Morning guys....Windy and cold, but the sun is shining. I'm a few days more away from retirement than Ron, but am looking forward to it. I think that, like Tommy, I'll be very busy. I fixed two computers yesterday and have cabinet work backed up for a while. I'd consider flipping a house as we are very short on decent houses to live in here in town. We don't have the bank owned/foreclosed houses like the bigger communities though, so getting in on those deals isn't the same here.

My advanced drafting class designed a house for some people here this winter, and now the owner of the property where that house was built is wanting to go ahead and build a couple of spec houses across the street. He wants me to do the basic design work. And maybe get in on the general contracting. The owner is a good friend and a multi-millionaire. He will foot the bill for the materials and most of the labor, and maybe I can get into this deal with a minimum amount of capitol. I don't know, we'll see how this plays out. Apparently it looks like $150-200K houses will sell here.

Supposed to warm up some tomorrow and Monday (just in time for school to start back up).

I haven't laughed that hard in months......my side still hurts. Thanks, I needed that!

Morning Gurus. I've been up and I don't have the grandsons today, they stayed at home with their father (he's off today). I've been working at converting my vinyl to MP3s. It's a real time process. I've been listening to a bunch of my LPs that I haven't had out in 20+ years. Some of the songs I haven't heard in ages, quite a trip back.

You all know that being a high school teacher, I see it all. Common sense isn't common anymore, most of the kids want things handed to them on a silver platter. No offense to 383tpi, but his attitude about "fixing things" is prevalent, then when something comes along that they can't 'fix', it's somebody else fault, one of the reasons I'm getting out of education. Nobody wants to take responsibility. Even in our little town of around 2500, we have a 6th grader, 11 years old, pregnant with a 13 year old father. Maybe we aren't putting those "babies" to the right age group!? Make it as miserable as possible Bob, hopefully it will get the point across.

We are under a winter storm advisory....73* yesterday, today cold, wind blowing 30-40mph and snow is coming 3-6", blizzard conditions. My wife is at a meeting in Topeka and will have to drive through it later.

Good morning guys. Not much planned to day, watch the boys and do some work in the shop. I went to my retirement meeting last night and learned a few things. I need to get started filling out the paper work.

I took the Vette out to the meeting last night. It was a beautiful day and I had to get the Vette off the lift anyway (changed oil in the wife's car), so I just took it. Today is supposed to be warm, in the lower 70's, but we are in for a change tomorrow 36 for a high and over night Friday the possibility of some snow. Then on the rebound next week.

Have a good day.

Hi guys, late start again for me today...at least here. I've been out in the shop working and playing with the grandsons. Spring break is nice. Tonight I have to run over to the 'city' to attend a meeting put on by KPERS (Kansas Public Employees Retirement System). I have some questions about some items and find out when I fill out the appropriate forms. I'd better get cleaned up so I can go. Talk to you tomorrow.

I haven't even put any green on today...but then again I haven't brushed my teeth so that probably counts....doesn't it?

I have a bit more casual day today. I have already got the tools put away from yesterday. I have to go up to the wife's office and look at a desk unit that she needs to have modified. Then I just got a phone call from a mom of a former student and she wants me to take a look at her computer. So I have a few things going on. I also yesterday another teacher brought their laptop by as the harddrive died and I need to install a new one and reload everything. I ordered a new drive but it's not in yet.

Hey guys late check in. I left the house at 7:15 this morning, loaded the truck and headed out. I had a former student with me to help (a good student who is now a local handyman/carpenter). We worked on getting all the counter tops pulled out and new ones installed. I got back to the house about 7pm. When I got home the wife was really needing groceries, since she had been gone for two weeks, so I changed clothes and we headed to the 'city'. Grabbed a bite and then on to the supermarket. My butts a dragging right about now, but it feels good to have finished that job today.

I forgot to set my clocks ahead last night, but it was OK I just slept in a little. I realized it before I got out of bed and set the clocks in the bedroom. Then came downstairs and set the others that didn't automatically change.

I've been out in the shop working today, boring holes for the hinges on some doors and mounting the hinges. Then I worked at getting tools together for the counter top change out that I am doing this week (hopefully tomorrow, if it works for the people).

The wife is about half way home (3 hours away yet) after being gone for two weeks helping out the daughter with the newborn. I've worked at getting the house all cleaned up so she won't feel the need to get home and start picking up and cleaning.

The weather is supposed to be cloudy and seasonably warm today (mid 50's). They got the cloudy part right, but it's downright chilly. I don't think it will make the forecasted temp.

Morning gurus....I'm going to work in the shop today and do a little cleaning in the house, so that when my wife gets here tomorrow, she won't realize that I'm a complete slob.

