so waht ya doin today?

[358156 hp]

Our winter has been pretty mild until recently. Tomorrow we are forecast for “wintry mix”. Snow to start, then rain, then more snow. Proportion of rain to snow depends upon temps in atmosphere. A degree or two either way makes a big difference.
right now we are at 3°

50 miles away, we have a 100% chance of 1-3 inches overnight, changing to the wintry mix/ freezing rain stuff, then more snow. Then more wintry mix, then rain as the temps soar to a balmy 34 degrees for a high tomorrow night before the temps plummet again.

 

[Ian]

Just got home. Spent the last two hours pow-wowing with the owner of a local new car dealership about a technician position. Might work out after all, we'll see if I can afford to work for them or not. Good news is I'll be able to work my way into good money if I can survive the period of getting certified with two different automotive lines. Kinda weird, I interviewed with the service manager twice, did their background check thingy, then the owner called me for a personal interview after hours and left me with wanting me to meet his agency manager (NOT standard procedure to expose a technician to the business model and development side of the business) and asking me when I'd be available to start, but no job or specific money offer. I don't know if the offer is implied or they just don't know what the hell to do with me. THEY keep calling ME, so there's that.

 

[fiver]

parlay it into managerial,, that's what they want.

 

[462]

Ian,
I read your post not long after its posting, and have been thinking about it since. Reading between the lines, I think they want you to manage the service department.

No matter how much you may like the hands-on aspect of your job, there comes a time when it's time to quit the tools and move into a foreman/management position. More money, better bennies, less wear and tear on the ol' body.

I wish you all the best.

 

[462]

Since last Friday, the local range has been closed and the recorded message says "Closed till further notice." A call to the county parks department (it's located within a county park and operated by the county) ended in a dead end, but I left a message with my county supervisor.

Man, I'm worried . . .

 

[freebullet]

It does sound like they aren't sure where to put you. Obviously they want you. Owner doesn't concern themself with regular tech hires most times I'd bet. They are debating giving you the position applied for or something better. It's a tough decision try before you buy or raise up & see if you fly. As a boss it's a double edged sword.

When we use day labor's I don't even meet 50% of them. The stand outs I do take the time to meet, request, offer seasonal positions, give a bonus for extremely hard work, ect.

I hope they make you a real serious offer. You deserve it.

I really enjoy the physical aspect of work problem is older I get the more / longer it hurts. I can still completely destroy a full tiled bathroom in about an hour.

 

[fiver]

maybe a little less coffee and fiber?

 

[freebullet]

Don't do coffee probably not enough fiber. Used a 3lb shorty sledge on the last one.

 

[Bret4207]

Best of luck Ian! I agree, it sounds like they want you for more than just a tech job. Maybe overseeing the techs in a mid level type of thing/Chief Trouble Shooter/Performer of Miracles When No One Else Has a Clue? I've seen a couple of guys with that sort of job- making decisions and pushing some paper for a couple hours, then go and look at the "unfixable problem". Hope they clear what they intend up and make you a decent offer.

Temps dropped like a rock as soon as the snow stopped yesterday and the wind kicked up. Dang I hate that wind in winter. This old house is drafty no matter what we do it seems. OTOH, Gordy had the day off from school and got to try out his new snowblower. Consequently, there is snow on things that didn't have hardly any snow on them before he started. How he managed to land a good foot of snow across the hood and onto the seat of the manure spreader tractor I'm not quite sure. When I asked him about he said something about how I must be impressed with how far it'll throw snow! Kids! If we get the 6-10" forecast for tomorrow, I'm going to try to get him to bank up the foundation, eg- blow snow against the exposed part of the foundation to block the wind/cold. It helps a lot. He also went worked a couple hours for the elderly well to do folks down the road. Made $45 to put in his truck fund. I imagine the lady there also stuffed him with cookies and cake!

Spent some time fixing the radiator leak on that tractor before it got too cold. Not sure how the hole was created, but it was likely when it was out during the valve/ring job. Couldn't get to it without disassembling the whole front of the tractor, so I tried some Bars Leaks. Seems to have sealed it right up. I don't like using that stuff, but it does work sometimes. Also found out my brand new temp gauge doesn't work at all. Oh well, got along without one for a long time, no biggie.

The girls made it to Burlington Vt in the snow storm. 5 plus hours! But, safe is safe. Oldest girl needs some fairly minor surgery in a tricky spot. Not a serious thing, but still makes me nervous.

 

[462]

Bret,
I hope all goes well with your daughter's surgery.

 

[Ian]

Hope all continues to go well, Bret.

Not being the Social Science type, I can read rocks better than people. Two interviews in a row with business owners who are necessarily talent scouts both passed from my tech qualifications/experience/certifications to administrative topics halfway through a side salad. I AM a parts department manager currently, which is not necessarily a move up like it might seem. The money in automotive is in commission sales and commission service, not middle management. We'll see what feedback they get from their agency rep after I visit with him next week, and now they know exactly what my salary and insurance requirements are.

 

[358156 hp]

It's now 27* and windy. We have about 3 inches of snow, and the forecast is now saying it will get up to 34* by 3:00, then start raining until about midnight. I stayed home from work today, a rare thing, but I'm almost totally played out. I think I will go to the grocery store, then come back & shovel all the snow I can so I can get ice melt down. This could be a messy one if the weatherguessers Captain America decoder rings are even remotely accurate at all.

 

[uncle jimbo]

Brett4207, glad they got to where they had to be and hope everything goes well,

Ian, hope your quest for the job works out well for you and you get that good paying job. I know that money is the root of all evil, but try living without it. Good luck.

358156 hp, weather person is the only job you can be wrong consistently, make a joke about it the next day and still keep the job.

Not sure when it started to snow this morning, but have about 6" in the drive now and it is still snowing. Not sure when it is suppose to stop. So I too will have to go shovel the snow out when ever it quits snowing.

 

[Mitty38]

Good luck.
I put in for a job as a metal skimmer in the pit where I work. Then was offered a job as a lab tech instead. Said why not, even though I believed that I did not qualify. After I learned the basics, I found out my past work experience gives me a great edge over the others in my position.
Some times others can see in us the ability to be molded into exactly what they need. You may have some hidden talents that you can not see yourself.
If we keep an open mind, be willing to learn and change. We may just be surprised what life has to offer.

 

[CZ93X62]

Good luck.
I put in for a job as a metal skimmer in the pit where I work. Then was offered a job as a lab tech instead. Said why not, even though I believed that I did not qualify. After I learned the basics, I found out my past work experience gives me a great edge over the others in my position.
Some times others can see in us the ability to be molded into exactly what they need. You may have some hidden talents that you can not see yourself.
If we keep an open mind, be willing to learn and change. We may just be surprised what life has to offer.

A LOT of wisdom in this post. All the best, Ian.

I hope all goes well with your ladies in VT, Bret.

 

[Ian]

Since last Friday, the local range has been closed and the recorded message says "Closed till further notice." A call to the county parks department (it's located within a county park and operated by the county) ended in a dead end, but I left a message with my county supervisor.

Man, I'm worried . . .

I would be too. Time to scout some shooting spots in NV.

 

[462]

I would be too. Time to scout some shooting spots in NV.

And Northern Arizona and Idaho.

 

[Brad]

Ice is slick. Ice with snow on top is treacherous. My knee is reminding me that the coefficient of friction on ice is far less than that on pavement.
Pavement is hard. My knee is hard. Pavement won.

 

[462]

Ouch!

 

[fiver]

actually gravity won,,, aagain.
hopefully it isn't any permanent damage.