United3dArtists Archive

Well Finis... it is true you are adored....

i see usa is no different from here in therms of payment dues

My version of Quickbooks is pretty old so I thought I might get the latest. Yeow! They went to subscription pricing and boy is it expensive. I saw the rates, thought "that's expensive", and realized that is a reduced sale price!

Yep SaaS is a great way to turn a business into an annuity.

I am a super genius. No mortal's intellect can compare with mine. Nothing escapes my vast ... A mower wouldn't start. It had been worked on recently and had the blade sharpened. I take it to mechanics ... yeah, I didn't put the blade back on.

Maybe leave that one off the CV....

You need an October Challenge

now that's funny. Guess you and him had a good laugh huh Finis?

@V3rd3 Good thing I'm not on fakebook or the world would know.
@Steinie Maybe. A challenge would be good to relax if I get some time off from real life.
@Dragneye Yep. He didn't charge me anything for the expert diagnosis.

Still raining although monsoon season is usually over already.

Finis wrote: 08 Oct 2018, 02:55 @Steinie Maybe. A challenge would be good to relax if I get some time off from real life.

or just get a beer irl not only 3D :)

While y'all in the eastern US are in the deep freeze I'm having early Spring here. Days not so cold. Usually very dry until March but occasional showers of rain this year. So weeds everywhere and I'm working instead of hibernating. Still some time for CG and fun projects.

Ha... we just got a few hours of 50F and thought it great. But... no weeds

I found a rifle scope in an alley behind a customer's house. Turned out it was a toy. Quite realistic looking. I hope the kids who lost it find it.

I put a feather on the front window edge inside my truck some time ago. Today with the windows open it blew out the passenger side window, around the back of the cab, and in the driver side window!

I raised prices on some customers this season. I have 35 biweekly or weekly customers plus several occasional ones plus the house remodeling guy. I clean up when he finishes a house.

I found a $20 bill on the ground a few days ago and a $1 bill today.

that seems good to me... isnt it? nice fleet of customers.

@Bitkar Yep, it is good. That is all the work I can do without hiring people.

The mower I started my business with was at the mechanics. Today he said it was irreparable. It ran for nine years of commercial use. A Craftsman Eager-1 with 6.75 HP Tecumseh engine. I have another of the same model that needs a little work. Sometime the mechanics can build one from the parts of both.

My other big mower wouldn't keep running. Took to mechanics. Tried to mow with the smaller one but a light rain started, plus some sleet, and its air filter got wet. It won't run in the rain. Minor set back.

I'm going to a restaurant with a gift card a customer gave me.

Hang in there bud... good to see you are still working and possibly enjoying it....

Take care

maybe time to get some more powerful equipment to be able to do more without hiring other people...?

Who wants these books? Official printed manuals from my purchases of TS. Software and activation codes NOT included. You pay shipping. PM me.

trueSpace 3 User's Guide
trueSpace 5 User's Guide
trueSpace 7 Artist Guide
The RenderMan Companion, Steve Upstill, 1999

Those manuals actually sound really cool. Not sure if it's worth shipping to the UK, maybe I can pick some of the up if I'm in the US at some point? like you could send it to a friend of mine maybe. Only if someone else doesn't want them first obviously

That's a good idea, send them to your friend in the US if you're over here. I checked shipping to the UK. Expensive. Yeah, if a North American want's them first then ...

I got a new mower. All the time I've done lawn care I haven't bought a mower until now. Customers kept giving me their old ones.

I've been overloaded with work. Some customers moved away and I'm not replacing them all. That gives me a 3 day weekend every other week. I can catch up on delayed work, rest, or do some extra.

It is monsoon season. A bit humid so it's sweaty. I rototilled and seeded a customer's lawn to take advantage of the rain. Sometimes there are clouds and lightning with no or little rain. Fun to watch from the foothills.

Who wants my old TS manuals? v ... 836#p54836

looks like its going all well after rough starting years...

It is better Btikar.

Mowing season is over. I have some time off until the leaves fall. Then not much work until Spring.

