Hello there diary lady! I got a "comment" from my lovely daughter. I love you too Honey! She is a wonderful daughter and a dear mother of two.

First thing this morning a gentleman brought in two wipers from his car that we painted a week ago. He claimed we broke them. Well, no one would remove a wiper blade to paint a car. they are just covered with paper along with the windshield. We did not touch his wiper blades. He stated LOUDLY, that his 20+ some year old car was "Perfect"! Just Perfect! The fact that his wipers were original, rusty and 20+ years old may have had something to do with his problem, but I did not. I sent him packing. Again and again I ask, what is wrong with people. Did he really just realize that they were rusty and about to break??? or see an opportunity before his eyes? My theory is that when the new paint is on the car, everything else starts to look it's age. Then they notice. None the less, we keep on painting cars. Keep focus on the good people of the world!! Have a wonderful day. Lynn M.

Dear Dear Diary Lady, Whats up? It has been a busy week at the shop. Our new painter is doing great! that is good. I got short with a body man over going too fast and not doing perfection, and his "Good Morning" to me was not his usual greeting. Either the customer is mad or an employee. I choose the employee, rather the customers be happy.

My Daughter-in-law, Abby is the office manager. She is a constant delight. She bubbles ALL day, no matter what, the customers love her. The shop loves her. She keeps us all laughing. She is on top of every detail and can multitask like you have never seen. Her latest thing is she bought a bunch of chocolate and has it hidden. Anyone who needs an afternoon "fix" has to ask Abby, then enjoy an outrageous demonstration of some sort of act of getting the chocolate from crazy places. Last thing in the world one would expect from that pretty face, but none the less funny as hell. She demonstrated for my son, her husband and he was concerned regarding the stress getting to her and her mental health.

Greg is our estimator, sales rep. Greg is from North Carolina and you just have to say "HI" to him and you know it. The customers love him. A customer brought his car in and wanted to pay $199.00 for all the work. Greg did his estimate, explaining to him the prep and repair on the panels before the paint and what body work was needed. By the time he was done, and the customer agreed it was needed, the estimate was $700+. The customer, happy and laughing told Greg, "His mouth ought to be in the circus"! We all laughed over that.

Just wanted to give you a little info on our front staff. We all get along and work hard. That is the best thing about having a family business.

A quiet Saturday at the shop

It is after 2:00 on a Saturday at the shop. We have done several estimates in the morning and the afternoon is quiet. I have done all my financials and am passing time until 3:00 when I can lock up, go to the bank and call it a day. I plan to take a nap when I get home. I now have 4 employees who owe me money. I do not want to be a bank. I take it out of their pay, gradually. Encourage them to BE HERE AND CLOCK IN AND MAKE MONEY!" so they do not need to borrow money. I need a full time bank clerk to keep this all straight. I never let them off the hook. I would like to, but just cannot do that.

We had a good week. Lots of happy people. A couple of evil ones. I was prepared for the one evil guy and we had a staring contest. Weirdo. I asked him what he wanted after my son told him we would fix the two small problems he found and why he was continuing to complain so much. He did the stare at me for a full minute before he answered. I could see the writing on his pea brain inside his scull....."do I mess with this Bi..h or not?" I, head held high, stared right back, not flinching a muscle. He backed down and said he was going inside to take care of the crap...."Excuse me!" I said, "I mean pay the bill" was his response. I said Thank you and went back to what I was doing.

Another week, and now I am ready for my one day off. It seemed like a long week, but thankfully it was a busy and productive one. My body guy who came in today, cannot get his car started. that means I have to give them a ride home. That means going downtown. God has been good to me and I believe through faith in His expecting the same from me. So, downtown we go. May God Bless all who read my little stories. Lynn

Jane Fonda

My Dear Friend, Ms. Diary,

I just have one quick note to share with you. I have a car in my lot that has a bumper sticker on it which says, "SCREW JANE FONDA". Now, if you are over 50, you would chuckle and remember the day. If you are younger, like Abby, you would look at me and say "what is that about, I know who Jane Fonda is, an older lady actress, but why would anyone hate Jane Fonda???" Yes, back in the day, what a piece of antiquity, we took a picture. If anyone of you do not understand, go ask Grandpa!

