How was your day too....two?

[itsid]

WHAT a day...

... just after dinner my wife got a phonecall and we rushed to the hospital;
her mom had a stroke!

Luckily it was the right day and time for this madness;
She was at her weekly gym class (3min away from a hospital with a stroke unit.)

Just arrived there, still in the locker room; her friends noticed some weird things.. lack of grip in the right hand (she dropped a bottle cap more than once), swollen cheek, odd facial expressions, finally a 'funny walk' ..

And despite her denial, they called an ambulance and my father in law.

15min later she was in on her back in a CAT scanner - that's when we got the phonecall-
another 15mins later she was in surgery to get a thrombectomy
(just when we arrived at the hospital)
And roughly an hour later (after a post operation CAT scan) she was in the stroke unit and we could go and see her;
being still dizzy, just woke up from anaesthesia;
she was out of sync to say the least, but well...

There will be more testing within the next 72 hours before she's even allowed to get up.
But she's in full control of her facial expressions, and has no numbness in her limbs, so
it looks very promising.

Anyways, the doctors said they barely ever see a stroke patient within the first hour;
and sometimes not even within five hours (generation "came on it's own... goes on it's own") and chances for a full recovery lower by the minute...

so yeah, being three minutes (by foot) away from a hospital and having friends calling the ambulance when you need it... PRICELESS!

Yes, that was fast paced, and it was over just as awareness hit us with a bat.
But it still felt like a rollercoaster.

What I wanted to say, it can hit anyone (obviously even the fitter plants in the garden)
and it's important to act fast!
So don't wait, if you notice something.. call an ambulance!


'sid

PS Yes, it looks as if she'll fully recover, but a crossed finger or two won't harm TY!

 

[Poboy kartman]

Yeah.....with any trauma....the medical community has what they call "The Golden Hour" after which the prognosis for recovery or survival go way down....

Obviously...the more severe the injury the more important time becomes....but short of massive critical injury...the hour is a good timeline.....

Now....with a stroke....the hour definitely holds true....but the sooner the better....and the success rate for full reversal and recovery for stroke when treated under an hour nowadays is extremely high.....

Let's hope it holds true in this case....

 

[chancer]

Glad she is ok. That is just great luck to be so close and have friends. One of the biggest problems with strokes is the denial delay.
Take care

 

[landuse]

Sid, i am glad that your mother in law was able to get to the hospital in so fast. I hope she makes a full recovery

My day yesterday was pretty aweful too. My daughter gives me a call and says that their truck has just been stolen outside their block of flats. It was stolen within a 10 minute period. They had quickly run in to pick someone up, and when the came out it was gone

This was the truck that my son in law uses for work. With it being gone, he is not too sure what he is going to do now. It's a bummer

 

[Poboy kartman]

Hmmmm.....you learn something new every day....

Thanks to Google and the interweb....info is out there for anyone who can type, point, and click....

Anyway....I was curious about something....there were always nests of "Granddaddy long leg spiders" on my grandparents back porch on the farm down around Boerne...just north of San Antonio, Texas that I used to fool around with as a kid.....

I now have some "granddaddy long legs" or maybe they're "daddy long leg spiders" in my house....they are very different than the spiders I grew up with....

Soooo.... here's what I learned: those "Granddaddy long legs" that I grew up with are AKA "Harvesters"....and are not spiders at all....(they look like long legged crabs)....eat decomposing vegetation...have no fangs or poison....

The "Daddylonglegs" I have in my house are true spiders, lone critters that spin webs...(as opposed to hanging out in groups).... have fangs and are venomous...

Now....the "fact" that's been bantered around forever..is that these are the most venomous spiders in the world....but their fangs are too small and weak to puncture human skin....

The truth is that their fangs are very much identical to brown recluse spiders and are capable of injecting venom into humans...they just almost never bite....

So....'Mythbusters' actually were able to get one to bite Adam Savage on the forearm....he reported a mild burning sensation that only lasted a couple of minutes...

 

[chancer]

And herin lies the problem:
" info is out there for anyone who can type, point, and click...."
Typing pointing and clicking! But I guess that is why we have this forum and YOU.

 

[landuse]

The truth is that their fangs are very much identical to brown recluse spiders and are capable of injecting venom into humans...they just almost never bite....

So....'Mythbusters' actually were able to get one to bite Adam Savage on the forearm....he reported a mild burning sensation that only lasted a couple of minutes...

I remember that episode. I love mythbusters

 

[Poboy kartman]

Well....for those of you that have been keeping up....you know I have a big ol' cat named Sammy and a recently acquired chicken named Rocky....

I don't see Sammy a lot sometimes....but I can't visit a neighbor for 5 mins. without Sammy being right there....

Now....I have a garden buddy.....Rocky...last afternoon I was pulling weeds and Rocky joined me....I pulled up a grub worm and gave it to her....then I found a caterpillar and gave her that.....