One job is to cut weeds occasionally on a lot for an out of town customer. A few weeks ago a car was parked on that lot. Lot owner said he would have it towed. Since then the car has been parked on the street. Today I checked that lot. No weeds but there is a small school bus parked there. No license plate. Sleeping bag inside. Looks like the engine is being worked on. I notified the lot owner. The lot is across the street from the police station. Great place to ditch stolen cars and set up a homeless camp.

Who wants my old TS manuals? v ... 836#p54836 Free but you pay shipping.

My truck is with the mechanics so I rented a U-Haul. The cargo van is maneuverable and easy to get a mower in and out. Get this: To get the van they have to send a text message with a link which I must click to take a photo of my driver's license. Yeah, that's great if you have a smart phone. I can't click the link. Plus I'm standing in their office and already handed them my license. There is no alternative procedure. But I could get a box truck ... and they had no cheap small ones.

I cleaned a customer's fish pond. The fish are happy and healthy.

Who wants my old TS manuals? v ... 836#p54836 Free but you pay shipping.

Sounds like the clerk should have just used their phone.
I miss my flip phone and the $100 per year prepaid minutes deal, but smart phone has become essential for business purposes.

Did a pond cleanout once too. Had been left way too long.
Way, way too long.
Stink stank stunk.

@Spacekdet Nope. No alternatives. No pickup or cargo van without your own smart phone. Box truck ok.

Truck in the shop again so I have another U-Haul. It has been a week. This is getting expensive. Mechanics are missing employees. Seems to be the older more knowledgeable ones who can diagnose the problem who aren't there. Staying at home vs. kooties I guess.

Business is not good this Spring. Last months expenses significantly greater than income. Some customers died or moved away and potential new customers aren't calling like they usually do in Spring. It has been unusually cool this Spring and much rain earlier when it is usually dry. (Unprecedented cold! Coldest spring in millennia!) That delays the start of the heat loving Bermuda grass and caused unprofitable weed-pocalypse during the rain. The virus thing has mostly not effected my business.

Another cup of tea and it is off to work.

UPDATE April 16, 2020 Left my blower somewhere. Not found in any yards I did yesterday. Must have left it in a not so good neighborhood where people would take it. Last month and this month will be money losers.

Happy happy joy joy. Main mower laid low by one small break around one screw. My shiny new $400 Craftsman mower has a great Honda engine. The deck is steel to hold the engine and around the blade but plastic parts are attached front and back to hold the wheels and height mechanism. Yesterday I discovered that the height mechanism is loose on one side because of that break. So the height is not correct. One screw per side holds that part in place. I plan to have local mechanic improvise a fix.

The warranty doesn't cover commercial use. A homeowner would probably not have this happen since it would be stored in his garage or yard. I lower it from my truck and that puts pressure or impacts on the plastic piece. An all metal deck will withstand rough commercial use better. Next time I'll get a Toro with Honda engine and all metal deck.

My backup mower is in the shop too. I have a borrowed one until they are fixed. My customers are referring people to fill four open slots. It is warmer now and the grass is mowable so things are better.

Nice sunny day around 92F/33.3C today. The stores were full of beauties with revealing warm weather clothes. They added an unusual level of athleticism or fitness to their appeal this year. Out of work and many staying home due to kooties they apparently filled the time with exercise.

Who wants my old TS manuals? Printed paper books. v ... 836#p54836 Free but you pay shipping.

This month is better. Many paychecks should arrive soon. That will improve it but so far less than $400 profit this year. Four or five customers gone and not many calling to sign up to replace them. Some have been doing their own or not watering while out of work.

I'm tired of this business. It is time for me to start something else. No time, no money, and little motivation is not a recipe for building a business.

One and one half new customers to replace the missing ones. (One is monthly which I don't usually do so 1/2 customer.) I'll get my current customers to recommend me to others. A current one has been doing his own yard and does not reply to let me know if that's just while he's off work for cooties or permanent. I really want to fire one customer but I'm missing enough income as is and she's over 90 years old and maybe a little confused and deserving of sympathy. It's business so I shouldn't consider annoyance and unlike previous years "you can be replaced in two weeks" doesn't apply this year.

