Anybody seen a GATOR!!!!!

It's not all bad in the gulf of Mexico. I got to go fishing with some real neat folks. Scott in the middle was the host. He owns a 1989 Ocean Master boat that he has completely restored. We left Matagorda Bay early Saturday morning and headed out into the Gulf. Of course , I was sea sick by the time we hit blue water. Oh well.... We went about 55 miles before we stopped to bait up. It was a cloudy day and the water was rough. It took until noon to get there. I caught the first King fish and then the next 2 also. We decided to stop and eat lunch. Well, that's when I lost my breakfast. I was the only one that got sick. It didn't slow me down, I caught 3 more Kings, before I finally ate lunch. We had a ball. If you want to see all the pictures of this trip, email me and I will send you the album.

Back to work on Monday and we found out why they call this the Gator Hole. We had a friendly gator next to the rig. He seem to be ease all day while we worked. We fed him bread, crackers, brisket and sausage. But he just set and looked at those juicy roughnecks all day long. We really never saw him lick his lips but we were sure he was thinking about it. I think we will call him Smiling Jack. The fun never ends........




Smiling Jack

This doesn't look like the desert of West Texas, or the White Sands of central New Mexico, or the hills of North Texas...... Yes, I am on the move again. This is the hot, humid, wet country of the Gulf Coast of Texas. The trees are covered with hanging moss and the grass is green. You may be able to see the rig in the back ground between the trees. This is the famous Sugar Valley Field. It was first drilled in the 1940's. The well we rigged up on was drilled in 1948. 2 years before I was born. While I was employed with Chaparral Energy in Oklahoma City, the first and almost only wells that reviewed were the new purchase of the Sugar Valley wells. So I am not a total stranger to this area. This field is about 10 miles east of Bay City, and just out side a little town called Van Vleck. Van Vleck is a neighboring town to Bay city were all the African Americans settled. Sugar Valley is an old farming community. The ground is very rich and fertile. The main crop around is grass sod. I guess it grows fast and tall here. There sure are a lot of cattle also.

We rigged up right next to the Alligator Pond.... We may be eligible for hazardous pay! I hope you can see it in the back ground. We haven't actually seen it yet...but they tell us he is about 7 feet long and hungry.

The guys on the rig are some of my crew. The one in the middle is Billy. He is the Tool Pusher for the rig. To his right is Terry with Smith Tools. He is our fisherman. Yes, we are fishing on this job. A stuck packer at 1700 foot. Terry is a true "Coon Ass". He will talk your leg off. And don't get him started on politics or horses or cattle or the oil patch.... well we try not to get him started. The other fellow is Joe. He is our tong operator. The entire crew are the best and I enjoy working with them.

This another shot of the Gator Pond....... see anything?

Wish you were here.........

Moving north..........

Just when I thought I was going to see a lot of Texas, I have moved to the White Sands Missile Range of New Mexico! Yes, I am now staying in a the very small town of Carrizozo NM. Where modern facilities such as a cleaners, good restaurants, decent motel or a Wal-Mart. How will I make it. This is what I call roughing it.

The town looks like a town right out of Old Mexico. Adobe buildings, dirty streets and of course Mexicans.

Working 50 miles from town, with an all Mexican crew. I feel like a foreigner. Just like in the Ukraine. It's odd to be the minority in your own country. They are all nice guys. but, only one speaks any English and his accent is thick. I have to listen very close to understand him. The others just look at you when you try to talk to them.

The country is large here. Miles and miles of sage brush, hills and a few cows here and there. However the climate is good for this time of year. It has been pleasant. 50's at night and 72 in the day. I guess being at 7,000 ft above sea level is the factor.

Fathers day is coming up and it looks like I will not be able to be home with my Dad. I am reminded of all the lessons he taught me. It wasn't that he sat me down and told me things, he just lived the lesson. I remember once when I was about 11 or 12 when I was helping him repair the brakes on the car. A neighbor had came over for a visit while we were working. Well, my Dad was telling a story or something, when he said someone had acted like a "drunken Indian". Our neighbor was an Indian. My Dad stop, stood up and apologised to the man, who accepted... The lesson I took from that, is to always admit your mistakes and say your sorry and then accept what comes. I have tried to live my life like that. I didn't do it consciously, but because of my Dad, that lesson will always be there. Thanks Dad, I Love You.

