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"Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
Fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way.
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way."

Gilmour, Mason, Wright, and Waters were right, you know.  Time is one commodity that we have both in abundance and short supply.  Too much time to work, not enough time to play, time we will never have and time we wish we had back.

"Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain.
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today.
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you.
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun."

Is this a self-prophecy?  After all, when we are young, we figure we'll always have time to do those things we want to do.  But sooner or later, we realize that the lazy days of youth have been eclipsed by the hectic days of adulthood, where we put in too many hours at work, too few hours on the things we need to do for oursleves, and before you know it, pow, you wonder where it all went.

"So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again.
The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older,
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death."

And this is where all that brings you.  You've worked your entire life to achieve some goal, some mystical brass ring, when what you've really done is cheated yourself out of those little things that add special touches to your life.  Why do we do this?  I know at least in my career field that long shifts did not use to be the norm, but it seems they have become an accepted fact of life–you will work 12-hour days and you will work seven days a week until we tell you otherwise.  It didn't used to be that way–I worked, right out of school, for a 24-hour Air Ambulance and Executive Charter company, and I can still look back and count the amount of overtime I worked there in hours–and this was over a seven year stay there.  No, it was only recently–at this, my most recent career stop–where the clock and calendar didn't matter, getting things worked did.  And while I am truly thankful for the opportunities I was afforded, I look back over the last five and a half years on all those things I missed because I was working long shifts.  Some of them I missed because I was at work.  Some of them, I missed because I was so spent after a long period of no breaks that I was too tired to do anything–so I sat on the couch and stared at the TV, which made me even more listless.

"Every year is getting shorter; never seem to find the time.
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over,
Thought I'd something more to say."

Why am I telling you this?  Because as of last Thursday, the company I work for officially ended operations in our location.  Why?  Well, they see Chattanooga, Tennessee more viable than West Columbia, South Carolina.  It is as simple as that.  Am I upset?  To a point, yes–I was one of the first employees at this location.  I have shed blood, sweat, and tears here since June of 2010, and worked hard to build the customer base we have here.  I have taken next to nothing, and tried to build an avionics shop from it.  I have done more with less.  We have completed major inspections with a team of five technicians in the same calendar span it would take any other team of ten.  Why?  We had to.  You don't match downtimes with your competition, you're dead meat.  On the other hand, I can't be too upset–the decision to move was made way above my pay grade.  I don't know all the ins and outs of why one location was better than another.  I'm not privvy to those upper management discussions that have the company convinced that they stand a better chance of survival in Chattanooga.  So, they have to do what they have to do.  But it doesn't make it hurt any less when you've been told you have two choices–move or have your employment terminated.  In my current circumstances, moving is out of the question. 

So, here I am, ready to start a new personal adventure.  Stay tuned.

"Home
Home again
I like to be here
When I can

When I come home
Cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones
Beside the fire

Far away
Across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spell"

(Lyrics © T.R.O. INC.)

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Plans for the 2016 AMPS International Convention in April and the 2016 IPMS/USA National Convention in August are in high gear.  Both events promise to be real barn-burners, so don't miss either one.  I am gathering a super group of seminar hosts for the IPMS Convention, and my counterpart in AMPS is doing the same.  I can't wait…

Thanks for reading.  Be good to one another, and I bid you Peace.

The past few weeks have not been kind to the hobby…

This past weekend, the modeling world learned of the death of Sheperd Paine.  Most of us were introduced to Shep's work through the Diorama Hints and Tips sheets that Monogram Models included in some of their armor and aircraft kits throughout the '70's.  I know, personally, that the first time I saw one of those brochures, I was amazed.  I must have been at the right stage in my modeling career, because the information Shep was giving us was the type of thing I was looking for to take my models to the next level.  While I never attempted to duplicate one of his dioramas, I did follow some of his tips on a Monogram B-17G–I added the floor boards in the aft fuselage, and copping the tip from the B-24J Assembly Ship diorama, I added "battle damage patches" using index card.  This model was, at the time, the culmination of my new skills as a modeler–aside from the little things I just described, I actually filled seams, airbrushed the finish, and used the MicroScale system on the decals.  (Several years later, this would be the B-17 that I refinished in 1985.)

