The Sparks Lady

The bucket truck was built on the frame of a Ford with dual rear axle, and turbo diesel engine. Some might know it as a cherry picker, the kind the hydro or communications companies use when making repairs on the road. We used it for fixing and replacing high up bulbs and fixing parking lot pole fixtures.  This particular day, I had finished the service calls requiring the use of the boom-arm, and was on my way to a simple ‘re/re’ (Remove & Replace) of an under counter light fixture. I had not been to this building before, and parking the beast of a truck outside the main entrance. I could move it later if needed. I called the number on the work order for the superintendent for the building. A lady answered, and was already out the door to great me before we hung up the phone. She paused mid-step as took me in, looking over my shoulder at the truck, checking out to see who was with me. “Are you the electrician?” She asked, surprise more than just a hint in her voice.

I never thought being off for 4 weeks would knock me on my ass so much. I suppose it wasn't just the fact I was off, but off injured. Going from hardly walking to back to full time at work was nothing short of exhausting. My legs felt like I'd run a marathon. Well, walked one at least. I'm usually a quick worker, but I felt slow, and lagging. Coupled with having a cold that first week back, and being fearful of sleeping in past my alarm, sleep was a luxury not afforded to me. During the day I kept telling myself,  "just one more light," or "just one more receptacle."  One more, after one more, after one more got me through the first couple weeks. Week three started to get better and i felt back at my regular pace again. I still had one more follow up appointment and xray to confirm the fracture was healed. That x-ray looked good! You could see the bone filling in the gap left from the fracture. I was giving the all clear to resume all normal acti

I've never had my feet fail me before. There have been years of dancing in studios, across the stage and even down the grocery isles. Years of training, years of trusting, and years of knowing that my body knew what to do. 13 years to be exact. Unlucky 13, as it turns out. Oh sure, I've taken falls before. But my feet always found a way to get me down to the ground safely without injury, or at most a minor one. Not this time. I've replayed it in my head a thousand times. I know exactly how I landed on my foot, and I've got the x-ray to prove it. I know the sound of a sprained ankle, having done my right one a couple times. The closest thing I can equate to that noise is the sound of popping a balloon with a pin. But this, this was definitely a crack. I knew as soon as the rest of my body hit the ground that I wasn't going to be getting up right away. My first thought was of work. Being injured means I don't work. If I don't work, I don't get paid

Well, the rough week of tests and assignments from week 10 of my Intermediate had passed. My bonus week for the Solar Photovoltaic Systems course was quite interesting. I'm glad I took this course after Intermediate as some of the theory I learned crossed over into the solar course. The biggest things I took away from the solar course was the different types of solar modules, how to size solar panel systems, how to size battery banks to store the energy, and the different ways you can connect to the hydro grid, or have the system work off-grid. It was definitely worth the extra week off work, and I was glad I had the chance to take it. Our school has solar modules set up on the roof, and we got to check out the battery bank in the Renewable Energy Lab, which has a small 2 story house built inside. They also have a small renewable energy trailer, which has a combination of solar modules and a small wind turbine that charge a set of batteries. These batteries are used to power re

Well, this was a hell week. Tests, assignments and labs in just about every class, which translates to 1 or more assessments each day. That alone was enough to keep my brain busy. Unfortunately, I had some personal stuff to cope with as well, and that only served to take up some much needed mental capacity. I was determined to start this week off right. I knew it was going to be crazy, so I was trying to have the right attitude to serve me through all of the tests to come. That didn't last long. I had a test in my second class on Monday that I somehow was not aware of (which is not like me to not be on top of those things.) This misstep seemed to set the tone for the rest of my week. I passed the test, but it wasn't with what I would normally be okay with. I had to let that go, so I could carry on. I still had another test that afternoon.   Wednesday was most certainly the hump day. Sometimes you don't realize how much you are holding yourself together until you fall apart.

