Last month I posted about my decision to go back to school and pursue a new direction in life as I work towards my Pennsylvania teacher’s certificate.  Since writing that piece I have officially started classes at West Chester University, and I have to say, I’m enjoying every minute of it.  I love the philosophical discussions in class, and love challenging my mind.

I’ve barely scraped the surface as far as classwork goes, but there are a significant amount of reading assignments already, with papers, quizzes, tests, and field observations on the horizon.

I have also continued my research into the fastest way to actually get paid for being in a classroom.  Every state has different requirements and regulations into allowing one to captain the classroom ship, and wouldn’t you know it, Pennsylvania has one of the strictest set of requirements in the country.  Figures.

I won’t get into the pro’s and con’s of needing to be fully certified to teach.  Certainly as a parent with two school-age children, I want to know that the caretakers I entrust my children to every day are fully qualified at what they do.

But from a teaching perspective, and someone who pays the bills, I’d like to be getting paid for my time in the class, not merely observing.

Pennsylvania won’t even allow you to substitute teach until you are 100 percent fully certified.  No real argument here.  Just disappointment in that I’d like to be getting paid.

Fortunately, we live only a short 15-minute drive to New Jersey, and New Jersey does offer a substitute certificate.  An undergraduate degree, background clearances, and of course the pre-requisite fees are all that’s required to obtain a NJ substitute credential.

Satisfying the necessary requirements, I am now a certified substitute teacher in New Jersey.  Cool.  And I’ve already had a handful of substitute assignments in the Garden State.  I even get one of those cool necklace thingies with my ID badge attached. 

Make no mistake, substitute teaching certainly isn’t the goal here.  The substitute teacher’s life is full of uncertainty from day to day – where will I be tomorrow, what time does school start?  Where the heck is Woodbury anyway?  Not being a native Jersey son, I find myself glued to my GPS and maps just about anywhere I go over there.

But I am getting paid (a little), which of course is better than not getting paid at all in PA.  Certainly a step in the right direction.

So to recap, I am now taking two graduate-level college courses, substitute teaching on a day-to-day basis, and still trying to line-up some hardscaping projects for the spring/summer.  Implicit in the hardscaping side of things is the fact that I really don’t want to find myself in a position of chasing down projects fruitlessly, or that will interfere with what is now my top professional priority – school, and eventually trying to secure a full time teaching job.  All while managing family responsibilities, shuttling the kids to karate and acting and soccer and gymnastics and scouts and … well, you get the idea.

Soooooo, what this means is that my already hectic schedule is becoming even more crazy with a new set of responsibilities.  Something’s got to give.  And unfortunately, I’m afraid, this means that this blog needs to get shelved for a bit.  At least as far as the weekly posts go.

It certainly isn’t a shutting down of the blog.  I do plan on posting some project updates in the spring and summer once the projects start happening.  And most likely a few other miscellaneous posts here and there.  But for now, I do need to back off a bit, if for no other reason than to maintain some sanity while I get accustomed to the new schedule.

Perhaps the focus of the blog may change a bit too.  Instead of relevant hardscaping and construction information, there may be a focus on my studies, teaching info, the trials of getting certified, etc.  “The trials of a mid-life 40-something career change.”  Or something like that.  We’ll see how it plays out.

In the mean time, though, I need to take a break for a bit.  I most likely will continue with a few biz-related Facebook posts, and I’ll be checking in on others’ blogs and posts on various forums and platforms.  To all of you have been regular readers and commenters on my posts, thank you.  It’s always nice to know that my musings are being read by somebody – anybody – and hopefully of some value to you the reader.  The blog has re-kindled my love of writing, and I’ve certainly enjoyed the process.

So for now, farewell, see you soon, and keep on keepin’ on.

Here in the Delaware Valley, winters can be a bit unpredictable.  Several years ago we had two of the harshest winters I can remember, with a bevy of 20-inch-plus snowfalls and record-setting yearly accumulations.  For the past two years, we had barely any snow, with unusually mild temperatures.  Last year in fact we had a freak snowstorm in late March, and the 2" of wet slush surpassed the snowfall totals from the rest of the season.

Not this year.  This year has reverted back to the Hoth-like winters of '10 and '11.  We're still in early February and we've already surpassed 40" of snowfall for the year.  And you're kidding yourself if you think we're out of the woods yet.  February is usually our big snowfall month.

With a decent sampling of snowstorms to observe, I find it interesting how our perception of the white stuff changes over the course of the winter:

December 8:  The turkey leftovers are still in the fridge and the excitement of the Holiday season is building rapidly.  The forecast calls for 1" to 3", just enough to add even more excitement to the season.  The Eagles have a home game scheduled with playoff implications, and everybody is out and about doing Holiday shopping when the storm hits much harder than anticipated.  More than 8" falls in just over four hours -- Everybody is caught off guard, but everybody is loving it.  The Eagles win, and everybody enjoys the Holiday snow day.  Fun day, no doubt.

Jan 3:  The kids have been back in school just one day after Christmas break before they are awarded another snow day.  This time it's 9" and a bonus round of snowmen and sledding.  Everybody's a bit more prepared for this one, and nobody is really complaining about an extended vacation from work and school.  The sledding hills are packed, and I'm sure Hot Cocoa sales are through the roof too.

