What are YOUR plans this summer? (rant thread)

[Warrlord]

Please feel free to post your own rant(s) and/or comment(s) about the rising prices :D

Because of rising fuel costs, things like food & clothing items, household products, etc, have risen also. It's a trickle down effect. Because of that, my purchases will mainly be things I absolutely need. If a lot of people end up doing that too, the economy will not be stimulated. ;)

How will affect you if at all? :)

I won't be doing much this summer except working. My new job is going well but it'll take me a loooooong time to play catch up for the past 2 years of my financial decline. My highlight of the year will be the Chinamans Event (http://www.rmftc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7200), I'm soooooo looking forward to it :thumbsup:

I will be participating in both of the Saxon Mountain Trail Cleanup Runs.

I won't be spending the 30 bucks on a fishing license like I usually do. That means I won't be purchasing fishing supplies, food, & fuel to go have a day of what I enjoy doing.

I won't be going camping (except for the above event) resulting in not spending money for camping supplies, food, & fuel.

I won't be taking my family out to eat then to go see a movie like we do twice a month just so we can have a nice family evening out.

This will end up like the summer of '08 with everything going up in price but never coming down when (if) fuel prices fall. There will be things like an additional fuel surcharge on my trash pick up like last time, & other delivery surcharges etc.

After June, it might be time to sell my truck since I won't able to enjoy what I built it for. It'll need tires in a few months & those are ridiculous right now but will get higher in several months due to the use of petroleum products in manufacturing tires & increased delivery costs. When I first went to tires over 35", good tires were less than $165.00 each. Now, they're currently $329.00 each...........plus............I have to buy new wheels in 17" flavor & the cheapest ones are currently $89.00 each. If I didn't build my sliders & have the front bumper built for a body lift, I'd remove it & run 35's but those are currently ridiculously priced too but about 20 bucks less a tire & I can get 'em in 15" flavor & keep my wheels.

Dang, some things just hafta throw ya a hell of a curve ball sometimes. When something goes right, three other things have to mess up your plans.

Oh well, I'm still going to be optimistic & do the best I can.

I'm curious to hear how the rising fuel (& everything else) prices will or won't curb your plans this year :)

[shawns 64 F100]

I hear ya Larry, I am sick and tired of struggling myself. Work has slowed down so much and I am fighting a battle with two vehicles that are kicking my azz. We have a Rep coming up tomorrow that I hope can help me figure these out. I work with some of the greatest people I have ever worked with, but survival is just as important. I feel like quitting because you only get paid so much on a flat rate repair and all of that time is killed. :mad:

I am set on making the chinamans event and I would like to do a clean up on Saxon Mountain, always wanted to go up there.

Other than having my Bronco on the road. I havent set any other goals. I have become a hermet living in my little condo hiding out not doing any activities pinching every penny. I eat out once a week if I can wing it. I only use a savings account and when I need cash I have to go to the bank. That controls bad spending habits (no impulse net shopping :D)

I do have my kayak gear and a friend is going to let me use her boat to learn in. So she has saved me a small fortune there. I hope to get to spend a lot of free time on the river since everything else costs money to go to and I can get to the Yampa in a few minutes.

I wanted to get a gym membership but that's another monthly expense so im working out at home.

I feel if less stimulate the economy it will force prices of everything to drop. Cant sell product that doesnt sell, so that means less transportation costs, forcing corporations to drop the price so they can "stimulate" their pockets or suffer like the rest of the blue collar workers.


Larry, I hope things get better for you and everyone else. I think the saddest comment was not taking your family out to dinner. Thats the most important thing, I only wish I had a family to spend time with (as in wife and kids) Maybe doing something besides going out to dinner? Like movie night at home or something.

On a good note my shafts are done and I hope to find some 8 lug 16" wheels this weekend at the salvage yard. im going to Denver Friday night and make it an early day on Saturday, trying to get my storage unit moved into a smaller one (another 190 a month that needs to go away) Mopars on the mountain is this weekend and I would rather be going there, but need to set priorities straight.

I am sure I have more to speak of but ill shut it down here.

