January 2009

[NS'Creter]

Hi guys! I figured that I should make a post...it's been a while. Not much goin' on really. Winter has found us with a pretty good snow storm or two and up until this evening the temperatures this week have been inhuman. Or inhumane...depending on how you feel about it. As far as biz goes; I've had to pass on no less than a dozen indoor projects since this fall. I can't physically do the work and my crew is in school and have part time jobs. I told them to move on 'cause I didn't wanna hold 'em back. The lawsuit regarding my back is plodding along very slowly. There's not much satisfaction there. My wife became a real estate agent in July and started out quite well, but the market is extremely slow right now so she has taken another job until the real estate picks up again. Gawd bless 'er! I've got a good one. I have an appointment at what they call the "Pain Clinic" this month. Their goal is to help folks like me manage their pain and hopefully jump back into life. My doctor wants me to see a neurologist in effort to pinpoint the nerve damage that's been keeping me down. By all expectations I should be considerably further along with my recovery than I am. The nerve damage seems to be the only explanation. I have also slipped into a bit of a rut...I'm aware of it and will fight it all the way but depression doesn't fight fair. So that's a bit of an update from me. It would be cool if you all posted one as well. I often wonder how you folks are doin' and would love to read about it. Us concrete people are tough, so keep yer chins up and make that little rhyme come true. ;D
[glow=red,2,300]Gonna be fine in 2 oh-oh 9!![/glow]

[alexwright]

Iam also in a rut it seems. I have some bids out that are so close yet so far. I have 5 or 6 bids that I recently submitted and I gave some really really good deals on and they really do appear to be right there ready to sign but until they do, what can I do? I have been putting in applications everywhere and nothing as of yet. I am literally broke and my wife does not work as she stays home with the kiddos. My back is at about 65% and has been acting up the past few days. To make it worse I have been sick with this flu or something since Tuesday night. Now its gone to my chest. If something doesn't happen soon I don't know what I'm going to do. This week is the week I find out on alot of these bids, but its also the week they need to happen because I am dead broke. I would like to get 2 jobs and just work my tail off for a while but, I can't even get that right now. Tomorrow I'll start filling applications again. The market in California is horrible right now and the stinking media does not help either. Anyhow that's where I am right now. Sorry to be so dramatic but, this is where I literally am right now.

[NS'Creter]

Take yer vitamins and get feelin' better Alex. Stress causes lower back pain due to the muscles tightening...as I'm sure you know. You're a good guy and a family man Alex and I hate that things are so tough for you. I wish that I was able to do something. I rant, vent and whine on here and to other folks in emails and they're gracious enough to allow it...fact is, it helps me to feel better sometimes. So that's about all I can offer you, a place to do the same...either here or by email. I find that just knowing there's someone in my corner makes me feel better at times and you have that. I'm in your corner...no judging, just support. You know what they say about doors closing and others opening...we just need to find the ones that have opened up for us. Hang in there man...I'm rootin' for ya!

[aynet]

Yeah. Been tough for us too since the hurricanes in early September. When your business relies on expendable income and the expendable is paying insurance deductibles and the getting trees off your house, the last thing people think about is decorating their concrete. From Labor Day until now, I think we've done 5 small jobs. That pretty much makes things more than tight, but down right squeaky. Fortunately we were able to defer our mortgage until January because we were involved in the hurricane. We did get a new roof out of it! Praise God! Really! We needed one badly and our out-of-pocket ended up at only about $2k for an $18K roof. I can't complain about that except for it came when I didn't really have an extra $2k laying around.
I'll tell you truthfully, I've had some bad days. I've cried a lot over the past several weeks. Sorry, I'm a girl -- that's what we do guys -- we cry sometimes. (Like that's news!!!) I've been angry, depressed, stressed, fearful as well as hopeful, positive and full of faith. It's a paradox of emotion, isn't it?
I think we just have to keep on keeping on... I mean just do what we know to do and trust God for the rest. God revealed to me that trusting His provision isn't the same as trusting HIM. I have to trust that He knows where I am AND where I am going! What else can I do? If I don't have that faith, I don't have anything. I can't make it happen myself; I must trust HIM.
At least the phone is ringing now, and we are going on appointments. Eventually, it will start rolling again. I truly believe that.
Hang in there, guys. I'll be praying for both of you, for your physical bodies as well as your emotions and spirit. (You know I mean that I WILL) I understand how frustrating it is for men who want to provide for their families but can't due to bad circumstances. It's a difficult place to be. You two keep your chins up and your eyes where they should be - UP!
This has encouraged me - Isaiah 30:18-23
Tenya

[NS'Creter]

Hi Tenya! It's always great to hear (read) from you. I have thought of you folks in the south often through all of the extreme weather. You've really gotten hit quite hard and I admire your strength.
been tough here because of my injury. 2007 and 2008 really could have been big years for us as we had a lot of inquiries. We tried to make it work and do some projects but turned down more than we did. We have no idea what the future holds for us...I really want to continue my biz and make it work. It's tough. Venting on here and supporting each other seems to help me and I hope that it helps others as well. Thank you all for your support and I'm rootin' for all of you.

