Another Year Starts
And hopefully a better one. The first week is a little slow. Less old back bathroom as it slowly goes away to make room for the new. Going to advertise in the newspaper next week. The Skilled Trades Business Services section in Craigslist is just too full of over-posters and fly-by-nighters. There's one guy who has as many names as I got fingers and toes, if not more.
Some Borrowed Books
Two good reads by Jim Butcher, Storm Front which is about a wizard set in Chicago, ala Sam Spade. This is the first of a series. Solid read, has organized crime, black and white magic , including vampires, which makes for a fascinating mix. In the best pulp detective fiction tradition, our hero does not have a smooth time of it. He's perpetually broke, gets beaten up now and then, and is in trouble up past his neck.
The next is Captain's Fury. Note that this is the fourth of a fantasy series, The Codex Alera. No flat spots but a good run all the way through, somewhat more traditional fantasy with a touch of the Roman Empire even down to Latin names. Being later in Butcher's career and that he is more successful, the author's name is at the top and the title is at the bottom in font half the size. Usually this means that the author is grinding out the same tired plot but with with different names and places. Not in Jim Butcher's case, each book is as good as the last, and the reader gets a fresh plot.
P. T Deutermann, The Firefly. A terrorist/assassin is going to do something really bad. Granted, many a tree and much ink has been used to make many a book with this very old plot. Deutermann refreshes it however, and it is a reasonably paced well written tale. Many twists and turns so it isn't dull. Worth borrowing. I still like his sea story better, The Scorpion in The Sea, and have marked that as an addition to my permanent collection.
Harold Coyle and Barrett Tillman, Harold Coyle's Strategic Solution's inc./Prometheus's Child. First off, the dust jacket shows a picture of the USS Wisconsin firing a broadside. Nowhere in the novel is a mention of any navy ship, let alone a battleship. Also the Wisconsin is now part of a museum and is a permanent exhibit in Norfolk, Virginia. It's definitely retired from active duty.
Harold Coyle has always been a little behind the times. He was writing about the Cold War going hot when the entire East Bloc was collapsing under its own weight. This tale is about a private security agency undertaking training and later an operation in Africa and later on, action on the high seas. Considering how Blackwater and other private security firms made the news last year in a very un-positive light, it's doubtful if this will ever be the case in real life. However it's a good read for a slow day.
The 401 K? What 401K?
It's now an IRA. It's going to be mostly Dodge and Cox Stock Fund with some bonds. However, the "adviser" thinks I'm way too aggressive in investing, being a hundred percent stock. Not really keen on bonds, since the Fed is turning the dollar into toilet paper instead of just letting the subprime mess work itself out on it's own. Ah, we shall see. At least the Time Warner stock will be history. Seven years I had it and it's done better then a loss but not by much.
The Biz.
Someone wanted me to replace a shutoff valve for a toilet. No big thing but the house water shutoff wouldn't. I was certain the valve would break before it would close, causing much flooding that could only be stopped by shutting it off at the street. Yikes. No need to test my liability insurance like that.
The Eye
I can actually read with it. Well, up to a point. Definitely no small print right now. Slight double image but I can focus most of it out. The lens must have been displaced when the iris was damaged. Not going to get that fixed though. Eyes just do not like being messed with. It's bad enough having to watch out for retinal detachment and glaucoma without making it worse.
Finally, Thinning The Herd
Iowa Caucus today. Polls that really count. Opinion polls are useful up to a point, per se, a business deciding if to go with scented spark plugs or pastel brake pads for instance. Politicians deciding to trot out empty promises on cutting taxes or drugs for everybody, another example.
The Presidential Hopeful Candidates herd is way too large, and over the next two months will get some much needed culling. It has been so bad, some were found as far north as Alaska.
Showing posts with label Going in Business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Going in Business. Show all posts
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Been Awhile
Da Blog.
