California Surveyors Forums

Some of these discussions have stimulated me to reflect upon my carreer as a Land Surveyor. One has towonder how we survive sometimes.


I've been:

snake bit twice,
dog bit a bunch
shot at 3 times, true caliber (including the gps situation)
hit in the face with a shovel
had 1/2 a 4-foot lath driven through my left hand. (stayed on the job for 2 hours following in order to finish the day)
been shooed away at pitch-fork point
hit by a car (twice)
shot in the arm by a bb gun.
shocked very well while straddling an electric fence (owner turned it on by mistake as I was crossing)
two broken ankles
wrenched knee (twice)
a whole stinkin heard of bees and yellow jacket stings
Knocked flat by a large back hoe bucket.

Piggybacked passed out chainman for 1/4 mile.


Anybody else out there leading the good life too ???

Is your nickname "Lucky"?

I wouldn't necessarily call that "luck"!

Snakes are inherently evil, so they avoid me.
Dogs love me.
Been threatened to be shot at once. Actually, I was the rodman, the landowner threatended my chief. Had the landowner talked to me instead, he would have let us on, shown us where the mons were, and then invited us to stay for a beer after.
I never put my face by the hole while the other guy is digging.
I never hold the lath, or nail, or pipe... at the bottom when driving it in.
Pitch fork? I'm picturing Frankenstien's Surveyor. Did they have torches too?
I look all ways before crossing a road or heading out to centerline. Drivers notice me and avoid me. I'm big enough to put a serious dent on most cars.
I'm faster than a speeding BB.
I jump electric fences, never straddle them.
I did break a toe by dropping a manhole lid on it. (shoulda been wearing boots instead of tennies)
I'm faster than a speeding yellowjacket. I have to be, I'm allergic to them things.
I ducked when the bucket came my way.

I think I'll avoid working in the field with you so my luck doesn't run out. You'd have trouble carrying me a 1/4 mile.

Okay...now that you guys have opened the door:

One time was about a mile into the woods with the Rodman, looking back through the cut line trying to decide where to set the next traverse point, dropped the stake bag right on a yellowjackets nest by my feet. While conversing with the Rodman, we both kept swatting at those pesky "flys" until we figured out what was happening! Ran right past the Instrumentman, jumping over logs and creeks...Instrumentman "What are you guys doin...OUCH!". Finally made it out to the road...got hit by 5-6 yellowjackets in the upper back. Took a shot of adrenaline and about a 3 hour nap before the swelling in my face receded enough until the crew knew who I was. Asked the Doctor why it had this affect on me. He said the allergy builds up the more I am stung...Hmmm, must of been the 3 wasps that stung me the last day in Tucson just a few months before.

Had guns pulled on me, shots fired...never hit.

Had a Rodman hit by a car once in Scottsdale...I moved out of the way!

By the way, when encountering yellowjackets, grab a can of paint and a lighter...works real well. At least it did in Arizona where we don't have to worry about starting a wildfire.

Have you seen Evan? If we were together and he broke a leg or ankle, I am not sure what I would do. If I couldn't drag his a__ out of there, I guess I would just give him whatever water and food I had and wish him luck.

Luck...hey, we're back to the subject of this thread!

Ric

You wouldn't leave the paint and lighter? I could get stung waiting around for the help you'd send.

Well,

the 1/4 mile rodman was 6-2 260 at the time. Very tough on the back.

The lathe actually broke in my hand during a very strong wind. I was using it as a steady stick. My assistant saw the lath in the hand between thumb and index finger. Blood streaming in the wind. . . .Poor guy tossed'em right there. Glad he was down wind.

Is Evan really that fast, and a high jumper ?

Nope, just SUPER SURVEYOR! You should see his cape. lol

Not a cape. Just a wore out old vest.

260 lbs, Good. Well then you ought to be able to carry me at least 1400'.

;-)

Cool, now I know who to call to go pick him up, once I get back in cell phone range.

I think my back is beginning to hurt. Better take the four-wheelers instead.