Dog Community

The Ongoing Saga

ron2

Posted : 3/5/2007 4:31:35 PM

The ongoing saga of Ron.

My rebuilt motor didn't get to the garage until Thursday. Not counting the Friday I missed when my old mot locked up, that paycheck is missing yet another day. I should have had 32 hours and only had 24.

My former company sent me my W-2 and there was not as much withholding listed as there should be.

They are working on my truck today and it should have been ready by 1:00 p.m. It's missing on cyl. #4. Near as they can figure, the injector is clogged and not delivering fuel. So, they are are working on it right now. I have taken the day off from work to deal with all of this. I had to turn in the rental before it cost me any more than the $491.

On the upside, I got a ride to DW's work and we had lunch and I've got her car right now. The truck should be finished by the end of the day. This morning, with nothing better to do I looked at the Dallas Morning News Job Center. I've been wanting a shorter drive at equal or better pay. I've told so many people that you just don't find job ads asking for a master electrician. Guess what I found? A company in Plano ( about 35 miles south of me) that is looking for a master electrician, partially for a supervisory role. The entire interview was positive and the guy seemed pleasantly surprised at not only some of my background, but my grasp of the business end of things, some of the intracacies of project bid proposal versus service call practices, i.e., unit pricing and hourly pricing requirements in service calls, as opposed to wage rate averaging and total wages on a bid proposal, etc. I could bore you guys to tears. Anyway, I may hear from them in a day or so. My farthest drive would be to Plano. From there I would be driving a service vehicle (van or bucket truck, depending on the call) and going to the assignment from there. The hours are a little flexible. I may not have to be there exactly at 7:00 a.m. but I wouldn't necessarily finish at 3:30 p.m., either. Whatever it takes to finish the job or 8 hours, whichever comes first. They primarily do repair and retrofit of commercial and industrial lighting, both of which I have experience with, amongst other things.

So, very soon, I shall have the gas mileage of a nearly new V-6 and possible a job that is about half of the distance I've been driving. I was supposed to be in Rockwall today but it didn't make sense to work for just a few hours and spend that gas and turn around and come back this way to take care of this stuff.

DW is still having a bad allergy attack and she's ready for typical Texas spring which is usually warmer than it has been.

Shadow's his loveable self and ever since I got choosy about where we walk, his interactions with other dogs has improved since he's not having to be on the defensive dealing with loose dogs and get to "practice" that way.

Jade is big and healthy and fast and mischievous. She's 1 year and about 2 months old.

magilacudy

Posted : 3/5/2007 5:35:29 PM

Good luck Ron, I hope you get the job. I know how tough it can be. I've been searching for a job for months. I keep hearing the same thing over and over "we'll call you sometime at the end of March." AR!! I hope it goes well for you.

Boxermom4

Posted : 3/5/2007 5:55:49 PM

Oh Ron, good luck, I was wondering what happened with your job search back before Christmas. Let us know!!!

jenhuedepohl

Posted : 3/5/2007 6:05:40 PM

Good luck on that other job, Ron!

I really need to get the guts to find another job or start my own business. But I'm a big chicken when it comes to that kind of change. I used to change jobs at the drop of a hat but now I have to try and find a job that won't conflict with the kids' school & daycare. The idea my own business frightens me as far as taxes, reliable income, etc. I've got all the equipment to start making vinyl banners, just not the time while I'm working a full-time job and taking care of two kids & assorted critters with a hubby that is out of town 5 days a week. Ick.

After the way they laid off Marv after 22 years I'll probably end up job hunting anyway. Newspapers are so hypocritical. They'll write editorials up the ying-yang about how wrong it is for companies to lay off workers in pursiut of the almighty dollar. But that doesn't stop them from doing it to their own employees.

lorib

Posted : 3/5/2007 11:10:53 PM

Here's hoping the job comes thorugh! It sounds like it would be perfect fro you.

Would Shadow be able to come with you or would he have to keep the home fires burning?

ron2

Posted : 3/6/2007 6:00:22 AM

Would Shadow be able to come with you or would he have to keep the home fires burning

My work environment is not always suitable for bringing along a dog.

I too have thought of starting a business but I don't have enough contacts to get enough contracts and I don't have the starting capital (about $50k) to start a small business.

We'll see what kind of gas mileage I get today. Total cost for everything including a few additional repairs was a little over $2,600.

glenmar

Posted : 3/6/2007 6:37:27 AM

Oh Ron. Fingers AND toes are crossed that you get the closer job!

janobonano

Posted : 3/6/2007 7:32:22 PM

That's great news. Soon all this will be behind you and you'll actually be making money!

ron2

Posted : 3/6/2007 7:51:09 PM

you'll actually be making money!

What a sweet dream. And thanks to Glenda, too. I've been making the same rate for about 2 years now, which wasn't too bad when I had either a company truck or a truck allowance and a gas card.

Paying for my own gas and driving across 4 counties is another thing. I was saving some gas and time by using the George Bush Turnpike, which is a toll road, but it was worth the toll as it ends onto Hwy 161 which would nearly place at that job south of DFW Airport.

Today, it was at least 45 miles to work, down in Rockwall. And I had figured the shortest route using back roads. Getting home, I put on about 92 miles on for the day and haven't quite burned a 1/4 of a tank. That's mileage I had when the truck was brand new. So, I am completely pleased with that.

The reason my transmission output seal was leaking was because the tranny mount was broken. So, they fixed that and put in a new seal. Now, with more fluid staying in the tranny, I'm getting my old numbers, 70 mph at 2,000 rpm.

In a month or so, I'm getting a tranny service which is flush, new fluid and new filter. While they got it apart, I will have them replace the factory clutch valve spring with the stouter replacement and that will make the tranny run like new.

Now, I can take the money I'm saving on gas and spend it on paying off the credit card.

If I got the job that's based in Plano, I would be driving just short of 40 miles and that's only to get to the shop, where I would pick up a company vehicle to go run off and fix lights. Then come back, park it and then go home. And I would be expected to supervise journeyman, making me a little more useful than a green helper everyone assumes me to be at this company. They can't help it. I didn't hire on as a superintendent, so some of my co-workers would just assume that I didn't know anything. It's been comical at times, getting journeyman pay wihle someone talks to me like I've never done any of this stuff before.

Then I burst their little bubble.

pofi_pasquale

Posted : 3/7/2007 9:02:56 AM

Ahhhh! What a relief it must be to at least have the truck issues taken care of!

Good luck with the Plano opportunity!

Scout in Canada

Posted : 3/7/2007 9:28:22 AM

Good luck - it sounds like a great opportunity. Usually your sense of how the interview went is pretty accurate in my experience - it does sound like they were impressed with you.

ron2

Posted : 3/7/2007 7:13:11 PM

Usually your sense of how the interview went is pretty accurate in my experience - it does sound like they were impressed with you.

Thanks. That's been my experience, too. So, we'll see.