[RayLCC]

Well, my summer planning disaster started a few weeks ago. I ended up in the hospital for a few days with a stroke. I found out that I am clostrophobic (when they tried to give me an MRI) So they decided to dope me up to "relax" me so I could take the MRI. Instead of relaxing me I had a reaction to the drug. Great fun. Then the doc came in and informed me that I'm diabetic.
Anyway, I'm better now, with only minor remaining side effects of the stroke that are manageable so far, but the last few weeks have been filled with doctors appointments that are slowly chewing through my vacation time. ( we dont have sick days where I work so if we need time off we either take it unpaid or take a vacation day and since I have to have a sub come to work I usually end up having to take a full day off to go see the doc. ) On top of that, shortly after getting out of the hospital I fell and bruised my tailbone.
The tailbone thing made it so I am now extremly behind in getting my garden, my usual summer hobby up and running. I haven't even tilled yet and am just starting seeds this weekend. I figure my hospital stay, and crappy insurance means I am going to have close to $30,000 in bills coming my way soon, so the summer I had planned of long-weekend fishing trips and quiet evenings pulling weeds in the garden and working on the Explorer and little truck I bought doesn't look like its going to happen until sometime around the year 2060 or so.
So all that, along with fuel prices going up and everything else means we may have one shortened camping trip, just so I don't disappoint the kids and a few day trips, fishing local ponds like Berkley lake and Jim Baker reservoir. Going out to eat with the family will have to wait and we will have movie night at home for a good long while instead of trips to the movies. I took the 35's off the explorer and put the stock tires on for now. I see no reason to buy new 35's on the 15 inch wheels when I'll be having to go up in size with the diff swap and I can't afford them now anyway. The little truck has 14's on it and tires for it aren't that bad. I bought two rears for it and will replace the fronts when I can. All in all, its shaping up to be a "close to home" kind of summer.
Ok, I could rant more, but I'll turn it over to someone else.

[mattadams]

Dang Ray, thats the first I'd heard about that! Wish you a quick recovery, that's some scary stuff!
As far as the economy and price of gas, etc. fortunately or unfortunately this doesn't affect me too much, because I don't have to drive much for work... I do fly all the time, but the cost of plane tickets doesn't come out of my pocket. My wife works just a few miles from our house so it isn't too big of a deal, but I definitely see how it could suck (hey, for 7 years I worked in Westminster and lived in littleton and drove it every day, and usually had to fill up twice a week or sometimes more so I used my gas back in the day!). but I acknowledge I'm lucky there.

I personally think gas is going to go back down... maybe not back into the mid 2's where it had been for a while, but I don't foresee $4 or higher gas in Colorado either. I personally think gas needs to be a little spendy though so that we as consumers and researchers are willing to look into other options. When it is relatively affordable to fill up your gas tank and most people don't think much of it, they become less likely to be interested in E-85, natural gas powered vehicles, or anything else like it. I think we've got way too much of the country that is simply wasted and we are paying farmers not to grow crops because it helps keep prices high enough, why not instead pay them to grow something thats only purpose is fuel? Switchgrass or something like that. What's the downside? LOWER fuel prices? Doubt it!

[shawns 64 F100]

Dang Ray, that's gotta be a shocker for sure. I hope for the best for you and that things do not get worse for you. My mom was diagnosed with Diabetes last year. Kind of tough to deal with.

[Hypoid]

Ray, let me know if you want help with the tilling.

I'm buying my fishing license for the habitat stamp, with SAR insurance. I don't remember how many fish I caught last year, but I released both back to the water. They would have been too expensive if I got caught fishing without a license. Same goes for the Serach And Rescue insurance. :)

This year, I hope to make a few day trips. If I have to chose between a Saxon run and anything else, I'll pick up trash on Saxon.

Like previous years, I don't plan too far ahead. PTO hours are kept in reserve, waiting for that next awshit that might be lurking round the bend. Same goes for the attendance points: If I get that call, and walk off the job on a moments notice, I'll get those points erased a year later.

For the most part it's the same-ol' for me. Although, I am worried about my grumpy old supervisor having to postpone his retirement. With that in mind, I wrote up one of his temper tantrums. Corporate has a policy, and he needs this job too! ;)

[BLOODBANE]

Ray if you have any questions about the diabetes let me know. I have had it for going on 26 years now. Its tough to be strict with what you can do, but it is manageable. Get to feeling better bud. As far as summer goes, things changed quite a bit for me a couple of weeks ago, so after I get my house bought it will be mainly irrigating(with what little water I do get), and chasing cows(the ones that we have kept). Time to start flying the flag upside down(the vets should understand the significance of that).

