Above 1200 Sq/FT Cleaning Up My Shop

[oldironfarmer]

I like pie, Happy Thanksgiving

Thanks!

Andy: pies look very tasty and my bride didn't eat the crust on the pumpkin pie I bought at Costco cause she loves the filling. i bet she'd eat a piece of your pie though and i'm sure I would.

happy to hear you are still going to Zumba classes cause i'm sure that is one of the reasons you have so much energy and a positive attitude.

great job on the welds and does your paint cure when it's freezing or did you just need to get something on the naked steel repair?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! (it's our only Thursday of the year isn't it?)

Thanks! The pies didn't last.

Aerobic exercise is important.

It was not cold the day I painted the trailer. 50F maybe. Not the best for paining but it hardened nicely.

I am at page 196(last years t-day) but am immensely enjoying the thread when I have a few minutes each day to myself to read. Just want give you a huge "Thanks" and wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanks!!! Comments like yours provide great motivation!

Happy Thanksgiving to and your wife Andy.

Vince

Thanks, Vince!

Happy Thanksgiving, Andy.

Thank you!

I have a 4-6-2 but don’t think it pull the caboose. It will pull a plate full of pie though. [emoji16]
White stuff is pretty but makes my toes cold. Have a joyous thanksgiving day with your family.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Thanks for the comments! I love snow in beautiful pictures.

Mmmm pies, looking good Andy. We have a pumpkin left over from halloween, I might have to look into turning it into pies,.Mmmm.

4-4-2 the standard formation of English football teams for many years, falling out of favour of late. 4-3-3 the modern 4-4-2, and 4-2-3-1 the de facto best formation in football today. Err sorry were you talking trains, ok then, as you were.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Steve

Pumpkin soup, about a gallon, mostly in the freezer.

A 4-4-2 is a nice muscle car too.

Andy I have a train that needs a caboose. It doesn't have the wheel arrangement you want though but it is steam powered.

20181122_075906 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Bret

Looks like fuel to me.

Very nice!

That Northern is beautiful! We have one of the (full-sized) Santa Fe 3750-class Northerns (#3768) here in town.

I've seen that. I like the Big Boys too, and have seen the one in Cheyenne.

Andy: maybe a short trip to Santa Fe might land you the locomotive? maybe one of these are still hanging around?

hope your Thanksgiving was a good one!!

BJ: the stuff you make out of wood is truly amazing.

All: i've posted that picture of the old RR repair yard several times in the big vise thread and you might see a few in the picture that are not so small.

A real locomotive has enough scrap value I will never have one,

That is an incredible photo, I didn't see any vises, I was busy looking at the cranes lifting complete locomotives that high. 1941 was about at the pinnacle of steam locomotives. I believe that is manufacturing rather than repair.

Funny story. My wife is a bit of a fan of the "living channels" and scanned through one of them when something was on called 'Pickers' or something.

Anyway these guys in a white van driving around, picking through folks junk for valuables. So, they're driving through Oklahoma and the commentary goes something like "This guy even has his own caboose so this should be good!" Ashleigh shouts at me to come watch - "Don't you know someone in Oklahoma with a caboose in his yard" just before the other guy on the show says "That is a common sight in these parts of the country"

He was exaggerating on "common", but there are a few. A guy two miles away used to have one, I don't know what happened, and there's a farm 30 miles away which has two, but that's all I know of. Of course I don't get out much.

Andy, I'm sort of miffed. You and the New England guys are hogging all the snow. We got about 4" last week but it's all gone now. Glad you and yours had a nice holiday.

I'm an overachiever.

You can have my snow.

Can you box it and ship FedEx? Anything 6" and under, I'm headed into work, so can you send at least 8"? Or you and Andy get together and send me 8". Have it delivered after 11pm Sunday night.

Your corny humor and nutty responses are such a relief.

I'm glad I can be a relief, but corny humor? This is good material. I always thought I had an ear for humor. (Just a little kernel for you to consider) We'll put a tassel on that one and call it done.

