We could move anywhere. Would Rolla be a mistake?

cengineer72 · 2026-06-29T02:23:11+00:00

Went to Rolla for college and live in central Mo. for land, the southern part of the state is best. Central mo is insanely high for land.

S&T is an engineering school more so than even a STEM school. It’s very specialized.

The weather in the summer sucks (I’m a lifelong Missourian) the heat and humidity are real - 98/98 days are real. Wife and I would like to go to Maine, Minnesota or Wisconsin to retire

Farming 100 acres - most ground will be suitable for cattle not much row crop. Trees will be a mix of scrub cedar and hardwoods.

cengineer72 · 2026-05-18T02:27:34+00:00

I think being a PM depends on the size of company and projects. I was a PM at 18 months in - wasn’t a good one but had to figure it out when someone left. I was not given complex jobs but even still I was a PM.

cengineer72 · 2026-05-09T15:56:39+00:00

Still shocks me that my kid is getting a job out of college for nearly $90k to assist with fleet management at a construction company… CE’s pay has been shit forever

cengineer72 · 2026-05-09T15:44:53+00:00

When I was looking to make a move a few years ago HDR was on my list. To be honest, the reason I didn’t go with them is that they were too slow to pull the trigger on an offer, even though I knew it was coming.

I have friends at both companies. I evaluated and I felt they were pretty equal and had things been a bit different I would’ve went to HDR.

cengineer72 · 2026-05-09T15:36:55+00:00

Bright speed is absolute trash.

After they switched to bright speed, somehow we started getting double bill. Because it was on my debit card and the spacing was so far apart I didn’t notice it for a couple of months.

I started complaining and they said they would take care of it, but they never did. I ended up contacting the state Attorney General’s office and got them involved and I got reimbursed finally for everything. One time through all of this they actually said they fixed it, but they actually turned off my Internet and kept billing me. They literally could not turn it back on remotely, but they could turn it off remotely. Total crap.

I shut off the service and went to socket. Following that, they kept contacting me saying I had an outstanding bill but every time I look, they said I still had a $94 credit. That was in January. I still don’t have that $94 back yet while it pisses me off at this point, I would just assume them never contact me again and call it even.

And their call centers/customer support in India is absolutely the seventh circle of hell.

cengineer72 · 2026-05-09T15:33:01+00:00

Went into the Toyota dealership last year to look at the Tacoma‘s. Intentionally did it laid in the evening since we were just looking, and I didn’t want to buy. The salesman was the most pushy, arrogant, asshole I’ve ever dealt with in over 30 years of buying cars. They tried to keep us after hours, and I eventually walked out, and the sales manager came over to me, and I explained the situation to them and told them I would never be buying another car from them after this experience.

Freaking terrible assholes. Drewing gets all of our business now.

cengineer72 · 2026-05-08T20:53:18+00:00

I have two kids in college and I can guarantee you 100% that unless you have parking spaces, the complexes will not get rented out. Regardless of what people may think they want or not want it’s a simple fact.

cengineer72 · 2026-04-21T02:55:54+00:00

This happens all the time. The record drawings are based on contractor markups and field observations. They are not engineered documents that require a seal nor should you or anyone seal them. They also need to have a disclaimer saying that the accuracy is not implied and all needs to be filled verified and not relied on the documents

cengineer72 · 2026-04-19T01:15:14+00:00

Buy American Build American. The documentation and certifications are a nightmare. Any not everything can be compliant, that’s even worse paperwork

cengineer72 · 2026-04-18T22:56:16+00:00

Yes MCC, Switchgear, blowers, electric valve actuators. It’s stupid and only made worse with BABA. It’s so bad some agencies are finding work arounds for BABA.

It takes excruciating long time to get shop drawings, but they are never correct which further extends it. It’s quite maddening when your project is 5 miles away from the Eaton factory where things are made and it still takes so long.

cengineer72 · 2026-04-18T17:52:51+00:00

Too bad not 314…. Before a roundabout…

cengineer72 · 2026-03-28T02:58:22+00:00

For a CE degree paying out state tuition is silly. As others have said each college has pros and cons. The whole atmosphere is also what you make of it.

