59 minutes ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

We have a couple months left, then he goes off to West Point Military Academy.  He got accepted and leaves in July.  So far as I know he will be doing something that takes him into the Army Corp of Engineers.  

 

About the same time my son starts US Merchant Marine Academy. Big deal after that will be what branch he decides to serve in.  His MOS will be in Engineering.

That is interesting that he is doing this before going to West Point. Not all West Pointers are engineers. They go to all branches

Congratulations on you sons appointment. Does sailing flow in his blood?

I'll bet you're a very proud dad and mentor. You should be, too. Well done, my friend, well done.

2 hours ago, Gerald said:

Congratulations on you sons appointment. Does sailing flow in his blood?

I served in the Marines, his mother is active Navy.  Can't say he got much exposure to the water and such but she had more say than me in the matter.  Being divorced I of course am the bad guy, nor can I or will I ever do anything right.  

On 3/13/2019 at 8:49 PM, Woodbutcherbynight said:

Of course I introduced a new tool in woodworking.  More brutal than what we are used to generally.  The chainsaw.  

I've got a little one he could use....

Stihl MS 880 with a 59" bar/chain. 

For one, I will miss the activities of teacher and mentor.  I have immensely enjoyed this topic.  Thank you for sharing.

35 minutes ago, FlGatorwood said:

I have immensely enjoyed this topic.  Thank you for sharing.

I am sure another one will drop in, have several people that have teenagers wanting to try their hand at woodworking.  

1 minute ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

I am sure another one will drop in, have several people that have teenagers wanting to try their hand at woodworking.  

I think if you could swing it, it’s a wonderful opportunity you give him/them.

6 minutes ago, Artie said:

I think if you could swing it, it’s a wonderful opportunity you give him/them

As always depends on the individual.  When I was coming up anytime I was left at family members house I would be out with someone doing something, working on cars, fixing roofs, laying concrete working on the farm.  Loved it.  Hard to find younger ones that aren't addicted to the phone and think a dresser with 8 drawers can be made in an hour.  

4 minutes ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

As always depends on the individual.  When I was coming up anytime I was left at family members house I would be out with someone doing something, working on cars, fixing roofs, laying concrete working on the farm.  Loved it.  Hard to find younger ones that aren't addicted to the phone and think a dresser with 8 drawers can be made in an hour.  

I couldn't fit this in above the quote.

Well some woodworking was involved in this stage of my deck rebuild.  As in cutting roots out!!  Despite a few nights of hard work Brent and I managed to get rid of the offensive roots and were able to lay out forms for concrete.  Originally I laid a concrete pad under the building with the idea that if I ever needed to access under there I could.  BUT, since I never planned to store stuff I made little effort to wall up the upper side.  Just left the mound of dirt and made the building over it.  Now though we don't want anymore animals and such under there.  Wife's cat and a few other members of the wild kingdom have found it great fun to screw around under the building.  To keep water out was another thought.  So we have dug it out, laid a concrete foundation and put up one course of CBU wall and one course of capstones.  They come to 1/2 inch below the floor joists.  

 

Now this part sucked!  Needed 1 1/2 inches of setback on the blocks so they come just under the joist.  Great idea.  The CBU course was not too bad but the capstones were difficult.  Not much room to get them in place and not knock off the mortar on the back side.  And of course no way to get behind and make it all pretty.  But we managed.  Predrilled the CBU for two conduits.  One is for lights that will go up, the other feeds my utility building some 80 feet away.  That required some more trench work and some more root removal.  Kid has a good strong back, he worked I had a cold one!  Took several attempts to get the wire run so I could reuse the existing wire and not run a new one.  Again we managed and didn't have to get under the building.  A plus as neither of us is small enough to get to that section.  More thinking it through 20 years ago would have eliminated this issue but hey I learn as I go.

 

Next up is to seal the CBU's and then lay flashing over it and fill in the trench to ground level again.  Glad he isn't leaving for a few weeks I gotta squeeze all I can in while he still thinks this is fun!

 

For a first time job he did very well.  They are level, and fairly straight.  It is good enough and I am pleased.  Not like we are going to see this again anyway I am putting the deck back above it next.

 

   

 

Nice work. 

Well my Apprentice has gone to West Point Military Academy.  Graduates 2023.  Things are going to take a little bit longer to get done now.

Your apprentice is to be congratulated for his acceptance into the academy.Your loss may become a gain for all of us. I wish him well.

13 minutes ago, Al B said:

our apprentice is to be congratulated for his acceptance into the academy.

Thanks, so far my son is in Merchant Marine Academy, Brent is in West Point, and Jason goes to Navy OCS next month. 

I can't keep one around long enough...

All men of high character. You can be proud.

As Al said. Your loss is the country's gain. Good on all those young men. 

10 hours ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

Well my Apprentice has gone to West Point Military Academy.  Graduates 2023.  Things are going to take a little bit longer to get done now.

This is most awesome, what a wonderful adventure he's heading off too, I understand your grief Gunny, but as Al stated, your loss, our gain!

By the way, did you have anything to do with planting that seed in him or was he already on his way?

12 hours ago, John Morris said:

By the way, did you have anything to do with planting that seed in him or was he already on his way?

Leadership by example.  I never have told them what I did in the military, nor have the seen any commendations or medals.  Instead they have observed my actions as I have lived my life.  That's the lesson I showed them.  

 

“The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.”. ― John Wooden.

 

I joined the Marine Corp because I had this crazy idea that I would be a hero and have medals and such, women would fall at my feet, and people would look up to me.  That thought got changed very quickly.  Doesn't work like that.  The wrong women chase you, people tend to be afraid of you and the medals don't mean squat in real life.  

 

What the Marine Corp did do for me was take a 110lb anti social, weak minded, young man and teach me to embrace my weakness and make it a strength.  It trained me to self sufficient, learn quickly, and how to be part of a team, or work alone.  To endure whatever life threw at me, and laugh in the face of adversity.  How to lead men, by example, not because of fear, but out of respect.