Re: Well, it's been a while

[Jim Davis <Madno@xxxxxxx>]

On Friday, July 28, 2023 at 3:48:54=E2=80=AFPM UTC-4, Bob La Londe wrote:
> On 7/26/2023 2:47 PM, ABLE1 wrote:=20
> > On 7/26/2023 3:35 PM, Jim Davis wrote:=20
> >> On Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 1:09:04=E2=80=AFPM UTC-4, Bob La Londe =
wrote:=20
> >>> On 7/26/2023 9:07 AM, ABLE1 wrote:=20
> >>>> On 7/25/2023 2:32 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:=20
> >>>>> On 7/25/2023 7:43 AM, ABLE1 wrote:=20
> >>>>>> On 7/19/2023 8:52 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:=20
> >>>>>>> On 7/19/2023 4:56 PM, ABLE1 wrote:=20
> >>>>>>>> On 7/19/2023 12:18 AM, Jim Davis wrote:=20
> >>>>>>>>> Wow! Can't believe I haven't looked in on ASA for about a month=
.=20
> >>>>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>>> Been REEEEEELY busy. All kinds of upgrades, and new special job=
s=20
> >>>>>>>>> and trying out a different aspect of CCTV=20
> >>>>>>>>> I'm doing all the Ethernet and telephone wire runs in a a ten=
=20
> >>>>>>>>> office business. Existing customer is opening a new branch.=20
> >>>>>>>>> Running all the thermostat wires for a customer that want's to=
=20
> >>>>>>>>> upgrade from the old mercury thermostats to the Ecobee=20
> >>>>>>>>> programmable remote access units. Laying wires for outdoor=20
> >>>>>>>>> speakers around pool and cabana for Sonos sound system. Doing=
=20
> >>>>>>>>> upgrades to Napco Starlink Connect remote access.=20
> >>>>>>>>> ,=20
> >>>>>>>>> Did and Access control install for one office door. And lots of=
=20
> >>>>>>>>> little piddley service calls. Little busier than I like it but=
=20
> >>>>>>>>> can't I guess that's a good complaint.=20
> >>>>>>>>> .=20
> >>>>>>>>> I don't have many commercial accounts left but one of the one's=
 I=20
> >>>>>>>>> have has CCTV cameras on outside of building and sure nuff I ha=
d=20
> >>>>>>>>> to get up on a freakin 20 foot ladder and change the camera. I=
=20
> >>>>>>>>> wonder if a parachute would open in that short a distance?  Or,=
 I=20
> >>>>>>>>> was thinking that if I got a bucket of cement and put a rope ti=
ed=20
> >>>>>>>>> around me through a pulley attached to the roof of the building=
,=20
> >>>>>>>>> If I fell, it would let me down easy. But I calculated that the=
=20
> >>>>>>>>> cost of that much cement was too much ^ v ^=20
> >>>>>>>>> .=20
> >>>>>>>>> Hey Les, what are you doing with all your spare time now?=20
> >>>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>> Hey Jim,=20
> >>>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>> Well I will have to say that every day is a Saturday!!=20
> >>>>>>>> Although my daily work load is nothing like yours..............=
=20
> >>>>>>>> I must say that you need to find a way to slow down........ a bi=
t!!=20
> >>>>>>>> :-)=20
> >>>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>> My biggest frustration is that my phone won't stop ringing with=
=20
> >>>>>>>> calls=20
> >>>>>>>> from previous customers.  Wanting help with this and that!!!  Or=
 to=20
> >>>>>>>> complain that I should have forewarned them that I was quitting =
the=20
> >>>>>>>> business!!  Or that the new guys don't answer or return their=20
> >>>>>>>> calls.=20
> >>>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>> So other than all that stuff, I have managed to get my 92' Honda=
=20
> >>>>>>>> Goldwing out of my garage, removed the OLD gas, loaded new, and =
it=20
> >>>>>>>> started up and runs great after I creatively fixed a gas leak fr=
om=20
> >>>>>>>> the carburetor.  It hasn't be running for maybe 11 years or so.=
=20
> >>>>>>>> Now I am in negotiations to either convert it into a Trike or=20
> >>>>>>>> trade it=20
> >>>>>>>> in on a Trike.  I should have a plan by the end of this week.  I=
=20
> >>>>>>>> would like to take a few road trips just to enjoy the freedom of=
=20
> >>>>>>>> the ride.=20
> >>>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>> Other than that I have been fixing up things around the house=20
> >>>>>>>> that I=20
> >>>>>>>> have been putting off because I was too busy with business.=20
> >>>>>>>> N-O-W I=20
> >>>>>>>> can spend the time doing those Saturday jobs on any day of the=
=20
> >>>>>>>> week!!=20
> >>>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>> Then there is the..........................................=20
> >>>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>> BTW I need to ask!! Hey Bob, what is your local temperature and=