It's been awhile, twelve days. A lot has been happening. The business is finally underway, and some work is flowing in. No advertising as of yet. I thought this blog could be a vehicle for advertising the biz but no. It may describe what I do, or something the rest of the world can learn from whilst I drip blood upon the ground from a new and wrong way of getting something done.
So today, the blog gets cleaned up a little. Too many commas or too much whining, that gets snipped. The italicizing isn't doing very well, so the font for that has to get changed. The pictures are staying for the most part but they do hog a bit of bandwidth, so some of the big monsters are going away.
The Eye
.....is doing much better. I'm up to a month between appointments now. The doctor seems happy at the progress, and for my part, it's actually useful most days.
The Biz
....had it's first job and first pay and first receipt. It was a townhouse, a sibling of mine. It's better now. It's a little tighter, the doors work a little better, some paint, quite a bit of caulk. Adding electrical coverage to my insurance but that's so I can screw in light bulbs and clean out vent fans. Please use licensed electricians for messing with electrical systems. Not me.
My Townhouse
The back bath is finally getting back into gear. The waterlines are capped off. It's too much trouble to cut holes for valves in the floor of the cabinet and then have to patch it up after getting it in. I actually preserved the entire hookup for the kitchen sink, and wound up having to redo it all anyway.
Much easier to drill two 3/4" holes. Besides, the old valves were meant for compression fitting on copper lines and I have plastic. The cast marble sink met destiny with a two pound mini sledge. That was a good feeling. Forty Whacks, a la Lizzie Borden. Pictures, I promise.
The walls needed some spackle and paint after two years of general use including banging furniture against, migrating white-boards and nomadic fire extinguishers. Much better now.
The Great Presidential Horse Race
Finally, the polls that do count. It was getting old having herds of politicians wandering the countryside making promises and pestering the populace.
The Democratic race is pretty much defined, Clinton, Obama and Edwards in that order. Biden, Lieberman, and the others add some color to it but my money is on the front three to win, place , or show.
The Republicans have no clear leaders in front like the Democrats, so the primaries will actually help by thinning that herd out a bit. Still my impression is that Guilani and Romney are about even, McCain trailing. But no money on any of these guys yet, the field is just too crowded.
It will be nice as state by state, the people do their thing and weed out the no-hoper's, and we get to see who to make fun of for the next four years.
It's been awhile, twelve days. A lot has been happening. The business is finally underway, and some work is flowing in. No advertising as of yet. I thought this blog could be a vehicle for advertising the biz but no. It may describe what I do, or something the rest of the world can learn from whilst I drip blood upon the ground from a new and wrong way of getting something done.
So today, the blog gets cleaned up a little. Too many commas or too much whining, that gets snipped. The italicizing isn't doing very well, so the font for that has to get changed. The pictures are staying for the most part but they do hog a bit of bandwidth, so some of the big monsters are going away.
The Eye
.....is doing much better. I'm up to a month between appointments now. The doctor seems happy at the progress, and for my part, it's actually useful most days.
The Biz
....had it's first job and first pay and first receipt. It was a townhouse, a sibling of mine. It's better now. It's a little tighter, the doors work a little better, some paint, quite a bit of caulk. Adding electrical coverage to my insurance but that's so I can screw in light bulbs and clean out vent fans. Please use licensed electricians for messing with electrical systems. Not me.
My Townhouse
The back bath is finally getting back into gear. The waterlines are capped off. It's too much trouble to cut holes for valves in the floor of the cabinet and then have to patch it up after getting it in. I actually preserved the entire hookup for the kitchen sink, and wound up having to redo it all anyway.
Much easier to drill two 3/4" holes. Besides, the old valves were meant for compression fitting on copper lines and I have plastic. The cast marble sink met destiny with a two pound mini sledge. That was a good feeling. Forty Whacks, a la Lizzie Borden. Pictures, I promise.
