While doing a couple of errands at lunch today, I drove by two places that had Help Wanted signs near the entrances to the businesses.

1.  First was a large commercial lumber yard that also manufactures trusses.  Their sign was "CDL drivers needed now".  That sure bodes well, since the drivers who are needed would drive the large trucks delivering lumber and pre-made trusses to construction sites.  If sites need lumber, something must be getting built.  Plus, since it will soon be winter here in Ohio, construction naturally tapers off this time of year - maybe not this year?

2.  At a large semi trucker dealership I saw a sign "Mechanics wanted".  If a truck dealership needs mechanics to service trucks, trucks must be traveling the highways delivering goods - another good sign.

Interesting to me to see help needed in skilled areas that generally pay reasonably well.  We've all heard so much lately about the only jobs open being minimum wage "burger flipping" type jobs.

Of course, both of these types of jobs require people with training beyond high school - just another case for some useful education in some type of useful work.

And that kind of ridiculous comment adds to the discussion how?

I work in a retail lumber yard here in N.H. and there isn't much building going on here. We had a little spike in business in Sept. but it didn't last long. Just hoping we can make it through the winter.

AL

Al -

There in N.H., isn't it really winter already?  I presume you guys are in winter slowdown mode already.  Right or wrong?

The lumber yard I saw isn't a retail operation - more of a contractors' supply place, and truss manufacturer.

I just had another thought Jerry, some drivers in winter just quit until spring, Sorry lady's  but alot of women drivers quit and re aply in spring, and if you have ever put chains on a big rig in the freezing cold ,you would quit to.

Dang it I started my beard to late, next year I will start in June to get it long enough to be a department store Santa Clause. It is already the right colour. I wonder what that pays ?
It would just my luck to get a little brat on my lap that had just did a number in his or her pants.
I would give the parent a piece of coal and tell them to stick it up the kids bum.

mick wrote on 11/08/10 at 16:24:15:

Mick they could have used you as a model for Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa. That was one funny movie, I laughed my a$$ off  

"It just seems to me that slowly, far too slowly, things are coming back a little, and the mood I see among my friends, clients, etc. is a bit more upbeat.

At least investors are starting to think so.  The stock market as of the end of last week is about where it was before the Lehman Bros. collapse in late 2008, the event that seemed to accelerate the recession."

Hmm, so things are looking up a bit now. Yet people are mad as hell. So mad in fact that they elected Republicans again. The very people who's policies ruined the country and made them "mad as hell" in the first place.

Too bad stupid isn't painfull.