This here is Karen. Man, I can not even imagine what Gulf States Environmental Laboratories would be without her, I know I would be insane. I can't even tell you how much she helps me out. I hear her answer the phone and answer those dumb questions so I don't have to. They aren't all dumb but yes, there are some really weird request when you work in the environmental field. We share an office so we are around each other most all day. Except for the times I have to go in the lab and work, or when I just sneak up there to get away from downstairs. She knows though and usually comes looking for me and calls me out on it. Luckily we get along great since we spend so much time in the same space. 
Then we will go to Karen's husband, Dale. Dale is one of the owners. Dale also is our in-house therapist. I have never in my life meet a guy that listens like he does and he can ask you a question and before you know it, you have answered. I think he missed his calling. Now, all this could be because he is just nosey. Just kidding, I know he is genuinely concerned about other people. This picture must have been after lunch, looks like he is sucking on a toothpick. Sometimes we get into some deep conversation with Dale. They can go anywhere from serious to hilarious in a matter of minutes.
The other owner is Scott. He is the outdoors man. He like to hunt and ride his bike (ever how many miles). He coaches wrestling (or as I call it, rasslin) at Byrd High School. I think his next favorite thing to do is to come in and aggravate the girls in the lab, and dang he is so good at it. Michelle says she is keeping a file on him and I think she has had to achieve some of them because there are so many. We have learned how much Scott loves for us to nag him so we do it quite regularly. (but only because we have to) Scott is a really good guy. 
Then we will go to Karen's husband, Dale. Dale is one of the owners. Dale also is our in-house therapist. I have never in my life meet a guy that listens like he does and he can ask you a question and before you know it, you have answered. I think he missed his calling. Now, all this could be because he is just nosey. Just kidding, I know he is genuinely concerned about other people. This picture must have been after lunch, looks like he is sucking on a toothpick. Sometimes we get into some deep conversation with Dale. They can go anywhere from serious to hilarious in a matter of minutes.
The other owner is Scott. He is the outdoors man. He like to hunt and ride his bike (ever how many miles). He coaches wrestling (or as I call it, rasslin) at Byrd High School. I think his next favorite thing to do is to come in and aggravate the girls in the lab, and dang he is so good at it. Michelle says she is keeping a file on him and I think she has had to achieve some of them because there are so many. We have learned how much Scott loves for us to nag him so we do it quite regularly. (but only because we have to) Scott is a really good guy. I have been so blessed to work for two such wonderful, christian men. I was so unhappy working at the old lab and was ready to head back to Homer to find me a job when Dale and Scott bought the lab. I decided I would give them a try because I love working in the lab. I'm still with them 10 years later. So when the subject comes up, (depending on how the day has gone) I either give them credit or blame for me still working in Shreveport.
Camille runs the metals department for us. She lives in Ruston and drives further than I do each day. She is originally from New Jersey but found her way to the beautiful south. I must say she fits in quite well down here. Dale will be the first one to let her know when that "New Jersey Rude" is coming out. She really isn't rude, we just like to give her a hard time about being from up "there". Camille likes to think she is "the princess". Of course, I have to remind her every now and again she is not, but I don't think she believes me. She works really hard so I guess I should just let her be "the princess", after all, someone has to be. When Camille came to interview for the job I immediately liked her (tongue-piercing and all). Camille is a lot of fun to be around, we are all entertained by her stories. 
This is Michelle. She lives in Bossier City. She is soooo funny. And oh my goodness, she loves to talk. Just ask her, she'll tell you. You guys know me and you know how much I love to talk so I think we could spend days together and never have a quite moment. If you need a laugh, go sit in the wet chemistry lab for about 1/4 of a second and chances are you will have already laughed at least once. I have known Michelle for many years (since 1723, right Michelle?) but she only came to work with us 3 years ago. I am telling you, she has become one of my dearest friends since then and can't imagine how I got along without her. I can walk in the room looking for something without saying a word and she will hand it to me. It's like she knows what I'm thinking. Kind of scary, but it works out real well for me.
This is Michelle. She lives in Bossier City. She is soooo funny. And oh my goodness, she loves to talk. Just ask her, she'll tell you. You guys know me and you know how much I love to talk so I think we could spend days together and never have a quite moment. If you need a laugh, go sit in the wet chemistry lab for about 1/4 of a second and chances are you will have already laughed at least once. I have known Michelle for many years (since 1723, right Michelle?) but she only came to work with us 3 years ago. I am telling you, she has become one of my dearest friends since then and can't imagine how I got along without her. I can walk in the room looking for something without saying a word and she will hand it to me. It's like she knows what I'm thinking. Kind of scary, but it works out real well for me.
While I'm talking about the wet chemistry lab, let me show you a picture of Candice. She came to work with us exactly one year after Michelle and I don't think there is a person that fits in any better. She came in for an interview and we just knew she was the one for the position. We were right. When she and Michelle get on a roll its hard to get out of that room and go back to work. I mean it is like a party all day. Before I say anything else, let me explain, they do work their tails off. We are so busy and there is no down time anymore in the lab but Candice and Michelle (and everyone else) make it fun. There are times you have to laugh to keep from crying (or killing someone; we have a policy against that). You see that big smile on her face? That's the way she always is.
You know how people tend to congregate in the kitchen during a get-together at somebody's house? Well, then I guess the wet chemistry lab would be GSEL's kitchen.
