mbinsewi ATLANTIC CENTRAL Kevin is not doing woodworking, he is doing demolition of thinset mortar from a tile floor. Very fine particulate dust, about the same as breathing baby power. Exactly. Menards has a new policy, all customers must wear a mask. We were at the local store on Friday, all emplyees had mask, but very few customers, including us. Now it's mandatory, you can buy a mask at the door, for a buck. Heading to North WI., on Tuesday, to install a vanity, and linen closet, and open up our north woods retreat. The following week will be the custom kitchen cabinets. Uppers are 14" deep, and go to the ceiling, with no soffit or wasted empty space, and the base cabinets have full roll-out shelves/drawers, no more being on your knees to find that missing Tupperware cover. All made with solid oak. They are heavy!. Up there, we about 800' from our closest neighbor. Talk about social distancing. Although, at cocktail time, we are across the table from each other. I have no problem with that. I can't wait to get there. Mike.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Kevin is not doing woodworking, he is doing demolition of thinset mortar from a tile floor. Very fine particulate dust, about the same as breathing baby power.
Exactly.
Menards has a new policy, all customers must wear a mask. We were at the local store on Friday, all emplyees had mask, but very few customers, including us.
Now it's mandatory, you can buy a mask at the door, for a buck.
Heading to North WI., on Tuesday, to install a vanity, and linen closet, and open up our north woods retreat.
The following week will be the custom kitchen cabinets. Uppers are 14" deep, and go to the ceiling, with no soffit or wasted empty space, and the base cabinets have full roll-out shelves/drawers, no more being on your knees to find that missing Tupperware cover.
All made with solid oak. They are heavy!.
Up there, we about 800' from our closest neighbor. Talk about social distancing.
Although, at cocktail time, we are across the table from each other. I have no problem with that.
I can't wait to get there.
Mike.
Current Maryland policy requires masks to go inside any business that is currently allowed to be open.
Sounds like some fun work.
Sheldon
My wife is a family medicine doc in the US. She has been working a lot of extra hours in the ER of our small town hospital... as such, there are times when she gets home around midnight, strips off clothing in the garage, washes them directly and then steps into the shower before coming to bed only to wake up at 6 am to go back to work. We have had a relatively small number of cases in our county, but quite a few in the surrounding counties. We have friends and family that have had the virus, most have come through. A few are still struggling and we have lost 3 really good friends. We were unable to attend the funeral, and that was ... sad.
Pretty much, my hobbies have been placed on hold for a bit. I have been working from home, became the ipso facto home school teacher/principal, short order cook, and all around fix-it guy.
I look forward to life coming back to normal, but as many have stated better than I... will anything ever be "normal" again?
George
davidmurrayPlease do not use n-95 masks for wood working. They are over kill for that, and in short supply for medical workers, etc.
I am removing tile thin set, and that generates very fine particulate matter. I re-used my on-hand N-95 masks more than I should have.
I am putting off the search until Wednesday. Florida is implementing phase one of our reopening today, and it might be crazy out there.
mbinsewiUppers are 14" deep, and go to the ceiling, with no soffit or wasted empty space, and the base cabinets have full roll-out shelves/drawers, no more being on your knees to find that missing Tupperware cover
I had my uppers mounted 4 inches higher than normal because I am 6'7" tall. My poor wife is only 5'3", and she can only reach the bottom shelf. All my lowers, except beneath the sink, are drawers, and we love them.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
95 masks are everywhere here, only thing in short supply is TP, go fiqure. I have beard so none of this stuff in reality works on me. I do have an expencive mask with filters that I bought for a brick cutting job.
We are getting better at cooking, and also shopping for food. With little else to do, we enjoy visits to butcher shops and the farm stands that are reopening for the spring. Tonight we had grilled chicken leg quarters from the butcher shop with a Jamaican Jerk marinade, and a mixed array of roasted vegetables.
Our food is healthier now than before, when we went to restaurants more often. Of course, now they're talking about supply shortages...
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I just received an email that my favorite Chinese Restaurant is opening on Friday!
This Sunday... I am going to pig-out on Chinese Take-Out in an unparalleled feat of carniverous gluttany that I am going to enjoy so much!
I might not get out of bed until Tuesday.
I cleaned the house yesterday and did minor train stuff. Went to bed real early as I had a bad toothach, proubly from grinding my teeth at night as the one below it hurts too. At least I am losing weight from not eating a pound of sweets each night. Today I started cleaning up the train room, been trying to get a box ready for my e-bay seller but at this stage hard to do.
rrebellI cleaned the house yesterday and did minor train stuff.
