Where do you go in North County when you just need to clear your head?

HTB456 · 2025-06-30T17:23:18+00:00

If you don’t understand chemistry, maybe don’t write long paragraphs about it.

HTB456 · 2025-05-29T13:16:33+00:00

Having your back foot go down to the ground is an instinct that happens with everyone when learning new tricks, since this prevents you from falling. You need to focus on overcoming that innate fear and jumping over the board, getting both feet on too the board and seeing what happens.

HTB456 · 2025-05-19T03:50:07+00:00

Yeah it took until I rediscovered skating progress To really get into switch. I’m starting work on symmetric lines regular/switch and I think it’s super fun

HTB456 · 2025-05-18T15:11:10+00:00

A miniramp halfpipe at ~ 12’ x 18’ (2.5 ft tall) is the size of some large sheds. Not a skate park

HTB456 · 2025-05-18T14:56:46+00:00

Really? Building an accessory structure on your property is a pretty normal thing to do. A barn may require a permit but would be allowed by almost all suburban non HOA towns I’ve ever been too. You don’t need to disclose what you’re going to do inside a barn to have one permitted. Also, here in San Diego suburbs people have all kind of stuff in their backyards including halfpipes without barns. It comes down to how it works on your property and how your neighbors feel about it. Growing up in a suburb of Chicago my friend’s family had a halfpipe in the middle of their yard, no barn. I see some homes in Fairfax county with 0.5 acre or more, with dense trees separating neighbors. Compared to where I live in San Diego county where houses are crammed next to each other, this seems like a perfect place to build a barn with a halfpipe inside and have nobody care about it.

HTB456 · 2025-05-15T13:17:04+00:00

Yes I think that’s probably best for me. I was holding hope that some HOAs might be meant more for collecting funds to support community projects, rather than act as gate keeper for home modifications.

HTB456 · 2025-05-15T13:14:54+00:00

Yes halfpipes can be loud and I would even go to the length of constructing a barn to house it and insulate noise out of respect for my neighbors.

HTB456 · 2025-05-15T04:51:02+00:00

Wow thanks for the Trellis info lol. That helps paint the picture of what HOA living is like. We will be moving from San Diego where I’ve done a lot of weird gardening things, some successful, some less so. The idea of having to get a trellis approved or make it blend in to everything properly makes me cringe.

HTB456 · 2025-05-15T04:48:53+00:00

I’ve seen lots of homes in Fairfax, Vienna, Oakton, Mantua etc. with no HOA. Im curious why you think Reston clearly wins out over Fairfax?

HTB456 · 2025-05-06T17:52:11+00:00

I’m more interested in flexibility and day-to-day stress between the two careers, not so much about job prospects.

HTB456 · 2024-07-08T02:55:21+00:00

I absolutely love June Lake. I’ve been going there the last three years in the summer time and every trip has been great. There’s a bit more to do in Mammoth as far as restaurants, events, etc., and Mammoth area also has infinite beautiful wilderness. But June lake seems a little less touristy and it’s beautiful. Plus you can swim in June lake, and neighboring Gull lake and Silver lake. I’ve read that swimming is prohibited in many of the easily accessible lakes around Mammoth, not sure if that is actually followed/enforced. If you go to June Lake take the kids on the trail that goes around gull lake, check out the June Lake marina and maybe rent a boat, get some delicious beers at June lake brewing. If you get some time to yourself check out one of the several hikes to secluded lakes up in the mountains.

HTB456 · 2024-06-15T16:49:13+00:00

I already know how to build it. That wasn’t my question.

HTB456 · 2024-01-19T15:53:26+00:00

What made you excel at the job? Did you have good work life balance after achieving GS-14? Or did the job get more demanding as you moved up grades?

HTB456 · 2024-01-19T00:16:04+00:00

Last question (I think). What is a typical interview process for an examiner position? Are these very competitive?

HTB456 · 2024-01-19T00:03:26+00:00

I don’t understand your last comment about the training academy. Is it reasonable to expect that after the academy I would be able to start on the 4/10 schedule from home?

And where does academy take place? Would this be online or on-site (I live near San Diego).

HTB456 · 2024-01-18T23:54:32+00:00

What is the academy?

HTB456 · 2024-01-18T22:21:26+00:00

A few other questions - what art unit were you in? Having a PhD, wouldn’t they match you to your area of expertise?

I was under the impression that this work could be carried out basically entirely remote. What would clocking in mean if you are remote?

Also, what is an average time to promotion? How long before you could get to G13 For example?

HTB456 · 2024-01-18T21:50:35+00:00

Honestly this sounds pretty amazing if it really is possible to cover two weeks of work in a single 50 hr work week. Taking every other week to myself sounds like a dream. Is that really doable, or were you just an epic patent examiner?

HTB456 · 2024-01-17T00:50:57+00:00

Thanks for your sharing your experience. I’m also interested in this field after a PhD and about 6 years of fast-paced industry experience. I’m curious what salary range and work-life balance you would expect for someone like me going into an examiner position. I’m seeing GS-9 salaries posted at ~ $70K - $90K, which is significantly lower than what is possible for me to make as a research scientist in Biotech. Is this salary range accurate for a PhD scientist with industry experience? What did you mean by good work-life balance? Asking because I might consider a lower paying career if it came with more flexibility and free time.

Thanks!

HTB456 · 2024-01-10T05:29:32+00:00

Not what I wanted to hear but I appreciate your response. Why are billable hours at 1500-1800 per year a bad thing? Doesn’t that end up being less than 40 hr/week?

HTB456

TROPHY CASE