My main mower is not fixed yet. Slow shipping of a part and they are down one mechanic now. I'm not sure if I should sell that mower and get a more rugged one or not. It is almost new so I would take a big loss selling it. If I'm careful about getting it in and out of the truck it will probably not happen again. Key parts are plastic and one with an all metal deck would be better for commercial use. Counter to that: I borrowed one with similar plastic parts. With the truck full of brush I tied it on the tail gate. Drove over a bump and it was on the street and dragged a foot or two. No harm. So the plastic might not be so fragile after all.

Maybe I should call my backup and rough stuff mower the "rock chopper". "Alley whacker" sounds like a name for a gay bar.

More new customers to replace the missing ones. Main mower still not fixed. Their small engine mechanic resigned two months ago and they haven't worked on my mower since. So I got it back and I'll fix it. I believe I can reinforce the construction to withstand commercial use. Until then I have a borrowed mower and the alley whacker.

what the hell is alley whacker? I recently learned a new english word "weed eater".. seems funny, coz it just cuts grass, doesnt eat anything. I would call a vegan the weed eater :)

bitkar wrote: 01 Jul 2020, 20:09what the hell is alley whacker? I recently learned a new english word "weed eater".. seems funny, coz it just cuts grass, doesnt eat anything. I would call a vegan the weed eater

"Alley whacker" is my name for a used low cost mower I use to mow alleys and other rough ground. "Whack" is slang meaning to strike or hit. Weed Eater is a brand name but is commonly used to mean any line trimmer. Eat can have a slang or unofficial meaning of destroy.

Who wants my old TS manuals? v ... 836#p54836 Free but you pay shipping. No software or activation codes.

I examined the damage to my main mower. It is more solidly built than I thought. The plastic parts are tough and bolted to the metal deck in more places than I thought. There is already a set of holes for bolts which would make it stronger in the area that broke. So just a couple of bolts fixes it and makes it stronger. I wonder why there aren't normally bolts there?

A block wall fell into a customer's yard. The neighbor has a swimming pool. The city made them build the wall higher I guess to keep kids from getting in for safety. A construction contractor will rebuild it and clean up.

Orrrrr it's not that easy. With the mower parts assembled the nuts for that "just needs two bolts" fix are in sealed spaces. No way to get a wrench on them or hold in place. So I used JB Weld (an adhesive for metal) to glue the nuts in place. Assemble, put bolts in, tighten. The first try one nut didn't hold. I put on more JB Weld and let it set some be for application so it wouldn't run due to heat. Try again today and a nut didn't hold. Considering whether to try the adhesive again with better preparation of surfaces or ask a friend with a welder to really weld the nuts on.

if its metal to metal contact on the bolts, maybe loctite thread locker would work..?
If its something like metal-plastic, i have great experiences with "2 part" polyurethane glue. It holds well and can resist to wide range of temps, chemicals, etc.

Thanks Bitkar. JB Weld is similar to Loctite. Don't know why that didn't work. Metal to metal. The nuts are welded on now. Mower assembled, started and ran fine, mowing yards with it again. Glad to have it back. Now I can return the one I borrowed. I'll change oil, sharpen, clean it up first.

Last week or so Bermuda grass barely grew. Typically it grows enough through September. Sometimes a little into October. Fescue likes the cooler time. Daytime temperatures have been slightly warmer than average with nights slightly cooler. So the average is about the same which is ok for Bermuda. Maybe the cooler nights have more effect than the day/night average. Prediction is slightly warmer in a few days then into October. A shortened season means less money. Longer means more money.

My backup mower is not running now and I don't know how to fix it. The place I like for mechanics still hasn't hired a new full time one. The other place is expensive. I need to find another mechanic.

None of today's yards needed to be done. Grass will become dormant soon. I'm ready for my winter break so that's good.