January 6 - January 26:  We all learn a new term -- "Polar Vortex".  It's basically a regular vortex, only polar.  In layman's terms this means it's cold.  REALLY cold.  All I can think of is the scene from Finding Nemo when Marlin wants to exit the East Australian Current and he defines his exit strategy as the "swirling vortex of terror".  That about sums it up -- terror.  We go through a five-day stretch where temperatures don't break 20.  Nobody enjoys this.

January 21:  Temperatures have been at ridiculously low extremes, so much that snow from nearly three weeks ago is pretty much still around when the next storm hits -- this time it's 14" of the lightest fluffiest powder you've ever seen.  Not great for snowmen or snowballs, but still fun for the kids.  At this point the adults are starting to have a slightly different view of the season, but there's not much we can do.

Jan 21 - January 31:  Temperatures continue to struggle getting above freezing, so all that snow is sticking around, getting dirtier and icier.  Young kids in dry clothes can't seem to stay off the dirty salty snowpiles, adding to the parents' frustration.  A series of 1" and 2" storms seem to replenish any snow that was lost due to solar melt-off.  What would have been a fun distraction in December is now a barely noticed inconvenience.  Firewood piles are diminishing.  The kids even seem to be getting tired of Hot Cocoa.  Ice scrapers are getting a regular work-out.  Everybody's car is coated in a white brushing of salt residue.  I'm hearing a fair amount of complaining from adults, hoping for a warmer drier weather pattern.  The newspaper count-down to spring training taunts us.

January 29:  An email announcement is sent out by the schools that they have used all the built-in snowdays for the year.  That means for any new day off, there will be an extra day tacked on at the end of the year.  When this information is shared with the kids, their impression of snowdays also changes somewhat.

February 2:  Groundhog Day.  That silly rat predicts 6 more weeks of winter.  Never liked rodents anyway.

February 3:  After a brief tease of 50-degree temperatures over the weekend, we are treated to 5" of heavy, wet snow, and another day off from school.  Great snowman snow.  Horrible to shovel.  The kids want to do something more exciting than sit around and watch movies, and its apparent that they are getting a bit bored with just being out in the snow for being out in the snow sake.  A few organized activities get the kids back on track, but at the expense of parental productivity.  Love having the kids home, but I've got a boatload of schoolwork that I was counting on knocking out while they're at school.  I think just about everybody is hoping for some degree of return to normalcy.

February 5:  The good news is that we seem to have escaped the polar vortex.  The bad news is that it means the next storm is a slushy, icy mix.  Horrible.  No fun to drive in, no fun to play in, no fun to live with.  The forecast calls for 1" to 3" of snow before switching over to sleet and freezing rain.  It ends up being no snow at all, -- just ice and freezing rain.  PECO reports more than 600,000 customers without electricity in the 6-county region of PA suburbs.  Or more than a third of the customers in the region.  The roads are awful -- a slick sheet of ice covers everything, tree limbs down, major slip-and-fall hazards.  Nobody enjoys this one in the least.  It's almost enough to wish that vortex would come back.

So what's to come?  Well that's anybody's guess.  The forecast for this coming weekend certainly looks ominous.  At this point there's only one thing for certain -- just about everybody is looking forward to spring.

And on that note I'll leave everybody with one parting note:  5 days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training.  The end can't be too far away, can it?

The new year always serves as a convenient opportunity to assess the past year, reflect on successes and failures, and prepare for what lies ahead.  It’s a time of optimism, a time for fresh starts, and a starting point for moving forward.

Amidst all the leftover Holiday treats, football games, and catching up with old friends, I personally have spent a fair amount of time this week reflecting on the past year.  A few years’ back I made the resolution never to make another new year’s resolution – my thoughts being that most resolutions are too narrow, too short-sighted, and often reflect an effect of larger problems, not the cause.

So my thoughts this past week have focused on what some of the underlying trouble-spots are with me as a person.  Thankfully, nothing major, but certainly there are areas where I, like nearly everybody, can improve as a person.

And as I’ve assessed my areas for improvement, I’ve discovered one underlying theme – fear.  More specifically, overcoming fear to be a success. Being brave to be happy.

Which in turn led me to another thought process – if courage is the ability to overcome fear, then what is the difference between courage and recklessness?  Between strength and being self-destructive?

Mark Twain once said that “Courage is the resistance to fear, the mastery of it, not the absence of it.”  And I think in that quote lies the answer.  Recklessness has more to do with a lack or inability to understand the negative effects of an action, whereas courage is understanding and accepting it.  It’s a fine line indeed, but it shifts the concept to one that is much more cognitive, to one which can be rationally evaluated.

My personal fears most likely aren’t that different from many others’ fears.  Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of being judged, fear of change, to name a few.

And to analyze those fears, I need to evaluate the negative consequences in order to conquer them.  And in doing so, I’ve come to realize that the negative consequences I’ve been fearing are much more manageable than I’ve been making them out to be.

So in perhaps my first cathartic actions of the new year, I’m taking this opportunity to announce a few changes in my personal and professional life. 

I’ve begun taking classes for my Pennsylvania Teacher Certification.  This is a decision I’ve been mulling over for some time, but one which I believe will serve to increase my own happiness and the well-being of my family in the years ahead.