Shep's work and inspiration became like a thread that wound its way through my modeling adventures.  When I was again looking to bump things up to the next level, what should I spy on the hobby shop book rack but "How to Build Dioramas" in 1982.  Sitting next to that book was the Test Issue of "FineScale Modeler", and both of them came home with me, even though it meant I spent my entire weekly modeling budget on them.  I read both from cover to cover, including the article on the boxed diorama that featured Nelson before Copenhagen.  Wow.  I absorbed this like a sponge, and received a new bit of inspiration, thanks in no small part to the work of Mr. Paine.

Throughout the years, I would refer to the book as a Modeling Bible.  By the time I bought a second copy, the original had become so dog-eared and shop worn that I had to replace it.  And, when the Second Edition came out, I had to but a copy.  It goes without saying that I also bought the other books penned by Shep for Kalmbach…

A few years ago, my wife gave me a signed copy of Schiffer's "Sheperd Paine–The Life and Work of a Master Modeler and Military Historian" by Jim DeRogatis.  If you are looking for the "ultimate" Sheperd Paine "How I built…" book, this isn't it.  It is much better.  This book got beyond the models and told the stories behind why he did what he did.  It covers his life and varied careers in modeling, sculpting, and collecting military memorabilia.  It also tells of his early life, and how he became who he was.  More fascinating sometimes were the sidebar stories told by other modelers and collectors about their relationships with Shep.  I read it cover to cover when I first got it, and I read it again yesterday reflecting on all those models, dioramas, and figures that still keep me in awe.

If anyone deserves the title of Master Modeler, it is Sheperd Paine.  Fair Winds, Mr. Paine.  You may be gone, but your work will remain as a reminder of your talents.

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Another entry on the obituary page is Jerry Campbell, one of the founders of the Squadron Shops and Squadron Mail Order.  I first became aware of Squadron in the early 1980's, when I was in college.  I remember receiving a copy of their flyer in the mail, and the prices back then were terrific.  I quickly put a minimum order–ten bucks back in the day–and was amazed at how fast the order was processed.  I received it the following week, which was pretty quick by the standards of the day.  I would continue to pick up bargains here and there–Tamiya 1/48 F-2A Buffalo kits for $8, anyone?–and I believe my stash was probably started in earnest thanks to my dealings with Squadron.

I stopped using them a few years ago, when Jerry sold the business.  Just as well, the quality of the service wasn't as good as it was when I started using them.  For what it was, though, and what effect it had on the hobby back in the day, we can thank Jerry.

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For the last entry today, Kevin Suddarth also passed away in June.  Another modeler I never had opportunity to meet face to face, I still have his article from "FineScale Modeler" on converting the Hasegawa 1/72 SP-2E Neptune to the AP-2H gunship, ready for when I decide it is time to build my very own "Iron Butterfly".  Kevin's work was sprinkled in many books and magazine articles I read over the years, and I always managed to take something away from his writings and his models. 

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It was kind of a bummer today, but if it points out anything, it points out the need to be good to one another.  You never know when your number will be called.

Thanks for reading.  As always, I bid you Peace.

While I was putting some thought behind both of the national model shows that will be happening in Columbia next year, I was reminded that I still had one or two research projects on the go.  Both involve men who joined the U. S. Army Air Forces during World War Two.

The first is my boss's father.  He flew B-24's from Cerignola, Italy, and I built a representative model of his airplane last year (and posted photos of the same).  But my history gene will not let it end there–I want to know more.  He flew raids on Linz, on Vienna and Ploesti, and many other places during the war.  He wasn't a member of the oh-so-glamorous 8th Air Force, the much-written about group that brought destruction to the Third Reich from the air (as the stories go)–he was with the Fifteenth Air Force, the Eight's little brother on the other side of the continent (for those new to these things, the 8th Air Force in England and 15th Air Force in Italy were considered the strategic air arms, while the 9th in England and 12th in Italy were the tactical forces).  Ask any question you want about the 8th, and you'll get the answer.  Ask any question about the 9th, and the answers will come, although not as quickly as it might for a question on the 8th.  But the 12th and 15th?  They were the red-haired stepchildren when it comes to historical documentation…

Ahhh, but there's always an exception, right?  A man I met while working in the hobby shop a few years ago often spoke of his father who flew P-47's with the 9th Air Force, and his war ended when the engine on his airplane seized while on a mission 8 days after D-Day.  He spent the rest of the war in a German prison camp.  Since he was relatively new to the unit when he was lost, there's not a lot out there about the airplane he was flying.  Try as we may, we come up mostly empty when we try looking.  By "we", I mean the man's son and me…

But the other part of this man's story, to me, is just as, if not more fascinating.  After the war, he stayed in the service.  He went to engineering school, did a few tours in the Pentagon, a few more at the War College, flew with the Acrojets (the predecessor to the USAF Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team), and flew some 150 missions over Vietnam.  Oh, yeah, he was also the man who made the name "Gunfighters" mean something with the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing in Vietnam–he enabled 16 of their F-4C/D aircraft to carry the SUU-16 gun pod, with good results.

