Let me introduce myself

So after two downer posts, it occurs to me most everyone reading this has no idea who I am. So here goes.

I live in a very small town in Northwest Tennesse. Been here about 10 years. My lovely wife is originally from here. We moved from Nashville when we decided it was time for kids. I was not crazy about it at first. I grew up in Buffalo, NY, by way of Chesire, CT and Boston, MA. I was still having trouble adjusting to the Volunteer state (even though it had been about 12 years). A small rural town was a major change.

We both worked in the music business. She worked a company that produced Grammy Award winning lullabyes, and I worked for a publishing company, pitching songs and engineering demos. I loved the studio work, but sucked at "the game". It was time for a change.

We came here and I got a job at a company that printed foam can huggies. I had no idea what I was doing, but eventually learned how to do the artwork (art in a very loose sense of the word, they were just huggies after all). We started printing T-shirts and caps, so things got a little more complex. I loved this. Trying to figure out how to set up the art so colors would mix and make others. Now I know this shouldn't have seemed like a big deal, but I was making it all up. I had no idea what I was doing. After about 5 years, the owner decided she wanted more time for her other interests and asked if I wanted to buy the company. So I did.

So here I am, owner of a company and making it all up. After lots of reading, it turns out I was right on track. Its funny as a lot of the other screenprinters in the area call me for advice on how to print something. Or even better, they have me print it for them.

I really love my job, even though at times I am subject to fits of rage and major depressions. I don't think I could ever work for someone again.

So there you go. I'll try again tomorrow. See ya.

Apology

I apologize. My friend (sister-in-law) Newscoma (you'll have to find the link yourself, it's over on the right, sue me, I'm new) said I may have come across a little dark on my first post. She actually wrote the one with the monkey picture.

Anyway, I'm usually a pretty layed back guy. Got the whole Chi thing happening. Pretty relaxed and groovy. But damn, the last month has kicked my ass. Being a lowly screen printer, January and February are always a little thin.

It's official, my $1000 truck needs a new engine. Lookin' at about $800. I bought it from my brother-in-law back in October. We both thought we were doing the other a favor. It would kill him to know this, so I can't tell him.

We went to the eye doctor today. He said my older daughter needs glasses. She's near-sighted. I said "can't we just move her desk closer to the board?, that's what my parents did." OK, I'm kidding, "they said tough it out and pay more attention to what the teacher is saying". OK, I'm kidding again. I didn't need glasses 'til I was in my twenties, which is a record in my family.

I really don't me to sound like such a tight ass. If it weren't for money, I wouldn't need any. I get like this every year about this time. In eight weeks I won't care. Well that's a lie, but it won't hurt as bad.

Guess that's it for today. This is really therapeutic.

Oh, you all need shirts printed. See the link over on the right. I'll learn how to embed the links and make it easier for everyone.

I keep trying to add spiffy pictures to my posts but they don't seem to show up. I'll figure it out eventually. Usually I'm pretty good about this stuff. But I've been a little pre-occupied (see previous post).

So there you go. I'll try again tomorrow. See ya.

What a day

Oh my God!! So today started out OK. Got up early, did a little Tai Chi, had some coffee and a pretty good, although small, breakfast. Stupid Diet. Went in to work. With the click of the lock, the day turned to shit.

First thing, the computer crashes, and as I would later find out, burns. It was no big deal really. The only thing of importance on it is all off my graphics software and customers' artwork. No biggie. If I can't get it back, I'm only mostly screwed. As long as people want shirts decorated with a Sharpie, I shouldn't have a problem.

Upon my return from the computer guy, my sister-in-law calls. We traded vehicles today so I could get her oil changed. Done this a bunch. No big deal. She is stranded about 30 minutes from us, the truck hemorrhaging oil. I wasn't terribly concerned, well actually I was, but it got worse when she mentioned the sparks. Now it sounds expensive. Anybody got a cheap 1990 Ford Ranger engine sitting around?

Oddly, with all that happened today, it wasn't really much different than any other day this year. Last week I found out the heat exchangers on the central unit at the shop were cracked and thus filling the building with carbon monoxide. At least that explained why we were so tired after a day of doing nothing. Two weeks before that a trucker parked outside for a few hours. I didn't think much of it until he came in and asked to use the phone, as he thought he was having a "mild heart attack". He wouldn't let me call an ambulance because he didn't have insurance and couldn't afford it. The mechanic across the street is an EMT. He was working on our van, so while I was checking on it I mentioned the trucker. He got an ambulance. Well, long story longer, they got the guy to the hospital, but he ended up dying. He couldn't afford it, so he had to choose to die. That's fucked up.

So there you go. I'll try again tomorrow. See ya.

The Beginning Of The End

And, in the beginning, squeegee monkies roamed the earth. And it was good.