........and try to avoid doing a "John Edwards"...........although I'm sure it's tempting..........

If you are referring to doing something with female students, so far I have had almost no opportunity to even look at a student since they are not in session at present. In a week or so we will be inundated with them.

My primary interaction has been with Engineers, contractors, a few Architects and some middle aged office type ladies.

The investment that Purdue makes in employees is incredible. Besides the pay they provide a lot of training. I also this week picked out an office chair from about 20 possible styles and brands that has about seventeen different ways to adjust to my body....and I got to pick fabric from about fifty different patterns and colors. They also sent a lady out who measured my desk and the computer screen and keyboard to be sure it all fell to hand properly. I am also getting a gel pad for the keyboard and mouse. (sweet!)

The methods used in construction are an interesting deviation from my experience. Cost of things is very secondary to being accomplished within a specific time slot with no exceptions. Heavy penalties are incorporated into all construction contracts. Quality of building materials is pretty much the highest available, as lasting for 70 plus years is expected....no, required.

We looked at replacing some air conditioning units this morning which are about 60 years old. The ones going in in their place are even higher quality as they will be expected to last 100 years.

We looked at replacing cooling units for one of the main computer banks. It requires about 100 tons to cool the room. As an example a house with 5000 sf can be cooled by a four ton unit. Every pipe is clean, insulated and labeled in big letters, (well nearly every pipe).

With all the pipes and conduits running about it is essential to do so so that there will be a minimum of cases of mistaken identity.

Its all very interesting.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

One of the groups I work for are architects. They have told and shown me many stories of how things are built when done for the gov. They say that things have to be built with an expected lack of maintenance in mind so they plans accommodate those needs. Roofing, draining, HVAC and electrical raceways are all built to a different standard than would be used in a commercial building.

My former grad school advisor has become president of my former U. Your comments make me want to call and see if I can get a gig….

Yesterday morning, I was in the attic of a late 1800s building looking at some structural issues, in the afternoon at a Dairy operation looking at installing a new milking parlor which will all come prefabbed and just drop in and hook up all the lines.

I learned that the cows don't like changes in their routine. If a strange person is just standing around watching, their milk output decreases.

I'm not drawing any analogies!

So far its fun and I seem to be holding my own with the engineers!

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It sounds like it is really a wonderful job.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I am really liking it so far.

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I'm glad it's working out well.
As a teenager, I lived on a college campus built in the 1850's The maintenance crew jacked up the corner of a large building once used to house Civil War troops by using a screw jack over the period of a year or so and turning the screw one turn every couple of weeks. It was a brick building and everything stayed intact.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Tom- Glad everything is falling into place for you at the new job.

__________________
"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Thanks to all.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

You don't need to, we're all thinking of them.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

My mom has recently been going through some lifestyle changes of her own, she is near 60, and has 2 recent Graduate Degrees, so she wouldn't be a secretary, she had a job for a short time doing what she has one of the degrees in, and lost it a month ago. She just got a new high paying job being a Secretary, and it is related to environmental issues, which her degrees relate to. She is going to try and hook me up with a high paying job as well

__________________
1999 Toyota Corolla VE (Mine)
2006 Honda Odyssey (Wife's)
1979 300CD (sold)

Good luck.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Today I did a site investigation of the famous Purdue bell tower. Its about twelve years old and the interior steel is rusting. We looked it over and discussed why its rusting and what to do about it.

I climbed up about a 28' extension ladder then another eight stories on vertical ladders one floor level at a time.

I didn't think I could do it.

The ladder was the scariest part.

I am recommending in addition to painting the steel to insulate and heat the tower to eleminate the condensation that we all agreed is causing the rust.

Then they can rent out the space for student housing.....

just kidding.

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Was your fear the heights or your knee? Sounds like your knee was doing its job just fine.

__________________
Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

I wonder if you could save the day with the moisture cure poly paints such as POR-15.

I took the leap of faith and tried it on some rust on the Dodge (and we all know how Chryslers survive rust). Been one year and there is absolutely no sign of the elements penetrating the coating.

It's costly, but it lives up to it's billing. If it can survive on the outside of a vehicle.........it can survive inside a bell tower.