The work season will start some time next month. Not looking forward to it. Tired of this and I'm exploring possibilities for other businesses. Now that I live in North Venezuela trying to build or maintain a business seems foolish. Time to "go Galt" but I already unintentionally did.

I had tool trouble and the mechanic (the only one still in business) said it was partly due to low octane fuel and to use high octane gas. Low octane is worse for lawn tools than ethanol. So I quit using the ethanol free gas and use the high octane with corn squeezins now. The truck likes it too.

i dont get that part with venezuela... you moved there really or what?
btw: there are also octane boosters, a can of additive you can add to the tank. That would solve the problem with shitty US gas. Some biofuels may leave residue in the fuel system or even disolve some sealings in older cars/equipment that were not engineered to use ethanol.

Iam curious what will you come up with as you next business.

@Bitkar
When the forces of evil are winning in America I claim to live in one of the hells they created. A little comedy in bad situation. One time I claimed to live in "West Korea" meaning the U.S. was part of North Korea. This time I'll use "North Venezuela" since there are similarities. Venezuela was once prosperous by South American standards. Then they became a wonderful place like Cuba, North Korea or Oceania (1984). Now America has thrown away paradise and embraced darkness. Economic collapse is eminent. Civil war is a possibility. Servitude under collectivism is nearly certain. "Go Galt" is a reference to John Galt's plan in Atlas Shrugged.

Ethanol, yep. The ethanol free gas costs $0.50 more already plus cost of the additive plus gas prices and others are about to soar so gas is a bigger expense than tool repair. There is high octane pure gasoline at hardware stores. A gallon (3.8 liters) is about $25 so the additive would be less expensive.

It's snowing! Time to go play in it!

hah... lets hope its not that bad. Its still a looooong way to Venezuela. But i still wish you all americans to endure next 4 years. I very hope that USA will not become what EU is. To me, it really seems like lots of ppl in the world like comunism again. And its scary to see it in the USA. I read news about ppl getting fired for their political opinions (for protesting at Capitol and such). That was one of things that really were happening during comunism. You would found more paralels. Its sad.
But I wouldnt fear the economic colapse. You will just be less rich, coz of "green spendings" and such.

This is encouraging. I'm so motivated now. It is normal for March to be a net loss with season start up expenses. This year it is still chilly at night so things are not growing much yet so March income will be unusually low. I'll start patrolling yards on schedule next week.

No luck yet on finding some other business to do instead. A chess strategy is if you don't see a move with specific benefit then act to gain control of the center of the board. So I'm getting my stuff in order, not letting work pile up, making things efficient, etc. Generally improving my position or foundation so I'll be ready for whatever opportunity I can create.

Finis!
You are in a much better situation then many of us here in Austria! You want to open a business...you just go to local authorities and do it ! No guild system like in our country....! Even worse we have a guild system with nepotism and fraud on top of that! I need to go to an international human rights court to get my personal rights..which I am doing the next few days after this 4. lockdown! Have a personal enemy that works against me in the authoroties..and I have to report that guy to international courts!
Even our President of Parlament said last night on television we as a country are obliged to respect the human rights bill which simple is neglected!
Just like I said a few years ago.. you invested so many years already in 3d to gain knowledge..start to use that knowledge professionally ! Visualisation....games....you name it....lots of job oportunities! They wont make you rich.. but at least all you need is a good computer and a few programs that are industry standard for the niche you are working in! No Investment real other then those and no seasons and weather....problems...!

Rayman something in CG does look like the best way to go for a new job. It is the only thing where I have skills. We have plenty of corruption, obstacles, etc. here too. Some states or cities are much like you describe. In my state it was easy to start my simple sole proprietorship and the regulations are ok. I only needed a state business ID and a city business license and the city filed the state application for me. A corporation or partnership can be complicated and might need a lawyer to do it right.

Cooler than usual weather is still delaying the start of the mowing season. About half the usual work to to do. I got two new customers to replace some who moved.

I upgraded my old article about my visit to Trinity Site in 2010. Featuring atomic stuff, history, and scenery. https://www.splododyne.com/index.php/me ... inity-site
Made a blog post about walks by the railroad. Featuring trains, abandoned buildings, strange art, homeless camps, and missiles.