I'm on spring break for the next week. I have several jobs that I need to get complete or at least move forward quite a ways.

Tommy, that sounds like a lot of fun. Matt, they just do that sometimes, no apparent reason. Just chalk it up to having kids.

We are in inservice today, no students. Spring break next week. I'm ready for a break.

Yea, that next to the last one looks like me! HeHeHe. None of our teachers look like any of those! Several years back we had a teacher that actually looked BETTER than any of those (although I never saw her scantily dressed). Thanks for the good views!

What a crock!

Sometimes you just have a good feeling about something/somebody...that's the way it was with me lending you the puller. I'd do it again, if I still had it.

Quote:

LOL, Yes, I read your posts, just don't have to do those things...normally. So, yea when I stay so busy with my cabinets, I don't have to do those domestic things.

Bill, that pizza about killed me the other day..... And I wish that I still had my K-M puller, I'd send it out to you. Heck Don used it while he had his engine apart. But after I sold the 94, I sold that puller too.

Yea been a looooooong week. The wife has been at the youngest daughters house since her having the baby. Got to admit it, I miss her. She won't be home until Sunday afternoon....late. I'm getting tired of eating frozen dinners, and it's pretty quiet around the house in the evenings. I even vacuumed the house yesterday, tonight I am probably going to dust. I really need to run the washing machine again, running out of underwear.....man, the little things that we take for granted....

Only good thing is this is the last day for students this week, end of the grading period so we have a work day tomorrow.

I think that is more in line with what my buddy paid.

Ron, I don't think I want to move up there to the kind of winters you guys had this year. I think my school is running into the same issue, but the principal still says "I want to find a full time person, who will coach." OK have at it, is all I can say. 54 contract days!

C5Z...sounds like a very nice car. A friend of mine just bought one....I don't think he paid that much for his and it only has about 24K on the clock.

I love taking the computers apart, most times it way more PITA to get them back together.

Thought about a tat on several occasions, but never followed through.

WE have the Supercharged Bonneville (03) and these cars are just pretty peppy. We have about 77K on it now and (knock on wood) we haven't had any issues with it at all. I love the car. We have owned 4 Bonnevilles and I love them....it is sad to think that Pontiac isn't with us any more. I was looking forward to purchasing a G8 GT with the LS2 in it.....if we do it now it'll have to be a used one I guess.

I thought about silver, but didn't want to do that for the 'top hats' that were right next to the polished thin spokes. So I bought black (I had the bright red from when I did the 94's calipers). The calipers are actually a light gray in color and they look fine with the black 'top hats'. I finished up the passenger side this evening. Did a little cleaning in the wheel wells, etc.

How the heck did he get there in the first place!?

Morning Gurus....It's been a busy morning. Nothing special, just busy. The weather is kind of cloudy and cool, the Corvette will stay inside another day. I did take a little time last night to jack up the drivers side and paint the 'top hat' portion of the rotors. I was going to paint the calipers, but the bright red I had would clash with the Mag Red, and the black just wasn't doing it for me, so I just cleaned them up and they look good. I also was able to put another coat of wax on her....she's looking pretty spiffy.

Tonight I'll try to get the other side done as well as build the doors for those cabinets I have out in the shop, that I really need to get finished up.

Dang Brad, I could use $2800 that I won't pay back.

Bill that dealership picture you took could have been taken 25 miles from here....again a GM (Pontiac/Buick/GMC) dealer. Same rounded front, same 1950's brick....except we don't have the snow!

Don, you are right...I have a tough time saying "NO", I usually say "I'll work you." Then I don't have time for me. That has to change. I just told a guy about an hour ago I could probably have time to do a little job for him around the "end of April", instead of the "end of next week".

But guys, I've done this my whole life, I don't know how to do it any other way. It's the only way I could afford to have the "extras" that I have had through the years.

Tom you're right, and I need to learn how to do that.

Thanks for the concern!

After nearly 35 years, my wife and I pretty much understand each other. I'm good at getting done the things that she wants done and whatever else I need to do. The one who is hard to get along with for me is ME. I have all these cabinet jobs lined up and I tend to work at them instead of doing things I want to do (the Corvette, etc).

I hope to break that cycle soon. Once retired, I hope that I can set hours for myself and stick to them.

Morning guys. I have to go to a mens group thing about 3 hours away today. It's going to be an all day affair. I did get a portion of the detailing done on the Corvette yesterday before I had to go to the ball games. Looked good enough to draw a few comments from people.

Well I have to finish getting ready to go here, see you all later and have a great day.

For what it's worth, the girls game was everything it was made out to be. The #3 team edged out the #1 team by 2 points. It came down to the wire. The boys game wasn't so close.

