Gonzo

Really? Well, that's one sport I am not playing with you!

 

I'll spot ya strokes Joe... LOL

 

You'll have to play without clubs to even give me a chance!

 

Again, just kidding!

 

Joe, I'm fixin to get pissed at ya... just kidding! LOL

 

There's that Sum Guy again! Dude sure does get arpund!

Been slow for 2 weeks, now today I am slammed

 

Talked to the tool rep and 2 parts guys yesterday. It is slow everywhere here.Hope it picks up next week!

now, I'm covered. every bay full, and not just little projects. crazy how it goes from dead to super busy. never get used to it even after all these years.

 

Have you left Houston yet?! Our shop is in Houston.

 

Yes, it was just a two hour delay for the next flight home.

 

Oh, ok. Would have liked to invite you to our shop. Maybe next time.

 

I am the woryst spella on da plannet.

Im rigt wit you Joe, took me munths to figure out I haddnt axeidently presed a kee on my computerr that was underlinning everyting with a red squigly line! LOL

Now thats funy!

 

Great to hear that you're doing well. Don't over do things and as hard as it maybe, follow your doctor's orders !!!

Here's the latest;  I've been allowed to drive and I can at least putt and light chips on the golf course.  No shoulder and waist involved twisting.  Which also means no driving stick shifts or even casting a fishing pole.  My full release to play golf is the second week of Sept.  Then, I can take a full swing.  I'll probably swing like a beginner...LOL... so much for my handicap.  At least I can now officially use the geezer T box.  LOL 

I'm substitute teaching for 2 weeks, teaching A/C to newbees.  Should be fun.  I'm still doing my column and still working with the Haynes corp. writing and editing their latest repair manuals.  Since I've been out of the shop I've already done two manuals for them. They asked if I'd like to do it, I said yes.  It's turning into my major income.  All from the comforts of home too. 

Working on a new radio show starring yours truly too.  But, it's a slow process and may never get off the ground.  In fact the week I went into the hospital that same Saturday I was supposed to be doing the pilot to the radio show.  Bad timing I guess. However, I'm supposed to be going to Ohio in a month to do some video work for the magazine company I write for.  I'll be doing one minute info spots that will go out on the net.  

Other than that, I'm super super sore right now.  No surgical pain just the results of the surgery pain.  You name a muscle from your neck down and from the waist up it hurts.  It hurts to bend over, stand up, or reach for something.  Walking and talking... no big deal. Well, still get hoarse if I talk to long.  That crazy sword swallowing trick they do tears your vocal cords up.  LOL.

Anyway, that's about it.  As you can tell, I haven't exactly been just sitting around waiting to heal.  I've been as busy as I could be to get started on rearranging my life.  Now... just sell the shop.  

Glad to see you are recovering well. I've been gone from the forums for a while so surprised when I saw this post. This industry is really taxing on health- high stress and my family has a history of heart conditions as well.

Im stuck at home as well. Not good for the shop

 

By the way...4 inches of snow...we call that "flurries"

Our snow removal service consists of a one salt truck and two with plows, well...there are the road graders they break out if it gets deep. you know, 5 inches...

 

The engineer they sent is the same guy who worked out the software program to fake the factory PCM to think it still was talking to an engine. Because they still use the factory A/C control head, ABS, etc... The gas gauge is now the voltage level, and the tach. is the amperage load. All done with tricking the computer by manipulating the signal to what the PCM could understand. Hundreds of pages covering every single code has been covered. Oh... and the engineer that did all of this... he...

is only 28 years old. Impressive to say the least.

Wow, that's above my pay grade. Very impressive!

how'd ya guess Joe? Unless it's bottled water (sealed) I stick with the Tequila.

 

Well, due to the water, Tequila is the logical choice...you know...for medicinal reasons...right?

 

logical choice. I'll be sure to let ya know how my analysis of the differences between water and Tequila go. As I always say,"Test first, test second, and when in doubt...test a third time." They'll be a lot of tests taken I'm sure.

Follow your heart! I know yours is still on the mend but once it gets stronger you will make the right choice.. Remember all good things must come to an end, but with every end there is a beginning . Take your time decide what is most important in life and go from there. Sometimes we need to stop and smell the roses or at least slow enough to get a whiff as we pass by !

Financially this is a mess, but fortunately I'm managing.  It's looking more like a sell off than a sale.  I'm almost certain that I won't be going back to the shop to work. For many reasons, but here's a perfect example of things I can't control coming through the front door of the shop until they've presented themselves.  But by then... the blood pressure has gone up.  My wife was down at the shop taking care of some paper work when a rather rude guy walked in the lobby even with the closed sign up and a note about my condition.  He tells her, "I've been here five different times already and the door has been locked where is he? I need my electric seat worked on!"  My wife explained to him the situation but that didn't seem to phase him.  "So when is he going to be back?"  She told him that I was more than likely not going to be back but maybe in a consulting aspect sometime in Sept.  That wasn't good enough for him.  He wanted something NOW.  She finally had to ask him to get out. He storms out the door ticked off and muttering something about the BBB. 

