Question:

I haven’t painted in a long time and I am going to start back this week. I don’t want to be a database goddess anymore. So I am going to keep working and work on my art and make a transition to full time artist in a few years.

Response:

In article <MPG.1b3fedd57047c389989…@news.alt.net>, myblowuprejecte…@blowuppp.com says… > I haven’t painted in a long time and I am going to start back this week. > I don’t want to be a database goddess anymore. So I am going to keep > working and work on my art and make a transition to full time artist in > a few years.

I may go ahead and get my project management cert just for shits and giggles.

Response:

On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 18:54:59 -0500, Ms Pnoopie Pnats <myblowuprejecte…@blowuppp.com> wrote: >I haven’t painted in a long time and I am going to start back this week. >I don’t want to be a database goddess anymore. So I am going to keep >working and work on my art and make a transition to full time artist in >a few years.

 So, what kind of databases do you work with?? Huh?? Jeff…. http://s92515945.onlinehome.us/index.php See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way. — Exodus 23:20

Response:

In article <7jbcd052pas2f71806tt56h9sd038lu…@4ax.com>, yo_dog40 @hotmail.com says… > On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 18:54:59 -0500, Ms Pnoopie Pnats > <myblowuprejecte…@blowuppp.com> wrote: > >I haven’t painted in a long time and I am going to start back this week. > >I don’t want to be a database goddess anymore. So I am going to keep > >working and work on my art and make a transition to full time artist in > >a few years. >  So, what kind of databases do you work with?? Huh??

All kinds Oracle, sql server, db2, access, etc etc etc I met my first db many years ago, his name was paradox some dos version, and it was love at first sight.

Response:

On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 03:54:14 -0500, Ms Pnoopie Pnats – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<myblowuprejecte…@blowuppp.com> wrote: >In article <7jbcd052pas2f71806tt56h9sd038lu…@4ax.com>, yo_dog40 >@hotmail.com says… >> On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 18:54:59 -0500, Ms Pnoopie Pnats >> <myblowuprejecte…@blowuppp.com> wrote: >> >I haven’t painted in a long time and I am going to start back this week. >> >I don’t want to be a database goddess anymore. So I am going to keep >> >working and work on my art and make a transition to full time artist in >> >a few years. >>  So, what kind of databases do you work with?? Huh?? >All kinds >Oracle, sql server, db2, access, etc etc etc >I met my first db many years ago, his name was paradox some dos version, >and it was love at first sight.

 Ah, DB2.. I’ve used that a lot with COBOL and other tools. Got to love it!! Have you ever tried MySql?? Jeff…. http://s92515945.onlinehome.us/index.php See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way. — Exodus 23:20

Response:

In article <40fed09g1nb7lbeo2jgup5rf5jmmk0k…@4ax.com>, yo_dog40 @hotmail.com says… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 03:54:14 -0500, Ms Pnoopie Pnats > <myblowuprejecte…@blowuppp.com> wrote: > >In article <7jbcd052pas2f71806tt56h9sd038lu…@4ax.com>, yo_dog40 > >@hotmail.com says… > >> On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 18:54:59 -0500, Ms Pnoopie Pnats > >> <myblowuprejecte…@blowuppp.com> wrote: > >> >I haven’t painted in a long time and I am going to start back this week. > >> >I don’t want to be a database goddess anymore. So I am going to keep > >> >working and work on my art and make a transition to full time artist in > >> >a few years. > >>  So, what kind of databases do you work with?? Huh?? > >All kinds > >Oracle, sql server, db2, access, etc etc etc > >I met my first db many years ago, his name was paradox some dos version, > >and it was love at first sight. >  Ah, DB2.. I’ve used that a lot with COBOL and other tools. Got to > love it!! Have you ever tried MySql??

