Keystone State Thread

I always had too much pride not to work, whatever the wage. For example, back in 1992, I made about $12,000, with my college degree. I don't think lots of small business owners are getting rich. Running a business, especially in today's world, isn't as easy as it seems.

 

Over the years at my old job the policies drifted to what I called "do a little more with a little less".

Less money, less manpower, lower quality materials and paradoxically less time to complete whatever ill conceived "improvement" that they came up with to support their race to the bottom. Ultimately it undermined all the hard won progress we had made and stripped any sense of satisfaction from the job.
The best thing I ever saw was the company sign in my rear view mirror for the last time.

 

The main thing with employees (always been this way) but more so in the last couple decades has been bad or lazy employees doing little to no work making the hard workers pick up the slack. This in turn burns them (us) out and resentful towards coworkers because we don't make anymore and alot of times less than those lazy workers (either because you aren't a friend or family member to management). Also because you're a new hire so the "lifers" feel they shouldn't have to do the work that newer employees do. This is extremely rampant in unions. I like unions but the way workers are treated as new hires as opposed to longer employees is horrible. I've been self employed for 7 years now, it's not easy but I actually make more doing my own thing than I ever did working for horrible bosses, ignorant, lazy coworkers and company owners that had no clue how to run a company. You know exactly what I'm talking about if you're either a truck driver or work in a warehouse but it's in all types of work.

I've always been the hard worker that would do all my work, skip breaks to make sure things got done in time, stay overtime, work doubles, triples, etc... with zero appreciation or raises from management. Hard work ethic was instilled in me from a young age, I can't sit around getting paid. I have to be doing something, especially if I know there's things that need fixed, set up for the next shift, etc...

 

Dusting of snow on the Taco this morning...

 

My dad's steel mill shut down in February of 1981. He had always talked about the old timers who went in the backroom and napped on the clock, which sure didn't help productivity. My dad was the hardest worker I ever knew. Not having finished 8th grade, he always had laborer jobs. Maybe that's why I didn't want to appear unmotivated and disappoint him. Anyway, they laid him off, gave the overtime to the more senior workers who were still there - which pissed him off because he felt as if his co-workers were taking away his livelihood - then never returned because the mill owners closed up and moved to N.C. So, I can see both sides. I usually focus on small business owners who are busting their butt to make a living. They usually can't pay like the bit corporations can.

 

Picked up a 2023 RAV4 for my wife last night in Ruby Flare Pearl. I love Barcelona Red Metallic but this color tops it in my opinion, it just pops in-person.



They also had this beauty in the showroom…MSRP at $59K.



This was at Conicelli Toyota in Springfield, PA. Had never dealt with them before but they were exceptional. I dealt with their Online Sales Manager (David Scott) and I highly recommend him…he even bought me a Chick Fil A meal while I waited on Finance…lol. You can’t beat that type of customer service!

 

I've used there on line parts store a few times. Looks nice. Wife n I been thinking. Hybrid ? Hybrids seem to be the same price as regular ravs but u get alot better mileage. Dealers around me have very limited inventory. Hate to see you get that dirty.

 

Hybrids run a CVT which is a nope from me.

 

My wife has a 2020 gas fed Rav4 and she gets nearly 30 miles to the gallon after 2 1/2 years. That's the best mileage we have ever had from any vehicle, so I can't complain. Her co-worker has a hybrid Rav4 and I think she gets about 39 miles/gallon. My wife puts less than 7000 miles/year on her vehicle, so the lost savings is minimal for her. She uses about 8 gallons/week, so she is losing about $9-10 week without the hybrid. I don't know if there is additional costs associated with the hybrid?

 

You're right, all the dealers I've seen have VERY limited inventory. I have seen a few LEs and XLEs but every Limited and XLE Premium we found was already sold. Ours isn't a hybrid. I wasn't opposed to it, I would have taken one if I could get one but believe they're a few thousand more. It was tough to get an allocation at any area dealer in any trim level besides LE. I was working with six Toyota dealers in the metro Philly area looking for a Limited in either gas or hybrid in MGM, Red or White and kept striking out, they just aren't making very many (if any) Limiteds right now and none of the dealers in the area have an allocation for one. I've been on the waiting list hoping for a Limited allocation and then we expanded our search to XLE Premiums with the Advanced Tech, Premium Weather, 10.5 inch Multimedia and all the other bells and whistles that are comparable to a Limited. I was offered a couple of XLE Premiums over the weekend in Midnight Black Metallic and passed on those since that was one of the only colors my wife didn't want (she sees the struggle I have keeping my truck clean...lol). I stumbled on this Red one late Saturday afternoon ... put a deposit down Monday morning over the phone and the RAV4 arrived on the truck yesterday afternoon and I took it home last night.

 

A CVT is for the birds, when that thing goes belly up might as well part the car out. 6 speeds and 3 pedals are where it’s at.

 

unions and lack of real pensions is what has ruined the job market.

 

Oh, did not know that.

 

He usually does. I have a feeling he may not tomorrow. He and El Nino need to get an early Spring together.

 

he’s going to see lead if he shows up here

 

50 plus degrees next week ..

 

Throw back photo to 2020 (seems like a lifetime now) when the kid was still parking in the drive….Tacoma Drive. Before the new wheels and tires etc.. Although we always left space for the wife to get her jeep out. Has that much time really gone by?

 

Love it!!!!