vtfireman85 Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 so I was already fired up today, the Mrs and I have been talking about wanting a Gladiator, we finally kind of decided that once we are done with daycare ( nothing to sneeze at at 12-15K/yr) her car will be paid off and we can think about one then. We both work hard, have good jobs, should be within our means if carefully done. Today I had crawl space work to do, there are craw spaces and then there are crawl spaces. I am forever hearing about how "you electricians have all the money" sometimes it is lighthearted teasing from people who actually know what a day in the life of a tradesman is like, but sometimes its genuine jackassedness from ignorant morons. Today I had several runs of cable to run through 55' of craw space, roughly 35' could be accessed from the furnace room on one end of the house and the other 20 or so could be accessed from the "cellar end" and I use that term loosely. The house in question is in excellent shape, but the additions have been built on the ground pretty much with marble footings. ducts and mechanicals have been dug out after the fact to make room for them and there was a cast iron turd pipe between additions that was actually stopping me from getting all the way through. Laying in the way where I got to crawl were 2 dead squirrels, a dead rat and countless dead mice. looked like prairie dog city under there with dozens if not hundreds of holes from presumably rats and squirrels. 2 doors down is a real **** hole of a house with unbelievable filth, so rats in the neighborhood are no surprise and in fact one ran across my legs while I was crawled in there stapling wires. While I signed up for this pleasure, and knew it when I decided to travel down this chosen career path, and I have absolutely 0 regrets about it, I can't help but be irritated by those who seem to feel entitled to make presumptions about my financial status. meanwhile to cement my frustrations, there is a local family, 3-5 generations, its hard to tell, they all run together and if they are old enough to bleed, they are old enough to breed, was making quite the parade up and down the road in several new vehicles, a black Challenger, a GMC Acadia and a 2022 ( this I happen to be sure of ) GMC Sierra with a rather significant lift and matching mud tires and offset rims, custom exhaust, etc etc. none of the members of the family work, up to 5 children under 18 at any time increases their public assistance and when they reach 5 they just sign another over to the grand parents ( mostly the ones with the fancy rides) so they maintain the maximum number of dependents to get the maximum assistance. it must be profitable, because they never seem to have a shortage of toys, in addition to the afore mentioned street rides are a 4 place enclosed snowmobile trailer ( I haven't seen what's in it, but something) and a couple street bikes, and the kids seem to terrorize the village on unregistered, non street legal dirt bikes and a couple of 4 wheelers. Again, none of them work, so plenty of time to enjoy themselves. I watched their one family parade seemingly every time I came up for air to get something from the truck or to lay out cable or whatever, at least one or 2 was going by enjoying life. It really started to burn me, here I am crawling around in the dead and living rats and wallowing in their fecal soup, having to put aside the things I would like to buy, have, or do so that I can help others like me to pay for these jackasses to breed and enjoy life, live in state funded rental housing, and take advantage of every single hand out program from free school lunch to free healthcare, all the while going on facebook complaining that there isn't enough being done for them, the school didn't give enough free computers, the summer free lunch program is too inconvenient and no longer delivers directly to their door, the list goes on, but I should stop because I am getting ugly. next person to tell me how wealthy I am is going to get an earful... sorry. rant over. pictures don't do justice to how tight this spot is, and the prairie dog holes didn't show up as well as I had hoped. essentially the only place for a body is along the ducts. Kinda push with your toes and pull with your elbows. 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SASW6 Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 I agree with you 100%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zleinenbach Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 You’d think a man of your means would have a better camera to take pictures! sorry I had to 😁😁 I feel your pain because the stuff to make it tick are always second to the pretty’s 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbyfarm Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 Rough day it sounds like. I know someone with $2000 in car payments a month for their 2 vehicles. My wife and I zero. We get the it must be nice regarding the places we rent out. Don't let them get to you. You work your butt off as do we and most people on this forum. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pt756 Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 i have also wondered about being under a mobile home, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtfireman85 Posted August 16, 2022 Author Share Posted August 16, 2022 8 minutes ago, pt756 said: i have also wondered about being under a mobile home, Oh, its a magical place. And usually a sewer pipe all wet against your face. Crunchy under your knees with mouse skeletons. And if you are lucky 12 generations of cats have been chitting under there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirt_Floor_Poor Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 There are people and families like that everywhere. The welfare programs must be better in your part of the country I’m guessing. The main attraction to being a deadbeat here isn’t the “stuff” you can get, it’s mostly just that you don’t have to do anything to get the little they have. They don’t have much, but they didn’t have to lift a finger to get it. I can assure you there is nothing to be envious of. Their personal lives are disasters. Their children are lost causes. Every once in a while one of them around here gets killed because of their “lifestyle” (drug overdoses, driving drunk, doing ridiculous things), but it never slows the others down. I see them having more kids and think “What a shame, that kid doesn’t have a chance”. 