The walls needed some spackle and paint after two years of general use including banging furniture against, migrating white-boards and nomadic fire extinguishers. Much better now.
The Great Presidential Horse Race
Finally, the polls that do count. It was getting old having herds of politicians wandering the countryside making promises and pestering the populace.
The Democratic race is pretty much defined, Clinton, Obama and Edwards in that order. Biden, Lieberman, and the others add some color to it but my money is on the front three to win, place , or show.
The Republicans have no clear leaders in front like the Democrats, so the primaries will actually help by thinning that herd out a bit. Still my impression is that Guilani and Romney are about even, McCain trailing. But no money on any of these guys yet, the field is just too crowded.
It will be nice as state by state, the people do their thing and weed out the no-hoper's, and we get to see who to make fun of for the next four years.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Water Everywhere But Here
Back at the Garage-House
The boss is doing well. He has a new job, a repair and greening of a small ranch for a few weeks. He's doing it to help someone out, as he does have a steady supply of work ahead of him anyway. It's not in good shape. The owner let it go, so the siding is questionable, the windows are in sad shape, and especially around the deck, the water damage was pretty bad. We were looking at places where the mud-sills were absent without leave.
The first phase is probably stabilization, leaks, rot repair, and just getting rid of the daylight. That deck has to go or something. My crappy deck is a masterpiece of structural engineering compared to that deck. Two by sixes for the joists. It was a bit springy.
The Garage House is mostly done. Siding and brick veneer is all that's left. The space came out nice, high board ceiling, bamboo flooring, and it's tighter then the rest of the house. Quite a bit of light too, considering the only place for the windows was in the old garage door opening.
Rain, rain, what rain?
Lake Jordan was pretty low. Some of the old underwater slopes have been dry for so long, there's grass there now. The modern version of the old rain dance. ..... is to wash the hundred most expensive cars in Raleigh, complete with buffing, waxing, whole nine yards. Another is for everyone to leave their sunroofs open a little bit overnight. If that doesn't get the rain gods going, I don't know what will.
Computer Blues
The old beast is still plugging along. I found a motherboard, socket A, for it. It's a bit pricey for being old technology, and it's a no-name. Also, the other parts are getting long in the tooth too. I'll just keep it going until the time comes that it won't start anymore, and then just gut it and put in new innards. I'll get a standalone copy of XP too, since more and more stuff refuses to work with my W2000pro.
The Biz
First day of the new business in operation. Just a walk through for a punch list. My ducks are all in a row. Business license, insurance, business plan and last but not least, business cards. The truly successful work over the table, not under. Still need a website and an appointment book that is not an old steno pad.
Somewhat later.....
It is raining, or drizzling, to be more accurate. The inside of the chimney chase is as dry as a bone. See how it goes for the rest of the day. A good pouring rain will be the final test before final repairs. I'm still pretty pleased at the dryness so far.
I'm running out for a new set of chisels. My old ones can still do the job but for fixing someone else's doors, kinda like a fresh new edge. Went through my documents today and shredded a good chunk of useless history. Not to worry, still got all the legal stuff.
The boss is doing well. He has a new job, a repair and greening of a small ranch for a few weeks. He's doing it to help someone out, as he does have a steady supply of work ahead of him anyway. It's not in good shape. The owner let it go, so the siding is questionable, the windows are in sad shape, and especially around the deck, the water damage was pretty bad. We were looking at places where the mud-sills were absent without leave.
The first phase is probably stabilization, leaks, rot repair, and just getting rid of the daylight. That deck has to go or something. My crappy deck is a masterpiece of structural engineering compared to that deck. Two by sixes for the joists. It was a bit springy.
The Garage House is mostly done. Siding and brick veneer is all that's left. The space came out nice, high board ceiling, bamboo flooring, and it's tighter then the rest of the house. Quite a bit of light too, considering the only place for the windows was in the old garage door opening.
Rain, rain, what rain?
