Sir Snark-A-Lot

[tradewater]

I was sure eyeballing that tent. Glad it went to a good home.

 

[The Warrior]

I was sure eyeballing that tent. Glad it went to a good home.

I'm glad as well. I researched tents for some time before settling on that one. Roomy, vestibules on both ends, with windows, and will stand up in the snow.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

Minimum wage in PA is 7.25 last i heard. Times that by the hour and a half it took me to read that and it equals around 10 bucks. Ill PM you my address for payment ZZ

Funny story though !!

Sad thing is, it's true. Funny now, but not at the time.

That reminds me of a story.... of course I'm at the age where pretty much everything reminds me of a story.

Back in 1988, my now ex-wife (we had gotten married in 1987) were stationed in Germany and both of us were 1st Lieutenants. The funniest part of this story is that she was the Battalion S1/Adjutant (in charge of all the personnel and finance actions in the unit).

Suddenly, one month she didn't get an LES (leave and earning statement) or any pay deposited in the bank. She contacted the Finance office in Frankfurt, they poked around in the ancient mainframe computer used back then, and replied "You are no longer on active duty." She explained that she was, in fact, still on active duty and would like to get her Finance record straight. To which they replied "We boxed up your file and sent it to CONUS for storage." Surprise! Seems when she was six months out from reaching the end of her service obligation, she had filled out the paperwork to continue on active duty, but it had been lost by someone in Finance before it got entered into the magical computer. So the clerks at Finance did what good clerks do, and stopped her pay. None of the personnel actions were done (orders back home, DD214, etc), but that didn't keep them from doing their part.

While they were working to get her back in the system, they paid her full pay and allowances in cash at the Finance window each month ("casual pay"). It wound up taking 3 months for them to get her back in the system and return things to normal. However, when they restored her to active duty, the computer apparently figured she needed pay and allowances for those three months as well...so her pay that first month was 4 times what it should have been. Like a dutiful soldier she headed up to the Finance office and wrote the Army a check for the extra 3 months pay so they were even.

Come the following February...surprise, surprise! Her W-2 shows up and it reflected 12 full months of pay plus 3 months of casual pay. Seeing as how she didn't get to keep that extra 3 months of pay, we certainly weren't going to pay income taxes on it. We filed and paid the taxes that we calculated based on actual income. I think it took over a year to get an amended W-2 from the Army so that we could prove to the IRS that we weren't trying to rip off poor Uncle Sam. It was actually amazing how understanding the IRS actually was in letting us file an estimated return and waiting over a year for the final.

Like zz, I'm pretty sure most of the folks who have served have their own story of paperwork (for themselves or someone they knew) gone haywire. The only difference now is that faster computers enable the clerks to screw it up even faster...

Yep, you're right. What was that old saying? Something like... "To err is human, but to really screw things up, you need a computer."

At least my case was resolved quickly. Pay and IRS issues always gives me shivers.

 

[DunkEm]

I don't mind, but it's a weird tale that needs some background info to be put into perspective and shows how my entire career was and still is being hosed by paperwork. WARNING - Significant LEO participation.

....


So that's how I started my military career - Deceased before I was ever commissioned.

Thanks man. That is quite a story. I never did the military thing, so no personal experiences there - but I can imagine. The closest I got to ending up in the military was a few buddies trying to talk me into joining the Corps at A&M. At 18, I decided I'd already had enough of people micromanaging my life and really didn't feel the need to sign up to get yelled at for a few years. But there is a part of me that knows I missed out on some major, formative experiences.

 

[bigghoss]

I've been pretty lucky to not have any major clerical errors declaring me dead or unemployed or anything (though I did get hosed on my PCS thanks to someone's incompetence) but a guy I work with (we're both federal employees) quit and came back and when he was rehired he didn't get paid at all for maybe two months. Mind you he's got three kids and I don't think his wife works/was working at the time.

A year or so prior to all that the guy asked my advice on an upcoming firearm purchase. A week or so later I asked if he had bought it and he replied "No, I have to buy a bigger house." I said " Oh. Ooooooohhhhhhhhhh...Does that mean what I think it means?" "Yup, she's pregnant."

I was also partnered with him for both of his last days as a security guard. Fun stuff.

