This is all new to me.

I am not real sure how to begin. I enjoy writting in journals but telling these stories on the internet about myself and those I know is new to me. Honestly, I'm nervous about displaying these thoughts of mine on the WWW. I'm not your average writer or blogger. I never drempt about being a writer or anything like that.
I like telling stories and there are alot of them that float around the so called railroad water cooler. Some are funny, some gruesome and some i just shouldn't tell in case kids are reading. Although, like those that told me the stories to begin with had to tell someone. I just decided to tell everyone.
In 1997, I began working for Union Pacific Railroad. what a life altering event. I don't care what anyone told me about the job, i was not prepared for the inconvienence of being on call. Yes, I know many people are on call in the world and it's tuff but believe me it's not what you think. I am on call 24/7/365 days a year. i never know when I'm going to work.
My first call was for a midnight job working as a switchman in the rail yard. OK, I was trained three and half weeks for this. Now was the big test. This all being new kept me awake through the night.
The men i worked with were great they called me green and said i looked confused then laughed heartily. I couldn't help but laugh at myself along with them.
A few weeks later thinking i'm getting the hang of it all. It was the middle of winter. I bought thermals, sweaters, beanies, thermal bibs and a duckwalls coat plus the required boots. I was in debt just starting out but warm in 10 degree weather.
There i was trying to decifer the notes forman Bill jotted down for me on what looked like egyptian scrolls in hieroglyphics as he commanded on his radio "this (frieght) car goes here, that one there and do this, don't forget that, i'm kicking this car jump onto it, ride it down the track and tie a brake on it......" then i replied "ok say that again, over". He was not happy.
Well, the night was not over. I had one last move for the night. Forman Bill said he was going to kick some cars down a rail and asked "is a heel in the track?" (cars in that rail to stop the cars he is sending to me from rolling out). "Yes" I said. "There were cars way down there". He said "ok kick'em!" to the engineer. Remember, I had all the garb on including my radio which I had in my back pocket with the mic clipped to my new coat. I felt like the little kid whoes mom wrapped him up to go outside, Remeber "A Christmas Story".
I took one more look down the rail and the cars that were supposed to stop the cars forman bill just kicked were being pulled out the other end of the yard. Oh! No! Here they come, I think they're moving too fast nothing is going to stop these cars from going out the other end. I'll have to jump on. Wait, my saftey glasses are fogging up. I looked around the fog. I see the cars. They're here but where is the brake wheel side of the car. I'm supposed to climb on. I should know this. Oh it's on the other end. Timing, here we go run your going to miss it! Crap! My radio just fell out. It's barely hanging by the mic clipped to my coat with the radio dangling between my legs. Its going to get in the way if I get on the car. Shoot this is the wrong end of the car. I run to catch the other end. I did it I'm on. Then the car begins to slow down on its own. It comes to a complete stop on its own. Forman Bill Says on his radio " Hey, are you alright?" with a chuckle in his voice. " You know it goes up hill there."
I think I learned an important lesson that day. No matter how cold it is outside you can still get hot and sweaty. I'm just not sure if it was from embarrassment or from running in all those clothes. Either way, I think I acclimated that day because I haven't worn all those clothes since.