bmsgaffer 2,043 #1 Posted March 24, 2016 (edited) Hey everyone! Just had a few minutes tonight to check in on the square. Everything took a crazy turn back in November and I havent been on here for more than a few minutes since then. So lets rewind to November: I worked as an electrical engineer and sole employee of an LLC that worked on industrial electronics, the job was good and it was slow paced so I had lots of time to check in on things here. Well, with a combination of issues like poor management of a buyout and slow times for the customers my parent company couldn't afford to pay me so I got "restructured" out of a job. I wasnt surprised, as they made some decisions that I thought were bad ideas... and they were, but we parted on very good terms. That whole fiasco is a very long story by itself... By the grace of God, a company that I had been a customer of for 7+ years through various jobs had approached me with a job opening not but a few weeks before. I had declined because I had promised my then current employer that I would work there a minimum of three years (not binding in OH, but I am true to my word). I called them back on the Friday I was "restructured" and I had and interview the following Tuesday. Well I got that job and started at the end of December. It's a great job, faster paced, more challenging and more exciting. Now the downsides: its in a VERY small town 60 miles from my house. I am on the road for sometimes over 3 hours a day. I had to sell my beloved truck for something more economical and comfortable (and safe for inclement weather) for driving that distance. I really do like my 2016 Subaru Outback very much in its own right, but its no truck. (It does have a 2700lb tow rating though! Looking at trailers already) Sitting and waiting (ok not really, shes got 5000+ miles on her already) for a nice aluminum trailer so she can tow her first horse. So that job and the commute takes up much of the time outside of family time that I had for my projects and forums. I hope to get back on things as I settle down into the job, but I just wanted to let you guys know that I'm still alive and kicking and even slowly getting the garage cleaned up to get back to work on my 854 transmission and get the slight hydro leak in the 520H sorted out. I also plan on dropping a freshly rebuilt K341 into my 8 speed C-105. That should be my dead-reliable runner. So what did I miss? I mean I will try to browse through some of the 20,000+ posts that I have sitting unread, but I figure you guys can gimme the skinny. Edited March 26, 2016 by bmsgaffer 15 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Save Old Iron 1,563 #2 Posted March 24, 2016 (edited) That's the inherent beauty here - nothing really changes. Same issues, just new people. You didn't miss a thing. Glad things are coming together for you. As a field applications engineer, I sometimes miss the 1000 -1500 miles a week travel - sometimes !! Edited March 24, 2016 by Save Old Iron 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JPWH 5,308 #3 Posted March 24, 2016 Good to hear things are working out for you. Life sure has a way of changing our plans and routine. I had a commute change about 8 years ago. Went from 9 miles one way to 53 one way. Takes a while but things seem to level back out. Good to see you back here. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C-101plowerpower 1,605 #4 Posted March 24, 2016 welcome back subaru looks nice, big fan of them 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC9KAS 4,741 #5 Posted March 24, 2016 Good to hear from you, and glad you weren't without income for an extended amount of time.! The back of the Subrau will surely hold a tractor. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 38,965 #6 Posted March 24, 2016 8 minutes ago, KC9KAS said: The back of the Subrau will surely hold a tractor. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 14,909 #7 Posted March 24, 2016 Love the Subaru Brandon. My wife's 2002 Outback is still going strong, and she wouldn't part with it for anything. Any chance you will be driving yours out to the big WHCC show in June? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aldon 4,826 #8 Posted March 24, 2016 Good to hear from you and that you landed like the proverbial cat on your feet. Books on CD or Smart Phone App is the way to make that commute time more productive. Libraries often loan CD/DVD books on tape.... Living on east coast and having lived in DC Metro area as well, I have spent way too much of my life commuting. Although in my role, stress is often overwhelming so it is likely that the family was better off as I wound down before I hit the door step. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC 1965 1,528 #9 Posted March 24, 2016 Welcome back Brandon. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lane Ranger 10,495 #10 Posted March 24, 2016 Brandon - Glad you are back and glad you have a New Saddle ! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JimD 3,345 #11 Posted March 24, 2016 Welcome home! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,814 #12 Posted March 24, 2016 3 hours ago, rmaynard said: Any chance you will be driving yours out to the big WHCC show in June? Thats the one thing that sucks about starting a new job....building up vacation time! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bds1984 1,384 #13 Posted March 25, 2016 Welcome back! I made the opposite move in September. I went from driving to work, round trip of over 100 miles a day to four. What a world of a difference and I completely feel for you on the drive! I parked my horse hauler, 2005 Crown Victoria LX Sport, and bought a 2011 Fiesta hatchback for commuter duty that has been beaten up driving on I94 from Kalamazoo to Benton Harbor. From what I saved in gas every month made my car payment! I put a hitch on the Fiesta to pull my 5x8 trailer around if I found an attachment or something similar in weight that was local. Good luck! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmsgaffer 2,043 #14 Posted March 26, 2016 On 3/24/2016 at 7:00 AM, rmaynard said: Love the Subaru Brandon. My wife's 2002 Outback is still going strong, and she wouldn't part with it for anything. Any chance you will be driving yours out to the big WHCC show in June? Thanks Bob! There are very few people out there that will say bad things about a Subaru (especially if they owned one) and thats one of the reasons I went with it. Very smooth, i havea been more and more pleased witn it the more I drive it. I was able to test out the all wheel drive a little too and man is that fantastic! It felt really hooked up even with crummy factory all-seasons. I will probably not make the show this year. Between the job and having kids still too little for that drive, it would be a stretch. On 3/25/2016 at 9:25 PM, bds1984 said: Welcome back! I made the opposite move in September. I went from driving to work, round trip of over 100 miles a day to four. What a world of a difference and I completely feel for you on the drive! I parked my horse hauler, 2005 Crown Victoria LX Sport, and bought a 2011 Fiesta hatchback for commuter duty that has been beaten up driving on I94 from Kalamazoo to Benton Harbor. From what I saved in gas every month made my car payment! I put a hitch on the Fiesta to pull my 5x8 trailer around if I found an attachment or something similar in weight that was local. Good luck! Thanks! Yep I am saving the car payment in gas each month too. And its a lot more relaxing to drive on the two lane country roads I am taking. On 3/24/2016 at 5:07 AM, KC9KAS said: Good to hear from you, and glad you weren't without income for an extended amount of time.! The back of the Subrau will surely hold a tractor. Haha, ther will probably be a disassembled one back there a time or two! I am getting a hidden 2" receiver for it and I will be looking for a modestly sized aluminum trailer. Subaru says it can tow 2700lbs, and I plan on using it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