It's those kind of "daily" arseholes I seem to run across, that are really making the decision for me.  People and their attitudes like this guy, are one of the many reasons your blood pressure can climb.  I don't need it, don't want it, and don't want to deal with it.  Time to cool down, slow down, and relax away from all the stress.  Doctor said, "Lower your stress."  I think I'll take his advise. 

 

I hear ya ! People even my wife doesn't understand the stress these kind of people put on you, and then the worst ones are the waiters.. I can't stand them , I get out of my car with my hands full off stuff (lunch etc) and they are approaching me asking me stuff or just saying " I wanted to let you know I am here" well no shit sherlock I can see you ! I usually walk right by them without saying a word.. but when they are there it always makes the job harder since you have them breathing down your neck, some things like taking door panels off and stuff like that at times is a little rough and makes a lot of noise like things are breaking. I don't need that with the owner over my back, then you feel rushed or pressured even though they tell you no rush .. yea no rush then why the hell are you still waiting here. no rush means you can drop it off and pick it up when I am done. It is a lot more stressful than people think that is for sure.

 

Yep, a bit hard to swallow.  Haven't find a buyer, either it's been priced wrong, or there isn't a buyer for this type of shop.  But, I agree, for me... closing the shop is the best action to take.  If I was ten years younger I'd be back at it and under the hood.  But, not now.  Slowing down, is just one part of getting older.  The other is, I really enjoy the teaching as well as the writing.   

as one door closes another one opens.. I know it must of been a hard decision, well maybe lol.. but looks like you have many more doors opened in front of you. I look forward to reading and hearing your new adventures. Don't worry I am sure you will catch a rant from me every once in awhile keeping you in touch with the craziness you smartly decided to leave behind.

Good luck bud! 

Good luck Gonzo...maybe ya could team up with Sum Guy and supervise his mobile services! LOL. Be well friend.

 

Yep, another day... I checked lol

FOR me Mon-We'd was dead and Thurs.-Sat. Was crazy busy.

house heater - dirty flame sensor - 225.00 lift seals - both shafts redone - 450.00. Profit for the week - zip... the fact that I made it through the week without going nuts...priceless

You opened your repair shop on April Fools day???? That explains a lot....

yes, yes I did. kinda ironic don't ya think...?

Ironic, yes....and then some...

And, Joe, I even had a few guys mention your name. LOL Was really great to talk shop with everyone.

Really, I have to make it a point to get to more shows, it's a 2 years.

 

it's every year the same time each year

Incredible!

ain't it though??? I was AWEstruck after watching it...

Me too!

Need someone to carry your bags??? We got another 18 inches of snow. We forgot what's it like to run a repair shop at this point.

I turned away a bunch of work yesterday that I didn't want to get stuck in the middle of and be away for an entire week. You could always commute to my shop until the snow is gone. A snow bird mechanic! ROFL.

Gonzo have fun.

 

THANKS for sharing that! It was -11 degrees this morning, Do you care?

I care thats warm!!

 

Rofl. :)

Well, knowing that explains a lot!

 

I'm just a fool with tools

Me too!

 

I looked at them but got scared away when I heard they were going to be no longer using them.

there is a new one coming out but the IDS will still be useable, all the way back to 95... anything older I've got the NGS to cover that. I had to get the reprogramming part and to complete my information on the BCM info. I do more body mods and electrical systems. not near that much in engine or transmission. so I had to spring for it.

I agree its still an awesome tool. great for 6.0diesels also.

Glad you are back!

 

Thanx Frank, glad to be back. Rough flight back into Tulsa. We got diverted to Wichita because of the severe storm at the time we entered Tulsa's air space. Hell of a ride home.

Welcome back Gonzo!

 

Well, you are tough old Marine, you can take it! Right? I hope?

Old marines don't die... they just change duty stations. Yep, I'm a tough old bird. Hard to keep me down. It was rough and I don't want to try it again. but I will, if I have too.

 

Wow! That was a giant stone.

Hey Gonzo...If I drive my car a lot, will I have to fill it up with gas again? Just asking.

no silly, and you never have to do any maintenance either. cars last forever don't ya know.

 

Thanks Gonzo...I can always rely on you for an honest response.

BTW, the battery is dead, the rotors are rusted, and the timing cover is off... ah, dah...

 

I have that car in the shop. The dash is also torn apart. They thought it was electrical but it is actually a timing belt.

Gonzo, When you hit the wall in your diagnosis...blame it on "Electrical"

Fighter jet tech..combined with I dream of Jeannie. Just blink your eyes!!

like the fighter jet, prefer the genie.

Agree with Gonzo

 

Congratulations! Sounds like a perfect relationship.

Congratulations!

 

Congrats!