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FBBO Benefit Auction for @moparedtn!

Spent the day on the tractor, working on the silage in between the monsoons that have
been plaguing the region the last few weeks pretty much every day.
It doesn't simply rain here much anymore - each day brings a storm, complete with
biblical proportion downpours that have wrecked our 1/4 mile gravel road.

Yesterday, while I was off in Alcoa, TN getting my backflow license renewed (that's a
story unto itself!), my wife oversaw delivery of desperately needed gravel at the house.
That would not have been possible without you folks! :)
I worked that rascal with the box blade on the tractor until it looked like something out
of an vintage Norman Rockwell painting. It's a pretty thin coating (rock ain't cheap anymore)
but it probably saved the road, honestly.
Whew. One less thing to worry over, at least for now. :thumbsup:
 
Holy cow, I get to embarrass yet another one of you!!
@69B7RR Jim, what you sent today via PayPal was totally unexpected and the note
enclosed was SO kind!
THANK YOU!! :thankyou:
 
On the job search front, it's been minimally hopeful this week....
I'm scheduled for "pre-interview" this and "you're on level 3" progress on that for
"real" positions for which I am imminently qualified. No hopes getting raised here
prematurely, but as long as something is in the works, it keeps me going for now...

On a related front, I've always kept my own state backflow license current for 20+ years
now. That license is a personal one, not a company one and even though I haven't been
really active in the actual performing of such tasks for a number of years now, I've always
liked to keep my fingers in things.
What started as a mandated sideline back in the 90's (I'm a fire sprinkler guy by trade)
has turned quite lucrative over the years, so I just keep the license current by attending the
3-year mandatory recertification classes over the years - and it turns out, I'm pretty good at
the things, too, which doesn't hurt.

So yesterday, off I go to a town a couple hours away to do just that, once again attempt to
get through yet another recertification process. Why? Mostly because it cost money and I had
paid for it back before all the quarantining and all that - and what the heck, I got nothing better
to do anyways, right?

The state's proctors overseeing the program spend a few hours updating the class on the latest
backflow "news" and any changes to their regulations (yes, it's as BORING as it sounds!) - and
then it's time for the "practical" tests one has to pass in order to be blessed with the license for
another 3 years....
...and proctors LOVE to catch you doing something, ANYTHING, wrong during your practical tests
so they can fail you and send you home empty-handed!
Hey, we all have purpose in our lives based on something, right?

"Performance anxiety", indeed - I've seen men who I know darn well are experts at these devices
freeze up during such tests, due to performance anxiety issues - I mean, with some of these guys,
their very JOBS depend on that freakin' license.
No pressure, right?
Anyways, it's a chance for me to get out of the house and do some traveling to old stomping grounds
(Knoxville area) - and like I said, I've already paid for it anyways and it WOULD be interesting to see if
my involuntary isolation meant I had "lost a step" - or even cared about this shiyat anymore, honestly.

Well, any nervousness or misgivings I may have had as I approached that class quickly dissipated, I'm
happy to report. In fact, it turned out to be a good day - and I'll certainly take one of THOSE!
The proctor was a genuine good dude and not like those in the past from the state - he was most interested
in seeing everyone actually pass the test and was willing to help in most any regard to that end.
Refreshing!
He knew me a bit from years past, too - which meant of course, I got recruited to help a bit with the class.
(Old man Ed = teachers' pet?)
He took his cues on when to call for a break when he saw me dozing off in class, honestly. :)
Further, as he was busy testing others later on, I roamed around the others in the class, chatting with them,
keeping them loose and on task and helping if I could.
It was nice too, to visit with some old brothers in arms from a competing sprinkler company in my area.
We all know one another - no animosity, small world, all that jazz. News was shared and a general good
fellowship was had by all. The others in the class saw that too and relaxed some...

Once I had deferred to others for my turn to be certified/tested and there were no others left, the proctor
turned to me with a grin and said "your turn there Ed, let's see if I can catch you messing up."
Lovely....but I figured heck with it, let's see if I can still do this?
Well....
I smoked it, both assemblies, zero mistakes at lightning speed - all the while, keeping up a light-hearted
conversation with the proctor and some of the others that had stuck around to see how I did. :)
One of the fellas I didn't know asks the proctor "how did he DO that?"
Proctor shakes his head and says "he's old...."
Class cracks up in laughter, the tension over.
Oh - and everyone passed.:thumbsup:
So yeah, it didn't help a dang thing in my search for a gig - but it was a good day nonetheless.
 
khryslerkid said:
And I thought of this...