Not to say it will be an easy road.  The good things in life generally aren’t.  But it is a decision that I honestly believe will serve me best in the years ahead.

In addition to a post-baccalaureate courseload, I will also have student teaching assignments and perhaps even some substitute teaching assignments to gain experience and get my foot in the door towards my eventual new career.  All while continuing to juggle family responsibilities.

So what does this mean for Clark Kent Creations?  What does it mean for my hardscaping career?  Well, probably not too much for the immediate future.  At least on the surface.

But changes do lay ahead.  My website will remain the same, my weekly blogs will continue with no noticeable changes for the foreseeable future.

And to clients who already have quotes and signed contracts for spring projects, I’ll still be providing the same level of professional service you’ve come to expect.

I’ll still be taking on new projects, still be providing new estimates, still be just as responsive as ever to past clients and still take just as much pride in my projects as always.

But in continuing with my conquering fear theme of the new year, new clients and prospects may find that I’m not afraid to say “no thanks” to projects that aren’t in my sweet spot of services. 

Hopefully I can still secure a few large patio projects for the summer months, but during the school year I’ll be focusing on smaller to medium size projects – ones that I can complete without a full staff, quickly, leanly, and efficiently.

I may pass on some larger projects, or at least ask that they can be scheduled once we complete the school year.

I may ask for a bit more time to complete projects, as I balance studenting, teaching, and parenting in conjunction with work.

And while I realize there may be some lost business with this approach, this goes hand-in-hand with my confronting of fear, of accepting the consequences of an action in an act of courage.  I think it’s for the best.

I’m on my way to becoming a teacher.  And that is certainly nothing to be afraid of.  It’s a change I’m embracing.  And while fear certainly isn’t absent from this change, it’s a fear that I’m proud to confront.

And so the new year begins.  Happy New Year everybody!

With Thanksgiving here this week (can you hardly believe it?!), I thought I'd take a moment to reflect on the things I'm thankful for -- both from a professional point-of-view and on a personal level.
 
Apologies in advance for all the things I'm leaving off.

So here it is -- 21 things I'm thankful for ...

1.  My Family -- Both my immediate family and my extended family.  I could probably draft a larger list listing each of my family members by name, and highlighting how they add to my life, but for the purposes of this list, we'll list them as one.  You know how much each and every one of you mean to me.

2.  My Friends --  I've been tight with some of you since we were young 'uns, others I've picked up along the way, and still others I've known just a few years -- but regardless of how long I've known you, I always enjoy sharing a laugh, and knowing we're there for each other.

3.  My Health --  Definitely getting to that age where I can't take this one for granted anymore.  Every healthy, active day is a blessing.

4.  Beautiful Stonework.  OK, so it's part of what I do, but the more I work with stone, the more I appreciate the true masterpieces, and am humbled by what the masters can do.  This is truly an art form that one could spend a lifetime attempting to master.  I'm thankful to live in an area where there is so much beautiful stonework to admire on a daily basis.

5.  My Employees -- past and present.  All the projects we've done over the years, all the project pictures you see on this website -- your blood, sweat and tears are part of those projects.  (Thankfully not too much blood).  Thank you.

6.  Cordless drills/screwguns.  We build a fair amount of fences and decks.  I can't even begin to imagine how this was done with a simple hammer and nails.  Really makes you appreciate what was accomplished in the old days.

7.  Swarthmore.  Many of you familiar with "The Swat" know what I'm talking about, but for those not familiar with it you really have to experience it to believe it.  Great people, natural beauty, great architecture, a safe walkable/bikeable community, great schools, and great activity resources.

8.  A Sense of Humor.  When times are stressful or down, sometimes a good, intelligent laugh is the best cure.

9.  Hawaiian shirts.  What can I say?  I like 'em.  They're fun.

10.  My Clients.  While we are a providing a service for you, you are the ones who make it all possible.  I've met some really great people over the years, who have made my life richer.

11.  Hikes in the Woods.  One always finds something new and interesting, often when not actively searching.  Sometimes you hit the ground running, other days it's all you can do to get motivated.  But I always feel great when I'm done.  And better off for it.

12.  Music.  The soundtrack of life.  Can't possibly imagine life without it.

13.  The Internet Community.  So as much as I grumble about the "internet-ization" of society, proliferation of ID passwords, and the lack of real social interaction (all very valid complaints, I might add), there are some amazing resources out there, available with just the click of a button.  Whether it's sourcing materials, searching for pictures and information, or sharing information via forums, the internet can be a great thing.  And for my forum friends (you know who you are), I can't thank you enough for all the information and feedback you've provided over the years.  Hopefully I reciprocate as much as I take away.  I try.

14.  My Supplier Network -- There's a number of suppliers who I rely on consistently to provide quality materials and services, but I owe a special shout-out to Galantino Supply Company -- always helpful, always friendly, and always glad to help with the highest level of professionalism.

15.  Slider-Flip-flops.  You know when you're lounging around at home in your socks, and you realize you need to run out for a quick errand, but you don't feel like dealing with shoelaces?  And since old-school flip-flops have that annoying prongy thing next to the big toe, you can't wear them with socks, at least not comfortably.  Love my slider flip flops.  I'll throw my cowboy boots into this category too, for when it's even colder or wet.