Yes a little a few years ago.  I can’t think of too many dbs I haven’t used. Where I work has a variety. Our accounting system is on a mainframe. The patient systems are on oracle and sql server. Lots of interfaces and fun stuff too. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Jeff…. > http://s92515945.onlinehome.us/index.php > See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way. > — Exodus 23:20

Response:

Question:

I am a CPA just starting to use Quickbooks.  One of my clients is an engineering firm that has just started up.  They’ve asked me to produce monthly job reports for each ongoing job.  Allocating direct costs to the job are not a problem – when entering the expense into QB, I use the appropriate job code.  However, overhead costs are supposed to be allocated to each job based on direct labor hours.  At the end of the month, I examine direct labor hours and come up with something like this (as an example): Job A: 38% of direct labor hours Job B: 21% of "" Job C: 41% of "" I then examine overhead expenses such as office expenses, equipment rentals, utilities, etc. and I am supposed to allocate the costs to individual jobs based on the percentages above.  The only way I can think of doing the allocation is extremely time consuming – I export the unallocated expenses to an Excel spreadsheet, do my allocations, then go back into QB and assign a job code to every unallocated expense. Is there a simpler way to do this? I’m sure there are a lot of posters with much more experience/knowledge than me.  I’d greatly appreciate any help they may give.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a CPA just starting to use Quickbooks.  One of my clients is an engineering firm that has just started up.  They’ve asked me to produce monthly job reports for each ongoing job.  Allocating direct costs to the job are not a problem – when entering the expense into QB, I use the appropriate job code.  However, overhead costs are supposed to be allocated to each job based on direct labor hours.  At the end of the month, I examine direct labor hours and come up with something like this (as an example): Job A: 38% of direct labor hours Job B: 21% of "" Job C: 41% of "" I then examine overhead expenses such as office expenses, equipment rentals, utilities, etc. and I am supposed to allocate the costs to individual jobs based on the percentages above.  The only way I can think of doing the allocation is extremely time consuming – I export the unallocated expenses to an Excel spreadsheet, do my allocations, then go back into QB and assign a job code to every unallocated expense. Is there a simpler way to do this? I’m sure there are a lot of posters with much more experience/knowledge than me.  I’d greatly appreciate any help they may give.

I’m an engineer and with all engineering consulting firms I’ve been associated with the overhead expenses are estimated and a fixed proportion of the labor rate is charged for overhead.  Another percentage is added for fringe benefits (if any) and another for G&A (also, if any).   If the principal is adamant about doing this, I think you’ll probably have better luck asking in a quickbooks ng–I use QB for my own consulting, but I don’t allocate actual overhead costs in this manner, I just accumulate them as expenses throughout the year and, as above, bill on an adjusted rate including OH. And just now, I don’t recall the name of the QB ng–it’s under alt.?.quickbooks.??

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a CPA just starting to use Quickbooks.  One of my clients is an engineering firm that has just started up.  They’ve asked me to produce monthly job reports for each ongoing job.  Allocating direct costs to the job are not a problem – when entering the expense into QB, I use the appropriate job code.  However, overhead costs are supposed to be allocated to each job based on direct labor hours.  At the end of the month, I examine direct labor hours and come up with something like this (as an example): Job A: 38% of direct labor hours Job B: 21% of "" Job C: 41% of "" I then examine overhead expenses such as office expenses, equipment rentals, utilities, etc. and I am supposed to allocate the costs to individual jobs based on the percentages above.  The only way I can think of doing the allocation is extremely time consuming – I export the unallocated expenses to an Excel spreadsheet, do my allocations, then go back into QB and assign a job code to every unallocated expense. Is there a simpler way to do this? I’m sure there are a lot of posters with much more experience/knowledge than me.  I’d greatly appreciate any help they may give.

I don’t have any easy answers so try asking in

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a CPA just starting to use Quickbooks.  One of my clients is an engineering firm that has just started up.  They’ve asked me to produce monthly job reports for each ongoing job.  Allocating direct costs to the job are not a problem – when entering the expense into QB, I use the appropriate job code.  However, overhead costs are supposed to be allocated to each job based on direct labor hours.  At the end of the month, I examine direct labor hours and come up with something like this (as an example): Job A: 38% of direct labor hours Job B: 21% of "" Job C: 41% of "" I then examine overhead expenses such as office expenses, equipment rentals, utilities, etc. and I am supposed to allocate the costs to individual jobs based on the percentages above.  The only way I can think of doing the allocation is extremely time consuming – I export the unallocated expenses to an Excel spreadsheet, do my allocations, then go back into QB and assign a job code to every unallocated expense. Is there a simpler way to do this? I’m sure there are a lot of posters with much more experience/knowledge than me.  I’d greatly appreciate any help they may give.