On both accounts, I'm fortunate–both men's sons know the significance of their fathers' service, and both have maintained a lot of their fathers' memorabilia from their time in the service.  The second man attained the rank of Major General, so the Air Force compiled a record of his career when he retired–one that I may be able to peruse and copy for  my research.  If it is half as valuable as I think it will be, I'm looking forward to the opportunity…

The third is a co-worker's wife's grandfather.  He recently passed, and I found out that he was on the USS Santa Fe (CL-60) during the later stages of the war.  He was on board when the USS Franklin (CV-13) was bombed and damaged, and he served on the ship for the duration of the war.  Now, we come to the problem, one that I am trying to prevent as I get older: now that he's crossed over, many of his personal service effects were taken by other members of the family who most likely have no clue what the man's service was really all about.  I'm told he had a large painting (likely a print) of the ship, signed by members of the crew.  *Zip*  That walked out of his house no sooner was the funeral concluded.  Same with a lot of his photos and other records.  My fervent hope is that the family members who took these things really do understand and appreciate what this man went through and can honestly be the custodians of his story.  But my deepest fear is that these items will eventually be stuck in an attic or basement, only to be sent to the local landfill because "grandpa's boxes of stinky old war stuff was just taking up space and collecting dust…"

Why am I chronicling these people?  After all, they're not family, just people I know.  Well, I have two answers here.  The first is that I also have family members who served, and I'm trying to put their stories together as well.  I'm not having as many problems with family members, but the issue that does face me is that they're all gone.  My cousins have helped some, but the folks who know the stories have gone West.  So, I have to do my best to pull from my own childhood memories and then ask some more questions.  To this day, I kick myself for not asking questions sooner.  Then again, like most veterans, they didn't talk much about their service–"I'm no war hero, I was called to do a job, I did it, and I'm home.  You want to know about the heroes?  They're still over there…"

The second answer is more to the point:  if not me, then who will take up the cause?  The Gabreskis, Doolittles, Pattons, Halseys, and Pullers have been documented.  But what about the Miraglias and the Chiaravalottis, the Tweedies and the Benders, the Mullens, Bolts, and Smihulas?  Their kids, and some of their grandkids, understand.  But after that, their stories will most likely be lost to time.  And that, friends, would be a shame.

If you know a veteran, ask him about his story.  Write it down.  Pass it on.  From the Generals and Admirals to the PFC's and Gunner's Mates, they all have a story.  And if you ask, they may just share it with you.

Be good to one another.  As always, I bid you Peace.

This weekend is Memorial Day Weekend in the United States, usually it is the unofficial start to summer vacations, camping trips, cookouts, and fun.  Sometimes, though, the meaning of this coming Monday gets lost in the shuffle or twisted to fit something that it isn't.  Monday is the day here in America where we remember those who answered the call, went to fight, and never returned. 

So, we remember.  We remember the Minutemen and Colonial soldiers at Lexington, Concord, Cowpens, Trenton, and Yorktown.

We remember the Americans who defended Washington in 1812.

We remember Billy Yank and Johnny Reb, those brothers who fought on opposite sides of a war over States' rights.

We remember the sailors aboard the USS Maine when she sank in Havana Harbor.

We remember the Rough Riders who rode up Kettle and San Juan hill, but never rode back down.

We remember the Doughboys who went off to Europe to fight the Kaiser in The War To End All Wars, men whose ability to fight was questioned at first–but not for long.

We remember those brave Knights of the Air, who flew flimsy crates against an enemy who was better equipped.

We remember the Americans who died at Pearl Harbor.

We remember the Americans fighting on land, at sea, and in the air to slow down the Japanese steamroller in the Pacific, and, at the same time, taking the fight to the Fascists and National Socialists in Europe for the second time in 25 years.

We remember the men and women who fought "The Forgotten War" in Korea.

We remember the Americans who perished in the tunnels below, rice paddies on the surface, and high in the skies of Vietnam.

We remember, too, those who died fighting the Cold War.  While there was little shooting, the dangers were as real as any war.