Jury duty Monday, trial is on, if I'm not picked then work, else work delayed. Possible trial on Thursday too.

More new customers. I have all I can handle now. Maybe one or two too many. Monsoon season has started early. Good since is has been dry even by desert standards. Rained for two days but stopped long enough to do some yards. Much of our yearly amount of rain comes in these two or three weeks. You probably get that much in a few hours. The monsoon makes it all grow but also prevents work so it piles up or has to be skipped. I got blisters on my first thumb joints doing a lot of raking. Since I do a lot of manual labor my hands are heavily armored with calluses. I didn't think about that area not getting much wear and so not armored. I've been neglecting paperwork.

why dont you use gloves :)

If youve done some gardening you learn that even gloves dont avoid the problem totally! Its like bike riding
you get that additional skin..that protects you! But even pros like the ones at the tour de france had open spots...!
You can even get it through a computer mouse!

I usually don't wear gloves because my "hand armor" means I'm always wearing gloves. I should have worn gloves for the raking since that area is not armored. Didn't think about it and just went to work. No problem. Minor scrapes etc. are normal for this business.

Thats mostly the case with me for thorns and thistled!
Ach its just one ! Me ending up having them on my trousers...get rid of them there...have them on my sweater....get caught with the next one...Hmmm just one!
Just a few seconds!

Truck exhaust manifold is repaired. $$$. Line trimmer not reparable. Will get a new one. $. Will return borrowed truck. The price of used vehicles has increased rapidly so getting a newer used truck will be difficult. Rental vehicles are more expensive now too so truck repairs will be more of a problem than they used to be.

Busy with monsoon season continuing but I had time to attempt to shoot things. New magazine good. Old ammo, hmm. https://vimeo.com/578275483/49ebc4db0f
Links to deleted videos keep reappearing at the end. Don't know what's happening there.

seems like fun... its nice you can get out and shoot in those areas, looks good there... nice that you picked more casings...

Buy a japanese truck...toyota, you will not have to repair it too often ;)

It is Japanese. 1989 Nissan pickup. Bought it new. It didn't need much maintenance for many years. The engine is still good at approximately 400K miles (643,000 km). The rest is dented, rusty, and sometimes not working. It is running great after the recent repair. They also found and fixed a gas leak. I've been saving for emergencies and a less used truck. The cost of used vehicles, and everything else, is rising while inflation makes money worth less and less. Hang on, it will get much worse.

The city sent a notice politely offering to fine me if I don't clean up my yard. Worked on that most of the day and there's still more. This notice said I can't have an unregistered vehicle outside. That would be the 1971 Dodge Demon I inherited from my aunt. It hasn't bothered the city for about 20 years but now it does. I phoned and, unofficially, they said it would probably be ok if I put a tarp over it. Otherwise I'll have to find indoor storage for it. Don't know where.

you can sell the Dodge, its a shame if it just sits outside and rust and age.
My friend has also old Nissan pickup, maybe the same model, its a good car. But some rust after those years is normal unfortunatly. He also has a rust problem on his frame, he will get it repaired and welded soon. Those trucks are pretty good. Old good Nissan before it was with Renault.

Looks like those giants of trueSpace trueBlue and clintonman are the only remaining inhabitants here. I'm just busy so I've done no CG or interesting things.

Still here, just takin' care of business.

I was cutting the lawn...

Steinie wrote: 11 Aug 2021, 10:30 I was cutting the lawn... :lol:

:D

ya, iam doing all sorts of stuff, just not 3D. Played around with bforartists a bit some time ago only.

Got vaccinated !
Thats 90% of my left over power !
Just not Pfizer..so no blue pill man!
Yeah 3d needs more attention!

Monsoon season continues. That interrupts work so I'm always catching up instead of having a weekend or day off. I'll be happy when it stops because there will be no water for mosquitos.

