Arggg

Why is it so hard to get reliable help? I got my pump fixed and a guy was supposed to come and help me but after waiting almost an 1 1/2 hours he texts me he got sick after lunch and never showed up. He texted me right as I got there and said he's just having his lunch and will come over. He's 5 minutes away. He was supposed to meet me at noon not call me at noon. He was late the last time too. I don't think I can rely on him so will look for some other help. Pretty much wasted my day other than I got the spark plug cable on the pump fixed.

I got the pump set up but it was a real beatch laying out the 6" lay flat hose in the wind. I had to put big chunks of clay on the hose every 6' to hold it. I got the pump going but forgot to restrain the pump with the rope on it. It's a floating pump. It was working for a few minutes but then pushed itself back and the hose came apart. The wind then blew the hose all over the place so I gave up and came home. Kneeling and bending is really hard on me. If I would have tried to lay out the hose again by myself I'd be crippled up for 2 month's. Having to shut the pump off of coarse I got water in my boot. I have chest waders but they're a bit much and very sweaty so I stopped and got some individual hip waders on the way home. Why is it rubber boots are always about 3" too short? The water is always about a 1/2" from the top and just a slight movement and the water comes in.

Waterproof lace up boots work

I think the hip waders will be good.

My partner came out and helped me today. Getting the pump in place and worse getting it out of the mud was a royal PIA. It's like quick sand and the pump is flat on the bottom. After pumping it's like the pump sucks itself down into the mud! Pretty hard on my back lifting one side to get it loose from the epoxy like mud. I fell once but luckily didn't fill the hip waders with water. I had to do all the work in the water and mud but she was big help pulling the pump out and laying out the hose. It was windy but nothing like yesterday. The pump has a tiny gas tank but did all the pumping on less than 1 tank of gas so it was well worth the effort to use the floating pump. Would have needed all day using the other pumps. Getting set up took all the time. The pumping took less than 1 1/2 hours. You could see the water level going down and the water getting sucked towards the pump.

I think I over did it today. Tired without much appetite and now getting cold chills. Hopefully I feel better tomorrow. Glad I got the pump fixed and the water pumped but not so glad of the toll it took on me. I really need to find some good help.

Regarding good help, it is almost impossible to find. I had a guy that worked for me part time mostly weekends for several years. He was severely injured at work for a huge chemical company. At first all was well but he started to show up late if at all. This put the rest of the crew in a bind. Ultimately he got to where he would not show up at all. He is in his late 50's and I understand why the large company did not retain him after the accident. When finishing up for the day I'd tell the crew "see ya'll in the morning at 8:00. He would whisper to the others "I'll be late". Few people give a crap today. My son-in-law works for a large Taiwan chemical company and has a good job. Great pay, benefits... He always tells me how worthless 25% plus of the employees are worthless there. It is the time we live in.

We live in a time where just showing up on time for work every day puts you in the top 20% just by default.