Need to Make some money with my Tractor.

[patrick_g]

Im truly glad my Pop pointed me towards a trade when I was just shortly out of high school. ( I really envy guys like Pat that have changed, and doing something they enjoy now, the excitement has worn off for me quite some time ago, but I dont have the nerve to walk away at this juncture in time to make such a major change in my life ! If nothing else I can enjoy reading about you guys that have changed lifestyles and are enjoying it !

Thanks for an interesting thread !

Scott, It has been even better for me than you say. I have enjoyed at least some aspects of every job I have had, starting with mopping the floors of a Rexal drug store, loading watermelon in the field, the military, through various scientific and engineering jobs. I have been accused of having adult attention deficit disorder or a short attention span for having had so many interests and jobs. I worked at it and had some fair luck too. I don't know how long the cattleman phase will last, maybe a long time as it is just sharing my time with other pursuits.

My dad went to college for a while, the first man in the family to do so but times were hard and he just couldn't go to school and help support his mom at the same time so he quit. He was all over my sister and I to go to college. She went to a year long business school and got married but it was a disappointment to him. He had me into summer school in college right after graduating from HS. Once he got me programmed I just couldn't stop for long and kept going back to school as an adult. By the time I finished my last stint in grad school (Instructional Technology) I was over 50 and the oldest person in most of my classes.

My dad was a practical person and took an interest in my practical abilities. I learned to change oil, change a tire, cure ham, clean game, mix concrete, saw and nail wood, scratch build kites, and so forth but he never even slightly wavered from his steady hand pushing me toward college.

When I was in grade school I was fair with a hammer and saw, spoke shave, chisel, and such but went a long time before getting back to wood.

I'd be a happy camper if I could borrow Eddie for a while to serve as mentor. I am in the throws of making some built-in cabinets for my wife's tea room and I had never before built a drawer or a cabinet. I am reverse engineering the work my cabinet maker and trim carpenter did in their respective areas. I have now built a dozen drawers and by the time I got through I wasn't having to get as creative to make them keepers as I did at first. Now to build the built-in cabinet to hold them! This reverse engineering stuff in a field where I have precioius little experience is slow going. It is one thing to see what they ended up with but I didn't get Disney lapsed time footage of the process and just looking at the finished product leaves out a lot of construction detail. Do you put tab A into slot B before or after putting dowel 1 through the tennon joint?

I have tried reading books to find out more but they typically either assume you know how to assemble the pieces they guide you through making or else they give plenty of detail of assy but it is inapplicable to your case.

It would be worth it to me to pay a few hundred bucks to get to take a shop class but alas none are available. ARGHHH!.

Pat

 

[scott_vt]

Afternoon Pat,
Interesting read !

We are getting close to the point sp: another couple years, if something happens at work like being layed off, that we will definitely do something more appealing. Im getting ready to turn 56 so we are at a stage that I would possibly do some partime work or side work to keep a few bucks in my pocket. Kathleen has a good job and will just have to support me in the fashion that Im accustomed to !

Pat, by you having had a broad spectrum of various jobs certainly gives you a broad knowledge base, which at some point down the road will serve you well ! Its nice to know how to do a little of everything !

 

[BTDT]

When I was in my late 20's, a fellow at church was just starting his 2nd year of college. All his family members (dad, brother) were brick layers. He had an opportunity to go into seismographic work with some oil company, and he was asking me what I thought about it. I told him to go for it if that's what he thought he wanted to do. I said you are and can always go back to being a bricklayer if that's what you want, but you may not get an opportunity like this again. He took it, but it didn't work out, and he didn't end up liking it. He finished college, but he is still a bricklayer. Took over his dad's business.

 

[Toiyabe]

I've seen a couple of resumes from exploration geologists. They would go something like:

1978-1982 Senior Geologist, Big International Mining Company.
1982-1984 Getting second master's degree
1984-1988 CAD technician, small engineering company
1988-1993 Chief Geologist, Another Big Mining Company
1993-1995 IT drone at local hospital

Haven't seen bricklaying in the mix, but I wouldn't be surprised either. I don't think I could live with that sort of boom-bust cycle.

 

[davidseaquist]

Well on Thursday I had my van repaired [ dogs tore up some wiring harnesses / a gas line / a radiator hose/ and crank case sensor and a ground strap also chewed on a break line/. Friday bought 4 new tires for the van, old tires were dry rotted. Washed the van and had the oil changed. I put 4,000 miles on the van in the last 2 1/2 years. It only has 27,500 on a 2001 cargo van I bought new most of the miles were put on in the first year.-I also put an advertisement in the local newspaper under services for a month. Hopefully I will get enough work on weekends. To make this worth while [ I think I will charge about $75.- an hour.] David.

 

[BTDT]

Good luck to you David.

 

[Dougster]

Well on Thursday I had my van repaired [ dogs tore up some wiring harnesses / a gas line / a radiator hose/ and crank case sensor and a ground strap also chewed on a break line/. Friday bought 4 new tires for the van, old tires were dry rotted. Washed the van and had the oil changed. I put 4,000 miles on the van in the last 2 1/2 years. It only has 27,500 on a 2001 cargo van I bought new most of the miles were put on in the first year.-I also put an advertisement in the local newspaper under services for a month. Hopefully I will get enough work on weekends. To make this worth while [ I think I will charge about $75.- an hour.] David.

I need a plumber bad. Loads of work here and at my daughter's new place. Too bad you are so far away.

Dougster

 

[john_bud]

I need a plumber bad. Loads of work here and at my daughter's new place. Too bad you are so far away.

Dougster

It might still be cheaper to pay him 75 an hour to drive to Taxachew ??

jb

 

[Dougster]

It might still be cheaper to pay him 75 an hour to drive to Taxachew ??
jb

I'll bet I could certainly FLY him here and still save money!!! Such is life here in the "People's Republic"!

Dougster

 

[davidseaquist]

What is up with your screen name do you live in Massachusetts and are the taxes outrageous ? David