16.  The Arts.  Whether it's fine painting, beautiful architecture, drama, music, or dance, art is the decoration of life that makes you appreciate it.  Take away the arts, and there's not much left.

17.  Teachers.  Being married to one, I see firsthand the dedication involved to helping young citizens grow and become their best.  And I can certainly think back on a number of teachers who have had a dramatic impact on my life.

18.  A Healthy Planet.  But one we must respect.  There's a lot of talk being thrown around about the earth's problems and man's impact, but in the here and now it's amazing what Mother Earth provides for us.  I can only hope that the Earth we know and love will remain relatively the same for at least my children and my children's children's lives. 

19.  Gardens.  Man's interaction and interpretation of nature.  Whether it's a formal English garden, interactive children's garden, Japanese meditation garden, an urban rooftop -- the list could be endless -- it always amazes me what can be created when man patiently tends to and cultivates a piece of the planet.

20.  Good Food and Drink.  Creating good food is an art form unto itself, and definitely worthy of our appreciation.  Whether it's formal culinary arts, informal roadside barbecue, small-batch brewing, or wine-making, how can you not appreciate this one.  Especially now at Thanksgiving time?

21.  A Peaceful Soul.  Some days more than others.  But I always sleep easily at night knowing that I've done what I do to the best of my ability, been honest with myself and others, and looked out for the interests of everyone around me as best as I can.  You can't ask anything more of anybody than that.

I sincerely wish everybody a healthy and happy Thanksgiving.  Wishing you a long list of things you can be thankful for.

This is one of those projects that’s been on my life bucket list for some time – building my own grill out of a reclaimed 55-gallon drum.

The seed for this project was actually planted some time ago.  With a wife from the barbecue capitol of the world, Memphis Tennessee, and a palate that seems to be constantly attracted to some of the world’s best street food, I’ve seen some awesome grills and smokers over the years. Grills on trailers for barbecue cook-offs, grills made from old beer kegs, gas tanks, even some made out of old cars.  Heck, even my own family on my mom’s side made some home-made grills on the banks of the mighty St. Joe’s river in Elkhart, IN.  So it’s kind of in the blood.

So the idea had been festering for some time.  And when our old 13-year-old store-bought gas grill finally bit it a few weeks back, instead of trying some spot repairs and part replacements as I’ve done in the past, it was time to pull the trigger on the new grill.

Before I get into the how-to, I should share a bit about my grilling preferences.  With family lineage in Memphis and a taste for good barbecue, part of me is really drawn to the all-day, slow smoked, wood-fired smokers.

But the realist in me also realizes that I work and have about a billion responsibilities, so slow-smoking a rack of ribs on a Tuesday evening just isn’t in the cards. Slapping burgers on a propane grill fits much better into my schedule.  So what to do?  I wanted the ability to slow-smoke some good ‘cue on a football Saturday afternoon, but also to whip up some simple hot dogs before soccer practice on Thursday night.

So the solution?  A hybrid, with enough room on one side to throw in some pieces of wet hickory when the time allows, but with a propane set-up on the other side for those weeknight quick-and-easy’s.

What you need:
One 55-gallon drum (sealed ends, food grade)
A grinder or metal cutting saw
Three door hinges
Approximately (30) ¼” x 1” hex bolts, with nuts and washers
Approximately 6’ of 1” angle-iron
One wood finial fence postcap
One propane burner replacement piece
One propane burner heat shield
Propane ceramic briquets
Replacement grill grates to fit

What to do:

First, get your hands on a 55-gallon drum.  If you have the time and you’re diligent in your search, you can probably find a free one from an automotive service center or food processing plant.  My time and patience were lacking, so I found one on Craigslist for $20.  I could have paid $10, but splurged for the “Food Grade” barrel, as I really wasn’t in the mood to be tasting oil on all my food for the next few years.  Make sure it is metal, not plastic (duh).  Also make sure it is
“sealed” meaning the circular ends aren’t removable.

Next, mark out and cut your door opening.  There’s a few ways I could have done this, but I chose to keep the circular ends intact, partially not to compromise the stability of the barrel, and partially to keep options open if I ever want to install an upper grill rack down the road. I marked out the door with masking tape to ensure good straight lines, and used a grinder to make the cuts.

Once the door panel is cut out, attach the three hinges to door using the ¼” bolts.  Mark your hole locations, pre-drill holes, and tighten the bolts using the nuts and washers.  Once all three hinges are secured on the door, hold in place and mark the hinge locations on the barrel itself.  Pre-drill your holes (need to be precise with the locations so everything lines up), insert bolts and attach the hinges.  

You’ll also want to easily open your door, so it will need some handles.  You don’t want metal handles, as they will conduct the heat. There were some wood cabinet handles at the box store that could have worked, but they weren’t meant for outdoor use, so I was concerned about rot.  So I improvised again, using a pressure-treated finial postcap.  I simply drilled a hole through the door and secured the knob with a small lag screw from the inside.  I used one, centered on the door, depending on preferences you may want two.  You now have a functioning door.