The electric company announced in some legalese included in bills no one reads that they would stop getting power from the Palo Verde nuclear plant. Now we will use fairy farts and unicorn dreams. Now they send emails about how to use less electricity. Then they have a poll on customer's opinion of electric cars. Better feed those fairies beans.

My neighbor was evicted for being late paying rent. Some patience and he would have paid. I like the times when there is no neighbor.

No further action from the city after I cleaned up my yard. A tarp on the Dodge must be ok.

The electrical company is right downsizing and electric is the way to go..see Snoopp dogs new video...

Snoop, ha ha ha. Hey, that toy car is fast!
.
Bigger Better Faster Stronger.

lefties went crazy about the electric cars and nuclear energy... this is not gonna end well. Back onto the trees.

Your plan isnt going to materialize! Which trees ?
Thats the big criminal point ! They are burning the enviroment on purpose ! The electric cars arent the gamechanger ! As long as crooks like Bolsaniro are ruining the rain forests....the Mafia are burning the woods to sell the property as building ready property...
nothing will change!
Why are the woods in Italy burning...in Greece...in Turkey?
Its the elites that work together with the mafia (mob) against the average Joe! Always has been!
Except for the fact that the mafia doesnt even have style anymore...!
Ages ago they could hide behind people like Frank Sinatra (came from the same small village in Sicilly)..those times are gone.. !

https://www.google.com/amp/s/anthonysum ... -town/amp/

So tired. Mentally and physically. I did yards once when I was sick in 100F heat just to see if I could* (here) but this everyday is a work day and maybe too many customers is wearing me down. Plenty of time off in winter.

*I think I was inspired by Lone Survivor by Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell: "I'm shot ... We're all shot, can you fight?".

The problem is you aren't going to be able to do it until you are old! I'm old! I'm 60 this year! Lesson learned?
You have to find solutions to get things done more quickly...yes that's a learning factor! I'm in the process of learning!In 3d that means..try to do things procedurally.. second you don't have to model and make everything..!
Using others models..textures as far as legal is the way also studios work! Fighting for me at the moment is learning shortcuts...!

@Rayman I'm 61. You are right about efficiency and I have done and continuously do that. Right now the problems are:
-- I need to raise prices. Haven't been efficient about that.
-- I took too many new customers this season.
-- Prices and inflation are increasing so my expenses are are increasing too. That will get much worse over time.
-- Rainy season is always difficult due to rapid growth and this one lasted a long time.

I will probably never get to retire since I didn't do the right things for that. That is justice but it is no fun to be on the bad end of justice. Still trying to find a different business to do that is better for later. My sage advice to kids: financially plan and contribute to your retirement from an early age.

Fighting: Although they are very physically able, it is the Seal's attitude of perseverance and dedication to achieving the goal that provides inspiration.

what about hiring a help for the worst of a season?

The good news: I found 13 cents on the ground.

My post office box for business costs $200 a year. It is the next to smallest type. I thought I might change to the smallest but that only saves $50 a year. Not worth updating everything with a new PO box number.

Hire helper: I wish I could. Normally it is too expensive to hire anyone. Minimum required wage has been raised to more than I make and there are other required expenses, bothersome regulations, complexities in taxes and paperwork ... the government regulated those jobs out of existence.

Then there are problems with people. People who will work unofficially for cash are around but there is usually a reason, a bad one, that they will do that. Right now no one will work because the government created much unemployment and then added more "unemployment benefits" so not working can pay as much as a job would. The people have no morals or ethics to know they should not be parasites on others and no intelligence to know there will be consequences from those policies. So they intentionally remain unemployed because they are lazy, selfish, and the govt. pays them to.

I have too many customers so it has been a work-a-thon. Things are slowing down now as the nights get chilly and the grass grows slowly. Looking forward to winter break.

I ordered a new printer at 2x the usual price. Stores, everyone, is having trouble getting things delivered. We of North Venezuela will have the empty shelves enjoyed by our friends in South Venezuela. Wise ones say manufacturer's can't get parts to make things so there's no stuff to deliver and existing supply rises in value. Shippers have trouble getting employees too.

