Before you hurt yourself jumping out of your Barcalounger so you can dial up the editor to launch complaints about this piece, a thread on the Walls and Ceilings bulletin board regarding "Box Marts" struck a nerve in yours truly and was the motivation behind this month's diatribe.

The year was 1977 and yours' truly was trying desperately to hold the end of a 12-foot sheet up while trying to finger a nail into the edge of the board and hit the nail instead of my fingers with a roofing hatchet. If memory serves, back then we were using blue ring shank nails. The heads were barely larger than the circumference of the rings, so it was virtually impossible to drive one without ripping the face paper under ideal conditions, and these were not ideal conditions.

Once upon a time, long before there were ads for lawyers on every corner, television, radio station, billboard and listed on 72 pages of every phone book in the country, job-site practical jokes were commonplace.

Being on the front line of the drywall trade allows this reporter a unique perspective into the everyday trials and tribulations of a broad spectrum of drywall dogs.

When a blues music aficionado uses the term “old school,” he may be referring to artists such as Muddy Waters, Etta James, John Lee Hooker or B.B. King. When old school country music artists are discussed, names such as Bob Wills, Hank Williams Sr., Jimmie Rogers and Patsy Cline will certainly be mentioned. In this instance, old school is used in a positive way. The inference is that these artists were pioneers in their field and that their contributions have stood the test of time and that their art is still considered relevant, even though it was produced decades ago.

I was fortunate enough to attend the Specialties of the Drywall Trade Instructor Seminar held from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3 at the IUPAT facility in Baltimore. It was obvious that a lot of planning went into setting up this building, with classrooms on the upper level and a lower level that is wide open, allowing plenty of room for the attendees to hone their skills on miles of drywall.

We had dodged more than one nor’easter up to that point, and were enjoying the effects of global warming, so when a friendly competition between three friends materialized into the Rock-Off for Michael’s Way, weather was not even a consideration.

By always being willing to do work that was specialized and making sure that it was done right, I kept busy. I have suggested this idea in previous articles. And when I hear guys complaining that they can’t compete against the 30-man crews, I wonder if they have considered doing specialized work.

Everyone who grinds it out day after day in the construction trenches, has at least one story of “stupidity unbecoming a human.” Some stories have tragic endings, while others generate belly laughs for years to come.

In May 2000 some of the features and benefits of building with steel were discussed in an AID article co-written with my old pal Bill entitled “Life After Wood: Steel Studs on the Rise.” Like anything else, along with the benefits there are challenges.

When times are good, people become complacent. Riding in gas guzzling land-yachts and dwelling in cavernous McMansions tends to dull the senses and lulls people into a false sense of security. The scale that was once used to measure the distance between wants and needs became dangerously off-kilter.

I once witnessed a contractor mixing red chalk into a bucket of mud, and when I inquired what he was doing, he responded, “I’m making firestop.”

Well folks, it’s been awhile since I have felt whole enough to pen anything meaningful for these pages. The economic issues surrounding the collapse of the construction industry that is such a big part of my life and yours made anything that I may have had to say seem meaningless. After much soul searching and a little prodding from John Wyatt, I have decided to end my self-imposed exile from these pages. 

The preceding is the beginning of a song performed by Styx that was a hit in the ’80s. It describes the trials and tribulations that many people faced during that time by misusing a certain illegal white substance.

As some of you know, I grew up in a little town in northwestern Nebraska. Chadron was your stereotypical Andy-of-Mayberry town with only one stoplight and still only has one to this day. Frankly, it was a great place for a kid to grow up.

Prepared Foods talks clean label snack trends and technology with Simon Sacal, CEO of Solely Inc. Since 2018-2019, this La Jolla, Calif., company has converted upcycled fruits and vegetables into a growing line of snacks (bars, jerky, dried fruit), confections (gummies) and even meal/side dish offerings (pastas).

IU Auditorium
Sunday, December 1, 2024, 3pm

Get ready to PAW-ty like never before in a fun-tastic new PAW Patrol Adventure!

After Chase, Marshall, Skye, and the gang save Adventure City with their Mighty Pup Powers, it’s time for the paw-some-est street party ever. But when supervillain scientist Victoria Vance feels left out of the festivities, she unleashes her latest invention to crash the party and steal the spotlight for herself! Can the Mighty Pups, armed with their super-charged powers, outsmart Victoria to ensure Adventure City’s biggest bash goes off without a hitch? It’ll take the power of paw-sitivity and mighty teamwork to foil her plans and keep the party pumping!

With heroic action, catchy tunes, and bark-loads of interactive fun, PAW Patrol’s electrifying new adventure is sure to leave tails wagging and audiences cheering!

Cost: Starting at $30
Ticket Web Link: am.ticketmaster.com…
Communities: Bedford, Bloomington, Brown County, Columbus, Franklin, French Lick/West Baden, Greencastle, Greene County, Greensburg, Greenwood, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Martinsville, Seymour, Spencer, Statewide, Terre Haute
More info: www.iuauditorium.com…

IU Auditorium
Sunday, December 1, 2024, 11am

Get ready to PAW-ty like never before in a fun-tastic new PAW Patrol Adventure!

After Chase, Marshall, Skye, and the gang save Adventure City with their Mighty Pup Powers, it’s time for the paw-some-est street party ever. But when supervillain scientist Victoria Vance feels left out of the festivities, she unleashes her latest invention to crash the party and steal the spotlight for herself! Can the Mighty Pups, armed with their super-charged powers, outsmart Victoria to ensure Adventure City’s biggest bash goes off without a hitch? It’ll take the power of paw-sitivity and mighty teamwork to foil her plans and keep the party pumping!

