I'm a one man band, been that way for a long time, even when I had a business partner.
This weekend I got SLAMMED!!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew I was going to have a push over this weekend, but on Friday when I picked
up the thing that needed to be done over the weekend, it somehow turned into double... And it was in packaging that I had never
seen before.. It took me 6 fucking hours to unpack that shit...
My cleaning guy will come and help when needed, but he went camping this weekend with his son, couldn't call him.
The guy who's always biddle boppin' around that I use(and pay) for stupid stuff.. Weeds, loading/unloading trucks, heavy cleaning
etc... He just had surgery on his foot.. He's a really good guy, but he's a head trauma and I can't use him for anything technical,
but for an older guy who is constantly in pain, he has the best work ethic of anybody I've ever seen.
I had a younger kid that did some stuff for me.. Last time I heard from/about him, his old lady was asking me for bail money, and I gave her
the cash I had.. So he's in the hole with me and won't show up... and if it only cost me $155 to get rid of somebody like that I'm fine with that...
I had high hopes for this kid... I was wrong. I was paying him $10 an hour cash... That is FAT money in New Mexico, especially for a 19 year old
in the middle of nowhere without a working car, a kid and another on its way.. I see him occasionally riding his bike, and hear about people getting
sick of him bumming money. I'd give him a second chance, if he would show up.. On a VERY tight rope..
I do have a skilled guy that helps me out occasionally, but its the weekend and I don't feel comfortable bugging him on SHORT notice on a weekend.
My better half would at least help with this stupid job, even if all she did was un pack it and lay it out... But she's in Colorado with her family.
I've got another guy that will help out on the weekends, but he's been having seizures again, and can't drive, and he's almost an hour away.. Which would
be no big deal, since I live almost an hour from the shop... He's just in the opposite direction, so I would have to go get him, or he would have to get
a ride and that just won't work out well. Sucks, because I really enjoy it when he is around.
I need to recruit a few more "helpers"..
My goal was to have everybody "helping" paid as true upfront employees by now.. But it just hasn't worked out that way... 1099's and
"casual labor"..
I'd gladly pay somebody $5 an hour to sit around here all day, watch TV and play on the computer and occasionally do a little thing here or there.
I'd pay $10 an hour if they could be unskilled and at least attempt to be productive... Just to have somebody to talk to.
I like having people around, but not all the time.. Its Sunday, its hot and a bit humid.. I've been working in nothing but my underwear for the
past 16 hours... DO NOT attempt to visualize that, I don't want to be liable for you psychiatric treatment. My best physical attribute is that I've
got a nice six pack.......... In my left hand.. Woops, GULP. 5 pack now...
So yes, there is help... Occasionally, sometimes there is no help here, sometimes there is a ton of help here.. I had quite a few days this
spring where I had 3 helpers in the shop with me, and 3 people outside cleaning this shit hole up at the same time... This weekend, its just me,
and me alone, and my dogs...
I wish my dogs had thumbs.