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike newman Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 ...great story, Seth ...it's those sort of 'folk' ...the ones with both hands held out for those pieces of silver...... that down under, here, will possibly get that Red Queen and that bunch of left wing nut jobs back s (h) itting on the lid of NZ... Guess you know what I mean...dosen't seem to be any 'trump' cards as an alternative....at present Mike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dasnake Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 Same ducking thing up here, same ducking people, and the same ducking "advocates" that feel taking illegal drugs, living on a main street (google DTES vancouver) in a leanto tent, causing mayhem through stranger attacks, abusing the legal system through a revolving door judiciary system, getting their free money on welfare wednesday and buying their stash of deadly drugs and throwing the responsibility of their deaths back at the health system that is OVERDUCKING LOADED with covid and now monkey pox causing first response and health care workers to burn out and leave, and who pays for all this mayhem, us and the welfareites want more and now the cost of living is going through the roof and joe average can't make ends meet the government is not doing anything for anyone anywhere. No rant just an opinion about a totally ducked up system 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dasnake Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 29 minutes ago, mike newman said: ...great story, Seth ...it's those sort of 'folk' ...the ones with both hands held out for those pieces of silver...... that down under, here, will possibly get that Red Queen and that bunch of left wing nut jobs back s (h) itting on the lid of NZ... Guess you know what I mean...dosen't seem to be any 'trump' cards as an alternative....at present Mike You got to stop that by getting everyone out to vote, we have the same bullshiit way of handling the governing bodies up here, hand out more and more money to buy votes. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHKeith Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 I hear you, being a tradesman dealing with and hearing about problems and deadlines is normal, and can be tough, lots of calls for work are "emergencies" the sudden plumbing/electrical/mechanical breakdown happens and usually messes up the best plans, but many customers seem to enjoy making the job difficult, some of the difficult customers are just panicky types and most are just difficult Don't forget that they called you, you weren't handing out flyers, I'd bet that you don't have a problem keeping your work schedule full Honest, hardworking tradesman are hard to find, especially the ones that agree to do the nasty jobs, and do them well, even though it isn't always the most profitable, it's the pride of a job well done and accomplishing the "impossible" I've been self employed in auto repair for 3 years this October, in that time I have heard claims of my wealth for the purchase of a 13 year old $3900 snowmobile, it was a new one according to rumour, I was taking over the local towing scene when I bought a $4000 886000km 2007 Dodge wrecker as a yard truck, I had a guy working with me and installed a brand new hoist outdoors when I put up a $500 used hoist outside, I bought my wife a new 2022 RAV4 when she bought it on her own, I find the stories funny, if I feel a need to say anything about my huge income I usually comment sarcastically about the new cigarette boat on order or buying the neighbour's place, which I haven't raised the funds for yet, I do OK compared to my income working as a mechanic for someone else 8-5, but put in way more hours than 40-50 a week, so maybe don't make as much or same per hour, but I work from home, have a fully equipped shop that's mine, it was cool that my former boss footed the bill for supplies to repair gas lines on a new mud truck as a perk, but cooler that I have that stuff here now that's mine, it's like fool small town country boy pride for lack of a better term That "fool" pride is the backbone of America, Canada or anywhere, and I say backbone loosely, but firmly, because I am from the working class I don't have the blind pride that we are the only good ones, it takes all kinds of people to make the world go around, but when there is a snowstorm, tornado or flood, the talents of the local winery or internet cafe aren't as needed Long winded response here but the idea is that the real wealth of being a local small business is the fact that you are a real part of a community, why do you keep doing it? Because to be a better person you actually have to be better 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomorejohndeere Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 stick your probe where the sun don't shine...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Beale Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 6 hours ago, vtfireman85 said: Kinda push with your toes and pull with your elbows. A "no better alternative" is walk with your shoulder blades and push with your boot heels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandhiller Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 1 hour ago, IHKeith said: because I am from the working class We work twice as hard. Because only half the people are working. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
