So for those who don't know, I was lucky enough to find another marine observer contract to bring in a few more dollars to ye olde bank account. Please understand that working as a marine observer is NOT why I earned a PhD but with the current economic status....that's the job I have, inconsistent though it may be. I've earned more in the past month than I would working 3 months, 15 hours a week at minimum wage.
This particular project involves "redigging" an existing shipping channel that runs to a power plant. The dredge itself is a hydrolic dredge rather than a clamshell (or bucket) dredge. My responsibilities are the same: make sure no protected species, particularly manatees, get stuck in the dredge.
The only problem is that I was assigned nightshift. Without any input from me. It comes as a shock to no one that I.AM.NOT.A.NIGHT.PERSON.
I told myself it was better to take the night shifts rather than split a few days with the midshift person so I would have a 14 hours off between shifts. More time to sleep. I would get used to it. Blah. Blah. Blah. Well, with only 3 overnight weekend shifts a week (9:30pm-6am), there is no time to get used to it. And this is not a job where you can take a break, talk to people, or watch some TV in between sampling stations. My job is to watch the water for manatees anytime there is active dredging. Which happens a lot at night.
So, it's been hell. Two-six AM is the hardest time. That and driving home. Four days of the week, I'm a zombie. One day, I can run errands. Two days, I'm awake enough to train. My comeback train is totally off the track.
But hope is on the horizon. Only 2 more overnight shifts before the end of my current contract. If the project runs overschedule, I need the AM or midshift or....I'm done. Not worth the money.
For what it's worth, here is what I've learned:
1) For a regular coffee drinker, Red Bull is not worth the money. Nor are most of the Energy Shots out there.
2) The 5 Hour Sustained Energy shots last me about....2 hours.
3) Coffee is still one of the best "Energy Drinks" I've found.
4) It does help to put blankets on the windows to keep the bedroom dark.
5) Listening to the Tac Boy and Bigun Podcast helps keep me awake. Too bad they seem to have stopped recording. Oh well, I have the archives!
Two more shifts, two more shifts, two more shifts.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
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4 comments:
I did some time as an observer on a long line fishing boat. The tuna boats set the hooks in the morning and let them soak all day, I only had to watch them sink the first few sets. They would then pull the hooks 12 hours later. This generally began at 8-9 at night. Did you know it can take 12 hours to pull up a full line??? And for that I had to sit there and count/weigh/measure/sample every fish that came up. If any endangered species came up on a hook forget it, that could take 4 hours to clear. My point is I feel your pain. I have all the sympathy in the world for you and there's only two more shifts :)
On one of those shows on Discover, they talked about when the first pilots were training in the Stealth Fighter. They trained at night for security reasons. But the Air Force found that if they didn't finish a night's training before the first light of dawn, the pilots might just as well not go to sleep at all the rest of the day. Obviously your outfit doesn't fly Stealth Fighters...
I feel your pain. Well I felt it. I was working revolving shifts a few years back. 2 Weeks days, two weeks nights. The only redeeming factor was I lots of time off.
Oh dear lord.
Hang in there. You'll make it.
The manatees are better off with you to protect them. good on ya.
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