Good morning!!!!

[kenmbz]

Went and cleaned out enough lint to make a shirt from outside turn of dryer vent.
Wonder if old dryer had an air gap in the vent system.
Ran out when I heard the thunder to get it cleaned, as area is under fig tree and hard enough access when dry.
Will clean inside later.
Cleaned this out about 1 year ago, so amazed how much built up.
Cleaning screen in dryer after each load, and it was always covered in lint.

Rain is here, no watering today , woohoo.

Chimney recap, repoint and reseal about $3000, right around what I thought it would be.
Also looking at Stainless vs. copper caps, as copper would look nicer (wife says).
That will probably add another thousand plus with 4 of them to get.
But we have needed caps to keep birds and such out for a while.
The flues still look pretty clean, so that's good.

LS - sounds like rabbits ? I know about holding stuff in, it gets overwhelming.
We can listen, costs nothing and adds a lot of value.

back to the day job,

 

[daugen]

wow what a storm went through
wind picked up, trees bending over
and of course, now my weather station decides to fail, no reading
I think we got almost two inches of rain in half an hour. Amazing downpour.
power is off, running on gen, have to keep power on so sump pump will run
more rain to come

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

So, I don't want you guys to think that the oasis project is done..... here is a few pics of the growing stock for next year.



Wifey is going to make sure that I keep moving forward....

More Willows, Black Pines, Siberian Elms, Honey Locust, Forsythia, and a bunch of perennials.

Maybe a couple of seasons work..... takes a while from seeds or cuttings before they can get planted.

 

[scott_vt]

After over 40 years in machining/manufacturing, I can honestly say I'd not recommend it for a living. The work often follows the lowest paying labor location, which is now in Vietnam, Africa, and other 3rd world countries. Maybe had I been able to get on with a large defense contractor, things could have been different. But even those have their share of layoffs. Almost every shop I've ever worked in, has closed their doors for various reasons. Getting laid off s u x.

Good Afternoon Kyle,
I do have to agree with part of what you say ! I started my machinist apprenticeship in 1971
and finished in 1975 I believe. I worked for Farrel Corporation, who manufactured heavy equipment, such as Banbury Mixers, for the tire industry, continuous mixers for the plastics industry, large roll grinders for the paper industry etc. I worked there a few years in the toolroom, we did all the small precision subassemblies for these machines.

After that I worked in a couple small job shops doing various types of machining, gaining more experience before finally landing a job with Pitney Bowes, where I worked my final 20 years in the trade. This place was by far the best place to work while I was in my trade. We actually started losing a lot of our nicer prototype work to Stereo Lithography, which was a method of generating real parts through from CAD files, by using lasers and resin.

This job payed very well compared to the rest of machining related jobs in the area !
I was considered a modelmaker and eventually was promoted to a Master Modelmaker position ! Unfortunately as you might remember, in 2008 the bottom of the economy dropped out from under and I was layed off ! They said it was a retirement for me because I had 20 years of service there and could retire ! Unfortunately I was only 57 yo, so I really wasnt ready to retire and did not want to take my SS any earlier than 66.
So I reinvented myself as a truck driver, and did that part time until I could realistically retire ! I enjoyed a lot of what I did in the trade, but then a lot of the work went away. But now Im seeing a lot of these jobs coming back again.

Honestly if I had to do it all over, I think I would try something else, only because I did this for so many years !

You are correct, if you can get a job with a defense contractor, you not only have job security, good pay, but also have a good pension plan !

 

[Buppies]

Glad you are back LS feel free if you need someone to talk to. I am one who holds it all inside making my health go down

Hot here maybe storm later

3/4 to one ton Truck way to go Drew know they are expensive but you cannot take it with you and safety does apply here

M7040 your daughter and I both hold similar degrees I’ll bet we could talk a lot. I also have degrees in Business History and one more in Public Administration
As well as political science

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Ken, definitely not rabbits. The plants are in raised beds and are in the enclosed back yard. Definitely bugs...just don't know what kind.
Never had this happen before. If it happened when they were just shoots, I would suspect birds, but the plants were almost ready to harvest. Looks like they were cut with scissors just below the dirt.....

 

[scott_vt]

Buppies,
Get well soon ! No fun being sick !

Daugen,
Hopefully you get your power back soon !

 

[sodamo]

Ted, so glad to see you and that you are on the upside of your issues.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Thanks, David. Funny thing is that the wifey was talking about moving to Hawaii a couple of weeks ago. I really don't think she was serious, but since our original "plan" is now defunct, who knows?
We have never been there, only know from pics or videos. I have done a property search online a couple of years ago, but land out there is a totally different animal..... I don't have a clue.....

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I get asked what kind of wild and crazy times I had in college in the late 60's.
I wouldn't know, I worked three hours a day six days a week in the cafeteria, did that all four years in college, then came home
and worked every summer. Had to earn 1000 dollars in 1967, would pay for my books and little stuff. Father wanted me to pay for/earn part of it.
I took Amtrak to Providence to get to school. Could not afford a car.

headed out to mow lawn before rain starts.
had a good morning, looked at something interesting....

Indian Valley Camping Center

Indian Valley Camping Center

www.ivccrv.com

was just doing research....for next year, when he tells me oh this unit does have 50 amps for two a/c units,
has auto leveling, light interior, everything you want....and it's a leftover, will make you a great deal...
this stuff is discounted about 25 percent, it really was exactly what I was looking for.
For next year....

problem is I need to find a truck with max towing and super/blue cruise and really unlikely that is on anyone's lot.
sure can't pull this thing with my Volvo...

going to take it slow. At least I know I can get what I want in something I can pull with a maxxed out half ton truck.

time to mow

Drew, just my opinion, but that's a lot of camper to be dragging with a half ton. Prolly pull it, but it's those unplanned stops that I'd worry about.

I can't imagine taking a tow behind on a 4000 mile journey, especially over the mountains of colorado. I'd be looking for the smallest sprinter type RV they make with a bunk.