Very sincerely yours, Lynn

Top of the morning to you, Miss Diary!! coming to you early this morning in the dark at my desk....waiting, waiting, on the electrician. It is Tuesday and I am in early as I have yet another new employee starting at 7 am. I have come to understand that among body shop employees the acceptable way to quit is to not show up one day and not to call. If someone is more than two hours late, with no call, I know they have quit. That is just how it is done. To say, "I quit" or (heavens no) give notice, I now know is just foolish for me to expect. Sometimes, I am a slow learner.

I have had a letter on my desk from a gentlemen regarding his mother. Ms. Aldondo McCracken. Aldondo brought her car in to be repainted. She seemed like a very nice elderly lady. Seemed. When she came to pick up her car she blamed us for "fading" her molding. OY! We explained to her, very nicely, that one cannot fade molding. Often when an older car is painted it becomes more apparent that the moldings have faded over time. Aldondo went from 0 to 10 in a nano second and declared us incompetent and left is such a huff that we did not have a chance to tell her we could flat black her molding if she wanted us to.

She came back with the car two weeks later, again angry. She had tree sap on the hood. She said that was out fault because we used crappy paint. We use very expensive paint, by the way. She admitted that she probably parked too close to a tree, but that was not her fault and she demanded we repaint her car. I told her no. That tree sap was not covered by the warranty. We offered to try to get it off for her, but that I could not do it for free. Again with the 0 to 10, name calling and off she went.

Then, the letter from her son arrived addressed to Mr. Moore. He explained in his letter that his mother was very upset with her paint job. Duh. He said she came in with over spray all over her car and we told her that we would not take it off unless she paid us. He further stated that she had black spots all over her car, (sap) that was a sign of a bad paint job. He states that his mother was told to keep her car in the garage! We agreed with her when she said it was not a good idea to park under a tree. That one was the closest to the truth in the letter.

Now, I ask you, Miss Diary, how do I respond to her son??? without offending him regarding his mother's two sided story telling?! I plan to call him, I have thought about this enough, and just be upfront, say, bring the car in, talk to me in person. Yep, this will be fun. Thank you Aldondo!

Bonjour Madam Diary,

Good morning Madame Diary: It is Sunday, no people to deal with. I slept in 3 segments last night. I am having my once a week pleasure, a cup of coffee. I can usually recover from the overwhelming frustration and see things clearly with a good night sleep.

I am remembering "Shake Down Week" for some reason. Shake down week is the first week you open your shop. It was described to me as "disorganized hell" and to be ready. The person who worked shake down week with us was a young man named Mitch Todd. Mitch is a high energy, good looking young man with a streak of mischief in him. A very wide streak. I barely remember that week. I know I had to set up payroll, taxes, business license and insurance, etc, etc....and write over 80 estimates, fire an employee, deal with 15 people who were told to come back by the previous owner for a free paint job. People so filled with rage at him and frustration that many men had tears in their eyes when they came in. I had to figure out the computers and the program we bought and the bank. We were there at the shop at 6:00am and left around midnight. The shop was full of cars, not touched and no work orders, names etc., to be found. As we tracked each and everyone down and found out why they were there, we learned they had all paid in advance. of course.

There were also 7 barrels of toxic waste sitting in the shop, They were written into the purchase agreement that HE DEVIL would have picked up($150.00 per barrel). Most of the tools were gone that were there the day before during the walk through. By the third day, as I was numb to any further shock, the owners of the air compressor came to pick it up, the compressor HE DEVIL sold to me. No parts vendors or any vendors would deal with me as HE DEVIL owed everyone and I mean EVERYONE, money.

