Gotta do it while I can

I'm going to be busier than a one-arm paper hanger for the next few weeks.  I'm glad for that but I have to post while I can.  It's Friday 7:35 MDT I'm home at The House of Sloan and am just going to put up some music videos for y'all. 

Playing in a pool tournament tomorrow with Little Sister.  Was going to play golf but the ground is FUCKING WHITE!  Are you shitting me?  It's April twenyf***ingninth.  Bring those global warming pricks here and let's see what they have to say. 

Just breath Chip.

Here's my first selection.  The Staple Singers with "I'll Take You There".  Good beat.  Hard vocals.  Just good times people.

I guess I could have slept in my truck.

It's not Heather's fault.  She did what she could on short notice.  After the buyout (it's easier to spell than acquisition) my boss told me to have Heather get me a room in Williston.  Williston is in the heart of the Bakken Formation and it's where things are really happening. When you're in Williston you're "Rockin the Bakken" and yes they rhyme. Heather booked me in a hotel called The Vegas.  It was new and fancy before any of us were born, except for maybe Buzz or certainly Karl.  Hey, it was a place to stay.

Meeting the crew in Williston was great. Heather decided to call me "Munk".  As in "Chip"munk.  She should really be calling me "Monk" as that is the life I've been living if you know what I mean.

In the COTU

Just sitting at Delmer's having a glass of Mist and watching the tube.  Played 27 today with Delm. Was late for dinner at Mom's because she forgot to tell me so she was not upset.  Had a great visit with my mom.  We sat and talked for almost two hours and the conversation was excellent (no politics, she's a democrat so I'm kind of a disappointment in that regard). She is doing fine and looks good for going on 80 this November.

I had two of my brother's kids with me for 18 holes and they were a treat.  Told them you can't talk when Delm and I are standing over our golf balls and they followed that to the letter.  They were a little upset that I wasn't staying at their house tonight (staying with Delmer) but told them I'll be there tomorrow.  I've already convinced them they are Bobcat fans.  It wasn't that hard as their mother and her brother both are, but tomorrow they become Cincinnati Reds fans as well.  Have to get them while they are young.

I love Malta.  It's the greatest place on Earth and last night Delmer and I visited the town and had a great time.  It's funny how I only come home four or five times a year, but every bartender knows what I drink.  Imagine that.

Spending tomorrow with mom and then teaching the kids about baseball.  It will be great day.  I'll get my camera out for the trip to Williston on Monday.  To appease the masses.

Where ya been? Whatcha doin?

"Hectic" would be an understatement. "Swamped" not quite, but close.  The transition for me so far has been quite easy. Still selling construction equipment and having a blast turning a lot of old gear loose.  As far as the rest of the old ABC crew goes they are adjusting pretty well. Still some humps but then it's only been 20 days.  Between work, getting ready for travelling and trying to keep my house in some semblance of order, my waking hours are completely filled.

I still don't have a real job description but plenty of tasks to complete and loving the challenge.  Titan bought me a new Dodge Ram and it's mine to drive five days a week.  A completely different expense account, which is great and some big goals to try to hit. With their resources I'm not at all worried.  I have the entire state of Montana and western North Dakota as my territory so driving many miles is a big part. For those of you in the eastern part of the U.S. let me tell you how big the states are out here, just to put it in perspective.  Bozeman to Fargo (or as I like to call it "Corporate Headquarters" it sounds so much more glamorous than "Fargo") is 750 miles. I cross ONE state line. One.  It's big country. Montana is the fourth largest state in the union and we only have a million people. 

There will be many miles of driving but the cool thing is this, I have family and friends in every big town in the state and many friends at virtually every town of significant size otherwise.  This job will give me the opportunity to see them as well a great chance to prosper beyond what I was doing.  This isn't to say I wasn't doing well with my former employer.  Everything I have is because of him.  No, this just gives me a chance to improve on what I've learned and use my experience to go forward.

I do need to get back in the gym.  I'm to wound up at the end of the day and need to have something to take that off.  Did have dinner with a woman in Sheridan when I saw The Prodigy.  It went well I think.  She was prettier in real life than her photos, which were really good, so I might have been a little nervous.

