As it turned it out, i met a retired Broadway set designer and light technician. This well educated gentleman into his 80's was not quite suited for scrambling up and down ladders. So, i became that. "Scrambling" is a suitable word for it, but hauling myself up and down also fits. Anyway, in the show this family was incredibly nice and invited me to drive with them to Wilmington almost every day to go to rehearsals for another show they were in. i Told them that i was unemployed and they said that they were the head of golf at four courses near my house. i Walked into an interview soon after and suddenly, i wasn't jobless anymore. God bless that family for they not only gave me rides so i could be in a show, but also hooked me up with a job!
So, i started my job on a chilly Saturday morning at 6:30. Still pretty dark in March, and in a new territory, it was a rough day. They allowed me to be off on Sunday, and so my schedule turned out to be 6:30-10:30AM Monday and Wednesday (i was in a Biology class at a community college) and the rest of the week 6:30-2:30 (except on Fridays and Saturdays which were 6:30-10:ish). 30 minute lunch in there somewhere which is always so so GOOD and tasty when it may just be a few sandwiches. i Start my day now at about 4:45 in the morning so i can read my Bible and make breakfast for myself. Pretty serious beginning for the long day ahead, but it's really worth it.
The work that must be done: i Am currently a Sand Master (self-titled, naturally) if i may gush. i Do this job about every day and i've really actually grown a liking to it, although most people think it tiresome and too much work. i Drive the Sand Pro 5040 and it is an interesting job filled with..well, sand. A noisy rusty rake. And all manner of creatures that like paddling around in sand.
The first part about manning this small tractor is that it is slow. Much slower than the big fairway mowers. Slower than any of the old golf carts which start up after holding the gas pedal to the floor for well over 25 seconds some times and have a hysterical delayed reaction that could cause serious injury, death, or the hilarious part which is the sudden unexpected jolt and neck snapping whiplash. Not as slow as Christmas, as the saying goes, but slow enough to make you smile. In other words, you can waste a ton of time on the clock just by driving to the next bunker.
The other part is real simple. i Have to be CAREFUL. When exiting a sand trap, one can easily tear up the turf. i Basically have to gun the engine 98% of the time to get out so that no grass is ruined. It's tough, and leaves a mess most of the time. i Have to stop, get off, rake behind in the bunker, feather out the sand that may have been thrown out of the bunker too by the brush on the back of the Sand Pro, and lastly stamp and place torn grass back in the spot as best as i can.
i Have to fill it up with FREE gas and wash it off at the end of doing that job which normally takes a good 3 and a half hours (sometimes longer if i can help it.:). Then go and park it back in it's rightful place at the "shop" (a big warehouse with all the equipment and room for two mechanics).
So then there's the other parts of the job. Edging cart paths with an edger. Edging bunkers with a weed-eater flipped upside down. Weed-eating. Edging sprinkler heads which is an extensive job because of how many sprinklers may be on a par 5 or 4. Very many much. Lots. And my personal favorite, spraying weeds with Round Up.
For the weed spraying, i use this 3-speed truck that has a 200+ gallon tank and i fill it with 100 gallons of water and 4.5 gallons of Round Up and this herbicide called Scythe. The latter smells strangely strong so it's probably safe to say i shouldn't be swimming in, or swigging it. i Also put a blue dye in it so i don't spray the same plant more than necessary. i Really like the blue look as it makes me think of alien plants that have a greenish-bluish look that makes them look so healthy and..alien. The first time i sprayed however, i used a green dye and this was so ironic because as i killed these plants, i first painted them so they looked more fertile and healthy as ever.
My schedule now, is: clocking in at 6 and working until 2:30 Mon.-Thurs. and 6:30-10:30 on Fri. and Sat. These are such long weeks, but i have been really blessed with this job, despite the wild hours of the morning. So many are without work.
All in all, sure the summer hasn't really been one for me, but i have never learned so much and worked so hard i am positive it's good for me. Perseverance and Patience have been boosted through this job, but i know they could be better as always.
Still striving to be better, but what a Great Truth it is to know that He will get me There.
