Construction Tales Is Going Down to $8.99 Shortly For 2017!!

hello everyone! There is a new law for people reading from the European Union where I must let you know about Blogger cookies. I don't know about what type of cookies are used; I am letting you know that they exist. I don't add any vookies of my own to the blog; I have no intention of going it ever. With this being said, thank you to my European visitors stopping by to read my blog!! I appreciate it highly!!! I just dropped the price on my Construction Tales book to $8.99 in US dollars. I know the price drop applies for the foreign markets as well! My ebook is still $3 US dollars. Please offer comments and reviews. It eill help me write Volume 2! I want to wish anyone who celebrates a Merry Christmas/Happy Haunuhah/Kwanzaa and any other celebration! I thank you for your time reading my blog! I will talk to you all soon some time this weekend. I am talking with an author about launching his book to be available on Amazon. I will work to get his info and post about his book that is coming out. Thanks again!! Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

My New Gig As A Project Manager In Training In NYC!

Hello everyone! I wanted to share my journey to becoming a project manager for the largest electrical contractor in the city of New York. I was nervous going to the interview back in the spring of 2014. I had almost no office experience when I did the interview. I felt like I was the only coming in with some field experience. I did earn an MBA and have my OSHA 500. My OSHA gave me the ability to teach and issue OSHA 10 and 30 cards. I also teach part time for Empire College. This college offers our apprentice electricians a degree in labor studies. I was hoping my extra efforts would pay off and help me get this job. I sat in for 2 interviews; one for engineering and the other for project management. I thought for sure that I was not going to get the job. The project manager job was what I really wanted. I had a very tense and awkward interview with the project manager executive. I left that interview pissed that I didn't have the experience and annoyed that this man didn't want me in the job since I was a woman. However, the boss liked me and put me in engineering making the blueprints. I vowed that I would figure out how to get that job one way or another. I was given a 1 week tutorial with a coworker on how to use autoCAD. From then on, I was given my first job to get started working and learning on the fly. I was so nervous learning how to use CAD and learn engineering at the same time!! I was thinking how am I going to pull this off! I started getting more and more comfortable with my job as time went on. I started asking questions about project management. One guy told me to focus on engineering. I said that I had my eye on getting knowledge and work experience. I could not believe that I finally got the opportunity to learn project manager skills. I had a project manager on the job whose family member passed away. I offered to help him work on some tasks since he was dealing with grief. I then started doing some of his work and my own work. Sometimes I felt overwhelmed but it was necessary to get my job that I wanted. It was noticed that I was doing his work. I eventually received more and more work. Before I knew it, I was approachedby a coworker that I am going to eventually get a project manager position. He was campaigning for me for months to get that job. I was happy at the thought. Until I actually get the job, I can't get too carried away. It took a few months to actually get the position. I was excited to move my things to my new desk. I have been working and learning in my new job for the last two months. I am working on learning the most so I can be the best project manager that I can be. I will do updates in the future to give progress reports. I do feel overwhelmed in the learning process. As always, thank you for stopping by my blog. Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

2016 NYC's Halloween Parade- The Village In Manhattan!!

hello everyone! I enjoyed checking out the costumes at the NYC Village Halloween Parade in lower Manhattan. I had to go to my college that I work at part time, Empire College. I read student portfolios mid term in the fall and spring. I give feedback on to students in an effort to help them with their writing. Alot of them take my advise. I have cultural capital since I am a fellow journeywoman. Therfore, they ask me for tips and how to do many things within the union. I have been doing my part time gig for the past five years now. I chose to spend some time reading then go check out the parade. I spent too much time reading and missed the parade. I did get to see quite a few people in costumes. I did a live video on Facebook while in a crowd. I plan to go to the parade next year. Next time I will focus on watching the parade. Here are some of the costumes that people wore down in the parade: Thanks for stopping by!! Cheers!! Leslie M Jasper www.lesliemjasper.blogspot.com

Melicca Niccole- 15 Books/Poetry And Counting! Transcend Against All Odds- My New Book In The Works!

