| Author | Message | ||
     Bluzm2 |
It's been a while since we've heard from Frank, anyone been in contact with him lately? Just want to be sure he's OK. Brad | ||
| Phelan |
I emailed with him a couple weeks ago. Hopefully I'll see him on Thanksgiving cu he happens to live in the same town as my fiancé's parents  . | ||
| F_skinner |
I'm still here Brad. Sometimes life takes up a lot of time. Frank | ||
| Court |
>>>I'm still here Brad. Sometimes life takes up a lot of time. Thanks for sending up a buoy and Happy Veterans Day . . you missed a hell of a party soldier ! | ||
| Bartimus |
Whew! I'm glad I don't have a life! Riding, drinking, and sleeping pretty much take all of my time.  | ||
| Ratbuell |
Glad to see you post, Frank. I'm right there with ya on the "busy" scale...we'll have to catch up after the first of the year, when some of the dust settles here... Hi to Lynn, too  (assuming I'm not Persona Non Grata, that is) | ||
| F_skinner |
Not at all Joe..... | ||
| Rex |
Hello Frank! Jack Van Voast is still rocking along on his S2 in Northern Cal, and we now have Jonathon with a new Buell S2 in Northern Cal tool Our ranks are growing. I have white bodywork on my S2 and almost have the second one together, which has my red bodywork. some title issues, and then I can get it on the road. I still have parts for a third one in the garage. I would like to make a Black one this time. We will see; I would also like to put an 1125 motor in an S2 frame and wheels, maybe changing up the body work some. we will see. rex | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Great to see you pop in Frank... I DEFINITELY hear you on the life taking lots of time... Been going since 5 AM and still have about 30 min of reading to do. Just needed a break so I popped in here... | ||
| F_skinner |
Brad, you got it. When I maxed out my credit time at 24 hours I started earning comp time and I am well over 40 hours just in the last month. 10 hour days have always been normal and I have been able to take a little time to manage my hours but it has not been the case lately. 14 hours a day has become the new norm. Of course that happens when you work for a two star marine. Unfortunately the leadership at the Lt Col level sucks which is the real challenge. | ||
| Jvv |
Hey......Frank....good to hear your doing well!! Yes....life keeps you busy.....we just cut back of the 'dog numbers to make more "free" time........(trouble is that make free time cost more). I just took off for a ride to Oklahoma and points south. Took the Road King..(love the storage/easy chair ride)....but miss the S2 in the twistys. Still debating weather to bike the bullet on totally redoing the S2. Ride safe you guys... Jack | ||
| Essmjay |
Hey Frank- me=busy u=busy so winter will be spring before you know it Jack- are you on the road now? Shane | ||
| F_skinner |
Jack and Shane, are we going to ride to the Gathering together again? Jack, I think you got everything sorted out last gathering, in fact I think we all three reached our quota of break downs. I may be too late to make reservations. I totally forgot about it. I guess this would be a good time to ping Meribeth and Loren about the timing covers..... Are you able to do that again this year Shane and if so can you give me a drop dead date. I will also need a head count Loren..... I am thinking about quiting my job so I will have more time and less money..... Frank | ||
| Bartimus |
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| Road_thing |
Frank: You can always make more money, but you can't make more time! rt | ||
| Bartimus |
RT, THAT, is an accurate statement! | ||
| Jvv |
RT....very true!!! Frank.......We sure can ride back together.....a big YES......!! still on the fence about redoing the 2. Shane...Yes..I am in OK now...did my business and heading to Ar......then going to swing through a few of the "old southern" states.....always wanted to and never seemed to have the "TIME" ... Ride safe.....Jack | ||
| F_skinner |
I get paid well for my lifestyle. I am looking for a less stressful type of job now. I hate to throw away my time in civil service but if I can find something that does not have me working 10 to 14 hours a day, and I can work with smart people I would grab it. I am not that happy with civil service anyway. Some of the people that have been in this gig for a while spend more time trying to get out of work than actually doing the work. I here the words "not my job" "you can't do that" and "no money and no people" more than anything else. I have found that I really enjoy working with smart people but I am not that smart myself. The Lt Col I am working with now is one of the smartest people I have ever worked with however, he and I are feeling the stress of long days and not making any headway. He went on vacation for three weeks and I will take a shorter vacation when he returns. I did promise him that I would not quit while he was on vacation (he confided in me that was his biggest fear because he knows I can walk at any time while he cannot). I will burn up some of my comp time and go home then return and burn the rest of it up in Colorado. Today Lynn and I are going to a park and will camp tonight (leaving soon). Normally we would already be there but I got held up at work last night until 1830 hours. That, being a little more than a 13 hour day is normal. It is depressing to be the first one in and the last one out. I am starting to feel like the one person that can see the train wreck coming but cannot speak in order to tell the boss when and where it is happening. I have come very close to telling the boss to make a damn decision (bad, good or indifferent) or give me my tax dollars back. I am just waiting for the "what do you think Frank" question. As soon as Lynn gets her teaching credentials in order and has something she likes to do I may just bail out and work retail, be an IT monkey or teach at the community college or just screw off and go down to Welcome Texas via ABQ, NM to have a beer. The original plan was to wait 3 to 5 years and have the house paid off..... Maybe I will re-evaluate that plan. Frank | ||
