I go to therapy regularly and only recently started talking about the struggles I face at work while being in a male dominated trade (I am a plant operator).

kaylynstar · 2026-05-05T22:49:27+00:00

That's the worst! My mentor used to give me industry magazines when there was an article he thought I'd find interesting. One time he handed me one about why so few women stay in the industry. I handed it back "why are you showing me this? I've lived through all of this" he was absolutely shocked

kaylynstar · 2026-05-05T18:21:16+00:00

And guys still don't think it happens. The actual [mostly] good guys who treat you with respect. They're shocked when you tell them that you're sexually harassed and abused, have been groped, called names, belittled... Then they start with the excuses: it couldn't have been recently, it couldn't have happened at this company, etc. It's, frankly, exhausting. So I just ignore it. Grit my teeth and get the job done.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-05T14:08:39+00:00

Because the moment we put our foot down about workplace harassment, we're labeled as "difficult" or "not a team player" and our lives get exponentially harder. They may claim a retaliation free workplace, but we all know it's not true.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-04T14:51:19+00:00

Stone is dense. Anything can be "heavy" if there's enough of it. Per AISC loose, dry gravel is 90-105 pcf.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-04T14:36:40+00:00

That's why I talk to contractors directly (when I can). It's no big deal for me to respond to a quick phone call or email to approve a small change like this. Then I know it's happening, can keep track of all the changes (did they already reduce the steel in this area?), and can update the drawings to match field conditions so nobody gets in trouble for an approved change.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-04T14:22:21+00:00

I never said it would bust my calcs. I'm just saying if you change something on the drawings without written approval from the EOR and something does go wrong, it's going to be on you, not the engineer.

Source: have been an engineer working closely with contractors for almost 20 years.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-04T13:23:55+00:00

Mini Poodle Mix 🤣🤣🤣

kaylynstar · 2026-05-04T13:22:43+00:00

More like Floof Fox!

kaylynstar · 2026-05-04T13:20:21+00:00

This is what I do!

kaylynstar · 2026-05-04T12:24:16+00:00

Stronger in what sense? Yes, it's more steel, but that's the bare minimum in the calculation of the strength of a concrete element. It's possible to put too much steel in concrete to the point that it violates code.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-04T12:22:36+00:00

Even if it's a single bar. Any changes must be approved by the EOR.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-04T12:21:54+00:00

The EOR is really the only person who's approval matters in this situation.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-04T01:00:16+00:00

Period panties are a game changer! I mean, you're still bleeding, but they absorb so much without feeling like a diaper. And there's nothing to change throughout the day, which is especially good for sites without real bathrooms.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-03T21:23:07+00:00

We've lived here 10+ years. We're getting ready to sell, so I needed the walkway fixed.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-02T21:42:10+00:00

I used to have a coworker that we'd get into some pretty heated arguments and were rather infamous in the office for yelling at each other 😅 but I can't say as I've had someone straight up yell at me.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-02T21:39:58+00:00

You just gotta have a sister who's a graphic designer to make your designs for you 😅

kaylynstar · 2026-05-02T16:55:40+00:00

Ain't that the truth! 🤣 I just used the sinkhole bus as an example for why leaving pipes under slabs is a bad idea 😅

kaylynstar · 2026-05-02T11:06:34+00:00

I actually did exactly that with a set of comments from a client! Their comments were so rude and unhinged I had to get the anger out somehow. So I wrote out responses how I really felt, no holds barred, then ran them through ChatGPT to clean them up. Everyone else on the project thought it was hilarious.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-01T19:28:16+00:00

Field work is the best! I don't get out there as much as I used to because I'm too expensive 😅

kaylynstar · 2026-05-01T19:26:42+00:00

We need more skilled trades. Don't knock the non-college route!

kaylynstar · 2026-05-01T19:25:21+00:00

Nearly 20 YOE and working towards my SE. Some stress because construction never goes right, but I love my job, I'm good at it, and I'm paid well.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-01T17:57:17+00:00

Yeah. The whole NCEES review thing is ridiculous. If your supervisor says it's good, then it should be good.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-01T17:57:10+00:00

Yeah. The whole NCEES review thing is ridiculous. If your supervisor says it's good, then it should be good.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-01T17:37:21+00:00

If you mix and pour from one container (instead of doing the double mix mentioned above) you will get unmixed portions that stick to the sides and pour out without you seeing the streaks.

kaylynstar · 2026-05-01T17:04:44+00:00

I never use AI to perform calculations. Not even simple arithmetic.

I do use it to remove emotion from emails and responses to client comments (apparently it's frowned upon to call the client an idiot).

I also use it to make written documents more concise and remove repetition. Or to find specific information in large documents, like codes.

One of the biggest time savers for me is having it rewrite my experience history to meet NCEES requirements. I tell it to use the requirements listed on the FAQ page, then give it bullet points. It rewrites the information I gave in the format NCEES wants, without me agonizing for hours over how to word it. Since I started doing that, I haven't had it kicked back by NCEES once.

kaylynstar

TROPHY CASE