I had a nice surprise in the mail! Right out of Siberia!!

Very nice poplar (I think) box. Thanks Stas!!

You are too kind!!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Great to see you back Andy..

 

[gman007]

Andy

Several month back Drives suggested to me to check out your fascinating thread. As I started reading, it quickly became abundantly clear that it was indeed not only fascinating but also educational, entertaining and inspirational in many different ways. So I want to thank you for taking the time to create and maintain this great thread.

Truth be told, while I have for some time read the entire thread and I have been current on the postings (and I must say its quite addictive) , I did not feel I had much to contribute to this great thread and so I have been lurking and just enjoying reading the posts.

But then thanks to a fellow GJ member calling your great humor corny I felt compelled to interject and violently protest (ok that is going a bit overboard ). But I am wondering if this member meant to say zany humor rather than corny humor. But now my concern is that you might be in violation of international humor copy rights as even though your humor might be zany, the English seem to have laid complete claim to zany humor.

Never the less please do continue with your humor and do not deprive the world of joy.

PS
If the English pester you regarding zany humor copy rights , I will personally fart in their general direction and blow my nose at them and call their mother a hamster

 

[Vieux]

Great! Stas well done!

 

[shortykorte]

And the box from Stas can be a bed for Bob Jr. cousin the hamster.
Such wacky humor.

p.s. 442, are there really any other good muscle cars that can compare? lol


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[oldironfarmer]

Great to see you back Andy..

Thanks, Steve. I've been missing my GJ time, and shop time.

Andy

Several month back Drives suggested to me to check out your fascinating thread. As I started reading, it quickly became abundantly clear that it was indeed not only fascinating but also educational, entertaining and inspirational in many different ways. So I want to thank you for taking the time to create and maintain this great thread.

Truth be told, while I have for some time read the entire thread and I have been current on the postings (and I must say its quite addictive) , I did not feel I had much to contribute to this great thread and so I have been lurking and just enjoying reading the posts.

But then thanks to a fellow GJ member calling your great humor corny I felt compelled to interject and violently protest (ok that is going a bit overboard ). But I am wondering if this member meant to say zany humor rather than corny humor. But now my concern is that you might be in violation of international humor copy rights as even though your humor might be zany, the English seem to have laid complete claim to zany humor.

Never the less please do continue with your humor and do not deprive the world of joy.

PS
If the English pester you regarding zany humor copy rights , I will personally fart in their general direction and blow my nose at them and call their mother a hamster

Thanks for stopping in and commenting. It is always great to have such kind comments!

Corny humor? Aw shucks, my son calls most anything I say "Popcorn"

Zany: Wasn't he a famous Western writer? I seem to remember him but my memory is a bit Grey.

Great! Stas well done!

And the box from Stas can be a bed for Bob Jr. cousin the hamster.
Such wacky humor.

p.s. 442, are there really any other good muscle cars that can compare? lol


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Even my SS Chevelle has a 442 rear axle.

Thanks for stopping in, guys!

 

[sawduststeve]

Andy Just to let you know,gman007 Is a very naughty boy, and that his father smells of elderberries.I must run away now, in case he comes back to taunt me a second time.

Steve.

 

[drivesitfar]

Andy: I have to agree about that OLD RR locomotive picture I posted of that was in Santa Fe. pretty amazing to have a full on locomotive hanging from cables in the air isn't it?

now when you get time to take a peek at the picture again maybe you'll notice that in front of each locomotive there is a 300+ pound old MADE IN USA HOLLAND'S vise on maybe a 250 pound stand for the guys to use if they need one.

some of the members here on GJ own a few of these and I think there are at least 5 of these old vises in the picture.

so how are the cows doing now that its getting colder and you are feeding them and singing to them daily? have you taught them how to clap after you sing?

cheers and hope you enjoyed your day!!

