Oh what he will have missed with the organic clutch dust that managed to get into EVERY crevice on a hand and would not scrub away, Detroit Engine oil that was as good a stain at India ink!!!
Do so remember the days could not smell anything but diesel, for days, as nose had loaded out trying to find a bad cylinder staring at exhaust ports running at high idle! And dirt, Road grime, Quarry slurry, the LANDFILL when worked trash equipment. Still remember the blade ram had to change in a loaded truck oozing and reeking maggots crawling across my arm, puking was the easy part of that day.
Oh yes.
Open Gear Lube (gear dope)
One little dab hidden somewhere on you body, say behind an ear, that you didn't get off in the nightly steamclean at home (shower) and there goes another set of sheets or pillow cases.
I tried, lord knows I tried to make sure that I got it all off. But if you just put in a 12 plus hour day busting your butt trying to have a machine running for the morning, sometimes you miss a tiny dab.
My wife was good about it. She knew where the money was coming from so a bit of good natured ribbing and that was it. I think my count over the years was 4 or 5 pillows.
Pro tip. Mayonnaise works wonders getting gear dope out of your hair.
Hey Donkey Doctor, I bet you have a few stories.
And as far as garbage trucks.
Worked for a garbage truck company for 8 days.
Needed a job, was getting married and my wife was still in college so I just grabbed the first job I could find in that city.
8 days, in August.
A very hot August.
Longest 8 days of my working life.
I remember the maggots and the puking.
And the stink
And EVERYTHING ON THE TRUCKS WAS CORRODED
8 days.
Shudders.
Okay, whiskey time.