Giving Shotcrete a shot

Answering Ben's call, I declined to pump for him, initially.  Ben was from out of town, he was looking for a concrete pump but he was doing some shotcrete work, which I informed him, we don't do.  Shotcrete is where you attach compressed air to the concrete pump hose and forcefully blow the concrete where you need it, it has a lot of applications like vertical walls and intricate concrete formations that require next-level freehand skills, but a lot can go wrong and it can be hard on the pump.  Ben was persistent and reassuring, he gently asked why I wasn't interested and he gently coaxed me into accepting the opportunity to actually try out shotcreting.  Words fail me but I'll say, I am extremely grateful for Ben's softspoken demeanor and his patience with me, and for blessing us with the opportunity to experience the thrill of taking on this new challenge.  

Trying to explain to people who are unfamiliar with pumping concrete what our work consists of feels like Rutger Hauer’s monologue when he plays the role of Roy Batty, a "replicant" in the old movie "Blade Runner."  With depth and power, he exhibits incredible emotions as he describes the things he's seen and experienced, it remains one of the best scenes of all times.    

But I feel the same as Hauer's character, having pumped concrete in a multitude of unique situations.  We've pumped for the DOT on bridges and under them.  We've pumped concrete two stories underground inside of chemical factories where the corrosion all around was terrifying.  We've pumped six foot deep by four foot wide lightning rod tower bases 50 feet up in the air atop of a blast wall inside of military ammunition factory.  We've pumped the bases for Zipline courses in a National Park with 1600 foot deep canyon carved throughout.  It is simply hard to explain the emotions and feelings of pumping concrete when you experience the exhilaration from the danger and stress and the challenges of a high pressure industry like pumping concrete.  The scope of our work, the far places we travel to, the toil & struggles we encounter, the chaos and risks are incomprehensible, to say the least.  

I have pumped up seven stories on hotel floors, I have been in military facilities where I have to have background checks. I’ve been in nuclear facilities where I had to do retinal scans at several checkpoints along the corridors and pass through security with conveyor belts for our belongings to be X-rayed and body scanning equipment like TSA at the airports with a devise that tested our skin and clothing for explosives, all just to get to into the facility to pump concrete.  All of this to say, there is not much left to impress me.  

I am indifferent as to your opinion of the skater subculture, but I insist that if you were to absorb the immense amount of craftsmanship that is required to create a skate park, you would be overwhelmed by the artisan quality and precision concrete finishing skills required to handshape the features at the skatepark.  Having been around concrete my entire life and as a second generation concrete tradesmen, it is very hard to impress me at this point. There isn’t much that I haven’t seen or done, and frankly, it takes something very unique to raise the type of excitement that I experienced working at this skate park. 

Watching Ben and his crew in action I was totally enraptured, enthralled, enchanted, caught up and transfixed in the moment, transported and getting lost in the moment was reminiscence of when I was in the second grade and an adult read to us from the "Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by CS Lewis, and I remember over 50 years later losing all sense of my soundings or my classmates and the entire room disappeared from my line of vision and magically I was inside the story, viewing only the story and losing my physical surrounding in an experience much like some sort of lucid dream.  The elegance of the artisan quality craftsmanship Ben and his crew possessed was like watching a master sculptor create a masterpiece, I was mesmerized the entire time by their work, it was amazing and the most interesting and exciting job we've been a part of in a very long time.  And on top of all of that, Ben was one of the most pleasant people I have worked for in a while, believe it or not there are some rough coldblooded ruthless ruffians out there pouring concrete who try to bully and push the pump guy around, not many but there are some tyrannical control freaks who like to use threats and are very demanding, complexly lacking any consideration, it comes with the territory.  

