Re: Food prices are getting idiculous

kilikini wrote:
George Shirley wrote:
kilikini wrote:
Serene wrote:
kilikini wrote:

We can't afford to move, but we can't afford to stay. There's no
work for my husband here in Florida and I need my medical
insurance, which isn't sponsored anywhere else, but this state. I
have relatives in New Orleans. I need to ask you, George...
seriously (and I don't want any flames from people) is there really
construction work in Louisiana? My husband is a framer and a trim
carpenter. That's what he does. We're dying a slow death here in
Florida - he hasn't worked in months. Give me the skinny. If you
want to do it via e-mail you may always drop me a line at kilikini
at tampabay dot rr dot com.
He can type, and he cleans up okay -- has he considered temping?
It's what I did for years and years, and it pays the bills between
better gigs.

Serene
Thing is, Allan's never done ANYTHING but carpentry work. He loves
the outdoors and loves working with his hands. He started carpentry
at age 17 - he's 42, now. I've tried to encourage him to put an ad
out for general Mr. Fix-It kind-of-stuff, but he doesn't know
plumbing or electrical - he specializes in wood and that's it. He's
darn good at what he does, I'll tell you that. Not many people can
build round rooms, spiral staircases and ellipses for a lanai, but,
for him, it's like second nature. In some cases, he can even
eyeball that stuff and it's perfect. Allan will notify Supervisors and Contractors that their blueprints
are off. I mean, seriously, I'm really proud of him. He's *great*
at what he does, but here in the South, there's just no work to be
had. My cousin in South Carolina is in the same boat; can't get a
carpentry job to save his life. We here in Florida are living in a
state where 36% of EXISTING houses are up for sale; not good for a
person who builds new homes. We also live in bohunktown, in the
middle of nowhere, so anything other than a fast food or WalMart
greeter job would be difficult to obtain. I honestly don't know
what we're going to do. My aunt in South Carolina is having to sell
her house, my cousin in South Carolina is selling his house, my
cousin in New Orleans is selling her house.......I think it's a
nationwide problem and frankly it's really disturbing. I don't know. Obviously this doesn't affect a non-USA'ian, but what
do you folks think about the housing crisis, rising gas prices,
taxes and such? It can't be just me who's affected.

kili


Has he tried to get into renovating or restoring old homes. There's a
good market for craftsmen in that type of thing. Being able to
reproduce some of the old moldings, etc. can be valuable to the folks
restoring an historic home.

George

He can do moldings for sure! Gosh, I wish you could see the house he built that was featured in Coastal Living Magazine a few years ago. He'd probably like restoring an old house, as well - especially if it was two floors and had a wooden staircase; we'll have to look into that, great suggestion. Anything working with wood. Allan's so on-key with wood he can tell you exactly what kind is burning in a fire. Me? I just smell smoke; it all smells the same to me. :~)

kili


My Dad was that way, he had to quit school at age 12, that would be about 1923, to feed his siblings and his folks. He had cut, adzed and shaped railroad ties for 25 cents each. Cut firewood for a bakery in the small town he lived near in Central Louisiana and knew just how long and how hot each type of wood would burn. At age 14 he was chief lumber grader for a sawmill in Beaumont, Texas and at 15 went to work in a refinery there. Dad could cruise a stand of timber and tell you pretty close to how many board feet could be cut from the trees. I do miss him, he was my mentor and my best friend for most of my early life.

George
.

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