I was on the floor when another grip says "2 1/2 inches low". It had been a long time since I had that perspective. I am always the high guy. It did make me smile at how the words weigh nothing.

I had been been lifting hangers the day before and that morning. The way it had always worked is that the hangers were storied (measured) on the floor and the first one was always the "tell" of how well we thought it through and did our measurements.

In all my years of being the guy up high it has never been what we expect. Even, on the floor and pushing a crew I have always been surprised by the X factor of what could go wrong and what I could never figure. So, I know, that it is just a part of the puzzle. the first few are most always wrong, on this morning it was no different.

but then, there are also problems on the next 2 hands, always high. I scream down, so that I can be heard over saws and blaring radios "can we try to make them lower". to my surprise there was no empathy for me, doing all the heavy lifting and adjustments. and I was told "to just do my job". It was almost the same as yesterday but I am more tired and feeling like "high guys make the rules". it Should be better, the floor guys needed to help. And I always thought this was a team sport? I thought we all knew, and strived for Lower. Lower is better that high. Easier to fix.

I was a little surprised they were still coming up wrong.

The last 3 hangs were high and not attempt that I could see to make my life easier by making to low. Well after 5 hangs and 15 adjustments I was more that confused. Still always high.

So I yelled "could we at least make them long" I got no sympathy, just more "lip" from the floor. This was indeed unusual. "how is this my fault" I was thinking. I always thought the guy in the grid, lifting, had certain rights of being able to ask for more than given "lip" and being ignored. Well almost ignored.
They were coming up long now. consistently wrong but at least low. 8 trists is about 2 1/2 inches" Complaints of to many twists were yelled out but ignored by me. But now I was denighed as many twists as it took to get it up. So now up or down, links had to be adjusted. Up high, the 2 of us pulling, were helping each other out by lifting for the other while moving links.
So each wrong hang would be an extra 2-6 lifts per wrong hang. I was already grumbling and complaining. I

it was not encouraging that the floor guys did not seem concerned or care that it was brutal to be us, up high. Complaints coming to a head and a possible head plant by a guy walking around a ceiling with no fall protection got the key (boss)involved. I could see that my story was not being told. Just that I was complaining and unsafe. Like standing on a wall with no fall protection was a safe move, not! After watching the complaints from up high I asked to see the key at the bottom of the stairs and said "when am I fired? he said "we are making a cut tommorrow". not a surprise I knew I was to be cut the next day and, as a bonus, I sent to the floor.

I can do floor work but it is not my preference. I was met with hostity on another level. I always thought this was a team sport and, even more importantly that it is not personal when you vent frustration when working high, sweating, pulling and nothing is going your way.

Although I, myself, was just up high taking the lack of concern and math, very personally. I did feel justified. 10 lifts, 30+ adjustments, it was only 8:10. Yesterday was about the same. I was on the floor, ready to story the next hang, tape on the floor, I ask my fellow grip.. "top, or bottom" they are using a piece of one inch tape, There was also red line snapped in the middle. He says "top". I look over but I can see my fellow grip is annoyed by my presence and my interest in seeing how he calculates his hang. so I keep looking down.

After the pull up the bonehead on the wall yells "2 inches high, other side, 1 twist". one side is almost perfect, mine is long. I could just leave it but I feel that my job now is to make it easier on the guys up high. At least that is the was it was always done until today. next hang is the same.

the 3rd I look over and ask to see what my fellow grip is doing on his side of the story. Mine has been consistently wrong. I speak "can I see your story?" "SHUT UP" is his reply.
Can you say rock and hard place.
I already know my job is lost but I still have a job for the day. but no friends. As we walk up to the next hang I decide to change down 2 links. up it goes....."walk away, put in one twist" I feel like dancing a jig but no one is impressed. it is a first perfect hang in 2 days. My 3rd hang of the day. My frustration is justified but no one cares.

Better to be lucky than good. I am lucky 4 more times. the 5th is a inch off on one side. I feel that If any amount of attention was paid, that I would not have lost my job. This is a bridge I did not want to burn, It was aflame.
The rest of the hangs were very nice until we got to some pinches. (hands of chain from one spot, rather than spaced) "2 links high". Because of the pinch it was high 2 links. the next pinch came up and I suggest taking it down 2 links, This fell on deaf ears. All I can do is suggest. I have no friends for this day. once it is up "2 1/2 inches high". I smiled because it really is easy on the floor. This is where my story started. Nothing vested as you say those words. no one caring that "thought" could have made this hang much easier. I could have my job. I did not feel so bad. Most of the hangs, "my hangs", were on the money and no one cared. I could have gone the other way, not cared, and "up high" would have had to work a whole lot harder but "the proof of the pudding is in the eating".
Some guys never go high and have no idea how heavy those words are. I had no idea they were so light on the floor.

I am sure people not in the industry will understand but it bugged me so much I could not sleep and it helps to get it out.