Bon Jour Mon Ami, Good Sunday AM. I am sitting in the kitchen, early, listening to the rain. I am always so happy when it rains on Sunday and not during the week. It hurts business. Speaking of business....
We have a "regular" customer, Mr Hinker. Mr. Hinker is 80 and has had 3-4 accidents in the last 9 months. We have fixed his car in the same spot several times. We have also become very fond of him. He brings gifts each time he comes. He said he had to be careful, as his wife gets jealous. Well, this last accident he paid out of pocket, but lost his licence anyway. His Dr. had him get tested as part of a physical and he did not pass reaction times. So, he informed me that driving his car home from my shop would be his last drive. He then gave me a hug and told me his life was over and he was not a man anymore. DARN, that is so hard. I hugged him and told him all the platitudes I could think of. We have all been there, taking away a licence from an elderly man for their own good, and others, is the hardest thing to do....for everyone.
The phone continues to be a delight to us all up front. Yesterday, I answered the phone and a lady (elderly and drunk) asked to speak to a police man. "Mam, I am sorry, you must have misdialed." Is this bla, bla, bla,. "Yes it is" Well, who are you! "Mam, this is a body shop for cars" (Laughter, I sure can use some repairs...can you get the phone number for me or connect me? "No I am sorry I cannot. Then she hangs up on me! The temptation to star 69 and hang up back is looming.
Drama in the back continues....There is drama when we do not have enough to do and there is drama when we have too much. I have a compulsive talker in the back. I try real hard to keep him busy. I am told the compulsive talking is complaining. I cannot understand what there is for him to complain about, he enjoys everyone he works with, gets the hours he wants and has not made this much money in a long time!!!! Don't know, Don't get it, Don't want to know, Don't care!
I received an email a couple of weeks ago from a gentleman saying he has a 12" x 18" dent in the roof of the car he just purchased.....how much? Sir, cannot guess, please bring your car in for a bla bla. He then wanted to know if we could just pull it out and put in bondo the same color of the car and smooth it out.......He came in and announced to everyone he was an engineer and knew what needed to be done, could do it himself but did not have the time. He left his car as it was a Saturday. When body men, etc., came in on Monday it was determined that a tree fell on the car and he needed a new roof. Peter called him to explain what needed to be done and that against all odds, had found a used roof to cut costs. Mr. Engineer started to cuss and scream that we were x$&())(&##*)_ and %^(++%$@!!@, then hung up on Peter. We parked his car outside and deemed him a lunatic. The next day his wife picked up the key and apologized for his behavior. Sometimes, you just got to let it go.
I have two women working in the back. They are both excellent and hard workers. One has been out for two months trying to get a phony workers comp claim through and get money and paid for not working. The other misses about two days a week, ex husband, sick, son sick, etc. etc.
Now, I ask you.....I am a woman and work everyday about 10 hours. I do not miss work every time my ex-husband calls. I used to hate the competing with men for jobs and equal pay for equal work back in the day. Felt it was so unfair. We women worked harder than the men and kept our homes and kids going. It seems women now want to screw up all that we accomplished for them.
I will think long and hard about hiring women again, that so sad.
I have had to change myself quite a bit just to stay in business. I have to not trust, I am going to start drug testing, require proof of Dr. apts, etc. TRUST NO ONE! Be tough, no one's mom, bank for shrink. Boss and that is it! It is this or go under. Most people know when they have it good and work hard. But many do not and the revolving door keeps going straight to the unemployment office and hours of paperwork for me.
I cannot find good people and see signs all over town, "Help wanted". The news says there is record unemployment. I sat in a restaurant for lunch yesterday, and the TV on the wall just kept flashing advertisements for getting unemployment benefits, even if you have a job making less than you used to.
I have no comment, I just do my best.
Monday starts a new week, December. I just cannot fathom where the year went. God Bless all. Shangri La.
We have a "regular" customer, Mr Hinker. Mr. Hinker is 80 and has had 3-4 accidents in the last 9 months. We have fixed his car in the same spot several times. We have also become very fond of him. He brings gifts each time he comes. He said he had to be careful, as his wife gets jealous. Well, this last accident he paid out of pocket, but lost his licence anyway. His Dr. had him get tested as part of a physical and he did not pass reaction times. So, he informed me that driving his car home from my shop would be his last drive. He then gave me a hug and told me his life was over and he was not a man anymore. DARN, that is so hard. I hugged him and told him all the platitudes I could think of. We have all been there, taking away a licence from an elderly man for their own good, and others, is the hardest thing to do....for everyone.
The phone continues to be a delight to us all up front. Yesterday, I answered the phone and a lady (elderly and drunk) asked to speak to a police man. "Mam, I am sorry, you must have misdialed." Is this bla, bla, bla,. "Yes it is" Well, who are you! "Mam, this is a body shop for cars" (Laughter, I sure can use some repairs...can you get the phone number for me or connect me? "No I am sorry I cannot. Then she hangs up on me! The temptation to star 69 and hang up back is looming.
Drama in the back continues....There is drama when we do not have enough to do and there is drama when we have too much. I have a compulsive talker in the back. I try real hard to keep him busy. I am told the compulsive talking is complaining. I cannot understand what there is for him to complain about, he enjoys everyone he works with, gets the hours he wants and has not made this much money in a long time!!!! Don't know, Don't get it, Don't want to know, Don't care!
I received an email a couple of weeks ago from a gentleman saying he has a 12" x 18" dent in the roof of the car he just purchased.....how much? Sir, cannot guess, please bring your car in for a bla bla. He then wanted to know if we could just pull it out and put in bondo the same color of the car and smooth it out.......He came in and announced to everyone he was an engineer and knew what needed to be done, could do it himself but did not have the time. He left his car as it was a Saturday. When body men, etc., came in on Monday it was determined that a tree fell on the car and he needed a new roof. Peter called him to explain what needed to be done and that against all odds, had found a used roof to cut costs. Mr. Engineer started to cuss and scream that we were x$&())(&##*)_ and %^(++%$@!!@, then hung up on Peter. We parked his car outside and deemed him a lunatic. The next day his wife picked up the key and apologized for his behavior. Sometimes, you just got to let it go.
I have two women working in the back. They are both excellent and hard workers. One has been out for two months trying to get a phony workers comp claim through and get money and paid for not working. The other misses about two days a week, ex husband, sick, son sick, etc. etc.
Now, I ask you.....I am a woman and work everyday about 10 hours. I do not miss work every time my ex-husband calls. I used to hate the competing with men for jobs and equal pay for equal work back in the day. Felt it was so unfair. We women worked harder than the men and kept our homes and kids going. It seems women now want to screw up all that we accomplished for them.
I will think long and hard about hiring women again, that so sad.
I have had to change myself quite a bit just to stay in business. I have to not trust, I am going to start drug testing, require proof of Dr. apts, etc. TRUST NO ONE! Be tough, no one's mom, bank for shrink. Boss and that is it! It is this or go under. Most people know when they have it good and work hard. But many do not and the revolving door keeps going straight to the unemployment office and hours of paperwork for me.
I cannot find good people and see signs all over town, "Help wanted". The news says there is record unemployment. I sat in a restaurant for lunch yesterday, and the TV on the wall just kept flashing advertisements for getting unemployment benefits, even if you have a job making less than you used to.
I have no comment, I just do my best.
Monday starts a new week, December. I just cannot fathom where the year went. God Bless all. Shangri La.
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