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

[ABLE1 <somebody@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 8/23/2023 9:21 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
> 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.
>  Â 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
>>


Thanks Bob!!  I know I am not alone!!