Hello from Deep East Texas

[gman4691]

Now I've got a guy who seems like he wants to hire me away from the school district...sounded like a pretty good deal so I threw my name in the hat...I figure, what the heck...I'm retired and have options...I'm not against a few more bucks in the old paycheck...we'll see how that plays out.

 

[gman4691]

The cows came up to the pasture beside the house this evening. With all the grass from the recent rains, the girls are getting fat. Looking good and sleek.

 

[gman4691]

Now I've got a guy who seems like he wants to hire me away from the school district...sounded like a pretty good deal so I threw my name in the hat...I figure, what the heck...I'm retired and have options...I'm not against a few more bucks in the old paycheck...we'll see how that plays out.

Interviewing with these guys Friday…fingers crossed.

 

[kenny thomas]

Interviewing with these guys Friday…fingers crossed.

Good luck.

 

[gman4691]

Tractor had all kinds of trash in fuel tank, lines, filters, etc. All cleaned out now…should have it back within a day or two then back to spraying persimmons on rehab pasture. A little more than half-way done. After that, I'll go after the goat weeds. A couple of small grazing pastures appear to have been obliterated by the army worms. I'll spray them with the serpent & Durant when I hit them for weeds. The Durant is supposed to kill the larvae so maybe this will give me a head start before the fall crop of army worms show up - usually about Sept. - Oct. around here - as soon as the temps drop a bit.

Waiting to go interview with the local John Deere dealership for a facility/grounds maintenance position. Hope that works out - the school district groundskeeping job is chaotic and disorganized and has a bit more "drama" than I care to deal with…as I said earlier, at this point I have options. I could live with the school district job OK but I just retired. After 45 years or so in the workforce, I feel I've done my time dealing with the drama that comes with grown people who have become disgruntled for whatever reason and behave like spoiled 2 year olds when they think they might not get their way. I don't mind dealing with a little of that but with one of the guys on my crew, it's almost every day. Not to mention, he put in for this position and didn't get because he's a problem child. So of course, he will never see me as the crew leader. He's obstinate, insubordinate, lazy, does half-a$$ed work, and can become belligerent even if mildly called out anything. If I had the authority to send him packing, I would have already done so. But working in the public sector, short of him killing, cooking, and eating a small child on national television, I'm stuck with him. I can do a bang up job on my campuses but didn't hire on to have to babysit and tiptoe around a 41 year old spoiled child. Here's hoping this interview goes well. One day I'll post something on here about the events this week leading up to today…pretty cool stuff…especially this past Monday morning.

 

[gman4691]

Well, that was easy. Hired pretty much on the spot. I can tell the school district "toodle-oo" first thing Monday morning. They interviewed 3, I was last. Offered me the job on the spot for $3 more per hour…babysitting a 41 year old man has come to a close…I'm too old for that kind of crap. Woo-Hoo!

 

[kenny thomas]

Well, that was easy. Hired pretty much on the spot. I can tell the school district "toodle-oo" first thing Monday morning. They interviewed 3, I was last. Offered me the job on the spot for $3 more per hour…babysitting a 41 year old man has come to a close…I'm too old for that kind of crap. Woo-Hoo!

Great day for you. After you retire jobs are easier to find and too leave it seems. I push snow in the winter using the states trucks. Got word today we were getting $3 an hour raise. Aprox $47 an hour and $70.50 an hour over 8 hours and over 40. Never made that all my career.

 

[Travlr]

Great day for you. After you retire jobs are easier to find and too leave it seems. I push snow in the winter using the states trucks. Got word today we were getting $3 an hour raise. Aprox $47 an hour and $70.50 an hour over 8 hours and over 40. Never made that all my career.

That's good money for a retirement job. Sometimes I think about getting some kind of part time gig just for a little extra pocket change and then I think about it and go... Nawwww

Most places I see plow trucks, half the time they are out on roads that haven't any snow on them or just a skiff and not likely to get anything. But the other half they are amazing and they really cover ground, keeping roads open.

My daughter drives a school bus. I was surprised at what she makes doing that. The pay and benefits are decent. Maybe I should mention driving a plow truck to her...

 

[kenny thomas]

There are part time gigs everywhere. I deliver new trailers all over the US, drive a snow plow truck, drive a fuel truck on hurricane response. Get offered more jobs often. The emergency jobs pay especially well. The hurricane response pay $500 to $700 a day plus expenses for class B CDL drivers.