Funny you should mention that. There was just a story on the mid-day newscast that said with so many people at home, more people are cleaning out there houses, and that is causing garbage trucks to not be able to haul all the stops on their route with more people having full cans every week.
They are asking us the clean out our houses in moderation.
SeeYou190 rrebell I cleaned the house yesterday and did minor train stuff. Funny you should mention that. They are asking us to clean out our houses in moderation. -Kevin
rrebell I cleaned the house yesterday and did minor train stuff.
Funny you should mention that.
They are asking us to clean out our houses in moderation.
Fascinating!
They remind us every day to wash our hands, (something we all had pretty much understood by two years old right after potty training) They even have commercials with step by step video on how this New Concept works, how to wash our hands over and over, ... Hello!
But now they want us to clean our house in moderation Kevin..... Go Figure???
P.S. rrebell, In the last 5 years I have had 3 cracked teeth removed due to grinding them at night. It's quite a problem for me as well The last dentist I visited told me a custom-made mouthguard would be cheaper than all the extractions.
TF
Layout progress is on hold. Last weekend wife and I worked on the deck re-hab; it's very time consuming and we have a way to go; plus we've had a lot of rain so limited days we can work onit. Next weekend is the funeral. My mother insisted on doing the funeral in the small town in Iowa so so a small number of family, including some nieces and nephews will be going. Apparently from what I've heard, everyone in Iowa is delaying funerals during the pandemic but here we go. Wife and will be driving to avoid Corona Airlines and stay in hotels and do everything possible to stay safe.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
So, I am now officially out of a job. Between the refusing to follow the safety protocols and the disrespect for those who were, including me, I had already walked out. I have been waiting before doing anything further in hopes that my walking would jolt them enough to straighten out, but they have not. I gave the owner one last chance yesterday, as I had stopped in to talk over options, but he told me that they will not be doing anything different, and that they did not have time for me.
So, I have officially filed for unemployment. And that will mean that the state will most likely ask questions, and will not like my answers. They will then most likely go to my employer with fines and penalties.
But, I tried to avoid all of that. Guess it's now "checkmate" in that game.
Im not worried about it anymore, it's no longer my problem, and as many in this area know me and my reputation as a good, dedicated, hard worker, I will be fine when everything calms down. I will find another employer, and hopefully one who will treat me with more respect, and appreciate what I provide in helping the business succeed.
Condolences to all who have lost someone they care about due to this wicked virus.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
ricktrains4824So, I am now officially out of a job.
I don't know exactly what you do, but was the place you were working a one-of outfit, or part of a chain where the manager had to answer to a higher authority?
Is there a Home Depot near you? I was in one of them a week or so ago and they seemed very serious about how they were conducting business. They were limiting the number of customers, you needed a mask to get in, and all the employees were wearing one. There was only one entrance in and one out.
They had an interesting way of getting people through the checkout. Everyone stood in line and they had an employee walking the line to scan purchases. After the scan he/she gave you a card containing the total. When you got to the cashiers you gave them the card with your credit card and you were on your way. No touchie, no feely..
Retail, This last place was a one-off, locally owned business. There is a HD about 35 minutes away from me, but I really don't like driving quite that far to do retail.
I have drove that far before to do retail, right nearby the HD, and it was not really worth the expense to travel that far, but when the place prior lost the lease, I was forced to go farther.
There is a WallyWorld much closer, but I will never work for them again, as I have done that before, and they treat the employees like dirt. I require at least the respect you give customers, but the managers of WM are not of the same thought. They treat customers better than employees, as employees are a dime a dozen in their mind.
ricktrains4824 So, I am now officially out of a job. Between the refusing to follow the safety protocols and the disrespect for those who were, including me, I had already walked out. I have been waiting before doing anything further in hopes that my walking would jolt them enough to straighten out, but they have not. I gave the owner one last chance yesterday, as I had stopped in to talk over options, but he told me that they will not be doing anything different, and that they did not have time for me. So, I have officially filed for unemployment.
So, I have officially filed for unemployment.
I am not sure about where I live now, but when I lived in New York state, I would not have been eligible for unemployment benefits if I voluntarily left my job. Only if I was laid off due to lack of work would I have been able to collect unemployment benefits. Maybe it's different in PA?
