"ello Mistah Daon....dis is Zak."

The title gives a little bit of a description of the subject of this particular article.  Whenever Zak called...no matter that I wouldn't recognize the caller ID much less than heavily inflected Russian accent...each call that I picked up was:   

"ello Mistah Daon....dis is Zak."

Today we say goodbye and good life to Zak. I just had my final "I've finished for the day" phone call after having spent a bit of time with him as well as Susan and I taking him out to lunch....much to his protest for a gift giving and meal at mid-day.  Zak became my charge via a good common friend that gave Zak instructions on American helicopters that were being sold to Zak's home in the country of Georgia.

Zak is both a fierce warrior and a man of peace.  He came here in late August to find opportunity and a path to citizenship in order to bring his family here and out of the path of Russia vs. Georgia.  I was happy to help in keeping him occupied as well as attempting to pick up a variety of certifications in a new career choice...construction.

Important Training About NOT Watching the Guy with Long Sticks of Millwork

I gave him the opportunity that I was given many years ago to be my own boss on working on new homes under construction out in what was then the rurals of the metro area of Cedar Grove. Did that with some overseer from a good man, John Winterrowd as well as via my dad who let me have my own rein and since I kept up the pace and did what was necessary...the end results were as they are today.

Pay is still about the same now, too.

Zak tried two different immigration attorneys that were referrals...one was more in line with the latino population for language but after $300 worth of his time for 90 minutes the end result was...."there's nothing I can do for you...will that be cash or credit card?"

Ditto for the 2nd gal attorney that was fluent in Georgia/Russian....and gave him a questionaire to fill out to see if there was anything special about Zak that would make him an exemplary candidate...rather than the hundreds of thousands that are trying to find their way here that make up a bulk amount of laborers.

The end result with both was probably $800 in attorney fees to find out Zak wasn't "special."

Very Careful Painting...First time on a whole house

I would disagree...being the disagreeable type that I am. I wish I had a hundred Zaks that would work as long and hard each day; arrive on time exactly on the money and stay busy until 0900 to 1800 hours and then drive back to his billeting in Bishop Ga. Sixty miles each way...on time; never missed a day; worked tirelessly without question and broke 15 minutes on his own to have a little chow or his only vice...light up a cigarette. Being the reformed warrior from his many years defending his country against the Russian threat and it's superior warring technology....nonetheless, he spent a bit of time each day for two neighborhood cats that would come by to see him each day around break time.

I can't find that type of person in this area any longer...and I've tried for quite a few years to find hard working ethics as was once the standard in construction. Zak had my full faith and trust and would be the guy that I'd plant down on any job that required my representation.

Rather than spend my remaining years in search of another Zak...I'm giving real thought to the old "gittin' while the gittin's good" idea of retiring...just because leaving now having lost this good man would be leaving on a good note. I've had my fill of the tatts, skinheads, dread-locked dopers that assume construction is a loafing type of job of simply showing up looking like road kill...and getting paid for simply being there. I can't afford nor abide to have the above type knuckleheads ruin a perfectly good track record of good work on a controlled good job without the drama that comes from hiring a drunkard, doper, perv or thief as my site representative. Life is getting shorter and patience is on the wane.

Back to Zak as Exemplary Candidate for lawful immigration. The sole reason Zak is leaving is because he could not get these two lawyers to assist him over the past couple of months because no matter his record in life as Commander of the Georgia Air Army; Colonel in said Air Army; checked out on Hueys, Blackhawks and Mi17 copters (think twice as big as blackhawks and with a 8 ton lift)....that is NOT exemplary enough to apply him as candidate that could contribute his talents to our country rather than be another burden.

The art of installing wainscotting, prep, stain and finishing

Zak is leaving today because the stars aligned and with a little able assistance from others was given an opportunity over the weekend to take a job that would allow him to pilot civilian- use Mi17 copters for non-military purposes in Turkey. Here's a guy that could work out reciprocal bearings in his head while juggling a Huey in flight...yet, not exemplary. Checked out and permitted to fly a size huge copter that will pick up about 30 souls plus crew of four....as well as 4 tons. It's as big as a Chinook.

However...in the professional opine of two immigration attorneys....not exemplary.

Zak was underused here and not really given the chance by those immigration attorneys that appear to be more volume oriented than possess a successful track record in helping bring out immigrants that could contribute willingly rather than take advantage of our country as host and cash cow.

The clock was ticking down for Zak here...and fate stepped in and gave him back one thing that pilots should never lose....flying.

Hated to see Zak take off today. However I would have hated to have fired him if he didn't jump to take this opportunity for flight time and an income that Turkey could afford and wherein his home country of Georgia could not. With the new Putin-friendly President of Georgia....Colonel Zak would have been walking into an unknown anti-Georgia military politicians that would seek revenge for the new Georgian president blessed by Putin. Zak came here to start a new life and bring his family here once established and granted citizenship. Whether in construction or finding reciprocal licensing to fly here...he would have been forever grateful to wind up here and become an ideal citizen.

He could have snuck in and gotten lost as is the default method now. Not this guy.

There's an old old old saying about "a new broom sweeps good." It didn't apply with Col. Zak....he was as much 'on the job' on his last day today as he was on his first day beginning in September. It's been decades since I last had someone on my jobs that actually defeated that old saying that bore a lot of truth in a rule of thumb kind of way.

On a farm to locate common side yard lines
Zak, Susan Maslanka, Boss-Dan