The downside to writing a monthly newsletter is sometimes you have something you think is worth saying, but by the time the end of the month rolls around, it’s been said at least four times by three different people. Case in point, the case closure in Cherokee. I think I’ve received at least two emails telling us what a great job we did, plus I believe it was brought up during a PM meeting, and some photos and praise were also featured in this very same newsletter I’m writing for right now. Well I hope everyone’s excited to hear me beat a dead horse, because I’m gonna. In my defense though, this was a particularly well oiled, proficiently accomplished horse that highlights individuals’ talents, as well as folks’ ability to work as a team, and I think it bears rebeating. So let’s start doling out praise (alphabetically).
Addison was kind enough to give me a day to remember the controls before stepping in on day two to learn them, and he’s probably better than me now. He and Lake also stopped to assist me changing a tire when I had a blowout on the way out to Cherokee, despite me telling them not to worry about it.
One of the biggest downfalls of the Diedrich is squaring up on a well. Sometimes it takes longer to line up the rig than it does to plug the well, but halfway through day one Brant had mind melded with me and despite my subpar backing, was guiding me right on target every time. Sounds like a little thing, but it’s instrumental in keeping the operation rolling. Brant also gets a gold star for putting up with my indecisiveness on taking or dropping my trailer. Hayley fielded questions from randomly appearing landowners, carried chunks of concrete pads out of yards, plugged wells, and hung around the entire time. When the roll off didn’t show up on day one, she immediately got it figured out. She put a lot of work in and it was appreciated. Lake took like a duck to water. He was helpful anywhere he could be, and standing somewhere around six foot thirteen, I suspect may have been instrumental in pulling the PVC from landowners’ backyards by hand. Mike was there early on day one digging for missing wells. He got us lined out and oriented straight away so we could start plugging about as soon as we arrived. Rob. Not even assigned to the job, still helpful. Helped Brant tarp up our trailers before we left the shop. Rob also had his own drill job to do, but when I called him on day one asking for parts that he had that we could use, he sent them our way. Tyler got the Diedrich topped off and made sure it was operating beforehand, as well as making sure equipment and supplies were loaded. Ended up running us parts on day two and getting a tire repaired for us while he was out our way. And with contributions acknowledged, I’d like to point out the most important thing of all: I had a good time being around all these people. That may sound small, but it goes a long way. It makes hot days not so hot and long days not so long. They’re dope individuals who have a genuine interest in lessening the burden on others, and when you work with people who care it doesn’t feel like such a drudge. Everybody worked in unison to make what could have been a chore of a job a success, and keeping with the spirit of celebrating successes, well done everybody. Woo.
