Good morning!!!!

[hawkeye08]

Sounds like my last two years on the job before retirement. The last year I banked all my vacation, taking it after announcing I was leaving, just because it was always such a nightmare coming back from vacation. Just like you're seeing now. Good luck with your situation. How long before you can take a permanent vacation?

I could get serious about it in 3 years if I can figure out healthcare for myself and wife. I may need to find another job that has health coverage. We have no retiree health coverage benefits.

 

[hawkeye08]

Good Morning! 72F @ 8:30AM. Sunny. High 89F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.

David, thanks for letting us peek over your shoulder on the river cruise. I've never been to an Outback, so perhaps you'd share some pictures if you ever go back? :laughing:

Batten down the turtles, Drew! Is it time for a personal weather station yet?

Managed to finish moving the firewood pile yesterday, along with three bucket loads of manzanita and oak stumps they'd hidden underneath. Then took a little walk around the area that they'd covered with "sticks", and found that a lot of them are as big as my arm. It'll take a little work with the FEL and box blade to be able to get up there with the tractor, but I'll give it a shot later this week when the weather cools off. For now I'll get going again on the van and see if I can get the door jams masked and painted. Or at least that's where I think I left off before the Labor Day fire? Supposed to get hot again for the weekend, and that would be the time to finish the paint.

Thinking about your steep hills reminded me of my stepdad that was a "cat skinner" when he was young. He could drive a crawler tractor along a very steep hillside, much steeper than I would ever attempt. He pulled a combine in the hills of the Palouse (southeastern Washington) when they were converting from teams of horses to tractors.

Have you considered getting a small crawler with low center of gravity for some of the hillside work?

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Thinking about your steep hills reminded me of my stepdad that was a "cat skinner" when he was young. He could drive a crawler tractor along a very steep hillside, much steeper than I would ever attempt. He pulled a combine in the hills of the Palouse (southeastern Washington) when they were converting from teams of horses to tractors.

Have you considered getting a small crawler with low center of gravity for some of the hillside work?

I watched the dozer operators here put their machines across hillsides almost too steep to walk. Just the thing for cutting new fire breaks, recontouring the land, pushing over trees, etc. I did look into the Bobcat style tracked vehicles, but didn't find any that had both a three point hitch and power takeoff on the rear so I could continue to use the implements, especially the mowers, I've already purchased for the tractor. I also had a chance to run one a few years back for an afternoon, and working the two sticks took a lot more effort than a steering wheel, though it was one heck of a lot more stable on side hills. Maybe I can find something like the steep ground mower Eric posted about a few weeks ago, as once I have the meadows sewn and the grasses are growing again, about all I use the tractor for is mowing and moving pallets of firewood.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I could get serious about it in 3 years if I can figure out healthcare for myself and wife. I may need to find another job that has health coverage. We have no retiree health coverage benefits.

Another impetus for retiring when I did is that the post retirement health benefit was changing to a flat monthly payment, vs. the percentage it had been. To me that represented a potentially large uncontrolled expense at a time when I would already be taking a sizable income cut going to a pension. And the post retirement health insurance goes away as soon as I reach Medicare age, and who knows what that will look like when the time comes. Like you, though, I started getting serious about retirement about three years prior to actually pulling the plug, getting a better handle on what my actual expenses were, what housing costs were in areas I'd be interested in living, and trying to understand quality of life issues like traffic, hospital quality, average income, climate, recreational opportunities, etc. When the real estate bubble popped out here it reduced the housing cost to the point that retirement and moving was financially possible, and actually advantageous. Especially as working conditions continued to degrade along with future prospects for the pension plan. Like a coworker of mine, that had retired a few years before and had come back part time as a contractor said, you'll know when it's time.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

You are going to need a boat soon Drew.

My Dad called and said one side of his craftsman riding mower is not cutting right. I told him to run the motor at full throttle when mowing, I hope that solves it. Any other thoughts, he put on new blades a few months ago and has good soft lawn grass.

Make sure the blade isn't upside down.

 

[txdon]

Make sure the blade isn't upside down.