 

[The Warrior]

Decided to head to the cabin for a solo over nighter after all. Take it easy gents.

 

[Chameleonbear]

Enjoy Dubz... I'll wave when you pass!

 

[DunkEm]

So...at the end of August the oldest son loses his glasses. How you might ask? He doesn't know. He took them off for a water fight and couldn't remember where he set them down. How that happens? I don't know. I can't see enough to go anywhere without my glasses, so little is more important in my world than knowing where they are all the time.

We wait a few days to see if they turn up. They don't.

We finally schedule an appointment with the eye doctor. Order new glasses. They come in and get picked up this week.

This morning, this VERY MORNING, the old ones are found...IN HIS BACKPACK!!!!! THAT HE CARRIES EVERYDAY!!!!!

***grumble...mumble...parenting...children...value of a dollar...rumble...***

 

[zzyzzogeton]

So...at the end of August the oldest son loses his glasses. How you might ask? He doesn't know. He took them off for a water fight and couldn't remember where he set them down. How that happens? I don't know. I can't see enough to go anywhere without my glasses, so little is more important in my world than knowing where they are all the time.

We wait a few days to see if they turn up. They don't.

We finally schedule an appointment with the eye doctor. Order new glasses. They come in and get picked up this week.

This morning, this VERY MORNING, the old ones are found...IN HIS BACKPACK!!!!! THAT HE CARRIES EVERYDAY!!!!!

***grumble...mumble...parenting...children...value of a dollar...rumble...***

Oooopps.

 

[TMHunt]

Its like Christmas around here for me today. (Come to think about it, better than Christmas, considering I usually get get squat ) Anyway, my new tent I bought off of Dubz got here. All ready set it up and checkin it out. Its just what I was after. No pics yet. Getting ready to head out to football game.
On top of that, as you guys know ive been in the process of moving my shop. Im building a small office and ive been looking for a good metal sturdy office desk. Lookin for one of the built right old ones on the cheap. Low and behold, out of the blue, my mother in law pulls up in the driveway with one in fantastic shape just like I was lookin for in the back of her truck. Said she found it at a yard sale for $20. bucks and thought of me. I gladly reached into to my pocket to pay her for it and she said. "No charge, my gift to you" pretty cool man. Couldnt be happier.

 

[worldwood]

Thats awesome Todd!! Congrats on the scores. And even at 20 bucks that was a hell of a find.

Well you got the Santa, and i got the scrooge... Returned my grinder to Sears today and had to deal with a young man with a horrible attitude. Just didnt want to be working his job from the sounds of it. Worst part, he WAS the manager. But i got it returned and can expect the refund to hit the credit card in 3-5 days. Hopefully closer to 3 so i can get the new one ordered.

But i did get me in a nice package of belts today. The Trizact ones are WILD looking, now i see why they call them "Gators" LOL also got the sanding disc and my KEO countersink in as well. Ill be playing around with the countersink later, just going to practice with it a bit and see how neat i can make the holes with it.

No respirator yet, but im sure its coming!!


Some more excellent news, i have been looking at the Fred Rowe Bubble jig quite a bit, and mentioned it a couple times lately. Well some guys here on BF anonymously contacted Fred and ordered me one. Im not sure who it was but im extremely grateful for the generosity! Im more and more impressed and humbled by the people here.

 

[granitestateofmind]

So...at the end of August the oldest son loses his glasses. How you might ask? He doesn't know. He took them off for a water fight and couldn't remember where he set them down. How that happens? I don't know. I can't see enough to go anywhere without my glasses, so little is more important in my world than knowing where they are all the time.

We wait a few days to see if they turn up. They don't.

We finally schedule an appointment with the eye doctor. Order new glasses. They come in and get picked up this week.

This morning, this VERY MORNING, the old ones are found...IN HIS BACKPACK!!!!! THAT HE CARRIES EVERYDAY!!!!!

***grumble...mumble...parenting...children...value of a dollar...rumble...***

I've been wearing them for 45+ years....the things I put my parents through, and my difficult prescription meant we didn't even TALK about contacts until I was 18. On the plus side, now you can keep one pair where you KNOW you can put your hands on for when it happens again......

