What a friggin day....

[Itchigo]

I've been looking for a new job for months. I had a bad situation at work, and had been looking for quite a while. I finally found something. This is the job I have WANTED. What I was meant to do (imo). I made it happen and got the job. I went to bed early to make sure I wasn't tired and fully ready for anything.....I was wrong.

The night before my wife got sick and was puking all night. Scratch sleep. I was on my way there and my brake line broke. (popped from rust). I nursed it another 6 or 7 miles with the handbrake to Midas, and called in. It was all I could do. Even if I had gotten a cab I couldn't get back or take the car in, so I figured I'd drop the car and hope I could get a ride in from someone since this was the closest shop to work. George (my boss) called me back at 8:20 and said to come in monday, get everything taken care of. I felt SOOOO bad. I was at Midas from 7:30am (they opened at 8) to 6pm. They were busy, and I was a walk-in. But at least it was getting fixed that day. 715$. I knew all my brake lines were bad, I was just hoping to make it until the warmer weather and do them myself. The bulk of this was labor, I could easily do it, just not in 20 degrees. It's a big job, but I've done worse. I'd been eyeing a kit from Ebay- 60$. I know that's a big expense for a 21 year old car, and it was about where I'd draw my line, but I was screwed, and needed a car. The reality is after owning and working on the car for 20 years (I do most of my own work), I know the condition of almost every part on that car. So I know if there's something "looming on the horizon", there really wasn't. So I bit the bullet and got my car fixed.

What a friggin day....

You guys have any stories like that you'd like to share?

[Sliderpoint]

Man, that sucks! Sounds like the new boss is understanding so far, so that is good.

I've had a couple similar things, but mine were to catch a flight the next morning for work. But still have kids and wife puking in the middle of the night. Then trying to reschedule flights, hotels and tell work I won't be there in the morning. Sucks.

-Mike


-Mike

[Pintrepid]

Dang! Infuriational overload in the extreme! 

Well ... hope Monday is MUCH better!

As for me ... finding any job in my trade is a serious PITA around here. A job came open at the power co for printing the electric bills and other power co materials. When I went to interview, I found that 4 other people from my old job had also applied, and that 2 of them were better qualified than me ... so much for that, or so I thought.

Somehow, they picked me out of 5 candidates. And so the on-boarding process began.

BTW, I wouldn't be working for the power co, but rather for the recruiter ... don't even get me started on that!

So the process began. The scrutiny made me feel like an ex-con, so extensive was the background screening, drug test, everything. Finally, they had a start date for me ... pending hearing back from one of my references.

But then they say that the last reference would not work because he wasn't a manager who had directly supervised my work at my last employer. They needed a 2nd direct supervisor or production manager to vouch for my employment.

I explained to them that that was difficult because many of the direct management had long moved on. The plant was closing and the company went bankrupt. I'd been unemployed 6 months since it closed and didn't have contact info for a 2nd direct supervisor.

Well the recruiter said that I couldn't start until they had that reference. I had other references, business contacts, personal references. But these did not work.

In the end, I cancelled my application. This was my infuriational overload. If this  recruiter was gonna be THIS much of a PITA, and for a TEMP job, I got better things to do. I thanked them profusely for totally wasting my time! 

Well, at least I now have a little game room time. 

i wish I could be like that guy from TNT Amusements and just restore pinballs and video games. No more corporate insanity!

TNT Amusements - Bally KISS Pinball

[Itchigo]

Finally got in for my first day. Really nice place, relaxed. As opposed to working as if I was an illegal at my old job.... I DON'T have to work within an inch of my life, AND I get a 1 hour lunch?! Holy crap!!

                                                      OLD JOB                               |                                  NEW JOB
Everyone trying to keep their head above water.                                              People are nice and not rushed.
No time to train anyone.
                                                                                                                       
No lunch, 15 minutes if you're lucky.                                                               1 hour lunch                                                             

Can't understand anyone as 80-90% or the warehouse is illegal.                      Nice people I can understand. I don't care about race,
                                                                                                                        But English is the language of this company.

Hours are treated like gold. Extra hours are to be avoided.                               More money.

A supervisor trying to get rid of me to save his own job.                                   A "Manager" position I can actually use on my resume.


                                                                                                                       I think I did well!!!

[Sliderpoint]

Good to hear!



-Mike

[GSGregg]

I've been looking for a new job for months. I had a bad situation at work, and had been looking for quite a while. I finally found something. This is the job I have WANTED. What I was meant to do (imo). I made it happen and got the job. I went to bed early to make sure I wasn't tired and fully ready for anything.....I was wrong.

Huh? How did I miss this? Oh, well.....

Let's see; you fixed your brake line on Jan 30, took delivery of the clone about Feb 20, and found rust shortly thereafter. I think getting to Midas in one piece and getting the new, preferable job constitute a net positive benefit.....

I had a bit of a 'What a friggin' Day ( night, actually). Friday night, Mar 11, I stopped at the local Ralphs market just before 2AM closing, and when I got back in the car, the friggin' night and its aftermath began. But I'll save myself a bunch of typing and just copy - paste part of an email I sent out:

Damned Ethanol! Fuel economy is down at least 15% from the Good Ole Days, and the Buick(my '66 Skylark Gran Sport 401 with 475K miles) was never an Energy Star go-kart anyway. Fuel evaporating from the carburetor overnight, plus shutting off to avoid waste in places like fast-food lanes and drive-through ATMs, necessitate more starts and restarts, which leave burnt / oxidized spots on the starter solenoid's contact disc and terminal studs; even though the disc is free to spin, presenting some new surface each time, eventually the entire disc is compromised and even though the solenoid is working (sounds like part click, part clunk), the starter itself gets no current.

