Happy Hour!

Good Evening Gentle Readers,

I hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday Night, in moderation of course.   I, as you probably can guess, am home on the comupter.  One can only guess I am too tired to move any part of my body except my fingers.  So, moving, they are.

There appears to be a serious brain illness going around mankind.   It's symptoms are:  stupidity, inconsideration, overblown sense of self worth and a loud mouth.  It seems to be contagious.  I hope and pray a cure is found soon as we are destined, as a society, for the big flush.

We repaired a vehicle for a nasty lady 4 months ago, an insurance repair, and it turned out beautiful considering where she was hit.  There was nothing, even perfection, that would have calmed her healthy mouth.  After several attempts to get her to take her car, I called the insurance agent to look at the car.  He deemed it to be perfect and had no idea what her problem was and his only suggestion was to put her in front of a firing squad.  She came for the last time and my office manager said he would take some money off the deductible she had if she would take her car.  A very pleased look came over her face, she signed all the documents and left. 

Well, Friday at 4:38 she came in and demanded from one of my employees a rental immediately and that the repair be done properly.  She also told my employee she did not want to speak to me.  WELL, now, just how I want to start happy hour........What seems to be the problem.  bla, bla, bla.....Mam, it is 4:50 on a Friday night and you cannot just show up demanding a rental, which by the way I will never pay for.  BLA...BLA...BLA....  I am sorry, (I cannot remember the particulars of the case) you will have to come back when Peter is here and talk to him since he handled your repair.  "I want it fixed now"  Again, mam, You will have to come back.  Peter is on vacation till Thursday.  WHAT IF I NEVER GET TO TALK TO HIM, YOU WON'T FIX MY CAR!!!

Mam, Peter is on vacation, he is not dead!!!!  call next Thursday and make an appointment to see him regarding your car.   AND...HAVE A NICE DAY!  I will not fix one thing on that gal's car!  Ever!!!

I have piles and piles of paper on my desk of work to do.  Why?  What can possibly be so paper intensive about owning a body shop?? 

I have hired a second gal for the back of the shop!  I have two women who work in the shop.  They are both showing up the men, big time.  My new gal is a sander with 7 years experience and works harder, faster and does a better job than her counter part!  Women Power!

It has been four years.  I have an anniversary coming up...That means SALE!  I am thinking of the dreaded Half Price Sale.  Well, it is an anniversary. 

It is eerie......Nothing has broke in the shop lately, I am getting better at handling the scammers, I axed a couple of guys and the drama is less.  Could it be????????

Bon Nuit, Andy, Tony, Durango, Jeff and Gilbert.

Shangri La,   CQ CQ CQ.....calling CQ and listening

We All Live In a Yellow Submarine....

In the time when I was born lived a man who sailed the sea.  And he told us of his life in the land of submarines...

Bon Jour body shop fans and friends.    Hot has been the word of the day for the last month.  Makes work tiring and dirty.  The crew has held up for the most part.  We had a couple of quittings and a hiring.  Core staff still intact.  Lets start a recap of a few customer stories.

Our clientele has changed much in the last few years, but once in a while we still get a real life thug with a throw away drug car.  (by the way, we do have a car in shop with a bullet hole in the right rear door that we are repairing.)  The thug was the young gentleman who could not count his money in the last post.  In an effort to get some money back, bless his little heart, he called and started to call me unprofessional, and other names.  I told him I would not discuss his two tone disco  ball car with him unless he brought it back.  So, the car came back with three of "his boys".  Peter went out to go over it with him and the three boys got threatening and were pulling stuff like the line for the two tone is in the wrong place.  (we document in writing such things, have it marked on a picture of a car and signed off on)  Peter just walked in and told me he could not deal with the three of them.

They gang walked to the front desk holding onto their pants to keep them around their knees and started to speak to me in Ebonics.  I stopped them mid word and ask the young man his name.  Sir, I told him, you do not own this car and I will not speak to anyone but the owner.  "Hey, lady, you can shout at him on my cell".  What, I am not going to shout at anyone!    His eyes rolled and he said he wanted to talk to me on the phone.  No, I won't talk to him on the phone.  Tell him to bring his car in person, period.  Have a good day.  To my surprise, out they walked......quietly! 

