In 2004 Forbes named my blog “Best of the Web.”  Marketing types from Kodak headquarters contacted me to ask what I would charge for a personal appearance at one of their events. Blah, blah, blah.

Vintage Ping -- The Wi-Fi Guy Tour, 2004

That was then … this is now.  I won’t lie.  The Internet is teeming with bloggers now — so I am not the “oddity” that I once was.  (I mean that in a good way.)

So, until I become filthy rich, I have three options as I see it:

• Give up.  Become known as “PingWhyTry?”
• Do consulting under my old brand, PingelPR.
• Get dirty!

Well, since I love to blog, and I prefer to continue stuffing my pie hole, I chose the path of least cleanliness and most financial reward.

Even I am aware of the cult following of Mike Rowe’s “Dirty Jobs” show, so that has inspired me. (I considered another idea.  Have you seen the unemployed college grad who is making headlines for his plan to work 50 jobs in 50 states?  Ha … imagine the pressure — passing a urine test for every star on Old Glory.)

Well, jumping right into this dirty thang, I am on location, working in the disaster recovery and restoration industry.

Straight away, let me just say my hat (and my respirator) goes off to these peeps.  If something bad goes down, they clean it up before the dust settles.  Fire.  Hurricanes.  ‘splosions. Floods.  There is even an impending volcano project, if things “go south” at Redoubt volcano up north near Anchorage.

Get all your baked Alaska volcano news at:

http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php

(PingWi-Fi followers may recall that I have blogged from inside a dormant volcano … but I think the Redoubt hotspot is a bit much …)

I digress …

But like I was saying, I am so impressed with these disaster recovery types.  They bust they tails, in the worst conditions … long hours, nastay situations, the elements, and oh the details!

Currently we are working at a university that was hit by fire — not a total catastrophe — but considerable smoke damage, water damage … and obviously a huge obstacle for students who are trying to build a future.

There is talk of arson.  I guess stupidity is always hatin on knowledge.  Why would anyone impose their ill will on so many people in such a mindless act?

That was the dirtiest part of this job.

Know what I sayin?