We remember Beirut, Grenada, and Panama, and the men and women who died doing their duty in those locations.

We remember those who perished in the deserts of Kuwait and Iraq, and in the mountains of Afghanistan.

We also remember those Americans, service members or not, who died in the attacks of September 11, 2001.

For if it weren't for their sacrifice, America would be a far different place. 

My American friends, whatever you do this weekend, be safe.  And stop to pay respects to all the Americans who remain forever young, knowing they did so to keep America free.

Be good to one another.  Thanks for reading, and I bid you Peace.

(* SIDNA = Shit I don't need anymore)

In the words of Justin Wilson (the late Cajun chef, not the racer), "How y'all are?  I'm so glad for to to see me some more…"

Here in the Greater Upper Midlands Co-Prosperity Sphere, we're in the last stages of preparation for the IPMS/USA Region 12 show coming up in Columbia (as an aside, I love the fact that I moved from a city who in the mid-1980's used the advertising slogan "Ft. Lauderdale…it makes me hot" to one that uses "Columbia, SC–Famously Hot".  I guess I shouldn't complain about the oppressive summers, huh?).  We've done all we can as a club to prepare for the show–we have the awards finished, we've made all the signage and table cards, the venue is ready, all we have left to do is set up on Friday, hold the show on Saturday, and then we can rest.  My final act of vengeance will be to go through the stash and do some serious house cleaning.  I've told you about The Stash, and how, like Great Stuff foam, it expanded to fit the available space.  It does that from time to time–the last real serious Fleet Reduction and Rationalization exercise was about a dozen years ago, back when I lived in Ft. Lauderdale–I slashed my armor collection, along with a bunch of miscellany that I had amassed over the years, many of which I was working at the local plastics emporium for store credit.  I had a minor SIDNA sale again in 2005, where I disposed of a great many of my 1/48 scale World War I airplanes.  This time, it will be a major sell-off (but not sell-out) of kits that have been eclipsed by newer, better engineered kits, or kits I have multiples of, or kits that I will honestly never get around to building.  That's one of those "older and wiser" things, by the way–I'm now in my late 40's, and given my current rate of production, I'll need to live to be 347.6 years old in order to build everything I have–and that's only if I stop buying kits right now and never buy another.  Where's the fun in that?  So, if you're at the show next week, you may be able to snag a bargain…or two…or three.  And then, some years later, you'll wonder how your collection got to be so large.  Then you'll ponder your own SIDNA sale.  See?  It self-perpetuates…

The thing that will make next week hectic is that once again, come Tuesday, I will be on an iron bird to The Big D, this time for a short training session.  I wasn't going to go, but this will be my only chance for a while to get this training, which I really need to stay current in my profession.  I told them I'd go on the condition that I absolutely, positively needed to be back in South Carolina by Friday morning–and if it meant they sent a company airplane for me, so be it.  I'm hoping that American Airlines is still running smoothly, despite the recent turmoils there.  So, out on Tuesday at noon, back in Columbia at 11:05PM Thursday, the Good Lord willing and the creek doesn't rise.  A few hours at the shop early Friday to fill out expense reports and time cards, then Let The Show Begin!    

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By now, all of you in the U.S. will have made your annual homage to the Tax Man.  We got a late start, but everything got filed with a week to spare.  I feel sorry for those who burned the midnight oil to get it all done by the 17th–but you had a few extra days, right?  The best laid plans…

We usually gt a refund, and this year was no different–although the refund was smaller.  I hold some degree of respect for people who are constantly re-filing their withholding forms so they break even at tax time–"I don't want to give the IRS an interest-free loan, and I don't want to owe, either!"  Good on ya–but I can't see doing that.  Nope, I'll stand pat and let the chips fall where they may…

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The music world lost a few this week.  America's Teenager, Dick Clark, died on Tuesday at the age of 82.  I was agnostic towards Dick Clark–I remember him more for his TV productions and his New Year's Rockin' Eve shows than I do for American Bandstand.  And honestly, it was hard to watch him on New Year's Eve the past few years, after a stroke had slowed him down.  I give him credit, though, he was bound and determined to do the show, and that he did.  I suppose the mantle will be assumed by his sidekick, Ryan Seacrest.  I can live with that. 

