Elliot's Trackside Diner XXII-Just a track over - Model Railroader Magazine

LSWrr

Chris, the scientific terminology is: methylethyleatyourfaceoff, this was a highly technical name we used in the Haz-Mat world during training exercises.

And THAT, my friend, is why I was always quite content to be "HAZMAT-Awareness Level." As-in, "I'll just go and 'be aware' of the HAZMAT someplace else...like maybe the next county over."

Uh-Oh...looks like Bambi done went and called the DNR on you...

Hello Superfund?

Life was easier when "HAZWOPER" meant your pal has lunch from Burger King, as-in "he has Whopper"

*Groan*

Or was it a cholesterol laden cardiac time-bomb burger?

"Oh, you had the HAZWOPER? OK, I'll put the cath lab on standby for you..."

Ba dum bum

Don't worry folks, it's early...and I'm just gettin' warmed-up. Haven't even hit the "holiday spirits" (in the bottle) yet...actually, I'm w**kin' for THAT this evening, doing a 2009 Year in Review piece for her.

In other news and views.... we got Tori (the pickup, yes...I named her, doesn't everybody name their pickup truck??) to the vehicle hospital today. Turns out the back end was worse than they thought, not as bad as I thought. A shift in strategy will get the rear "squared away" with the shocks (completely GONE), shackle brackets, rear differential cover (rusted through), and another leaky seal fixed/replaced. The front end issues will have to wait for another day. By pooling every single source of bank account, gift cards, Christmas cash, and grocery money... we have enough to cover with some to spare...until I start pouring gas into Tori for all of next week's w**k trips. "Should" get me through to the next payday...which at this point, I have no idea when it's gonna be. Mr. Boss hasn't put out the 2010 payroll calander yet. Some places pay every 2 weeks like clock-work. Others the 15th and 31st. Mr. Boss pays twice/month, but the dates for some reason always vary.

JR, I think you suggested freelancing... THATs actually how I started. Back in my college student/bum days, I chased the fire apparatus around Cedar Rapids and Linn County. Got three front-page color photos in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, and was in monthly when I'd beat their staff. Despite THAT effort, and hustle, etc.; I did NOT qualify for any internships...wrong college/degree program. Anyhow, living out here in the sticks, by the time I'd get to CR, Clinton, Quad Cities, Iowa City/Coralville... the dailies would have me beat. Cedar County is pretty "slow" when it comes to reportable incidents. The local weekly doesn't do a lot of car wrecks or house fires. Usually the amount of time between the incident and the next issue hitting the door step is so great, the news would be beyond stale (fatality accident? The corpse would be burried before the story was published). Not a bad idea...just not as practical as it once was.

I've spent many a long night pondering the possibilities.

TODD: Most of the time, I'm pretty content with the job, and the pay. It's just these "little unexpected expendatures" which blow the budget to Kingdom Come, THAT throw me into fiscal "holy CRAP! HOW are we gonna pay for THIS???" panic. So far, we've come through fine each time... And, each time, I go into mode thinking "IF I'da only done this, or IF I'da only done THAT...we wouldn't be in this mess." I probably blame myself too much...then again, I've known people who always find someone else to blame when the scatalogical material hits the rotating air mover...

Somebody once said "do what you love and the money will follow." Welp, I've found each time I've done what I "love," the money has NOT followed. Maybe it just got lost somewhere along the way???

Happy New Year to you-all, may we ALL enjoy better health, and better finances in the coming year. I think there are some Diners who are past-due for a break.

Chris