Frogmore Stew

Today is the day for Frogmore Stew. For those of you unfamiliar with this treat, it does not have frogs in it. It is named after a town in South Carolina. It is simple to make. It needs to be boiled in a pot with a basket for straining. It has the following ingredients: About 2 pounds of cut red potatoes, 2 pounds of sausage (I used polka kielbasa and smoked sausage) cut into 2" pieces, small ears of corn, I used a 12 pack frozen, a couple of pounds of shrimp and some seasoning, I used Zatarain's crab boil in a boil pouch. Bring pot to a boil, then add potatoes and seasoning and let them cook for 15 - 20 minutes. Then add the sausage to the boiling water, potatoes and seasoning. Let it cook in there for about 5 or 10 minutes and do the same thing for the corn after sausage. Last but not least is the succulent shrimp that gets cooked until a nice pretty pinkish orange color. They only cook for about 3 -6 minutes. When shrimp is done, then stew is done. Dump the basket out on some brown paper bags and dig in. There should be plenty to share and this is served family style. Remember how your mother taught you to wash your hands before you eat, it is especially important here since everyone's fingers are going to be digging in it.

The purpose of the recipe is not to make you hungry but to explain little traditions. I have been making something for the people at the office for years. I think I enjoy the Frogmore Stew the most since I have made it the most. It is just a little something to do but it can be enjoyed by all. If someone else comes by they are more than welcome to enjoy it with us. What traditions are you enjoying this year or are looking forward to next year? Some companies have Christmas parties at the same places every year, some change. Even that can be a tradition, the change. Whatever it is, enjoy the season and the traditions.

That Time of Year

Many people will say that this is the time of year to exchange gifts, be with family, eat too much, think of others, etc. Yes it is, but, it also a good time to reflect on the previous year. In sales you can reflect upon your performance. Sometimes the performance is good and sometimes bad or not so good. You can start to figure out the things you need to improve. You need to be honest with yourself. I had a conversation today over lunch about evaluations. The superintendent and I agreed, that if you are honest with yourself about your own evaluation, you will give yourself a lower score than your own evaluator. So, when you are looking back on the year, give yourself time to think about all the things that you did. Find the processes that worked and try to improve them and stop the ones that won't or didn't work. Remember that a good definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.

Curing Compounds

ASTM 309 is the specification that most people are familiar with. To meet ASTM 309 you must form a film and retain 95% of the moisture for 72 hours. It also states that you have 350 g/l or less of VOC, Volatile Organic Compound. It is broken down into two types, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 means the cure is clear. Type 2 is going to be white. Both also have two classes. The classes are A & B. Class A can use anything to form the film and much of the time it is wax. Class B uses a hydrocarbon resin, these can be an acrylic or a dissipating resin. Type 2 is mostly used in highway construction. If you are familiar with the terms think of white pigmented curing compound. The VOC restrictions on the ASTM 309 specifications prevent solvents from being effectively used. When you see ASTM 309 in your specifications, think of water based cures or cure and sealers.

ASTM 1315 is another curing specification. It has no restrictions on solvents in products that meet this specification. Its restriction are that it must be at least 25% acrylic resins, must retain 98% of the moisture for 72 hours and form a film of 2 mils based on 200 sf per gallon. It has four classes, Class A, B, C, D. Class A is non-yellowing, Class B is slight yellowing, Class C is moderate yellowing and Class D is unrated. Class D is seldom seen. Think of Class A is the most expensive and what would look best on decorative concrete work and Class D as the least desirable.

I have tried to make this as short and simple as possible without being too confusing. I had the help of a manufacturers rep for this one, because he is much more well versed in all of these specs. Thanks Tim. :)

Block Kids

I had the pleasure of helping to judge a NAWIC, National Association of Women in Construction, event. They were having a Block Kids contest at a local elementary school. The kids are in 4th grade and the ones that want to participate are given 100 Legos, a piece of yarn, a piece of aluminum foil and a rock. They are told to construct anything they want that has to do with construction. Dragons, dogs, people, etc. are out of the question. I helped judge last year too and had a blast. I was happy that I was asked again this year. There are many judges. The judges might only do 3 or 4 children and it is a subjective score. It is a room full of judges and the children who are building things. When a child raises their hand that they are done, a judge goes over and looks at their work. Questions range from, what is it and who would use it, to what do you want to do when you grow up. Some children talk loud and others so softly you strain to hear them. It is nice to see their thought process as they explain something sitting right in front of you that you can't figure out. You see skyscrapers, forts with guns pointing out that are in defense to aluminum roadways and yarn power lines. What a good hour of fun.

How much does it cost?

That was the question. My answer was a simple "I didn't think it mattered if it worked." I had no clue what my cost was or what I should sell it for. But I did get the order. It was a new product that I saw and understood the concept of how it should work. I even understood how to install it and the benefits it provided by being familiar with similar products. I took the nice packaging and showed the many components that were neatly arranged inside the box. He liked it so far. From there it was onto the job site for some practical application. Great, more time for me to read up on it so I don't look like a complete fool. I showed the customer how the product was used at the job site and how it did many wondrous things for what he needed. It actually worked. I had done my job and impressed the customer. "How much does it cost?" Well, you know my answer and he agreed with me. I did have to make sure that it did not fall into an unreasonable amount because yes, price really did matter even if it worked. We both knew that it was not going to be too much. I also told him that I would call him back and let him in on the big secret of price. I mean, I had to learn it too.

