O/T - There but for the Grace of God go I

Chuck, you done good. Hope all works out for your bud, sounds like he had a plan in place.

As someone who has failed to plan and therefore, planned to fail, I know what hard times are like. Having a good friend stop by just to see how things are and lend some moral support can go a long way in keeping hopes up and fighting off malais.

BTW, how's that Carter carb working out for ya?

 

Guys -

Denise is right; I've been there, too. I'm down to a mortgage payment ONLY - no cc debt, no car payments.

The wake-up call was when I looked at my annual interest expense - the money which just went to the bank to cover interest on the mortgage, credit cards, cars, etc...it was HALF of what I made!

I'm much richer now for not 'giving money to the bank every month. I call credit cards voluntary slavery; you choose to pay - and pay - and pay for instant gratification.

Mike - I can tellya he did feel better for having taken the time to talk to him. As for the carb - runs smooth as silk, save for a sticking choke. I've got to clean out the vacuum piston/cylinder assembly a wee bit better - and then it will be perfect!

 

First off, chuckspeed, good to hear from ya. I shot you a message over on forwardlook, guess you never got it.

As far as the topic at hand, I know for sure there's real good engineer jobs to be found elsewhere. An aquaintance of mine got laid off from a Big 3 supplier (design engineer), moped for awhile, then hit the 'net. Got a job in Omaha for Caterpillar, making $50/hr (temp job- 1 year contract) unlimited OT. Turned down a real sweet offer from Boeing in Seattle to do it.

I know how hard it is to pull up stakes. I still keep trying to talk my wife into either Tennessee or Texas. But, for now, Lord Willing, I have an excellent job in a real good company. Unless something happens... we ain't goin nowhere.

Glad to hear your bud is ok, so far. When I got laid off in '04, it was the worst of timing. New house, new baby, paycheck to paycheck... I know where he's at. But I also had a job the same day I got laid off (contract, at Roush), and I've worked my way back to actually making MORE than I was.

Hang in there with him, he'll need it.

Jay

 

WE need EXPERIENCED Mechanical Engineers in Aiken SC. If you are a piping or equipment designer in PDS, there are multiple companies BEGGING for qualified people to come here

 

They are begging for engineers in Houston and all over SE TX. Both operating and engineering companies. Machine design people for oil and gas hardware. Mechanical, electrical and chemical for oil & gas, chemicals, refineries, and power plants. Has been booming for well over a year, and nobody has seen the top, yet. Go to Monster.com. Bott & Associates, Refinery Engineers, Barbara Badon are just a few head hunters. Experienced engineers go for over $100K plus benefits. I'm 61, retired once, working full time again, and headhunters are calling. PM me if you want more info. Slide - BSME, LPI, '67.