As I said, I do not remember that week for the most part. Mitch took charge of most everything and kept us moving. (running) I lost 10 pounds that week. Was too stunned to even cry. What Mitch kept telling me was to TRUST NO ONE WHO WALKS IN THAT DOOR. He put a sign on the inside of my door. I still have it there. Mitch taught Hugh and I to write estimates, to yell back at customers who yell first and fire crappy employees. He tried to teach me to be tough and laugh at the thugs, not do anything that was above basic service levels as when they do not pay, they do not appreciate. I couldn't toughen up in a week, I had to change my core and am still at it. It seems like "shake down week" lasted 6 months. I dealt with HE DEVIL legal issues for 6 months straight. My legal fees were $5,000. a month. There is another one I pray for, May he recieve his just rewards. Some of the people he owed money to called me at work and threatened to come to my shop and beat the crap out of me. Men! If I did not pay them the money HE DEVIL owed them. Stop in anytime, I told them. I have 911 on speed dial.

Mitch Todd was a very important part of my life for the next 9 months. He called every week or I called him. He talked me through handling customers, vendors and the previous owner. Listened to me cry with frustration and anger almost daily. He listened to me cry over marriage issues. He even called a customer and pretended he was a police officer to get him to pay his bill. Did not work, but we had a good laugh over the the waste of human skin guy. I have one big secret I have kept from Mitch, if he ever comes back and we share a drink again, I will tell him. I believe I would surprise that young, tough skinned fellow. I would like to see him again, and wish him the best where ever he may be.

I had no idea what I had gotten us into, but Mitch was there to explain it to me. If he was still around, he would tell me to tell these people to %$^*(^%#$@@$% and then take their money. They aren't worth it. He is right, everytime we go above and beyond and give a customer services they did not pay for to help them, THEY are the ones who complain and cuss at us the most. I think they think if they got something, they could get more. People have told me "I broke their radio or something in the car". I say "Sir, your radio was broken when you brought the car in" They go, "ok" and leave. But they gotta try, huh! I have begun to hate humanity and especially hate this town.

Dear Lord, please give me the strength to deal harshly with the dishonest people and not let the anger reflect on the good people of the world. Help me be discerning and know a liar and thief when I meet them and not become so jaded that I hate all people because of the bad ones.

Thank your Madame Diary for your friendship. You are the best!

Dear Diary, friend, I could not handle today in the manner I wish I could. I took it all inside and it ate at me until I got home and drank Port and ate ice cream. I cried and cursed in frustration.


A man came in with a Jag we had repaired and painted earlier this week. It was beautiful and he said that. He was angry because he hosed it off and let it dry in the sun. Well, duh, he had some hard water spots. He denied doing that said we put the spots there. My son explained to him that they would come off, with waxing the car, but he had to wait a few more weeks to wax. my son even waxed a small portion of his trunk lid to show him they came off. This jerk then demanded that Hugh, my son wax his entire car then and there. We both said no, but Hugh offered him a bottle of the wax we use and he shoved his hand away. He got in his car and said "I am never coming back" I said "OK". What is wrong with a guy like that! We tell people that the rain won't hurt the car, but not to wash it for 4 weeks. We tell them they can hose it off, but dry it gently with a chami.

My next problem was so awful, I am not sure I can write about it without getting emotional again. This one will play it out on Monday and after some time, I may be able to share. I do know one thing, I am done trying to do nice things for anyone. They are the ones who think if they get something out of you, they can threaten, cuss etc and you will give them more.

We delivered several cars today to very appreciative people, who loved the work and the service. When will I turn the corner and focus on those wonderful people and not go to pieces over the human trash I have to deal with?

I am becoming a hater of people. This is completely opposite of who I was and I am somewhere in the middle. It is late and I am usually much better in the morning. So, I apologize. I also want to thank my wonderful friend who called, listened to my frustration and even got me to laugh. Yes, a homicide trumps an nasty, threatening tramp who signed up for a $298 paint job and was mad that it was not the $1,000.00 service. Silly me, I should give it all away and close my doors next month. At least I am on the right side of the dirt today. good night to all my friends and great customers. To the human garbage I deal with, I will always pray you get all you deserve and more. Lynn Moore

Woe to the Half Price Sale

Dear Diary: I arrived at 5:00 am and opened the shop. I opened up the shop garage doors and turned on all the fans to cool it off before the crew arrived to work. Of course, there is a daily surprise, none of my office light are working. I am working by the light of my computer. Checked all circuit breakers, nothing. Oh well, electricians got to live too, I guess.