766 Man Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 Society is cratering and I can only hope that God is ready with a plan to thin the herd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finney Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 We have the same thing here, family's with the 3rd generation on welfare and more able to work than I am. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtfireman85 Posted August 16, 2022 Author Share Posted August 16, 2022 10 hours ago, Dirt_Floor_Poor said: The welfare programs must be better in your part of the country I’m guessing. Its all related to how many kids, being a kid less dirt bag isn't all that profitable. For each kid up to 5 they get a bunch more. Additionally to that more and more of the other expenses are paid for, and they also qualify for more and more handouts and programs. So it isn’t just straightforward x amount per kid. As far as the grandparents go they can take as many as they want , they are treated as “fosters” and come with a hefty dowry, and on top of that subsidies like WIC, food stamp programs, childcare, healthcare school lunch etc etc are paid for on top of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjcolemn Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 I've always said I'm glad I work so hard so someone else doesn't have to 🤬 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN Hillbilly Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 16 hours ago, sandhiller said: We work twice as hard. Because only half the people are working. Amen! Nothing is free. Someone, somewhere paid for it. I love getting behind them at the gas station. I'm in a hurry, because I got more work to get done every day than the hours to do it...And they're in front of me, taking their sweet time to buy scratch-offs and cigarettes. I am tempted to introduce myself (as the one paying for all their goodies) and ask if we're taking care of them well enough, and is there anything else we can do for you? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stronger800 Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 Don’t forget the supersized fountain drinks and $3.50 slices of gas station pizza. I always think they look good, but I don’t really have time or think it’s a wise investment to buy one. I know a young woman who has a full-time minimum wage job, she is a single mother of one child, under the age of five,In New York. She recently told me that her food stamp or food benefit card whatever it was was just increased to $1000 per month. So how many thousands per month does somebody get that doesn’t have a job, and or has several kids? I know that her healthcare and the child’s healthcare are completely paid for and that she has no copayment when she sees a specialist or gets a prescription. My youngest daughter actually takes the same asthma medication that this woman does, I pay $31 a month for my daughters inhaler. -I wonder how much I pay for this other lady’s. My wife found a package of our ground beef buried in the storage freezer tonight. I can tell by the different print on the packaging that it has been in there for more than two years, more than a few animals ago. It’s thawing out now I’m eating it tomorrow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearheadmb Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 They didnt get all their money from the government, they made some selling drugs to whoever plumbed that house. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dasnake Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 48 minutes ago, stronger800 said: Don’t forget the supersized fountain drinks and $3.50 slices of gas station pizza. I always think they look good, but I don’t really have time or think it’s a wise investment to buy one. I know a young woman who has a full-time minimum wage job, she is a single mother of one child, under the age of five,In New York. She recently told me that her food stamp or food benefit card whatever it was was just increased to $1000 per month. So how many thousands per month does somebody get that doesn’t have a job, and or has several kids? I know that her healthcare and the child’s healthcare are completely paid for and that she has no copayment when she sees a specialist or gets a prescription. My youngest daughter actually takes the same asthma medication that this woman does, I pay $31 a month for my daughters inhaler. -I wonder how much I pay for this other lady’s. My wife found a package of our ground beef buried in the storage freezer tonight. I can tell by the different print on the packaging that it has been in there for more than two years, more than a few animals ago. It’s thawing out now I’m eating it tomorrow. You wanna laff, mom started fostering in '98, one of the workers that she dealt with was a good down to earth gal, she would direct families to housing and feedings and some of them couldn't cook so she showed them rudimentary cooking skills, peeling spuds, carrots, onions and such taking them out to shop for basics to eat healthy but cheaply, not for them, instant foods, frozen foods, canned goods etc. all three times more expensive than buying fresh, on top of that they liked to order in all the popular fast foods, she could teach them to feed and care for themselves for the length of their checks but nope, doing it their way they were always one or two weeks short. And now the ads for these ducking door dash and uber food services have the lazy duckers paying for delivery now, bloody joke on all of us who bust our azzes doing the right thing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug in NY Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 the floor above you and the joists do not look to be in the best shape. stay safe under those houses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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