Before you think I am such a tough gal, the tip off is they probably have outstanding warrants.  If a shouting match begins and I call the police, they will be run for warrants and off to the big house.  So, if a argument is avoided quietly, there is a reason.  I am fine with that.

I recently got to know a wonderful customer who also teaches "Sociology" at a local University.  We began a discussion on what is the definition of "Normal"?  My brain nerve endings were enjoying the intellectual conversation and hope to have more of them with this fine man. 

It is always an interesting estimate when a squad car comes in.  Recenty, a officer brought his car in to get an estimate on some damage and I was told one of my employees was out back hiding.  An adult man.  It was not long before he was picked up. 

I have been so busy upfront lately, I have missed the fun in the back.  I am fortunate that I now have a great crew and things are under control.  I do hear out breaks of laughter from time to time and am glad that they are enjoying each other.  I want to be part of the fun too, but sometimes it is more fun without the boss around. 

I recently started hearing a new word out of the various crew members describing a not so good place in body work that needed a little extra attention before paint.  It is now called a dippitydoo.  I kept hearing it and finally figured out it came from the painter Craig.  Cool.  They are all talking and smiling.  What more can Mom ask for.  Just, lets not have anymore dippitydoos! 

Heard a fight outside and saw the shop boss at the transmission place next door fighting with an employee.  Walked away.  Do not need a piece of that.  Heard a gunshot a block away when I was opening up the other day.  Only heard one shot, so I opened up.  Do not know what to think of this world I now live in.  I need to have more talks with my sociologist friend and my God to try to understand.  We have been doing 30+ cars a week and only about once a week or two do I get a crazy acting individual.  Means, we are doing better and getting a better group of customers.  We still find a lot to laugh about.  Like the man who was dressed with enough bling to add 50 pounds to him.  Needed his car fixed while he waited as he was a very busy man getting his Masters!  Well, sir, we have to order a part to fix your car and that part won't be here until tomorrow.  Whoa, was he mad.  How does someone not understand that concept and be getting a masters degree????

God Bless everyone and never stop smiling.  Shangri la

Who Needs Help Counting Money???

Gentle, most beloved readers of Body Shop Life,  welcome to my Friday Night.  It is 45 minutes after closing and I sit here waiting on a body man to finish priming some work.  What a week.  My last customer was picking up a car in a two tone finish, the local gangster type.  (No offense, I just love gangsters, really)  He owed over 3 grand waited until 20 minutes after closing to decide to pay for and take his car and was to high to count his money.  He had a wad of $100s to choke a dinosaur and was counting out 5 at at time and repeating this act over and over.  I asked him if he need help counting AND that was the wrong thing to say!  So, we waited.  Money paid, two tone gone.

It was cooler this week than in the last few and there seemed to be Man Drama galore!  They were happy campers when it was too hot to bicker, but as soon as it cooled off, pissing matches began.  To be discussed in depth later.....

A young man who was arrested, (pinched) and did not call in or report to work for a week, was replaced.  His girlfriend called to tell me she was tired of his not being responsible and so was I by the way.  She stated she was not bailing him out and did not know when he would be back.  I replaced him, as any business person would.  Now I have seven pages to fill out as to why he should not get unemployment.  What do these people think???

Body man gone, I am going home to a shower and early to bed.  I hope all of you have a better Friday night than I, we do.  All my guys are pooped and all of you have cars back.  Party on customers.  Love to all and God Bless, Shangri La 

I hear the train a'comin.....it's rolling round the bend......

Gentle Body Shop readers,

I learned and wish to share what the judicial system does for us small, honest business folks.  Monday I sat in court for four hours waiting for the case of the state vs. Taj Dumbey to be heard.  Dumbey was charged with writing a bad check, for $196.54, three years ago, to me.  I was new, and not the seasoned hard broad I am now.  It was against our policy to take any personal checks, but my daughter-in-law, Abby, had a weak moment.  Her weak moment resulted in hours of time, my time, to right a wrong. 

I went to the police department with all the documentation of the crime.  They gave me extensive amount of forms to fill out, the task of writing and sending a certified letter.  At that point, it was limbo.  Well, now what guys???  go get him!   Not. 

I called and called, I went to his bank three times, all to no avail.  I for some reason kept the paperwork in my desk drawer probably to insure no one ever has a moment of kindness again. 