hello everyone! I have introduced Melica Niccole in the past posts in my blog. I am working on a few projects with her. She is super motivated so I enjoy her energy! We share that motivation so we work well together! We both have demanding day jobs. She even moved from Ohio to New Jersey to pursue her book projects even deeper. I admire that dedication and those are ingredients for success! I know she has written a few books and does her poetry. I didn't realize that she wrote 15 books!! I feel so lazy with my writing talking to her! I get sidetracked doing home improvement projects since I am in the process of selling my house. It is women like her who motivate me to do more than what I am doing now. The funny thing is I probably do plenty already. I just know that rubbing elbows with fellow motivated people pushes me to do more! I have no idea if that is a good thing or a bad thing yet! I find watching tv to be boring and non-productive so I don't do much of it. I did put in an app in my phone, called Dragon. I try to use it to talk into and write while I am driving. I have started writing a different book entitled, Transcend Against All Odds. I am writing about the struggle of a young woman coming from an abusive and drug infested home. She fights poverty and bad examples to blaze her own trail and become successful and independent. She must free her mind from the mental abuse from her step mom, sexual molestation by her father, abandonment issues from her mother, and physical abuse at the hands of her father. This story dives deep into the mind of a wounded woman and the process of trying to self healing of her mind, body, and soul. I fell off the radar with it for awhile. I am juggling alot of personal transitions that soak up alot of my energy for the past year. I have to get myself back into it using that commuting time more wisely. I spend about 2-4 hours a day in the car getting back and forth to work. I need people like Melica in my life; motivated people motivate me! I am sure that I motivate others to do things they normally drop off doing. This is why I often help Melica with her marketing as much as I can. Even highly motivated people must get some good energy from others. I am working on promoting the Newark Library Expo happening this weekend in Newark- October 29th from 10am-5pm. Stop by her table and check out her books. A copy of my edited version of the book, Construction Tales, will be with her on the table. Her website is: www.melicaniccole.com Her many works:

As always, thank you for stopping by to read my blog! Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

A Former Oregon HS Classmate/Fellow Tradesman Picked Up My Book- Review To Follow!

Hello everyone! A former classmate from high school out in Oregon, Danny, recently picked up my book. He has promised to offer a review when finished! Danny and I chat briefly periodically over the years. He shows me some of his residential improvement projects he works on. We discuss different construction projects. I enjoy talking shop with him on different home improvement projects. He is a nice guy and I thank him for picking up my book and taking time to read my story. I am sure we will discuss the book when he is finished reading it. I will keep you posted on his review and feedback along the way. Thanks for stopping by to read my blog! Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

Partnering Up With Melica Niccole-Newark Library Oct 29th 10am-5pm

hello everyone! I am teaming up with Melica Niccole to attend the Newark Library Expo happening this weekend. I am not able to attend but Melica will have a copy of my book at her table. In addition, she will be promoting a wide variety of her work. Her website is at www.MelicaNiccole.com She has many forms of social media as well! I hope to work with her on future projects between this year and next year! Thanks for stopping by as always! Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

Five Star Electric- Ranked #10 In The United States!

hi everyone! I do not name my shops that I work for in my books. I must brag about my home for the past 3 years and counting, Five Star Electric! We have been ranked #10 in the United States for the past few years! I love my working environment, opportunities, growth, and wonderful coworkers. I have some great mentors to learn from along the way! I am sharing an article where we are ranked. I am proud to be a Five Star/Tudor Perini employee. I plan to stay and learn for as long as possible! I am hoping we shift to the top 5 in the next few years! Enjoy the article! Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

The Breakthrough by Carla Marrero!

