Best/Worse/What did I learn today? Chat with friends

Sending big hugs, Judy.

After working for four hours with Tony yesterday, I'm having a quiet day today. I'm not really sore; I just can barely move!!

Will check my garden and hope to get some seeds planted.

hugs all around, katie

P.S. listening to Bob Marley

Glad you are having a relaxing day Katie..I think you needed it.
Bet you are going to say you've sunshine

I'm just sitting here watching t.v. show, feet up and enjoying the do nothing.

Darlene called from the house to say that there is ice around big pond so guess I will try to take the pump out tonight before it's frozen in

one of those days.....runner has not been started. did cut some more pieces for another quilt I am working on, using the black and white, and pinks I got in the strip swap. I have directions for three different quilts, with presents!! I can not decide which one I want to do ??? I really need to just pick one and get to it!!! Had to take the hubs out to run a few errands, now I am not sure I am in a creative mood??!!

http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/5849.htm link to bears piece I would love to do!!! just got the catalog in the mail....this is one piece, can be done as wall hanging, or you could get other designs and make a whole quilt. as a block of the month it is $79.99 a month!!! way to steep for my budget!! unless of course I quit eating...

I have often called my boys...........my three little bears !!

hugs Judy, call me if you need to vent....Love you.

THunder, that has got to be the cutest kit/hanging I have ever seen! Totally adorable.

Thunder, that is adorable, but I can't imagine stitching all those little pine needles down! And Wow, that is a pretty steep price!
Thunder, you have my number also, call when you need to! Sending big (((((((((((((((((((((((ARMWRAPS)))))))))))))))))))) your way!

Betty - not feeling brave right now.......
Just got home from an Interview Skills workshop, and Bob told me to get his truck back from the estimate, he had to pay $340.....
I told him he HAD to call our friend whom he did work for over the summer, and get paid. She doesn't want to pay until he's done the eavestrough, but he's dug out her yard, repaired and re-shingled her roof, painted some of the trailer, and some other odd jobs. I told him, "we need the $$ now"....... She's a church sister, so surely she understands this. She's also the church secretary and as we know, they get the wage of a church mouse......she works 16 hrs/week, plus her welfare (she can't work more hours or it will affect her welfare).
I repeat, I'm not feeling at all brave....rather scared.

Not good Susan..did Bob call her..and yes, she should realize at least he be paid for work done,perhaps she can hold a bit back until he finishes the jobs he committed to. I know it's a LOT of $$$ but far less than you thought, wasn't it in the thousands originally?

Meant to say Debbie, last night I was looking for something in drawers and lo and behold I found a metal timex watch, NOT sure the watch in the container is a Timex though..my BIL Tom was Chairman of the Board for Mutual of Omaha/Canada..did a lot of staying in NYC, watch has skyline of the city and says NY..if it's not used, do you think as you are from NY Paul might like it?? will check it out further tonight, was in a hurry and just set it aside.

Betty - that's just to get the truck back, NOT to do the work which we can't afford. That would be $3200 MORE. He paid $80 to tow it to the service center, now he'll have to pay to get it off their lot and home...........

This message was edited Nov 6, 2012 1:38 PM

wow, no wonder you are NOT being brave, that amount is overwhelming!!

How did your Interview Skills workshop go..do you think it will help?

oh btw - apparently the tow truck would want $160 to tow it home, so I told Bob to call the guy who towed it 1/2 way across town (now it's closer to home) to tow it from the service station to home (about 20 blocks)
Surely it can't be that expensive to tow it home........

Yes I think it will help. I have some "homework" to do tonight, then returning for the mock-up interviews with other participants.
They suggested not only to email Thank You cards to your interviewers, but also to send a handwritten card to each and every interviewer even if you have 3 interviews with the same person.
I like it - it's rather old-fashioned courtesy, and that's just fine with me!!

Let's hope end result is a 'job' because you sure do need one.

Does it now mean Bob cannot work?

Ann just called, won't be coming to bingo..her 22 year old nephew (lost his mother just less than a year of cancer) is having testicles removed, cancerous..operation should be over by now but they've not heard anything so she's really upset..says she will stay home incase her brother calls with news

I hope so too, Betty
Bob can work, he's just been spending all his time running around getting this stuff (not) done with the truck. He'll have to rely on his boss and/or co-workers to pick him up and usually he's the one picking the co-workers up.

I spoke to Kay, and she said the agreement was for him to finish the job (s) before he got any pay. I thanked her and said goodbye.
She just called me back and asked "how much was he looking for". I told her "if you can't do it, you can't, and I can't talk about it right now. I'll call you later". I said good-bye and had to hang up as I'm crying.....

hugs Susan...