Tommy, I didn't realize that you had arthritis. I have a tinge in my thumbs and finger joints, the ankles and knees beginning to show signs. You are right, remaining active is the key. As much as it hurts I do exercise the joints each day.

Bill, I think you've overdone yourself today, better take it easy...

Hey guys...I've been busy this morning with all sorts of stuff. I've been to the 'city' to check on a few items and pick up some supplies I need. Since getting back I've been in the shop working on some cabinets. This afternoon I'm going to primp the Vette a bit. Later on this afternoon and into the evening I get to go back to school and run the clock for the sub-state championship games for the girls and the boys. Just so happens we are hosts to the #1 and #3 ranked girls teams in our class, and one will not make it to the state finals. Many are calling it the 'real' state championship game....I don't know.

Geez Tommy, I'm glad I'm not that old I don't have any trouble what-so-ever getting in or out of my Vette. From everyone's comments it sounds as though everybody is gearing up for spring. Weather is beautiful here, mid 60's.

Morning guys. DB I hope that your good there. Mine didn't go that well, was in there for 2 hours, then 30 days later they find that it hadn't "taken" and had to go back in and do it again.......

Weather here is wonderful. Got home after school and let the Corvette down, pulled it out and wiped her down, then drove it to the b-ball games that I worked. I've even driven it to school this morning. More ball games tonight and tomorrow night. I hope to get a little work done in the shop tomorrow.

I need to do that too Matt. Today will be a long one. Tonight is the quarter finals for our b-ball sub-state that we are hosting. I am the official clock keeper so I'll be at the games until they are over this evening, probably 9:30 or so.The weather here has straightened and has been seasonal for the last few days and appears to be more springlike for the next week or so. Maybe I'll have a chance to do a couple tings with the Corvette that I've been wanting to do. I hope that all have a great day.

Morning...I made it home without issue, but was tired. Got everything unloaded and then crashed. Busy week for me even though it's a short one. I hope everyone has a great day.

Well, I have to head back home after while, not looking forward to the six plus hours, but will give me time to think about everything that I need to get done.

Well, she made it here in good shape 17 1/2" 6 lbs 14oz. "Vivienne"

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/toms94/other/DSC_2853.jpg[/IMG]

Morning guys(gals)...The daughter is getting ready to go to the hospital, sometime early this afternoon we'll have grand daughter #5 (9 total with the 4 boys). We finished up everything on the remodel just in time. It's amazing what a little pressure can accomplish.

I'll go home tomorrow, but the wife is staying here for another week and a half to help out, so I'll be batching. We brought two cars so she'll have a vehicle while she's here. I have a busy week once I get back. Our school is hosting the sub-state basketball tournament and I run the clock for all the games, so we have games Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

While the wife is gone I have plans to do some work on the Corvette. With her car gone, I can drop the lift down and leave it down for several days, so it makes it much easier/convenient to do the work.

Well, that's my report this morning, everyone have a great day, and I'll report back later with a (hopefully) picture of the new grand daughter.

Thanks guys....Matt, yes that's always the way it is. I should have bought the parts yesterday when we were there. The worst of it is, I think the CV joints on the axle are bad too, it still has a rumble when we drive it.

Brad, nobody has offered me one either. LOL

Hey guys, we made the trip to KC yesterday. Once here I worked on getting the daughter's computer to work wirelessly with their router. I bought the parts for fixing their Alero, front hub/wheel bearing was bad. Then after doing that we went to watch the oldest grand daughter at her swim meet, for those of you who are familiar with swimming she was swimming at Division 2 levels (a time qualified meet). She made finals in two of her three events yesterday and made a Division 1 time (faster swim level) in one of those, the 50 meter butterfly finishing 5th and in her 100 meter backstroke she just missed div 1 time by less than a half a second in that event and finished 3rd.

Today we got up and went to church, then took the one daughter and family (the one who is having the baby tomorrow) out for breakfast. When we got back I started in changing out the wheel hub, had to go buy a socket set at Harbor Freight, bought a 3/4" drive metric socket set for not much more than the parts store wanted for one 36mm 1/2" drive socket. When I got into it I figured that I may as well replace the rotor and brake pads, so I went back and got those parts. I got it all changed out in about 2 1/2 hours. Now we took the one grand daughter to the other daughters house so we could watch her and three other grands from the other daughter, so her hubby could go watch the other grand daughter swim in finals today. Today she had two events and made finals in both, and already made a Div 1 time in her 100 fly. Finals are going on as I type.

Tomorrow, the daughter goes in to the hospital before 10 am and then they prep her for the c-section. We will stay with the one grand daughter until a little after noon then go to the hospital to see the new baby.