She caught on quick and was inbetween me and where I was weeding.....looking for the good stuff! !!!!

 

[chancer]

Chickens are a little smarter than people say. I take mine (5) around the yard in the early spring and flip over stuff and they come and eat all the bugs. Then the next day they start following me everywhere waiting for me to move something.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Chickens are a little smarter than people say. I take mine (5) around the yard in the early spring and flip over stuff and they come and eat all the bugs. Then the next day they start following me everywhere waiting for me to move something.

Yep....I hear with every shipment of chickens out of California....the I.Q. level drops by 50%.....

And WAIT: Before you try to go there....No! they don't go to Texas and raise the I.Q. ....they go to Texas and we get fatter!!!!

 

[chancer]

No No No... It is too expensive to raise chickens in Ca. The Govt. has deciced that the chickens need more space to roam around and so many Yard hours per day. We used to get a dozen eggs for .99 now this week they are 5.99 and imported from Mexico! That is why I have my own chickens and 35 eggs a week, Free - chicken feed.
You are probably fat due to Arkansas Chickens. Speaking of IQ... Do I even need to go there.

 

[crazykart]

Bassackwards Californians and all their funky save the world laws.

We raise them to kill them.

Eat them.

Poop them out.

And fertilize the ground to grow their feed to raise more.

We kill more.

Coat them in their unborn children.

Throw some flour on them.

Drop them in 375° oil.

And eat some more.

The only space they need is the space in mah belly when I'm hungry lol.

Texans.... o Texans Texans texans... what good can I say about texas....

Uhhhhh...

Hmmmm....

*crickets chirp*

O ya there is one thing!

Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.

Mmm hmm, they did that one right.

 

[chancer]

Yep. Ca. is gonna save the world!!! NOT. I like my 79cc Predators. They a frickin Illegal here! But HF online doesn't Care haha. But seriously can you imagine the stupidity. How is a 3hp lawn mower engine, That is legal in 49 states gonna make a difference in the PLANET because the crack heads in Sacramento ban it here!!! Stupid.

 

[chancer]

Today we are getting RAIN. I know I know so what right. But it is very rare here in San Diego. A. to get rain, but B. to get a thunder storm in the Summer time. At this moment it is coming DOWN like Cats and Dogs, big old honkin drops.
(Edit) Ooh Thunder and Lightning too! The dog is freaking out!! poor guy.

 

[itsid]

While the weather around here today was quite nice...
my day was a PITA!

Got a customer call today... uhm how to I describe that...

Okay,

he ordered an oil painting (no he didn't... but that's a great analogy)
and asked for lots of trees, a lake, bright colors and a deer...
(and he actually gave me a picture for reference)
So the last two weeks I spend my time sketching that thing, contouring the lines and shading in the trees looking at deer photos to get the colors right etc..
then yesterday I asked if I should add flowers to increase the number of bright colors,
together with a snapshot of the current state.

He called and said that's not what he wanted, he wanted a rather technical drawing, very reduced colors.. something like a skyline... concrete and steel, maybe glass nothing else.

Basically two weeks of work down the drain...
worst thing about it: we agreed upon a fixed price (something I don't do often.. NOW I know why!)

So, instead of enjoying the sun and/or the weekend,
I was back at my scaffold starting from scratch

'sid

 

[Poboy kartman]

Yeah....my star neighbor screwed me over this afternoon....

I'm. super busy trying to get stuff done around here....and he texts me asking if I have any cheap mowers for sale....(I don't bother to text back)....

Then he texts back...I can mow his yard....he has $30....

Again...I don't even bother texting back....

Then he texts..."How much would you take for that gokart? Cash money today.

I answer: "$300"....And add...."I don't have any mowers right now...but I should in a couple of days..."

He says "My buddy is coming over...."

Now....#1: I already mowed his yard and he never paid....

#2: I loaned him a lawnmower...(expecting it returned in 2-3 hours) ...he kept it a month...mowed his front and side yards twice....and never completely mowed his back yard once...(I repossessed it)....That's another thing...he stored it where anyone could grab it right off the street....

So....I'm wondering when his buddy is going to show up....

Meanwhile, I make sure the kart is running...and I take it for a rip....

I see his "buddy" nudge his arm and point....

Now...long story short ,this doper tells me he told me his buddy was bringing his lawnmower over...(not true)...and that "another buddy" was interested in the kart...but wouldn't pay over $200.... He knows I want $350, it's worth it, and no way in h...l I would take less than $300...

He just played games with the wrong MF...stupid people think because you do them a favor and you let them get by getting over on you...you are harmless....one stupid pot head is in for a very rude awakening....

 

[machinist@large]

While the weather around here today was quite nice...
my day was a PITA!

Got a customer call today... uhm how to I describe that...