The stand.  I have to admit, I cheated on this one bit, as the stand from our old store-bought grill was still perfectly functional, and the barrel fit quite nicely on the frame.  If I had to build my own stand, I probably would have used threaded metal pipes to construct a simple stand.  But I didn’t have to, so there.  My guess is you could probably find something at your house that works – shopping carts, old metal shelving, old trailers – you’ll figure it out.

I now placed the barrel on the stand sideways with the door on top, circular ends on either side, and drilled a few drain holes in the bottom of the barrel.  This will help for airflow, and allow for drainage if you ever leave the grill open in the rain, or spill barbecue sauce into the grill.

If you’re just going the wood route, you can skip this step, but if you’re retrofitting some propane parts, you’ll need to cut a small opening in the bottom of the barrel (amongst the drain holes) to allow for the burner to be installed, and the feeder pipes to access the main propane supply and control knobs.  Again, I used my grinder to cut out a hole roughly 3”x4” to allow both feeder pipes to fit through comfortably.  
 
The big box stores sell a wide assortment of after-market replacement parts for propane grills. Just a find a burner that fits the barrel, and a heat shield that fits the size of the burner.   (The heat shield prevents the flame from torching the food, redistributing the heat to the ceramic briquettes).

You’re getting close now. All you’re missing is the cooking grate. I ended up purchasing two of the largest size grates I could find at the box store, but if you have access to any sort of metal working shop you can probably find some sturdy steel mesh that would work just fine.  Regardless of what you go with, get the grate first, as you’ll need it to install your bracing.

Place your grate down into the barrel over the propane burner apparatus.  Check for level both front to back and side to side.  Ideally, you should have about 4” between the top of the heat shield and the grate.  Once you position the grate into the location you want, mark the location of the grate on the inside of the barrel with a pencil.  Now remove the grate form the barrel.

Take your angle iron, and cut two equal length pieces that will run the length of the barrel (3’ +/-). Now drill three ¼” holes through one side (flange) of the angle iron, one on either end and one in the middle. Hold your drilled angle iron piece up against the line you already drew on the inside of the barrel, and mark the hole locations.  This may require a helper to hold the piece, making sure your hole marks line up exactly with the holes on the angle iron.  Now drill the holes through the barrel itself, and fasten the angle iron to the inside of the barrel using the ¼” bolts.  Repeat for the front and back.  When you’re done, you’ll have two metal “shelves” running the full length of the barrel, both front and back.  Simply place your grate resting on both sides of the angle iron, and you are good to go!

I’m thrilled to cross this project off the bucket list for a number of reasons.  Go look at a box store or home center, and you’ll see a whole assortment of grills ranging from $300 on up.  The big ones that have enough space to do what I want (you know, that whole pig roast every red-blooded male dreams about …) start at $600 at least, and run far, far upwards of that number.  Mine?  About $65 for the barrel conversion, and about $55 for the propane burner equip. Not bad.  Plus, it’s way, way, way cooler in my opinion.

I still may make a tweak or two, and who knows, maybe I’ll even play around making a few more for some friends.  If I can squeeze it in between getting my grill on …

Interested in something like this for your outdoor living space?  Give me a call.  We’ll talk.

Hard to believe, but it was just three months ago that I was writing a few random musings regarding Memorial Day as we approached the Memorial Day weekend and the start of summer. Unfortunately it’s now time for Labor Day, meaning the end of summer is here.

But just to give a little symmetry to the season, I figured it only fair to offer a few random musings regarding the other summer bookend…
 
*  The first recorded observation of Labor  Day was in New York City in 1882, organizied by a carpenter’s union secretary named Peter McGuire.
Labor Day was first recognized nationally in 1894, following a bloody labor strike when US forces opened fire on striking workers at the Pullman Railroad Co.  This bloody confrontation forced  President Grover Cleveland to appease the national labor force by signing a bill into law recognizing Labor Day as a Federal Holiday.

*  I’ve always found it a bit ironic that to celebrate the work ethic of American Labor, we celebrate by taking the day off.  Not complaining, just a bit ironic

.*  “Labor Day, when we briefly pause from  demonizing unions to enjoy mattress sales in their honor.” – Anonymous

*  There’s been a lot of talk over the past few years regarding the decline in American manufacturing.  But did you know that as of the 2010 census, manufacturing jobs still make up the highest percentage of jobs among US men, with 11.3 million manufacturing jobs.
 
*  10.3 million Americans are self-employed.  Just think, if it wasn’t for me I would’ve had to type 10,299,999

*  Want a longer summer?  Try New Zealand.  They don’t recognize Labor Day until the 4th Monday of September.  Of course it’s the southern hemisphere, so they’re actually just giving themselves a longer winter.

*  New York has the highest percentage of unionized workers at 25 percent.  The lowest?  North Carolina at 3 percent.

*  The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 is widely recognized as the cornerstone of modern  labor law, signed into law by labor-friendly president FDR.  The workforce gained even more strength and support shortly thereafter, when manufacturing jobs spiked due to WWII.

*  “If all the cars in the United States were placed end to end, it would probably be Labor Day Weekend.” -- Doug Larson, American newspaper columnist

*  To most Americans today, Labor Day symbolizes the unofficial end of summer, the start of the school year, and the start of football season.  Time to get back to business (of course for us landscaping types, that’s been going on all summer anyway).
 