Levon Helm died Thursday at 71 years old, after a long fight with the Big C.  I knew of "The Band" and of Levon's work, but I wasn't a huge follower.  Their collective contributions to music, though, were many.  As the NPR report on his death said, at a time when most rock acts were trying new things (and new substances), Levon and The Band went almost retro, doing more country-blues based stuff than electric music.  I was also glad to learn that he and Robbie Robertson spoke to each other before Levon passed.

And, finally, Greg Ham was found dead on Thursday.  Children of the '80s know him as the flute and sax player for the Aussie group "Men At Work".  His most notable moment came when he played the flute solo in the video for their song "Down Under". 

If you believe in the theory of Threes, we should have a break.  But the news about Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees isn't good…

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I'm off to sort the SIDNA.  If you are going to the show next week, I hope you enjoy yourselves–we think it will be a great event.  Shows like this take a lot of work to be successful, and we're hoping the hard work pans out for you.

In the meantime, thanks for reading.  Be good to one another, and I bid you Peace.

Howdy!

It seems that once again I got real busy with "other stuff".  In no particular order:

We're packed to the rafters (so it seems) at the regular job–two in work with one on a fast simmer, waiting for work to continue on it.  We actually started the one simmering away before the other two, but the other two were booked well in advance, so they took center stage.  If the third arrival goes well (we're evaluating it for a possible purchaser), then the Fun-O-Meter will bend the needle around the peg at the high end, since it goes from a fairly non-invasive inspection to something similar to what we did with the Learjet we inspected last year.  This one's a Hawker 800, and we may wind up doing the major structural inspections on it.  We have a Learjet in for inspections and work that should be leaving on Thursday.  The one we started on and set aside is a Cessna Citation VII, which has a lot to be done to it, too.  So, my days are pretty full.

On the "away from work" side of things, the local IPMS Chapter is hosting our IPMS Region 12 Regional show in a few weeks, so preparations for it are going on every spare weekend we can find.  A few weeks ago, we assembled the award plaques, we've had numerous judging meetings, and we're in the process of doing the table cards.  In addition to that, the local AMPS Chapter is co-hosting our Second Annual show in July–as soon as the dust clears from the IPMS Regional, we go into full APMS prep mode.  Fortunately, we have table cards and the like already done–and we designed both the AMPS and IPMS cards to be reusable–and we know the facility, so set up will be fairly easy on that one.  But there are always those little things that, if forgotten or poorly planned can take a huge bite out of one's ass.  So, we meet to discuss.  And discuss some more.  The better we plan now, the better the show will be for all involved.

And, finally, I plan on having a few vendor tables at the IPMS show.  I've still not totally completed my kit inventory, but I do need to thin the stash, which means it is time for a SIDNA sale (In case you forgot, SIDNA=Shit I Don't Need Anymore).  And, since the wife has some SIDNA of her own, we're going to try and sell it to someone who will need it more than we do.  I think it has been at least 7 years since I sold off SIDNA, and the last time I did a real good house cleaning was at least 12 years ago, at one of the (in)famous IPMS/Flight 19 Holiday Party/Kit Auction meetings.

Add to that the fact that the company I work for is really pushing their wellness program (which takes up some time at the computer as well as the exercise bike and walking), and my "free" minutes aren't many.  Regardless, I have started to make more progress on the Dragon 1/35 scale StuG. IV–I've been adding some of the smaller bits to the main sub assemblies, and one of these days I'll tackle the link-to-link track. 

Speaking of which, I did tell you about my Dragon 1/35 scale M50 Super Sherman, no?  I had built the kit back in the late 1990's when it was first issued.  Now, it isn't a bad kit–typical of Dragon at the time, it used a multi-purpose lower hull (which meant you had to measure to locate the suspension parts), it had the typical "if the real thing had 3 parts, we'll break it down into 12", and it was based on the M4A4 with the extended hull.  Even so, it makes a nice model with a little work.  The worst aspect of the kit are the horrid rendition (in link-to-link, no less) of the T80 tracks.  I built mine out of the box, racks included.  Somewhere in the interceding 14 years or so, the tracks exploded like popcorn, so I started looking for new tracks–and found them, from AFV Club.  They tout these as "workable", which they are, but since the wheels get glued in place, why?  Anyway, each link consists of the track pad, the guide horn, and two ityy-bitty end connectors.  AFV Club would have you belaieve everyhting stays to gether by a friction fit.  Yeah, that didn't work out so well.  Add to that the fact that the sprockets were, by necessity, epoxied onto a dowel to get them spaced properly away from the hull, which means no easy adjustments.  I have most of one side done.  I'm resting my eyes in order that I might regain enough sight to finish that side and do the other…

Thanks for reading.  Be good to one another, and I bid you Peace.