Thanks Thunder
Apparently, Bob told her "whatever you think the work is worth" and they never set a price.
I have a feeling he MAY get $150 for several weeks worth of work, or maybe less.......
I'm sure he put in more than 40 hours on her place, and she'll go by what she thinks she can afford, rather than what it's worth. I don't fault her for not having $$ (she is on welfare, after all) but she shouldn't ask for work done that she can't afford. She knows very well that Bob just started work in June, has a HUGE truck bill he was just presented with (AND got charged big $$ for the estimate) and I'm still not working, nor receiving any type of funds.....

Susan, that is a lot for just an estimate! Praying payment comes through for Bob, and that you get a job soon! ((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))

that is insane for an estimate!!!

yes it is.....

I love him dearly, but I can't help but fault Bob for not setting an amount with Kay. Saying "whatever you think the job is worth" is NOT an estimate. Perhaps if he'd said how much he would charge, she wouldn't have gotten so much work done. Now we're stuck between a 'rock and a hard place'.
She's feeling badly, and we're doing badly - financially.....

The going rates for mechanics (average) in Calgary is about $90 per hour....if it took 4 hours of a mechanic's time to diagnose the problem that is $360....unfortunate but quite legal. I realize that doesn't change things, but it does explain them.

It would have been nice to know this in advance. Perhaps it was in the "small print"?!

deep sigh here, omg seems unreasonable for sure..

Bob is certainly NOT a business man, what ever you can afford just doesn't pay the bills. Even with young children who come to do work for me, first thing I say is how much do you charge to do ........... and the minute they say, whatever you think I strongly let them know that is not how business is done..I say what needs done, you say what the fee will be and we'll come to a fair price..lordy, lordy!!!

Got home, hot bath waiting for me, thought I might start a project but no, decided to cover up with electric blanket and watch part of the USA election result between shows..

Marion, got the fabric today, doing happy dance, now I can finish the border on the Present Quilt and get it done..you were far beyond generous, love the panels you sent as well.

The girls today left me crochet hot pads, care to guess what they are made of???

Glad you got the fabric Betty. I wanted to make sure I had sent enough so you could finish the quilt. Better to much than just a little short.
I hope you can do something with the panel. I couldn't believe the lady just throw those in with all my purchases. Nice treat so enjoy.

I will venture a guess of soda can tabs that have been used in crocheting rounds.

oh, I'll just bet you're right, Marion!! I can "see" the tabs.... wouldn't have guessed it otherwise!

Betty - you're oh-so-right......... Bob is NOT a businessman, but he's very much loved by everyone who meets him. Unfortunately there are some who will take advantage. Not to say that Kay's doing that maliciously - she just doesn't have the $$ it takes to do the job and Bob knows it. BUT, she should have realized that just paying for the materials isn't all Bob can do and she knows I don't have a job. I likely shouldn't have "gotten into the middle" of Bob's negotiations with her, but it's affecting our household. I think it's fair that Kay give us something towards all the work he's already done.
I'm going to step back, and let Bob go to her about the fee.

Yes, you are right, the girls are recycling and using soda pop tabs..

Marion, it's amazing just what people throw away..I will make good use of them, you can be sure of that..I was so worried that Joann's wouldn't have the fabric by the time I went to buy some, now no worries..

Susan, guess what I was trying to say is if he said whatever you could afford people would take it exactly as that and yes some would take advantage of him..you wouldn't want to make enemy of the lady seeing she took Bob's response as one that suited her finances. Can see how easy he would be taken advantage of..deep breath, remember, it seems something always comes up for you..adding you to my prayers!

Sending big hugs Susan. Maybe Bob could figure what he has spent on materials so far and ask her to pay that now. My sense is that the longer this goes on, the worse it's going to get. If she can't/won't even pay for materials now, I think Bob should call it quits. It sounds llike there is going to be a loss for you and Bob on thiss and it might be better to "bite the bullet" and not have him get farther into the hole. The mor3 he does without pay, the worse the hard feelings will be when she doesn't pay up.

I took a long nap this afternoon and am about ready to go back to bed - and it's just 6pm. Wore myself out yesterday.

Love the bear hanging but not the price.

hugs, katie

He researches the price of material, and tells her, and she gives him exactly that - to the penny. Wants receipts and change. She's very thrifty, and exacting (some people take that to mean she's mean-spirited, but they'd be so wrong). She's a loving person, but has to be tight with her expenses because of welfare. They don't give you any breathing room, for sure.
It's his labour that she hasn't paid for. He's worked a lot of hours spread over a month or more . She wants him to put up eavestroughing too, and I wonder how she's going to pay for that.......