 

[gman4691]

Typically, I've never really been a "job hopper" but a nice low key job in post retirement is a necessity at this point. These guys at United Ag and Turf are offering $3 more per hour than the school district with a lot less drama. Seems like a good fit for me. Was looking for something for months that would pay me enough to retire...the school district was just at the line that I calculated so I took the position which enabled me to retire. Less than three weeks in, this other opportunity showed up completely unexpected and boom...I'm in like Flynn. Must be living right...lol. Will be the facility/grounds maintenance guy at the local John Deere dealer...wonder if I'll be able to get an employee discount? That could be more dangerous than me walking through tool world at Lowe's...or browsing through a music store full of guitars...I'll have to be careful...lol, again

 

[gman4691]

Two more tanks sprayed on rehab pasture…what's been sprayed so far is showing a good response. The triclopyr 4 and Grazon P+D combination is getting the job done. Couple of more tanks and piece of another will finish that off. Then attack the goat weeds everywhere else (except the hay pastures). Looks like the army worms took a beating but not before they did some damage. Grass is recovering - a little rain would be nice.

Gave the girls some cubes and a couple of dewormer blocks. Probably didn't need the blocks but it will keep them coming to the trough where the salt & minerals are. They are looking fat from all this grass…gotta like a rainy July. Could use a couple of good rains in August, though. The places I couldn't get to with the sprayer before due to the wet ground are now completely accessible - doesn't take long in August around here. That high pressure is just camping out over us…again. High temps at or near 100F…ah, East Texas.

 

[1982vett]

Two more tanks sprayed on rehab pasture…what's been sprayed so far is showing a good response. The triclopyr 4 and Grazon P+D combination is getting the job done. Couple of more tanks and piece of another will finish that off. Then attack the goat weeds everywhere else (except the hay pastures). Looks like the army worms took a beating but not before they did some damage. Grass is recovering - a little rain would be nice.

Gave the girls some cubes and a couple of dewormer blocks. Probably didn't need the blocks but it will keep them coming to the trough where the salt & minerals are. They are looking fat from all this grass…gotta like a rainy July. Could use a couple of good rains in August, though. The places I couldn't get to with the sprayer before due to the wet ground are now completely accessible - doesn't take long in August around here. That high pressure is just camping out over us…again. High temps at or near 100F…ah, East Texas.

And you have the luxury of smelling pine sap....a smell you are probably nose blind to. Always hated working east of the Navasad in Summer.

 

[gman4691]

And you have the luxury of smelling pine sap....a smell you are probably nose blind to. Always hated working east of the Navasad in Summer.

Not many pines on my place…pretty much all hardwoods due to the clay content of the soils. A western adjacent property has some pines planted on it…presumably for harvesting at some point. Other than hardwoods, my place has enough cedar to be a nuisance but probably no more than a couple of pines on our 110 acres…and one of them is in my backyard…lol…the missus won't let me cut it down.

 

[gman4691]

One more piece of a tank and the spraying on the rehab pasture will be done. Then on to other areas. Dang, it was hot out there today.

Used an app on the phone to identify one big weed. Phone said it was Palmer's Aramanth…whatever that is. Have only seen it here over the last 6 or 7 years…guessing it may have come in with some hay Dad might have bought at some time. It's pretty easy to kill but comes back every year.

A small grazing patch (maybe 3 or 4 acres) got hammered by the army worms in July. It will get the remainder of the Serpent & Durant…probably too late for the Durant but maybe the Serpent will knock a dent in the eggs and larva. Other than that, goat weeds will be the primary target at this point.

Filled out all of the onboarding stuff for United Ag & Turf this evening. Will probably start this coming Monday or the next. Going to have to stay on this spraying…can probably finish everything by the end of the week. Had to run into town to buy some nozzle repair kits this morning…it's always something…lol. Incidentally, it's amazing how much difference clean fuel lines make in how the old John Deere 5520 runs…smooth as can be…not bad at all considering it's a 1998 model. Onward & upward.

 

[gman4691]

One more piece of a tank and the spraying on the rehab pasture will be done. Then on to other areas. Dang, it was hot out there today.

Used an app on the phone to identify one big weed. Phone said it was Palmer's Aramanth…whatever that is. Have only seen it here over the last 6 or 7 years…guessing it may have come in with some hay Dad might have bought at some time. It's pretty easy to kill but comes back every year.