hello everyone! I want to share with you some work by a fellow author and illustrator, Carla Marrero. Carla is an art teacher in Massachusetts. It is very important to help promote the work of people that you work with on projects. Her book is called, The Breakthrough. I enjoyed talking with her and checking out her work. We were talking about my book. She was interested in reading my book. I sold a copy to her to read. I told her that I was interested in creating the children's version of my book, Construction Tales. I am very interested in seeing what she creates through what I develop. Now that I have an illustrator on board, I need to create the book. I envision a young girl who wants to do things different than playing with dolls. Her dad believes in her and encourages her to pick up a trade; something she was born to do. The beauty is that her dad saw it in her before she saw it herself. It mimicks my teen years where my dad truly believed in me. He had me doing things that I didn't even know that I was capable of as a kid and a teenager. He had me learning bolt sizes, watching him do mechanical work, and fetching him tools. He serviced 24 tractor trailers in his shop. At any given moment, he would send me out to start up one of the trucks and back it into the bays for service. The clutch was so heavy and I had to remember the different shift patterns in the truck. I had so much pressure on me for a young woman at the age of 14 years old. However, I felt that my dad needed me so I was super carful and backed them in perfectly! I didn't realize the magnitude of what he was laying on the line at the time! He could have gotten fired or sued for letting me drive them into the bays!! I think the owner must have known that I was doing the driving. The guys in the shop had alot of faith in me too! I had a few of them let me drive the trucks on the highway on a run to load the truck with wood chips. The owner gave me a big chunk of money for my work at the end of the summer going into senior year. It helped me pay for senior pictures and other items you buy senior year. My dad used to have me hunt and chop wood with him. There was nothing off limits for me. My childhood and relationship with my father is what helped me jump into a male dominated career with no second thoughts. My youth will be the basis for the book. I am hoping to inspire young girls to walk in my shoes and enter a great career in a trade with no fear or hesitation. I will offer some clips once I get it on some paper. I encourage feedback on all of my posts. As always, thank you for stopping by my blog and checking it out! Enjoy your weekend!! Check out Carla's work: Cheers! Leslie M Jasper www.lesliemjasper.blogspot.com

3rd Annual Independent Authors Book Expo Photos From October 15, 2016

hello everyone, Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

My New Job As An Assistant Project Manager in NYC!!

hello everyone, It has been awhile since I spoke about my current work. I am coming up on my 21st work anniversary in the trades on 12/10/16. I used to work with the tools up in Westchester and Fairfield territories of Local #3 IBEW. We endured MASSIVE amounts of unemployment after the latest recession. I went back to school and earned my master's degree in business. This degree and my OSHA 500 training helped me tremendously on my interview for the job I have now. My last day working with the tools was March 7, 2014. I was fearful of being out of work for a HUGE block of time again. Already out of work for (2) 1 year stints out of work! It was crippling me economically!! I was so happy to get hired on for the largest electrical contractor in NYC 6 weeks after my layoff! I started out working as a junior engineer and a CAD Operator who was making the blueprints. I learned on the job. Over time, the project manager needed help working on his tasks. I started doing more and more project manager tasks. I enjoyed doing that work much more than engineering! After some time on those tasks, I finally get my job as an assistant project manager! I am continuing to work on the project I started on in Brooklyn. Now I just inherited a new job in Queens to work on. I got a company handbook on project manager procedures. I am very happy to be in my position full time now. My goal is to run a project solo in the future!! My goal is to inspire others who want this career path. It is possible if you put in the extra time and effort to learn as much as you can! Thanks for reading what I have shared this evening! Have a great day/evening wherever you are in the world!! Cheers! Leslie M Jasper www.lesliemjasper.com