With heroic action, catchy tunes, and bark-loads of interactive fun, PAW Patrol’s electrifying new adventure is sure to leave tails wagging and audiences cheering!

Cost: Starting at $30
Ticket Web Link: am.ticketmaster.com…
Communities: Bedford, Bloomington, Brown County, Columbus, Franklin, French Lick/West Baden, Greencastle, Greene County, Greensburg, Greenwood, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Martinsville, Seymour, Spencer, Statewide, Terre Haute
More info: www.iuauditorium.com…

IU Auditorium
Saturday, November 30, 2024, 2pm

Get ready to PAW-ty like never before in a fun-tastic new PAW Patrol Adventure!

After Chase, Marshall, Skye, and the gang save Adventure City with their Mighty Pup Powers, it’s time for the paw-some-est street party ever. But when supervillain scientist Victoria Vance feels left out of the festivities, she unleashes her latest invention to crash the party and steal the spotlight for herself! Can the Mighty Pups, armed with their super-charged powers, outsmart Victoria to ensure Adventure City’s biggest bash goes off without a hitch? It’ll take the power of paw-sitivity and mighty teamwork to foil her plans and keep the party pumping!

With heroic action, catchy tunes, and bark-loads of interactive fun, PAW Patrol’s electrifying new adventure is sure to leave tails wagging and audiences cheering!

Cost: Starting at $30
Ticket Web Link: am.ticketmaster.com…
Communities: Bedford, Bloomington, Brown County, Columbus, Franklin, French Lick/West Baden, Greencastle, Greene County, Greensburg, Greenwood, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Martinsville, Seymour, Spencer, Statewide, Terre Haute
More info: www.iuauditorium.com…

IU Auditorium
Saturday, November 30, 2024, 10am

Get ready to PAW-ty like never before in a fun-tastic new PAW Patrol Adventure!

After Chase, Marshall, Skye, and the gang save Adventure City with their Mighty Pup Powers, it’s time for the paw-some-est street party ever. But when supervillain scientist Victoria Vance feels left out of the festivities, she unleashes her latest invention to crash the party and steal the spotlight for herself! Can the Mighty Pups, armed with their super-charged powers, outsmart Victoria to ensure Adventure City’s biggest bash goes off without a hitch? It’ll take the power of paw-sitivity and mighty teamwork to foil her plans and keep the party pumping!

With heroic action, catchy tunes, and bark-loads of interactive fun, PAW Patrol’s electrifying new adventure is sure to leave tails wagging and audiences cheering!

Cost: Starting at $30
Ticket Web Link: am.ticketmaster.com…
Communities: Bedford, Bloomington, Brown County, Columbus, Franklin, French Lick/West Baden, Greencastle, Greene County, Greensburg, Greenwood, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Martinsville, Seymour, Spencer, Statewide, Terre Haute
More info: www.iuauditorium.com…

We are proud to present the fourth of the four-part eBook series that chronicles Dave's "Adventures in Hydronic Heating."

Plumbing & Mechanical is proud to present to you the second installment of “Adventures in Plumbing & Heating,” featuring the expert advice of industry veteran Dave Yates.

Plumbing & Mechanical is proud to present to you the third installment of “Adventures in Plumbing & Heating,” featuring the expert advice of industry veteran Dave Yates.

Erik Weihenmayer, billed as a world-class blind adventurer, delivered the traditional opening day motivational speech at this year’s NSC Congress & Expo.

The Benebomo saga began with a simple yet profound mission: to bridge the gap between thrill-seekers and the great outdoors.

Launched on the global crowdfunding platform Kickstarter.

Taking Adventure Further: Upgrades Unveiled for the Fucare Scorpio

Memorabilia on auction from Netflix's show Sabrina and Supernatural has fans excited and bewitched

Dive into an Unforgettable Journey of Magic, Friendship, and Heroism

Open house adventure vans, a DIY contest, live music, activities, gifts, food trucks, and camping.

In Leonard Hansen's latest book, "North American Mountain Hunting", he chronicles the physical and mental challenges of high elevations, constantly changing weather patterns and rugged terrains.

Be fully prepared for all your adventures with the outdoor survival kit that includes everything you need & nothing you don't

Experience High-Performance Adventure with DYU V8 Electric Bike: 20" 48V 750W, 45KM/H Speed, 15.5AH Battery

Participating brands include Teton Gravity Research, Warren Miller Entertainment, Echoboom Sports, Woodward, and Outside TV. grvty app Now Available Across Mobile and Connected TV Devices

Whitewater rafting trips are on the rise as more tourists are visiting Idaho for vacations, looking to experience the river rapids and take-in the Idaho scenery.

The new gay drama series "BoysTown" launches its first season with a full slate of half hour episodes, featuring the entanglements of seven diverse characters in a gay neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary journey of imagination and emotion? Are you a fan of gripping science fiction adventures that span galaxies and empires? Jerry W Martin brings a unique perspective to his creative endeavors.

John Willson, executive director of SOAR, explains how outdoor adventure camps differ from wilderness therapy

Embark on Thrilling Escapes and Unforgettable Experiences at San Antonio's Newest Destination: LiggettVille Adventure Center

Dennis Stuempfle, a lifelong Philadelphia area native now living in Brunswick County, NC has recently published a 3 part children's series "Adventures of Tchotchke" through Amazon Publishing.

Join the Fun: Discover How Gus and Gia Transform Screen Time into a Learning Fiesta for the Whole Family!

Author's Latest Release Continues the Heartwarming Journey of Friendship and Fun

Dive into an Unforgettable Journey of Magic, Friendship, and Heroism

Drawing from his experiences growing up in West Africa's Guinea Bissau, Camara's writing in Serpent Boy reflects his deep commitment to challenging societal norms and highlighting the resilience of the human spirit.