Re: Really Stupid Things I Tried

[ABLE1 <somebody@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 3/30/2024 9:03 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
> On 3/30/2024 4:43 PM, ABLE1 wrote:
>> On 3/30/2024 6:11 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
>>> I tried to do little extra things to help my guys out, but it was
>>> never appreciated.  Stupid things I tried included:
>>>
>>> I once asked a local hotdog place to run a tab for me, and told my
>>> guys if they "ran out of cash" before the next pay day they could use
>>> my tab there.  They bitched me out up one side and down the other
>>> because they didn't want to eat hotdogs EVERY F'IN day.  I closed the
>>> tab.  I didn't say I was buying lunch every F'N day.  I had figured
>>> I'd have to pick up the tab for them a day or two a couple times a
>>> month.  Yeah, the tab looked like they had been inviting all their
>>> friends, family, neighbors, and that weird guy down the street they
>>> didn't even like.
>>>
>>> I once put a couple cases of sodas in the office fridge and told a
>>> guy if he was thirsty he could grab a soda out of the office fridge.
>>> Two days later it was empty.  I didn't say anything, and on day three
>>> he rather pointedly told me I was GOING TO HAVE TO restock the office
>>> fridge.  He'd been talking an arm load out to his service truck every
>>> morning.  I unplugged the office fridge the next day and told him it
>>> was broke and I couldn't afford a new one after supplying him with an
>>> 18 pack of sodas every day.
>>>
>>> I once told a guy I kept spare change in the ash tray of my truck if
>>> he needed to buy a soda.  Just to see I dumped about ten dollars
>>> worth of quarters in it (plus what was already in there).  At the end
>>> of the week he dutifully TOLD ME I need to put more money in the
>>> ashtray.  I said, sorry.  "That was for if you ran out of money, but
>>> now I have run out of money.  I don't know How I'm going to make
>>> payroll.  I'm ten dollars short.  Just the amount I kept in the
>>> ashtray."
>>>
>>> I used to keep extra fuel in gas cans in one of my service trucks.
>>> One guy kept telling me He needed to fuel his truck every other day.
>>> I followed him to the gas stations and sat across the street and
>>> watched when he filled the gas cans, but didn't put any fuel in my
>>> truck.  I took the gas cans out, installed locking caps, and filled
>>> the trucks myself every weekend after that.  Nobody every said
>>> anything about the locking gas caps, but that one guy did try to tell
>>> me he needed gas in his truck twice after that.  "Nope.  I filled it
>>> yesterday.  You do not."
>>>
>>> Early on when we had a slow day I would ask the guys if they wanted
>>> to go home or go fishing.  I paid for everything when we went fishing
>>> of course.  One guy got mad when it was a day to work, and said, "Bob
>>> you are a good fishing partner, but a lousy boss."
>>>
>>> "Yeah, I know.  I was a total douche bag for cutting off your flow of
>>> free hotdogs for your extended family, friends, neighbors, and that
>>> weird guy down the street you don't even like."
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> Well golly gee whiz Bob!!!
>> Are you so bored that bad memories pop back into your head??
>>
>> And yes, your typing caused me to start and remember employee
>> issues............  Bla Bla Bla............
>>
>> For me I made the decision that I was working harder with an
>> employee than without.  So I did not hire any after the last.
>>
>> Life was much better!!  When I needed help I used guys that
>> had there own 1 man business as a sub-contractor.  At the
>> end of the job, I would get a bill for labor and I happily
>> pay it out.
>>
>> As for your stories, I am sure you should get more busy so
>> your memories will not bother your brain.  LOL
>>
>> I hope you have plans to go a bit east on April 8th!!  Wouldn't
>> want you miss the special event!!
>>
>> Les
>
>
> This week I plan to make a test run hauling a 3/4 ton truck with a 3/4
> ton truck.  60 miles to go get it in Dateland and 60 miles back over
> Telegraph pass.  The plan is to see if I can load and secure it solo.
> Should be a good test run for my truck and goose neck trailer.  Should
> also be a good test for the new brakes on a hill I know I can drive
> without trailer brakes if I have to.
>
> This week I put new axles on the trailer with new electric brakes,
> because the old brakes were a combination of bad and missing, and nobody
> anywhere had trailer brake hubs that would fit the old axles.  Being
> drop axles swapping the spindles was a bit more work than you might think.
>
> I still need to finish wiring up the brakes and break away controller.
>
> If it works I'll do the same thing again a day or two later.  Only this
> time through the mountains up to Show Low and back.  Best case is a
> little over 5-1/2 hours one way.  I'm rounding up my dad's old vehicles
> for salvage or repair.  I have two people interested in buying the two
> 3/4 ton (both are Cummins Diesel Dodges) as is, but I might fix one up
> and keep it as a backup tow rig.  I'm learning the Duramax in my truck
> might not have the long life I was lead to believe it should.  Its okay,
> but I am seeing them fail at lower mileage than I was told to expect.
>
> While I am in Show Low I have to make a plan for pulling a park model
> (my folks old summer home) out of the park where it is.  They WANT IT
> OUT.  There is a tool shed full of tools I am told, some things in the
> park model, and of course the truck that will be coming back with me on
> this first run.  While I am there I have to come up with a plan for the
> park model... with tip outs.  Manual tip outs.  Technically it is a
> travel trailer, but its huge.  With tip outs.  Lots of trees have grown
> up around it since it was placed and I may not be able to just pull it
> out.  My truck can handle it, and I have a couple stabilizer hitches.
> The hitch was dropped from the trailer, but I am told its still there. I
> just hope the axles are still on it.  Tires could be an issue...  The
> park has given me an April 15th deadline.  They won't even accept rent
> unless my mom actually goes there to stay.  Assholes.  I may put an add
> on the local Facebook groups in Show Low.  Free park model.  Must remove
> by April 15th.  It was built in 1977.  I have the current registration
> tab sitting on my desk.
>
> Still need to empty out my dad's work shop, storage containers, house,
> old hardware store etc...  I've posted a few of his things for sale on
> Facebook, but the vultures are out in force.  Like new THINGIE.  Tested
> works perfect.  Sells for $$$.  Asking half that FIRM AND ETCHED IN
> STONE.  "Oh, will you take 1¢ on the dollar of your asking price?"
> Selling shit sucks.  I am reminded why I threw so much good stuff in the
> dumpster when I shut down The Security Consultant.
>
> Part of my plan is to haul his cargo containers to my place and drop
> them behind my shop.  That will reduce some of my headaches.  My shop is
> already full of tools, and now I have a bunch of his stuff in my shop
> just in the way, and its starting to over flow the space I had left in
> my cargo container.
>
> ... and I still have to find the time to run the shop.
>

Well OK then, your itinerary is F-U-L-L of too much STUFF!!!
For me every day is a Saturday and today was a Double Saturday!!

Next Saturday we are taking a trip to Niagara Falls so we will
be in the best location on April 8th!!

Hoping for no clouds!!  Will get a double whammy at 3:17pm with the
Horseshoe Falls lighting up and the Solar Eclipse.   Y-A-H-O-O!!

Les