[alexwright]

Well, I got a call the other day and went to bidit, got it, was going to start that day and my pressure washer starts acting up. I ran to other side of San Diego to get some stain from Proline, then went by a friends for his pressure washer. Got to sight and his fittings were different from my hose. Anyhow did not get to do anything that day but waste my gas because next day the customer cancels. He called and said his mom changed her mind and maybe in 6 months. I had not gone over the following day because it was supposed to rain next couple of days. Did'nt rain until earlier today, which if I had known that I could have finished the job. Anyhow this guy is a contractor and apologized because his mom is on medication and gets these spurts. He said he had recently done some work for his mom and she did the same to him and he got fed up with it and walked off and told her to get somebody else to do it because he did'nt have time for all the mess. Anyhow, I believe him. So I will be going back tomorrow to pick up my pressure washer. I have a project meeting tomorrow with a local contractor and the customer for final details it seems. Plus I had another customer who is ready it seems to start in about 3 weeks when I'm done with this other project. This other project is ripping out some swimming pools for a contractor friend. We had been in communication lately about his new product. Oh yeah, he's the one with the Magic Mastic Sand. Anyhow I let him know that I operate Bobcat and other machinery so to keep me in mind if any work or anything popped up. He called today and let me know he is about to start 2 pools but needed to rip them out. Which is where I come in and operate his bobcat for him. This is supposed to be for about 3 weeks. After which I will contact that customer and hopefully start on hers. I've talked to her and she's willing to wait. So if all goes well here as planned I'll be able to breathe for a while. Hopefully some other projects in works will come through and I can knock them out on weekends so that I can catch up a bit and get squared away on some bills and get that pressure washer fixed. Hopefully nothing changes like that lady. Hopefully she'll come to and decides to do it. Thanks for all of your concern and prayers. I'm not ashamed to admit I've shed a few tears in prayer and asking God to help me and my family. I also have to admit that a chastisement was due me and a learning experience in God's watershed. Thanks again and please do keep us in prayer.

[NS'Creter]

Wow! That lady sure took you for a little rollercoaster ride. I guess that one just wasn't meant to be huh? When things like that little series of "incidents" happen and plans change what else can ya think? You're a tough one Alex...like a Timex...keep on ticking buddy! It's good that you got some work (I love runnin' machines) maybe you'll make a contact through this new gig that leads to a project? Stranger things have happened. Keep us posted buddy 'cause we will be thinkin' of ya.

[Lindy]

We're all in the same leaky boat right now, with some taking on more water than others ... maybe we should all get "in line for a bailout." Navigating successfully through rough economic times is definitely challenging and stressful. There will be roadblocks, speed bumps, and potholes that cause us to adjust our course, but so long we keep the faith and think positive thoughts I believe that we will SURVIVE and steer clear of falling into a pessimistic pit. Remember that saying "when the going gets tough, the tough get going!" I pray that all of you find a "life preserver" to keep you, your business, and your families buoyant until there is smooth sailing and sunny skies on the horizon again.

As for back pain, it is probably about the most dehabilitating type of pain there is ... I occasionally have 2-4 days of excruciating sciatic nerve pain radiating from my lower back, down my leg, into my foot ... but, it goes away as quickly as it comes on; typically only occuring a couple of times a year, thank goodness. The type you guys have must be as agonizing physically as it is mentally ... please try not to let it keep you down or break your spirit.

Lindy A.

[NS'Creter]

Yep...we all gotta keep on keepin' on.

I've joked about paranoia before and have said "Just because yer paranoid it doesn't meant they're not out to get ya." ;D But I gotta tell ya this one...it's a continuation of the way things have been goin' for us. I mentioned that my wife was seriously looking at going to Alberta to work. We have contacts there and the money is great. We need it and I can't do it. So the low price per barrel has taken it's toll and plants are shutting down as are the ground crews (in Alberta). So, of course, we had to have our black humor laugh at the situation...a whole industry that had been runnin' strong has been affected just so that we couldn't get straightened out.

No, we don't actually believe this but is sure is a rotten coincidence wouldn't ya say?

[Lindy]

Alberta ... that is a world away from you! Would this mean uprooting your family, along with the bedrock you were building your business on until your back injury and the economy hit you hard, and making the move to the far "west" Or, potentially worse, temporarily living 1000+ miles apart until financially better times prevail I know they say you must go with the flow, which sounds as if migrating west to Alberta from Nova Scotia might be a viable road to SURVIVAL ... hope that whatever decision is reached that you find greener pastures (instead of merely the grass looking greener on the other side of the fence, being a far distant Canadian province).