A small grazing patch (maybe 3 or 4 acres) got hammered by the army worms in July. It will get the remainder of the Serpent & Durant…probably too late for the Durant but maybe the Serpent will knock a dent in the eggs and larva. Other than that, goat weeds will be the primary target at this point.

Filled out all of the onboarding stuff for United Ag & Turf this evening. Will probably start this coming Monday or the next. Going to have to stay on this spraying…can probably finish everything by the end of the week. Had to run into town to buy some nozzle repair kits this morning…it's always something…lol. Incidentally, it's amazing how much difference clean fuel lines make in how the old John Deere 5520 runs…smooth as can be…not bad at all considering it's a 1998 model. Onward & upward.

Starting date will be August 21…would have been my parents' 65th anniversary.

Rehab pasture and two smaller pastures sprayed today. Got some dust in my right that was bad enough to stop a couple of hours early. Still haven't been able to get rid of it. Eyewash, kitchen faucet, water hose, and shower didn't phase it. Maybe it will work its way out in my sleep tonight. Here's hoping…got about 35-40 acres left to spray…then that little chore will be done…unless the army worms return in the fall. September - October is the usual times…whenever the temps start to drop a bit. But I'm ready for them should they return. Have a tank of 2,4D-Amine ready for in the morning…was going to use it this evening but the eye problem shut me down. Here's hoping morning brings relief. And it's not the chemicals…best I can figure is dust from rolling through some thick goat weeds or rubbing my eye with sunblock on my hand…never really been allergic to anything and it feels like there is something in there…just can't find it…will probably come out in my sleep…that's how it usually goes.

 

[gman4691]

All spraying done and started on a few "not too critical" fence repairs and cleaning up downed trees. Was feeling pretty good about the progress until I noticed the bull had really jacked his right front leg up…bad enough for him to take the ride tomorrow or Tuesday. It's a heartbreaking shame…he was really starting to fill out good…that dude was going to be a monster…now he can barely walk. CRAP! That's a $3500 heartbreak. At least I got one crop of calves from him…that's worth something, I guess. But his right front leg looks beyond repair…swollen knee to almost three times its size. Had to have happened just recently. The spot where he used to fight the neighbor's bull was busted up again…high winds killed the solar fence charger and I guess he figured that out. The electric fence wire was strung out all over hell's half acre so I know one or both of them got into it. Went over to fix the break in the fence and reset the hot wire…an armadillo hole was right on the fence line in that spot. Best I can figure is he hurt himself stepping in that hole while fighting…there's no sign of disease…might could be nursed back to health given enough time and better facilities than what I currently have…but given the circumstances, he's beyond any help I could give him. Will just have to bite the bullet and get another one ASAP.

On the plus side, the weeds are showing a good response to the spraying. Hay pastures trying to recover from the early army worm attack…a couple of good rains would be nice. And it's still dang hot…another east Texas August… what happened to that "higher than average rainfall" prediction for August? Pretty sure zero isn't higher than average. Maybe a second hay cutting in mid to late September if the rains will come on. They got a little rain in Houston (150 miles south of me) but up here we are stuck under that same high pressure as last year. Whatever tropical depression develops keeps getting pushed east instead of coming up through the gulf. Just have to have some patience.

 

[1982vett]

Still have almost 2 weeks of August left to get that "higher than average rainfall". But then, the 2/10ths we got a couple weeks ago is higher that the 0 inches I have come to expect. Have you seen the 10 day forecast? They saying highs are going to be in the mid 90's.

 

[gman4691]

Still have almost 2 weeks of August left to get that "higher than average rainfall". But then, the 2/10ths we got a couple weeks ago is higher that the 0 inches I have come to expect. Have you seen the 10 day forecast? They saying highs are going to be in the mid 90's.

There was a chance of rain this week but that seems to has disappeared.

 

[gman4691]

All spraying done and started on a few "not too critical" fence repairs and cleaning up downed trees. Was feeling pretty good about the progress until I noticed the bull had really jacked his right front leg up…bad enough for him to take the ride tomorrow or Tuesday. It's a heartbreaking shame…he was really starting to fill out good…that dude was going to be a monster…now he can barely walk. CRAP! That's a $3500 heartbreak. At least I got one crop of calves from him…that's worth something, I guess. But his right front leg looks beyond repair…swollen knee to almost three times its size. Had to have happened just recently. The spot where he used to fight the neighbor's bull was busted up again…high winds killed the solar fence charger and I guess he figured that out. The electric fence wire was strung out all over hell's half acre so I know one or both of them got into it. Went over to fix the break in the fence and reset the hot wire…an armadillo hole was right on the fence line in that spot. Best I can figure is he hurt himself stepping in that hole while fighting…there's no sign of disease…might could be nursed back to health given enough time and better facilities than what I currently have…but given the circumstances, he's beyond any help I could give him. Will just have to bite the bullet and get another one ASAP.