Three years later, Drake, my estimator, came to me and said Hamington County Court House is on the phone for you.  k...........   Yes, I remember and YES, he still owes me the money.  ok, bye.

A week later an kindly gentleman walked into my office with a subpoena and to be funny, waved a pair of handcuffs at me.  Ok, there was a court date for the State vs. Taj Dumbey and I was to appear as a witness againse said criminal.  Well, this should be interesting.  I pulled the three year old paperwork out of my bottom desk drawer and put the date on my calendar. 

Now, I am thinking good old Taj is counting on my not showing after three years and how right I was.  That must happen often as the DA was just thrilled to see me.  Checked with me on the amount of the check, the cost of the Certified Letter and let's throw in the bank charge for good measure.  Total:  $235.00. 

I sat through 4 hours of criminal cases of all kinds waiting for my moment to tell Mr. Dumbey how he needed to change his ways!  I sat there for justice, not the money.  During this time, I saw a lot of the lowest of humanity.  By the way, DO NOT fall asleep in a hospital room, you may wake up and find a foul mouthed old man going through your things.  He got 4 months in jail, three for trespassing and one for his foul mouth.

As it got close to lunch time, Mr. Dumbey's state appointed attorney finally showed up.  Mr. Dumbey's loving girlfriend approached me and told me they did not have enough money to pay the full amount and was it ok if I just took the $200 and they would call later with a credit card for they other $35.00?    WHAT!  hells NO!!!  Like, after this, I am going to believe that will happen?? 

Next thing I know, the state appointed attorney wants to talk to me.....who is Drake?.....He work for me, Why?????  (Shangri La is getting crabby.)  My client called and paid the $35 over the phone and I have the rest of the money.  Lady, what do you want me to do? 


Well, no I do not know where the DA went, How would I know and why are you asking me where she is??????  (really getting crabby).  Knowing what was coming, I went into the hall, called Drake, confirmed the payment.  Ok, now can .....we just have the trial and get this over soon. 



DA is now wanting me in the hall.  Who is Drake?  (not again)  I told her he took the payment.  She had the two hundred cash in her hand and said they are going to dismiss the charges and here is my money.  Well, how am I supposed to feel?  I told her I did not sit here all day for the money, I wanted to see justice served.  Everyone who lives an honest life wants to see that those who don't, pay for it in some way.  She said she understood, but that is the way it is.  I could leave now. 



It was anti-climatic and  a let down.  I did everything right and did get my money back, but where was the smack on the hand to let him know not to do that again?  He was looking like he felt sorry for himself because he had to pay me.  Oh, poor boy.  I left not sure how I felt about the justice system once again.  I got my money, but the bad guy got nothing to make him conside his behavior next time. 



NEVER, take a personal check from anyone EVER.  Too much time and work. 

I hope anyone who may read this NEVER has a weak moment of trust.  Learn from this experience.  It is sad, it is a penality to be paid by nice, honest people so we don't get taken by the crooks of the world.
 

With that, I will say Bon Nuite Mon Cheri's.  Amore, Shangri La

ANCHORS AWAY!!!

Good Sunday Morning Most Beloved Gentle Readers,

I am going to share an experience of a more personal nature as no one is looking right now.  This is why I have no personal life, work is safer.

My man and I had decided to go fishing.  He "said" he was an avid fisher!  I am too.  We got to the lake and he was looking for a spot to fish from shore.  Oh no way! said I, we need a boat!  Alright, he said.  All that was left to rent were canoes.  No Problem said I.  OK said he.  We got in, the guy gave us life jackets, I said I was a fish and did not need mine.....ok........ said he slowly.  My first concern was when I saw from the back that he was not holding the paddle right, nor paddling correctly.  Must be out of practice I thought. 

We fished for a while, then decided to paddle to another part of the lake.....so we did and dropped anchor. 