Hey congrats :thumbsup:

Is the instructor retiring soon? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Heh, it ain't rocket science - and honestly, I've had that license longer than anyone in that class (or probably, anyone at the state level for that matter),
including the proctor.
Perhaps ironically, I had no interest in the things for the longest time (few sprinkler guys do, really); only reason I got into them was because they became mandatory with the installation of all fire sprinkler systems (90's) and the boss where I was working at the time decided to make me go off for training for them, even though I was the systems design engineer in those days.
When I asked "why me?" he said "you're probably the only one here that could pass it."
Swell... eh, got paid for a week of goofing off in Murfreesboro. Nice hotel, good eats... :)

What the class a couple days ago showed me was two things, really:
1. I'm not done with enjoying one of the fields I've spent my life in.
2. I can still hack it.
Always looking for signs of hope...
 
Thank you for the videos Ed.:thumbsup: Great, Great Job. I even saw jack stands next to the floor jack...:lol: Fred looks incredible and your wife is amazing as well. Keep on loving them both and I wish you the best with the ongoing job search.

Thank you to everyone involved both public and private. The combined efforts of many has made a world of difference for one “nobody”. You are all amazing!! :thankyou::thankyou::thankyou:
 
UPDATE #14!
Thursday morning "Let's see your items as you receive them!" Edition.
I figured it would make for a shorter post to just list those remaining winners
I have not heard anything from as of yet, so here goes:

10. Mopar Prestolite dual points and condenser donated by HALIFAXHOPS
High bid: $50 @Pops1967GTX

37. Mopar "hot wheels" style '69 Charger Daytona Hemi car donated by BigCountryMopar
High bid: $30 @roadrunner69440

41. FBBO can coozie donated by moparwacko
High bidder: @69 GTX (Sending by mail)

Did I miss anyone? Any errors?
THANK YOU ALL!!
Ed
 
moparsaver said:
Thank you for the videos Ed.:thumbsup: Great, Great Job. I even saw jack stands next to the floor jack...:lol: Fred looks incredible and your wife is amazing as well. Keep on loving them both and I wish you the best with the ongoing job search.

Thank you to everyone involved both public and private. The combined efforts of many has made a world of difference for one “nobody”. You are all amazing!! :thankyou::thankyou::thankyou:
Click to expand...
Thank you so much, Guy! LOL Yes, I actually use those stands once in a while. :)
You know, I tried really hard to get my wife to appear on the video, but failed. Camera shy...
This whole thing sure pulled this FBBO community together for my sorry carcass in a most unexpected,
and WONDERFUL, way!:thumbsup:
 
moparedtn said:
Heh, it ain't rocket science - and honestly, I've had that license longer than anyone in that class (or probably, anyone at the state level for that matter),
including the proctor.
Perhaps ironically, I had no interest in the things for the longest time (few sprinkler guys do, really); only reason I got into them was because they became mandatory with the installation of all fire sprinkler systems (90's) and the boss where I was working at the time decided to make me go off for training for them, even though I was the systems design engineer in those days.
When I asked "why me?" he said "you're probably the only one here that could pass it."
Swell... eh, got paid for a week of goofing off in Murfreesboro. Nice hotel, good eats... :)

What the class a couple days ago showed me was two things, really:
1. I'm not done with enjoying one of the fields I've spent my life in.
2. I can still hack it.
Always looking for signs of hope...
Click to expand...

I use to go for a Stationary Engineers certificate working maintenance for a hospital. There were several questions that were incorrect or no longer in effect so you had to know which ones they were in order to pass. The first time I took the class and the test the instructor made sure to tell us what to watch out for. You would think they would just make the corrections and update the questions. I really enjoyed that job.
 
Thank you @CudaChick1968 for your idea and your effort.
Nice to know that there are still people around who go out of their way to do the heavy lifting.

Thank you as well to all who participated in this heart-felt cause and finally to FU64RY for getting the parcel out so expeditiously.
It arrived today completely unscathed ... bubble wrap, packing peanuts and all. Great job!
 
UPDATE #15!
Thursday afternoon "I'd still love to see your items as you receive them!" Edition.
Got a couple of great updates!
I figured it would make for a shorter post to just list those remaining winners
I have not heard anything from as of yet, so here goes:

10. Mopar Prestolite dual points and condenser donated by HALIFAXHOPS
High bidder: @Pops1967GTX - PAID!
Thank you Brad!! :)

Special shout out to Brent @BDF6 for a surprising and unexpected letter.
Thank you yet again, my friend!

