Posted by Linda_H/FL on 11/29/09 5:06pm
Msg #312450

MIA - John Schenk

He has a $1K weekend last week, takes some photos (which he posted in Leisure) and we haven't heard from him since!! Hope the tryptophan isn't still kickin...

Reply by John Schenk on 11/29/09 5:43pm
Msg #312454

LOL Was actually readin on here when you posted...!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL! Just been out of pocket for a while with the holiday. Had a WONDERFUL holiday, and having yet another Thanksgiving dinner again tonight in about a half hour.

Hope everyone had the most WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING EVER! Don't see how we could top ours next year.

God bless! Catch you later this week. Gotta play catch up tomorrow and Tuesday. End of the year in the personal injury business is the time to settle cases. I'd rather have those settlements next year, but the clients want them NOW, so gotta do what they need and just pay uncle Sam more. May end up being no difference the way next year is looking. Just a blessed couple of years of my life. Don't have 2011 lined up yet, but 2010 looks just as good, if not better, than 2009 for me. I can't tell you how truly thankful we are for that.

God Bless our Troops, our families, and all our dear friends!

Thanks for thinking of me. I was lookin at posts for a GPS. :-)

JJ

Reply by jba/fl on 11/29/09 5:50pm
Msg #312458

Thank heavens you wont be getting lost and can return

with more stories.

I'm saving my "year in revue" for the end of the year - happy yours is going swimmingly!

Reply by John Schenk on 11/29/09 9:24pm
Msg #312465

My Dad, as many of your did, lived through the DEPRESSION

Good things don't last forever. Great year in the law biz, super year already set up for 2010, and I really don't have to do the notary service anymore...BUT....I'm NOT callin somebody to do my pool, mow my yard, rake my leaves, hang my wallpaper, lay my ceramic tile on my floors, put a new low heat finish on my pool deck, fix the busted brick piling that somebody ran into, etc, etc, BECAUSE I KNOW how to do those things MYSELF.

When things are good, folks tend to get lazy and call people to do the work for them that they could do themselves. I've thought about it, on each of the above listed things, but I KNOW how to do all those things, and many more. I'm tighter than a bark on a log and I ENJOY doing things in my home! I want to teach my daughter and son how to do those things so they have the CHOICE to decide if they want to pay someone to do that work, or they have the choice to do it themselves. I WANT them to decide to do it themselves, because they have the ability to do it, and the knowledge, because their old man showed them how to do it, and wasn't to lazy to do it himself to save a few bucks.

My Dad is a multimillionaire. We save every scrap of wood that we might be able to use in the future. We save nuts and bolts, and every weird thing that we can think of that we "might" be able to use one day. That comes from HIM, because they had to save everything back then, and we both still do it.

LOL When a see construction going on at a site, I look in their dumpsters! I've hauled off virtually thousands of dollars of "junk" that was thrown away. I still do that, and will never stop doing it. DUMPSTER DIVING AT ITS BEST! LOL

I hunt for game that MY FAMILY will EAT. I fish for fish that MY FAMILY will EAT. I grow vegetables that MY FAMILY will EAT! I harvest pecans from my trees that MY FAMILY will EAT. I read EVERY ad from every grocery store to save money for items that we use that MY FAMILY will EAT! I make homemade jerky, dried fruits, and veggies, that MY FAMILY will EAT!

No matter how good your year is, there will be a bad year in the future. When you have a good one, you save up for when times are bad. You live each year as though you will never have a good year again, other than taking some pleasures that will not overload your ass.

Are there vacations in the future for us? YES! Do I buy some really nice jewelry for Ginny when times are good? YES! She's a spoiled brat! I owe my kids more right now than I have given them in the past, and they're gonna be happy kids this year, and things I'm doing for them in the future that will pay back when I'm dead and gone. The trust is set up,substantial life insurance, everything is in order, should I die today. This makes me feel good this Thanksgiving because I know my family is provided for in the event that I should die. It's not grotesque, or morbid...it's just life, and having to deal with death. Hope you all are providing for your loved ones in a similar fashion as best you can. I PRAY that when something happens to me that ALL my loved ones are happy that I took care of my future business.

