Welcome to Blue Collar Gal's page. You'll find an assortment of odds and ends here, and I've added a few more pages of remodeling pictures, some of our landscaping efforts over the years, and Bethola's nature trail. (See other Blue Collar Gal links below.)
I have been a sheet metal worker for 30 years and got to retire at the end of 2009, and my husband and cohort in crime is Bob who's an electrician. He has taught me everything you never wanted to know about remodeling dumpy old houses among countless other things.
You can move or delete any item on this page! First click an Element to select it. Then use your mouse to move it, or click the Delete button on the toolbar above to delete it.
Please click on the smiley face to visit my new internet friend Sally's web site for her dear departed pet.
Click on the photo on the left to visit Bob and Beth's remodeling project during which, not only did they survive, but still remained speaking to one another (after only ONE major argument!)
I had the privilege of working on the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, Illinois in 2003 and 2004. Over 150 pictures used to be at The Sheet Metal Shop.com, but the web master had to delete the photo gallery due to security measures.
Click on the museum picture on the left to see some of those pictures.
This web page would not be complete without pictures and stories about the animals that inspire me.
Two of these animals are pictured to the right: upside down Boomer and Cassie Jane who allowed me to be a pack member for over twelve years. They are now watching over me from the Rainbow Bridge, and if I'm a "good dog," then perhaps some day I'll be able to join them.
CLICK HERE to view the memorial I wrote for Cassie when I first got my computer
The current fur bearing mammals with whom we share a kennel are Jake the Pound Hound (left) and Teddy Ruxpin the Samoyed.
Click on their picture above to visit their doggie album of older pictures.
If you click on Fido here, you'll go to Bethola's Dog Tales, including "Jake's Story" and "A Day in the Life of a Shelter Volunteer."
Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be a published writer, and the dream stayed with me into adulthood. Since everyone always said to write about what you know, I decided to do a story about what it's like being a woman apprentice.
This all started back before computers and the internet, and I spent endless hours hacking away on an IBM Selectric. (Remember carbon paper, Ko-rec-type, and how you had to change font ball on the machine? I'm giving away my age here!)
Modern technology came to the rescue, because it used to be you had to send the entire manuscript to a publisher via snail mail and then wait countless months for a reply, usually in the form of a rejection letter. I have enough of those to wall paper an entire room!
When I got my computer in 2000, I "googled" internet publishers and was greeted by a literal cast of thousands. After emailing several hundred publishers, SynergEbooks decided that they would publish my novel.
Please click on the book cover above if you are interested in reading a portion of the book or if you would like to purchase a copy to help support a starving writer. The book is also available at Amazon.com and several other internet sites.
For anyone who doesn't want to use a credit card on line, the book may be purchased directly from the publisher listed below for $18.99 which includes postage and handling.
SynergEbooks, Inc.
948 New Highway 7
Columbia, TN 38401
Phone: 1-931-223-5990
September 11 Links
WE WILL NOT FORGET!
As you know, almost 3,000 people were taken from us on that horrific day in 2001. What you might not know is that 59 of them were construction workers.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers lost 30 of those people. Anyone interested in making a donation to the families of these victims may send it to: IBEW Disaster Fund NYC, Inc.; c/o Local 3 - IBEW; 158-11 Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Avenue, 4th Floor; Flushing, NY 11365.
.gif){kind=small}