=20
> >>>>>>>> is it=20
> >>>>>>>> too much??  I hope you have your shop with a cooling device that=
=20
> >>>>>>>> runs!!=20
> >>>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>> Later all,=20
> >>>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>> Les=20
> >>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>> Get it converted if you aren't comfortable on two anymore.  I hav=
e=20
> >>>>>>> had the chance to ride side hacks and trikes.  Both have their=20
> >>>>>>> headaches. Both beat not riding.=20
> >>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>> I don't really like the heavy weight tourers anymore.  I feel lik=
e=20
> >>>>>>> they have gotten so much heavier.  I finally sold the '03 Roadgli=
de=20
> >>>>>>> (my wife's bike) to a cousin a couple years ago, but its 880ish=
=20
> >>>>>>> pound curb weight is a freaking lot.  I seem to recall my old '97=
=20
> >>>>>>> FLHT (was only in the 660-700 range.  Maybe its just remembering =
how=20
> >>>>>>> much stronger I used to be.  LOL.  I don't remember any of my=20
> >>>>>>> Goldwings being that heavy either.  (75 GL1000 x 2 and 84 GL1200)=
.=20
> >>>>>>> I would mind scoring another old (75 or 76) GL1000, but I probabl=
y=20
> >>>>>>> wouldn't ride it much.  I tried to keep riding after my wreck,=20
> >>>>>>> but... I get antsy after about 30-40 minutes and can't wait to ge=
t=20
> >>>>>>> it back in the garage. Doesn't stop until the kick stand is down =
and=20
> >>>>>>> it rocks over. I don't have anything with even remotely current t=
ags=20
> >>>>>>> now.  I think the Vulcan Mean Streak was last tagged in 2015.=20
> >>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>> Well Bob, I have (frustratingly) made a decision on my Honda Goldw=
ing=20
> >>>>>> and Suzuki GS550.  I have sold them to a local shop.  The decision=
=20
> >>>>>> was a=20
> >>>>>> bit challenging but the final deal will happen today and the bikes=
=20
> >>>>>> will be picked up and gone!!  Goldwing left yesterday and Suzuki w=
ill=20
> >>>>>> leave tomorrow.=20
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>> There are a lot of personal issues that molded the final decision.=
=20
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>> I hope somebody's will enjoy their future rides with fun and=20
> >>>>>> enjoyment!!=20
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>> Les=20
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>> I've been looking at Silverwings (Real ones.  Not scooters) on-line=
=20
> >>>>> lately.  I had the father of the Silver wing at one time.  The CX50=
0.=20
> >>>>> There are a few GL500s within reasonable driving distance, but I do=
n't=20
> >>>>> see any of the 650.  I'm not going to buy one, but I always wanted =
one=20
> >>>>> before I got into Harleys.=20
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>> Maybe you should look at one of those VW rail trikes if you can fin=
d=20
> >>>>> one at a reasonable price.=20
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>>=20
> >>>> Well I gots meself a new plan in the works for future considerations=
.=20
> >>>>=20
> >>>> I dug my '77 Suzuki GS550 out of the garage.  I had to re-inflate th=
e=20
> >>>> tires since they were very flat, on the 'bottom'.  It has not run si=
nce=20
> >>>> 2004 or 2005.  I cleaned out the old gas, as much as I could out of =
the=20
> >>>> tank.  I then put about 1/2 gallon of fresh in the tank.  I removed =
the=20
> >>>> battery and added some Distilled Water and placed on my charger.=20
> >>>> Charged it for 24 hours.  Checked the voltage and it held at 12.4vdc=
=20
> >>>> for=20
> >>>> a while.  Re-installed the battery.  Placed the choke to full on,=20
> >>>> cranked the throttle a couple of times and turned on the key.  Light=
s=20
> >>>> came on, in neutral, pressed the start button it turned over and wit=
hin=20
> >>>> 20 seconds it coughed and sputtered and then started.=20
> >>>>=20
> >>>> WOW!!!=20
> >>>>=20
> >>>> Not sure at this point but I think I am going to work on a different=
=20
> >>>> plan for the future.  :-)=20
> >>>>=20
> >>>> Later,=20
> >>>>=20
> >>>> Les=20
> >>>>=20
> >>> Oh, yeah, about the heat... Its been over 110 every single day for=20
> >>> about 3 weeks now. I tried to work outside on an old boat a couple=20
> >>> days, but even under a popup shade it was pretty miserable. My wife=
=20
> >>> said it was 118 yesterday. Walking out to the mail box for my latest=