Lake Jordan was pretty low. Some of the old underwater slopes have been dry for so long, there's grass there now. The modern version of the old rain dance. ..... is to wash the hundred most expensive cars in Raleigh, complete with buffing, waxing, whole nine yards. Another is for everyone to leave their sunroofs open a little bit overnight. If that doesn't get the rain gods going, I don't know what will.
Computer Blues
The old beast is still plugging along. I found a motherboard, socket A, for it. It's a bit pricey for being old technology, and it's a no-name. Also, the other parts are getting long in the tooth too. I'll just keep it going until the time comes that it won't start anymore, and then just gut it and put in new innards. I'll get a standalone copy of XP too, since more and more stuff refuses to work with my W2000pro.
The Biz
First day of the new business in operation. Just a walk through for a punch list. My ducks are all in a row. Business license, insurance, business plan and last but not least, business cards. The truly successful work over the table, not under. Still need a website and an appointment book that is not an old steno pad.
Somewhat later.....
It is raining, or drizzling, to be more accurate. The inside of the chimney chase is as dry as a bone. See how it goes for the rest of the day. A good pouring rain will be the final test before final repairs. I'm still pretty pleased at the dryness so far.
I'm running out for a new set of chisels. My old ones can still do the job but for fixing someone else's doors, kinda like a fresh new edge. Went through my documents today and shredded a good chunk of useless history. Not to worry, still got all the legal stuff.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
The Unsignable Noncompete...bye, bye, New Job
Job, the job..... Nope, not going to happen. I was happily going through the pre-employment packet until I got to the non-compete and the non-disclosure. This is a bad thing. All my rights, copyright and patent, go away forever. This also requires me to disclose every customer who I work for in my nascent handyman biz, never mind it's not remotely related to the job position. It's got some hefty fines in it too. Yeah..... Damn.
No f**k**g way I can go for this. I can NOT sign that non-compete. I am so upset. I turned down two job offers in good faith because I had landed the opportunity.
I got some money left. I have a business license. I have a job lined up. It's time to go swimming for myself.
Later....
Well, that's that. I'm still free. See where my business license hard copy is.
No f**k**g way I can go for this. I can NOT sign that non-compete. I am so upset. I turned down two job offers in good faith because I had landed the opportunity.
I got some money left. I have a business license. I have a job lined up. It's time to go swimming for myself.
Later....
Well, that's that. I'm still free. See where my business license hard copy is.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Things in General
Da Blog
So the counter isn't ....counting. One more shot at it, and it's gone. I'm going to mess with the heading as well. Also the colors aren't what I like. I'm thinking about Google Adsense but not really keen on advertising. If done, it would be a small presence.
Job Hunted?
Explored Apex and environs, was scoping out a drive in job before I drove in. I kept on driving by and then my phone rang. Drug test. Cool. Getting somewhere. Hopefully, employment. Not much coin but at least I'll have withholding. Also waiting on the business license, that should show up soon. Then to get the liability insurance. Part time business, see how it goes, if well, then full time business.
Scam
The Do Not Call list has got to be worthless. Yet another call. Job hunting is also getting kinda horrible. The sleaze balls and con artists have taken to posting jobs on the main search engines. At least on Craigslist, we can flag them, and I do flag them. If it ain't a job, don't bug me. A lot of it is people looking for door to door sales suckers. Ugh. Wouldn't be such an issue, but a lot of crap gets posted and a lot of "employers" are scraping the public resumes. Looking forward to taking mine private.
Poly-Ticks
Hillary still way ahead....Edwards still way behind. Obama in the middle. He's just too, well, perfect. Just doesn't seem to have enough warts. What is he hiding?
Republicans still have no clear front runner unless one counts Guilani, and that only because he raised a ton of money. Mitt Romney still in the news....not good for him, ever since he did the American Vacation thing with a dog in a carrier on top of a station wagon.
