Well, I'm a professional turner now.....

[Robert McGowen]

Well, after 28 years, 3 months, and 18 days of this:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=62501

I finished up today and called it a career. I have actually been off for a couple of weeks, hence the new turnings I have been posting, but it is official now. Today was my last actual scheduled work day. I guess that makes me a professional turner now! I am sure that my skills will now improve, my critiques will now be spot on, and I will have many more hours a day to stand in front of the lathe to think up witty advice to give everyone! Thanks for reading this. I just wanted to share how I my increased my turning time today!

[John Keeton]

Congrats on hanging up the gun!! Hope you enjoy each and every day, and thanks for your service!

[Barry Stratton]

GREAT NEWS!!! You'll soon wonder how you had time to go to work.:D

Enjoy the retirement, reflecting on the job well done, and spending more time with that wonderful family!

[Richard Madison]

May the new career be less hazardous than the previous one!

[Matt Ranum]

Enjoy your retirement!

[Steve Schlumpf]

Robert - that is excellent news! I am happy for you! Hope the knee is doing better and you can spend lots of time on the lathe!

Wow - a professional turner! Cool! Now I can tell everyone that I knew you before you became famous!

Seriously - enjoy yourself!! You deserve it!

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Thanks for you service Robert!


Congrats on the new profession.

[Allen Neighbors]

God bless you, Robert, and may your retired life be constant joy. You deserve it.
Thanks for your service. Hope you get callouses on your toolrest hand. :D

[Doug W Swanson]

Congrats on the retirement (or should I say good luck in your new 'career'!

Doug

[Jon Lanier]

Congratulations! A new chapter in the book of your life.

[David E Keller]

Congrats. I hope you enjoy some well deserved time at the lathe. You realize that this retirement thing comes with an obligation to post photos of your work frequently to taunt those of us who still have to go to work everyday.:D

[Baxter Smith]

Congratulations on your retirement! Enjoy!

[Bernie Weishapl]

Congrats Robert and thanks for your service. Now it is time to have a little fun. I just retired 12/31/09. So beat you by about a month. So far I have figured out one thing. I can't figure out how I had time to do a full time job.:D:rolleyes: Being married to the LOML for 42 yrs. I just found out I have a 42 yr long honey do list.:eek::eek: She told my while I am getting those done she will think of some more.

Enjoy and make every minute count.

[Don Orr]

Have fun-you deserve it !

[charlie knighton]

Congrats Robert and thanks for your service

[Dan Forman]

Congrat's on your retirement, hope you thoroughly enjoy the next chapter.

Dan

[Ian Jeffcock]

Robert, enjoy the retirement. I just got home ( 02.33 ) took my uniform off, and headed down to make some shavings on my Mustard Mistress. I'm not sure how many years I,m going to keep going on the department. Still enjoy it too much. Looking forward to seeing your new turnings.

[Tony De Masi]

Congrats Robert. Now it's time to take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the next chapter of your life. Of course we now expect to see more postings of your work too:D

Thanks for your service too. It's very much appreciated.

Continue to stay safe.

Tony

[Ken Glass]

Robert,
Well, I am late to the party in congrats, because being retired like you are now, I have less time now than ever. (LOL) Seriously, you will wonder how the work ever fit in to your schedule very shortly. I quite the rat race like Bernie on 12-31-09. It is a great feeling that's hard to describe. All the best with any endeavor you tackle. Way to Go!!

[Scott Conners]

So do you get to order the Mustard Monster now? Congrats on making it to 2.0!

[Marty Rose]

Congrats on your retirement. I worked as a "blue suiter" for 10 years and then Motors for 20. Seems like there are more than you and I that had that vocation. Ended up with NO HOLES in my body. The only thing I've had to do is to learn to put "My kickstand down" and learn to
s l o w down. Wood working certanly has given me that to me.

[Rich Aldrich]

Congratulations. So, did you get the mustard yet? Oops, someone already asked you that.

[Dave Halter]

Robert,
Congratulations on a successful career and here's to an even better retirement!

Dave

[Rick Gibson]

Congrats on the retirement. I did that 8 years ago and they don't have enough money to get me to go back.

[Brian Effinger]

Congratulations Robert - on both a good career, and retirement! :)

[Gary Herrmann]

Good for you, Robert. As the others have said, thanks for the work you have done.

Now we're looking forward to seeing more of your new work.

[Tom Hamilton]

Hey Robert: Congrats on a successful career protecting and serving and on re-directing into the second half of your life. It is the best part by the way.

If your travels bring you to the Atlanta area please let me know and we'll break bread.

Best regards, Tom

[Wayne Bower]

Congrats, Robert. Enjoy. I retired in July last year and am enjoying all of the Saturdays.

[Roland Martin]

Congratulations!! Turn to your heart's content.

[Robert McGowen]

I never imagined how heart-felt and how many replies I would receive with this little announcement. I truly appreciate the response!

And for all the mustard questions............

Most of you know that I had to retire due to an on-duty injury that ended in a total knee replacement. Seeing as I am not quite 50 yet, I still have 3 out of my 4 kids in college. The knee is going to pretty much put all 3 kids through college :cool:, so I guess the mustard is on hold for a while. I think I might buy them some mustard for a graduation present though and just keep it at my house for them.....;)