Not trying to be morbid, or bring anyone down, but there's a lot of folks that probably had a miserable Thanksgiving because someone didn't prepare for their inevitable demise. We all die...prepare for it. Make every Thanksgiving and Christmas a happy time for your survivors.

WRITE YOUR WILL! KNOW THAT IT IS DONE, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR AGE.

HAPPY BELATED THANKSGIVING!

JJ

Reply by John Schenk on 11/29/09 9:59pm
Msg #312467

Love you guys! Hope you took that post as constructive. JJ n/m

Reply by John Schenk on 11/29/09 10:24pm
Msg #312468

DAMN...THAT WAS REALLY A GOOD POST! LOL n/m

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 11/30/09 3:15am
Msg #312470

John's right about that...

With my FIL's passing this summer, I can't begin to tell you guys how true this is! We're going to "cleaning up" the mess he left for some time to come, both literal and figurative... and it's going to be entirely out of pocket for us. Technically, we need to go to probate... even though his "estate" is of no value at all. We still have to go in order to sell his ancient wheelchair van and get permission to dispose/bulldoze the moldy trailer he lived in. Well, it was a nice trailer, actually... until Hurricane Ike last year. He told us he'd filed a claim with FEMA... nope. He never sent in the paperwork. We found it on his desk, along with a lot of other things he kept forgetting to send in over the last year. He covered up his forgetfulness very well!

You'd think collection agencies would get the hint -- the man is dead and we're not responsible for his bills, and this one credit card company sends a letter every month to his "estate" and "family" asking us to contact all of his relatives to pitch in a voluntarily settle his debt for him. The nerve of these people!

That said, most everyone we're dealing with is acting appropriately.

The VA, though, is odd. They promptly cut off his VA benefits as they should have... yet he's still getting letters about appointments that are being set for him. Try as I might, I call them each and every time to tell them, and we still get the letters. Each time they tell us it's a different department and we have to notify them all separately. ugh.


Seriously... do your family a favor and put things in order. Even if there's not much to organize. We're all notaries... so at the very least you should have instructions for your family/friends telling them what to do with your notary supplies in the event of your death. Here in CA, there are very specific things that must be done, like destroying the seal and turning in all of our journals to the county clerk.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 11/30/09 8:30am
Msg #312473

Marion, I feel and hear your pain about taking care of

FIL's things. Ours is quite the opposite, but still a mess. He had everthing very neatly placed in trusts and we still got sued by my husbands siblings. They have contested every single thing they can come up with. Its now been 3 years and its not over yet, close but no cigar yet. It has been very painful to watch my husband go through this. He doesn't deserve it. He worked side by side with his father for 40 years and the others are so jealous of him. Its very sad. I would rather have your problem (nothing to fight over) than ours. Money does strange things to people and the root of evil, IMO.
I was so mad the day we had to auction off his furniture. Nothing was antique, just old but very useable. I would have rather given it to someone who needed it, but NO, we had to sell it for they got a portion of the proceeds from it. I could go on and on, but you get the drift. The best laid plans can go awry sometimes in families. So sad.

Reply by jba/fl on 11/30/09 9:47am
Msg #312475

Re: Marion and Linda, I feel and hear your pain

about taking care of the estate. My mom is so forgetful right now and things are not looking as good as they could. I have one sister already who thinks I'm too "bossy" because I keep on my mom to get things straightened out so we don't have any nightmares. Dad died many years ago, and the will currently leaves everything to each other, without a great backup "in case of". My brother seems to understand the necessity, but being a man of very few words and little persistence with any kind of authority he is being bulldozed right along down this wonderful road of 'we are happy now, why bother to push her' thinking. I am going to have to go there and she doesn't want me to come until Spring, and I have the realtor's expression "time is of the essence" ringing in my ears, hoping it won't be too late then. She lives in WA, almost as far away as one can be, and I have no desire to live there. The long distance thing is wearing me down and I feel so ineffective.