My Townhouse
The townhouse is in a state of arrested repair. It's waiting on more income. The back bath is going to need about six hundred dollars total. The chimney chase will probably take a thousand. The lower level floor needs rosin paper, flooring, and two back doors. Insulation as well. The whole thing needs repainting again. The one good thing about the whole mess, is that it can be done piece-meal, a hundred or so bucks at a time. The labor is free. Once done, it goes on the market, and I'm free. At least a year or so. No rush, real estate market still shaking out.
Book Reviews
Sean Williams, The Resurrected Man. Good read, usual sci fi future but written quite well.
Kevin J. Anderson is currently doing the Saga of the Seven Suns. Humans inadvertently start a war when turning gas giants into stars. Goes on from there. Good beach read and well worth borrowing from a library. Latest book in the series is Of Fire and Night.
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. I've read the book. I've listened to the radio series. I have both the BBC television series and the new movie on DVD. Each different but all well done. I even had his PC game, Starship Titanic. Doesn't work anymore, even my antediluvian W2000Pro is too modern for it, but when it did, it was pretty good. Still, if one gets bored of thumbing a ride among the stars, there is his series about Dirk Gently, a Holistic detective. Not only worthy of borrowing from the library but worthy of purchase from a bookstore, used of course.
So the counter isn't ....counting. One more shot at it, and it's gone. I'm going to mess with the heading as well. Also the colors aren't what I like. I'm thinking about Google Adsense but not really keen on advertising. If done, it would be a small presence.
Job Hunted?
Explored Apex and environs, was scoping out a drive in job before I drove in. I kept on driving by and then my phone rang. Drug test. Cool. Getting somewhere. Hopefully, employment. Not much coin but at least I'll have withholding. Also waiting on the business license, that should show up soon. Then to get the liability insurance. Part time business, see how it goes, if well, then full time business.
Scam
The Do Not Call list has got to be worthless. Yet another call. Job hunting is also getting kinda horrible. The sleaze balls and con artists have taken to posting jobs on the main search engines. At least on Craigslist, we can flag them, and I do flag them. If it ain't a job, don't bug me. A lot of it is people looking for door to door sales suckers. Ugh. Wouldn't be such an issue, but a lot of crap gets posted and a lot of "employers" are scraping the public resumes. Looking forward to taking mine private.
Poly-Ticks
Hillary still way ahead....Edwards still way behind. Obama in the middle. He's just too, well, perfect. Just doesn't seem to have enough warts. What is he hiding?
Republicans still have no clear front runner unless one counts Guilani, and that only because he raised a ton of money. Mitt Romney still in the news....not good for him, ever since he did the American Vacation thing with a dog in a carrier on top of a station wagon.
My Townhouse
The townhouse is in a state of arrested repair. It's waiting on more income. The back bath is going to need about six hundred dollars total. The chimney chase will probably take a thousand. The lower level floor needs rosin paper, flooring, and two back doors. Insulation as well. The whole thing needs repainting again. The one good thing about the whole mess, is that it can be done piece-meal, a hundred or so bucks at a time. The labor is free. Once done, it goes on the market, and I'm free. At least a year or so. No rush, real estate market still shaking out.
Book Reviews
Sean Williams, The Resurrected Man. Good read, usual sci fi future but written quite well.
Kevin J. Anderson is currently doing the Saga of the Seven Suns. Humans inadvertently start a war when turning gas giants into stars. Goes on from there. Good beach read and well worth borrowing from a library. Latest book in the series is Of Fire and Night.
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. I've read the book. I've listened to the radio series. I have both the BBC television series and the new movie on DVD. Each different but all well done. I even had his PC game, Starship Titanic. Doesn't work anymore, even my antediluvian W2000Pro is too modern for it, but when it did, it was pretty good. Still, if one gets bored of thumbing a ride among the stars, there is his series about Dirk Gently, a Holistic detective. Not only worthy of borrowing from the library but worthy of purchase from a bookstore, used of course.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Once again, fixing a Leak
Da Blog
I messed with colors a little bit. Also I'm adding a counter that may or may not work. It was free from Google so machts nix.
