On Sun, 26 Oct 2008 13:36:45 -0400, the infamous "Ed Huntress"
scrawled the following:

"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
.. .
Then again, my first station wagon was for them wimmenfolk. Back into
the drive-in, drop the tailgate until we get tired of the movie, then
roll the windows up and fog them puppies... Ah, what fond memories I
have of the wagons.

g My dad always had a big wagon or a Ford Bronco that I could borrow for
that. He was always suspicious when I wanted to borrow it on a Saturday
night -- especially when I had an Alfa Romeo or an MG in the driveway.

But he always had a smile when he figured it out, right?


Home and Garden Handyman = mowing lawns? I still don't understand why
I get all those weed-pulling/lawn-mowing calls. I might hire some
mowers for next year when the calls come in so I can capitalize on it.

And hire some kids to help you, if the business grows. Damn, there are more
lawn service companies around here than there are lawns, and they're all
driving damned nice, new trucks. There must be some money in it.

I can't hire kids. I need to provide Workmen's Comp insurance for
them, at exhorbitant rates, so I have to rent temp workers from the
agencies at twice the hourly rate. That covers their insurance, agency
profits, etc.


Full-service landscaping around here now typically includes mowing and other
maintenance. Once somebody with some money gets a taste of having somebody
else dothat work, they seem to like having it *all* done.

Yeah, mowing and weeding are not fun jobs, but I'm happy to be
working. I'm not mowing but I did take a weeding, spraying, and
pruning job for an elderly couple. I bid twice the price of the next
guy but I gave her a written estimate of all items clearly laid out
(on my color letterhead--$200 color laser printer and an hour in Open
Office), I had my silkscreened company shirt on, I had the signs on
the truck, and insurance, bond, and license info was readily
available to her. Trust can't be bought.

I'm going to be taking the Master Gardener program from the county
Extension offices next year, mostly for myself, but it's another
something to hang on my wall, too. And pics of that go in my
portfolio to add depth. It's cheap ($100 cash for 11 weeks of 9-4
Thursday classes) and expensive (70 hours community service
afterward.) If I can wear my company shirt for the volunteer work,
it'll be beneficial to both parties involved with more work coming my
way.

Some day I'll be able to afford a mill of my own.

--
Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints.