Pluggers by Rick McKee for January 27, 2025

Me when I worked welding trailer frames. Mini sledge and a load of welding rods.

My rolling tool chest was on the small side in the shop, still tipped the scales at 270lbs.

I feel like that when I need to wear my lined jeans

Well pluggers ain’t lazy bums see.

Some Personal Protective Equipment will also add weight ;-)

Check their pockets

I always have assumed that ‘we’ of the ‘Plugger’ generation had put such ‘mundane thinkgs as jobs behind us and look forward to ’drawn-out’ cups of coffee in the morning interspersed with dialogue from our loving spouse ! ! ! !

All that metal gotta weigh more than just 20 lbs.

My safety hat w/ hearing protection was about a pound, my safety toed boots were three – four pounds a piece, my radio was a couple pounds, my safety vest was about a pound. I felt lucky because the mechanics had their tool bags and spare parts, if they knew a head of time what they needed based on the work order .

I weighed my “walking around the base” gear in Iraq before we left. It was 65 pounds. No water, no pack.

More like a 150 pounds in the infantry

…and also why they have chronic back pain

I don’t need a huge tool belt to put on weight these days..

Steel toe boots, belt and suspenders, two way radio, Buck 110 knife, flashlight, and a ring of about 30 keys.

We NEED those kind of guys.

Can’t wear “loose” pants that way!

On the job. :)

The snack pouch is on the other side.

My husband complains that his pants are always falling off. Why? What he keeps in his pockets – even when at home – wallet, every key he has for all 3 vehicles, the house, the garage, and whatever he has small keys for, plus other stuff. He also has a hernia so he looks like he weighs about 30 lbs more than he does – he will not do anything about it (doctor and I exchange glances when he annually asks husband if he is ready to deal with same). His jeans fit just under his stomach due to same – and not where his pants belong.

(He also gets sick if he bends over, plus a variety of other, more serious than pants sliding down problems.)