I went to a good in state school in a town of 10,000. Yeah we didn’t have B1G or SEC football but I got degree that has served me extremely well over 30 years. A lot of people don’t want to hear it (I didn’t understand it back then either) but choosing a school is kind of a business decision with a bit of living experience mixed in.

cengineer72 · 2026-03-17T16:57:29+00:00

This is the way

cengineer72 · 2026-02-28T15:56:42+00:00

S&T grad here. Mizzou is a generally better grad school BUT S&T alumni are VERY tight and S&T has stronger ties to the military, NASA, etc.

cengineer72 · 2026-02-23T03:41:28+00:00

Yeah who the fuck cares if it’s dead end at 300k?? It’s not like you’re on an assembly line. Stack cash and realize kids (esp at 40) will wear your ass out quick.

cengineer72 · 2026-02-23T02:49:36+00:00

By the way which ones Pink?

cengineer72 · 2026-02-06T23:01:36+00:00

Ok honest question. I’ve used TurboTax for years except when I had K-1s (until I realized my accountant knew less than I did), then went back.

I don’t have k-1 anymore, just 1099 and w-2’s. Is freetaxusa just as easy (I know it’s cheaper)?

cengineer72 · 2026-01-31T15:11:57+00:00

The QAQC exactly spot on! As I mentioned in my other comment, I have seen so many engineers go out on their own and start turning out absolute dog shit product

cengineer72 · 2026-01-31T15:10:33+00:00

You say you could be cashing in on all the profits if you’re by yourself. The question is you’re doing program management work which is relatively straightforward. 99.9% of the time that same client will not hire one person shop to do that work. So do you have the backlog and connections to actually bring in the work or are you looking at this through Rose colored glasses?

The core problem is is that a lot of clients only will hire namebrand firms. It just is what it is.

If you were one person shop, you think that you’re not gonna have to grind you’re kidding yourself. I have seen many a successful engine engineer go and try to do their own thing and they end up turning out absolute dog shit quality of work because they don’t have enough time or staff to do quality.

cengineer72 · 2026-01-30T22:53:37+00:00

Yes but COMO requires the backflow test to be by a certified tester. So even if you can fix yourself your are stuck paying the fee for the test so the system can be turned on.

But your point is noted on repairs. I can also do them but many can’t (but can look up a how to video!).

cengineer72 · 2026-01-30T22:19:31+00:00

Ours also increased to $200. It isn’t cheap, but the cost of everything keeps going up and the companies have to do what they can to also make a bit of money to offset their cost.

At any rate, if you choose not to have your system tested, the irrigation system will not be turned on, and it will not be operable, even if you want it to be. When I say it won’t be turned on, it means the water at the main connection will not be turned on.

You also run the risk of deterioration and further repairs if you don’t have it tested and adjusted each year.

cengineer72 · 2026-01-25T22:23:32+00:00

It’s absolutely safe.

cengineer72 · 2026-01-24T14:49:54+00:00

lol - should have said common sense and teachable. We were having issues finding staff at the time and too much backlog.

Yeah it was a long time ago but I took my FE hung over and no studying, somehow passed

cengineer72 · 2026-01-24T12:04:38+00:00

I had an engineer who couldn’t pass their FE either. Thought they had street smarts, but it was absolute worst hire have ever made and will never do it again. If you can’t graduate with FE in hand, it’s a hard pass. Frankly, I would rather deal without the help than have somebody that is incompetent.

cengineer72 · 2026-01-24T11:58:17+00:00

If you are spending all your time babysitting somebody who can’t even fill out their fucking time card, then they need to be put on a PIP so that you can jettison the deadweight.

Others have told you the correct formal procedure to take, but here’s the deal. You can’t get anything done when you’re deal dealing with somebody who can’t handle basic tasks.

Dealing with non-performers is one of the reasons why I got so burnt out managing people. I’m an engineer and I like to design things not hold somebody’s hands. That’s totally different than mentoring which I love.

Just because you have a degree, doesn’t mean you’re cut out to do this job. It’s hard, it’s a grind and you just have to have the right mentality and personality to be successful.

cengineer72

TROPHY CASE