One more week to go! Or so I thought... There is an extra week that I've opted to take. The school is running a Solar Photovoltaic Installation course that is funded by the Ministry of Training as an update clinic for any apprentices and journeymen. I figured that I'm in school mode anyways, and if I don't have to pay for it, it would be good to add to my skill set.  Apart from that, the learning is done! Now just review and study, study, study. Next week we have at least one, and sometimes two tests per day. A couple of classes include both a written and a practical portion of testing. Just about every evening next week is going to be dedicated to review stuff for the test the day before. I'm not going to get too carried away with as. I figure if I don't know it by now, cramming isn't going to add much more.  I was putting away laundry this weekend, when I realized I'll have to go back to wearing work shirts and pants 5 days a week. Over the last 9 weeks of

I came across this project stumbling around the internet for interesting things, as I tend to do from time to time. I thought it was a great example of a practical use for some of the electronics stuff I have been learning in school. It also serves to feed my Harry Potter hunger. (Long live Dumbledore's Army!) I might not be at this stage of the game yet, but it would certainly be cool to work towards.  It makes use of LED's, and a micro-controller connected via wi-fi. It connects to each family member's smartphones via an app (If This, Then That) to geo-locate the family member and communicate that location to the clock. This lights up the corresponding family member with their pre-set locations.  That app has many more uses. It can be used to connect to your HUB wi-fi connected light bulbs; NEST home thermostat; Belkin's WeMo, a plug adapter that you plug your corded device (like a coffee maker, or your Christmas lights). The WeMo is a wifi enabled device tha

I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am now only 2 weeks from completion, at least for this level of school. While there is a part of me that is itching to get back to work, a part of me is going to miss the bubble. The one that seperates school from the rest of your life. There have been some funny, good times, and while there was an inherent trust in this group of people from day 1, we've reached the point that is more than just comraderie from circumstance.  I looked around the class one day this week at the 60 or so of us. Out of the group, I've had conversations or interactions with at least half of them. While there are social 'groups' within our numbers, there wasn't ever the sense of division. Maybe some people feel that way, but that's not the way I've experienced it.  Part of me wonders if those that I've talked to have ever had the experience of working with a woman on the jobsite before. I wonder if their contact with

Another week bites the dust. I know at one point, I said electronics was going to be my downfall. I'm feeling like that's not the case anymore. I did a couple of the online quizzes and got 90% with little to no references to my notes. Granted I still feel that electronics is Greek compared to the other classes, it's starting to come together for me. This week we had the Monday off for Family day. Only a little reading needed to be done to make up for the lost classes. It certainly made the week move faster. Tuesday's Monitoring & Communications class had use wiring up Nurse call stations. As my Mum is a nurse, this was an interesting topic for me. I know she was certainly excited that I get to learn about components she used when she worked in the hospital setting. There were bedside push buttons for the patients, emergency pull stations, patient room controllers, nurse lounge room controllers, indicating lights and telephones at each station. I had a study

It's amazing to me how little the average person knows about how the trades system works. And how could they know? In my experience, our educational culture pushes university and college as post-secondary school options. The stigma I've witnessed surrounding the trades is that you only do it because you are not smart enough for college or university. This misconception frustrates me. I've had people say to me, "you're so smart, why did you get into the trades instead of going to university?" You have to be smart to understand the theory, be it university, college or trades school. Typically, when you attend trades school you have 8-10 weeks at a time to consume a lot of information. You have to stay on top of the assignments, and tests. There is no slacking your way through.  You either know it or you don't. I believe our society needs to get more on board with the trades being a viable career path. Just because I'm working towards being an ele

I'm over the hump! I've got more school behind me than in front, and I'm feeling pretty good about that. Also, and more to the point, I feel like I am actually retaining the information I am receiving. There are times in class when I've done a calculation, look at my answer, and forget what process I used to get there. Simply because it's becoming second nature and I don't have to overthink it anymore. This is good. Curious to see how long that lasts when I'm out of school, but for now good. Or at least until I pass the rest of my tests. In the last 6 weeks, I have received 2 E.I. payments. One 3 weeks in and 1 this past week. I was warned that my first payment would be less as the paid out vacation pay at the end of 2015 affected what I received. Thankfully the second payment I received was about double the first one. It could be worse: s ome people who had already been on E.I. from not working prior to school are going to run out of funds before school e

