What's up with Raindog?

[rodfish]

I just visited Humphrey's site and it has a big closed sign!!
Please, someone tell me he hasn't stopped making whistles.

[raindog1970]

I've been on a hiatus from whistle making for around six months now, but I never intended for it to last this long.
Job cuts last October eliminated the 2nd shift at my workplace, and I've had to work more overtime in the last six months than I have in the last six years.
All that mandatory overtime has cut out most of the free time I had for making whistles, and there doesn't seem to be any relief in sight.
So instead of stringing everyone along with promises of resuming production in the near future, I've just hung out a closed sign until things return to normal at my workplace.
Thanks everyone, and hopefully the closure will only be for a little while.

[rodfish]

Thanks for the response Gary; sorry to hear about the job situation. I think many of us are experiencing some of that stress these days.
I'll be looking forward to your return at whistlesmithing in the not too distant future. (My set of Humphrey's isn't quite complete yet!)
You have a great talent and I hope to be ordering another Humphrey real soon!

Stay well,

[raindog1970]

Thanks for the response Gary; sorry to hear about the job situation. I think many of us are experiencing some of that stress these days.

I suppose I should be thankful that I still have a job, but I hate mandatory overtime with a passion!
Give me a standard 40-hour work week, and let me make whistles to supplement my income!
We've been told that there will most likely not be a return of the 2nd shift until next year, but I'm not so sure they can get by without it for that much longer.
Anyway, I edited the above post to make it suitable for also posting it on my website, which is something I should have done when I put up the closed sign.
Thanks for caring enough to worry about me, and sorry for not putting up an explaination for the site closure when I should have.

[rodfish]

Not a problem! I'm amazed you have time to deal with the website at all!

[blackhawk]

Wow, those Humphrey whistles are now collector's items!

[rodfish]

Maybe; but I aint sellin mine!!

[Bretton]

Thanks for the update Gary (just visited your Web site, which I'd been checking every-other week or so).

Hope things slow down for you soon (but not too slow!).

-Brett

[Daniel_Bingamon]

Gary,
I guess that new model won't come until you're reopened?

[raindog1970]

Gary,
I guess that new model won't come until you're reopened?

Sorry to say it, but unfortunately that's right.
And fans of the old style need not despair, because I plan to still make a very slightly modified version of it in high G thru Bb.
Oh, and your revised tone hole calculator is still producing better tubes than ever before!

[anniemcu]

Tough times, they are! And you are absolutely right about mandatory overtime - it stinks!

I hope it eases soon!