=20
> >>> prize scored off ebay has been a real chore. Not worth it for the bil=
ls=20
> >>> and junk mail.=20
> >>>=20
> >>> I don't know exactly what is going on in the back shop. For some reas=
on=20
> >>> its not as hot as I remember it in past years with similar outside=20
> >>> temperatures. The office and little machine room are air conditioned,=
=20
> >>> but the back shop where the big lathe and big mills are is not. Oh, i=
ts=20
> >>> hot back there, but not as stifflingly miserable as I recall.=20
> >>>=20
> >>> Tomorrow is my day off, so I'm going to try and fit a new sole out of=
 a=20
> >>> sheet of aluminum into "Another Boat Project That May Never Get=20
> >>> Finished" in the morning, and work on a machine in the shop in the=20
> >>> afternoon.=20
> >>>=20
> >>> I have not yet decided which which machine. You guys can vote on whic=
h=20
> >>> one if you like. I may ignore you like a true politician, but you can=
=20
> >>> vote anyway.=20
> >>>=20
> >>> 1. I've got a 3 phase Taiwanese turret lathe I'd like to get running.=
=20
> >>> Phase converter (VFD), dirt, and some new cover panels. This one may =
be=20
> >>> the easiest to get into running trim. Its also settign on dollies and=
=20
> >>> its small enough I could roll it inside the little machine room where=
=20
> >>> its cooler to work on... after I sweep a path through the chips.=20
> >>>=20
> >>> 2. Hurco KMB1 with a catastrophic ball screw failure. Went from .001=
=20
> >>> baklash to .030-.040 backlash in the middle of a job. This would=20
> >>> probably be the most profitable to fix.=20
> >>>=20
> >>> 3. CNC bridge mill/router build... this one will be the most work=20
> >>> since have barely started on it. Its also likely to be the most fun (=
in=20
> >>> the end) since I plan to use it for mostly odd projects like license=
=20
> >>> plate plaques (for states that only require one plate in the back)=20
> >>> awards plaques, machined labels for stuff in the shop Looks cooler th=
an=20
> >>> it sounds), signs and other things that are not part of my regular=20
> >>> product line.=20
> >>> --=20
> >>> Bob La Londe=20
> >>> Proffessional Hack, Hobbyist, Wannabe, Shade Tree, Button Pushing, No=
t a=20
> >>> real machinist=20
> >>>=20
> >>>=20
> >>> --=20
> >>> This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.=20
> >>> www.avg.com=20
> >>=20
> >>=20
> >> I vote for # 3=20
> >> At this point FUN is more important.=20
> >=20
> > I would have to agree #3!!=20
> > Just because!!  :-)=20
> >=20
> >
> Well, this is how it went.=20
>=20
> Mostly I make molds to order. This means I have a lead time of course.=20
> Occasionally I'll make an extra. Sometimes it more efficient to make=20
> multiples than to make just one. Sometimes I have some extra stock just=
=20
> the right size. Sometimes I just feel like it. Often I will offer=20
> those molds on eBay at a higher price for those people who will not wait=
=20
> for my normal lead times. It works. I make occasional sales that way,=20
> and it promotes name recognition in my market. Last night a customer=20
> contacted me to ask if I would ship right away because they were going=20
> out of town in a few days and didn't want porch pirates to have a shot=20
> at their package. Yeah, no problem. I printed a label, gathered up=20
> some shipping materials only to discover the mold is not on the shelf.=20
> I was in the shop instead, so I could get their mold done before the=20
> carrier arrived to pick it up. Of course it uses a stainless steel=20
> insert rod and I was out of that size rod so I had to run down to the=20
> local metal yard to pick up a piece.=20
>=20
> So much for my day off.
> --=20
> Bob La Londe=20
> CNC Molds N Stuff

Hmmm=20
So ?
What wrong with that?
Just sounds like a regular bloody day --- to me.
I Make a schedule at the beginning of the week.=20
When I look back at my calendar two weeks later, it looks like it chased a =
fart through a keg of nails. Cross-outs,  arrows, write-in's, erasures, wri=
te =3D overs, RE-write=3Dover's, time changes, telephone numbers. But someh=
ow it all makes sense and the work (most of it) gets done. What doesn't get=
 done that week gets done the next or next or - - - - -
it's ok though. How else can you tell you're alive and thinking. It's bette=
r than sitting on my ass watching re-runs of the Andy Griffith show through=
 drowsy eyes and gaining another pound every day.