Seeing what its like on the other side....

I have been self employed for over 20 years now, its had its ups and downs and the last 3 years have been lean.

As the expression goes, I loaded the gun but wasn't ready to pull the trigger, what I mean is I researched on line and sent out 4 resume’s for employment 6 months ago. 3 months later I received a phone call from one of the 4 resume I sent out, after several interviews I decided to take the position offered (I pulled the trigger).

My corner office

I had a crash coarse of 1.5 days and then dumped into the position of production manager for a 6 bodyman 4 painter shop, a little overwhelming but I was confident and pushed forward. The first week blow by quick 60+ hours later but I was enjoying the challenge and it wasn't a regretful 60+ hours but fulfilling!

The second week fly’s by and I'm in sync with the shop, the office couldn't keep up with us in the back, problems are getting solved and the guys actually liked me, but this week was 68+ hours.

I was hired as a salaried employee and I understood that when I signed on, the hours didn't bother me I was use to working hard and long days being self-employed (no I didn't play golf all day and jet to our weekend get away).

I sat down and had a discussion with the general manager, great guy, very dedicated! I explained that I was told by corporate that I would be working 40 to 45 hours and that was what my salary was based on, but I felt I needed something to encourage me to continue to work and commit too and at that time I was promised a bonus system would be discussed. The bonus was discussed but nothing was ever finalized.

I was fully committed to them, giving everything I had but felt bewildered, I don't now if this was done on purpose from corporate but that was the deciding facture for me to leave this company, my general manager was in agreement with me but he stated several times that they dropped the ball and it was hard leaving but it was something that I needed to do.

So I have since returned to my self-employment mode with a different but positive attitude and have already rolled my experience into my daily operations.

It was in my opinion a good experience and I got to see what its like on the other side.

July 11 2010 Nascar Weekend

Another year has gone by and Dad is excited cause this is his weekend! Nascar at Chicagoland has become a family event, well for Me Dad and my brother all other family members are excluded. We load up and go to the track for an extended weekend.

Dad's truck loaded

We had been using Dad's old RV until it was vandalized and destroyed and he settled up with the insurance and sold it. He has been looking for a new one but he is being picky and cheap, gotta love ya Dad! Last year he borrowed one from a friend who is a repo man, it was nice but missing a lot of stuff. This year we used my smaller Tutrtle Top Ford van, it got the job done.

Dad and I went out to the track Thursday ahead of John, he had to work and was in Michigan. His plans were to drive in on Friday and leave out Saturday night. Thursday night was great, quite relaxing and I made a typical Nascar Dinner, Ribeye steaks, Potatoes and grilled Onions. The Anderson Crew showed up late Thursday and set up camp next to us and partied till 4am Friday! Thank you airconditioning for drowning out the noise. Friday mornings breakfast consisted of....... CRACKER BARREL Dad's favorite place to eat, they know him on a first name basis not only here in Joilet but in Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, and I'm sure in a few other states as well. I had to go into work for a couple of hours and left Dad at the track Friday with the anderson crew.

How much Garbage can one party create, a lot!

The Phone Call.....

I'm getting to the point that answering the phone lately is creating a lot of stress due to the several other disturbing calls about family members we have received in these last few months. Dad got a call from his sister, he brother Roberts wife just passed and it was sudden and unexpected, another dear kind person taking to soon out of our lives! I headed back to the track so he could load up and head home to his brother in Alabama. The weekend just wasn't the same with out him being next to me watching the race, this weekend was and has always been for him. So I tolerated my brother (gotta love family) sat around a lot, sleep, watched the race and packed up camp early Sunday morning and headed home. I have this feeling that our yearly Nascar weekend has ended with this major event.

B.B.

7/6/2010 Murphy put'n TJ in her place