STEVE: I think your English HUMOR just flew over my head. do you get NETFLIX? if you want a decent BBC show to watch try DEATH IN PARADISE and let me (us) know what you think.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy Just to let you know,gman007 Is a very naughty boy, and that his father smells of elderberries.I must run away now, in case he comes back to taunt me a second time.

Steve.

Is that elderberry wine? And how do you know how it smells? Huh?

Pythons also eat hamsters, you know.

Andy: I have to agree about that OLD RR locomotive picture I posted of that was in Santa Fe. pretty amazing to have a full on locomotive hanging from cables in the air isn't it?

But did you see the other equally sized cranes in the background? I wouldn't be surprised to find each crane had an operator, two oilers, two flaggers, and two riggers who stayed with it full time, just like old crawlers.

now when you get time to take a peek at the picture again maybe you'll notice that in front of each locomotive there is a 300+ pound old MADE IN USA HOLLAND'S vise on maybe a 250 pound stand for the guys to use if they need one.

some of the members here on GJ own a few of these and I think there are at least 5 of these old vises in the picture.

Sorry, I was making a little joke, like saying "what motorcycle?" when Katya's picture also has a motorcycle in it.

Big vises. I have some big vices, actually.

so how are the cows doing now that its getting colder and you are feeding them and singing to them daily? have you taught them how to clap after you sing?

cheers and hope you enjoyed your day!!

STEVE: I think your English HUMOR just flew over my head. do you get NETFLIX? if you want a decent BBC show to watch try DEATH IN PARADISE and let me (us) know what you think.

Cows have been insulted to where they are reduced to eating grass. It is a terrible world.

They don't actually clap for appreciation, in the bovine world, just as in some human cultures, a good belch is a fine thanks for the cook. They also like to stand around and shoot the breeze, so to speak. It's a gas.

You are the master of oxymoron's, decent BBC show

No shed time but still a nice day. Went to see a friend who has just learned his throat cancer has returned, he wanted to show me his latest building project, a building full of unusual antiques. He hates it when I know what they are. He was a telephone man and has a great collection of old unusual phones and specialized tools. I had never seen the wooden mallet used to shrink the lead sheath on a large cable bundle back to make a seal.

His wife fed us some marvelous coconut cream pie. I asked his wife if she felt left out since she was the only one in the group who had not had cancer, she indicated she didn't mind being different. She's a gem.

And we picked up my wife's new glasses. She keep staring at me. I'm thinking she can see clearly now and I'm in big trouble.

Thanks for all the comments, guys!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Andy thats sad to read your friend cancer has returned, I trust all goes well.

 

[bolensboneyard]

Andy sorry to hear about your friend. Prayers

 

[gman007]

Andy
I am so sorry to hear that your friend's throat cancer has returned. Your friend sounds like a strong man and the fact that he still is interested in his hobbies and likes to share his joy with others is a positive thing. A lesser person would (quite justifiably) withdraw and be depressed. My prayers are with him.

 

[sawduststeve]

Andy,
Thoughts and prayer for your mate, glad you mentioned his wife, often the carer needs a little care.


Re: BBC, I think you may not be getting the best programming, it does produce some world class programs , Sir Attenborough and Peaky Blinders to name two.

Steve

 

[1/2 Cup]

Andy,
Thoughts and prayer for your mate, glad you mentioned his wife, often the carer needs a little care.


Steve

Steve you are right there, the carers also need a little TLC as well as is can be very tough on them as well.

 

[xtremek]

Prayers for your friend.

 

[drivesitfar]

Andy: your attitude and your friend's about your cancer or what life throws out at you in general is refreshing. of course we all seem to have things to deal with whether personal or family or friends and it's how we do that that makes all our lives good or bad. keep smiling and doing what you can do and what you believe is best seems to be the best method and you sir are AMAZING at doing that.

I bought another Makita chop saw (just because I guess cause I have 3 already) so I didn't have to move these from one place to another and the seller came from your area. he's about 30 and he found a job up here he liked and glad he did cause he's a keeper. good attitude and friendly instead of ******* and moaning and entitled like so many are around here.