I am sure your stress level continues to build up and truly hope that you are able to keep it from erupting. You have managed to somehow hold on for this long, whether it be by a rope or a hair. Despair is as dehilitating to ones mental health as a physical injury is to ones body ... so, "bar the door" and don't let the despair "break in" since once it does it can be quite difficult to "evict it from your home life and physiologically

[NS'Creter]

Yeah...it's about 3,400 miles from here to where she would have been goin'. The ironic thing is that I was in Alberta (subsidizing our income) when I got hurt. I was out there alone for 8 weeks...the job she was looking at would have her there for 3 weeks and home for 1. The company would fly her back and forth. It's not likely to happen now.
I'm on my way out the door to that "Pain Clinic" appointment...3-4 hours away. Ouch!

[alexwright]

I went out yesterday to demo that pool and we got " red carded", meaning we needed to stop and get more permits. Long story short there was a general contractor working near by and started trying to cause trouble and had inspector come out and we ende up having to get some more permits for the site. Cali. just asks for so many different permits its ridiculous. we had a pool permit but not a whirlpool permit plus now a grading and who knows what . Anyhow my friend will call me in a few days once all permits are received. went out to bid for another contractor I know and hopefully that comes through tomorrow. On Sat. and Sun. doing an engraving job for an ADA compliance on some steps. doing a two inch strip one inch away from edge of steps. Doing about 200+ lineal feet. So much work, "so close yet so far away". I need for all of these to come through. I tell you its been a crazy two or three weeks with all these changes and stuff. After so much you kinda just shake your head and smile in disbelief at how it all seems to crumble or something in front of you. Maybe its tests or something? Anyhow gotta keep plugging away, I'll try to keep you all posted to my soap-opera life. I personally wonder whats next. Seriously, everyday is a new horizon and at this point, kind of interesting to see what's going to happen next.

[NS'Creter]

I hear ya Alex! Wonderin' what's around the next turn...sometimes thinkin' that we can't take any more and somethin's gotta give...then a brand new challenge comes up. Well, apparantly we aren't given more than we can handle and thankfully we only get one day at a time. ;D Sometimes I feel like the "teensy-weensy spider"...know what I mean? Heh,heh. Good luck with all that's goin' on Alex. The permit thing in Cali seems way over the top to me. Maybe it's needed, I don't know, but what can ya do but play the game?

[Lindy]

I think every State, and for that matter city/municipalities as well, are trying to come up with more ways to nickel and dime us in order draw more blood (money) to put in their fiscal coffers. Heard on the news the other day that California is in such a dire financial state that they are on the verge of bankruptcy and may start paying there debts and State employees with IOU's.

Further it is my belief that States and city/muncipalities have a secret council/committee whose job it is to "think up new permits they can charge us for" ... they may even be like small time police departments whose officers have secret "speeding ticket" quota... as to how many new "permits" they must dream up each week, enabling them (State' and municipalities) to make more money from these "new equired permit payments" as well as from citations they issue for non-compliance. The worse the economy gets, the more permits and licensing fees will become required to do business in every State' and municipality.

In Texas, now that the price of gas has fallen from high a few months ago of $3.80 to $3.90 per gallon down to about $1.50 to $1.60, Texas is seeking to increase the State gas tax ... they say it is to gain necessary funds to repair/widen/improve ou State roads/highways (since Federal funding has been cut); if that is the case, so long as it is not more than $.10 per gallon, thats fine since we do need to improve/better maintain our roads and highway system, but for some reason I doubt the funds would go toward what it was intended any more than sales of lottery tickets all go only to fund schools across the State. Oh well, thats the way the ball bounces; sometimes out of our court and playing field.

Lindy A.

[NS'Creter]

Yeah, sometimes it takes a miracle to part the red sea of tape. In an area as small as where I am sometimes that red tape can be taken personally. It's never happened to me but I have witnessed the squeeze bein' put on a few fellas. Because this place is small and the "old boys' clubs" do exist some of us refer to it as Hazard County. ;D It's nasty and it's wrong, but it happens.
Taxes and fees would be easier to swallow if the revenue were used in the manner they claimed it would be. That major municipal project that I've talked about has a $5million purse to work with. In today's newspaper one of the more powerful downtown merchants was whining about certain buildings. He obviously has an agenda. This concerns me 'cause what he is suggesting could burn through that purse quite quickly leaving the town without any real beautification done and me without the payday of the project. The real kicker is the fact that this merchant also happens to be my slow-as-molassas idiot lawyer. Geez! It's almost like this clown has somethin' personal against me.