S.C. Lineman
This is a 'had to be there' to appreciate it but:
The local electric co-op bore test holes in all the poles about every 5 years to check for rot, termites, etc. They drill ~3/4" holes at different locations then drive long plugs in to fill the holes. The plugs are tight, they use like 2-3 lb. hammers and have to wack them hard.
Anyway, one of their guys was right outside the house doing this task Friday and seemed to be taking a long time. I went to the window and pulled the curtain aside for a look to see what was taking so long.
Just as I opened the curtain the young man swung the big hammer to set a plug he was holding with his left hand.
BAM!! he completely missed the plug and made full swing dead center contact on his left thumb! The hammer went flying, both feet off the ground 3 feet high, a full 360 degree pivot in mid-air, lot's of high pitch sounds filling the property.
I then realized the workman was Hispanic, I have been wanting to learn Spanish, I think I got a real lesson in street Spanish.
I made sure he couldn't see me watching as some sort of ethnic dance went on for several minutes with him doing the vocals in that same high pitch, somewhat muted, scream. By this time his face was Cherry red and big puppy-dog tears were running down his face, and the Spanish lesson continued. I'm busting a gut and as I try to tell Tina what's happening she loses it too.
Finally it quietens down outside and I look to see the workman lightly tapping a plug in to start it then with his left hand in his pocket he pounds the plug in. I missed him hunting the hammer which must have been interesting because he really threw that sucker.
A nice distraction on a Friday afternoon, it was better watching it happen to someone else, I'd like to see my antics when I have done the same thing, more than once.
The local electric co-op bore test holes in all the poles about every 5 years to check for rot, termites, etc. They drill ~3/4" holes at different locations then drive long plugs in to fill the holes. The plugs are tight, they use like 2-3 lb. hammers and have to wack them hard.
Anyway, one of their guys was right outside the house doing this task Friday and seemed to be taking a long time. I went to the window and pulled the curtain aside for a look to see what was taking so long.
Just as I opened the curtain the young man swung the big hammer to set a plug he was holding with his left hand.
BAM!! he completely missed the plug and made full swing dead center contact on his left thumb! The hammer went flying, both feet off the ground 3 feet high, a full 360 degree pivot in mid-air, lot's of high pitch sounds filling the property.
I then realized the workman was Hispanic, I have been wanting to learn Spanish, I think I got a real lesson in street Spanish.
I made sure he couldn't see me watching as some sort of ethnic dance went on for several minutes with him doing the vocals in that same high pitch, somewhat muted, scream. By this time his face was Cherry red and big puppy-dog tears were running down his face, and the Spanish lesson continued. I'm busting a gut and as I try to tell Tina what's happening she loses it too.
Finally it quietens down outside and I look to see the workman lightly tapping a plug in to start it then with his left hand in his pocket he pounds the plug in. I missed him hunting the hammer which must have been interesting because he really threw that sucker.
A nice distraction on a Friday afternoon, it was better watching it happen to someone else, I'd like to see my antics when I have done the same thing, more than once.
Of course I am posting this about 10 minutes after whacking my thumb with a mallet while I was closing a can of stain. 
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