It reminds me of a conversation I had years ago.  I was in charge of advertising and a sales lady from one of the local radio stations was calling on me.  She pitched her package and I told her I would look it over and get back to her.  She was a lady about ten years older than me and very attractive.  We get done talking and she said to me "Chip, are you intimidated by me?"  I looked her right in the eye and said "Kay, I'm only intimidated by women I'm sleeping with."  Good times.

Hope all is well.

Safe journeys and Happy Easter.

Chip

Back for a bit.

Fargo was awesome.  Great training, like the company.  Things look positive.  Just have enough time to say hello to you all.  I am happy and the future looks very bright.  I'll have more to say when I have more time but just be rest assured that I am alive and doing well.  I hope to come around and check everyone out this week before I leave for NoDak again next week. I am more busy than I have been for quite a while and am thankful for that.  Don't expect a lot from me for the next couple of weeks. Lots of travel but I will try to get something up here a little more consistent. I know you all have been wondering how I've landed but it has been solid so no worries there. And the rest of the crew is good as well.

Still swamped

Lot's going on with the new gig.  Too much to even say but it's fun, challenging and good.  It will be a week or two before I'm back in full force. Until then I'll try to make a brief comment on the world's events, throw up a video or link to keep your appetites dripping. Until then, I hope to at least  read the great things you post and hopefully can comment.  Leave for a week on Friday for Sheridan with TP then to Fargo for training.  I'm sure there will be more drinking than posting but will do what I can.

Quick one

Things are good so far. I'm liking the challenge. I'm am so frickin busy and I love it.  I love the challenge so far, we'll see if it pays off. Regardless of that, I've met some great people and I do like to be busy. I'm a shitty employee when it is as slow as it has been. Unfortunately, it makes me a shitty blogger as well.  It's a trade off deal.  I hope to make the rounds the next couple of nights to see what's going on with you all. I head to Sheridan WY to see The Prodigy's new joint and then to Fargo from there for some training.

Hope it's better than this. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaarmy training sir!

What is sleep?

It's late.  Too late for me to tell you how late it is.  I can't remember a longer week in many, many years. We shot pool at 10PM in our city league tournament. More on that later.

The Titan Machinery transition team has been in Bozeman all week and on Friday we switched colors.  It seems to be a great company and the people who were out here this week were more than exceptional.  I was confident that I would remain employed but was worried in what facet.   I was also worried about some overlapping positions and whether anyone would be let go from ABC Rental.  Everyone was hired and that made me extremely happy.

I have a new position and what appears to be a huge opportunity. I have a title "Strategic Accounts Manager" but no real job description. We will see where it goes but I am happy.

 The guys at work seem happy. I'm sure over time some will go. Not happy with the change and all of that.  I really don't think things will change for the guys on the rental end. Their jobs will just flow into what Titan does.  My job is the change. It will be totally different from what I've done the last 12 years.  The thing is this, I've been wanting a change in my life. I haven't wanted to drift from being in the equipment business, just wanting something new and different.  This sale brings that.

I am a little sad though. To be wearing different team colors. I started with ABC in 1992.  Everything I have is because of the opportunities it gave me. The relationship I had with my now former boss was more than I could hope for. A generous man. I've spent many Thanksgivings at his house and if he even caught wind of any employee who was going to be alone at Thanksgiving or Christmas, he had them at his house for dinner. He would rather miss a house payment or a banknote before he would miss a payroll.  And in lean times would take a mortgage out to make sure his business stayed alive before he would ever, EVER let an employee go. He knew how much the people who worked for him relied on him and would never let them down.

With all that has transpired, I know you that have all figured out why I've been such a pisspoor blogger the last few months.  I'm not saying that I'm going to be a better one for a few weeks.  I haven't even looked at this week's MCW posts and probably won't.

As I said. I am welcoming the change and the challenge.  I'll see what I can do with it.

On a side note. My pool league team won it's division and tonight in the city tournament we won our first match.  I didn't lose  a game and was the guy who closed our match out. And yes, I am absolutely bragging. I shot great pool tonight.  Willie Masconi? Meet MRM.

Safe journeys,

Chip