Friday, February 17, 2012

First Week Gate Guarding Done

Well, we’ve finished our first week as gate guards on a deer breeding ranch that has oil wells.  It sure has been a new experience for us as we’ve never done anything like this type of work before.  But we’re happy about it.

Everyone connected to this operation has been extremely friendly, helpful and welcoming.  We have several ranch owners all on the same large ranch, and they all take the time to talk to us as they go in and out of the gate. Very nice.

We’ve gotten busy the last couple of days with new operations taken place. New machinery coming in - strange looking contraptions. Jim has been very busy during the day and has taken to staying outside all day under the awning ready to answer the ding-ding of the rope bell.

Friday is our first pay day so Jim is going to get up early to relieve me so I can go to bed earlier and get up around noon.  That way I can drive to the Whitsett yard, get our check then drive into Pleasanton and mail it off to our bank, do the laundry and do a little grocery shopping…not food, mostly sundries, vitamins and such.  Plus I’ll refill our empty water jugs with fresh drinking water.  I’m hoping to be home by 5 p.m. in time to eat dinner and start my 12 hour shift at 6 p.m.

We did buy one of those big surge protectors for the 15,000 watt generator the company provides, as we were told it was advisable because if the generator throws a belt it could send a large surge to our RV.  Better to be safe than sorry, so we spent the $400.  Probably something we should have had all along, but we don’t spend much time connected to full hookups so we didn’t see the need before.  But it only takes one power surge to fry the electrical system of the rig so it’s for the best.

I’m almost giddy in anticipation of “going into town”.  Being so far out of town makes it a treat when you do get to go in every two weeks.  Just a little change of scenery will be nice.  Maybe I’ll pick up something a little special for dinner so we don’t have to cook when I get back.  Fried chicken sounds good.

Remember, you are loved.

5 comments:

  1. We've been reading with interest your blog on gate guarding as that's something we think we'd like to do. Our (limited) research says we have to get a license to do this in Texas. How do you go about doing this? If you addressed this in a previous blog I miss it. Thanks ...

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  2. Always nice to have the change of scenery. Have you ever thought of having the Gate Guarding Company do a direct deposit into your bank account then they only give or send you a Cheque Stub. Then you can do your banking on-line and the only thing you have to worry about physically doing is your shopping and anything else you might like to do.

    It's about time.

    http://ricknkathyrousseau.blogspot.com/

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  3. Pioneer Woman...out on the range...hooking up the horse and buggy for a trip to town !!! Have a great day

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  4. We work for Gate Guard Services out of Corpus Christie and when they sent us our application included was the application for the State of Texas Non-Commissioned Level 2 Security Guard. It cost $58 for the license. You also have to send in your fingerprints and they send you the blank forms for that also.

    The first of April is the best time to request an application from them.

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  5. Kathy, I WISH Gate Guard Services did direct deposit, but they do not. We are independent contractors not employees, so we are not on their payroll so no direct deposit.

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