The Townhouse
The other side of the chimney was done today at the roof. Three pieces of siding and some extra flashing to keep the water from running down the side. I'll take pictures later. Summer is still with us. According to Intellicast, no rain for at least ten days. Drat. I wanted to see if that fixed the chimney water leak once and for all. Spent half the day going up and down the ladder, prying, flashing, and nailing. My bill for anyone else would be about $140.00, US.
I wouldn't charge for the caulk or the nails though. My policy, is if it was already paid for once for something else, then no need to charge the next guy. Labor is I make my money on. The materials are at cost plus ten percent for getting em'.
I messed with colors a little bit. Also I'm adding a counter that may or may not work. It was free from Google so machts nix.
The Townhouse
The other side of the chimney was done today at the roof. Three pieces of siding and some extra flashing to keep the water from running down the side. I'll take pictures later. Summer is still with us. According to Intellicast, no rain for at least ten days. Drat. I wanted to see if that fixed the chimney water leak once and for all. Spent half the day going up and down the ladder, prying, flashing, and nailing. My bill for anyone else would be about $140.00, US.
I wouldn't charge for the caulk or the nails though. My policy, is if it was already paid for once for something else, then no need to charge the next guy. Labor is I make my money on. The materials are at cost plus ten percent for getting em'.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Writing and Being Cheaper
I like to read a lot . I like to write a little. Hopefully, writing will be more in "flow" as I go. The blog is to stretch the output, so to speak. Writing is why I don't really want to work more then forty hours a week on average. It takes away from that. I did try poetry, but even a Vogon* is better then me. Fiction is hard to do. It's a form of untruth, and truth is what I'm better at. I'm thinking about registering a domain name and getting a web presence for the business and some essays, but that is for the future.
Washed the Baja the other day. Works better then a rain dance. Nice warm summer rain....in the fall? Well, hopefully global warming will allow some savings on the gas bill. The gas isn't bad for hot water and the laundry was set to warm/cold, see how that goes. When the laundry detergent runs out, I want to try the cold water stuff.
It was a hundred bucks for my electric bill, incandescent and halogens, so the lighting was changed out to compact fluorescents. That knocked it down to 60 dollars. This time the air conditioning has been kept off with the ceiling fans going. It's not too bad if there's airflow. I'm also being careful with the fluorescents as well. Think the heat/dry needs to be off on the dishwasher as well.
Going bug the "brother" on Monday about one potential job. The NOC job is a real long shot but the hours would be conducive to writing and the business. A stray thought is, no job might be best of all business wise, as that is my main focus down the road.
* Some really bad poets in the galaxy according to "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy". Douglas Adams, 1952 - 2001, to paraphrase the dolphins who appreciated the fish, "Thanks for all the words.".
Washed the Baja the other day. Works better then a rain dance. Nice warm summer rain....in the fall? Well, hopefully global warming will allow some savings on the gas bill. The gas isn't bad for hot water and the laundry was set to warm/cold, see how that goes. When the laundry detergent runs out, I want to try the cold water stuff.
It was a hundred bucks for my electric bill, incandescent and halogens, so the lighting was changed out to compact fluorescents. That knocked it down to 60 dollars. This time the air conditioning has been kept off with the ceiling fans going. It's not too bad if there's airflow. I'm also being careful with the fluorescents as well. Think the heat/dry needs to be off on the dishwasher as well.
Going bug the "brother" on Monday about one potential job. The NOC job is a real long shot but the hours would be conducive to writing and the business. A stray thought is, no job might be best of all business wise, as that is my main focus down the road.
* Some really bad poets in the galaxy according to "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy". Douglas Adams, 1952 - 2001, to paraphrase the dolphins who appreciated the fish, "Thanks for all the words.".
