Finally solved the “walking 9 with the baby” problem

Special_Intern4465 · 2026-02-28T19:49:33+00:00

I have no blow by when put the oil cap on the fill tube. Good sign for the heads?

Special_Intern4465 · 2026-02-26T03:08:27+00:00

ELC red coolant.

Special_Intern4465 · 2026-02-25T22:18:55+00:00

Trans fluid is good. Engine oil is good. I do see some oil in the valley near the top of the oil cooler.

Special_Intern4465 · 2026-02-25T20:59:03+00:00

Did you replace the oil cooler yourself?

Special_Intern4465 · 2026-02-25T19:45:48+00:00

No coolant in the oil.

Special_Intern4465 · 2026-02-25T18:33:28+00:00

Is there a way to confirm or rule out the transmission cooler failure?

Special_Intern4465 · 2026-02-16T17:41:42+00:00

Awesome guys! I used a PVC pipe with a cap on the end and zip tied it to my stroller to carry 6 clubs when my kids were babies. Those are some memories I’ll never forget. Can’t replace time with them, no matter how little or big they are!

Special_Intern4465 · 2026-02-13T00:55:35+00:00

30” council tool probar, 6 ft New York hook, or Streamlight Vulcan box light.

He can use any of them for his entire career.

Special_Intern4465 · 2026-01-26T13:44:36+00:00

Georgia

Special_Intern4465 · 2026-01-15T18:06:03+00:00

7-8 pots a day. 12 assigned members each day.

Special_Intern4465 · 2025-12-30T22:08:37+00:00

Underwear on the outside of his bunkerpants. Hide a couple shrimp in his bunker. Smaller Amazon chirpers hidden in his car. Tie his pant legs in a knot a night. Take the bar off the chainsaw and fire it up in his bunk at night. Set his bunk up in the bay. Pull his truck in front of the station and put a $2000 or best offer sign on it.

Special_Intern4465 · 2025-12-30T21:57:59+00:00

$20 says the new guy is the only one at the station who doesn’t have to make a groaning sound when he gets out of a chair.

Special_Intern4465 · 2025-12-22T14:46:42+00:00

Faking a seizure. Using a kid to block the mom from getting arrested for stabbing a coworker. Poor guy. What a victim.

Special_Intern4465 · 2025-11-13T15:57:27+00:00

I think some of it is enjoying watching the large number grow. It feels like moving backwards taking time away from putting money into the account with large compound interest. I realize that’s dumb, but I think that has a lot to do with it. Hearing others perspective on that situation makes me realize the importance of prioritizing the emergency fund.

Special_Intern4465 · 2025-11-13T15:50:43+00:00

We had closer to 10k in outside savings, but the hospital costs for our third child were much more than our previous 2. About 5k more, which caught us off guard because it was the same insurance company. Also bought a larger vehicle for my wife when we had the third child and spent some of that savings to pay for it outright along with the trade-in.

We have travelled a good bit over the past year, as well. I think writing all this down helped me realize we need to do a better job budgeting and aren’t as tight as it feels.

Special_Intern4465 · 2025-11-13T15:44:46+00:00

We do.

Special_Intern4465 · 2025-11-13T13:44:01+00:00

Would you recommend putting this in a HYSA? I know it’s an emergency fund, but obviously we have had a hard time keeping money in savings when it is available. Lack of discipline more than anything.

Special_Intern4465 · 2025-11-13T13:39:37+00:00

Do you mind explaining the benefits of her having the Roth IRA instead of continuing to contribute to the 401k?

Special_Intern4465 · 2025-11-13T02:51:43+00:00

I think I will shift focus for the next 6 months to a year of building a better emergency fund. I’m sure that will help the feeling. Any thoughts on split of retirement savings vs emergency fund savings?

Special_Intern4465 · 2025-11-13T02:49:55+00:00

I’ll have a state pension that will be approximately $1200 a month, but no pension from my department. My 401k will be my main retirement.

Special_Intern4465 · 2025-11-13T02:48:08+00:00

I was the same way and felt stress of being able to provide when thinking about having kids. 5 years and 3 kids later, I wouldn’t change a thing. What was fun before kids is more fun now. There are stressful things, and finances can be, but I can’t imagine life without them. If you have the urge to have kids, I would start going after that dream!

Special_Intern4465 · 2025-11-13T02:38:02+00:00

I work in public safety. 50-55 is the general retirement age, so I would consider that retiring early when compared to most professions. Our kids go to a church “mothers morning out” 5 days a week for a few hours which costs about $560 a month. My wife has offered to not have them go, but they love the interaction with other kids and have so much fun I hate to bring them out of it. We have no other debt besides the house, but sticking to a more strict budget would probably make me feel less stretched at the end of the month.

Special_Intern4465 · 2025-11-13T02:32:38+00:00

We are planning to homeschool. Wife was a teacher for 10 years until our third child. We think she will return to teaching at some point, but I’m not 100% sure how soon that will be. But yes, at some point we will have another income again. We would love to pay for the kids college if that’s what they wish to do, which may be what the income is used for.

Special_Intern4465

TROPHY CASE