Ok, that just leaves us with (1) I haven't heard from:
37. Mopar "hot wheels" style '69 Charger Daytona Hemi car donated by BigCountryMopar
High bid: $30 @roadrunner69440

And (1) just waiting on the mailman:
41. FBBO can coozie donated by moparwacko
High bidder: @69 GTX (Sending by mail)

Did I miss anyone? Any errors?
THANK YOU ALL!!
Ed
 
f569 said:
Thank you @CudaChick1968 for your idea and your effort.
Nice to know that there are still people around who go out of their way to do the heavy lifting.

Thank you as well to all who participated in this heart-felt cause and finally to FU64RY for getting the parcel out so expeditiously.
It arrived today completely unscathed ... bubble wrap, packing peanuts and all. Great job!
Click to expand...
Amen!
Now, you know what I'd love to see:
:xscuseless:
 
moparedtn said:
On the job search front, it's been minimally hopeful this week....
I'm scheduled for "pre-interview" this and "you're on level 3" progress on that for
"real" positions for which I am imminently qualified. No hopes getting raised here
prematurely, but as long as something is in the works, it keeps me going for now...

On a related front, I've always kept my own state backflow license current for 20+ years
now. That license is a personal one, not a company one and even though I haven't been
really active in the actual performing of such tasks for a number of years now, I've always
liked to keep my fingers in things.
What started as a mandated sideline back in the 90's (I'm a fire sprinkler guy by trade)
has turned quite lucrative over the years, so I just keep the license current by attending the
3-year mandatory recertification classes over the years - and it turns out, I'm pretty good at
the things, too, which doesn't hurt.

So yesterday, off I go to a town a couple hours away to do just that, once again attempt to
get through yet another recertification process. Why? Mostly because it cost money and I had
paid for it back before all the quarantining and all that - and what the heck, I got nothing better
to do anyways, right?

The state's proctors overseeing the program spend a few hours updating the class on the latest
backflow "news" and any changes to their regulations (yes, it's as BORING as it sounds!) - and
then it's time for the "practical" tests one has to pass in order to be blessed with the license for
another 3 years....
...and proctors LOVE to catch you doing something, ANYTHING, wrong during your practical tests
so they can fail you and send you home empty-handed!
Hey, we all have purpose in our lives based on something, right?

"Performance anxiety", indeed - I've seen men who I know darn well are experts at these devices
freeze up during such tests, due to performance anxiety issues - I mean, with some of these guys,
their very JOBS depend on that freakin' license.
No pressure, right?
Anyways, it's a chance for me to get out of the house and do some traveling to old stomping grounds
(Knoxville area) - and like I said, I've already paid for it anyways and it WOULD be interesting to see if
my involuntary isolation meant I had "lost a step" - or even cared about this shiyat anymore, honestly.

Well, any nervousness or misgivings I may have had as I approached that class quickly dissipated, I'm
happy to report. In fact, it turned out to be a good day - and I'll certainly take one of THOSE!
The proctor was a genuine good dude and not like those in the past from the state - he was most interested
in seeing everyone actually pass the test and was willing to help in most any regard to that end.
Refreshing!
He knew me a bit from years past, too - which meant of course, I got recruited to help a bit with the class.
(Old man Ed = teachers' pet?)
He took his cues on when to call for a break when he saw me dozing off in class, honestly. :)
Further, as he was busy testing others later on, I roamed around the others in the class, chatting with them,
keeping them loose and on task and helping if I could.
It was nice too, to visit with some old brothers in arms from a competing sprinkler company in my area.
We all know one another - no animosity, small world, all that jazz. News was shared and a general good
fellowship was had by all. The others in the class saw that too and relaxed some...

Once I had deferred to others for my turn to be certified/tested and there were no others left, the proctor
turned to me with a grin and said "your turn there Ed, let's see if I can catch you messing up."
Lovely....but I figured heck with it, let's see if I can still do this?
Well....
I smoked it, both assemblies, zero mistakes at lightning speed - all the while, keeping up a light-hearted
conversation with the proctor and some of the others that had stuck around to see how I did. :)
One of the fellas I didn't know asks the proctor "how did he DO that?"
Proctor shakes his head and says "he's old...."
Class cracks up in laughter, the tension over.
Oh - and everyone passed.:thumbsup:
So yeah, it didn't help a dang thing in my search for a gig - but it was a good day nonetheless.
Click to expand...
He's old LOL!!
 
moparedtn said:
Amen!
Now, you know what I'd love to see:
:xscuseless:
Click to expand...
Packaged well.

20200904_065454.jpg 20200904_065513.jpg
 
Looks good next to my "other" '69.
The start of a collection?

20200904_070248.jpg 20200904_070346.jpg
 
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