That's when AAA gets called.

Had the car towed home, but left in front of the house rather than have the tow guy try to aim the car into the driveway (avoiding the block wall) on my narrow street at around 3AM with sleeping neighbors.

Pondered for a week, then borrowed my corner neighbor with a pair of small dollies, with which we swung the rear end perpendicular and oozed the car into place, keeping me from risking a legs-versus-idiot mishap if I tried to do the starter in the street. However, before the oozing, the car had to be moved forward (and up the sloping street) about 15 feet to put the front end even with the driveway, and electing do do that while the neighbor socialized with his home-from-work wife, I apparently managed to compress a few vertebrae or discs or something, resulting in a real nice backache.

I have two other running cars, so no rush---but a week spent 'helping' myself on and off of the couch could have been lived without.
____________________________________________

Enjoy that lunch hour, Itch! 

Gregg

[Itchigo]

It wasn't that I found rust shortly thereafter, it's I decided the rust had progressed enough, and wasn't practical to fix. The "new" car came about rather quickly as I saw a listing and acted on it. I was still kind of on the fence about it. The new one seems to have it's own issues, but is a better platform than the old one, but the old one has a MUCH stronger engine. The 84k engine runs fine, sounds like a sewing machine, like it should. I'm guessing it needs to be cleaned out in every way. I only changed the oil so far. The 164k one had an exhaust leak- it stopped on it's own... The manifold leak was so bad I thought it was going to throw a rod- it sounded like heavy lifter tick. My mindset is: just make it another month. The tick has completely gone away- on it's own! I have done nothing because I only need it to run for another few weeks, why work on it and waste my time? But now... it'll lay a patch! It couldn't do that before! You know how the imports sound like a pissed off mosquito? That's what mine sounds like now! (it IS a Mazda engine after all).

You weren't able to start it by hitting it with a hammer? A lot of times hitting it with a hammer while cranking will free it up enough to get it home.

New job is still going great. If it was anyone else beside this guy as my boss I'd have been screwed. He's too nice and gives too many 2nd chances, to the point they walk all over him. He's surprised as hell I actually want to do something- not just go through the motions. It's been a while to where I've had my own warehouse, in fact I have the entire building (2nd in command), but I'm doing it like I've been doing it all my life. And speaking of pizza, when we hit our numbers I'm having a pizza party for the whole warehouse!

[GSGregg]

The 84k engine runs fine...I'm guessing it needs to be cleaned out in every way.

I recommend Rislone Engine Treatment for cleaning a dirty engine; used to be one quart subbing for a quart of oil, but is now concentrated to 500ml / 16.9 oz. It can be left in for the entire oil cycle, as it lubes and isn't detrimental like some flushes. When satisfied that it's clean enough, I use 8 oz, Marvel Mystery Oil at changes to maintain.

The 164k one had an exhaust leak- it stopped on it's own...it'll lay a patch! It couldn't do that before!

Odd that the leak didn't simply burn itself larger...maybe now that it's quieter, you just put your foot farther into it 

You weren't able to start it by hitting it with a hammer?

That works when the starter brushes are right on the threshold of contact loss, when the armature has stopped on a 'dead' spot, indicated by the solenoid not pulling or clicking because the Pull coil grounds through the starter windings---no click because the Hold coil (which grounds through the housing the normal way) is too weak to overcome the plunger return spring. I was getting the 'healthy' click because brush contact was still good; a little time on the wire wheel and the disc is ready for a few more years.

However, I still say, "Damned Ethanol!"

...when we hit our numbers I'm having a pizza party for the whole warehouse!

Be sure and post when that happens; I have a Presto Pizzazz Revolving Pizza Oven, and I'll join you---at a distance!

[GSGregg]

There IS a method that would work, if the driver-side exhaust manifold and tacked-on heat shield weren't hugging the starter and blocking access (These GM A-bodies were designed for V-sixes and small-block V8s, and the after-thought big-blocks really cluttered things up).

With the ignition switch held in Start to operate the solenoid and engage the starter pinion with the ring gear, a screwdriver or other suitable tool would THEN bridge the two main terminals of the solenoid, applying current to the starter motor.

[Itchigo]

With the ignition switch held in Start to operate the solenoid and engage the starter pinion with the ring gear, a screwdriver or other suitable tool would THEN bridge the two main terminals of the solenoid, applying current to the starter motor.

Been there, done that.

Had a marked change this week. The weather got colder this week (30's), and it started running BAD. To the point of I took my new car to work one day when it started, and it's not ready yet... I thought it was a big piece of dirt in the fuel, but that may not be it. It's almost like it's running on 3 cylinders. The reality is I'm not fixing it anyway. It has to run 2 more weeks or so, then I strip it down for parts.

[GSGregg]

Had a marked change this week. The weather got colder this week (30's).....

That would induce a marked change in ME (blue fingers, toes, and whatever else appends.....and it'd happen long before the thirties!

Did you read that Oakland, CA reached 91*F yesterday?

[Itchigo]

No I didn't. We have a few more days of sleetballs, and then back to spring. That won't stop me. I have to do tie rods, ball joints, and brakes this weekend. Then it's back to the shop to find out why I have torquesteer after changing out the cv axle. I didn't have it before... But I was right about this new place. They bought me a door!

[GSGregg]

Another DOH! moment: I couldn't recall you saying one of the Escorts needed a door...then I realized what the attached orange thing is that is staring at me (*hic*). Coming up on half past noon now, and I've been up since 3PM yesterday, so maybe I'll try to catch a few.....

[Itchigo]

The doors are actually rust free on the new car.