He's gotten "burnt" by this, as there has been so much work done, and he's seen no pay for it. He says that he won't be doing anymore work for those in our neighbourhood who are on such tight budgets....... it's his nature to help, but this is hard on us.

Susan - he may want to change to an "Expense plus X%" that may make it easier for a nice guy like that to charge for labor....

Maybe you can try to write down all the jobs he has done for her and what he would charge... write down the material expense and then figure up an average labor cost..... He can then just tell them he charges "Materials plus 10%" or whatever it comes out to.... FOR all FUTURE jobs.....

Then Bob doesn't have the burden of deciding his price... he is obviously a very humble man...the price is SET and if they can't pay it or afford it then they will know right off the bat. If they say "I can't afford that" then he then has the option of telling them to call him when they can afford it... OR offer a payment plan... Expenses plus 5% up front and 5% labor after job is done.....

(HUGS) I agree with Betty... the Lord seems to help you find your way and I think this will happen soon.....

She's already bought the material at the time he used it, so it's only the labour he is owed.
10%, eh? Well, Bob got a contractor's discount which means he got the material for less cost, and that would mean his labour would get less cost?
I just told Bob he has to be fair to Kay and give her Some kind of # because she has no idea and it's likely upsetting her.
I've emailed an apology to Kay for having upset the both of us, and that Bob will be making a determination of his labour costs and letting her know.
I think he's talking about $300 for about a month's work (evenings, weekends, and days when he wasn't able to work at his regular job). Whatever he asks, it will be nice to have it said & done.
btw - Home Handyman Connection sent someone to help Bob fix our wall, and he cut us a "deal" and only charged $40/hr. I mentioned this to Bob & said "even if you charged 1/2 that, it would still be $20/hr". I told him - figure an amount, round it down, and give that figure to Kay.

No what I meant was find a number.... I used 10% just as an example.

If materials cost $300 then that mystery number (using 10% as an example) would be $330 for the job. I can't imagine what the % would be but if you figure an even amount for the labor it might help Bob in pricing.

It can be 90%... doesn't matter.... just whatever you figure the average job would be....

(HUGS) I know you will get through this.......

Thanks Mary.
Y'know......... talked way too much about me, and there are much more important things on this thread....... lol

Ohhh understand Obama has another 4 years in office..projected to be so, different process than Canada and confusing

I've been watching the CNN updates on the 'net, and they're projecting Obama as well.
Yeah, I don't quite understand it either, but I gather they're electing Senate, Governor, House, and Presidential seats all at once.

Yes, that is what they do.
And they just announce that Obama is resident for 4 more years! :(

Yup, there are a great number of elections going on at the same time... Congressional (Senators serve 6 year terms , Representatives serve 2 year terms and the elections are staggered so there are always "Senior" members in Congress. Governors serve 4 year terms, but not all states are on the same voting schedule,and we also have tons of local elections for Mayors, Sheriffs, and State government in addition to amendments to the State constitution and votes on local taxes.....we had about 15 different items on my Parish/State ballot.

For the Presidential election we have a Popular vote and an Electoral College vote. States are allotted so many Elec. College votes and those votes go to the candidate who "carries" that state by the greatest number of popular votes...ie...California has 55 EC votes. Obama won the popular vote in Calif. so he gets 55 votes. There are a total of 538 EC votes representing the 50 states and District of Columbia (DC). There is one vote for each voting member of Congress SEN 100 REP 435, plus 3 votes for DC.In order to win a presidential election, a candidate must get at least 270 EC votes...Obama got more than 270.

Hope that helps a bit....ir is really a very complicated, "simple" process....grin

No, not tiresome, necessary. I take the privilege and responsibility of voting very seriously. For positions, I look at both candidates very carefully...past performance, voting records, personal "behaviour", etc. I do not care what political party they may be affiliated with....I cast my vote for the person that I believe, from my own research, willdo the best job in that post. For amendments and taxes, etc. I do the same thing...research as many aspects of it as I am able to and then vote in what I believe to be the best interest for my family and my Parish/State. I find campaign commercials, tiresome....grin

Thank you Jean for the explanation, now waiting likely with many of you to hear Obama's speech, may it be soon as I'm tired.

Morning all,

No sooner did I close my eyes was it time to get up..rather than crafting today will be taking a nap. Lol

My hopes is that both parties will now work with endless energy for the betterment of the USA..

Another day, may it be filled with sunshine

Morning everyone! Sure hope you get your nap in today Betty.
I personally think they need to get rid of the electoral votes, and just let the people vote, a lot of states were still voting, or they were still counting votes, and they announced who was president! Just my opinion.