I go places (outside the oilfield), and people ask what I do. When I tell them, they frown. And then, tell me, “You are EVIL.” I’m always nice, but inside, I want to scream, “Do you know you really can’t live well without us?” So, I decided I’d show you a little bit about my industry. It is, after all, an industry that I dearly love. And who knows, maybe you'll see it a little differently after today.
Way past the basics of energy for your house, and gas for your vehicle (car enamel, dashboards, antifreeze, safety glass for that front window, additives, oil, tires and fan belts, etc.), there are some of the menial things essential to living well that you utilize every day... and they all are derived in some form or fashion from the oil and gas industry.
Got an Ipod ? The casing is plastic. Plastic is made from...wait for it...petroleum.
What about that laptop or desktop? Sweet. Oilfield, baby.
Cameras for those great picture moments? For sure, oil.
Play a guitar? What makes up your strings? Oil. Oh, yeah, baby, sing it. Right through those speakers. That, by the way, are also made from a petroleum product.
Wear makeup? Most makeup has a petroleum base.
Perfume? Eyeglasses? Even your soft contact lenses? Oil, baby.
Seal it with a kiss...because your favorite lipstick probably is made from petroleum.
Need cold cream to take that lipstick off? Thank the oilfield.
How about nail polish? Oil. Don’t like the color, need nail polish remover? Oil.
Does your kiddo draw with crayons? Yup. Oilfield.
Play with Legos? Oilfield. Model cars, trains, planes? Oil and gas, baby.
Baby dolls, trucks, trikes and bikes? Oil.
Huggies? Luvs? Passies? Made from oil...to help you take care of that precious baby. And when you put him or her in that life-saving carseat? Rest assured, it’s made from Oil.
Are all your clothes white? Or that unbleached fabric? Because if they have any color to them at all, the dye has some petroleum product in it. Speaking of clothes, the detergent you wash them with - is a petroleum product.
Go fishing? Fishing rods, line, nets, boots, lures, life jackets, oars. Cooler. Water skis. Wakeboards. Tow rope. Fishing BOAT, for God’s sake. All petroleum based.
Shower curtain? Shampoo? Hand Lotion? Oil and gas. Again.
How about that cellphone? Coffeemaker? Those cool little appliances that help you make it through the day, from drying your hair to making a grilled cheese? And do you play those old LPs or CD’s throughout the day? All petroleum based.
.
Scotch Tape? Electrical tape? Duct tape? Glue? Paint brushes? Paint rollers?
Bicycle/motorcycle helmets? Trash bags? All that, and more are made from oil.
Do you use a toilet seat? Yeah. Seriously. You’re sitting on oil, baby.
How about those credit/debit cards? P.l.a.s.t.i.c. - made from o.i.l.
Are you a golfer? You couldn’t be without those little white balls! Petroleum. Shooter? Parts of your gun are made from oil. Tennis player? Rugby? Any sport known to man? I bet the oil and gas industry has some part in it.
Wax your floor? Yup. Is it linoleum? Yup again. Use a mop? Burn a candle? Oil.
How about when you write a check? Use a ballpoint pen? Oil.
What if you fall and get a booboo? Need a bandage? Oh, yeah, honey, it’ll get better with oil. Are you diabetic and need insulin injections? The syringes...are made from oil.
Take antihistamines? Aspirin? Cortisone? Wear dentures? Use a toothbrush, comb, brush, hair curlers? Glycerin, insect repellant? Gotcha. All made from Oil.
Anyone been in the hospital lately? The shunt they put in your arm to start an IV---oilfield. The Christmas tree contraption they add to that so you can get 4 different meds by 4 different delivery systems – made from oil, and the technology came from the oilpatch.
And what about the very process of running a camera into an artery? That process originated in the oilfield, as well, if I’m not mistaken. These and numerous other medical advances were fueled by the injection of oilfield workers into another field, bringing their knowledge and can-do with them.
I could go on and on, forever. But I’ll leave you with this: When your future’s so bright you gotta wear shades...remember this: you wouldn’t be sporting that badass bling without the oil and gas industry. So next time you see your favorite oilfield worker, don’t trash them. Give them a hug.
And maybe even a pair of those bling bling shades. © 2009 Janie Snelson
38 comments:
Janie honey, I CAN live without all that stuff, but not without you, precious :))
Wow!! Guess you told them, I mean us, I mean... well, you go, girl!
I just ordered me 150 gallons of that stuff to heat my house today.
At least it isn't $4.50 a gallon!
Braja - Oh, girl...I love you right back. I needed that today!
Joanie - I wasn't ranting, just...um....educating a little, I guess.
That is something we all need to know. Thanks, Teach! class dismissed!
You should really do a conference on that.
go back to my blog. I counted wrong. :O
Jill - yeah! So, now, let's go play! i might be in DFW on the 28th, btw...
Joanie, what do you mean??? I'll go see...
Janie, I love this post. Not only cos I learnt stuff, but because I love how passionate about it you are. Thanks
oilified? Hey, I got oilified last night! Oh, wait, was I supposed to tell people that?
oh wait, that's a different kind of oil. never mind.....
Janie: Perhaps it would help if people could make a distinction between gasoline and all the other stuff. I was reading your list and going "Yep. Yep. Yep."