I'm sure a seasoned veteran pumper who's reading this will have a good chuckle over my novice ramblings, finding it humorous as I recount being initiated into the experience of shotcreting.  I just hope it rekindles the spark of joy of their introduction to doing shotcrete for their first time, after all we who pump concrete can become jaded, cynical, and critical as the years go by.  Surprisingly taking on this shotcrete job, which had always greatly intimated me previously, it completely boosted my self-confidence and encouraged me immensely, shockingly it felt like I was a kid taking the training wheels off, but instead of just riding a bicycle, now I was suddenly riding a 750cc motorcycle.  

I invite you to watch below, a couple videos from that job, and check out some pictures as well

Why should you give This particular Music a shot?

For anyone dealing regularly with stressful situations, is searching for a practical tool that can help stabilize your thoughts when they are racing, or looking for a filter for life's distractions, Ambient music is probably just what you need.  If you just chalk Ambient music up to being mystic, New Age, Spa, weirdo Elevator type music, mainly because you might think it sounds strange, nerdy, and since it's not mainstream it's only for weird people, you shortchange yourself...  In light of these common but misguided stereotypes, I believe a lot of people remain closed to the idea of Ambient music and when people doubt its quality, they ignore the value, and therefore they will miss out on the many benefits of Ambient music.

How does Ambient music work?  I don't know any of the neuroscience behind it, if any at all, but for me it's an absence of lyrics along with the delightful blend of tones, unique rhythms and extended sound patterns that allows me to enjoy the music without being distracted by the music, you almost get lost in the music, at least for me.  

Another common misperception I'd like to dispel, Ambient music is much more than repetitive background noises.  Again, Ambient music is much more than weird Space music or background noise, the rhythm and pace of this music has the ability to slow down the world around you, it brings you a sense of peace & stability, and there is a calming & comforting effect as well.  Also, whenever I need to concentrate, listening to Ambient music brings me clarity of thought and it helps me focus when I'm reading, it relaxes me and helps to stimulate a sense of flow and it nurtures a creative zone when I’m writing too.  

The therapeutic benefits of Ambient music are perhaps the most important to me.  For reasons unknown to me, I often get overwhelmed and stressed out in public and basically have periodic panic-attacks; it gets embarrassing especially if we are out to eat with friends.  Ambient Music helps me out in these situations, for example, I'll wear earbuds when I'm shopping at Walmart or the grocery store and somehow listening to Ambient music provides a buffer and it helps me feel calmer and more relaxed, it is especially helpful to me in busy airports or while flying.  It works almost like a mental-health forcefield for me.

A final benefit I'll share with you that you won't find surprising.  Ambient music helps me to sleep at night.

If you aren't already familiar with Ambient music, please allow me to introduce you to this unique genre of music.  For starters, here's a great example of Ambient music: Click here for my favorite ambient track  

If you are interested in exploring this unique genre of music further, of what I feel is one of the most enjoyable styles of music, here are some of my recommendations.  Check these out on whatever music streaming service you use, I highly recommend Exit Chamber, Jonn Serrie's materials and Steve Roach as well, Liquid mind is excellent as is Rudy Adrian, Billow Observatory and Time Being are very good too.   As for the best Ambient music YouTube pages I've found, check out Astral Ambiance's page https://www.youtube.com/@AstralAmbience-1 Relaxation Ambient Music's page https://www.youtube.com/@RelaxationMeditationMusic and Ken Elkinson's page, he happens to be my overall all-time favorite Ambient musician,  https://www.youtube.com/@kenelkinson

The grip of grief how will our loss NOT have the last word?

If you have ever known the thrill of being carried on silver wings & “flying the friendly skies,” you might be interested in knowing flight became possible after someone playing ice-hockey had his face smashed in leaving his teeth looking like a broken bottle when his face replaced the goal; it was the worst day of his life and he locked himself away for three years out of embarrassment.  Sulking, and feeling sorry for himself he moped around his self-imposed prison and to kill the time he spent his days reading in his dad’s library -- low and behold he read a lot about birds, he came out of that unbearable tragic experience with a greater insight, and Mr. Wright and his brother brought us the gift of flight.  

