Random Thoughts - Part III The Search for Spark (No Politics)

[NoHaveMSG]

Lost our other spring shop guy. We have one left and he has been here 2 months and doesn't know how to do any of the difficult stuff. According to our GM and company president it is just "measuring and cutting" back there. I asked the GM when you are heating the steel for rolling eyes how do you know when it is at the right temp? He equated it to baking cookies whatever TF that means So I am back there doing layout and rolling eyes. Yes, I am bitter about it.

[soundman98]

we hired a new guy. showed up the first week with his own tools. haven't worked with him yet, but watched him help another guy swap out ladder sizes on a truck, and he did all the steps to unstrap/strap-down without needing to be prompted, which is a huge step up in mechanical ability.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

Lost our other spring shop guy. We have one left and he has been here 2 months and doesn't know how to do any of the difficult stuff. According to our GM and company president it is just "measuring and cutting" back there. I asked the GM when you are heating the steel for rolling eyes how do you know when it is at the right temp? He equated it to baking cookies whatever TF that means So I am back there doing layout and rolling eyes. Yes, I am bitter about it.

sounds like the GM needs to go "bake some cookies."

he's also never had my terrible cookies.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by soundman98

sounds like the GM needs to go "bake some cookies."

he's also never had my terrible cookies.

I am going to make him roll an eye.

Oh and we lost another one today. Our sales guy who also handled all the orders for the shop. Can't take the stress of being spread too thin. Not the one I expected to quit next.

[soundman98]

ok parents, i need some suggestions for easy magic tricks for a kid that are non-destructive...

backstory: had a family dinner last night, the brother, his wife and 3 kids, and my sister, her husband, and their kid.

the oldest nephew is 5, almost 6. lately his schtick has been "playing tricks" on people. most recently, "the trick" involves pulling toilet paper out of the bathroom, and wrapping it across door frames or down the longest hallways. his other "pranks" have been emptying the toy box all over the living room while also stripping the couches of all their cushions... his mom has been telling him to stop, and has been getting sent to time out for doing it.

the previous time we all met for dinner, he tried pulling the same "trick" with toilet paper, i walked in on the "prank", and had to be the adult.. he got to sit in the time out for it, and as extra punishment, his mom told him he can only use the toilet paper he wasted "pranking" us... he wasn't happy about it. that was about 2 weeks ago.

this time, we get together, he keeps staring me down. at first, i figured he didn't hear me asking him questions about his day with all the other kids running around and everyone else catching up. so i keep asking him questions, and he starts giving me the stink eye...

finally he blurts out "i'm not talking to you because you got me in trouble."

got things to turn around towards the end of the night, started showing him the 3-cup 'find the nut' game, and some sleight of hand tricks with a quarter. behind-the-ear, switching hands, etc...

but i'm struggling to find many more easy non-destructive tricks(ie, 'bend a spoon' is easy, but a 5 year old is going to get carried away and start actually bending all the spoons) to teach him to get him away from burning through all their toilet paper rolls.

suggestions?

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by soundman98

ok parents, i need some suggestions for easy magic tricks for a kid that are non-destructive...

backstory: had a family dinner last night, the brother, his wife and 3 kids, and my sister, her husband, and their kid.

the oldest nephew is 5, almost 6. lately his schtick has been "playing tricks" on people. most recently, "the trick" involves pulling toilet paper out of the bathroom, and wrapping it across door frames or down the longest hallways. his other "pranks" have been emptying the toy box all over the living room while also stripping the couches of all their cushions... his mom has been telling him to stop, and has been getting sent to time out for doing it.

the previous time we all met for dinner, he tried pulling the same "trick" with toilet paper, i walked in on the "prank", and had to be the adult.. he got to sit in the time out for it, and as extra punishment, his mom told him he can only use the toilet paper he wasted "pranking" us... he wasn't happy about it. that was about 2 weeks ago.

this time, we get together, he keeps staring me down. at first, i figured he didn't hear me asking him questions about his day with all the other kids running around and everyone else catching up. so i keep asking him questions, and he starts giving me the stink eye...

finally he blurts out "i'm not talking to you because you got me in trouble."

got things to turn around towards the end of the night, started showing him the 3-cup 'find the nut' game, and some sleight of hand tricks with a quarter. behind-the-ear, switching hands, etc...

but i'm struggling to find many more easy non-destructive tricks(ie, 'bend a spoon' is easy, but a 5 year old is going to get carried away and start actually bending all the spoons) to teach him to get him away from burning through all their toilet paper rolls.

suggestions?