This would be Jim. My life-saver. I was sinking fast then one day I got an email from this guy I worked with a long time ago. He just happened to be looking for a job and I just happened to be looking for some help. Yep, sounds like a God thing to me. I immediately went into action to get that guy hired. I have never in my work life been so relieved as the day they hired Jim. Jim shares an office with me and Karen. He is quite compared to the others but when he get started telling one of his funny stories (especially the ones about his dog) I am almost crying before he finishes. Never a dull moment, never.
And this ol' dude I have known for almost forever it seems. I met Todd when I worked for the Town of Homer. He had just moved to Shreveport from Texas and didn't know a sole. Just him and his new bride. He was working for the lab and would come by and pick up samples once a month. Then the owner of the company came by one day and asked me to come to work in Bossier City with them. I had a new 2 month old baby and had to think long and hard. Well, I guess you know what I decided. I went to work in Bossier when Zach was 4 months old. My goodness Todd, we are getting old. It's just me, Todd, and Dewey left from the old lab. Todd is the field tech for us. He drives, and he drives, and he drives and he drives, to get samples. That much driving would cause some people to loss their mind. Don't have to worry about that with you, do we Todd? Can't loss something if you don't have it.hehe No, seriously, Todd works hard and I don't have to worry about samples being picked up. oh yea, he's also my traffic reporter in the mornings and afternoons.
Dewey didn't really want me to take a picture of him but I got one anyway. Dewey works in the organic lab. I think he must have been looking for something organic to analyze in the picture below. He knows I took the picture and I was straight with him and told him it was going on my blog. I sure hope he doesn't mind. If I ask to take a picture of you and you do something crazy like this, guess what.
But here is a better one of Dewey. He is our dictionary, thesaurus, and encyclopedia all rolled into one. When you ask him a question about something, he knows the answer about 99% of the time. The other 1% he may not know but he will answer you with a bunch of bull and do it in such a way you believe what he says. He is so much fun. Do you know anyone that you just ask random questions just to see if they know the answer. This is just what we like to do with Dewey. Of course, most of the questions we don't know the answer to so we just take him at his word. Most of the time. You will be hard pressed to find a more dedicated New Orleans Saints fan and New Orleans Hornet fan than Dewey. He loves his sports. I can hang with the conversation about football but that basketball stuff is over my head. Another little piece of information about Dewey is that he is a great cook. He brings food up here for us sometimes and my, my it is so good (and he says he washes his hands)
Josh is our newest family member. He has been here over a year so he really isn't new. He is our fix it guy. He can fix anything I guess. The only thing I haven't seen him fix is the ICP instrument and that is probable only because I wouldn't let him try. I can't really say what his position is at the lab because he does most everything. The only department he hasn't worked in is the organic department. I bet in time he will migrate in there. He will do anything I ask him to and not even complain about it, at least not to me. We have a lot of fun with Josh. I think he gets picked on more than anybody. Mainly at the hands (or voice) of Camille. Don't feel to sorry for him now, he can dish it out too. I would tell you the nickname Camille gave him but I know he would choke me if I did.
This is our resident drummer, Rick. I haven't gotten the chance to hear him play yet but I have heard through the grapevine he is really, really good. I don't see Rick as much as I do everybody else. He stays in the dungeon doing his work. It just dawned on me that maybe that's because Rick works harder than everyone else. (Just kidding everybody, settle down.) I bet he never dreamed he would get paid for playing in the dirt. When he does venture out to wash some graduated cylinders, he get something going in the wet chemistry room with those girls. I can't tell you how many times I open the door to the lab and hear so much laughing. Then, of course, I have to go find out what all the fun is about. Rick does his share of deer hunting and he makes wonderful deer chili. Rick's son, Ellis, worked with us for a while, until he began his career as an American Solider. We are all proud of our own American Solider.
If you look at the picture below of James you would think he is the most serious of us all. Well, that's a great big ol' HAHAHAHA. He works in the room with Rick and only serious conversation that comes out of that room is about politics. James is in college studying Criminal Justice. I hope he plans to using that degree in the environmental lab on Spring Street. James keeps us laughing too. I love to hear him describe something that has happened to him that is funny. He has a way of telling a story.
Well, there you have it. I know some of you have heard me talk about these people, know you can put a face with a name. Since I am not putting a picture of me on here I thought I would show you my desk. It really don't look to bad on this day, I cleaned it up a little. This is where I loss a little of my mind each day. I really think working with this crew it is probable best not to be of sound mind. Do you see my picture of Trace Atkins on my file cabinet? (just thought I would point that out) No, the deer is not mine.
When I tell you how much fun we have, believe me. It is amazing how well we all get along. Everyone of them has their own little thing that makes my work so much fun. And they each make my job as lab manager a lot easier. I wish everyone could enjoy their job and their co-workers as much as I do.
You know earlier in the post how I said I can't imagine how I got along without Michelle? I can't imagine how I got along without any of these people. God has truly blessed me with a wonderful group of people to work with. We are just one big happy family and they are all sooooo special to me in their own special way.
Charlene
Clinton and Colton played on the Blue Grizzlies team against the Red Saints. For someone who is a New Orleans Saints fan, it is weird to be rooting against the Saints. Well, as you can see, the game didn't turn out like we had hoped it would but I think Clinton and Colton did a great job.
This is from my front porch.
I thought this picture turned out nice. Grant's Aunt Kathy from Hampton, AR made this bird feeder for us. The tree this feeder was hanging in is not there anymore. Hurricane Ike blew through here in Sept. and took it down.
I don't know if you noticed, but Shea had shed the warm ski pants and was just down to her long-johns.
Thank goodness Shea didn't get her mama's spelling ability. For those of you that read my blog, I know you are probably thinking the same thing. I think one of the greatest inventions in the world is spell-check.