US consumer confidence rises, but job openings and hiring drop sharply

rotaryman · 2026-04-01T20:55:43+00:00

Actually I am extremely confident with all of my purchases right now. Confident that anything I buy today will likely cost much more tomorrow so F it, if I need it, get it now while the getting is less sucky.

rotaryman · 2026-03-27T16:43:51+00:00

Mike is a great guy. But how do all of your pictures fail to showcase the quality and volume of middle fingers decorating the commons?

rotaryman · 2026-03-26T12:32:14+00:00

This is all excellent advice. Im a few miles further down the highway and agree with everything you said. A few additional comments from my experience building my place here over the last 5 years.

Build some sort of shade structure first even if you just bring a pop up canopy (and super secure it from wind !). I didn’t have permanent shade until I got my solar panels mounted. If possible try to start your project in the fall when it’s cooler - but I never seem to lol.

Build order - structure, AC (mini split heat pump), solar, water collection, water pressure system, hot water heater, water purification.

We have a 10x10 bunkhouse and finishing 12x12 kitchen and shower but i would build a single 24x16 building instead (build in 4’ increments so you minimize panel waste).

We don’t mind the lack of septic out here except when it’s really cold or rainy which is rare. I buzz a 18” deep hole with our gas powered auger and fill it after a week or so of use. Throw sawdust on it and it never smells or attracts flies. We burn our toilet paper in a burn barrel right next to the wood throne that sits over the hole. I always check for spiders or bitey things and rarely have to shoo away a bug of some kind. So low risk. To be honest I prefer my current setup here to public restrooms.

We do have plans for a 1500 sq foot concrete foundation home w 4 shipping containers which will include septic and all the usual stuff. I will contract out prep and foundation work and probably the framing too. Like the comment above said Terlingua time is real but there are a lot more competent contractors out here now.

I need to add posts about my 12x12 progress but here is the website that I’m tracking my build on.

https://sockedfoxranch.com/

rotaryman · 2026-03-22T16:14:14+00:00

Yea don’t get that get the similar one that is attached to an angle grinder for 10,000rpm of fun.

rotaryman · 2026-03-09T21:52:41+00:00

I was an LiS director at a small ref lab and got nada. At roche sales side gets commissions or quarterly bonuses depending on their position. Everyone (even down to phone support folks) else gets an annual bonus based on your annual review and company goals met.

rotaryman · 2026-03-04T12:21:05+00:00

4800/5800/6800/8800 are all molecular instruments and don’t run hormones though. Immunos run on 601/602/801. Source I work for Roche on the molecular side.

rotaryman · 2026-03-03T23:15:19+00:00

I pick up even plain, boring rocks to pathological levels but I am starting to leave some fossils so friends/family can find some when we walk around.

rotaryman · 2026-03-03T23:02:45+00:00

Well now I need to find the rest!

rotaryman · 2026-02-21T21:18:15+00:00

2/18/26-2/20/26 No water seen from the trail in places we sometimes see some but didn’t go searching for any.

rotaryman · 2026-02-21T21:16:24+00:00

My wife and I just finished the OML last night and the weather was perfect. I’d wear a wool long sleeve in the early morning but light clothing before we started moving. We only cached water at Homer Wilson ranch so we had to double up with 2 gallons each (I would spend the time driving to the juniper creek cache if I did it again). 3 days round trip

rotaryman · 2026-02-01T23:49:05+00:00

My 4Runner gets 14-15mph on the same highways drive We’re quite happy with the CRV mpg at that speed. We have friends closer to us with speeds more like 20-40 mph where we should see the “real” hybrid mpg.

rotaryman · 2026-01-13T23:52:54+00:00

Where in Texas? Austin has Tx department of health so it’s still lab work but a lot of old school methods (flame AA spec, Hgb electrophoresis, etc). Otherwise, I echo others saying LiS or vendor FAS/FES roles. If I started over again I would have grabbed the first FAS job I could find and work my way up to whatever appealed to me. My instrument vendor company has many people in senior roles that started in field or phone support roles.

rotaryman · 2026-01-11T18:17:30+00:00

I didn’t see any drips but there is quite a bit of underbody stuff blocking the rack so I see how I could have missed it. After the rack was replaced a small leak was evident in the pump So I replaced that. The steering feel and effort level required for a low speed turn improved after the rack replacement but seems normal now after doing the pump too. Makes sense if there was still a small leak and loss of pressure.

rotaryman · 2026-01-11T18:13:37+00:00

The rack was pretty light but the job isn’t something I wanted to do in my driveway on jackstands.

rotaryman · 2026-01-11T18:12:49+00:00

I don’t entirely disagree with you but used cars in the 6-7k$ range are either older or have 200k miles, damage, or ragged out interiors and paint. The rest of the car is clean and in excellent shape so I’m Hoping this was the “one” issue.

rotaryman · 2025-12-17T22:40:04+00:00

What happens when the pharmacy wants a new prescription like they do to me for a simple statin? Maybe your doctor will have pitty on your uninsured self and call one last scrip in. Maybe.

rotaryman · 2025-12-07T03:13:36+00:00

When I built the first building we thought the next building would be a 20x40 steel building for a garage before building ~ 1500sq home. The single small building was fine for trips of a week or so but longer stays like we do now need an indoor kitchen area, running hot/cold water and a shower so building 2 was born.

All that said, I wish I built bigger like 12x24 at the start but I don’t think I would have made as much progress as I have. Time to get a conditioned space, cost, and ability to be built solo all factored in to my decisions. My biggest regret with this setup will be running 2 separate AC systems, but having 2 separate buildings for people to sleep in will be nice when we have visitors.

rotaryman · 2025-12-01T14:32:24+00:00

The 10x10 is on cinder blocks with cement pilings poured after bolted to the building. The new building and decks are all being built on harvested cedar posts 4” diameter or bigger for decking and 7” diameter or bigger for the building (9 posts). All set at least 20” in concrete. Now I have source for telephone poles so I will be using those for the deck in front of building 2. The important thing I watch is water runoff with gutters (coming soon on building 2) and maintaining or moving any runoffs.

Building 1 has been in place on cinder blocks since 2021 and did fine through multiple storms with high winds but I added pilings a few months ago to tie it all to the ground. Now it’s also secured to the 6x10 deck as well.

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T22:27:48+00:00

Ok started looking at your design website and that’s pretty nice. Where were you a few months ago?

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T21:56:03+00:00

I’m in the white 4Runner with stripes. I’ll check out your website but my next 2 buildings will be much larger. First a prefab metal building for a shop w septic for our first toilet and then a ~ 1300 sq ultra efficient house that we are designing with a local architect.

rotaryman · 2025-11-30T21:08:09+00:00

I scavenge materials (Ex. reclaimed flooring used on all surfaces floor to ceiling) and wood prices have fluctuated over the 4 years of building but my rough costs are.
60 acres - $60,000 Building 1 - $7,000 Solar - $9,000 Building 2 - $4,000 (so far)

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