*  My agenda for the weekend includes being incredibly lazy, hitting up the pool for the last few times, maybe a  fishing excursion with the kids, and living in denial that summer isn’t actually coming to a close.  And yes, I'm excited for football season, and my Wolverines taking the field, and postseason baseball, and warm cider on cool nights, and hayrides, and all the other fun parts of fall.  But for now, I'm milking summer for all its worth.

*  Whatever your plans, stay safe and enjoy the waning days of summer.

So last week I shared my top 5 hand tools that I couldn’t imagine doing what I do without having these tools
available.

And I promised a follow-up post highlighting my top 5 power tools.  Here you go.

Cordless Drills.  If I could only have one power tool, this would be it.  It seems like nearly every day, on nearly every job, this tool comes in handy for one task or another.  They’re relatively lightweight, easy to use without having to keep up with a power cord, can be used as a drill or a screwgun just by simply changing the bit, and hold a charge decently enough that you don’t need to worry too much about changing out the batteries.  Heck, I’ve even used it with a wire brush attachment to clean stone.  And I can’t possibly imagine building a deck or a fence without one of these bad boys.

Grinder.  While the cordless drill is perhaps the most used of all my power tools, the grinder is perhaps my favorite and perhaps most versatile.  Whether its cutting rebar, cutting stones, polishing stone, rounding edges on freshly cut pavers, or smoothing out unsightly or awkward bumps on stones, this is such a handy tool it’s ridiculous.  When we do irregular shaped flagstone patios, this guy inevitably gets a workout as we have to trim and cut stones to fit together.  And a whole lot of bang-for-the-buck too.  A decent DeWalt model runs about $70.  But be careful!  This is an exposed diamond blade designed for cutting stones. Imagine what it could do to your foot if you’re not careful.  And all the goggles/dust mask precautions should be taken as well.

Brick saw.  While the grinder is easy to use and carry around, the brick saw is a beast that takes two people to move around comfortably.  But the results for a bricksaw can’t be replicated, and if you’re cutting pavers you need one.  Unless you want to look like an amateur.  This is a wet saw designed to keep dust down and keep the blade cool for long durations of cutting.  The pump pulls water out of the attached tub and spits on the spinning diamond blade as it cuts.  When the day is done, the water in the tub is a mess of brick or paver slurry that needs to be cleaned thoroughly to avoid pumps or lines getting clogged with debris. Even the clean-up can take upwards of an hour.  But the results speak for themselves.  And when you’re enjoying your beautifully detailed paver patio, you’ll forget all about lugging the beast of a saw around or cleaning it up.

Plate Compactor.  Anybody who has ever installed a successful hardscape will tell you the money lays in the base prep. No matter how pretty all that stonework looks, be it manmade pavers or natural stone, it’s of little value if it can’t hold up over the test of time.  And the best way to ensure its longevity is to make sure the base prep is more than adequate.  A proper hardscape install will include a minimum of 4” compacted base rock.  And by compacted, I mean REALLY compacted.  That hand tamper may do fine for a few household DIY projects, but if you don’t get your base prep completely compacted, nature and time will take care of it for you.  Which means your patio will settle.  Not good.  
 
Every single hardscape job we do includes a base layer compacted with our handy plate compactor. I once described this to a client as a lead weight with a lawnmower engine attached.  It’s a little more than that, but run a plate compactor over loose gravel, add a little moisture, and you’ll see exactly how much gravel can compact. And if you still think your hand tamper is doing the job, try running the plate compactor over your handtamped gravel.  What do you know, it still had some more settling to go.  A valuable tool indeed.

Skill Saw.  If the grinder is the go-to tool for masonry, than certainly the skill saw wins the award for carpentry.  And even though any carpenter worth his weight in nails will have one in their arsenal, it’s not just for cutting wood.  Swap out the wood-cutting blade for a diamond blade, and you’re right in business for cutting bricks or stone.  A must-have for anybody in the trades.  Period.

So there you have it -- 5 must-have power tools if you're working in the hardscaping trades.  And like last week's hand tools, there are certainly some omissions on this list; Reciprocating saw (sawzall) and cut-off saw come to mind quickly off the top of my head.

What tools could you not get by without?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about careers.  Not my career necessarily, but just the state of the labor force and the difference between a job and a career.

As a business owner I rely heavily on the labor force.  I need strong and healthy workers who are willing and able to work.  And when I say “willing to work”, I mean actually working, not just being employed.  It sounds straight-forward enough, no doubt.  Show up on time, be reliable, provide a little muscle, break a sweat, learn a few things, and grow your career.

I think for most people of my generation, that’s the way we started our careers.  The stories and details may all be a little different, but the theme is the same – work hard, learn, grow.

But over the past few years, I’ve noticed that it has gotten harder and harder to sift through the pool of applicants and find workers who are willing to work hard and learn.

Don’t get me wrong – my current workers are great.  I get compliments all the time from clients who tell me how pleased they are with my crew, how respectful and courteous the guys are, what a pleasure it is not to be bombarded with loud music or disrespectful behavior.

Truth be told, I pride myself on that.  And I work hard at finding the right guys.  But it does seem to be getting harder and harder to weed out the wannabes, the “entitled”, the lazy, the “know-it-alls”, or just the dim bulbs.