I might say that I could not have been any kind of Dad with out my wife. Whatever good I have done is because "good" exudes from her and I just get to soak a little of it in. Love you Honey!

Movin on.......

I have left the beauty of north Texas and now in the hot desert of west Texas. Yes, I was home for 2 days over the holiday. Got the lawn mowed, the cows worked, and got to be with my sweet wife and sleep in my own bed for 2 whole nights.

The well near Graham was not finished, but I was desperately need here to relieve a guy who was going on vacation. He was in the middle of a new well completion and they just couldn't shut it down for 2 weeks. So, I drove all day on Memorial day from Yukon to Carlsbad NM. It just happens that this is the best motel in the area. I am staying at the Stephens Best Western. Not new, and in need of an update. So if is the best, I would hate to see what is next on the list.

I haven't had a chance to check out the town very much. But, you can imagine west Texas. Kinda flat, some hills, with very few homes. A lot of ghost towns, Mesquite bushes, sand and 70 MPH two lane hi ways.

Speaking of ghost towns, the well I am working on is east of a west Texas ghost town called Orla. It is on the map, but nothing there but old gutted buildings. Some still have the signs on them. Like J&L Liqueur store, Orla Gro, and an old service station. The well is 58 miles south and east of Carlsbad NM. So, I have already settled into a routine.

Since I sleep in NM, I am on mt time, and nothing opens until 6AM. Well, I work on central time and that is 7AM. So I get up, shower and shave, go eat breakfast and then boogie south. I stop in Loving NM for a cup and gas then on to the well. I am late every morning. Then when the day is over, I head back, stop and get a Subway, go to my room and eat. Watch a little TV, call Karen and go to sleep...... do it all over again the next day.

I have a good crew of Mexicans that can almost speak English. Jesus is the operator and king. Hector is the #2 man and works derricks. He spends most of his time on the cell phone. He has a booth in a flea market on weekends, and is constantly ordering stuff or checking on it. The other two guys speak no English, so I haven't got to know them very well. I think they are brothers, because they look just alike. They all are a pleasure to work with. They do anything I ask and never complain. And it was 100 degrees today.

Switching subjects: My youngest daughter just got back from Siberia. She went there with a fellow missionary to check out living conditions etc for her friend. I just read of her journey. I am so envious. I would love to see the world like she has. She and her husband live and work in Crimea, Ukraine. They are missionaries and besides working for the BIG BOSS they get to see a lot of the world. I miss her a lot, and want to see her again soon. She and her husband are planning to come home for a while this winter. Can't wait!

Our oldest daughter, who lives in Forney TX and is the super mother of the family. She and her husband are raising our 3 grand children. She has and is doing a great job too! Those kids are growing up very nice.

I want all to know that I am so proud of my kids and their families. They all live for the Lord and do His work. What a blessing that is. If you are waiting to get serious about your faith, don't wait. Karen and I are so glad we turned to God when we did. I can't imagine what our lives would be like if He wasn't in charge.

Some of this may be a repeat, but if it is it's important to me, and this is my blog. Thanks for reading and just add a comment to let me know you were here.

Texas is a big state and I am getting to see a lot of it. I will report more on west Texas next blog.

Wish you were here, Randy.

Well it has been a while since blogging. I know mine is not the most interesting. I have two daughters that blog and they do a great job.

I am still working in Graham TX. Different well, however it is near the first one. We are close to finishing. It was supposed to be a simple repair job, but turned into quite a project.

All my thoughts lately have been of home and family. I wonder why I do what I do. There has to be a better way to make a living. I enjoy my work, I just don't like being away. Our kids already live a long way off. Heidi our oldest lives in Texas w/ her husband and 3 children and Tamera, our youngest lives in Crimea Ukraine with her husband. Then I work away from home all the time. Something just didn't turn out right here. It is always a very good feeling when we get to see our kids. I guess the absence grows the hearts fondness. \

My wife, Karen and I were able to go to Ukraine and visit Tamera and her husband in March. They have lived there a little over two years. The trip was great. We got to see things few other folks ever get to. The culture is so different there. Life is harder there. People find pleasure in small things. I'm afraid to say most find solace in their vodka. The people we met were very nice and hospitable. But the people on the street are stern looking and never smile.