| F_skinner |
Sorry for the rant. | ||
| Court |
It's no rant. It's interesting. You're a smart guy. I like posts worth reading. Hell . . I may write one. | ||
| Gowindward |
Hardly a rant. "I here the words "not my job" "you can't do that" and "no money and no people" more than anything else. " The corporate world really is no different. I saw an organization move to working so much in fear, that they could hardly move. Everything became about covering tail and not getting work done. Being self employed now comes with very long days, but the freedom of choice is very liberating. No decision paralysis to deal with from a boss. Make a plan, execute plan... Feeling stuck sucks!! | ||
| Road_thing |
The Skinner wing is available at the ranchito, Frank. Come down anytime you want to de-compress. rt | ||
| Moxnix |
Having been in public service, I learned of the 10-90 rule: 10 percent of the people do 90 percent of the work. I learned of it because it was important to me to be productive. The 10 are productive because it is their nature and their ethic. Problem being, the 90 have low self esteem and become a drag on the 10. I suggested the 90 stay home and have their paychecks sent to them in gift wrapping. Stay out of the way so the 10 can accomplish the mission. Was on my way out anyway, couldn't stand being held back by office politics, equality politics, and an environment of sorry-assed laziness on the part of professional leeches. Frank, perhaps there is a technical personnel temporary staffing agency in Denver to whom you can submit a resume', then go back to work in your same office w/ a different take on the organization. | ||
| Bartimus |
Having spent half of my life in the military, and half of that working with civil service, I can relate Frank. You are a good man, and don't do things half assed. You take pride in your work, and give it your all. I can see where the frustration would set in. Take your vaca, decompress, and re-evaluate your situation. Jobs come and go, but your mental and physical health should be your priority. Your always welcome here, whether it's to relax or to use as a break while on a journey. | ||
| F_skinner |
Thanks guys. Lynn and I packed up the camper and headed South. We went to Lake Pueblo State Park just down the road. I only go to State Parks in the off season because no one else does. There were one or two tent campers there but that was about it. Lynn and I had a nice time the temps were 45F for the high and in the low 20s at night (the heater did its job). It is nice to get away for just a few hours sometimes. I know the work load that awaits me tomorrow morning. I know I wil be busy all day and perhaps into the night again because everyone is trying to get everything done before the holiday. In four days I get on a plane going back home to NC!!!!   | ||
| Essmjay |
Frank- I do not know yet if I am going to the Ozarks. If I do, it would be a hoot to hook up and ride over with you. The timing covers can wait until April. Jack- ride safe | ||
| F_skinner |
Well, I returned from NC. I figured I better start on getting the garage organized and cleaned up and I need to resume the S2 build.   I will be replacing the turn signals on both running S2s with the XB style turn signals (although I have a couple of extra sets of new S2 ones in a box some where). more pictures will be coming of the circuit box and over flow set up on the S2T. I also need to make room for this.  I will be heading back to NC to pick it up sometime in Dec. PS. Hotrats (Andy) thank you sir. They work great. | ||
| Court |
Holy cow ........ That's an awesome looking Mustang! | ||
| Buffalobolt |
...I see you have the obligatory chair in the garage to sit and revel in the beauty of the S2(s) while sipping a cold one!  | ||
| Easy_rider |
Nice car! You've got a place to stay in Indy if needed on your trip. | ||
| F_skinner |
Roger, thanks for the offer. I am working the logistics of the trip today. Plane flight home (flying into RDU this time), animal care (I am lucky to have an retired friend that moves in while I am gone), transportation to and from the airport etc etc... Lynn will be off for two weeks and I will still be burning up over-time from work. My plan, depending on weather, will be to leave far east coast of NC and head to someplace around or between Knoxville and Nashville TN. The next day I will need to make the decision to take 40 or 70 home but I usually take 70 and will set my sights on somewhere between Columbia and Topeka. Then the last day will be the trek home. That makes a good 3 days of driving. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Door's open if you decide to head north-er and get on 70 in Maryland... | ||
| Hotrats |
Nice looking stable Frank. Thanks for the compliment too. We're about 35 mi. north of Greensboro, if you have the time, stop by for a meal and beer. | ||
| F_skinner |
Andy, I thought about you. When we left NC I was trying to time the storm that was hitting KS. This meant I needed to get to a point where I could launch North, South or directly West. I headed directly West and stayed with Gowindward one night while the ice and snow was removed and headed straight home with hours to spare before the next storm hit Colorado. The Mustang is one great road car and it was the most enjoyable trip Lynn and I have taken in a long time. I am still loving those stands. I may need two more If I can ever get the other two bikes on the road. |