And that will mean that the state will most likely ask questions, and will not like my answers. They will then most likely go to my employer with fines and penalties. But, I tried to avoid all of that. Guess it's now "checkmate" in that game.
I guess it depends on if you are protected by "whistle blower" laws. Over the years I've heard things don't go well for whistle blowers so I've never wanted to risk it. I wish you luck.
Thats the trick. I've worked for some good employers and some not so good.
In PA, if you have "just cause", you are eligible to collect unemployment even though you quit. It just depends on how (and whom in) the state defines "just cause."
With my having asthma, and them refusing to follow the safety protocols ordered by the state, I feel it was just cause. (Unnecessary risk to employee health and safety uncorrected.)
Now I will see if the state agrees.
"I am not sure about where I live now, but when I lived in New York state, I would not have been eligible for unemployment benefits if I voluntarily left my job. Only if I was laid off due to lack of work would I have been able to collect unemployment benefits. Maybe it's different in PA?"
Well, not PA either, but here in Maryland, I will give you an example that happened to me years ago.
I gave my two weeks notice at a job. The next morning I was told to pack my toolbox (I did electrical manufacting) and was escorted off the property.
Even though I was leaving in two weeks their action was illegal and got unemployment for 6 weeks with no requirement to even look for work.
ricktrains4824 In PA, if you have "just cause", you are eligible to collect unemployment even though you quit. It just depends on how (and whom in) the state defines "just cause." With my having asthma, and them refusing to follow the safety protocols ordered by the state, I feel it was just cause. (Unnecessary risk to employee health and safety uncorrected.) Now I will see if the state agrees.
So the next question is how long will you have to wait before collecting benefits?
Do you have to prove you case first? How long will that take. Hire a lawyer and all that argy bargy? I wouldn't want to be in that position but again, good luck.
I am not sure, as they are not really hearing cases currently...
The time between applying and receiving has been averaging 10-14 days currently, and I have a expected start date of 5/17.
If I have to prove it, and they want a actual hearing, it will be quite some time. If they want a phone or teleconference conversation, that I can do as soon as they request. My last unemployment filing was several years ago, and I was initially approved, but the former employer filed for a appeal hearing. It took 2 months for that to go through, and even though the former employer was caught in a huge lie, they still won the appeal. (My attorney was shocked, and appealed that decision, but that appeal was denied without a hearing. Even more shocking.)
While the unemployment was then stopped, and it was requested I repay what I had already received, it was not required, as it was a "non-fault" overpayment.
I tend to be risk averse and there is that old saying, you can't fight city hall. It would suck to be put in a position to decide do walk out and maybe not get any income or benefits or stay on the job and continue to get paid and be put in a position of risk or danger.
Sometimes with COVID19, there seems to be some gray area's as to what the employer may be required to do vs. "recommended" to do. My wife and I went to another city so I could get a suite fitted for the upcoming funeral as no stores in my area were open for buying a suite. On the way, I went into a Taco Bell which was serving the counter for take-out. NONE of the employee's have face masks on - which surprised me. However, when we stopped at a McDonalds, ALL of the employee's had face masks on. It must not be mandetory in restaurants in Virginia and up to the company or why would all the Taco Bell employees not have face masks? Could a Taco Bell employee walk out and quit because he doesn't feel safe with the lack of face masks and then collect unemployment benefits? The employer might be able to argue the employ walked out without cause becuse the mask law may not be mandetory. I don't know how that would go in Virginia - but there they all were with no masks. All you would have to do is pull out your smart phone and take a couple of photo's of the employees as proof, at least as a customer.
OTOH, It's no small thing to walk out and maybe have no income for weeks or months as many need to pay mortgage, insurance and put food on the table. Not a good position to be in and from your past experience, even though the state has laws in place, there may be no gurantee they will protect you. Sadly employers can lie and if you have no hard evidence, you may lose. That's why whistle blowers generally end up on the bad end of the deal, even if they have a legitimate grievance and the employer is guilty as sin. It really sucks. Hopefully you'll be able to properly throw the employer under the bus and win.
For the first time in a couple decades, the mail man did not stop and leave 3-9 pieces of junk mail.
Advertising is taking a hit in all it's forms. Local papers have shrunk to very few pages. I hope junk mail never comes back, but that is too much to wish for.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddyI hope junk mail never comes back, but that is too much to wish for.
From what I understand, it's the junk mail that has been a big part of keeping the US Postal Service from being in much worse fincancial straight. There have already been rumblings of the USPS being in financial dire straight if they aren't bailed out. If the junk mail goes away, we may lose our precious relatively cheap postal service and have to rely on more expensive services if they fail. While we all are annoyed by junk mail, there is a silver lining to it.