[RayLCC]

Thanks everyone. I think I'm doing ok so far. I come from a long line of diabetics, so it was more a question of when than if. Especially since "round" is the only way to describe the shape i'm in. Still, I'm taking the diabetes class and I recommend it to anyone who has or is diagnosed with diabetes. I wasn't thrilled about it at first, but after taking the first class it turned out to be pretty good with a lot of useful information.
Things'll get better. They always do and when compared to others I'm pretty damn lucky. I appreciate the offers for help and your thinking of me.

[Cricketbug]

Ray - As to echo everyone else's comments, let us know if you need anything.

As for us - staying close to home this summer/fal. other than a weekend GJ trip for the hubby in June, kiddo and I may head over to GJ for a long weekend. With the kiddo going into kindergarten this fall, she and I are going to enjoy the 6 weeks I get off for summer break at my work (year-round school). Plus, it will save on daycare money for almost 2 months! :) I'm thankful my principal gave me a slight raise for next school year, but I wasn't even planning on one. I'm even more happy to NOT be one of the few teachers laid off...

[bronc_17113]

my plans don't start till bear season

[Hypoid]

BEER SEASON!?!?!? When does bear season start? :D

[Digger]

It's definitely harder these days. Having a kid has put an extra dent in the finances and free time, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I won't be getting out much with the truck, but was able to get some cash together and bought a cheap dual-sport to ride to work and bash some trails on the weekends. Its a lot easier on gas then the trucks (50-55mpg vs. 18-20mpg). We don't go to movies anymore because they are a total ripoff and I hate giving my money to Hollywood types.

I think I will be riding my bicycle more for entertainment and spending time with the boy. I'll keep having fun as fun as I can afford it, because it will only get more expensive from here.

[Cricketbug]

BEER SEASON!?!?!? When does bear season start? :D


I don't think BEER season ever ends! :D

[Warrlord]

sorry, been absent for a bit..........

Wow Ray, I'm sorry that happened to you but I'm glad to know that you're doing better now & I hope you continue to get better :)

I've been working my booty off since the work is there. I learned never to look a gift horse in the mouth but I'm hoping the work/job continues at least at its current pace. I'm not used to working 6 full days a week, 9 to 11 hours each day............this old fart gets tired now. Just a matter of getting used to to it though. When Sunday finally rolls around, the last thing I wanna do is work on a car :nuts: :D

It seems a lot of our sentiments are about the same. We still do the movie night but it's at home now. Popcorn, soda, & candy is way cheaper at the stores & getting the movies from "Redbox" or "On Demand" is way cheaper too.

Here's hoping for the best for all of us :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Tilt168]

Ray- Holy crud! I'm sorry to hear ab all that bud, diabetes is rough...plus the stroke and everything, wow. Hope you get back up and going soon enough.

My summer plans for everyone's knowledge is to sit around here in the sandbox and try and save up as much money as I can, pay off the truck, decide if I want to stay in CO or ship off to Europe for a few years, mainly just trying to figure out what I want to do with my life.

I miss all y'all and hope I can at least make one more run before I do anything drastic. Enjoy the Colorado Summer for me and have a cold one or two or three while you're doing it!

[Warrlord]

Enjoy the Colorado Summer for me and have a cold one or two or three while you're doing it!

I'll do that but I'll toast to you & your service brothers & sisters for doing what you do for us. Thanks :) :thumbsup:

[shawns 64 F100]

I'll do that but I'll toast to you & your service brothers & sisters for doing what you do for us. Thanks :) :thumbsup:

X2 plus a few.
Its good to hear from you Tilt, the one thing I regret when I was in was not going to Europe. I had big dreams of being rich and famous and thought I could go as a civilian, but now im having my doubts. Just saying, its a free trip and you cant pass it up.

My plans have changed, tomorrow is my last day of work up here. moving back to Denver to push for another better more reliable and steady paying job. Grumpy has a dead hole #2 so im looking to find another engine for him. And maybe get the Bronco or the F100 running to drive. I am really hoping to make the RMFTC event still but it will be a long shot at this point.