Friday, October 5, 2007
A Pinch of Salt, or a Handful.
Nice thing about not working, I get to sleep in. If getting up at six thirty could be called that. Usually getting up with the thought that maybe I should bite the bullet and do the business thing, but then I go looking and looking and applying. Two cups of strong coffee and my vitamins, then a quick look at Craigslist, Monster, and Careerbuilder. One guy who might hire, calls me "Brother" and seems glad to see me. Hmmm. Glad I have my pile of salt handy. I don't take statements with a pinch of salt anymore, more like whole handfuls.
I don't need to make much, my cost of living is low, compared to most. No debt, extremely frugal, only thing going in my house (owned outright) right now is the computer, cordless base station, two UPS, one DSL modem, bath light, and 26 watts of lighting downstairs. Don't forget the coffee maker though. It's a Bunn, doesn't make gourmet coffee, it's a version of those monsters seen in convenience stores. In two minutes, a pot of coffee guaranteed to wake half a cemetery.
Some reasons why I should start a handyman service.
1. Get the tools out of the place. Three ladders, table saw, chop saw, and power tools everywhere. Then there are the tool boxes, three of those at last count. Tripped over one this morning since I was caffeine free and not quite conscious.
2. I'm good at fixing stuff. Tis true, since I buy stuff that breaks, like this townhouse. Lately, I have been overhauling and replacing toilets. I have three toilets, two of which are very, uh, original. I also fixed one digital camera and my phone. Why I fixed my phone is beyond me. There's been two telemarketers who have been calling me on a daily basis despite being on the do-not-call list.
3. Getting out of the house would be nice. So far, I load up my old steel quarter-century old Fuji bicycle and find a place to ride. I could ride in traffic but I'd rather burn gasoline then get run over. So, what if I got paid to get out of the house? Would make up for the cost of gas.
4. Customer service. I'm very good at it. I actually enjoy helping people. Right now the only one benefiting from it is my cat. She's already spoiled beyond all belief.
5. Income would be nice. Don't need much, but feeding that cat ain't cheap. Then there's me.
Some guy named Steve Pavlina posted an article called "10 Reasons Why You Should Never Get A Job".
The link is "stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/07/10-reasons-you-should-never-get-a-job/".
Makes for compelling reading. He's more white collar then blue though. Also his income seems to be through advertising, public speaking, and donation.
For my own druthers.........
I made a ton of money as a network operator, and a very decent living as a library employee, a facilities administrator and other jobs, but money is money. It goes away after a while. The network still keeps breaking, the facilities keep on needing administrating, the library still needs library work, and unlike Ozymandias, King of Kings, there is not even a large statue sitting in sand to mark my work.
I like to leave something concrete behind Something that people can look at. Be it just shelving, or a whole bathroom, or just fixing some exterior trim, I like to make sure it's nice. I can understand the need to be productive, but sometimes just an extra minute can make the difference between just "O. K." and a good job.
Here's my kitchen from the condo I used to own. I'm proud of that kitchen. It took me nine months to rebuild it. Mostly because it was pay as I go, and it cost some money. The work I did for employment, I did well, but this is what I like to remember. This is what I am about.
Ignore the date stamp. This was 2004. Camera died and reset itself.
Later in the day......
I'm a business now. Not earning any income, heck, only three and three quarter hours old. Town of Cary gladly took my money and was happy to see me as a source of future income (for them that is). I still want to work for someone else, with-holding and all, but income is income. So if it means cutting out the middle man (employer), so be it. Yellow Brick Houseworks is now official but not taking customers yet.
Someone pinged me as a potential worker for a NOC. Don't think I'm what they want but sent them a response anyway. I'm not holding my breath for this one. Apparently when recruiters see these, they start thinking.....
