Weather Cold, Fire Hot

Tim Fish here. Yesterday a cold front came through. I went home and started up the fire and enjoyed the smokey atmosphere. Today I had to walk around campus dressed in my coat. I went home for lunch and ate some great peach pie that my DW (Dear Wife) made. Yummm

Spastic Colon Sunday

Tim Fish Here. Well it's Sunday evening and we have....Spastic colon Sunday. You know the feeling you get when you realize the weekend is almost over and tomorrow is a workday. I used to have that feeling every Sunday night and especially on the Sunday nights at the end of a week's vacation. It was so bad that I rarely took vacation. The Spastic Colon Sunday has gone away with age. I think as you grow older the pressures of job and life seem to lessen. That or either I'm just crazy and things don't bother me anymore.



I saw that Motor Trend Magazine Labeled The Chevy Vega as one of the 10 worst cars that they ever gave an award to. I LOVED my old Vega. It was the first car I ever owned. I just got through with school, and my dad took me down to the Chevy dealer in Lawrence, KS and we picked it out. (used) Then we went to the Eudora State Bank in Eudora, KS and talked to Don Bagby and got my first loan. I paid $100.00 a month for it. I don't remember the price, but it was a good car for me. I remember driving it away from the lot and realizing that for the first time, I am independent. I promptly ran over a curb and ruined the right front wheel rim and had to put on the spare. (how embarrassing) One day while driving home from work in Topeka, I pulled out from the stop light and T-Boned some guy who pulled across the four lanes of moving traffic and...totaled my sweet ride. I must admit that my seat belt saved me from going through the windshield. The guy had no insurance, no job, and no driver's license. I had Liability insurance so...I was out of a car and all he got was an $80 ticket. Seems like a good deal to me. No responsibility for irresponsible behavior. No. Wait. Obama will fix everything!!

And now for something completely different.

Saturday night we went to Houston to the 'Comedy Sportz Club'. What a good time. If you like good clean entertainment, I recommend it.

Walking to work

Tim Fish Here. Well, today I did my usual walking. I thought I'd make some videos about my day. Enjoy.

Take a hike and get to work

Tim Fish Here. Well for anyone interested, I spent more time walking than working today. I'm tired and my feet hurt. I did get a couple of items taken care of. I replaced a couple of hall buttons in one building. (Only had to walk back to parts room once. That was one mile.) Then AFTER lunch, I walked over to Jack E. Brown building so I could get called off that project and walked back to the truck to go to West Campus. (20 minutes each way for 40 minutes. Got nothing done there.) Then, after fixing the elevator on West Campus, I walked back to Jack E. Brown bldg. (20 more minutes) swept out three pits and by then....time to walk back to the truck and go home. Not a real productive day, but I think I will be losing weight. (woo hoo)

I have nothing to say about the goings on in Washington. It's too depressing

Obama, O, Brother

Tim Fish here. I don't know about you, but ENOUGH already!!!! I Know it's historic, I know they're excited, I know the Socialist Party won the election, but give me a break!!! The Main Stream Media seem to be having "Oborgasms". Can we just get back to normal? If I see one more analyst talking about how wonderful this is with all the 'hope' and 'change' I think my head will explode. We still don't know what change he's talking about.

O.K. now, I just deleted some stuff that I was typing. My wife, (Bless her) told me to be careful about what I said. I know the theory of free speech, but these days..... Tomorrow, (Tuesday) after work, we're going to Cinemark and watch a movie. T.V. is just too depressing. (Sigh)

Saturday Morning

Tim Fish Here. I took this picture of the Black Hawk Helicopter that crashed in the field across from Duncan Dining Hall. Two of the Five crew members have died from this, and the other three are in stable condition at the hospital. I pray for their families and all who are affected by this. It is a tragedy.

On another note: I love Saturdays. I love staying up late on Friday night, and sleeping in the next day.

Now last Saturday I didn't get to do this cause the crummy escalator at Kyle field HAD to be repaired before Monday morning's event at the 'Zone'. Why is it that rich and/or important people have to have the perception that everything is always working and nothing ever breaks down? I have always been interested in this phenomenon.

I've worked on elevators at Presidential Libraries, (Here and Truman Library in Independance, MO.) Football Stadiums, (Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City for the Chiefs, University of Kansas, Utah, Oregon, and now Texas A&M) Fancy Hotels and Rich People's homes in Park City, Utah. I've worked on elevators for Larry Miller, (owner of the Utah Jazz basketball) Huntsman's elevator (Now governor of Utah) The elevator that George H.W. Bush rides when he's living in his apartment, here in College Station. I've been called to check on the elevators at many places where these VIP's are expected to be coming to visit in the 'next day or two'.

It just seems to me that they are people like everyone else, so why are these 'underlings' so nervous about normal life 'happening' to these 'exceptional' people? Did they get to their current status in life by being sheltered from reality? I suspect that some have, such as Al Gore, Carolyn Kennedy, etc., but for the most part these people have worked hard and brought themselves up from 'normal life' to where they are 'important'. I guess their time is so valuable that they don't have time left to walk over to the bank of elevators instead of taking the escalator. It just seems curious to me. hmmm.....