I guess my thought process began a few weeks ago when I saw an interview with Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with the show, he basically travels the country looking for the sewer rats, the hog farmers, the trash sorters, etc – all the jobs most people wouldn’t want to touch.

The workers are all hard-working Americans who clock in an honest day’s labor doing often unpleasant tasks, all while taking pride in their work and supporting their families.

His travels and encounters have given him a frontline look at the state of the American workforce, and the jobs that are needed, and oftentimes available.

His take was interesting, as he argued that even though we currently hear a lot about the high level of unemployment, we don’t hear a lot about the thousands and thousands of jobs available for those who are willing to take them.  And he didn’t blame the workforce necessarily.  The blame, he argued, is on the disconnect between the education system that is training young people for jobs that aren’t needed, while simultaneously creating a stigma against jobs where you may get a bit greasy, sweaty, dirty, etc.

So while thousands of decent-paying, reliable jobs are available, our education system is perpetuating an atmosphere where students borrow money that they won’t be able to pay back, to train for jobs that aren’t available.  

An interesting perspective, no doubt.

So what does this mean for me and you?  Well I can’t speak for you, but for me it’s an opportunity to provide a bit of insight as to what I look for in an employee, and perhaps how to break in to the hardscaping or landscaping trades, if you’re just getting started.

So here’s my tips for you young’uns out there looking for a job.

Be dependable.  Show up on time.  If your day starts at 8am, show up at 7:55 so you’re ready to work at 8am. If you’ve spent the past few years being a lazy college student sitting on your couch watching gameshows, then you’ll know that the Price is Right rules mean you can’t go over.  That means 8:02 is no good for an 8am start.  Fix your alarm clock.  Fill up with gas.  No excuses. It’s about the easiest thing that makes the biggest impression on your boss.  If I can count on you to be on time, then I can probably count on you for lots of other things too.

Listen.  When I’m telling you what to do, pay attention.  Boss talking is not check your weather app time.  If I’m not making sense (which happens), then let me know. I’ll say it another way so I do make sense.  Don’t sit there and nod and then not do things the right way because you didn’t listen. I don’t like wasting my breath. Most bosses don’t.  Listen to what I say, and then do it.  Another pretty easy one.

Learn.  The first two items are huge, but admittedly easy. This is where things start ratcheting up a bit.  When you listen to what I tell you and what I teach, hopefully you’re retaining a bit for the next time.  If you’re a worker looking
to impress your boss, there is no quicker way than to demonstrate that you remember and are applying what you were told the last time. The less I have to tell you as a worker, the more value you are to me.

Treat it like a career, not a job.  I get it.  A 22-year-old kid is looking for beer money and wants to spend his time with his friends.  Been there.  I know.  Remember the old intro to The Flintstones when the 5pm horn sounded and Fred threw down what he was doing mid-task to go home.  That doesn’t fly these days.  If you want to advance, you want a raise, you want more responsibilities, you want to be recognized, then a little extra effort is required.  My day doesn’t end at 5pm, far from it.  If a worker can demonstrate to me that they are more interested in getting a job done well, taking the extra time to stay organized, or getting a few extra tasks done than they are to leave at 5pm sharp, that goes along way. Plus you’ll earn a few extra bucks in the process.

Think.  I’ve read a number of articles on this lately, today’s youth is losing the ability to logically solve problems.  Blame it on cell phones, or video games, or today’s education – whatever.  But the ability to look at a situation, recognize or assess a problem, and come up with a solution is sadly becoming a lost skill.  Even though you may be able to follow instructions (ie paint-by-numbers) doesn’t mean you can create your own instructions, or adapt if something isn’t quite as planned (ie paint your own masterpiece) .  It’s important, and if you can demonstrate some problem-solving ability, you’ll go far, not just in one job, but in your career as a whole.

Are you looking for a job in the hardscaping industry with hands-on training?  Think you have what it takes?  We always keep interesting respectable resumes on file.  Make yourself known to us.  Always the first step.

I’ve made it no secret in the past that summer is my favorite season.  But despite ALL the things tipping the scales in summer’s favor (and there are a lot!), it can be, quite frankly, somewhat trying to work in when that midsummer heatwave hits.

It seems like every summer, usually around mid-July, we’re hit with one or two real doozies of a heat wave.  And the projects we’re working on during those heatwaves are etched in my brain for eternity – the concrete job where we were constantly battling the streams of sweat dripping off our faces messing up our finish, the excavation job where we were covered in caked-on dirt that refused to let go of our sweat-covered arms and faces, the patio job where the surface temperature of the stones must have been well into the 130’s or 140’s.  Yup, name the year, and I’ll tell you where we were during the big heat wave.

Well this year’s heat wave has arrived, and we have embraced it once again.  High temperatures have averaged well into the upper 90’s, with humidity to match and nighttime lows only in the mid 80’s.  No doubt, it’s hot.

And it’s not just the air temperature that gets hot.  Ever try picking up a black steel pry bar after sitting in the hot sun for an hour or two?  Let’s just say I don’t recommend it.  I wear heavy rubber gloves when I’m using the bricksaw, and I swear they were just as wet on the inside from sweat the other day as on the outside.  And I made the mistake of leaving them on the hood of my black truck for a few minutes while I took a phone call.  Somehow or other the gloves didn’t melt, but I put them back on and nearly scalded my hands as the moisture on the inside of the gloves must have been approaching boiling.  Ouch.