Birthday Reflection August of 2016

hello everyone! Today is my birthday and I am into my 40's. I am reflecting on the events that have occured during the journey of my life. I started out in a poor family out in Oregon. I grew up with a sister, named Kim, and we endured a divorce when I was 7 years old. We moved from our dad to a new step dad in the same day. As an adult, I understand why my mom did it-we were poor but her actions kept us off welfare. I moved in with my dad and step mom hoping for a different life- ended up being a big mistake since my step mom was evil! I earned a 2nd sister, named Lisa, when my dad married her mother. The strict home environment motivated me to join the military a few weeks after high school. I met and married a Marine while stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. We relocated and came to New York. I was pregnant and gave birth to my son, Tom. About 2 years into our marriage, Jimmy died in a motorcycle accident. By this time, I was a first year apprentice electrician and had just bought a house. I finished my associates degree in business and my apprenticeship years later. Meet someone who I felt could be a family guy. I have my 2nd son with him while gaining more experience in the trade. Survived a huge recession and went back to school and earned my bachelors and then my masters in business. Parted ways with someone I was with for over a decade. Watched my first born graduate high school and go on to start college. Now he is working for an electrical contractor and going to be an apprentice electrician like his mom. I interviewed and got an engineering gig. Learning autocad and then project manager tasks. Going in the project manager direction since I like that better. Hitting my 5 year milestone as a teacher and writing coach for Empire College. I plan to retire teaching since I enjoy it. I can't forget that when I was unemployed for a long time, I wrote and published my first book, Construction Tales. I started writing Volume 2 and another book, Transcend Against All Odds. I am watching my son Johnny become a young man as well. Trying to sell my house and move to the city to be closer to my job. I have a fiance, Curt, that I love to death. We have a long distant relationship. He may take up a job in the NYC area so we can be around each other more. We will retire in Southern Florida together in the future in our beach front condo. There are opportunities for advancement within my company in the meantime. I look back on my beginnings as a poor girl in Oregon to now and I did pretty amazing! My life has taken alot of hard work to get there but I am there. I need to do more mentoring and charity work. I am grateful for my achievments so far. I look forward to to future chapters of my life to take place. Thanks for reading my reflection! Have a great day! Count your blessings!! Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

Passing The 10,000 Blog View Milestone- Thank You!!

Hello everyone! I am pleased to announce that this blog has passed the 10,000 milestone for views on this blog! I thank everyone from around the world for their time stopping by and reading my material!! I very thankful for the blog traffic!! I am trying to find time to write Volume 2. I just got a new Microsoft Surface that I must learn how to use. I will use that to write another book on the tough life of a little girl entitled, Transcend Against All Odds. I need to force myself to start writing it a little bit each day before bed. I definitely need to work on it more than I have been recently. I hope everyone enjoys their upcoming weekend!! Thanks again for stopping by! Cheers!! Leslie M Jasper

My First Book Interview- Let's Talk Writing Episode 69

hello everyone! Here is my first book interview with Vinny Daquino for Let's Talk Writing Episode 69. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gNiI08b0evs&feature=youtu.be I was nervous but I believe I did okay despite feeling that way. I am enjoying a week vacation from work. I didn't go away this time. I just stayed home. I am doing beach time and getting some important tasks finished. I thank you for stopping by and reading my blog. I am coming up on 10,000 visits to this blog. I am thankful for people from all over the world stopping by!! Have a great day and speak with you soon! Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

Writings On The Temp Bathroom Walls!!

Hello everyone! I stumbled upon some photos women had posted. The photos were taken of the writings from disgruntled construction workers on the walls of temporary bathrooms on construction sites. There is a saying in construction, "you know you made it when your name ends up on the shithouse walls!" Some of the most foul things you can read is on the walls of the bathroom. The woman being referenced in the photos just laughed it off. She knows that you can't allow that to bother you or show any type of emotion. She said her buddies laugh and call her "thickness". It is just something you deal with in that business! I think I may have seen subtle things written in the bathroom. I have never been called out personally that I know of.. Those things do not make me miss the field at all! Here are the photos to share. Enjoy your Friday!! Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