After calculating overhead as you have a few times, what was the result per hour? Was it pretty close each time? Many businesses develop a "standard" overhead rate per hour and adjust it annually. That would simplify things a great deal.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a CPA just starting to use Quickbooks.  One of my clients is an engineering firm that has just started up.  They’ve asked me to produce monthly job reports for each ongoing job.  Allocating direct costs to the job are not a problem – when entering the expense into QB, I use the appropriate job code.  However, overhead costs are supposed to be allocated to each job based on direct labor hours.  At the end of the month, I examine direct labor hours and come up with something like this (as an example): Job A: 38% of direct labor hours Job B: 21% of "" Job C: 41% of "" I then examine overhead expenses such as office expenses, equipment rentals, utilities, etc. and I am supposed to allocate the costs to individual jobs based on the percentages above.  The only way I can think of doing the allocation is extremely time consuming – I export the unallocated expenses to an Excel spreadsheet, do my allocations, then go back into QB and assign a job code to every unallocated expense. Is there a simpler way to do this?

At the each end of the month after calculating the amount of overhead that is to be allocated (or use an estimated amount) you can make a journal entry similar to the following: Job A – allocated overhead                                       (Job A) 100 Job B – allocated overhead                                       (Job B) 100 Dummy Job – allocated overhear                                (dummy job) 200 You need to set up a dummy job or the 200 credit would end up being posted to Job B. This will give you the same results without the time consumming chore of going back to each unallocated expense. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m sure there are a lot of posters with much more experience/knowledge than me.  I’d greatly appreciate any help they may give.

Response:

Brad, There is an affordable alternative to Quickbooks, that was actually intended to do job costing.  The software is the result of a quarter of a century of development for the construction industry.  You can get the SBA version for $25.  It will handle what your client needs.  The CD comes with over 50 sessions of multimedia training and a getting started wizard to help you set up your client.  The wizard also allows you to import certain files from Quickbooks to expedite your setup process. You can order the SBA copy from A-Systems at (800) 365-6790.  By the way, the SBA version is the only software endorsed by the United States Small Business Administration. Arnold – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a CPA just starting to use Quickbooks.  One of my clients is an engineering firm that has just started up.  They’ve asked me to produce monthly job reports for each ongoing job.  Allocating direct costs to the job are not a problem – when entering the expense into QB, I use the appropriate job code.  However, overhead costs are supposed to be allocated to each job based on direct labor hours.  At the end of the month, I examine direct labor hours and come up with something like this (as an example): Job A: 38% of direct labor hours Job B: 21% of "" Job C: 41% of "" I then examine overhead expenses such as office expenses, equipment rentals, utilities, etc. and I am supposed to allocate the costs to individual jobs based on the percentages above.  The only way I can think of doing the allocation is extremely time consuming – I export the unallocated expenses to an Excel spreadsheet, do my allocations, then go back into QB and assign a job code to every unallocated expense. Is there a simpler way to do this? I’m sure there are a lot of posters with much more experience/knowledge than me.  I’d greatly appreciate any help they may give.

Response:

going to an SBA office is a little inconvenient, I’ll just email their answer desk http://www.sba.gov/answerdesk.html  and see what accounting software programs they recommend.   Bob,   Go to your nearest SBA office and ask if they have a construction accounting program on their computers of if they recommend one.  The SBA purchased a copy for every office in the nation.   Arnold

where is this accounting software endorsed or recommended by the SBA?  I don’t see it on the official http://www.sba.gov/  site –

You can order the SBA copy from A-Systems at (800) 365-6790.  By the way, the SBA version is the only software endorsed by the United States Small Business Administration. Arnold

