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| Courtesy of ccclongview.com |
Being grateful for what you have is important in my opinion to keep you humble. When you start to take things for granted and expect things to bow to YOUR command, that's when trouble starts. I saw this first hand today so it is fresh on my mind for conversation tonight.
As a new employee in the local hospital, I am capable of performing many tasks. One of which is Sonography (ultrasound exams) but the hospital already has a contract with an outside company to provide Sonographers around the clock. This has been the norm at this hospital for quite some time. Since there is already someone fulfilling the need of ultrasounds, I routinely perform X-rays and CT scans.
It was interesting to witness the contract Sonographer today as he expressed disgust at his lunch hour being shortened by thirty minutes by my boss. He snorted "He's not MY boss, he can't do that! I've always had one full hour for lunch." He also verbalized a distaste for the fact that his new unannounced schedule change put him working from 8am to 5pm instead of his usual 8-4:30pm.
As my boss walked in the room, a short but heated exchange occurred. Mr Spoiled Tech stated that his hours have always been 8-4:30 and he would not be staying until 5pm. My boss quickly pointed out that a paycheck is cut to the tune of eight hours of work each day to his contract company. 8-4:30 with a one hour lunch is only 7.5 hours of work. "Therefore," he stated matter-of-factly, "you WILL be staying until 5pm or cutting your hour lunch by 30 minutes."
The tech hastily left the room and my boss was visible steamed. "I've had it with that guy," he said. "I'm making an Executive Decision!" He turned, looked at me and said "Are you up to speed with ultrasounds?" I have been dusting my boss with suggestions that I could cover the evening hour calls for ultrasound and cost him much less than the contract company. It just so happens that it would also put more money in my pocket too...
At that moment, he declared the evening call hours were mine from then on. I would be paid $15 per night just to be "on call" and if I do get called in for an ultrasound, I'll get paid 1.5 times my hourly pay for the duration of my visit.
And for that, I was grateful. Mr Spoiled Tech has forgotten how lucky he is to be employed in this recession. He has taken for granted the fact that he has more work than he cares to do. He clearly doesn't realize that there are people out there who would be MORE than happy to relieve him of his duties/work/money.
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| The plan is coming together, piece by piece. |
As I considered some advice from several commenters, it dawned on me that I shouldn't take for granted that what I had already done to the tractor was correct. Turns out, the gasoline I had purchase under the belief that it was ethanol free regular gas was in fact diesel. Exactly what I questioned the young gas attendant about. Google searching taught me that diesel was dyed red in some cases and this proved to be what I had in my gas can.
A quick draining of the red tractor fuel and refueling with fresh REGULAR gas and I had the Ford 8N fired up in no time. The homestead's workhorse was now reborn. She'll need new filters and fluid changes but she runs like a champ. I look forwards to plowing gardens and tilling fields with her. For now, she is parked proudly in front of the farm house...basking in all her former glory. Right next to a big, beautiful Orange Jeep.
~OJD
New Rules for the Farm
13) Diesel is Diesel is DIESEL...no matter what they call it. Regular diesel, farm diesel, whatever. If you aren't sure, ask someone over 40 years old in dirty overalls. NOT someone under 20 in bluejeans and a tank top.
14) Trust your gut. If it tells you that you might be wrong, then maybe you are. There's no shame in that...unless you keep ignoring it.
15) Be thankful for what you have. Nothing lasts forever.
Drat, I should have picked up on that fuel thing and said something. Diesel engines don't have spark plugs, just a glow plug to warm up the fuel (warm diesel/air mix spontaneously ignites from the compression in the cylinder).
ReplyDeleteBah, I should have known. It said "diesel" on the pump. No big. We figured it out.
DeleteI too have had opportunity knock at the cost of someone else being lazy. Good things do come to good people.
ReplyDeleteI think what you are doing is awesome! It's also nice to see someone who admits they don't know everything. What a great adventure for your family....I think you all will enjoy it so much. Kids are so flexible they adapt to most anything. The country life is the best!
ReplyDeleteI can't WAIT to get the girls out here!
DeleteOff road diesel is dyed red because no road tax is paid on it and the dye is a way of telling if it is used in a road vehicle.
ReplyDeleteAlso, be carfull with the tractor when you brush hog. Some of the older 8N's didn't have a clucth or anything in the PTO and the spinning brush hog will push the tractor ahead in an imergancy stop situation.