I monitored a network by means of Netcool and Big Brother. I telnetted into Cisco and Juniper routers to diagnosis problems and get data to build a trouble ticket. Answered queries via phone, email, and IM, and escalated issues out to field engineers, and lower level support, produced end of shift reports and kept logs and Remedy tickets up to date.
The going rate now is a lot less then what it used to be. Those days of OT, holiday pay, and the big bucks are just history now.
I don't need to make much, my cost of living is low, compared to most. No debt, extremely frugal, only thing going in my house (owned outright) right now is the computer, cordless base station, two UPS, one DSL modem, bath light, and 26 watts of lighting downstairs. Don't forget the coffee maker though. It's a Bunn, doesn't make gourmet coffee, it's a version of those monsters seen in convenience stores. In two minutes, a pot of coffee guaranteed to wake half a cemetery.
Some reasons why I should start a handyman service.
1. Get the tools out of the place. Three ladders, table saw, chop saw, and power tools everywhere. Then there are the tool boxes, three of those at last count. Tripped over one this morning since I was caffeine free and not quite conscious.
2. I'm good at fixing stuff. Tis true, since I buy stuff that breaks, like this townhouse. Lately, I have been overhauling and replacing toilets. I have three toilets, two of which are very, uh, original. I also fixed one digital camera and my phone. Why I fixed my phone is beyond me. There's been two telemarketers who have been calling me on a daily basis despite being on the do-not-call list.
3. Getting out of the house would be nice. So far, I load up my old steel quarter-century old Fuji bicycle and find a place to ride. I could ride in traffic but I'd rather burn gasoline then get run over. So, what if I got paid to get out of the house? Would make up for the cost of gas.
4. Customer service. I'm very good at it. I actually enjoy helping people. Right now the only one benefiting from it is my cat. She's already spoiled beyond all belief.
5. Income would be nice. Don't need much, but feeding that cat ain't cheap. Then there's me.
Some guy named Steve Pavlina posted an article called "10 Reasons Why You Should Never Get A Job".
The link is "stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/07/10-reasons-you-should-never-get-a-job/".
Makes for compelling reading. He's more white collar then blue though. Also his income seems to be through advertising, public speaking, and donation.
For my own druthers.........
I made a ton of money as a network operator, and a very decent living as a library employee, a facilities administrator and other jobs, but money is money. It goes away after a while. The network still keeps breaking, the facilities keep on needing administrating, the library still needs library work, and unlike Ozymandias, King of Kings, there is not even a large statue sitting in sand to mark my work.
I like to leave something concrete behind Something that people can look at. Be it just shelving, or a whole bathroom, or just fixing some exterior trim, I like to make sure it's nice. I can understand the need to be productive, but sometimes just an extra minute can make the difference between just "O. K." and a good job.
Here's my kitchen from the condo I used to own. I'm proud of that kitchen. It took me nine months to rebuild it. Mostly because it was pay as I go, and it cost some money. The work I did for employment, I did well, but this is what I like to remember. This is what I am about.
Ignore the date stamp. This was 2004. Camera died and reset itself.Later in the day......
I'm a business now. Not earning any income, heck, only three and three quarter hours old. Town of Cary gladly took my money and was happy to see me as a source of future income (for them that is). I still want to work for someone else, with-holding and all, but income is income. So if it means cutting out the middle man (employer), so be it. Yellow Brick Houseworks is now official but not taking customers yet.
Someone pinged me as a potential worker for a NOC. Don't think I'm what they want but sent them a response anyway. I'm not holding my breath for this one. Apparently when recruiters see these, they start thinking.....
I monitored a network by means of Netcool and Big Brother. I telnetted into Cisco and Juniper routers to diagnosis problems and get data to build a trouble ticket. Answered queries via phone, email, and IM, and escalated issues out to field engineers, and lower level support, produced end of shift reports and kept logs and Remedy tickets up to date.
The going rate now is a lot less then what it used to be. Those days of OT, holiday pay, and the big bucks are just history now.
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