Similarly, Isaac Newton was isolated in his room for months on end during the great plague of his day and it was during that time of quarantine that he experienced several epiphanies, he invented his prism for studying light, and he formulated many of his greatest ideas in math & physics.  The world was gripped by death and it was a dark time, and Newton’s achievements changed the world as we know it for the better during the worst of times.  

You are more than likely familiar with the youngest brother who was sold into slavery by his older brothers, the jealous brothers who were envious of him who planned his demise.  Joseph, as you remember, was the slave who was eventually elevated in status as second only to the Pharaoh and when the time came that he was reunited with his cruel brothers who plotted against him he said in Gen 50:20, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” 

Right now you might be dealing with the deviation of a divorce, the loss of being laid off, or worse, you are missing a loved one who passed away and you are asking if any good can come from our tragedies?  Maintaining a positive perspective when you are simply trying to persevere seems pointless but consider what Paul wrote in 2 Cor 1:3-4, “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Mosaics and the Japanese art of kintsugi take shattered pieces of pottery or ceramics and fashion masterpieces by mending them and creating works of beauty from what was once broken; just like how a broken bone is stronger where it is mended, the once worthless pieces are now more valuable than before.  In the midst of loss or during our difficulties it’s impossible to believe we will find fulfillment or see the potential our future holds, all hope seems elusive, but.

But somehow the unfathomable becomes the greatest act of kindness and delivery, like the conclusion to Steinbeck's “Mice & Men" when George saves Lennie from Curley's certain torture and cruelty by taking Lennie’s life himself.  May we learn to build a set of wings while we are in freefall and soar high above the problems we have faced and grow from our mistakes and problems, and maybe comfort someone who is facing what we have overcome, by the grace of God.  

PS: "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

    and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

Originally published in the Kingsport Timesnews on 11/7/25 https://www.timesnews.net/living/faith/when-good-comes-from-the-worst-of-times/article_3ec340e0-66c2-4b51-ab7f-5dffc982f41e.html

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How do we help people who are grieving

Why we’re unhappy & how to cure it

 

You probably think I’ll attribute our unhappiness to our fear of missing out, but it’s beyond FOMO and beyond our biases on what is and isn’t fair.  We carry sorrows over seeing the successes of others, it’s almost as if we are addicted to other people’s dopamine.  More than likely you’re unhappy if you compare your empty bucket to someone else’s.  You only have room for one or the other, you’ll either carry jealousy in your bucket or joy, but not both.  

Most people naturally long for an easier life, but in the absence of earning a good sense of accomplishment we feel empty inside, and then we feel bitterness towards the people we assume are holding us back.  Carrying other people’s rocks feels like a burden compared to carrying the same load to build your dreams into reality, that’s plain commonsense.   What we overlook is this, happiness is an only at best a byproduct of satisfaction.  

The more we worry about anyone else's life or how easy they have it, the more focused we are other people, the less headspace we have for ourselves.  Hard work is therapeutic and beyond the benefits of physical labor, working on yourself is the hardest.  

Don’t confuse unhappiness with depression.  Depression isn’t just the absence of happiness, there’s a darkness lurking in the void, it’s not an empty emotion, the depression is a tangible sensation of an unbearable weight that suffocates you.  Unhappiness is even worse than sadness and depression, unhappiness is despair over the inability to experience the simple joys of this life.  

There is no finish line in this journey we call life, we’re born, and one day we die, but will you truly live your life during the in-between of the inevitable?  The biggest lie we tell ourselves is, “one day” as in one day the kids will be grown, the bills will be caught up, the dream will manifest itself or magically materialize “one day.”  We act like life is about sitting in a cosmic train depot holding out hope the right train will stop and let us on board, all the while we ignore the ticket booth.  We neglect to read the schedule.  The universe passes us by…

We forfeit today by waiting on tomorrow.  You only have today, yesterday is long gone and who knows what tomorrow will bring, so pick up your bucket, gather your load of rocks and stones, conquer the chaos and walk up the hill victorious leaving the emptiness of victimhood behind.