I am a CPA just starting to use Quickbooks.  One of my clients is an engineering firm that has just started up.  They’ve asked me to produce monthly job reports for each ongoing job.  Allocating direct costs to the job are not a problem – when entering the expense into QB, I use the appropriate job code.  However, overhead costs are supposed to be allocated to each job based on direct labor hours.  At the end of the month, I examine direct labor hours and come up with something like this (as an example): Job A: 38% of direct labor hours Job B: 21% of "" Job C: 41% of "" I then examine overhead expenses such as office expenses, equipment rentals, utilities, etc. and I am supposed to allocate the costs to individual jobs based on the percentages above.  The only way I can think of doing the allocation is extremely time consuming – I export the unallocated expenses to an Excel spreadsheet, do my allocations, then go back into QB and assign a job code to every unallocated expense. Is there a simpler way to do this? I’m sure there are a lot of posters with much more experience/knowledge than me.  I’d greatly appreciate any help they may give.

Response:

Thanks to all repliers.  I posted this in alt.comp.software.financial.quickbooks and got no replies in the last two days.  Now I know which newsgroup to go to if I need good info. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a CPA just starting to use Quickbooks.  One of my clients is an engineering firm that has just started up.  They’ve asked me to produce monthly job reports for each ongoing job.  Allocating direct costs to the job are not a problem – when entering the expense into QB, I use the appropriate job code.  However, overhead costs are supposed to be allocated to each job based on direct labor hours.  At the end of the month, I examine direct labor hours and come up with something like this (as an example): Job A: 38% of direct labor hours Job B: 21% of "" Job C: 41% of "" I then examine overhead expenses such as office expenses, equipment rentals, utilities, etc. and I am supposed to allocate the costs to individual jobs based on the percentages above.  The only way I can think of doing the allocation is extremely time consuming – I export the unallocated expenses to an Excel spreadsheet, do my allocations, then go back into QB and assign a job code to every unallocated expense. Is there a simpler way to do this? I’m sure there are a lot of posters with much more experience/knowledge than me.  I’d greatly appreciate any help they may give.

Response:

You say you "assign a job code to every unallocated expense". Does this mean that you credit each unallocated expense account causing each to have a zero balance? Also, do you have a line in each job for each one of the unallocated expenses? If you’re doing either of these things your making a bunch of work. See Allan Martin’s answer – post only totals and post only to allocation accounts. Flint —– – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I am a CPA just starting to use Quickbooks.  One of my clients is an engineering firm that has just started up.  They’ve asked me to produce monthly job reports for each ongoing job.  Allocating direct costs to the job are not a problem – when entering the expense into QB, I use the appropriate job code.  However, overhead costs are supposed to be allocated to each job based on direct labor hours.  At the end of the month, I examine direct labor hours and come up with something like this (as an example): Job A: 38% of direct labor hours Job B: 21% of "" Job C: 41% of "" I then examine overhead expenses such as office expenses, equipment rentals, utilities, etc. and I am supposed to allocate the costs to individual jobs based on the percentages above.  The only way I can think of doing the allocation is extremely time consuming – I export the unallocated expenses to an Excel spreadsheet, do my allocations, then go back into QB and assign a job code to every unallocated expense. Is there a simpler way to do this? I’m sure there are a lot of posters with much more experience/knowledge than me.  I’d greatly appreciate any help they may give.

Response:

I had the same luck there. FWIW, I allocate our OH in exactly the manner you described. I use a percent of direct labor costs, because the admin workload can shift dramatically from month to month, based on which department is busiest. Yes, it is time consuming but it is the only way I have figured out to make it work for our company. Actually, it isn’t the calculation that is time-consuming, it is the distribution entries. A

Thanks to all repliers.  I posted this in alt.comp.software.financial.quickbooks and got no replies in the last two days.  Now I know which newsgroup to go to if I need good info.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a CPA just starting to use Quickbooks.  One of my clients is an engineering firm that has just started up.  They’ve asked me to produce monthly job reports for each ongoing job.  Allocating direct costs to the job are not a problem – when entering the expense into QB, I use the appropriate job code.  However, overhead costs are supposed to be allocated to each job based on direct labor hours.  At the end of the month, I examine direct labor hours and come up with something like this (as an example): Job A: 38% of direct labor hours Job B: 21% of "" Job C: 41% of "" I then examine overhead expenses such as office expenses, equipment rentals, utilities, etc. and I am supposed to allocate the costs to individual jobs based on the percentages above.  The only way I can think of doing the allocation is extremely time consuming – I export the unallocated expenses to an Excel spreadsheet, do my allocations, then go back into QB and assign a job code to every unallocated expense. Is there a simpler way to do this? I’m sure there are a lot of posters with much more experience/knowledge than me.  I’d greatly appreciate any help they may give.