Looking at her situation, I've been a busy bee and got myself in order. Just one or two minor things, but the will is done. Gift list, done. Passwords and accounts listed and mostly done but DIL knows where it is all kept and can muddle through ok. Forgot about notary stamp, etc. though. I also want to leave no mess or bickering.

Reply by Mdene_AZ on 11/30/09 1:48pm
Msg #312499

Re: My Dad, as many of your did, lived through the DEPRESSION

Where on earth do you keep all that stuff? I always get rid of "stuff" so I don't have to kick my way through the living room. MY son-in-law just had to do a massive clean out of the place occupied by his parents after one of them passed away...don't want to leave that for my kids. Keep it neat!

Reply by BrendaTx on 11/30/09 2:16pm
Msg #312505

I like to get rid of things also.

It's hard, coming from a depression era parents/grandparents raising to get rid of things...but it is necessary for MY mental health needs.

I don't want to live with all that stuff, or to have my son having to find his way through all that stuff when I'm gone.

But, maybe John's got a really big place to keep up with it all. I just simply don't have the room.

Reply by jba/fl on 11/30/09 3:01pm
Msg #312512

I think he keeps it on the back 40 n/m

Reply by John Schenk on 11/30/09 9:12pm
Msg #312546

Re: I think he keeps it on the back 40

Yep, all kept at the barns, shops, or in the metal or wood piles. I don't keep that crap (good junk) at my house. We really don't look like Sanford and Son (remember that TV series back when?). LOL

For instance, we replaced a ton of boards at the rodeo grounds that were 10 inch, 24 ft boards that were bad on the ends. They wanted to throw all those in the dumpster. We cut about 2 feet off each end, and still had about 20 feet of good lumber, although it is hard as hell. You pretty much have to drill a small hole in it to even be able to drive a nail in it, but it's excellent lumber...just a for instance. They HAD to be replaced, but didn't mean that there wasn't a good amount of good lumber there to still be used. Send it to the dump, or use it? Free lumber for the taking as nobody else wanted to mess with it. Got about 400 board feet of usable lumber, and have used most of it. I could tell you where almost every foot of that went, but won't bore you with the details. LOL

JJ

Reply by jba/fl on 11/30/09 9:21pm
Msg #312551

Re: I think he keeps it on the back 40

"but won't bore you with the details. LOL"

Why change your MO now? LOL.
You are just a one man party!
ROFL

Reply by John Schenk on 11/30/09 10:17pm
Msg #312565

Re: I think he keeps it on the back 40

I used to like you. Maybe I'll like you again one day.

ROFLMAO

JJ

Reply by jba/fl on 11/30/09 11:12pm
Msg #312568

OK. Well,,,, fine... n/m

Reply by jba/fl on 11/30/09 3:03pm
Msg #312513

So Brenda - you are countervailing John's efforts? n/m

Reply by BrendaTx on 11/30/09 4:12pm
Msg #312518

Oh yes! I'm a countervailer from way back. n/m

Reply by John Schenk on 11/30/09 8:49pm
Msg #312542

Troublemaker! LOL n/m

Reply by John Schenk on 11/29/09 9:27pm
Msg #312466

Great...left the seal things at the office...

I gotta figure out where to put the leftovers...HAPPY DAY! LMAO

Got Ziplocs....not the container of choice for gravy, but it'll work. LOL

JJ

Reply by John Schenk on 11/29/09 11:00pm
Msg #312469

I'm a man of few words...but SHE invited it! LOL

I have been MIA for a while, and I apologize for that. Wasn't here to wish you HAPPY THANKSGIVING, on THANKSGIVING DAY! I'm SORRY I missed that. I DO hope that you ALL know that I DO hold you DEAR in my heart, although some of you are a pain in the azz. LOL J/K

If I could kiss each of you on each cheek right now, I would (as long as you didn't bend over! LOL).