With my time this morning, I want to share my experience with Unice. Let me back up a little.

I have put on a "Half Price ALL Paint Services" sale twice this year. Generated a lot of business and it was wonderful for all the people who were able to get their cars fixed and painted whom would other wise not be able to afford it. Yet........nothing like a half price sale, will bring the truly hinky out from where ever they hide. One such Hink was a gal named Unice. She came in as sweet as can be and agreed to some body work and a half price paint job. That was accomplished.

When Miss Hink picked up her car she proceeded to walk the entire car, face to car, for 25 minutes. My daughter in law accompanied her. Sadly for Unice, great for me, she could not find ANYTHING wrong and proclaimed it a wonderful paint service. She paid by check, something I do not allow, but Abby will occasionally do if one has no other means to pay. Miss Unice left and phoned me 15 minutes later. She said when she was driving home she noticed one of her floor mats was dirty and torn. I told her I highly doubted that, but to bring it back.

I asked my detailer if he knew anything, he is great at his job and quality oriented to a fault. He said he cleaned all of her mats, they were black rubber, heavy and none were damaged. I just could hardly wait till she got back.........She pulled in and I walked to her car. All her mats were in her car, fine and she went to her trunk and got one out filthy and torn. I looked at her and said, in shock, "You gotta be kidding me! you obviously went home and got this and thought you could get me to pay you money!" As a true Hinky person does, she went off into a tirade of obscenities and screaming. She liked to get nose to nose to me as if to intimidate me. I regret, but what went through my head was to go to my purse and give the psycho $20, which was what she wanted, to get rid of her. Now it gets interesting. She stood in my lobby and announced she was going to put a stop payment on her check and ran out the front door. I thought "the hell you say". I ran through the shop and out into the parking lot and stood behind her car she was starting.

She had the courtesy to roll down her window so I could hear all her descriptive verbiage directed to me, but I told her she was not leaving until the police arrived. By this time, my entire crew was in the lot as well as, the crew from next door. My Son was standing beside me on the phone with 911 and had one hand on my arm ready to pull me out of the way if needed. He was dealing with two women who would not back down! Miss @##$%$%, put her car in reverse and hit me with it to try to get me to move. At that time, everyone in both lots started to scream at her. I still would not budge. (My son was almost in tears) She got out and got nose to nose, again to intimidate me. (she was 4 inches shorter than me, so it did not work well) I told her I did not care if she fully intended to not pay for her service or not, but she threatened not to and that was good enough for me.

At this point, my son gently asked me to move, he said the lady at 911 asked me to move so I did not get hurt. I did and moved and she pulled out. The police were on their way and I believe she was scared that she had hit me with her car because she parked next door. When the police arrived, I told him everything that happened, but I told him she did not know I was behind her car when she hit me. I did not want drama, just paid! She started to scream at the officer that she wanted that statement on tape! WHAT A SICK Bit.... God Bless him, the officer turned to her and said if she stopped payment on her check, he would issue a warrant for her arrest and cuff her and bring her in. No if, ands or buts about it! She quietly left. I proceed to lock my self in my office, it was 5:00, and open the bottle I keep hidden in the file cabinet. It was hours before I stopped shaking, partly out of adrenalin and partly out of anger at my self for giving her money for that stupid mat.

There were several other vulgar people who came in for "half price" and wanted to cuss their way into a freebee. I may run one during the Holidays to generate some business during the slow time, but will come to work every day in battle armor. What a business and what in the world is wrong with some people?