Be careful what you wish for.
Seems to me somebody has problems with authority.
when I was a regional manager i fired many people who would not follow the rules. The rules are there for a reason, you don't have to agree with them but you must follow them. If you don't then you will not have a job.
Btw In Pennsylvania You will not get unemployment when you quit a job. it's guys like you who give owners and managers heartburn.
Dave
DAVID FORTNEY The rules are there for a reason, you don't have to agree with them but you must follow them. Btw In Pennsylvania You will not get unemployment when you quit a job. it's guys like you who give owners and managers heartburn.
The rules are there for a reason, you don't have to agree with them but you must follow them.
Not if the rules endanger you to catch the corona.
Nobody should be expected to be placed at risk in an unsafe work environment. Heartburn is definitely better than the corona
Dave - That's the problem, but not on the employee (me) end. On the employer end.
I was being forced by the employer to accept unnecessary risks because they did not want to follow nor enforce a health department order.
In PA, if you have just cause for quitting or walking out (and I believe I do) you are eligible for unemployment.
If I wanted, I could take the employer to court over it. (PA Labor Law does require employers to take reasonable steps to protect employee health and wellbeing. By refusing to obey state ordered safety protocols, the employer was doing the opposite of what the law requires.) I do not wish to do that however.
And, btw, I have been assistant manager at other places. Once, where a employee had a issue with a supervisor, I had ended the problem by saying that, as she was in charge, and was following company procedures, and was not being disrespectful, that she was to receive the respect her position demanded. If that was an issue, the door was right there and I would not stop anyone from leaving. I would not welcome anyone back however.
So, yes, I know of the type of employees that give mangers heartburn. I also know that management can be the ones causing said heartburn.
Ricky,
Good luck with your claim, and more importantly, good luck with finding a better work situation! What you are going through upsets me!
In Ontario we have the Workers Compensation Board which provides coverage for injured workers. Every employer pays fees to support the system. The fees are pretty hefty to begin with, but if an employee gets injured and the employer is at fault, the fees go up big time! I'm sure there are lots of companies who flaunt the rules, but most follow them very carefully.
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
DAVID FORTNEYSeems to me somebody has problems with authority.
Yep! That was why I was a Union Delegate, both sides need to follow the rules, interpretation of those rules could be interesting.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
riogrande5761My mother insisted on doing the funeral in the small town in Iowa
When my father passed in 1996, his wife insisted we have a second service in Fort Madison, Iowa since that was where they met.
He lived in Del Rio, Texas when it happened, and there was a service there, but I had to drive to Iowa for service number two.
At least I got to see the SANTA FE RR shops and eat tacos at Cabaret on Avenue G.
maxmanThey had an interesting way of getting people through the checkout. Everyone stood in line and they had an employee walking the line to scan purchases. After the scan he/she gave you a card containing the total. When you got to the cashiers you gave them the card with your credit card and you were on your way.
My local Home Depot has been doing that for about two years. It really speeds things up.
hon30critterIn Ontario we have the Workers Compensation Board which provides coverage for injured workers. Every employer pays fees to support the system.
Almost every state in the U.S. has a similar program, called Workman's Compensation. The rules vary by state, but most require businesses with more than several employees to have Workman's Compensation insurance.
If you go to a doctor or hospital, one of the questions asked will be if the injury happened at work and you will be claiming workman's compensation.
I'm not sure how the virus will be handled. It would be very difficult to prove you got the virus at work.
York1 John
Something I have noticed a lot more of recently, Ebay UK is stacked-out with HO Wagons, that are clearly Modeller's own carefully detailed & weathered Models i.e. collections they have created for Trainloads on their Layouts. Also there are 'sets' of unmade Kits suddenly appearing, that were doubtless originally destined to become Trainloads for somesone's layout? These are not from the regular seconds Dealers.
I wonder if Modellers are selling-off these items because (like me) they do not have much or any income during Lockdown and need some cash? (In the UK, if you are modelling USA Railroads you generally hang-on to whatever gear you already have)
I hope this trend not due to any direct results of C-19, but it could be an example of how the Virus has affected some Model Railroaders. Paul
"It's the South Shore Line, Jim - but not as we know it".
We used to go to brewpubs and bars for happy hours, appetizers and dinner.
Now, we drink more wine and less beer.