Jim

Steve Abella, Socks, Ted and Del Duncan.

Jewel, I tried to send you a test PT and I couldn't. I suppose you should take this discussion to email and to paw as it's none of our business why you can't.

Please don't lose any sleep over that one. We held ours 10 minutes after she was born and took her home the next day. We still go through the same issues you do. My daughter is about 3 months short of 19. She moved out (with our blessings) last summer and moved back in 6 months later, declaring that living with us was like living at a spa compared to her roommates. She comes and goes as she pleases, with the only constraints being that she doesn't disturb us being able to get enough sleep and that she maintains a positive attitude. As to the other stuff, Belle and Shaz said it way better than me. BTW Belle, how did you pull off being 17 and in your senior year in college?

For the record, Stayed, I don't have a problem with discussing it here on GS. My problem is with strangers intervening.

I guess I'm more concerned about why this should be any of your business. Death and dying are *the most* personal decisions that a person and his/her relatives have to make. I've had to deal with it twice, upfront and personal, in the last few years and the last thing I'd want is for a stranger to stick his nose uninvited into the discussion.

Disclaimer - I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice - Here's some more things to think about. I've had a couple partnership deals, I've worked with my wife for 10 years at our own company, and I've done all the things needed to be a legitimate company, such as incorporating, health insurance for the employees, worker's comp, etc. I assume that you've gone over the books carefully. Pay close attention to state and fed tax withholding and worker's comp. These things can get you into big trouble fast if they aren't handled correctly. It might pay hire a tax accountant to go over the books. The books (assuming they are accurate) will tell you roughly what income and expenses you will have and what payments you can afford for the business. You'll also want to call up some of the business's repeat customers and make sure that they are happy and will continue to use your services. It only takes one botched job to lose a long-time customer. Likewise, you might want to call some of the venders that sell supplies to the company and make sure that you're on good credit terms. You'll also probably want to find out if there's a big tank of dirty solvent that hasn't been disposed off properly. As to your relationship with the present owner, rather than buying him out completely, I'd prefer a deal where he's a silent partner, at least for a year or so. If he's just an employee, he could walk the day he gets his check from you, and then you've lost a key employee and the personal link to all his customers. I'd try to work out a deal where he would be required to stay with the company for one year. Also note that in some cases, partner/owners can be exempt from worker's comp and some unemployment insurance issues. You'll need to talk to a tax accountant in your area to get the details. Make sure you can work with the guy. There will be some friction as he's been involved with the company from the beginning and you're the rookies. To start with, you'll probably want a clear understanding of responsiblities, working hours, pay, etc, from the beginning. Make sure you can work with your Hubby. As I've said, I've been there and done that. There *will* be very stressful times, and the key for me was being able to back off/walk away when things get too intense. On the other hand, the good times are very good. It certainly can work, but it's easier if everyone understands up-front that there will be hard times. If you are satisfied that the books are in order, the numbers work out and it's the kind of business you want to do, sit down with the guy and write up a 1-2 page agreement. After you and the guy have a clear understanding of the rights and responsibilities of each partner, all of you should take the agreement to a lawyer and get his advise. Don't let the lawyer talk you into him writing a 20 page agreement. The only one that benefits from that is the lawyer. I've been writing my own contracts and agreements for years and only occasionally do I bother to have the lawyer review them. Got to get to work. Hope this helps. Feel free to PT me about anything you don't want to discuss in public.

I've never been in the business, but I've been in lots of shops. Does this shop only do clothing or does it also do industrial work? We make electronic equipment and we've had a continual problem finding reliable silkscreeners to do the legends on our equipment enclosures. So you might want to ask about that. Other than that, the good shops around here stay busy and I presume they are making a good living.

David, it's hard to know whether you are frighteningly serious or just trying to perpetrate GS's longest running troll...

If I were to have my car towed, first of all, I'd want the tow company to be careful. Looking up careful on an online thesaurus, I came up with: Precise Towing Alternately, I like "Draggin Wagon" Something I saw as a kid on a tow truck.

You're a good man, Ted. Thanks.

Everyone has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another Optimator

If anyone cares to wade through a ton of material about Penta Water, Wikipedia has the info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penta_Water

That was my first thought. Not even my favorite, Spaten Optimator, all the way from Munich. On the other hand, the Penta display had free CDs and books to explain why I should drink their $40/case water.

Ok, a question for David. I saw Penta water at the supermarket today. Nearly $40 for a case... Now that in itself didn't bother me so much. What did was that it was packaged in *plastic* bottles. Now I used to raise tropical fish, and one thing I learned is that if I kept my stock of fish water in plastic containers for longer than a week or two, the fish would die, presumeably from something that diffused out of the plastic into the water. Now I know that fish are a more sensitive indicator of contaminates than humans, but just the same, if I'm paying nearly $40/case for bottled water, I'd sure expect it to come in glass containers. I'd also wonder whether the extra oxygen content of the water might interact with the plastic in some bad and unforeseen way. Incidently, I fiddled around with oxygenating my own water about 15 years ago. I used tap water and the oxygen from my welding bottle. Looking back, I think that lowering the temperature is probably essential to the process.

Oh, I meant the dog.... version all right...

Voted "least likely to appear on the main stage at ROA"

It's our job. There will still be plenty of challenges for you. Remind him of his roots and make sure that he understands that his abilities are a gift and that he needs to use them wisely. I have a similarly gifted 18-year-old.

I got the following email today: > Hi there, > I am writing to you cause i found you on my outlook address book and thought that > you might be interested. I am looking to sell my laptop that was bought by me > recently because i have been given one by my company. So now i have 2 and what to sell one. It > is Sony Vaio X505ZP Centrino 1.1. i only want $500 for this > because i need to sell it real quick. Retail price for this laptop is well > over $2000. > Email me at $$$$$@pisem.net if interested. I will reply to this email only > because i am currently writing from my work email address. I will send you more > info and some pics. I will only take payment by bank wire or western union. > Cheers I almost believed it. Everything sounds plausible and real until we get down to the payment terms. Never wire or send money by Western Union unless you're damn sure you know the sender. A "throwaway" email address is a good indication that you don't.

And let's see if we can dig up an old stale "Stroh's Fire Brewed" for the MOG.

It's been over 30 years since I've worn the uniform, but by God, I'll put it back on and stand with the grieving family if these jerkoffs show up here.

No way to work dinosaur farts into this....

I can definitively say that no, I am not taking it.

22. Questions shall be allowed from the floor. Specifically, any dubious claim or reference by the MOG/WOG may be challenged with the cry of "GOT A CITE?" The MOG/WOG may be pelted with spitballs made from sylibus pages for failure to produce a timely and convincing cite. Two failures to cite will be rewarded with the chant "LIER, LIER, PANTS ON FIRE". Three or more failures to cite will result in the MOG/WOG's pants being set on fire.

Agreed. I've been very impressed with Canon's copiers and printers. Second choice would be an Epson.

LOL. If by "we", you mean Loy, most definitely. I'm sure he didn't and doesn't know how they work.