Some more excellent news, i have been looking at the Fred Rowe Bubble jig quite a bit, and mentioned it a couple times lately. Well some guys here on BF anonymously contacted Fred and ordered me one. Im not sure who it was but im extremely grateful for the generosity! Im more and more impressed and humbled by the people here.

Wait...how'd they get your credit card info?

 

[worldwood]

Wait...how'd they get your credit card info?

Im not sure, but using mine wont get them very far at all LOL

 

[DunkEm]

On the plus side, now you can keep one pair where you KNOW you can put your hands on for when it happens again......

After all the grief I've already given him for losing them, that's my official around the house position. Fortunately there are places like this to come and vent.

 

[GSO1962]

Spent 4 hours in the motor pool doing some training, but then grabbed lunch, laundry supplies, and other provisions including a stop at what the Army calls the Class VI store. They had a special on Belgian beers...buy two six packs, get a free glass. Since I needed beer and the glasses in this hotel are so tiny, I couldn't resist...



Just took my first swig of the Leffe, and I have to say that G-Shark's people know how to brew some beer!

 

[worldwood]

DunkEm,

My daughter had 2 pairs of glasses destroyed in the same week. The first pair she took off and left on the couch, Neko came up and chewed them all to hell.

So we got her a nice case to hold her 2nd pair in and explained when not being worn they need to be on her dresser in her room. Well she left the 2nd pair on the FLOOR in the living room, not even in the case .... Neko chewed them up as well.

We have no idea why he likes glasses so much. He doesnt chew on anything else except his bones, toys, and an old pair of sandals we ended up giving him several months back to keep him off of all our good shoes, that worked and he hasnt touched anything other than them and his toys... And the occasional crayon thats left on the floor by the rugrats.... But for some reason he has a grudge against glasses. But if my daughter put them in the case and put them away it would not of not been an issue.

Kids dont understand them things are expensive!!!!


GSO, have one of them beers for me

 

[gmoneyluv]

Was walking past our local candy shop and I noticed that the gal had brought in some crisps from the UK. Thought I'd pick up a few bags and reminisce about my time living in the UK.

 

[Chameleonbear]

Top left looks like one I'd like to try. The Guinness ones I've actually had before.

When I lived down town I had an Irish pub across the street, they had them there... Once every 3-4 months. Basically whenever the owner came back from Ireland he would bring a couple boxes with him.


OHHHH! And I kept reading that as "wankers" not "Walkers" the first 3 times I read the name of them.

 

[Bladite]

L series Kubby with PTO mounted Wolverine commercial grade splitter

now, in terms of fuel consumption, i dunno if that's efficient, but it makes the log splitter basically a closed system; which also requires outside spinning torque thing. so, it can't be used stand-a-lone.

otherwise you buy one with a commercial grade honda engine instead. i wonder if they do diesel?
hey, what's in the back of my trailer?

it's not this sexy angle closeup of the wolverine :>

unwrapping. yeah, it's bonded in 5 places to a pallet with metal hardware! and lots of pallet wrap. it's like ... wow, that's well packed!

two by two, tongs of blue:

moved this big ass log out of the wood, about 300 feet up hill all the way. kinda hard in the soft woods, but a good steady workout up the slope of the driveway. damn, "log fit" or "log master" or something. that's a job. the arch is about 140 lbs?

it's a wee log:

but moved it meeself and eye. moving smaller ones should be a breeze.

there's also an optional "towing package", with a two speed winch, that shall come in handy in the fullness of time...

 

[TMHunt]

WW Trizact belts kick ass. I use a lot of them. As far as the respirator, Murph said you should of had it Friday. Did he give you a tracking #?

GSO, diggin the shirt you got on in that pic! :thumbup:

Gus, im not a huge tater chip eatin guy but those all would be interesting to try.

In other news, I just got back from my sons very first football game. I was a little nervous wondering how he would do. He's very athletic but doesn't have a mean bone in his body. After about 4 plays he made a great tackle. It was like someone turned on a switch and he got it. Because he became a animal after that. I think once he figured out he wasn't gonna get in trouble for hitting someone it was game on . Lol. Aside from probably a dozen tackles he sacked the quarteback twice one time so hard he lost the ball, we recovered and scored. We won the game 21 to 0. It was awesome, I am so proud. After the game the coach called him the ice man! Lol.