As he was standing up, STANDING UP!!!  NO.......we were going over so fast I could not scream, "SIT DOWN".  I just grabbed my sunglasses as we hit the water.  I was holding the tackle box near the canoe full of water and came up laughing and enjoying being wet.   He came up gasping for air, tangled up in the anchor rope and M...A...D....  Well,. HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW HE COULD NOT SWIM!!  AND HOW WAS I SUPPOSED  to know he had never been in a canoe before and did not know not to  NOT EVER STAND UP IN A CANOE.  I would have told him.....!!!  I held him up till he could breath, held on to the canoe and tackle box.  I swam for the things floating away while he held onto the hardly floating boat.  So with a very angry Cop in the water with me, (again, one would think he could swim)  a ruined cop radio, and completely done for cop phone, I just waved my hands for help. 

A nice man in a fishing boat helped me get him in his boat and we drug the canoe to a boat slip.  Now adreneline took me over and all I could think of was if we did not get back into the boat and fish more, we never would again.

I jumped out of the canoe and started to dump the water out and appairently did not notice him sitting in the canoe.  my bad.  I dumped him into the water as well while he was yelling wait, wait, WAIT.  As he was sitting up to his waist in the water, again, I told him, "Honey, get out of the water!". 

He said people on the dock were watching agast and he just hung his head and put his hands up in the air.  I managed to throw everthing in the canoe again and did notice the phone and radio were dead.  Being the nice man he was, he sat in the canoe again, all wet and I paddled out to the danger zone again while he had a strong rum and coke to settle his nerves.  As all managed to settle down, we did catch a couple of fish.  I had a big one who broke the line.  Of course, the big one got away. 

I still hear about the sunglass and really nice fishing pole and reel he lost...I am told firmly that there will never be a canoe in our future no matter what....but we will see.

May you catch fish, always have sun and stay dry all your days.  "A BAD DAY FISHING IS BETTER THAN A GOOD DAY AT WORK"....??????  you decide. 

Bon jour mon ami.   shangri la

"YOU CAN'T PISS ON...... WHAT YOU CAN'T CATCH"

Gilbert (1983 - )   (his insight on his vehicle)

Good Morning gentle readers, fans of Body Shop Humor,  I have slept in a little and have decided to unload my psychie before I go to work.  (I am best in the AM)

Yesterday, I had brought a bottle of old fashioned soda to work, note the word "Old Fashioned".  Sounded good to me in the heat.  Behold! the Old Fashioned Soda had an old fashened bottle cap on it.  I walked into the office and asked my under 30, but very mature employee if he had a Church Key.....My reply was a bewildered look and the answer, "I don't go to church".  If you are close to my age, you will understand that one.

We have had some very good weeks.  There seems to be very little drama going on anywhere and the cars are getting done, customers happy and wow, it only took 4 years to get here. 

I have an employee taking a couple days off to go to a family reunion and told me they plan to come back married.  I am still thinking about that one.......Speaking of, it is hot in the back, not pleasant to work so hard, but are doing great and actually smiling.  We frequently have dueling radios going on, laughter and an occasional temper tantrum from a young man who has no clue about work. 

Work:  dude, I am renting your behavior, so do as you are told in something other than slow motion.  If it was fun why would I pay you.  Then another temper tantrum in front of the boss and fellow employees - not cool, kiddo.  Now he wants a raise.  What he is going to get is a review.  I will outline on paper what working in the real world means.  What he needs to change if he ever wants to support his family.  He is nice, otherwise he would be gone.  He seems smart but worldly stupid.  Pampered comes to mind.  He will get one last try of advice or won't make it. 

FYI, to all.....when you are told how to or what to do at work, it means every time you do that task, not just the one time.  When you are told every time to do something or you do not do it, you will be considered STUPID.

We had a customer blow up over a very tiny, stupid issue in the parking lot and threaten one of my employees and actually almost hit him.  They, hubby and wife were told to leave or I would call the police and that I would do nothing for anyone who acts like that.  The wife came in the next morning and apologized.   Again, what is wrong with people who think they have the right to abuse another human being for any reason.  I think I see more of it in this city than anywhere else in the country.  I am working on an analysis of society in my head, reading some books on cavemen to try to understand how to cope with people here.  Perhaps, I will share my findings someday.

A regular customer, a very nice young man, who has little boo boos, yet chooses to keep his car pristine, came in for a few scratches.  He and I have talked often and he knows I am from Indy.  We are both Colt fans,  (no comments please on that)  He gave,  GAVE me two of his season tickets to a game in Sept and refused to let me pay him for them.  I was speechless.  All my faith in humanity flooding back into my body at once.  Wow.  Thank you, not just for the tickets my friend, but for what the gesture did for me. 