The fact is, mechanical equipment sometimes breaks down, and there's just nothing anyone can do to stop it. No amount of preventive maintenance, or inspections. (See Picture above) So the next time you are inconvenienced because something has broken down, whether it's your car, or an elevator, or even the traffic light, just know that there's a good person out there who is trying to do their best to prevent such things, but in this imperfect world, things break. Show a little patience and kindness. Besides, the repairman probably justed walked a half mile, pulling his little red wagon, loaded down with tools:)

KONE Service Vehicle

Tim Fish Here. Well, as promised, I took a picture of my new 'Service Vehicle'. Notice the sleek design and the 'racer' logo between the words 'Radio' and 'Flyer'. The independent suspension and the swivel steering. It's a single speed, but I suspect on rainy days it'll go faster than on a nice breezy day. The red hubcaps were optional, but I paid the extra and got them anyway. I didn't get the rear bumper, but I did get the tow package. (I AM THE TOW PACKAGE)

It happened today, just as I predicted. About 4:00 p.m., three people were stuck on an elevator at the Architecture building. Where was I? A long way off, pulling my little red wagon. It took about 20 minutes, but I finally "pulled up" to the building. (yuck, yuck) I got the people out and gave my explanation to the building proctor as to the delay in my arrival. "You've got to be kidding," He exclaimed. Then I showed him.... 'The KONE Maintenance Vehicle'. His jaw dropped open and he shook his head. Just the response I was looking for. Perhaps the e-mails are flying, and this new parking policy will someday be history. Passive Aggressive, thy name is...Tim Fish, Elevator Man.

My Little Red Wagon

Tim Fish Here. Is there some test that people take to become supervisors? I used to be a manager, but I also believe in the "Peter Principle" that states (loosely) that someone is promoted until they are incompetent. This was one of the guiding principles that helped me realize that I am better at fixing elevators, than I am at supervising men who fix them. So after six years of 'managing' (poorly at times) I picked my tools back up, and have been happy ever since.

Well, today one of the "geniuses" who sits at a desk and has no idea what it takes to do my job, has decided that all of the "worker bees" will park their trucks in the parking garages and walk to whichever building they need to work at. (A little background. For the past 100 years, 'elevator men' have had "rock star" parking, because no one likes being stuck on an elevator while the elevator man is looking for a parking place.) Now there will be no 'on street' parking, no parking at the building docks, no parking in the 30 minute parking, etc... What's up with this?

Tomorrow I will have pictures, but let me tell you what I've done.

I went to WalMart (during company time) and bought a "Radio Flyer" red wagon. Then I spent the rest of the day pulling it around campus from building to building, doing my elevator maintenance. I have my 35 pound tool box, my 'Homer' bucket with my multi-voltage meter, electrical connectors, head light, and rags neatly stashed inside, my Hoover vacuum cleaner, my red oil can, and a few assorted elevator parts that I might need. (Little light bulbs for the elevator push buttons and stuff) I need to figure out how to attach my trusty broom for sweeping out the pits and my dust pan. I gotta tell you, I'm a little sore from all the walking, but I've been wanting to lose weight anyway.

Oh yeah, I'll show them. They may try to keep me from doing my job, but I'll find a way to do it anyway. After all.....I am, Tim Fish, elevatorman.

The Feeding of the Grandkids

Tim Fish Here. The grandkids (and their mother) came for a visit this week. I absolutely love it when they come and wish they came more frequently. (Hint, hint) We, (and when I say we, I mean the women) fed them 'breakfast' for supper. They say 'breakfast is the most important meal of the day', but when we eat it for supper, is that still true? Hmmm...

Tonight, C and I are going to go out for a well deserved date. We go every Friday night. Either a movie or dinner, or dinner AND a movie!! Do I know how to show a girl a good time or what? (She said 'yes')

Fish's Christmas

Tim Fish Here. I forgot to show you my Christmas day video! My sweet wife prepared a delicious repast. There was Ham, potatoes, ambrosia, some other stuff that escapes my memory, because it's been two weeks plus, but I do remember that I ate lots and enjoyed it much. Later that day we all played 'Sequence', the game involving a board, cards, AND chips. (Not the kind you eat) It's a game for all ages, and Cynthia and I dominated over my daughter-in-law, so we enjoyed it more than usual:)

I'm enjoying my Dick Morris book, "Fleeced". Remember, if you're not mad, then you're not paying attention!!

New Year

Tim Fish Here. I was gently nudged by my beloved wife to blog. I hope everyone is having a good new year. We, here at the Fish home are having a great one so far. Rumor has it that some grandkids are coming over for a day or two. (woo hoo) I've been practicing my guitar and have enjoyed my cool new ipod touch. I purchased Dick Morris's new book "Fleeced". I recommend everyone getting this book. I think we all need to be informed about our government. In fact, I think people who can't pass a simple civics test, shouldn't be allowed to vote. (See recent election results).

Saturday I got my Christmas lights taken down, in a timely fashion, and got them back into the boxes that they came in. That is no small feat! It's almost like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube. I always figured that if I put out Christmas lights, it would be June or July before I took them down. I suprised myself. Then we sat out on the patio and ate dinner and I practiced my strumming. What a great weekend. Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow.

Bleck eyed peas

Tim Fish here. Who in the world came up with the idea that Bleck, eyed peas would bring good luck for the eater? Yeah, you read it right. It wasn't a typo, I said "Bleck," not Black. Thankfully I haven't needed to eat gross, nasty tasting food in order to have good luck. C. cooked some of those vile little beans for her supper, but she also made me some great white northern beans to eat with cornbread. Yummm.... One of us may get lucky. What will be the reason? The bleck eyed peas, or the great white northerns? Will the luck be caused by some other mysterious force of nature? Where does luck come from? Do we create our own luck, or is luck an illusion brought on by a series of coincidences? I think I was lucky that I didn't have to cook my own supper:)