Updates on moving and stuff

So far we are still trying to line up an apartment and it's been going slowly. I've gotten responses on two apartments that I've emailed, one just said thanks but we already filled it, the other was pretty promising but ultimately the corporate end wasn't comfortable with renting a two bedroom to a family of five...

So, we are going to broaden our search to include Bremerton (which is directly across the Puget Sound from Seattle, and is connect to it by a ferry), and points between Bremerton and Tacoma. Spots in Bremerton seem to be more inexpensive than Tacoma, so that's a plus.It'll mean a longer drive if we get jobs in Tacoma (about half an hour drive), but there is the prospect of Isabeau being able to work for the YMCA in Bremerton itself.

We are still hopefully going to be moving sometime between June 15th and July 1st. Though the heat here has me wishing I could go now...

Sometime in the first week of June I hope to take a trip by plane up to the area to look at apartments first hand. And finalize anything we might have lined up (hopefully).

I am still looking into anything that is entry level and related to machining and have applied to one place, but haven't heard anything back yet.

In school news, next Tuesday is my final! I am pretty pleased with this semester and I feel like I've got a good grasp of the principles. I am not worried about the final at all. My teacher has also complimented me on my ability to pick things up, and on my mechanical aptitude. He thinks I'll do pretty well for myself in the trade.

Shop projects and looking for a place to stay

Machining
My first semester in Machine Tech is winding down and I am finishing up the last bits that I have left. Don't have much to do now, just need to finish cutting a peg for the slot in the spring center and I will have finished my assigned projects.
So far I have finished a c-clamp and learned how to grind a high speed steel cutting tool.

The c-clamp! No where near perfect, but perfectly functional. I need to place a pad of some kind on the end of the screw, but I will probably buy a rubber foot for that.

This is the cutting tool. Took a HSS blank and ground the end into the proper shape. Works surprisingly well for being rather ugly...It actually leaves a better finish than the carbide tips we've been using on the lathes. The carbide will remove large quantities of material, but leaves a rougher finish.

The Big Move
We're getting closer to our planned move dates, and this week Isabeau and I will be working on a form email to send out to prospective rentals. I've been using a website called Padmapper, which consolidates rental listings from several different sources and displays them on Google maps.
Currently we've been looking at Tacoma and there are several apartments that are listed in North Tacoma, quite close to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium (huge plus). So we'll be sending sending out feelers this week.

Also, if you don't already you should check out Isabeau's blog, The Weekly What-What.