Re: Check in's here are getting longer and longer apart

[Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>]

On 8/23/2023 2:28 PM, ABLE1 wrote:
> On 8/23/2023 3:59 PM, Jim Davis wrote:
>> Well, I'm not checking in here as often as I used to. Other than Mark
>> ( who barely posts) I'm the only one left still doing alarms.
>> .
>> I'm guessing Les is lying on the beach someplace with a drink with a
>> little umbrella in it, reminiscing about conquests by looking at all
>> the young little sweeties in their bikini's walking by.
>> .
>> Doing a lot of service calls. Lot's of my systems are getting older
>> and older (like me). Smoke's keypads, contacts all needing
>> replacement. Doing odds and ends mounting and setting up people's
>> smart TV's , computer networks, app's on cell phones for the
>> technically challenged. Customers doing renovations, need rewiring.
>> Trying to get everyone to arm/disarm their systems from their phones.
>> ( Using Napco Starlink Connect cellular devices) The main hangup for
>> most is having to pay more per month for the cellular service. But if
>> it cost me more it's gotta cost them more. But my monthly monitoring
>> income is increasing and just did an across the board increase.
>> .
>> Cost of doing business is just going out of sight here in New York.
>> Conditions in Manhattan are not good and the Sanctuary City crap is
>> starting to move to the suburbs. I don't know how the suburbs got
>> included with the NY Governor and NY City Mayor declaring NY City was
>> a sanctuary city. They unleashed this monster and now it's too late
>> for them to take it back. So now they're pushing at the boundaries of
>> the surrounding suburbs to house illegals. I'm thinking that if I wash
>> up on shore on the Riviara In France and claim immunity that maybe
>> they'll put me up at the Hilton right on the beach. I can't imagine
>> what these hotels in Manhattan are having to deal with. Not a person I
>> talk to that's been in Manhattan isn't totally disgusted with people
>> living on the streets and being constantly approach for handouts and
>> having to deal with the smell of excrement in the streets and subways.
>> .
>> Hoping my area doesn't go to hell in a hand basket before I check out.
>> Gotta get somebody in office who isn't beholding to their contributors
>> that'll influence their national decisions after they're elected as
>> has been the norm in this country too long. On the other hand, I think
>> that anyone smart enough to get us out of the trouble this nation is
>> in, is WAAAY too smart to run for office. We're seeing what
>> politicians who have everything to lose can do to anyone they want to
>> discredit.
>> .
>> But anyway, I'm not looking to cash out of this trade just yet, but
>> age being the predictor I'm guessing the  Times-a-commin,
>> Hope you guys are doing ok,
>
>
> GeeWhiz Jim, You painted a very pretty picture of where and what I would
> be doing now that I have QUIT!!!  Sorry, but Noooooooo that ain't so!!
>
> Now with every day being a Saturday and with all the other stuff my time
> is trying to figure what I should do next...................
> Which is difficult!!

Yes, that is always an issue, although I am not retired like you.  My
shop is over run with projects I'd like to get done, but customers keep
insisting I actually make the parts they paid me for.


> As for your work load and other challenges I hope all gets better.  Not
> sure how it can or will but I hope it does.
>
> I will say that one of the things you need to aware of is that once you
> cash out, your phone will not stop ringing.  Mine just keeps on ringing
> and ringing with this X, Y or Z-customer having this problem or that
> and they don't know who else to call for some assistance. #(^@)*)U)Y$^^
>

I managed to sell my accounts (for not much) to somebody else in the end
just so they wouldn't be abandoned.  The new company was kind of a pain
in the ass, but the agreement said they had to pay me my shop rate for
any time I did spend helping them.  When I actually invoiced them a few
times they quit calling me so often.

I was actually out in the field helping one of their guys a year after I
was out of the business when I discovered a variation of my DOS software
attack to get into a Napco P1632 with unknown dealer code also worked
with the Windows software.  I never really tried it with any other Napco
panels that I recall, but the P1632 was my main panel for 90% of
installs for many many years.


> I have been told by wife that I should just NOT ANSWER THE PHONE!!!
> She thinks it is soooooooo easy to do that!!  I don't feel that it
> the right thing to do.  Much the same if it was her mother that needed
> some help doing the wash or something that she does all the time.

I rarely get calls from old contracting customers.  A couple I
considered to be friends do drop me a text message from time to time for
things like father's day or to tell me about some exciting new tech like
a complete fusion splicer that fits in a backpack.  I suspect there are
a dozen or so commercial/industrial customers who would send me work
quick if I renewed my license and let them know.

I cringe when the phone actually rings (my machining business is
conducted 99% by email), because I have gotten bored asking the car
warranty scammers if they will cover a 41 Pontiac Chief or a 42 Willys,
or telling the guy who says he's going to cut off my power if I don't
pay to have his knee breaker meet me at the transformer so I can give
him what he's got coming.  It used to be pretty funny when they would
break character and tell me how they had their way with my mother in a
thick far east accent.  I've done that enough its boring now, so mostly
I just cringe when the phone rings.

Only a couple times a month is the phone a friend wanting to have lunch.
  If its family and they call rather than text they usually need help.
Dead battery, in a ditch, forget their phone.  That sort of thing.
Otherwise they text and I get back to them when its convenient.  even my
fishing buddies usually text first to see if I am busy.


> I know that it will have to slow down at some point......... When??
>

You touched on one thing that definitely slows me down.  Being paralyzed
with indecision on what to tackle next.


> Glad you are doing good with all.  And yes, it has been quite here!!
>
> Until another day, have a good one!!
>
> Les
>
>
>
>
>

--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff


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