Where's WYK been, and what trouble is he making?

[HumBurner]

And geziz what am I thinking handling it without gloves!

As long as you had vinegar nearby, you're good. And maybe don't use it in a humid environment (or if you're sweating!)

 

[madhatte]

All US cities are a mess and I don't know what it's going to take to see this fentanyl crisis in the rear view.

 

[BeatCJ]

Did you watch the "Seattle is Dying" documentary? I think it lays out a pretty good path forward. But it would be very hard to get our Left Coast society to be willing to make that hard choice. I think much of the Oregon political leadership has recognized the disaster created by Measure 110. There is work in their legislature to amend it. I don't believe they are going far enough, but Baby Steps.

 

[wyk]

As long as you had vinegar nearby, you're good. And maybe don't use it in a humid environment (or if you're sweating!)

True, but bear in mind that unlike neutralizing acids, neutralizing a base this way is an exothermic reaction, and sometimes a rather energetic one.

 

[BeatCJ]

I know it's more work, but I have had good luck using emery cloth and a handmade flap arbor. Just a long spike with the head cut off and slotted. Chuck that into a hand drill, entire process of cleaning the cylinder took about 30 minutes on the MS261 that was straight gassed at work last time I did it. When you are done, no worries about neutralizing any chemicals, easy to get and store, no risk of a spill.

 

[wyk]

I know it's more work, but I have had good luck using emery cloth and a handmade flap arbor. Just a long spike with the head cut off and slotted. Chuck that into a hand drill, entire process of cleaning the cylinder took about 30 minutes on the MS261 that was straight gassed at work last time I did it. When you are done, no worries about neutralizing any chemicals, easy to get and store, no risk of a spill.

True, but unlike Muriatic acid, we use the caustic soda to keep the pipes clean, so often have it around.
And cleaning it is simply washing it in the sink.

 

[wyk]

Did you watch the "Seattle is Dying" documentary? I think it lays out a pretty good path forward. But it would be very hard to get our Left Coast society to be willing to make that hard choice. I think much of the Oregon political leadership has recognized the disaster created by Measure 110. There is work in their legislature to amend it. I don't believe they are going far enough, but Baby Steps.

Yeah. When you advertise free drugs or low enforcement, you tend to drag all that type of folk from a long distance away. Add in some unscrupulous bussing by some slimy mayors, and it can get ugly fast.

 

[wyk]

Firefighting be like:

 

[wyk]

This is where some idiots on youtube messages will say 'Ahh you pulled all that wood! You suck!'

 

[BeatCJ]

Ummmm, down, nobody hurt, direction he wanted it.

Winning!

 

[sawfun]

Even the good areas of Portland are now dangerous. No consequences mean no real law. Bleeding heart progression hurts mostly the working class. Oregon City seems even worse than Portland. I know first hand how bad it's gotten driving public transit for over 32 years. I'll probably be retiring this summer due to health issues and am kinda glad to be getting out, hopefully alive.

 

[wyk]

Even the good areas of Portland are now dangerous. No consequences mean no real law. Bleeding heart progression hurts mostly the working class. Oregon City seems even worse than Portland. I know first hand how bad it's gotten driving public transit for over 32 years. I'll probably be retiring this summer due to health issues and am kinda glad to be getting out, hopefully alive.

Didja retire?
I can not believe it is already nearly Halloween.

So previously I had a video of me and Nate timber cruising Fort Lewis.
Here's what the mountains look like a few minutes away from where I live in Ireland.

 

[madhatte]

Fine lookin' country there!

 

[sawfun]

Yup, I retired on the 6th of September. My DOT card expired on the 8th and with my Parkinsons issues, it was not likely to get renewed. I'm thinking 33 years was enough. Even my nice high seniority work was getting sketchy with the hordes of homeless/mental illness that walk onto public transit.

Thanks for the video, I enjoy the escape such things give.

 

[wyk]

Nathan already knows this, but a month ago we lost our tiny blind whippet Arlo. He was the most special pet we ever had since he was so dependant upon us and we looked after him so much. I didn't expect to bond with the little guy so much, so when he passed it was absolutely devastating.
When we found him, he was stumbling in a dark animal rescue outbuilding, in the cold, searching blindly for the water bowl that the puppies there had knocked over.
I took pity on him right away, especially as he was so tiny and had almost no fur left on him, and I brought him home immediately. We though he may not live for much longer as he was old and haggard and blind. Turns out we had him for five and a half years. Some of the best years of my life by far.
Anyways, I've made a little gallery for him. It was therapeutic. But, damn, this loss is a tough one. We'll miss him forever. The wife is destroyed with grief, too.

https://pbase.com/wyk/arlo

 

[wyk]

Yup, I retired on the 6th of September. My DOT card expired on the 8th and with my Parkinsons issues, it was not likely to get renewed. I'm thinking 33 years was enough. Even my nice high seniority work was getting sketchy with the hordes of homeless/mental illness that walk onto public transit.

Thanks for the video, I enjoy the escape such things give.

Well, I hope you get some rest. I know you can use it. I enjoyed our time together in Yamhill and Oregon. It's good memories. I still speak with Jerry on occasion. And the gals I was with in that lil house in the outskirts of Willamina stayed in touch, too. Hell, the dog they got as a pup when I was with them recently passed as well. Sad all around.

I know I can use some rest too. Still, I do miss the work I did in the PNW when I could find it. I wish I could go back there and do some forestry, but the old bones just aren't up for it any more, and I would sorely miss Ireland. It is just too unique here and so foreign. Still, I do very much miss the PNW. I especially enjoyed my time in the Sound and the suburbs of Seattle.

I'll log in to the computer in a bit and post some sentimental photos here laters.

 

[wyk]

There's Carlow in front of a familiar house:

Is yer hair still this color, Nate?

I think Jerry ended up putting a deck on this stump:

 

[sawfun]

Thanks for the pictures Wes. Good times for sure, as the once or twice a year I get to the Dairy Queen in Sheridan, I remember our meetups there. I'm glad your in a good place and don't blame you for staying. We shall see what becomes of Portlands future. I will likely try and stay as moving seems insurmountable at this point. The election has most folks concerned so as it draws nearer, most folks seem focused around that.

 

[wyk]

Well, in a couple of weeks we'll see how it all turns out.
I've always wondered what life is like in one of those little cottages by the ocean along the Oregon coast...Coos Bay mebbe...Lincoln City...shrug.

 

[madhatte]

Hair's same color, but longer. Different house, different job, different cats. New girlfriend. Otherwise, mostly the same.