Part VI
Not a liberal...
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,635
Likes: 4
From: Cut & Shoot, Texas
That sucks, Scott. The west slope of Colorado has all but pulled out lately leaving our field techs (Caterpillar guys) high and dry for repair work. Even our shops are dead slow. But some work is trickling in as of late with the summer season sloooooooooooooooooooooooowly picking up. We'll see.
G'day everyone. Hope all's well in your respective locations.
I know the pain, Scott. We've been seeing permanent engineers being laid off gradually ever since January.
GOOD news, though... we're also seeing signs of some of our clients beginnign to relax their "puckered" parts and are talking about spending some money again. My faither-in-law's business is also beginning to pick up again. I am beginning to believe that we'll see the big companies and manufacturing operations beginning to pick up the pace again by late summer, but it may be a slow wait until then.
I actually managed to pick up about 13 billable hours this morning, so I won't be completely dead weight this week the way it was looking like a the beginning of the week. Some of this will carry over into next week as well.
I know the pain, Scott. We've been seeing permanent engineers being laid off gradually ever since January.
GOOD news, though... we're also seeing signs of some of our clients beginnign to relax their "puckered" parts and are talking about spending some money again. My faither-in-law's business is also beginning to pick up again. I am beginning to believe that we'll see the big companies and manufacturing operations beginning to pick up the pace again by late summer, but it may be a slow wait until then.
I actually managed to pick up about 13 billable hours this morning, so I won't be completely dead weight this week the way it was looking like a the beginning of the week. Some of this will carry over into next week as well.
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 24,308
Likes: 42
From: SW Virginia
Getting there...I had forgotten how bad strep throat could be. Man it sucks!
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 24,308
Likes: 42
From: SW Virginia
Yep. Must be some kind of alien strain running around the schools that the kids brought home with them.
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Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,286
Likes: 263
From: North of Greenville
...The good thing is that we are in a much better position to wait this out than our competitors are. We are practically debt free while most of our competitors aren't. We also implemented some Lean techniques that are really starting to pay off now. That in addition to a third production line that we are building now in Willis will enable us to crush all competition when this lifts.
I'm glad you've got that kind of security, Scott. Although my situation isn't quite that good, I'm at least one of a group of 5 in a highly industry-specialized group where most of the engineering companies moved away from in the past 10-15 years. The only thing that keeps my situation from being a really prime spot is taht the pulp & paper industry as a whole is slowly tanking in the US. I'm just hoping that the pending retirement rates are at least as fast as the industry slow-backs on capital spending so I can remain gainfully employeed until my son gets his business up and running strong - then it will be "sayonara", "adios", and "au revoir" to the world of pulp & paper.... as long as I don't have to take a significant pay cut!!
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 24,308
Likes: 42
From: SW Virginia
Try this site:
GIFWorks.com! Free Online GIF Tools
It works pretty good and you should be able to resize it to get it to work.
GIFWorks.com! Free Online GIF Tools
It works pretty good and you should be able to resize it to get it to work.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,220
Likes: 0
From: VA
I think the file size is too big, Ed. I cant remember whats the maximum size it needs to be right off hand.
Edit...or listen to John, lol! Never heard of that site before...Ill have to check it out!
Edit...or listen to John, lol! Never heard of that site before...Ill have to check it out!