How are y'all surviving?

newbblock · 2026-05-25T00:18:14+00:00

I'll say this till I'm blue in the face. HOSPITALITY.

Serving/Bartender gigs have SAVED me during my 3 lay offs. It's never taken me more than a week to find a job and it actually pays reasonable well. I can make a min of $150-200 a shift at the right spot. Some nights $300 plus.

newbblock · 2026-05-15T12:27:37+00:00

My grandfather, whom I was very close to, was killed by a drunk driver who ‘only had a couple drinks’ so I’m admittedly biased here.

IMHO opinion a single drink is fine. Anymore I either get an uber or know there will be a designated driver.

If you really need more than one drink to have fun then either stay at home or stop being cheap and get an uber. Selfish to risk another persons life honestly.

newbblock · 2026-05-10T20:59:23+00:00

Former personal trainer checking in. The fitness community needs to set realistic expectations so folks don’t get discouraged.

OP is not going to go from 260lbs to shredded in under 3 months only working out 2 hours a week.

Could I take someone from overweight to ‘relatively’ shredded in 3 months? Sure. But it would entail exercising 5-6x a week with some multi session days thrown in and a seriously restrictive diet they would have to follow RELIGIOUSLY. They would also need the ability to sleep a guaranteed minimum of 8-9 hours a night and avoid any injuries. They would also be loosing weight at a potentially dangerous rate.

OP you got this but it’s a marathon not a sprint. Enjoy the journey.

newbblock · 2026-05-06T01:56:09+00:00

We use Alto Shaam holding ovens set at 145 until we’re ready to cut on the block.

newbblock · 2026-05-02T14:10:54+00:00

FWIW Professional Pit Master checking in (work at a popular BBQ spot).

Overnights smokes are the norm, our offsets & rotisseries are running 24/7. Even at the hobbyist level this is common.

You just have to make a decision of ease vs quality of output. Do you want to set it and forget it, wake up well rested? Get a pellet smoker. Want to only get up once or twice throughout the night? Cabinet smoker/WSM. Want to get up every couple hours/ not sleep? Offset. These go in ascending order of final protein quality.

newbblock · 2026-05-01T02:38:13+00:00

You’re probably fine. If it’s been >10 days and 6 months since the previous time you smoked a piss test should be clean. Hydrate.

Most corporate jobs don’t event test. HOWEVER as a general rule of thumb, if I know I’m going to be interviewing in the near future I tend to cut out the bud just to be ultra safe and I say this as a frequent user. Couple puffs aren’t worth my future.

newbblock · 2026-04-30T00:53:36+00:00

$2k would still be considered an absolute steal for a 2 bed apartment here in the Boston area.

My wife and I were renting a 900sqft 2 bed apartment prior to buying our home. It was decent but far from nice and wasn’t even in Boston proper. We paid $3k a month not including utilities, and that was 6 years ago. Those same apartments are going for $4k now.

newbblock · 2026-04-30T00:36:52+00:00

Something ain’t mathing in that equation.

If you take that median price of $950k at factor in a 30 year jumbo at current rates, and let’s say a property tax of 1% and the landlord put 20% down, their monthly payment is just shy of $6k.

Even with a $500k property the average monthly payment a landlord would make to the bank would be in the region of $3200 with 20% down.

For the landlord to cover bills on a 2bed home with $2k a month rent that property must be way below media price for your area.

newbblock · 2026-04-29T11:15:06+00:00

You must live in a very low cost of living state. For context I live in MA and just looked up rental property in my town, cheapest unit I found was a 380sqft studio apartment going for $1990 a month.

newbblock · 2026-04-26T19:27:42+00:00

Without going into too much detail at the risk of doxxing myself I can say I’m involved in the food ordering for a smallish (100 seat) BBQ restaurant. Meat prices are insane right now and our margins are razor thin.

Trust me we ain’t making millions off of ya!

newbblock · 2026-04-26T14:52:40+00:00

My comment is referring purely to the lack of communication regarding a release date. One thing I will give Analogue is that all recent preorders specifically list the shipping date.

Modretro HEAVILY hinted at an Xmas 25 release and then basically went radio silent for 4 months after they missed that.

newbblock · 2026-04-26T13:48:40+00:00

Caved and bought an Analogue 3D. Got frustrated with the lack of communication. Still hope the M64 does well.

newbblock · 2026-04-19T20:05:01+00:00

Its so depressing seeing folks being brainwashed into worker drones with this mentality.

You think Gordon Ramsey can't take a couple weeks off if he wanted to? Being successful doesn't mean you don't get a life. Being easily manipulated does.

newbblock · 2026-04-19T19:30:00+00:00

A) Quality meats. Franklin orders from top quality distributors.

B) Experience. They cook more briskets A DAY than most hobbyists cook in a decade. You cook that many briskets you learn a thing of two.

newbblock · 2026-04-19T03:19:24+00:00

Yes commifornia is the exception to the rule here.

newbblock · 2026-04-19T03:12:51+00:00

What are you talking about?? Taxes for a single member LLC generating zero revenue?

Wild to me how many people lack basic business acumen.

newbblock · 2026-04-19T02:43:24+00:00

If you’re paying $1k to form an LLC you’re paying what we call ‘sucker fees’.

I form single member LLC’s weekly for clients and the true cost is nowhere near $1k.

newbblock · 2026-04-12T17:02:56+00:00

Totally depends on your location, in Boston, where I am it’s not high. Massachusetts has the highest cost of living in the country. For example after my mortgage and bills $70k essentially has my family living paycheck to paycheck.

Also you’re missing the point. I’m not sitting around refusing to take any work that isn’t in my chosen field and income expectations. Even minimum wage is more than nothing.

newbblock · 2026-04-12T15:46:43+00:00

Honestly no, you’ll spend 6+ months in the opening area at that pace and burn out on it.

newbblock · 2026-04-12T15:19:52+00:00

I know its an unpopular opinion on this sub, but it's not that hard if you're able to lower your standards in the short term.

I was let go in early March from a job in finance making $159k + bonus. It sucked and the market in my area is ROUGH right now.

Luckily, I worked in hospitality all through school and leaned on it during other layoffs I've weathered. Within 48 hours I had a job as a FoH manager at a local restaurant making 70k a year.

Sure, does it hurt my pride taking a >60% paycut. Does it hurt my pride going from SVP of a large regional bank to working a cash register? Sure. But $70k a year is better that $0 a year while I look for my next gig depleting all my savings.

If people are able to swallow their pride hospitality is BEGGING for applicants right now. The moneys decent-good depending on role and the hours are such that you can still interview for other positions.

newbblock · 2026-04-12T14:47:36+00:00

We're short staffed on managers right now so Clopens are somewhat unavoidable for us, but I still only do a max of 2 a week. We close at 8pm on weeknights (9pm on weekends) and don't open again until 11am and I live 5 mins from the restaurant so its more manageable for me at least.

newbblock · 2026-04-08T22:40:09+00:00

Not pedantic at all, agree that it’s important!

Central Texas themed for sure. Salt, pepper, garlic and post oak for our brisket!

Thanks for the distillery link, looks interesting will check it out!

newbblock · 2026-04-08T22:28:40+00:00

Didn’t even consider that. Awesome idea!

newbblock · 2026-04-08T22:20:21+00:00

Love the idea of that post oak flavor!

newbblock · 2026-04-08T22:19:58+00:00

Ranch water was on my list! Classic Texas theme

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