This evening i had to be at a lake michigan beach house to go over a quote with the home owners for rebuilding their 75 steps to the bech from the top of the dune as well as 100 feet of boardwalk.
i spent hours today at the lumber yard with the owner of said lumber yard working up a quote for material cost down to how many screws it would take for the job, how many pieces of lumber, what the cutting cost would be to saw it all up to length.
the home owner was very eager to know the cost of all this. he is a retired engineer/lawyer/business owner so the guy is sharp as a tack and loves details. well - i had details out the ass.
when i went over with him how the print out read, he understood at once and appreciated the break out of details and nodded in understanding. great.
when i gave him the quote for labor, he looked at me and said "NO. Absolutely not."
hmm.
"That is absurdley low! The level of work you and your crew do. no. that is not enough.".
Hmm...so i doubled the rate. He looked at me and shook his head.
"What is WRONG with you?!" he querried.
"That is just not enough!" (at $90.00 an hour U.S.)
"Bryce" i said "if you are happy with the work and need to unload some cash tax free, you can do that in such and such a way.".
He laughed and then thought for a moment. I told him he could offer any tip up to ten thousand dollars. lol. of course he won't, but its enjoyable banter at least.
After business was concluded and the job booked he and the mrs. insisted on my having a nice glenfiddich with them. delicious.
after that, they insister i stay to have dinner with them on the beach side dining room, doors open and breeze coming in as we watched the sailboats on the water below.
spectacular supper had, we moved outside to the beachside deck to enjoy some iced cointreau and conversation in the breeze.
in packing up my house for the renter i came across a box of Riedel wine glasses that i just won't use.
the reason i mention that is beacause these people have been bicycling afficionados their whole lives. the old man had a rack of bikes hanging in his garage for 15 years and today when i arrived, they were all gone - cannondale, bianchi. over supper he explained that among those they gave away were TWO of only 120 bianchi special racing bikes ever made. fucking A. had i known he wanted to get rid of them, i would have happily taken them. i was actually looking for a nice racing bike. oh well.
they went on to say they were happy with their giving the bikes to people who are also bicycling afficionados and that the bikes would be well taken care of, serviced and used.
back to the wine glasses. since taking care of things and using them for their intended purpose is important to these people, i asked them if they would care to have these wine glasses and they were like little kids on christmas morning. lol. they would love to have these wine glasses and i can't think of anyone who should have them more. so that felt nice to be able to give something to people who need nothing nor want for anything.
they will have people over to enjoy their wine cellar and use the glasses and enjoy the wine from the proper glasses. that makes me happy to think about.
so yes - this is goodwood in full toolbelt mode - swilling delicious scotch, scarfing up hours of intelectually stimulating and witty conversation and giving away things. oh yeah - and getting a lucrative contract in the process. lol.
but in all seriousness, that aside - these people are people i absolutely love, love, love to pieces. moreso than my own family.
i will miss them terribly when i return to texas.
tonight when i went over the quote and material cost with the man, he said "NOW - you can do your real job and cheer up my wife.".
"Oh dear Mrs..." what is the problem that is causing you such distress?".
He pipes up and says "she is distressed she has not seen you in some time, she enjoys your company and conversation...(pause) and she thinks you are handsome.".
LOL!!!!
this little old 85 year old lady has a crush on her carpenter that she talks about art, gardening and cooking with. she didn't deny it. she looked me directly in the eyes at table and said "but of course". and smiled.
those two are something else. and in the best possible way. i am thankful and fortunate to have met them.
i spent hours today at the lumber yard with the owner of said lumber yard working up a quote for material cost down to how many screws it would take for the job, how many pieces of lumber, what the cutting cost would be to saw it all up to length.
the home owner was very eager to know the cost of all this. he is a retired engineer/lawyer/business owner so the guy is sharp as a tack and loves details. well - i had details out the ass.
when i went over with him how the print out read, he understood at once and appreciated the break out of details and nodded in understanding. great.
when i gave him the quote for labor, he looked at me and said "NO. Absolutely not."
hmm.
"That is absurdley low! The level of work you and your crew do. no. that is not enough.".
Hmm...so i doubled the rate. He looked at me and shook his head.
"What is WRONG with you?!" he querried.
"That is just not enough!" (at $90.00 an hour U.S.)
"Bryce" i said "if you are happy with the work and need to unload some cash tax free, you can do that in such and such a way.".
He laughed and then thought for a moment. I told him he could offer any tip up to ten thousand dollars. lol. of course he won't, but its enjoyable banter at least.
After business was concluded and the job booked he and the mrs. insisted on my having a nice glenfiddich with them. delicious.
after that, they insister i stay to have dinner with them on the beach side dining room, doors open and breeze coming in as we watched the sailboats on the water below.
spectacular supper had, we moved outside to the beachside deck to enjoy some iced cointreau and conversation in the breeze.
in packing up my house for the renter i came across a box of Riedel wine glasses that i just won't use.
the reason i mention that is beacause these people have been bicycling afficionados their whole lives. the old man had a rack of bikes hanging in his garage for 15 years and today when i arrived, they were all gone - cannondale, bianchi. over supper he explained that among those they gave away were TWO of only 120 bianchi special racing bikes ever made. fucking A. had i known he wanted to get rid of them, i would have happily taken them. i was actually looking for a nice racing bike. oh well.
they went on to say they were happy with their giving the bikes to people who are also bicycling afficionados and that the bikes would be well taken care of, serviced and used.
back to the wine glasses. since taking care of things and using them for their intended purpose is important to these people, i asked them if they would care to have these wine glasses and they were like little kids on christmas morning. lol. they would love to have these wine glasses and i can't think of anyone who should have them more. so that felt nice to be able to give something to people who need nothing nor want for anything.
they will have people over to enjoy their wine cellar and use the glasses and enjoy the wine from the proper glasses. that makes me happy to think about.
so yes - this is goodwood in full toolbelt mode - swilling delicious scotch, scarfing up hours of intelectually stimulating and witty conversation and giving away things. oh yeah - and getting a lucrative contract in the process. lol.
but in all seriousness, that aside - these people are people i absolutely love, love, love to pieces. moreso than my own family.
i will miss them terribly when i return to texas.
tonight when i went over the quote and material cost with the man, he said "NOW - you can do your real job and cheer up my wife.".
"Oh dear Mrs..." what is the problem that is causing you such distress?".
He pipes up and says "she is distressed she has not seen you in some time, she enjoys your company and conversation...(pause) and she thinks you are handsome.".
LOL!!!!
this little old 85 year old lady has a crush on her carpenter that she talks about art, gardening and cooking with. she didn't deny it. she looked me directly in the eyes at table and said "but of course". and smiled.
those two are something else. and in the best possible way. i am thankful and fortunate to have met them.