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