That'll be me when I finally get mine... tooling around with a big goofy grin on my face :-)
ReplyDeleteWhy'd you pour out that diesel? Rule 16 ought to be: Waste Nothing...
@Rusty, I thought about that but I have nothing else that takes diesel. Is there some other use for it? Also, I have limited gas cans so I needed it for the correct gas. If it helps, that's the "burn barrel" that I poured it into so when I burn next, it should make it easier...right?
ReplyDelete@Rob, nuf said.
ReplyDelete@DD Thanks for the tip. I disengaged the hog because it has a huge rip where the wheel arm attaches to the base. It will have to be welded back together before I can use it.
Is that a Funk conversion diesel? Ford 8N diesels are very rare as I understand it and some say there were none except after market conversions although with the confusion of all the myriad types ya never know.
ReplyDeleteInteresting none the less.
It's not a diesel, just smoking a ton cause I stupidly put "farm diesel" gas in it. The smoking stopped pretty quickly. Still can't find the Blister Beetle salve either.
DeleteOJD, I figured something on that farm would burn diesel or kerosene. Although I understand the storage issue.
ReplyDeleteIt ought to burn in the burn barrel, though, just not as spectacularly as 92 octane :-)
I agree. I still try to set records in how long I can steer into a fishtail on a dirt road. What do you think about me putting one "01" white decals on the Orange Jeep doors? Maybe a General Lee along the sides if the hood? Yeehaw...
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to stop by and say good work. Its funny but I am a ct/xray tech trying to homestead also. I am in southern oregon fyi. I love the videos and just found your blog so I got some reading to do. Keep up the awesome work
ReplyDeleteCool! I'm FINALLY getting some REAL apps training on 3D recons for my GE Light Speed 16 slice today. We just got a Optima 220 AMX digital WIRELESS portable machine Friday too. And this is a small town 30 bed hospital!
DeleteNice gotta love the application tranning. We just got a ge discovery 750 dual energy scanner I am so in over my head with the advanced functions. Not sure what kind of wireless portable we got but its a POS and rarely works right. Good luck with the homestead.
DeleteGlad to hear things are looking up for you there Jeep Dad. You are so right in the fact that a person should be happy that they have a job with full hours right now.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I have the feeling the contract tech might be getting some hours cut back if the hospital can figure out a way? lol
I don't get it. Your Jeep is red . . .
ReplyDeleteIt's actually "Harley Davidson Orange"
DeleteThanks for sharing your adventures - everyday I look forward to reading about the latest happenings on the new homestead!
ReplyDeleteIt tickles be when I hear this. I'm having a blast and I'm happy to share it. Feel free to leave comments like this everyday! LOL!
DeleteWhat is it about tractors? They are just a big lawn mower, but I can't help but have that big goofy grin on my face when I'm driving my International Harvester. Love my tractor!
ReplyDeleteAmen!
DeleteHad a friend who while on a road trip put Diesel in his Harley by mistake, so don't feel too bad.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, it seems your learning curve to self sufficiency is going to be incredibly steep.
Haha. Indeed.
DeleteMy dad,( would be 89 this year) put a gallon of diesel in a full tank (20 Gallon) of gas once a year to clean out the combustion chambers. This was an old farmers way for cheap tune up.As I remmember it did smoke a lot for awhile, so maybe you helped the old tractor. I have a Ferguson TO-30, looks a lot like the Ford.I'm located in NW OK. Good luck
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good tip. But I couldn't get the tractor started with the diesel gas in it. Maybe he mixed it.?
DeleteWe were told to get some diesel and put it in a sprayer, and use it to start our burn piles. It works great, though the diesel eventually eats the gasket. Interestingly, the sprayer worked fine with no gasket at all for a good while, but now it won't hold pressure, so I need to put the new one in.
ReplyDeleteYou still cannot start a fire with wet wood just because you drench it with diesel, though. Too bad.
Cool. Thank you for sharing.
DeleteMy Grandpa used to use diesel to kill unwanted brush or trees, dig a little hole to get to the roots and pour some in. Also put in a sprayer to clear fence line, my aunt still does this in early spring, she hasn't picked up a weed eater in years. Of course don't spray on anything you don't want dead. I figure it can't be any worse than round-up, lots cheaper too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip.
DeleteWhat a great post. It's a joy to share in your blessings. Love your farm rules too. Your numbers 14 and 15 are two of our regulars to live by.
ReplyDeleteThanks Leigh. I pushed the post referencing you to tomorrow. Today will just be a simple holiday greetings. Almost time for bed!
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