We walked a lot, but it seemed natural. When you walk there, you are always going somewhere, not just walking for exercise. It seems to make a difference to me. When I walk to get exercise, I get bored real fast. But when I am walking to get somewhere...... well we walked just about all day long almost everyday we were there.

Too tired for a lot of thoughts today. Wish you were here.

RSK

Travels

I have been working in the Graham TX area for over a month. I live five days a week at the Best Western Motel, then home on most weekends. If I could have just two things with me, it would be my wife and my bed. How I miss the sweet smile of Karen every morning. She always makes me a good breakfast, while I go and get a paper. Of course the coffee pot is on early and I can smell it now! My bed is a Select comfort, you know, the Paul Harvey bed. Karen and I sink down into it and fall to a blissfull sleep.

Graham TX is a small North Texas town SW of Witchita Falls. about 200 miles from our front door. It's located in what I call "the pretty part of Texas". Tall rolling hills, big trees, waterfalls and I have even seen Buffalo roaming. (ain't they supposed to be in Oklahoma?) The town is old, and quaint. Lots of old big houses ansd several Bed and Breakfasts. A big town square around the court house with a war memorial near by. The town also has at least two parks that I have seen. They are very nice with lots of green grass and a small lake with very large trees. They also have a large Wal-Mart, Tractor Supply and a NAPA parts store, of which all I have visited.

The work: I am an independent consultant and am currently employed by Chaparral Energy of OKC. The well I am working on is about 30 miles SW of Graham. Near an old ghost town called Eliasville. We are convertng an oil well into a disposal well. This well will be used to dispose of all the produced water from the field, rather than pay to haul it off. I may go into this in more detail later.

The Crew; It is a good crew. They are hard workers, not real smart, but will do anything I ask of them. The Operator or crew leader is a Mexican. He likes to go to Oklahoma and gamble at the Indian casinos. He hasn't been doing very well. He speaks english with a very thick accent. I found out today that he can't read or write english, I don't know about Spanish.

Earl the utility hand is an old skinny, gray bearded guy, that loves to tell off color jokes that are not at all funny. He will take any conversation to turn it into a potty, or sex joke. I don't talk to him much. But, if I need the crew to start working on something, he's my go to guy.

James the derrick man. He is a large happy slow witted black man. Very friendly and talkitive. Eccept he rarely has anything to say that has anything to do with anything.

Robert the tong hand. He is quiet. Can't read a measuring tape, but does a very good job of running the tongs. Although he usally about two steps behind everyone else.

I like them all, but probly would not invite them home with me.

Bobby. He is Chaparral's fishing tool hand. He is also quiet, but will let you know when he feels you should do something different. He is new in his job and has forgot to bring certain tools he needs. His wife is in bad health and I think he is very worried about her. He told me about his first wife the other day. She was a drug user. Messed around with bad people and was sent to prison for accessory to murder. She died of a drug overdose.

Me. I show up at 8AM each morning with my coffee, egg and sausage sanwich I have gotten from the free breakfast at the Motel. I get up, shower and shave, go down and eat a bowl of rasin bran, make a sanwich and go to work. I also stop for a news paper, without a cryptaquote, fill up with gas. When I get there, I line out everybody and read my paper. I have also been reading some books. Currently I have been reading Albert Einstein's Autobiography. He was a very interesting person.

I wonder sometimes how I will be remembered. I doubt anyone will write a biogriphy about me. I have a very happy life. My wife of 35 years is the most best thing that has ever happened to me. My whole life is to make her happy. However sometimes I fall very short of that goal. I think she would perfectly happy for me to work at a factory 8 hours a day. Then I would be home everynight at a certain time. I just can't give that to her. I have tried. But, I just can't. I have to be free to move around, I guess.

Well thats enough for the first time. I doubt anyone will ever read this but it sure helps me to put it down for some reason. More later.