I'm sending more prayers for you and your bride and i'll add some for your friends.

hey it's SATURDAY!!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy thats sad to read your friend cancer has returned, I trust all goes well.

Not meaning to be Debbie Downer! Thanks for the well wishes. He is within a few days of being ten years older than me, a good friend.

Cancer is just another opportunity to ovecome what life has in store.

Andy sorry to hear about your friend. Prayers

Thanks, Bobby! He has an amazing collection of old iron. He built this cabin on a hill toward the back of his place. A remote getaway at home, so to speak. And the best of guest houses.

https://www.360cities.net/image/woodrell-cabin

Andy
I am so sorry to hear that your friend's throat cancer has returned. Your friend sounds like a strong man and the fact that he still is interested in his hobbies and likes to share his joy with others is a positive thing. A lesser person would (quite justifiably) withdraw and be depressed. My prayers are with him.

He is a tough old rancher, and his wife is just as strong. They are great people.

Andy,
Thoughts and prayer for your mate, glad you mentioned his wife, often the carer needs a little care.


Re: BBC, I think you may not be getting the best programming, it does produce some world class programs , Sir Attenborough and Peaky Blinders to name two.

Steve

Thanks, Steve! His wife has a load to bear here. He had a tough time of it first time, but his attitude is better this time. First time with cancer tends to scare you. Later, you just downshift and put the pedal down. You don't make it up a steep rocky hill by driving timidly.

BBC: I was joking, being sarcastic because our programming is, for the most part, pretty bad. The BBC does a great job, and of course the insane humor is perfect for a humorless guy like me. We don't get to choose what we watch, but with any of the comedies you have to listen very closely to understand it is all good. Of course we don't understand all of the innuendo as the Colonies are not as developed intellectually and have not maintained our vocabulary in step with the Mother of countries.

Steve you are right there, the carers also need a little TLC as well as is can be very tough on them as well.

You should see this lady sorting cattle, as well as managing her own bull.

Prayers for your friend.

Thanks you!

Andy: your attitude and your friend's about your cancer or what life throws out at you in general is refreshing. of course we all seem to have things to deal with whether personal or family or friends and it's how we do that that makes all our lives good or bad. keep smiling and doing what you can do and what you believe is best seems to be the best method and you sir are AMAZING at doing that.

I bought another Makita chop saw (just because I guess cause I have 3 already) so I didn't have to move these from one place to another and the seller came from your area. he's about 30 and he found a job up here he liked and glad he did cause he's a keeper. good attitude and friendly instead of ******* and moaning and entitled like so many are around here.

I'm sending more prayers for you and your bride and i'll add some for your friends.

hey it's SATURDAY!!

I know life is terminal, regardless of how you try to ignore the fact. I also believe that God has a heaven for eternity and the time we spend here is short compared to the time there. It does make little challenges easier.

Happiness is a lot about attitude. I used to tell unhappy employees that they can have just as bad day on vacation as they can have at work. Your attitude determines how you feel, not the actions of others or events over which you have no control. When someone asks how I'm doing I pinch two fingers and say "I'm just this close to being happy. And I don't want to be happy, if you show you're happy someone will come right along and try to change it". I don't really care if they know I'm happy or not.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Life has been busy, but I have a little update. My wife loves Christmas lights so I put a few up.

This is her window on the world, so I framed it.

Managed a couple of hours in the foundry. I now have 230 melts on my new furnace. The lid is still looking great.

I was just making ingots, no time to make a mold and I really wanted to melt. 8 melts in two hours was pretty good for me. About 1-1/2# per full ingot, so 48#, all window frames from my neighbor.

We call it a hobby, but the addiction to melting metal at home is really a personality aberration. You can't cure it, and you think everyone wants to do it, but it's only the weirdo's. You think it's OK because your wife does not complain but she knows complaining would be like complaining to a sailor that he is going back to sea. He can't help himself.

Let's fire up that furnace!!

Cheers!

