DD, ive kinda done carpentry my whole life... i helped build our cabin when i was younger, then worked with my uncle on a few projects, and my dad... i worked for the same company my dad did for 3 years before he died, and was enrolled in the CITC (Construction Industry Training Council) school program for 2 full years before he passed.. needless to say, him leaving really screwed things up, including my mental state at the time... i also have a degree in Horticulture from Renton Tech... but, a degree like that, is basically worthless, you can work at a nursery for jack, or landscaping for jack... highest i got up to doing that was 15 an hour... and was even working on houses of people like Chuck Armstrong, who is the president of the Seattle Mariners... the only way to make money landscaping is to own your own business... carpentry i was up to 18 an hour in 2 years, with some of the top supes in the company saying i should have been at 20-22, but the HR director wouldnt give it to me, because he thought that 4 of us (me, my brother, dad, and uncle) working for the same company would upset people.... so he kinda [Bleeeeep!] me around trying to make me leave... he is no longer there... i learned alot from my dad and the people that worked for him... my pops used to have "head hunters" constantly chasing him around, some offering 6 figures for him to come work for them... but he was loyal, and enjoyed where he was at.... and had some of the best carpenters (including himself) on the West Coast working for him...

i would love to get back into carpentry, but i have an issue right now that needs to be addressed before i can do that.... for now i just do little things for friends like garden construction and such for generally 20 an hour, but im still limited even doing that right now...

one day things will be just fine, but i would like to be better off than just mowing lawns for 20 bucks an hour.... id like to buy a boat someday, and on that wage, and my current situation, its not possible... so for now, i just try to keep my head on straight, and do what i can....