I have settled down with a nice man after several years and suddenly very nice handsome men are chatting me up everywhere.   I discussed this with one of my employees and he agreed with this common situation.  He said, "whenever I have a girlfriend, I am beating them off with a stick, if I do not have a girl friend, I cannot BUY one."  honk if you agree.

Speaking of, this has been the week of  LOVELY Ladies with beautiful European accents coming in and hitting on, I mean hitting on my men estimators.  Inviting them over for a swim, asking for their phone numbers.......Times have changed.....and I guess European women are bolder. 

I used to have all gals up front now I have two Men.  Nothing has been by design, but one can sure watch the difference.  Here comes another analysis and book.

Time to head to the office and put out fires.  God Bless all!    Bon Jour, Shangri La

Range Rover Land Rover Why me???

Hello, Hello, Hello, gentle readers!  It is Friday night, I am home and into my second medicinal liquid medication.  It has been quite a week. 

Where do I begin, lets start with the Mustang.  This Mustang was dropped off to be painted,  only.  Right off the bat, it would not start or move.  The owner spend Sat and Sunday in my lot working on it.  Still would not start.  We pushed it into the body dept, repaired it, pushed it into the booth, painted it and called the customer who brought a tow to pick it up.  He was so sorry, he gave me a hefty gift cert to Red Lobster.  Now, I have a Range Rover, known for the pain in the ass security system that we have not been able to start.  I tried everything, including driving to the dealer and having new batteries put in her key.  Well, the whold thing is my fault and she is very angry.  Tell, me what is the difference so I can handle these people. 

My estimator, Nate, is quite the magnet to the ladies.  They love him and he is good with them.  Professional and willing to let the old gals give him the hug they always want.  That part is going well. 

I want to share with you my experience with a taxi cab guy.  This man, new to the taxi biz, came in with a crayon he wanted me to paint his car!!  After a call from the city, we got approval on a paint code.  We painted his first car and he was happy.  The second car, needed a little work, my estimator told him he needed a new hood, or work as it was not going to turn out too well. All was documented.  he did not want to pay for any work, just paint, so just paint he got.  My painter worked in the booth for quite a while to try to counter act the reactions, and got them to the minimun.  So, Crayon guy came in and was so angry that he was shaking.  He stated that he told my estimator that there was problems and just because he refused to pay for repairs, we should have done them anyway.  Dude!!!  No!  You get what you pay for and more from my shop.  It turned into quite a shouting match, and when he told me, Lynn, your are pissing me off, I started to laugh and said hey man, you are not making my day!  OY!!!!  Told the crayon guy, pay his bill and leave!  He did.  being new to the taxi biz, he did not know his car would be beat up in 3 weeks. 

I am tired and have so much personal insights that I would like to share, but I am trying to keep this reading blog a documentation of the business.  I got a gift from another customer today, but I am so unhappy about the range rover......that is stupid to just retain the negative  and not the positive.  I had an appointment with the FP police today, but was canceled due to shootings.  Well, I guess I have to believe in the fact that I am not the most important person in town.  Duh. 

I am still in business after almost 4 years and I guess that has beaten the odds.  We will continue to see how it goes.  Thank you for listening to my insane experiences which keeps me sane to share.  Bon Nuit.  Mon Ami.  Shangri La!

All The World Is A Stage!

Beloved and Gentle Readers, Mon Ami and BFF, Bon Jour, It is Sunday Morning, sitting in bed sipping coffee, does it get any better?  It has been a good week.....

WEBSTERS:

"good week"  {any week that Shangri La does not cry, run through the shop and falls, tells customers their car was a piece of crap before it came in, stomp her feet and/or crawl under her desk and pretend she is in the Bahamas.}

So, I guess it was good, but that does not mean it was not entertaining.