A Pep Talk Given to A Fellow Tradeswoman Receiving Jobsite Harassment

Hello everyone! I am sharing a pep talk given to a fellow tradeswoman who was experiencing a difficult time with coworkers on the construction site. I was moved by what she wrote and wanted to share. I wish I had someone to convey these thoughts when I was dealing with the worst parts of my career working in the field. As one guy used to say to me, "Sexual harassment starts for Leslie at 7:01am". I endured plenty in my 21 year career as a journeywoman electrician. I combatted alot of the nonsense with tons of humor. You must learn how to manage plenty of poor behavior working as a woman in construction. Enjoy this pep talk I am sharing: Sometimes when you are harassed at work, you text your girl on break, and she gives you a pep talk. This was a particularly good one, so I'll leave it here, and anyone who needs a pep talk can refer to it: "You make some of the men you work with angry. They don't like you because you're capable. They don't like you because you're smart. They don't like you because knowing that you can do their job makes them feel worthless. They don't like you because they know you go home every night to a wife who loves you -- they don't like you because you have everything they thought only men should have. That's just true. But that makes you STRONGER than they are, not weaker. They are hobbled by their short-sightedness and their entitlement. You are free. He wanted to see you uncomfortable. And that's ALL HE GETS. Because otherwise, he's fucking pathetic. He needs you to feel okay about himself. You don't need SHIT from him. So you are going to look him in the eye and you are going to remember that, every single time he lashes out: He needs you to feel bad so that he can feel okay. But if he was blown into outer space tomorrow, you wouldn't know the goddamn difference. YOU are the one with the power. Because he has been taught to compare himself to other people as a man. Being a man is all about comparing yourself to others and trying to be on top or as close to the top as you can be, and sometimes, if you have bad self esteem, you have to really kick the people you think are at the bottom of the ladder, just so you make sure you're not coming in last. But you don't give a shit about him or his feelings. None of that matters. That's what makes you MORE powerful. So you gotta clean yourself up, take some deep breaths, and remember to let him wash right over you. His bullshit means nothing because YOU DON'T NEED HIM TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF. You already ARE good. Just remember how much messing with you matters to him. You don't want him to get what he wants, right? Keep your cool and carry on. I love you and you're doing a good job." Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

An Article Celebrating The History Of Women In The Trades

hello everyone! Here is an article on celebrating the history of women in the trades. I never think about it in this manner. However, women in construction are a part of history. Not alot of women dive into this line of work. I see ALOT of women do it nowadays. However, it still is not enough! Enjoy the article and feel free to share. http://thewire.org.au/story/celebrating-women-trades/ My book is on iTunes as well. https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/construction-tales-vol-1/id725235089?mt=11 Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

Sponsoring A Children's Book Festival in New Jersey on September 17, 2016

Hello everyone! I want to share the you the fellow sponsors of a Children's Book Festival that is happening on September 17, 2016. The festival is being ran by a fellow ambitious author, Melica Niccole. I am honored to help her with this project. Here are the fellow sponsors for the event: I need a to hear from teen readers why they deserve a free copy of my book, entitled Construction Tales. I am looking for funny and creative writers. Contest ends- September 17th!! Post on any forms of my social media pages!! I have a Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, Google, and Pinterest. So does Melica Niccole! Good luck!!!! Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

Summer Issue of Pride and a Paycheck!!

Hello everyone!! Trying to help share this summer issue from Pride and a Paycheck: Here is the article post: Dear Pride and a Paycheck Facebook friends. Here is the Summer 2016 issue. Please share! http://suedoro.homestead.com/Summer_2016.pdf Going on my blog www.lesliemjasper.blogspot.com Cheerz!! Leslie M Jasper

Last Week Trending- University of North Texas Dirty Coffee Mug! I Love It!!

Hello everyone Everyone! I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. I had a buddy of mine tell me my work coffee mug was trending on the Internet last week. I am a huge fan of subtle humor. When I saw an article about the cup,I had to check out the cup on the University of North Texas campus website. It really existed!! I found cheaper and different styles on Amazon. I like to walk around the office with my C yoU Next Tuesday mug. The mug handle completes the humor for me. I will always be a dirty minded construction worker no matter where I go in life! Happy Monday to All!! Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

More Construction Humor Pictures!!!

Hello everyone!! Here are some Construction Tales humor pictures. A buddy of mine who is in Volume 1 is in this photo. I don't have to make any of this up!! Have a great weekend and speak with you really soon!! Cheerz!! Leslie M Jasper