He is legally blind, he installed the blade, that might be an issue, I'll check, thanks. :thumbsup:

6PM finally cooling down it's 101˚ coming down from 104˚ two hours ago. No wind.
After 4 hours of tractor mowing this morning I had to shut-er-down.

 

[RoyJackson]

2016-09-21, 0319

57 right now...high of 77 today.
Boy...tossing and turning half the night...I'm tired!

 

[Eric Salop]

Good morning. After the holiday break this will be my first full day of desk work, unlike yesterday when a half day gave us time to enjoy some of it outside together. For me, it doesn't get much better than - painting the diesel tank with my favourite wife (yes, I'm such a romantic ).

I have this crazy idea that in 4 years to lease out the main house for a year, move into our cottage and do a major world excursion for a year.

4 years is a long time. Guess I will just have to find someone else to lay my floor tiles... :laughing:

 

[daugen]

74 going to 79 today in light rain. System working its way slowly up the coast.
Too wet to do anything outside.

 

[Buppies]

68 outside high of 80 later Indian Summer I guess. Ground still wet from Sunday nite heavy rain.

Roy tossing and turning last night must be catching I'm already wore out as well

 

[ronjhall]

Drinking first cup of coffee. 54° with clear skies this morning. Heading to 81° with mostly sunny skies. Another great September day on the way. Like Roy and Buppies a restless sleep night. Good reason to spend time on back porch and enjoy the weather.
Good Morning All.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Good morning. After the holiday break this will be my first full day of desk work, unlike yesterday when a half day gave us time to enjoy some of it outside together. For me, it doesn't get much better than - painting the diesel tank with my favourite wife (yes, I'm such a romantic :

I used to tell the guys at work that I liked being home and they would say they would get bored. I would reply, I like my wife more than I like you and would rather be with her. Have been everyday for 5 years and still feel that way. Ed

 

[Ed of all trades]

Good morning all, 59 here going to 81 with patchy fog this morning. Even with the rain we got here the other day the grass is still brown-ish. guess I will cut today to dress it up a bit, not tall just ragged. Drew send us some of that rain, we could use it on this side of the "hill".

Roy, Buppies, Sounds like you both need a nap so you can rest up from the night.

Don, Hope you find that the problem is small and an easy fix.

Have a great day, Ed

 

[Thomas]

54F now partly cloudy most of the day upper 70's for high.
Half way thru work week and last day of summer....yeah I'll take that.
Weed whack last couple nights after work sooo no weed whacking until tomorrow night...Mrs. has mission for me instead.:shocked:

Enjoy the day all.

 

[daugen]

I like my wife more than I like you and would rather be with her. Have been everyday for 5 years and still feel that way. Ed

:thumbsup:

just perfect. To have all the time you want with the people you love.

 

[wngsprd]

69 going to 82...maybe some showers, but most of that storm is east of us.

I was tossing and turning, too...ended up in the recliner at about 3am.

Raked some grass clippings left on the lawn after mowing til dark the other night...unfortunately, it rained 3 inches on them and they were stuck like glue on the grass...tough raking...6 wheelbarrows full. Then pulled tall ragweed plants out of the asparagus patch and dragged them over to the brush pile.

Eric, sorry the aliens are back.

 

[daugen]

I think it's the full moon guys. I was wide awake at 4am.
And when you are awake, no sense laying in bed.
Well, unless...

Billy, that's hard work, and the worst when it's wet.
With all the rain this year I've had to dethatch and use my lawn sweeper for the first time.
Helper dumped over seven loads of lawn thatch and it sure wore him out.
We need a lawn combine.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

good morning!

Going to primary doc to show him some spots on my forearm.

Ed, you said it. Don't try to count your blessings.

Eric, get 'er done....the work, that is.

Everybody go to bed early tonight and if you need it, take your favorite sleeping potion....

 

[txdon]

Good morning! The dust strays to the south which means a cool front came through which mean the temps will be only in the high 90s today. 71˚ clear skies.
RS, a RL is a toy Rocket Launcher.
Gray2 is on patrol this morning.

 

[sodamo]

67ｰF going to 83ｰ here in Burke, Va
Travel day, will be in Ca this evening. Good to spend time with the kids through.

Be safe
Have a great day.