All my bragging that I was so good at fixing things, came back on me when one of the compressors stopped.  Dave Durango to the rescue and I swear he laughs every time he is looking at my compressors.This time, I am lamenting about the oil leak that seemed to sprout everywhere on the back engine.  Dave opened a box and it was full of oil.  Every part of the engine was full of oil as I had oiled it to death.  That sweet man with the Fabio hair, looked at me and told me he would give me a freebee!  He drained the (over) oil, cleaned the whole thing and it works sweet again.  I am just a little smarter now.  (Just a little)

It seems like cars come in, in groups.  This has been mustang month.  We have finished our 6th mustang this month and it looks to die for.  The kid will be thrilled.  Now we have one in the parking lot to paint and it won's budge.  The owner was in the lot putting a new fuel pump in it when I left Saturday afternoon.  I usually do not let people work on their cars in the lot, but he was such a nice guy.  We will see if they get it running.  I am glad we do bodywork and not mechanics.  A lot less for me to learn.

I have done an insurance repair for a lady.  Friends, once you smack your car a good one, it will be fixed and usually perfect, but it will never line up 100% again.  There will be small, very small tell tale gaps that an educated eye can tell it had been wrecked.  That is just the ways it is.  Well this lady wants a perfect car again, (she should buy a new one) and is complaining about a 16th inch gap.  I am calling her ins. co. on Monday and let them decide.  I am not letting customers dictate to me such stuff.  She stood there and called it a "safety hazard"!  I took all body men out to look at the car and they laughed.  I actually told the lady, "stop arguing with me".  I think she was so surprised, she shut up.

PEOPLE, DO NOT GO AND BUY A RATTLE CAN OF ANY KIND OF PAINT AND PAINT YOUR CAR....DO NOT ROLL HOUSE PAINT ON YOUR CAR....(SAW THAT ON A JAG, SOMEONE WANTED TO TWO TONE IT, DO NOT ATTACH PARTS TO THE CAR WITH BATHROOM CALK.  TO NOT FIX DENTS WITH WALL PLASTER!

There, I have said it, some of you are now laughing, but I have seen it all and more.  All my love to you all, dive carefully and if not, come into see me before you attempt it yourself.

Have a blessed Sunday, Mon Ami....Shangri La

Just Another Friday Night without a Life

Gentle readers and most beloved,  it is almost 7:00 pm on a Friday night and I am still here sitting......sitting.....writing to you.   It has been quite a time the last few months.  I have great employees now and do little managing of egos.  So, no man drama to report.

I did have a customer come in, a Mr. Patures, with a Mustang he said he only wanted one color as he planned to sell it.  He even told my estimator how his breeding puppies died and he had to spend 20G to buy a new dog and could he pleeeeeeease have a discount.

When he picked up his BEAUTIFUL yellow mustang, he acted like it was a Wonderful job.  Then he called and told me over the phone, that he would make me the laughing stock of Cincinnati for the lousy job, (actually one of the best we have done) etc., etc.,...

He claimed he bought a new front bumper cover, actually, he bought the cheapest one one on the market, $39.00 and claimed we put his old one back on.  WELL....I went in the back of the shop and found his old bumper cover and it is sitting in my office.  We will see who is the laugh of the town.

My gentle readers, I do believe people do this as they believe they will get  money back.   I am not Kroger or Walmart!!!!  He tried to have Visa pull his money back.  They wouldn't because it was not his credit card, it was his girlfriends.  She said she would have nothing to do with being dishonest.  He then told Visa the paint was bubbling off his car.  Now this is a chemical impossibility, but  the woman from Visa was sending scathing emails saying his paint was bubbling off.  Yet, he refused to bring his car back.  He tried the BBB route next. 

I have a man threatening to sue me as we replaced his son's hood 8 weeks ago and it just flew up as he was driving the other night.  He claimed we had not shut it tight.  Of course, in his mind it is my fault. He parked it in my lot and left it refusing to get it and demanding I fix his car for free.  The fact that there was empty cans of radiator fluid and water bottles on his passenger front seat, may indicate that he opened the hood himself many times.  But!  no, no, no, his son, drug thug and childhood con artist and thief is telling the truth because he said he NEVER opened the hood.

I am waiting for that summons.  Why does the average Joe think a small business is capable of paying out large sums of money at their whim?????

I want to tell you about a fishing, canoe overturning event that happened, but am sworn to secrecy.  Well, if I knew he did not know canoeing, I would of told him ahead of time to not stand up, if I had known he could not swim, I would of not come up out of the water laughing.  It was a hot day and the dip did me good.  It seems that it was traumatic to my fishing partner who can only now laugh about it.

