Closet Extremist

Finally.

Yesterday, Ed and I headed out to start a new job. It's cool, I always like to start up a new job. It's even better for Ed, as it's only about a half an hour up the road from his house, but I get to drive an additional hour each way (1.5 hrs one way). Bummer. We got out there, and got things started, but due to drive time, and other assorted issues, we didn't get as much done yesterday as I'd wanted.

Back out there today, and we jump right to it. We're rolling right along, getting the rails up and plumb, getting the jacks up and plumb, and then the "Security" guys come and see us. They are rather important on this job, as we are installing an elevator in a new "Judicial Center", and it's in the "jail" section of the facility. This is providing us with some unique challenges, as this particular car will have no "Car Operating Panel" on it at all. All you will see when you look at the inside of the car will be blank stainless steel walls, and one little digital indicator that'll let you know what floor you're on, and what direction you'll be travelling in. All "car calls" will be handled from a remote touchscreen that'll be at the ward boss's desk. Whee! Fun!

While looking in the job blueprints about how this type of control was going to be allowed to them, I noticed something that gave me pause, so some further investigation was needed. Normally, we have a contact strip behind the COP where our travelling cable "lands up" from the controller side, and all the rest of the stuff on the car (door operator, the levelling head (aka. selector), any on car Posistion indicator's/arrival chimes, and the cartop "inspection station") tie in as well. After checking out all the parts, I realized that this contact strip was nowhere to be found on this elevator. This revelation initiated copious cell-phone usage (that since we're way out in the boonie's is spotty at best, and nonexistant at worst.) that gave us no immediate resolution to the problem. We'll find out something in the next few day's I reckon.

After we left the job this evening, Ed's cell went crazy with calls. From what I could hear from his side of the conversation... he was to report tomorrow at a residential job that has problems. I sat there wondering what I was to do, but I figured that it would resolve itself in due course. After another three phone calls, I learned that Ed will not be at our current job for a few day's (at least), and I'll be getting a helper first thing in the morning.

Yep. Starting tomorrow morning, I'm the "Mechanic In Charge" on the job we just started. Finally, I get a chance to prove myself as an Elevator Man. I'm excited, apprehensive, worried, and elated all at once.

I'm confident that I'll do a good job, but I'm certain to fuck something up. When I'm going behind someone else, it's easy to see what's been done incorrectly, but when you're doing it yourself it can become a situation of..."I know there's a forest around here, and I could find it if it weren't for all these trees!".

At any rate, another goal's been achieved...Finally.