Malibu Bay Preservationist. This first job is actually working with some preservationists who are themselves working to restore a spawning ground for steelhead trout. It appears that these trout are now on the endangered species list, and their preferred streams for spawning are dwindling. These folks have found one candidate for the trout to use, but it seems someone built a rock wall a few decades back and now they need to tear it down.
So using a jack hammer, they drill some 150 holes along the top, and what appears to be a similar number along the front, and then they proceed to tear it down, bit by bit. It isn’t terribly dirty, but it looks like backbreaking work. I sure hope the trout appreciate it.
Pipe Organ Specialist. Though you’d think working on a pipe organ would be easier, I’m not so sure if it is. Apparently one of these babies can cost a million bucks, and refitting one is an eight year job. What they don’t tell you is that you can’t see all the pipes when you look on it from the front. We do get to see those in the back room. It’s pretty impressive. So they take a few pipes back to the shop, and clean them out,. reshape them (if necessary), and then put them back. You can understand why it takes so long.
Geoduck Farmer. For some odd reason, geo is actually pronounced gooey, though no one really knows why. And they just call them “ducks” anyway. This job, unlike the other two, does involve a bit of dirt. Mud, really. Because you see, these beasts, which are like freakish mutated clams, live their lives in the mud around Puget Sound. The clam part is typically about four feet below the surface, and the rest pokes just above the surface and seems to spit at you as you go by.
So you get some water and sink yourself into the mud to dig them up. These things weigh a couple pounds each, and are apparently a popular sushi dish down the street. They didn’t look appetizing to me, but what do I know? Since there are so many millions of them, I guess nobody is listening to what I think.
Dirty Jobs Anthem. The really interesting thing about this show is the introduction of the Dirty Jobs Anthem, to my knowledge, put into words here for the first time. Enjoy:
Now everyone who’s got a job has got his dues to pay,
working for that paycheck and just getting through the day,
but if you’re bored or otherwise inclined to be a slob,
grab your boots, and lose that suit and get a dirty job.
Dirty jobs are everywhere, just take a look around.
They’re down the street, they’re up the stairs,
they’re even underground.
You don’t need borrow, beg and you don’t need to rob,
All you’ve got to do is get yourself a dirty job.
All you’ve got to do is get yourself a dirty job.
One more…
All you’ve got to do is get your.. self… a… dir… ty… job!
The anthem also includes a few clips of other Dirty Jobs episodes, such as:
- Charcoal Factory Worker (from Micro-Algae Man)
- Concrete Chipper (from Termite Controller)
- Firefighter (from Alligator Farmer)
- Crawfish Catcher (from Shrimper)
There was one other scene with cameraman Troy (I think it was Troy) inside a vat of mud-like sludge, but I couldn’t place the scene. If anyone knows where he was, let me know and I’ll add it to the list. Also let me know if it wasn’t Troy. Thanks.