 

[realvc]

Thank you for your great insight on life, God, eternity and happiness.
Prayers for your friend.

I keep checking google earth on how far it is from my house to your shop just to see how long it would take to get up your way for a coke and a visit.
Vince

 

[shortykorte]

Andy, you light up my life....and everyone’s else’s.
Good Day!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Toothaker]

We should start collecting these gems you share with us, Andy!

"You don't make it up a steep rocky hill by driving timidly."

Wow. That is wonderful. Thank you, I needed that today.

 

[dchance]

Andy, Great to see that you brightened your wife's outlook.

You may be as a sailor and cannot keep from melting metal but at least you are home every night.

Have a good Sunday.
Dwight

 

[1/2 Cup]

Andy your decorations look a treat..

 

[drivesitfar]

Andy: great outlook on life and hope that becomes more of a common theme in our country instead of the reverse.

nice job melting that old window frame into some great looking ingots.

hope you enjoyed your Saturday cause i am enjoying mine.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Thank you for your great insight on life, God, eternity and happiness.
Prayers for your friend.

I keep checking google earth on how far it is from my house to your shop just to see how long it would take to get up your way for a coke and a visit.
Vince

Thank you so very much!

If you can't find me, I'm 45 minutes west of downtown Tulsa, so just go to Tulsa and add. Looking forward to your visit! PM me and I'll send you detailed directions as GPS usually misses me (Farm stealth technology).

Andy, you light up my life....and everyone’s else’s.
Good Day!

Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

WOW! What kind words!

Thank you!

We should start collecting these gems you share with us, Andy!

"You don't make it up a steep rocky hill by driving timidly."

Wow. That is wonderful. Thank you, I needed that today.

Wheee! More kind words!! Anytime, my friend.

Usually stuff I make up reminds me of some of the country sayings from Hee Haw which made no sense, those always made me laugh.

I have thought of writing professionally for Laffy Taffy. I asked a young friend today - How do Santa's elves get to the top floors of a high rise apartment building? Elf-a-vator

Andy, Great to see that you brightened your wife's outlook.

You may be as a sailor and cannot keep from melting metal but at least you are home every night.

Have a good Sunday.
Dwight

My wife brightens my outlook, actually. Never a complaint, and she has suffered through a lot. Her only regret is that she can't help me around the house (and that she has to eat my cooking). I have more lights and need to get them up. Usually I put a few up as the season goes along.

Andy your decorations look a treat..

Thanks, Steve! So does your fence!! I've just not had much time to go visiting.

Andy: great outlook on life and hope that becomes more of a common theme in our country instead of the reverse.

nice job melting that old window frame into some great looking ingots.

hope you enjoyed your Saturday cause i am enjoying mine.

Thank you, Drives! It was actually the frames from about a dozen old windows.

I had a great Saturday!

 

[bj383ss]

Great update Andy. So cool that you put lights up for your wife and framed her window. That is true love right there!

Bret

 

[jimreed2160]

Andy, your buddy has a really nice cabin with a stunning view. I am sure he enjoys that place. Hope he gets through his ordeal OK.

And sorry to hear about your bride's new glasses (maybe someone melted those aluminum frames). Too bad that now she can see what you are up to. My advise it to keep up the Zumba and step lightly.

 

[Farmall450]

The lights look good Andy.

I hope your friend hangs in there!

 

[BBChevro]

Andy, you light up my life....and everyone’s else’s.
Good Day!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

I'll second that. [emoji106]


Your posts are sometimes uplifting, sometimes hilarious, but always entertaining.

You are wise beyond your years Andy...
...and no, your not weird to want to melt metal. [emoji4]

Sent from my SM-G950F using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[oldironfarmer]

Great update Andy. So cool that you put lights up for your wife and framed her window. That is true love right there!

Bret

Love, of course, being a two way street. It just cannot be one way, like lust can. She is having a nice holiday season, so do do I!

Andy, your buddy has a really nice cabin with a stunning view. I am sure he enjoys that place. Hope he gets through his ordeal OK.