But that doesn’t stop us from carrying on.  I’ve had a few clients comment to me that they can’t believe we’re working in this heat. My reply is that if we waited for the perfect day to work, we’d probably only be working 5 to 6 months a year. And that ain’t gonna swing it as far as maintaining a sustainable business.  So we carry on.

Truth be told, I really don’t mind the extreme heat.  Is it ideal? – Well of course not, but it sure beats those late fall jobs or early spring jobs when we have to thaw out the hose in the morning and we can’t move or feel our fingers throughout the day.  I’ll take the heat over the cold any day.

The trick is just to accept and embrace it.  When your shirt is saturated with sweat by 10 am you really don’t have much choice.  As long as you’re drinking your water and listening to your body, you’ll be fine.  Sweaty, but fine.

I went to the bank at lunch the other day, drenched in sweat from head to toe, with a nice layer of dirt and sand and mortar sticking to me like I was some sort of magnet.  A cute young girl went to get in line behind me, and it was quite apparent that she didn’t want to get anywhere near my sweaty self. That’s right I work, got a problem?

Thankfully my wife is much more understanding.

So where were we during this year’s big heat?  Not that it’s ended yet, or that it won’t return in a few weeks, but so far we’ve endured this year’s heat while doing a paver stone patio project.  The project turned out great, and a big thanks to our clients Bill and Rose who continuously offered us ice water and cold juice throughout the day.  Good clients and nice people are just the best.  Period.  Thanks guys!

So according to the forecast, the heat is supposed to break on Saturday when a line of storms passes through.  I can’t say I’ll be sad to see the heatwave go, but a part of me really kind of embraces and, dare I say it, enjoys the extremes.  Enjoy it while its here.  Or at least make the best of it.  It never lasts too long, and it certainly gives us something to talk about (or blog about) in the mean time.

To quote Ferb from one of my kids’ favorite shows Phineas and Ferb, “Summer – it’s noticeably warmer”.  Indeed it is Ferb, indeed it is.

A few random musings as we enter the Memorial Day Weekend ...

*  I always love Memorial Day weekend -- the unofficial kick-off to summer.  An excuse to grill more, wear flip-flops, hit the swimming pool, enjoy outdoor concerts and festivals, and entertain with friends and neighbors.  But I have to admit, I'm often guilty of forgetting the true meaning of the Holiday -- to recognize those who have given the ultimate sacrifice so the rest of us can enjoy the aforementioned items.  To all the men and women who put their lives at stake so we can enjoy our country's freedoms, thank you!!

*  Here on the East Coast, the blossoms and greenery are astonishing right now.  Roses, iris, clematis, peonies, and too many more to mention are in full bloom right now.  Wow!  Decorate your house all you want, but nothing beats the color show that Mother Nature offers.  (See pictures below)

*  A little bit of history -- Did you know Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day?  Seems appropriate given the show Mother Nature is giving us right now.  After World War I people began referring to it as Memorial Day.  Hard to believe, but it wasn't an official US Holiday until 1971.

*  This spring has been one of the busiest and craziest seasons I can remember in some time.  Lots of calls, lots of estimates, and lots of great projects.  We're cranking out the work right now, and looking forward to more great projects in the pipeline.

*  Despite the fact that I've been running myself ragged between project management, meetings, and estimates, this has to be by far my favorite time of year.  Between now and early July, everybody just seems to be in a better mood.  Everybody's looking forward to summer, the kids (and teachers) are looking forward to break, the weather is gorgeous, the bugs aren't horrendous yet, everything is in bloom, the days are getting longer, the evenings are nicely pleasant -- I could go on.  Enjoy it everybody.  Before we know it we'll be in the dog days.

*  The American Automobile Association (AAA) expects decreased numbers in travel this year for the Memorial Day weekend.  I'm not exactly sure why, but if a "stay-cation" is in your plans, I know a really good hardscaping contractor who could hook you up with a new patio.  Just sayin'...

*  As of the time I'm writing this post, I have absolutely no idea what my weekend menu includes, but I know it will involve the grill.  My top 5 grilling items, in no particular order:  Pork ribs (dry rub with wet on the side -- I'll post my recipe sometime if you're lucky), Fish Tacos, Kabobs, slow cooked Pork Butt (same rub and sauce as the ribs), and medium rare ribeye steaks.  All with a good IPA to wash it down.  There's a lot more too, but you get the idea.

*  "I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day.  I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it.  We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did".  ~Benjamin Harrison

*  Random horticultural thought -- Why are annuals called annuals?  Perennials I get, they come up perennially.  But annuals?  They don't come up annually.  They last one season and boom.  They're done.  And yes, you could argue that you have to plant them annually, but that seems like kind of a cop-out answer to me.

*  Canoeing and fishing are also on the agenda for the weekend.  The one drawback of doing what I do for a living is that I have very little free time in the spring to enjoy these two favorite pursuits of mine.  It's happening this weekend.  I'm psyched.

*  Happy Memorial Day everybody.  Stay safe, have fun, enjoy life, and be thankful for what we have!