Being the geek that I am I was at least passingly familiar with most of the items you listed.
Being the list geek that I am, I found myself sayin' "Oh, the lady knows lists. That's kinda...hawt! (big grin)
You should write some ad copy for a trade group, I bet you'd be good at it.
Wow Janie!!! I had no clue!!!
My ipod is with me everywhere i go!!! Not sure why that is relevant here but i thought i would share!!!
Very interesting post Janie!!!
Just trying to get caught up on my blog reading....hello!
Thanks for being the ONE Janie!!
The ONE who educates the kiddos on where all these products come from:).....
By the way.....natural gas is made at our house nightly by Prince (I hope to God he doesn't read this!).
Steady On
Reggie Girl
A very educating post!
Love it!
Awesome post, Janie Girl :-)
You tell em Janie! Oil and Gas Industry also butters my bread. My own family is always telling me that I shouldn't live off of them.
Hey sis, there is always a positive to a downturn. Remember the one in the 80's, and Texas retrained a lot of oilfield workers to be nurses. During this last stint in the hospital, I noticed that the oilfield has moved to the medical field.
The shunt they put in your arm to start an IV---oilfield. The Xmas tree contraption they add to that so you can get 4 different meds by 4 different delivery systems-oilfield. The very process of running a camera into a artery-oilfield. These and numerous other medical advances were fueled by the injection of oilfield workers into another field.
I know the guy who patented the xmas tree iv. Very Very Wealthy now.
Don't worry bankers and politicians are the new scapegoat.
My husband really loves you! he's an avid bass fisherman.
You go girl.
Having been raised in the middle of oil/gas country all my life, I've always appreciated the oil/gas industry and try to hug an Oily anytime I see one. Well, at least I do if it's my son, who is a really cute and sweet Oily.
Thanks for pointing this out to the ones that didn't know. I actually love it when the price of gasoline goes up, just not in the 4 buck range.
Amen to all that and a great big THANK YOU!
As you know, my hubby is also in *da bidness* and it's true that others (outside Texas & Oklahoma) look at me weird when I tell them hubby is a landman. I either get the disapproving glance or the question of what kind of landscaping he does, lol. Most people haven't got a clue that their lives would be a living hell without this industry. I'm sick of it always getting a bad wrap (thanks to the media).
My maternal grandfather had a well service company for years & my mother worked for the oilpatch as well, so I've been around it all my life too.
It would be so nice if everyone knew that there is a difference in buying gasoline and the vast amount of products produced from petroleum... Fantastic post my dear!!
Somebody needs a hug! Hey, I knew most of that stuff, not all of it (Beauty stuff). Excellent job young lady! Say, have you ever thought about being a writer? (my heifer points for today).......Heh.
Love ya Chica - Cherie.
p.s. Vodka Mom - whoa boy!
Janie girl....I love my Maui Jim shades.....to be hones with you....they could be made of of horse guts and I would still wear them.
As for the oil field workers.....love them too!
For the guys in the suits erm make that robes, making incentives of 10 billion bucks a year plus....welp....sorry....but um...I don't think they need my love. Really I think it's pretty safe to say they can buy all the lovin' they want and then some.
PS...Of course for a couple million I would be sorely tempted to sell them some lovin' but I think we just leave that thought for another time.
Great post...quite the eye-opener. Love your blog.
Nice post!!! You tell em girl!
Great post!
What I hear people worried about most is foreign oil or oil in preserved areas. Do you think we'd ever be able to give consumers information about where the oil comes from? (I'm thinking about the connection between Citgo and Venezuela I heard about a few years ago -- I'd much rather support Texas & Oklahoma oil.)
Geez - I had no idea!
Wow Janie I didn't know a LOT of that stuff. Good job!
When you mentioned the toilet seat, I got the mental image of sitting on a slimy toilet seat and it creeped me out. BLEH!
Oh, check me out, I am walking 60 miles in 3 days. Yes, 60 miles. I must be nuts!!!
Well said! You go girl..hug yourself from me..cause damn I appreciate most of those things..well except for the damn makeup and candles and perfume and I could live without the phone ringing too! :)
Nice post. Very nice!
Wow learned something new everyday!
One of my concerns, as I see us slurping down oil like it's still being made, is plastic. I can see coming up with energy alternatives, but I suspect it's going to be a lot harder to replace plastics in our lives. As far as taking crap for how you make your living, tell 'em to pound salt!
You tell 'em, Janie!
I could tell you the story of our visit to Victoria, B.C. and the incident in the restaurant where we had lunch. The table right next to us had an American family there and we got to talking. They were very yuppified Santa Barbara, CA people. They quit speaking to us when they found out the husband was in the evil oil biz.
And, wait til all of Al Gore's robots discover that solar panels are made with oil. ANd what do they think powers wind machines? HAHAHAHA.
What a great post! You brought it home in a powerful way that we can't live without it. I hope everyone who thinks big oil companies are EVIL will read this! WELL DONE!
Posting a link about this on my page tomorrow.
Glad to know I'm not the only one who has been called evil. Well, actually, it was Halliburton that they called evil but since my husband still works for them there isn't much of a difference in my book. Thanks for the post!
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