And sorry to hear about your bride's new glasses (maybe someone melted those aluminum frames). Too bad that now she can see what you are up to. My advise it to keep up the Zumba and step lightly.

It is a great place. No houses within a mile to the south, and two miles or more to the west and north, and a half mile to the east. Nice solitude for being so close.

Fortunately my wife chooses to overlook my faults. But now that she is seeing clearly I'd best not push it.

The lights look good Andy.

I hope your friend hangs in there!

Thank you!

He has the attitude, so that is 1/2 way there.

I'll second that. [emoji106]


Your posts are sometimes uplifting, sometimes hilarious, but always entertaining.

You are wise beyond your years Andy...
...and no, your not weird to want to melt metal. [emoji4]

Sent from my SM-G950F using The Garage Journal mobile app

You guys are just too kind! I'm sure you well understand the support I get from the GJ mob. You can understand, I'm sure, that a lot of people don't like the real me. My wife and I used to call the four fan speeds on our car heater

1 Sharon
2 Quarter Andy
3 Half Andy
4 Full Andy

because nobody can stand full Andy very long. I tell myself it's because so many people are uncomfortable really letting it all hang out. Unfortunately it's just the way I am so I mainly hang out around the cows, they don't mind as long as I'm feeding them. It took me a while to just be me around GJ because, well, it is a little embarrassing.

So thanks for the visits to my crazy world!

 

[Finallygotit]

......... It took me a while to just be me around GJ because, well, it is a little embarrassing.

So thanks for the visits to my crazy world!

Are you kidding?!?!?! We wouldn't want to have it any other way. I look forward to new posts on this thread.


Keep at it my friend!

 

[Guster]

I thought that was the crux of Garage Journal:
A voyeuristic celebration of exhibiting our personal craziness... or am I in the wrong forum again.

Though I must caution that, just like a "full Bob" we are not ready for an "full Andy" when it comes to letting it ALL hang out! Though we've all had a glimpse at the full Andy and it often reminds me that I miss honesty and tact over all this politically correct business that is so mainstream today. World could use more full Andy some days! That, with a good cup of coffee and a good shower in the morning.

Like how you've dollied up the place with the faerie lights on the house and trees. Meaning to get some up but it just won't stop raining here.

PS... you are just a few ingots short of a full domino set!

 

[drivesitfar]

Andy: you sir are a great guy with a HUGE HEART and i'm just wondering if in your past life you might have been a bit different or have you always been this way?

or did retiring, buying and managing a farm and farm critters and of course GJ soften you up a bit.

whatever it is or was your attitude and outlook on life seems to be the way most of us would aspire to live our lives too.

carry on cause I think it's SATURDAY.

cheers

 

[oldironfarmer]

Are you kidding?!?!?! We wouldn't want to have it any other way. I look forward to new posts on this thread.

Keep at it my friend!

Keep those cards and letters coming in!!

Thanks for the kind words, I'm about to get back into the shop so maybe I'll have something to post soon.

I thought that was the crux of Garage Journal:
A voyeuristic celebration of exhibiting our personal craziness... or am I in the wrong forum again.

Excellent wordsmithing. Well put!

Though I must caution that, just like a "full Bob" we are not ready for an "full Andy" when it comes to letting it ALL hang out! Though we've all had a glimpse at the full Andy and it often reminds me that I miss honesty and tact over all this politically correct business that is so mainstream today. World could use more full Andy some days! That, with a good cup of coffee and a good shower in the morning.

Like how you've dollied up the place with the faerie lights on the house and trees. Meaning to get some up but it just won't stop raining here.

PS... you are just a few ingots short of a full domino set!

Don't think you've seen Full Andy, but Half Andy is plenty for a public forum.

The bottom row of buckets are full of the rectangular ingots, enough for a couple of sets of double nines.

I load them on my scale, there is 75# of aluminum in each bucket so 375 # of large ingots and 150# of muffins.

