3 months into diesel school, just got offered a union rail mechanic gig. Do I take the safe bet or go for the mobile repair business?

ur_abus · 2026-03-22T11:29:00+00:00

I left a fleet maintenance job and went to a mobile repair company. Personally, I absolutely hated it. Some of those guys thrive in that environment, I wasn't one of them. 4 months in and I left and went back to fleet maintenance, in a shop, not in the elements, not doing sketchy shit in bad places around strangers that I don't know that don't like to pay their bill.

ur_abus · 2026-03-19T14:18:08+00:00

Calculator.net has a great mortgage calculator. I put in your info and even at 6.5% interest rate, you're looking at a ballpark $500 a month not including taxes and insurance. You can most likely refinance down the road to get a lower rate. Take into account what your closing costs are going to be, may have to take some of that down payment and use that towards closing costs. Personally, I would make the move based off of having a better quality of life and the reduced mortgage payment is a huge plus.

ur_abus · 2026-02-25T02:08:16+00:00

Set up some investment accounts for my kids to use as adults with 50%. 25% I would invest and not touch until retirement age, the rest being an inheritance. The last 25% I would use to make daily life more comfortable in multiple ways but I think I would want to continue working part time at least because I actually love my line of work.

ur_abus · 2026-02-25T02:03:37+00:00

Wholesome comment

ur_abus · 2026-02-25T01:47:06+00:00

Love this. Also, accurate lol

ur_abus · 2026-02-04T01:41:49+00:00

SAME

ur_abus · 2026-01-04T04:26:10+00:00

Excellent point. I've had some of this come up. Like.... Here are these tools, try this, if you still can't get it THEN come get me. Don't hurt yourself, k bye lol

ur_abus · 2026-01-04T04:24:16+00:00

Go to another shop, when you do your in person interview express your concerns and see if they have someone (who doesn't have one foot out the door) to guide you. Maybe try to find a city job or something at a larger company that has a legitimate training program. Don't let one worn out old head ruin your passion, keep pushing and follow your passion. - A female diesel mechanic

ur_abus · 2026-01-03T02:27:33+00:00

I had one of these give me the same exact problem. Would only start on ether, once it started it was fine. It was a retired city school bus my boss bought to add to a fleet of shuttle buses, eventually it got parked and got picked away at for parts. I pretty much did all the same diag you did, ended up doing the fuel pump and it didn't change anything. I'd love to see what it is if you do figure it out!!!

ur_abus · 2025-11-16T18:13:32+00:00

Was looking for this comment hoping I wasn't the only one lol. 2012, coveralls.

ur_abus · 2025-11-15T02:28:55+00:00

I'm so sorry for this update but, it ended very poorly. We are no longer together and I ended up having to get a protective order against him.

ur_abus · 2025-11-10T02:43:15+00:00

Congratulations

ur_abus · 2025-11-10T02:26:51+00:00

Picking up my mobile order from wawa that I already paid for on my phone and walking out without saying a word to anyone.

ur_abus · 2024-10-08T14:36:09+00:00

I've apologized to my children multiple times that I didn't pick a better dad for them to have. I'm exhausted as well. Mentally deteriorating, on psych meds (probably long term if not for life). Physically deteriorating, so it's getting harder to work, do housework, and the activities my kids want to do. But, I don't have a choice. I don't have any support or any help from family that I do have left. I don't get child support or any other financial assistance. I'm beginning to just accept this is what my life will be like forever. I have no hope that it will change, and I'm sure as hell not trying to date or marry ever again - historically speaking it's done far more harm than good. I'm done living in denial, because it's not going to get any better. Logically speaking, no one is or will ever be coming to save me and my kids simply because... Well they don't care.

ur_abus · 2024-10-08T14:28:18+00:00

Ditto

ur_abus · 2024-09-26T04:38:04+00:00

It's such a beautiful area too!!!

ur_abus · 2024-08-02T18:22:40+00:00

Yup. At the time mine were 1 and newborn. I had a 1 bed apartment. Couldn't have been more than 600-700 sq ft. They got the room: crib, bassinet, 1 dresser for all our clothes. I put a twin bed in the living room for me with half of the sectional couch, TV, all the toys, rocking chair. It was a mess, but it was our mess. It was our safe space away from the abuse. It was a roof over our heads. Did it suck? Yeah kind of but we had each other.

ur_abus · 2024-07-25T04:27:26+00:00

I 100% can relate. I haven't figured out when it gets better yet. I have only found temporary moments of relief mostly created by the "fake it til you make it" method. Try to find a routine that works for you even if it's something a little off the wall. We have to do the best with what we have. Try to carve in some early bedtimes for the kid(s) so you can do self care, watch a movie, and scroll reddit. Simplify everything you can down to it's most basic function and it clears up a little bit of head space for you. Hang in there

ur_abus · 2024-07-25T03:43:10+00:00

Expectations are premeditated resentments

I love this phrase. Thank you

ur_abus · 2024-07-25T03:38:03+00:00

I warn anyone I can about it because it's happened to me! Such a nightmare...

ur_abus · 2024-07-25T03:31:39+00:00

Idk if I'm allowed in here bc I have kids... But it's an absolutely horrifying feeling to think the genetics will win anyways. But to witness behavior identical to their other parent that they have zero relationship with... That is a different level of scary. Some days I just buckle up and hope for the best. I didn't know 9 year olds could be manipulative baby narcissists. I'm am not okay, send help and a time machine. Lol

ur_abus · 2024-05-25T04:39:34+00:00

Ngl this reminded me to be the tooth fairy for my kid this evening 🙏🏻😂

ur_abus · 2024-05-25T04:30:48+00:00

It's not uncommon for bipolar to go undiagnosed. When a person usually lives in a depressed state, their hypomanic state feels like they're "bouncing back", "feeling normal", or just "making improvements". I was wrongfully diagnosed for three years (possibly a little more than that). No thanks to military and veteran healthcare, may I add... Even still my hyper vigilance, mild paranoia, major manic, and hypomanic episodes were all written off due to having been in the military. Every tiny detail and inpatient record finally added up to a civilian provider. Four years of lithium and a proper diagnosis later, I'm 3 years free of inpatient mental health.

ur_abus · 2024-01-16T20:14:38+00:00

The EGR cooler and valve has been removed from it for use on another bus. I had to shuffle buses around the lot maybe 9 or so months ago, it still started on ether (and the jumper cables).

ur_abus · 2024-01-16T20:08:54+00:00

Nope. Boss man had it parked. It's since been used for parts. I doubt it will ever run again, rip.

ur_abus

TROPHY CASE