I am wearing a knee brace under my tight jeans now and my body man Timmy, pulls my pants leg down several times a day.  Most people find that funny, (Durango), but I find it a courtesy.  It is hot to wear a brace under jeans.  Yuk.

I used to have all girls up front and now I have all men.  It is quite a difference, I will go into that later.  I just try to stay out of some of the conversations.

I send out to all my gentle readers, God's blessings, bon nuit.  Mon amour.  Shangra La

Production, Personal cracks and skid marks

Gentle Readers,

It has been a while and so much has happened, it is a whirl.  Production.  We are a production facility as compared to a regular body shop.  I won't bore you with the meaning of that, but this week Gilbert, a bodyman and his wife had a baby on Tuesday and Les, my estimator had her baby on Wednesday.  They were down the hall from each other in the hospital.  Now that is production.

I had a painter who started out calling me "Honey".  Which if you knew anyone here, it is MISS SHANGRI LA!  He then proceeded to change everything and tell everyone, including me, what to do.  It went on for a while, and the first time someone said no to him, out he walked.  He was a pastor as well!  One thing he was, was not a good painter. So, there I was 45 cars and no painter.  After hitting the bottle, I got ads out and within two weeks have a great painter now. 

During those two weeks, lost money, compressor broke, jump box broke and garage door broke.  But, no Man Drama was going on. 

Man Drama:  (Websters)  Hissy fits, pissy moods, snotty behavior snappy, salty remarks brought on when an adult man does not get his way.  Can be accompanied by crying, complaining to the boss, paranoia and throwing things.  Can be seen most often in a body shop where only one person is creating the drama and it spreads.

None the less, I do not know how to handle man drama.  I refuse to listen to complaining for the sake of wining, deal with childish behavior or pat someone on the back daily. 

So, out walked the pastor.  We had a week and a half of re-do's, and 3 car days.  God blessed me with a painter who needed me as much as I needed him.  A great painter and an adult.

I am not spending as much time in the back as I used to, but I hear the stories and it seems like there is quite a bit of humor I am missing. 

A young man, proned toward behavior of the gang nature snuck in a couple of weeks ago.  I had the police throw him out the last time he was here.  I say "snuck" in as he came in, got an estimate and paid for the car when I was not here.  When he came to drop it off he was acting very cocky and when I finally asked him what he was doing I told him very nicely that I would refund his money, but he would have to go somewhere else.  Once again, all hell broke loose.  He wanted a piece of me and my off duty officer man stood between me and him while I called 911.  As usual, time when by before an officer showed up and then he let us know how the police feel about our shop.  This time, unbeknown to him, he was speaking to another officer and not one of my employees.  I have tried to speak to the police about this attitude in the past and been blown off and called a liar.  Now, Gentle Readers, it is on record.  I phoned my personal Lieutenant, (since they think I am such a pain, they gave me a personal officer)  I called him and told him what happened and it is the way I am treated often.  He said he would speak to the chief and get back to me.......3 weeks and waiting. 

It is not all bad, we did a car for a lovely lady who insisted on hugging everyone in the place each time she was in.  She seemed to brighten the room and I think everyone appreciated the hugs.  We did a 1960 something Beetle bug for a man who called today to just tell us that he loved it.  We do around 30 cars a week and call the police about once every three months, so that is not too bad. 

Someone tried to get in a door last night at 3 AM.  The alarm company called me, I did not get back to sleep, and the police were dispatched.  With the alarm blaring, of course they were gone by the time they got here.  They want to bill me for a false alarm....I do not think I will pay that bill.  Maybe they will arrest me and I can have a day off.

Dave Durango, the compressor man came yesterday to see why the compressor was not blowing as much air as needed to run the shop.  Dave stands there and says, can you see what is wrong?????   No, Dave.    Come on!  can't you see what is wrong????   No Dave.  He points to a pipe that is sticking up in the air that was attached to the compressor.  Oh that.   Yeaaaaaa, that.  So Mr. Durango fixed it and we had plenty of air. 

Customers continue to be interesting.  I had a guy pay a large bill in 20's and when I started to count the money, he threw more on the counter.  Bless his heart. 

Over and Out, Bon Nuite!  Shangri La