I'm going to be away for a few days for business–some of that training that the FAA is so fond of.  I'll share pictures of the adventure when I return.

Until then… 

Jury Duty ended for me today–we were officially excused.  Which begs the question:  Why do they allow folks to wheel and deal after a jury pool has been summoned?  By that time, any deals should be done–don't continue up until the morning the case is going to be tried…

We delivered the first three of five airplanes we've had in work for the past month.  Numbers four and five should be gone by the end of the week. 

So, that should (operative phrase here–should) leave me with some extra time to get something–anything–a little closer to completion.  Wish me luck…

Not a whole lot else to share tonight…stay tuned, though.

Be good to one another, and I bid you Peace.

Today (that would be Sunday 21 August) marks the 21st day in a row that I've worked at the day job.  All of these days were at least 8-hour days, and most were closer to 10-hour days.  All that work comes from having three aircraft in work and only four technicians to work them.  We are fortunate in that our company has several locations across the country, and we can ask those other locations for assistance if we really need it.  Even with the extra hands, though, we had to burn the midnight oil to get things finished so we could hope to meet that ever-important delivery date.  We're not batting 1.000, though–the first was supposed to leave tomorrow, but we found a few items on the post inspection run that didn't work properly.  So, we had to work today, troubleshoot, and order parts.  The second and third are supposed to deliver by Wednesday.  So far, those two look like they are on schedule–and that prompts a second discussion, since the first airplane is an older airframe while the other two are a little fresher.  Time takes a toll on even the best maintained machines.  They are, after all, still machines–parts wear out, wires age, new systems replace old (and the replacement isn't always done with the same sense of craftsmanship as it could be), and, in the end analysis, they can't last forever.

And, if that weren't enough fun, there are two more airplanes due to start work tomorrow.  These two don't have as involved a workscope as the first three, but you never know what you'll find during an inspection, so all you can do is give the customer an estimated inspection completion date, which is subject to change after the findings are discussed and quoted.  

To add insult to injury, my Jury Duty obligation begins tomorrow morning.  I have mixed feelings–being assigned to a jury will at least give me a period of time where I can keep more or less "normal" hours out of the heat and humidity.  But that also includes the risk of being sequestered, which carries the thoughts from the castaways on "Gilligan's Island"–No phone, no light, no motorcars… 

The other part of me understands that I have a civil obligation, but that I also have an obligation to my employer.  We truly are swamped with work, and fewer hands aren't going to get things done any faster.  I don't know, I guess I'll just have to wait and see how things shake out.  If it comes to that, I hope I have an understanding judge.  If not, I'll play it as it comes…

Modeling?  Are you kidding?  The only modeling-related activities I've participated in have been the monthly AMPS and IPMS meetings.  I also stopped in to the local Hobby Lobby and found they had several of their kits on the Clearance shelf at a pretty good price–naturally, I had to adopt some of them.  And, if I get a chance, I may go back and minesweep some more.

A note of some not-so-good news:  The shop where I work part-time is closing.  I'll still be able to put in some hours at the other location in town, but this is like watching one of your creations being dumped in the bin.  After all, I was there when the store opened, and actually managed the store for a time.  We did a decent business, too, but staffing issues have forced the owner's hand, so he's closing the smaller of the two stores.  A closer examination reveals that perhaps the smaller store wasn't located in the best place–it was located in a strip mall with several restaurants and a movie theater.  The original owner was jubilant when he exclaimed that the parking lot was packed on Friday nights, but didn't take the thought to the next step and realize that a majority of that crowd was either waiting for a table to open up or waiting for their movie to start seating–I've had people drop the conversation in mid-word when their restaurant buzzer went off, notifying them of an open table, no "Thanks!", "Goodbye", or "Up yours!", they just up and walked out.  Another fact lost on the original owner was perhaps the new store was too close to the original location.  Rather than doubling his business, the original owner split his business and doubled his overhead.  As I told the current owner, while it may seem like a setback now, in the long run it should pay off.  He can consolidate things and build the business.  If he wants to expand later on, he'll have the means to do so.

The hobby business, even when backed by a National franchise, can be difficult in the best of times.

I don't know when I'll be able to post for the next few days, so stay tuned.  Thanks for reading, be good to one another, and I bid you Peace.