Response:

Thanks to all repliers.  I posted this in alt.comp.software.financial.quickbooks and got no replies in the last two days.  Now I know which newsgroup to go to if I need good info.

It is kinda’ an advocacy/rant group, granted…I’ve not read it regularly for some time now as I’ve about given up on QB as I’ve slowed the amount of consulting down… Anyway, assuming you’re using a current QB version, a possible suggestion would be perhaps it would be a candidate for user-written addin to do the distributions… <RANT/ I bought QB on the premise that the advertised integration w/MS Office was indeed that–turned out, Intuit’s definition of "ingegration" was/is "an incomplete and precanned export function".  Subsequent to that, the completion of the integration option was dropped in favor of the switch to XML-format files and the API–which required upgrading QB to a version which had fee-based tables, etc. that I didn’t want to get into.  Then’s when I decided to punt relying on QB so my present knowledge is somewhat out of date wrt the functionality of the API. <RANT But, it <might be possible to automate the distributions significantly and if it is going to be a longterm relationship and a fair amount of effort, worth considering, perhaps…

Response:

Bob, Go to your nearest SBA office and ask if they have a construction accounting program on their computers of if they recommend one.  The SBA purchased a copy for every office in the nation. Arnold – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – where is this accounting software endorsed or recommended by the SBA?  I don’t see it on the official http://www.sba.gov/  site – You can order the SBA copy from A-Systems at (800) 365-6790.  By the way, the SBA version is the only software endorsed by the United States Small Business Administration. Arnold I am a CPA just starting to use Quickbooks.  One of my clients is an engineering firm that has just started up.  They’ve asked me to produce monthly job reports for each ongoing job.  Allocating direct costs to the job are not a problem – when entering the expense into QB, I use the appropriate job code.  However, overhead costs are supposed to be allocated to each job based on direct labor hours.  At the end of the month, I examine direct labor hours and come up with something like this (as an example): Job A: 38% of direct labor hours Job B: 21% of "" Job C: 41% of "" I then examine overhead expenses such as office expenses, equipment rentals, utilities, etc. and I am supposed to allocate the costs to individual jobs based on the percentages above.  The only way I can think of doing the allocation is extremely time consuming – I export the unallocated expenses to an Excel spreadsheet, do my allocations, then go back into QB and assign a job code to every unallocated expense. Is there a simpler way to do this? I’m sure there are a lot of posters with much more experience/knowledge than me.  I’d greatly appreciate any help they may give.

Response:

where is this accounting software endorsed or recommended by the SBA?  I don’t see it on the official http://www.sba.gov/  site – – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You can order the SBA copy from A-Systems at (800) 365-6790.  By the way, the SBA version is the only software endorsed by the United States Small Business Administration. Arnold I am a CPA just starting to use Quickbooks.  One of my clients is an engineering firm that has just started up.  They’ve asked me to produce monthly job reports for each ongoing job.  Allocating direct costs to the job are not a problem – when entering the expense into QB, I use the appropriate job code.  However, overhead costs are supposed to be allocated to each job based on direct labor hours.  At the end of the month, I examine direct labor hours and come up with something like this (as an example): Job A: 38% of direct labor hours Job B: 21% of "" Job C: 41% of "" I then examine overhead expenses such as office expenses, equipment rentals, utilities, etc. and I am supposed to allocate the costs to individual jobs based on the percentages above.  The only way I can think of doing the allocation is extremely time consuming – I export the unallocated expenses to an Excel spreadsheet, do my allocations, then go back into QB and assign a job code to every unallocated expense. Is there a simpler way to do this? I’m sure there are a lot of posters with much more experience/knowledge than me.  I’d greatly appreciate any help they may give.