Okay,

he ordered an oil painting (no he didn't... but that's a great analogy)
and asked for lots of trees, a lake, bright colors and a deer...
(and he actually gave me a picture for reference)
So the last two weeks I spend my time sketching that thing, contouring the lines and shading in the trees looking at deer photos to get the colors right etc..
then yesterday I asked if I should add flowers to increase the number of bright colors,
together with a snapshot of the current state.

He called and said that's not what he wanted, he wanted a rather technical drawing, very reduced colors.. something like a skyline... concrete and steel, maybe glass nothing else.

Basically two weeks of work down the drain...
worst thing about it: we agreed upon a fixed price (something I don't do often.. NOW I know why!)

So, instead of enjoying the sun and/or the weekend,
I was back at my scaffold starting from scratch

'sid

Customers like that are one thing that I DON'T MISS about working for a small company. When I did on site machine repair, it was always the el cheapo that always wanted to play that game. One of them actually called my boss to complain because I refused to play it his way. Boss comes out of his office with a great big $#*+ eating grin on his face, and he was chuckling very evilly. Apparently the guy didn't like being reminded about that pesky 180 day past due bill of his.......

Yeah....my star neighbor screwed me over this afternoon....

I'm. super busy trying to get stuff done around here....and he texts me asking if I have any cheap mowers for sale....(I don't bother to text back)....

Then he texts back...I can mow his yard....he has $30....

Again...I don't even bother texting back....

Then he texts..."How much would you take for that gokart? Cash money today.

I answer: "$300"....And add...."I don't have any mowers right now...but I should in a couple of days..."

He says "My buddy is coming over...."

Now....#1: I already mowed his yard and he never paid....

#2: I loaned him a lawnmower...(expecting it returned in 2-3 hours) ...he kept it a month...mowed his front and side yards twice....and never completely mowed his back yard once...(I repossessed it)....That's another thing...he stored it where anyone could grab it right off the street....

So....I'm wondering when his buddy is going to show up....

Meanwhile, I make sure the kart is running...and I take it for a rip....

I see his "buddy" nudge his arm and point....

Now...long story short ,this doper tells me he told me his buddy was bringing his lawnmower over...(not true)...and that "another buddy" was interested in the kart...but wouldn't pay over $200.... He knows I want $350, it's worth it, and no way in h...l I would take less than $300...

He just played games with the wrong MF...stupid people think because you do them a favor and you let them get by getting over on you...you are harmless....one stupid pot head is in for a very rude awakening....

Doug, you just have some of the nicest people for neighbors...... NOT!!!!!!

 

[itsid]

Apparently the guy didn't like being reminded about that pesky 180 day past due bill of his.......

Luckily that's a lesson I learned already..
no money, no delivery (still wasted work.. but it helps )

'sid

 

[machinist@large]

Luckily that's a lesson I learned already..
no money, no delivery (still wasted work.. but it helps )

'sid

In the industries I was supporting, net 30 days, with a 10% discount if paid in full in 10 or less is pretty much standard practice. And in the 15 or so year's that I was doing that as my primary job (when you work for a small company, you wear many hat's. As opposed to when you're self employed with zero employees, and you get to wear all of them!!!!! And all at the same time!!!!!!) I usually only had one or two of them at any one time.

The boss was really good at keeping me up to date on who owed us money; we had an occasional one or two who were legitimately hurting, and they were the first to ask if we would accept payments until they got paid by their customers. And you knew exactly when they finally got paid, because we suddenly got a lump sum payment for the remaining balance, with a new phone call one or two days later.

Tool & Die and Mold shop's were usually the ones in that boat; since I had escaped both of those (as had one of my employer's, but he had also been an owner) we both new the game.

It didn't hurt that a large job for us was over a couple of grand. Maybe 30 to 40 of those in an average year, with probably ten times that many smaller ones. And I only had to quote maybe 10% of all of them: the rest were all time and material.

But yes, I've been in your shoe's as well. The biggest hit I ever took was with a company that we'd been doing work for for a couple of year's. They'd always paid on time, no problem. $45,000+ in part's, another $10,000+ in labor. Ten days after we invoiced the job, the door's were locked, employees didn't even get their last week's check.

I'll say this much for the , the only thing he and his lawyer weren't able to skate on was the employees 401k plan and the court ordered Cobra coverage for their health insurance. The rest of us got left holding the empty bag.

That was a real sucker punch for our shop; adding insult to injury was the fact that it was less than three months after the events on 9/11 had caused the local industrial economy to flat line.......

Where I'm at now is a pretty good job, and it's usually been a whole lot less stressful than the "Good Old Days". To bad the BS on the shop floor is truly something to behold...... There's days when I feel like I'm living inside a Dilbert cartoon strip.....

 

[itsid]

self employed... what else
And yes, a single unpaid job of significant monetary volume had me change my practice for that matter...
I simply cannot afford not getting paid.

okay let's change topics;
I just deleted a full scale rant;
figured it's time to allow the moods to lighten up in here

'sid