Andy: you sir are a great guy with a HUGE HEART and i'm just wondering if in your past life you might have been a bit different or have you always been this way?

or did retiring, buying and managing a farm and farm critters and of course GJ soften you up a bit.

whatever it is or was your attitude and outlook on life seems to be the way most of us would aspire to live our lives too.

carry on cause I think it's SATURDAY.

cheers

More kind words!! Thanks, Drives.

My father was much nicer than I, but I do aspire.

Let's see, I retired in 99, then again in 14, bought the farm in 85, and started raising cattle in 92. Not sure there is a cause and effect. But I do like the way cattle respond, primarily they are consistent. After quitting in the spring of 99 the following winter was cold and wet, above and below freezing, lots of mud in the cow lot. I guy was calling asking me to return to work when I finally told him "cold wet weather and I'm feeding cows in eight inches of mud and ice. But not once have the cows accused me of being responsible for our problems". I think the thing I disliked about working the most was incompetent management insinuating that it was I who was somehow incompetent in trying to follow their misguided policies.

Never more!!

 

[gman007]

I guy was calling asking me to return to work when I finally told him "cold wet weather and I'm feeding cows in eight inches of mud and ice. But not once have the cows accused me of being responsible for our problems". I think the thing I disliked about working the most was incompetent management insinuating that it was I who was somehow incompetent in trying to follow their misguided policies.

Andy

You might have heard of "Peter Principle" that states "In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence." Now I guess these folks must have reached their incompetence level many levels before their current management position.

Having said this, I have yet my own version of this Principle that states "Incompetent employees generally strive to become managers to hide their incompetence in their current function". While I have seen competent management, sadly such occurrences have been few and far between.

And standing up to such idiots generally means trouble for ones career. In fact one of the former multinational corporations that I worked for, as part of its HR performance review and evaluation process, had a criterion called "Managerial Courage". This criterion meant to evaluate an employee's willingness to stand up against bad decisions, wrong doing, etc. regardless of political ramifications. Ironically in practice, doing so was a sure way of getting lousy reviews in all criteria including "Managerial Courage" and being labeled as trouble maker.

Hmm, I don't know why but all of sudden feeding cows in eight inches of mud and ice sound more appealing to me .

 

[jblnut]

Let's see, I retired in 99, then again in 14, bought the farm in 85, and started raising cattle in 92. Not sure there is a cause and effect. But I do like the way cattle respond, primarily they are consistent. After quitting in the spring of 99 the following winter was cold and wet, above and below freezing, lots of mud in the cow lot. I guy was calling asking me to return to work when I finally told him "cold wet weather and I'm feeding cows in eight inches of mud and ice. But not once have the cows accused me of being responsible for our problems". I think the thing I disliked about working the most was incompetent management insinuating that it was I who was somehow incompetent in trying to follow their misguided policies.

I couldn't agree more. When I am doing chores in the -15F blowing snowing madness I usually pause and think it could always be worse, I could be at a job suffering through air conditioned nastiness. Just is my luck I'd be stuck in a cubicle on the corner of the water cooler and the only printer/copier in the building. I'll take -15F anyday. The cattle are always over the moon excited to see me and the chickens run around like they don't have a care in the world.

 

[bj383ss]

Andy don't change a thing. I enjoy the "full Andy"! I consistently deal with incompetent management that is younger than me and has less experience. They get the "full Bret". I have been giving feedback many a times about how honest and upfront I am. Most genuine people can deal with it. It is the people who are trying to fake it till the make it that have trouble dealing.

Bret

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy

You might have heard of "Peter Principle" that states "In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence." Now I guess these folks must have reached their incompetence level many levels before their current management position.

Having said this, I have yet my own version of this Principle that states "Incompetent employees generally strive to become managers to hide their incompetence in their current function". While I have seen competent management, sadly such occurrences have been few and far between.