I made a blog on my website. Mostly to learn how to make members only things. It doesn't need to be restricted though so it is public now. Here is the only article. Featuring railroad tracks, abandoned buildings, homeless camps, missiles, and more. https://www.splododyne.com/index.php/bl ... e-railroad

something for you when its winter and you cant ;) :D
https://youtu.be/KwFrCgPNUfc

bitkar wrote: 30 Nov 2021, 22:39 something for you when its winter and you cant
https://youtu.be/KwFrCgPNUfc

I could play that game to imagine I had yards big enough and with access (gates, steps) to use such mowers. Business is mostly shut down for winter now. Some leaves to clean up.

Live blogging as I check my lottery ticket numbers ... my numbers are 2,3,19,23,43,21 ... winning numbers are 10,40,45,56,67,2. Ten times more likely to survive two aircraft crashes in the same day than to win the big prize. Maybe next time.

Christmas was good. A small gathering at my niece's house. I made a pumpkin pie from a pumpkin and cranberry sauce from cranberries. The little kids got hover boards (the 2-wheel gyro stabilized things). I got money. Their older kid is getting himself a silencer. He says the device is good for several calibers.

The reichsstatthalter, who still has emergency powers, decreed 2 or 3 months ago that masks be worn again in businesses. I'm happy to report that around 1/2 of the people I see are not complying. Also the employees aren't bothering anyone about it. I wonder why they don't fear fines etc.? The local police and sheriff's department said back when they won't enforce any cooties mask stuff. Best: one coffee shop doesn't even have the required sign and at another some waitresses wear no mask and others as a 'chin diaper'. I'm not complying but I do miss my foil mask (made of genuine foil hat material).

I have buried 2 family and 3 friends who thought they could handle covid or that God would protect them. Wear the masks, keep the distance, wash your hands, get the shots and stay away from those that don't. This is simple enough stuff to stay alive and keep those close to you from getting sick. If you don't care nothing anyone can say will help you. So many news stories about public deniers passing away or begging for the shot after it is too late.

Take care all of you.

verde: agreed... yes, its the same in my country. Even ppl who are in ICUs still say they dont want a vaccine and such. I dont understand. Its their right to live or die tho. But if they dont comply and accept the risk, they should not require hospital stuf to work their asses off for them. Coz its not only about those (covid/vaccine) deniers as themselves but about medical stuf and others too.
Sorry, i did not want to start this, but i have to stand for what Verde wrote.

I fired a customer for being crazy. Better adjust my attitude or I'll fire them all.

New Experience
I'm sick. Feel much better now 1.5 days in. Typical for me for colds (I get one every two or three years) to start with headache, dry sinus, weakness changing to snot blaster. This was exceptional in the intensity of the headache and I had similarly intense muscle aches. Maybe flu. Some nausea. I get that from high fever.

The new thing is (drum roll) I passed out. That has never happened to me before. Even with the relentless unbearable pain of 'sheet of fire disease' (inflamed diaphragm) I unmercifully did not pass out. I was walking to the bathroom, not feeling so bad, and the next thing I know I'm laying on the floor. No knowledge of how I got there. Burning up with fever, profuse sweating, the cold bathroom was welcome. I felt much better after that. Examining the area of my unexpected nap I saw that things were knocked over and off of a nearby shelf. So I did fall down there.

Runny nose starting. Good. The bad part is over.

good to still have you here.

Thank you Mr. Bitkar. Seems to be over today. Big discovery (rolls eyes), if you don't eat anything for a long time you get weak and stuff like low blood sugar and maybe low blood pressure. Guess what can happen when you stand up? Yeah, wake up on the floor. I postponed a dental appointment to be sure all the microbes are gone when I go there.

So much fun. Stuff not flushing or draining. I put the bladder, the expanding thing on the end of the water hose, in the sewer to pressurize the blockage through and temporarily fix it. This time it didn't do that. Instead water came up in the yard. The pipe is broken. I've been planning to replace pipes. Now it is a necessity. Much digging. Much fun. I get to do that for days instead of working.