Dear Diary, Woke up an hour early this morning. I get up at 4:40 am and at 3:30 knew I would not go back to sleep, so I started to review my most colorful customers. So many come to mind, but I have chosen to introduce you, Dear Diary, to Washington. Washington is a young man who, fancies himself a male model, somewhat famous, an irristable ladies man and wealthy. It is obvious to everyone who meets/knows Washington, that none of the above is reality. We have treated him with the respect he feels he deserves and chuckle at his behavior after he leaves. None the less, he is entertaining and likeable. Washington drives a black BMW 7 series covered in rhinestone bling and chrome. He sais the "ladies" love it. Washington has had two repairs on his Beemer so we came to know him well. He stopped in each and everyday his car was in our shop and spent so much time hanging around my young daughter in law, who runs the office and trying to butter me up, that on several occassions, we had ask him to leave and let us work. He loved to share his stories about fending off the ladies.

Now, the other side of Washington, the side I worked at keeping in check, was the side that he tried to find every reason to not pay his bill and nit pick everything he could to get money back. I was told by one of his friends that he did not actually have a job. In the course of his latest repair, he took it upon himself to purchase two parts for his bmw from the dealer. He claimed he had "connections" and could get them cheaper. (I never had the heart to tell him, if I had ordered them, a regular customer, the list was lower) He brought those parts in and my body man installed them. I added nothing to his bill for the labor.

Getting to the point, Washington felt since "he" purchased the parts, I owed him the cost of the parts. I was floored, I did not charge him for the parts, ask him to get them for me nor charge him labor to put them on. He got loud the day before he was picking up his car demanding I owed him for the parts. So, dear diary, what would you have done?

The day Washington came into pick up/pay for his car he came walking into the front office of my shop with a friend standing next to him. Before me stood Washington and an unknown friend, two young black men looking very serious. I said Hi, and Washington, very serious said, "Miss Lynn, I want you to meet Dauntel, he is in the Asian Mob". Beyond my ability to control myself, I burst out laughing, and with tears of laughter, I told Washington, I could see it around the eyes. Dauntel gave Washington the "I told you this was stupid" look and left. I mentioned to Washington how funny his joke was, giving him his dignity by letting him believe I knew he did that to be funny. I did mention to him everyone I have everknown in the "mob" would never tell.

So, here we stood, Washington wanting his car and not wanting to pay anything he could wiggle out of. He zeroed upon the parts he purchased. His receipt was $79.00. Remember, I did not charge him for those parts. He wanted reimbursed. He had paid for his car already. I ended up doing more work than he paid for as the high end cars require more labor. Washington tried the cuss and swear loudly tactic. After a few minutes of letting him go, I reached for the phone and asked him.....911? "Miss Lynn, Miss Lynn, why would you do that???? Washington, please lower your voice and drop the language. I walked into my office and wrote a check. He was drooling and gloating with glee. BUT...as I walked back to the front desk, I said, "Now, I am still thinking this through and why should I pay for your parts. They are on your car and I did not charge you labor to put them there...as a matter of fact.....I do not owe you any money back sir." I then tore up the check in front of him and tossed it. Smiled and said Washington, your car is finished..perfect to your standards and here are your keys. Off in rage he went.....it was not fun to watch, when I had enough....I reached for the phone, he stopped. At that point, he thanked me for how beautiful his baby looked and gave us each his business card and autographed the back for us! His business card has his picture on it sitting like Sherlock Holmes, and it states "male Model". I especially loved the autographed part. I still have that card, one never knows when one will need a male model.

Sunday morning reflections

I woke up this morning, like every morning, thinking about cars. One by one. They each have people attached to them. People who are each unique. (actually had one named, Uneek, and she was!) We work very hard to do everything we can to remove the stress from this situation for the customer, yet, there are those who will blame me for their entire car accident because they can. There are many who think prices are negotiable by screaming. There are many who think if they want extra work for free, after the completion of their work, they can do so by screaming profanities. AND, there are those wonderful people who are so happy they bring flowers, cakes, lunch and send thank you cards.



What is for sure is there is drama daily. Drama that keeps me up at night and by sharing the "you just would not believe this person" I plan to learn to let this stuff go and to let other people's problems be theirs and not mine. I also plan to share the truly wonderful human beings I deal with and become good friends with.



It is not common for an attractive woman to own a body shop. That is the first shock. My shop is clean and comfortable and professional. That is the second shock. From here I will sign off for now. From now on, it will be stories, true stories about what our days are like. Believe it or not......