The wife is planning on staying here for a couple weeks, but I will head back Tuesday (we both drove vehicles up so she will have her car while here and I won't have to come back to get her when she's ready to come home).

Just another busy weekend for me. Talk to you later.

Got my new plate the other day....

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/toms94/other/personalizedtag001.jpg[/IMG]

Quote:

We can only accumulate 60, and I'm not sure how much I'll get for them.

Morning guys... Several people gone today as this is the state finals for wrestling (today and tomorrow). I'm going to be gone Monday and Tuesday, so I am planning the lesson for the sub. I'm a day behind Ron, I have 62 days left. Told someone today I HAVE to be here three more days and then I can use all my acquired sick leave if I want (I can't see myself doing that though).

I'm also glad that it's Friday....Have a great day!

OK too bad you don't live closer to me, I'd help you build the doors and drawer fronts. What style are you going for?

I've had a really busy day, can't tell you what I did, but I had no time at all to check in here until now. Getting ready for the trek back to KC this weekend. The youngest daughter is going to have the baby on Monday...C-section is scheduled. So when I come home on Tuesday, I'll have grand #9. I still have a little work to do in the house for them before the baby comes home, but I am really down to the short strokes.

I got the new plate for the Vette yesterday. I'll get a picture up as soon as I can get it off the camera and uploaded.

I have three jobs out in the shop yet, so I suppose I should be out there working instead of hacking on this computer.

Bill, too bad I don't live closer I'd help you build them.

Sounds like everyone had a reasonably good day, despite things. I had a really easy day, we had many kids gone for music festival today. To heck with being PC, i still call them gun cabinets or gun racks. Flyboy, I think you are referring to me and my offer to teach part time next year. I still haven't heard anything and spring break is coming up and I basically told them that my offer wasn't going to be open ended, I need to know if they want me or not. I need to start planning other alternatives.

Don that's a sweet vette. Matt the feast sounds good, but personally I'd wait until Friday...you know us 'fish eaters' and lent and all......

I've had pretty good luck getting new computers. Our tech coordinator and I are really good friends. For a few years I was the assistant tech coordinator, to this day I have admin rights to our complete network. I still get calls to troubleshoot some of the easier problems.

I would totally agree with Ron, high school students can find the weak link in any tool. I have several of those old wood hand planes, they work like no new hand tools. Don't know why, maybe it's the quality of the steel in the irons. I have probably 40 old hand planes, cabinet scrapers and spokeshaves and still use them. I love working with hand tools, but time dictates that I can't do it all that way for those "paying jobs".

The kids are getting lazy, they don't want to work that hard Ron. I tell them that scraping the surface first makes sanding way easier and faster.....Heck I quit fighting them.

64 contract days

Morning guys...It's a typical day here. I've got a couple little projects going. And that will keep me busy and I have a computer to troubleshoot. I think it has a weak Mobo or CPU, as when it gets warmed up it locks up and just quits. If that's the case, I'll just have to find out how much money they want to spend on a 5 year old computer.

Quote:

That's a sweet tool, but a bit out of the regular guy's budget...

Bill, finding a Bridgeport at that price would be real find too.

Now you're talking! I wish I had a lathe like that at my disposal. Looks like the one I used in college.

There might be some differences in quality, just remember that they have the different lines. Craftsman professional line is pretty good stuff. I have a couple of them at school. B&D brand is the same way, but most of the B&D stuff is consumer grade whereas the Dewalt stuff is their "Pro" line. Personally with woodworking tools I lean toward Porter-Cable, especially when it comes to routers...I personally own 8 P-C routers, 1 old Stanley, 1 old Ryobi and a Makita. The P-C's are my favorites. I have a few Dewalt tools, my reciprocating saw (Sawzall...I wish), 1 of my miter saws (12" compound), and a 1/2" hammer-drill. They are very good tools.

The Dewalt name came from the radial arm saw line that B&D bought way back in the 30's (IIRC). In the 80's when B&D's market share was waning, they did research as to the 'most trusted and recognized names in woodworking tools' Dewalt came up in the top picks, so they decided to exploit that feature and basically renamed the B&D Pro line "DeWalt" and the rest is history. That change might have saved B&D from bankruptcy.

To be fair, SOME of the electric power tools are OK. The consumer line of tools are crap. Their "professional line is (or at least used to be) produced by Black and Decker. Before people go off on B&D, they are the owners of DeWalt, Porter-Cable, and Delta. But with that said, you can probably buy the name brand stuff just as cheap (or cheaper), with the same warranty (or better).

Milwaukee tools is now a subsidiary of Ryobi. Ryobi bought them out a couple years back.