Blokes and sheds book

[mite5255]

Hi all
I have two books going the rounds of the US and Canada, ones called Blokes and Sheds the other is called rare trades. the first book is about the Aussie shed culture. I originally sent the books to Frank( FC) in Alaska, when he's finished with them he'll post them to Dave (dallan), then they go to ED (rocco) in Canada and then to our master and commander Harry(w3)
Frank will be writing a heading on the inside cover , so people can writ a comment and where they are from, then when I eventually get the books back I'll post them to the author with the comments from around the world, hopefully...If anyone wants to read the books just add your names to the list, and could the person that has the books post them to the next in line

Mike

[Harry]

I enjoy these types of things Mike. Will be fun to participate and looking forward to my turn.

[mite5255]

Ok mate your after rocco

Mike

[F.C.]

Sorry fellas... been gone far too long. Life took a terrible turn for me and the wife four months ago. The wife got laid off and her background has been so specific it was virtually impossible to simply slip into another company's position as there aren't that many positions advertised of her job these days. Like I said before, it takes both our incomes to make ends meet. We were looking at financial collapse (again) having just recently gotten our heads above water after i recovered from my last career crisis. Shit, I thought... what's next... pleague, pestulance? Then a shittier thing happened that put me near on my ass. I blew my shoulder totaly to shit in an accident. Not a vehicle accident, rather, it was a stupid one think'n I could handle a quick shift of about 600 lbs alone. I handled it ok... my shoulder didn't. I went down in a scream of pain. Tore two tendons entirely in half, broke a bone fragment off the joint, too, which cut into a muscle. Also gouged out the rotator cuff real well. DAYUM... that HURT!! Needless to say I ain't salary. No workie, no money. And to top that, no insurance. So, at that point, neither the wife nor I can work and bills are past due. Didn't take long to unass a couple IRA's we had stowed away to cover overhead, but still, that wouldn't last long, particularly after the IRS pulled out the penalties and taxes. So, I got mad and went after my old employer's stock shares i still had which, typically, they didn't have to pay out for another 5 years. I threatened to sue if they didn't and cause them even more nightmare than i have already. That delay they had in place of disbursement was to cover their ass if someone quit. They have no problem cashing out one of their key personnel when he retired (in full), and since they had no provision set in place if they terminated a long standing member with stock then they were about to. I would sue the shit out of them and force it into being and cost them dearly in legal fees if they didn't comply with my demand. They thought about it for two weeks then sent me the forms to sign. However, rather than cashing me out in full they set it up in five equal disbursements (which it turns out they had a legal right to do since, technically I'm not of age to actually retire). No matter... I got my first installment which covered barely my income requirements. meanwhile, I'm trying to recover and the wife is trying to get employment. Finally, a light come down from above and gave my wife an idea. She could cash out her entire 401K and cover our overhead and use it for going back to college. She opted to go into Massage Therapy, a profession here in Alaska that's growing. Many of the chiropractors are shouldering with massage therapists and working together. Massage therapists make 1000/day working under a Chiropractor's license. Chiropractors attract even more clients having a certified/registered massage therapist in office. Win/Win. All we have to do is hang on till my wife gets done with the remaining courses she needs and concludes with the hands on training at the accademy. She'll be official, certified and registered by next spring. Plus, this is something she's had a lot of background knowledge over due her past work as insurance verification, billing, medical terminology, patient records, etc, etc. So far she's top in her class.

Meanwhile... I'm still healing. Fortunately my boss is a good man and hasn't kicked me to the curb. He's pulled back on a lot of my responsibilities and has assigned me to train others to do what I do instead. In a sense, building up a team his company has never had before. My duties, beyond that, are project management. Days I can't function due to pain, whathaveyou, I work remote from my laptop at home. I'm still not making full pay as yet due to half weeks and physical therapy but by and large we're barely squeek'n along and out of the poor house still, plus make'n headway.

My appologies to all for dropping the ball on that Blokes and Shed's books send around. I have had to watch every penny and ensure it wasnt misspent other than for bills. Hell, it took forever for me to be able to type with both hands again which is why I haven't been online. Been gone long enough it never occurred to me I was even a member here as I literally been in survival mode and half the time wasted on pain meds. A 60 year old body simply don't bounce back like it usta did when I was in my 20's and 30's.

I do still have Dallen's address. Also, I am better off of late (financially) now that my wife's truck is finally paid off (as of yesterday). I will get those books off and into circulation (to Dallen) next week. Shit happens... hope you fellas understand.

I'm back, now... barely... have hope again of getting my shop completed this winter thanks to this injury to my shoulder. It'll get done, but damn it's take'n forever.

Frank

[Nudge]

Keep your chin up! Shit happens to everybody at some time in ones life.
The key thing is your on the mend.

Good luck, Stay strong!


Chris

[mite5255]

Thats tough Frank, your getting way to old to be shoving 600 lb about, as Nudge says chin up mate, you have always struck me as a very tough individual frank so you'll pull through

With regards to the books,no rush I would think everyone would understand anyway I have just found my copy of the third book in the series called Makers Breakers & Fixers I'll post it to you tomorrow

Mike

[Jammer]

Man Frank, when it rains it pours. I understand it's hard to type with one arm but try to keep in touch with us. We're a bunch of workin stiffs and understand what happens when the money stops. About all we can do is send our best wishes, prayers and encouragement. Stay strong and keep on truckin.

[latzanimal]

Wow. As others have said, keep your chin up.