Moral of the story is that sometimes a good answer may get you the business or if you have a new product try to find out the monetary aspects before trying to sell it.

Uncertain Specifications

As I was looking at some plans today so I could give a price quote, I noticed something I have never seen before. This little piece of information was clearly marked and labeled in the Architectural detail pages of said plans. It stated as follows "Industrial Grade Vapor Barrier." I know you see that and say "What?" Exactly how I reacted. It is no wonder that contractors have to guess at what the Architect wants. On the structural pages it simply said 6mil poly. Thank goodness, saved by those trusty engineers who then had fiber reinforced concrete in their detail pages of the structural drawings. Of course, next to the detail of the fiber reinforced concrete was the picture of the turned down slab that also had clearly written 6x6 10/10. Hard to believe I know, but the engineer did it. It is also no wonder that a contractor has to guess what the engineer wants. I notice this many times when I look at plans. I only look at a small portion of the job. I would hate to think how many times contractors have to go through the whole set, finding all these little errors.


There can be funny stories in many situations like this. I happen to know at least one engineer. He had a job that he had to reject drawings on. Not just an "as noted" approval but a complete rejection of the shop drawings. Apparently the detailer had ignored the engineer's clear and concise notes. When the detailer called and asked why the drawings were rejected, the engineer explained the notes. The detailer agreed that he saw the notes but that the notes had less than he put in the detail drawing. Of course the engineer knew this and explained that is the way it was engineered.


I wonder what other little funny stories I can hear or see in specifications. Feel free to let me know of some of your horror stories or humorous things that have happened. I have found that most things that seem bad when they are going on, are really funny in hindsight.

Non Shrink Grout

Have you ever wondered how non shrink grout started? I have been looking for a link to a site that would explain it in detail and found one that does give a brief history of it. As I understood it previously, non shrink grouts started as sand, cement and water. Very little water was used at first to prevent the shrinking and it was dry packed. When shrinking started to become a bigger issue as less skilled people were placing it, then installers would add iron aggregate to the mixture. Iron would actually expand, thus reducing the shrinkage, yet also decreasing the strength. Chemicals were later introduced to replace the iron aggregate. Some were gaseous and others had chemical reactions with the cement. The metallic non shrink grout is still important in some parts of grouting. I am told that the metallic grout does better in some machinery when there is vibration and heat. The metallic strands help absorb the vibration better and reduce the powdering that you may get with regular non shrink grouts. In a higher heat environment it will not soften like an epoxy grout which is very good in a vibration load.

The link is below and it is by Philip Smith,P.E., FACI, ASTM L&M Technical Director Resident Engineer.

http://www.lmcc.com/news/0401/0401-3.asp

The history of non shrink grout is interesting because it is one of the products I sell and I believe that I should know what I am selling.

Peanuts

Now is the time of year that gifts are passed out. This year is the continuation of many previous for me. Roasted salted in the shell peanuts are what I pass out to customers to show appreciation for their business throughout the year. I am cursed and thanked for passing them out. I am cursed because for the next month or so there will be peanut shells all over the floors in job trailers and offices. However, I have to pass them out to the ones that curse me for passing them out because as much as they hate the mess, they enjoy the salty flavor from each little bite. I agonize over the list each year hoping I have not forgotten anyone. Without fail there will be one or two that I just miss and in a week or so after Christmas I get asked "Where are my peanuts?" I always seem to have some left over and I make sure that they get them.


As I said, it is the time of year for giving. I like to show my appreciation to my customers by making sure that the memory of salted, roasted in the shell peanuts stay in their memory throughout the coming year.

Product Problems

When you call a manufacturers rep to look at a concrete repair product that has obviously failed, what is their most common response? I bet that it is that you added too much water or too little water. In plain English it is something you did with water. That IS the most common answer and the most likely reason also. They can almost give you that answer without looking at the job itself. The next most common is probably poor surface preparation. I find that very rarely you will find a manufacturer problem. The reason it happens so infrequently is that they test all their products before, during and after production. They test the materials before they are mixed. They make sure that the process stays exactly the same during manufacturing. When the product is complete a sample of the batch is tested. Everything is controlled. The last thing that the manufacturer wants is a bad product out there that could hurt their sales. It is worth their time to ensure everything is right.

Things that could happen, which is still out of their control, is maybe the wrong product for the job you are doing. The product may be recommended by someone that had success with it in a different application. You can think of many reasons why it could be wrong.

Think of their process of ensuring that you have something to work with. The crews using the material on the job site have many tasks / jobs to do and are not necessarily doing the same thing day after day. Your "manufacturing" process is not nearly as refined. They must also contend with the elements and even awkward working conditions. Whenever getting a new product and maybe even one you are familiar with, try getting someone to show how it is used to the ones using it. Once they have been trained successfully, the product will look and act better. Most of the time, the training only takes a few minutes.

Just ask

How many times have you had some sort of conflict that just festers with a customer, client or family member? It seems like you are doing everything to make the issue go away but it just hangs there and you can feel the tension. Many times, though not always, it can be addressed and solved just by asking the other person "What can I do to make this right?" You can change the question to just about anything but it needs to be understood by the person you are asking the question to.

The purpose of this is not just to solve the problem but to open the lines of communication. So many issues are not solved because there is poor or no communication.

So, if you are having an issue that needs to be handled, just remember all you have to do is ask how it can be solved.

Advice from the old man

My father was in sales for many years. He also was a superintendent and worked for an HVAC company. When I first started my career in sales he gave me some advice. I am sure he probably gave me advice prior to me being in sales but there are two points in regards to sales that I remember very clearly. One is really bad that I have never used but it is an example on how you can get information from people, even people that you respect, and it may be bad. The other juicy tidbit he pointed out to me has been used on many occasions over the years. Well enough of the build up.


BAD ADVICE:


He told me that sometimes you will get frustrated by a customer, the office or some other outside influence. It may cause you to dwell on that particular problem and nothing else. He told me sometimes you just need to go to a movie theater for a couple of hours to get the problem off your mind. I thought about that and decided that it was not the approach I wanted to have. I think the best solution is to go out and make sales calls. If you are frustrated go out and see more customers. Your thought process is far too valuable to waste it on frustration. You could be missing out on other great opportunities. Also, if you are in a movie theater you are wasting your time, your valuable time, not seeing customers.


The bad advice kind of ties in to my granddad's points to ponder. It is neither good nor bad just a positive point to think about when in sales. He said if a man walks around with a paper bag of pooh (he actually used another word) trying to sell it, he will eventually run across someone who says that is exactly what they need. So, you should always try to sell because you can never tell what someone is looking for.


GOOD ADVICE:


My father also told me that when you are on the road and you need to, you know, go to the bathroom and sit down, find a nice hotel. They always have the cleanest bathrooms. Great advice and it is true.


Thanks Dad.

Versatility

It is great to be versatile in your job. Often times there seem to be employees that find a way to get out of something by saying something to the effect that it is not their job. I find that people that say or think that to get out of doing something always seem to be stuck. They are not just stuck in their job but in life. Versatility is one of the keys to succeed. If you take on a little more responsibility or even doing something less than "your job" because it needs to be done then you are looked at as someone that is wanting to do better. If you have a carpenter that never wants to be cleaning behind himself or even sign for materials because he doesn't want the responsibility of signing for it, then it is all he will be. However, if he wants to be a foreman and shows a little initiative by helping pushing a small crew then you start seeing him in a different light. The same goes with if there is not much to be done and there needs to be a little clean up, outside the area he is working, and he does it or even starts it on his own then you can appreciate his work ethic.


In sales you have to be versatile to handle all the day to day issues that come up. You may not be running the roads all day. Even when on the road you have to adjust priorities. Instead of looking at helping those that support you as a nuisance, look at it as a great opportunity to see a different aspect of what is being done to help you. They do a job that you may have done and you should remember the hard work that it takes to do that job.


When I am in the office for a time to help handle the work then I have to do something besides calling on job sites and offices. I am happy to be productive on the inside for a while. I get to see many people that come in here. I also get to appreciate what it takes to run the inside. It is a nice reminder of what I have done many times before. One of my favorite things to say when a customer picks up something that I will have to load out of the warehouse after I have typed the ticket is "I'll have the warehouse guy load you up.". I then go back to the warehouse and load the customer's truck. Those that know me smile when I get back there. When I get back there for people that don't know me, they try to figure out if I am the same person that just typed their ticket.


It is nice to be versatile.

Old buildings

I love looking at old buildings that are being renovated. I look at them with a different eye than the usual person might see them. If you are in construction you know what I mean. Today I was able to look around the Dock Street Theater. NBM is doing the job. I like to see the different types of construction that were done back some time ago. I get to see Terra Cotta blocks. I see the evidence that concrete was formed up with something other than plywood. I know it seems hard to believe that someone actually used 1x's or 2x's for forming but plywood was just not cost effective. A nice little history of plywood can be found by following the link.

http://www.apawood.org/plywoodpioneers/history.htm

You will find that laminated woods have been around since the Egyptians. Though not mentioned in the above article, you can find out that the rotary lathe used for peeling the logs to make plywood was invented by Immanuel Nobel. He was the father of three sons and one was Alfred Nobel. See the link to find out more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanuel_Nobel

Terra Cotta is not used nearly as much, if at all and seeing true plaster hanging from a ceiling or wall is a beautiful sight. It has much more character than drywall. Drywall was invented in 1916. It was used during WWII due to labor costs and found wide spread use during the 1950's when so many people started moving to the suburbs. You can read more by clicking this link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drywall

Construction is not always about knowing what is new. Sometimes it is understanding the older practices. I am thankful for both the older methods and newer ones.