Now we're getting into the good stuff. And the tests just keep on coming. I had one in Electronics yesterday, a midterm actually. (This week has a couple of those). I studied on the weekend until my brain melted. Quite literally. I had to change the toilet paper in the bathroom, and instead of putting the holder through the new toilet roll, I tried putting the now spent roll through. No wonder it didn't fit! I managed an 81% on that test. Not bad you might think, but as I told my teacher, I've never had to fight so hard for an 80. I had to laugh at myself on Tuesday as well. My first class starts at 11. I had such a hard time getting up for it. What am I going to do when I have to be at work for 6 or 7am?  We had a midterm test in Monitoring & Communications. Another in Instrumentation and a Friday Quiz in Theory. Yay! At least my grades are still rolling in the 80's and 90's (and even a couple 100's).  I'm officially halfway through school now, 5 week

On Monday, I had two tests to study for: one in Prints reading class and another in Install Methods class. By the afternoon I already had the marks for the Prints test posted on eLearn (Mohawk's online student acess website). I got a 92.5%! The Install test I know I passed, but not sure with what. I studied the chapters we were told about, and reviewed the labs for the class. The content wasn't quite what I thought it would be, and some of the questions seemed vague. We'll see what happens when the marks come in. By Tuesday I decided being an adult and going back to school is a lot of work. By the time I did shopping, cooked dinner and got laundry going, it was already 7:00pm, and I hadn't even started my homework yet, or eat said dinner.  At some point since starting school, it's occurred to me how trusting a group of people all in the same situation can be. Even in the first week, people were leaving bags with new found friends to run off for a couple minutes. Jus

Well, this week has been a little quieter. We got out marks back on Monday from the Basic Theory review test. Our teacher commented that typically people's marks on the review test are within 5% of what we would have passed Basic Theory with.  I got an 86%, so that sounds about right. There was one person who failed that test. If I had to hazard a guess, I could probably figure out who in the class it is. I wish I could say that I think he just doesn't test well, but based on the questions he asks during class, I can't say I'd buy that excuse. In Monitoring and Communications we wired up a basic fire alarm system in the lab. While I had this class through my college program (it's not something you cover in Basic), I did notice a difference in my speed and understanding of the project. Of course it helps that since then I've done fire alarm systems in a couple buildings. What a huge difference it makes having the real world applications and practical experience

I had a 2.5 hour theory class. On a Friday afternoon. Who plans this stuff? And this is the same class where we are watching a movie from 1961 made for the US Military about DC motors and generators. Granted the theory or applications are the same as +50 years ago, but in all that time someone must have made something more current. It's almost as bad as the grade 11 science "Miracle of Life" birth control they make you watch. I'd grabbed a drink and a snack from the bookstore to get me through the afternoon. The lady who cashed me out straight up asked, "so, are there any hot guys in your class?" I laughed. After a while, they all look the same, especially with the abundance of lumberjack styled beards that have been cropping up of late. When you've worked with a bunch of guys, after a while they all look the same, smell the same, there's no need to differentiate one from the next.   Yesterday my theory teacher (when I handed in my test) ask

One week down, nine more to go. I did indeed spend almost as much on books for school ($592) as I did on school ($600), plus parking, plus supplies for the electronics lab, plus, plus, plus. Now that I've gone through a week of me schedule, I've gotten a feel for each of my teachers. Everyone seems knowledgeable and approachable, and a touch of humour (some more than others). I've made some connections with people too. I spent that first day observing the other classmates. There seem to be a range of ages. As the Intermediate level of school is mixed, there is a combination of both the 309A Construction & Maintenence group and 442A Industrial Electrician group. (It separates for the Advanced level). There is also a combination amongst  the 309A crowd who have solely residential experience vs. those who have experience in the commercial side.  I found people that seem to be interested in actually learning and doing well while in school. Sticking with smart, like

Well, after 16 months of working post-electrical basic schooling, I'm back at it for intermediate. Apart from a former teacher I ran into, and one other classmate I worked with for 4 months, I hadn't  said more than 10 words to anyone else by lunchtime. There seem to be clusters of people that know each other, either they work together or old friends from the last block of school. I thought I was lucky to know even one person. There are 2 other women in the class: the aforementioned former coworker, and another woman who also doesn't appear to know anyone. I made eye contact with her,  but she glanced over me sitting on my own at lunch to take a table to herself. So much for solidarity. The group of 60 in this block are split between 3 different schedules. Some of our schedules overlap, shop time has to be separated for space. I'm curious to see which faces will end up in my group. I have started a list of textbooks I have to buy. By the looks of it, when I&