer. He comes out almost every evening just behind our trailer in the right-of-way. 

Everyone thought we were crazy but we replaced our upstairs a/c in the trailer, the first day it made such a big difference it was nice for the trailer not to be 80 inside. But in Michigan fashion it was just a day or two before it was cool again and the a/c hasn't ran that much.

4th of July was a big monumental time for us. Once again it was a holiday where we broke away from our old traditions to start out own. Yes, I would have loved to been a Lake Bruin where the water was warm but instead we were on the AuSable Rive that was freezing. This once again confirms that people from Michigan are crazy, and I guess we are too now, for getting in water that cold. It was nice and relaxing tubing down the river after getting over the shock of the cold water. 

Like I said before we have been on this job a while, since February actually, and we can finally see the end. YAY!? Not really, we have a week or two of work left here then its on to the new place. Where will that be??? WE are not exactly sure either, but I will be sure to update everyone as soon as we know. On another note a bigger trailer means bigger stuff. Last year to pack the little trailer and be ready to move I needed 30 minutes, now I need 2 days and I am not exactly sure where everything is going to go so that it fits! Oh the joys of living in a camper! 

Road trip 1 - DONE

After 5 months we were finally able to make a trip home! We have tried several times but it was either too cold to leave the trailer un-winterized or Dylan couldn't get away from work.

The ride home was normal. We were not going to leave until Saturday morning so we wouldn't be driving at night but we ended up leaving Friday night about 7 pm. We had everything ready and we lost power, actually the whole town of Albion was out of power so we hit the road.

Once home we got a much needed and wanted crawfish boil. I thought this was going to be my first year with out crawfish but we made it home just in time. We got to eat everything we wanted while we were home - A&N Burgers, Foxes Pizza, Johnny's Pizza, and fried catfish. In between eating and visiting family Dylan finally finished painting our bedroom, its only taken 2 years!

Friday was all about Hannah, Dylan's little sister. We both can't believe it's time for to graduate and head off to college and are so proud of all she has accomplished and cannot wait to see her reach her goals in life.

The drive home we decided to mix things up. We left around 7:30 Saturday morning and decided to drive through Birmingham, Al so we could drive uo through the hills and take 2 days to make the drive. Just west of Tuscaloosa the interstate was closed so we detoured 2 hours through the back roads of Alabama with an LSU decal on our truck, that was fun. We decided after our delay to stop in Bowling Green, Ky. WELLLLL there were no hotel rooms available with in a 30 mile radius of there thanks to University of KY graduation. So we kept driving and trying to find a hotel with a room available that also accepted pets. We pulled up to the LaQuinta in Elizabethtown, Ky and got the last room they had. Exhausted, upstairs we go, open the door and the room is occupied! So back down stairs we go. The lady at the front desk can't figure it out what was wrong, that room was just cleaned and the last room they had available. FINALLY she realizes room 316 was the last one available not 315.  Thankfully after all that Mo did really good for his first time in a hotel room with us.

Sunday morning we continued our drive back to Michigan. We were not back at the trailer just a few minutes before we were off again, this time hunting Morel Mushrooms. After the last few weeks of finding fakes we finally found real ones this time and after trying them if that's what they taste like I will gladly continue "hunting" mushrooms!

Dylan is back at work today and I am back to my normal duties :)

We moved AGAIN

After one month staying in Angola, Indiana with Dylan driving a hour to and from work we are now living at show up, he has no excuse for being late for work now lol.

All the rv parks around the area do not open until mid May so we talked with the property owner and he was ok with us putting the trailer here so this is our new home location. Its more of what we are used to. We are surrounded by a pine field with corn fields behind us, great for watching deer in the evenings and we even had some come out close to the trailer yesterday evening. The drive was uneventful which was a blessing since it was my first time to haul the trailer except for a few miles around the house. The weather is trying SO hard to be warmer and some days it is but we are still getting snow/sleet from time to time.

Mo is a much happier dog, getting to run free all day. We have discovered one thing, he doesn't care too much for men in hard hats lol. But he is getting so much better at meeting new people and letting them pet him, he has come a long way in one year.

Things are starting to pick up on the job site, I'm hoping to get some good pictures soon. Their first wire pull should be next week so after that I will get some good shots for sure after wire is in the air.
Dylan and the guys will be pulling 10 wires into the air at just over a mile, stressful but exciting!

I have been told they guys have been asking when sausage balls will be made again so it looks like I a back in the cooking business! They don't know I am planning a big lunch for Lineman Appreciation Day, we will just have to celebrate a days early on the 17th. For now I am off to bake cupcakes before Dylan eats all the icing!

Finally an Update

Oh hey long time no see!

The past few months not much has happened.

We did say goodbye to our first tramp home in January, wasn't to sad to see it go as we are both still enjoying the room in our new trailer.

Dylan worked in St. Louis from January 5 till February 20.  On Monday, Feb 23 we moved to northern Indian and he signed the books at 876 and took a call. So we are back in Michigan, a little sooner than we had originally planned and A LOT sooner than we would have preferred weather wise. And just so you know if you haul a camper in 3 degree weather it will be COLD inside when you reach your destination. Since it is so much colder, especially at night, we joined the big boys and upgraded to a 100 lb propane tank after a 30 lb bottle only lasted about 2 days.

Now thats its official we can finally say that Dylan took his first foreman call. We are both really excited for him to have this opportunity. He has done it in the past, just now he has the title and truck ;) to go with it.

We will be staying in Angola Indiana until campgrounds in Michigan start to open in April if weather allows. So hopefully winter will ease up soon and things will begin to warm some.  

Mo in St. Louis