And standing up to such idiots generally means trouble for ones career. In fact one of the former multinational corporations that I worked for, as part of its HR performance review and evaluation process, had a criterion called "Managerial Courage". This criterion meant to evaluate an employee's willingness to stand up against bad decisions, wrong doing, etc. regardless of political ramifications. Ironically in practice, doing so was a sure way of getting lousy reviews in all criteria including "Managerial Courage" and being labeled as trouble maker.

Hmm, I don't know why but all of sudden feeding cows in eight inches of mud and ice sound more appealing to me .

I'm well aware of The Peter Principle, which basically says you will be promoted if you're doing a good job so when you finally get to a level you can't do you no longer get promoted. So you work at your level of incompetency. I agree with your take on it, and it is true some people do better at a higher level than they did at the lower level. Also someone who is liked may be promoted in hopes they will do less damage at a higher level.

However, the reality is more complicated. No one is incompetent in all areas. I dealt with folks who were good administrators, nice people, with limited technical skills. Because they communicated well, and gave their superiors great reports, they were promoted for those valuable skills.

Unfortunately, one truism I have come to believe is that those who are technically weak and have to guess at proper solutions don't know that everyone is not like them. They think everyone is guessing, so when they are faced with a tough decision they can't trust their advisors.

Garage example: We have to build a garage to work on our extended cab pickup. The boss suggests a 20x24 garage. We tell him 24 is not deep enough. He says garages are commonly 20x24. True but not valid for this case, and one of his buddies says we're just trying to waste money, so a 20x24 gets budgeted. We'll still have a chance to get a change order through.

That being said I had the opportunity to work with lots of fine folks who knew their stuff and excelled. Usually we managed to work around the really bad ones.

I couldn't agree more. When I am doing chores in the -15F blowing snowing madness I usually pause and think it could always be worse, I could be at a job suffering through air conditioned nastiness. Just is my luck I'd be stuck in a cubicle on the corner of the water cooler and the only printer/copier in the building. I'll take -15F anyday. The cattle are always over the moon excited to see me and the chickens run around like they don't have a care in the world.

I just hope the cattle never find out the barn I sleep in has heating and cooling.

Ummm, chickens don't have a care in the world.

Andy don't change a thing. I enjoy the "full Andy"! I consistently deal with incompetent management that is younger than me and has less experience. They get the "full Bret". I have been giving feedback many a times about how honest and upfront I am. Most genuine people can deal with it. It is the people who are trying to fake it till the make it that have trouble dealing.

Bret

Don't you hate it when a manager wastes money because he is too lazy to take care of business?

I guess I like me enough to not change.


I did manage a little shop time today. One of y wife's old friends came to visit today and I fixed lunch: hamburgers, scratch mashed potatoes, garlic bread, corn, and glazed carrots. I cooked and served while they visited, they had a great time ordering service when they wanted something. Then I cleaned up while they had dessert the friend brought. It was fun watching them.

Then I went out to make a mold. I'm trying to cast the gray pattern. It's about 1/8" thick and he needs it in brass. Two of them. He is a Navy diver and is restoring a WWII dive air pump, these are shipping caps. This is the 12" deep flask I made to cast it in.

The first mold I made failed as the center piece broke off halfway when I was taking the pattern out. So I decided to bury a bolt in it.

Put a washer and nut to grab some sand to tie everything together.

Wonderful ideas don't always work.

Hmmm, may have to rethink this.

 

[1/2 Cup]

No doubt you will get there Andy

 

[shortykorte]

Andy don't change a thing. I enjoy the "full Andy"! I consistently deal with incompetent management that is younger than me and has less experience. They get the "full Bret". I have been giving feedback many a times about how honest and upfront I am. Most genuine people can deal with it. It is the people who are trying to fake it till the make it that have trouble dealing. [emoji3]

Bret

I’ve been provided the same feedback....numerous times. This past few months I’ve decided to get off the insanity train. Now I keep my recommendations to myself and silently say, “have fun”.

Andy, hamburgers, mash potato and corn! I might need to reroute my tour to where I stop at your place every other stop.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app