Pull off the thumb of one hand with the other?

Get a stylized deck of cards with an asymmetrical design on the back, and play guess the card. The trick is to flip the deck around when the person inserts it, and find it again when you shuffle. There are other ways of doing it more discreetly of course but for kids this one is easy.

Get some really thin black string and some sticky putty. Tie one end to the base of your middle or ring finger (helps if you have a ring) and put a tiny bit of putty on the other side. Stick the putty bit to your thumbnail. Someone picks a card, clamp your hands together on it while depositing the putty onto the center of one face. Open your hands and the card appears to levitate. Bonus points for spinning. Quickly clamp your hands together and scrape off the putty with your thumbnail before handing it back. This one you have to sell with theatrics and viewing angle (audience needs to be looking up or down at it) Mind which hand you use to receive and present the card.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by soundman98

suggestions?

Haha... Teach him the magic trick where not acting like a tool keeps him out of trouble.

String game is fun

alternate hands stacked on the table. Bottom one goes to the top. Go as quickly as you both can until one screws up.

Simon game is timeless and still available, at least it was five years ago.

[2020BRZtS]

Originally Posted by soundman98

suggestions?

1. Bet him he cannot fit a cue ball in his mouth.
2. Show him how to get a better sugar rush by snorting a line of crushed Smarties.

You probably won't need any more ideas after #2, maybe #1 if he succeeds.

I never said I was a good parent and neither has anyone else. My kids are twins. When they were 9 I told them one of them was adopted and left the room. They fought about it for an hour.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by 2020BRZtS

1. Bet him he cannot fit a cue ball in his mouth.
2. Show him how to get a better sugar rush by snorting a line of crushed Smarties.

You probably won't need any more ideas after #2, maybe #1 if he succeeds.

I never said I was a good parent and neither has anyone else. My kids are twins. When they were 9 I told them one of them was adopted and left the room. They fought about it for an hour.

I bet your kids are super tight with you. That shit's gold.

[spcmafia]

Originally Posted by 2020BRZtS

1. Bet him he cannot fit a cue ball in his mouth.
2. Show him how to get a better sugar rush by snorting a line of crushed Smarties.

You probably won't need any more ideas after #2, maybe #1 if he succeeds.

I never said I was a good parent and neither has anyone else. My kids are twins. When they were 9 I told them one of them was adopted and left the room. They fought about it for an hour.

I was drinking my morning coffee as I read this, I burst laughing and spit coffee. Thank you for that. Fckn Legend.

[DarkPira7e]

I love popping in here once in a while to catch up with everyone. It was a good read.


I think age is finding me, as I am getting tired of it being 30 degrees in the morning. I may be ready to move somewhere that has less.. cold in general. I love winter, but not enough to keep sitting through it from October to April.



Sorry Tcoat, I don't know how many more years I'll be driving in the snow with you. I'll send you all my 16" hakkas

[spcmafia]

Originally Posted by DarkPira7e

I love popping in here once in a while to catch up with everyone. It was a good read.


I think age is finding me, as I am getting tired of it being 30 degrees in the morning. I may be ready to move somewhere that has less.. cold in general. I love winter, but not enough to keep sitting through it from October to April.



Sorry Tcoat, I don't know how many more years I'll be driving in the snow with you. I'll send you all my 16" hakkas

Dude. I was literally wondering about you a few days ago. Haven't seen you here in a while. How have you been?!

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by DarkPira7e

I love popping in here once in a while to catch up with everyone. It was a good read.


I think age is finding me, as I am getting tired of it being 30 degrees in the morning. I may be ready to move somewhere that has less.. cold in general. I love winter, but not enough to keep sitting through it from October to April.



Sorry Tcoat, I don't know how many more years I'll be driving in the snow with you. I'll send you all my 16" hakkas

30 F degrees? You mean T-shirt and shorts weather?

[x808drifter]

Originally Posted by 2020BRZtS

No ads for me.

The Delicious and Speed are still ads.
I literally get none and never had.