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

JJ

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 11/30/09 12:01pm
Msg #312489

Whoa, back up, John

John - you need to take a deeeeep breath: Don't call everybody lazy just cos they're not as skilled and talented as you. Example: If I decided to tile something it would be a disaster. I know cos I've tried. I even took the Home Depot class for women: Girls Gone Grout or something. I bought all the tools, watched the video. Still, my supposed-to-be-flat countertop looks like a Rocky Road. Next time, I'll hire someone who knows what they're doing. And don't even mention wallpapering. This is truly an art if done correctly. There was a remarkable difference in my wallpapering attempt compared to that of the woman I finally hired to redo it. And if I have to look at this everyday, life is too short to be constantly reminded of my amateurism. Like your parents, mine lived through the Depresssion - I don't think my father had a new pair of socks for 20 years - my mother kept darning the heels in the old ones. I actually have the old wood darner - nobody today would know what it is for. When a knitted garmet became too out of style, she'd unravel it and knit up something else... recycling to the max. And why have an electic dryer when you can hang the clothes outside (that was my job, of course. So I can do somthing!) By the way, hanging wet clothes outside is banned in many areas today. Too tacky, I guess. Anyway, we all admire your resourcefulness, independence and frontier spirit. However, there are other sides to this story - including the landscape guys who would be out of business if everybody took care of their own yard. As long as you enjoy this stuff, go for it - but just cos other people don't, doesn't mean we're laaaazy. (Just incompetent.) And a Thanksgiving kiss to you, too!

Reply by John Schenk on 11/30/09 9:02pm
Msg #312544

Re: Whoa, back up, John

LOL...well, I learned how to lay tile, ceramic, vinyl and wood, and hang wallcovering when I was very young, each of which I installed commercially for a pretty good while. I've literally hung tens of thousands of rolls and yards of wallcovering, and have installed thousands upon thousands of square feet of tile. Costs more than I want to pay to get that done so I do indeed do it myself, although I may not get around to it quite as fast as Ginny would like for me to sometimes...but that's a price she has to pay. LMAO

I DO think it a fact that when times are good we tend to be inclined to hire out work that we would normally do ourselves, which I'm not saying is necessarily a bad thing, but it's certainly not a frugal thing, if we have the ability to do those things ourselves. I'm a tile layer, paperhanger, carpenter, mason, concrete layer, fence builder, welder, tractor drivin fool, bulldozer operator, wood hacker, cowboy, a bit of an electrician (although I bow out at 220 Volts LOL), plumber (and this would be the FIRST thing I think about hiring out because I HATE plumbing if it has to do with toilets or changing kitchen faucets LOL), and just have a lot of skills being raised on a farm and a Dad that very seldom hired work out to be done. We did it all, and still do.

The point was that when you have a skill that you COULD do some of the things that you have the ability to do, and then you have the money to say "To heck with it, I'm hiring someone to do something I have the ability to do." then you're ARE being LAZY. I don't want to ever get that way.

JJ

Reply by John Schenk on 11/30/09 9:46pm
Msg #312555

Re: MIA - LINDA...LOL

You started this and then bugged out...WTH kind of deal is that? LMAO

You missed me...I answered...and then you bugged out. WTH!!! LOL

JJ

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/1/09 9:05am
Msg #312583

Re: MIA - LINDA...LOL

Heh...sorry John - nothing to be said - everyone carried the thread admirably - and since you responded you're no longer MIA!!

Was out today upgrading my cell phone - maybe this new one will ring more!!

Reply by John Schenk on 12/1/09 10:26am
Msg #312602

Re: MIA - LINDA...LOL

Hope so, Linda. Have a great December!

John