On the plus side, the weeds are showing a good response to the spraying. Hay pastures trying to recover from the early army worm attack…a couple of good rains would be nice. And it's still dang hot…another east Texas August… what happened to that "higher than average rainfall" prediction for August? Pretty sure zero isn't higher than average. Maybe a second hay cutting in mid to late September if the rains will come on. They got a little rain in Houston (150 miles south of me) but up here we are stuck under that same high pressure as last year. Whatever tropical depression develops keeps getting pushed east instead of coming up through the gulf. Just have to have some patience.

There may be hope for the bull yet. He came out this evening…swelling is way down compared to Saturday…still has a limp but not nearly as bad as it was. Will give a shot of Dex tomorrow and maybe a B12 shot just for good measure. Went down and closed them in the trap so he will be easier to find tomorrow and they have access to water trough. I'll give the girls some cubes when I let them out tomorrow so they will still think I'm a nice guy. Couldn't believe how much better he looked today. After Saturday, I was halfway thinking he wouldn't last long…he would take 4 or 5 labored steps and then lay down and rest…right front knee was swollen up a little smaller than a volleyball…this evening, it was less than half of that. Sure would be nice if he could recoup…he's a beautiful animal…at least to my eye…and a regular Romeo with the ladies and the neighbor's ladies…and if he could get across the highway, he would probably take care of that herd of brahmas, too. It would be a crying shame to lose him…hopefully, it will turn out to be a sprain…it looked a lot worse than that just 2 days ago. In fact, I already paid for a young black angus bull. I guess if the big boy heals up, I'll have a young bull for sale…guess I jumped the gun but after seeing him Saturday, didn't really see much in the way of options.

Got a hole patched in a fence today and cut and moved two giant hackberry trees that went down this past spring. Getting pretty good at knowing where to make the cuts to minimize the number of trips to the ditch with the grapple…that thing is worth its weight in gold. Another dang hot but productive day. Wednesday, I'll get to be one of the cool kids at the local John Deere dealership…ah, post-retirement employment. One big tree to clean up tomorrow along with a bunch of limbs scattered here and there. It never ends.

 

[GoWyo]

There may be hope for the bull yet. He came out this evening…swelling is way down compared to Saturday…still has a limp but not nearly as bad as it was. Will give a shot of Dex tomorrow and maybe a B12 shot just for good measure. Went down and closed them in the trap so he will be easier to find tomorrow and they have access to water trough. I'll give the girls some cubes when I let them out tomorrow so they will still think I'm a nice guy. Couldn't believe how much better he looked today. After Saturday, I was halfway thinking he wouldn't last long…he would take 4 or 5 labored steps and then lay down and rest…right front knee was swollen up a little smaller than a volleyball…this evening, it was less than half of that. Sure would be nice if he could recoup…he's a beautiful animal…at least to my eye…and a regular Romeo with the ladies and the neighbor's ladies…and if he could get across the highway, he would probably take care of that herd of brahmas, too. It would be a crying shame to lose him…hopefully, it will turn out to be a sprain…it looked a lot worse than that just 2 days ago. In fact, I already paid for a young black angus bull. I guess if the big boy heals up, I'll have a young bull for sale…guess I jumped the gun but after seeing him Saturday, didn't really see much in the way of options.

Got a hole patched in a fence today and cut and moved two giant hackberry trees that went down this past spring. Getting pretty good at knowing where to make the cuts to minimize the number of trips to the ditch with the grapple…that thing is worth its weight in gold. Another dang hot but productive day. Wednesday, I'll get to be one of the cool kids at the local John Deere dealership…ah, post-retirement employment. One big tree to clean up tomorrow along with a bunch of limbs scattered here and there. It never ends.

Give him time -- like 45-60 days to see if he walks out of it. Had a yearling bull this year with a bum knee swelled up as big as a volleyball. At 45 days he was barely putting any weight on it. Then a big abscess blew out and within a few days he was walking on it and a week later barely had a limp. Turned him out on cows right on time 60 days after he got hurt.