So long and thanks for all the fish!

I've worked at CDOT for almost 10 years. 

Before that I worked for Golder for like a year and a half. Hilariously WSP bought them so it's all very circular. I had a coworker from my group recently go back to his old company but this doesn't feel like that kind of boomerang. 

I came into CDOT a little lost and forlorn. I had tried to work at an engineering firm and felt like I had zero guidance from the get go. I immediately got shipped our for field work and when I insisted that I couldn't bear to be gone for 6 weeks at a time- especially since they never told me that was what I had signed up for- I was at the office where I felt like I was grasping at straws for what I was actually supposed to do. It was very bad for someone who was timid and shy and didn't know that asking questions was okay. I eventually got let go. 

I started CDOT hoping not to be such a big fuck-up. I think my time there taught me how much you potential you can unlock if you actually get mentoring. 

This is genuinely a big fat thank you to everyone I've worked with at CDOT. It was the best ride and I've learned and grown so much. I have the deepest fondness for our red-headed stepchild of an office where I had the autonomy to make weird boards where I ask people about their spirit animal, make an art wall consisting of everyone's throwaway paintings, and bring my dog on occasion to snore in my papasan chair in my cube. I feel so little FOMO about covering every inch of Colorado because I feel like I've been so many great places within this state (and not so great). I've been to almost Kansas and almost Utah, ridden in helicopters, drilled through water mains, blown up a rock or two, put stripper poles (i.e. drill steel) into decks of bridges and other countless adventures. 

I'm so so thankful for my drillers who always had my back and how much on-the-fly repair I've seen them do. I think I learned how much you can fix by hitting stuff and spraying WD-40. You deserve all the donuts and Gatorade. 

My coworkers were all sorts of different engineering styles but we made for a great team. I feel very guilty for breaking the band up and am thankful for all the lessons I've picked up from their vast well of knowledge, skills, and experience. It really showed me we all have something to bring to the table and how amazing it is when you legitimately like everyone you work with. It made the biggest difference in the world. 

Pictured is the wonderful board my coworkers made (mostly about my sketchy driving)

My last, very multi-modal, day at work. It was a bus-train-scooter then a very generous ride all the way back home!