Response:

Question:

Hi! Basement Studios, is a firm of highly trained and experienced Sage Bookkeepers and Accountants, we are also linked with several Accountants locally. Do you want the worry of doing your VAT, Bookkeeping, Management Accounts and/or the worry of getting Final Accounts prepared? If so, give all your worries to us….email us free for a quotation on Kindest Regards, Rob Skinner, Director

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi! Basement Studios, is a firm of highly trained and experienced Sage Bookkeepers and Accountants, we are also linked with several Accountants locally. Do you want the worry of doing your VAT, Bookkeeping, Management Accounts and/or the worry of getting Final Accounts prepared? If so, give all your worries to us….email us free for a quotation on Kindest Regards, Rob Skinner, Director

Email you free? That’s nice of you. Peter Saxton from London

Response:

Question:

I know I read that the CMA Exam will undergo changes effective July 1.  Does anyone know how quickly the study guide companies will get the new materials out that reflect these changes?

Response:

I know I read that the CMA Exam will undergo changes effective July 1. Does anyone know how quickly the study guide companies will get the new materials out that reflect these changes?

Please visit: http://www.imanet.org to find out, site of the Institute of Management Accountants which runs the CMA program. A. Lucien Meyers, CIA, CMA — If you receive this by error, please delete it and inform the sender. PGP Key fingerprint=F1C0 D9AE 1B18 1405 4DFA  B4CC 6DC7 FF78 C76E FB15 To Big Brother Echelon from "spook": Honduras Panama genetic anthrax Saddam Hussein kibo radar SEAL Team 6

Response:

I know I read that the CMA Exam will undergo changes effective July 1.  Does anyone know how quickly the study guide companies will get the new materials out that reflect these changes?

Gleim will release it’s new materials on May.

Response:

Question:

Hi, Just a newbie here tonight looking at posts, but it appears that the issue of where the kids are to live came about with the simultaneous death and remarriage.  Objectively, why should there be an issue at all?  Just curious, how did dearly departed mom die?  Suspicious by nature, I guess, but how long had the new Mrs. known your ex before the wedding bells? Naturally, the age of your children indicates they can choose, but I don’t feel comfortable in putting forth such a concept to their routine living under your roof, plus their tender-age psyche in putting them through that sort of  "choosing where to live" type of thing, just because ex’s mom died and ex remarried and decides to get financially paranoid toward you. Something sounds screwy with this picture for ex to pull the late checks, etc.  To me, pulling that sort of stunt is a signal that this caring father has become not so caring … makes no difference here if the check goes to you … the money is still required for the welfare of those teenagers.  By abusing you in this money scenario, he is abusing those kids and displays he definitely is not a caring father.  Sure, when he is WITH them he’s very generous … ever heard of the Disneyland parent?  Take advantage of the deadbeat dad laws and get him back on track and quit the money games and traumatizing yourself emotionally over it.  Be true to feeling in your heart in taking into account in doing so that you really are looking at the best interest of your kids and the money is a skirt being hidden behind by your ex.  There may even be something in ex’s mom’s Will for a trust fund for these kids (a common theme … that the deceased wishes for the son/daughter to be in control of said trust(s)) that your ex doesn’t want you to know about, hence the game playing on annoying you and worrying yourself about not wanting to create flack about the lacking checks … until you relinquish custody to him, which would make him a happier camper and you more of an emotional wreck in having done so.  Wills are on public record, so you can mosey down to the courthouse and look it up and get a copy.  Go from there to find out more about assets if you really want to, but a bit of the meat of money appears to be somewhere involving your teenagers, especially in view of this money behavior in not sending you checks.  I feel sure there are assets being hidden as well.  Just relating my own past experiences not too disimilar.  Good luck. Kay

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Greetings, Everyone! When I first started reading the posts on this forum, the weather outside was still balmy — however, my heart was frozen solid. I never thought I would have the courage to let it thaw, and allow myself to feel again. But after months of perusing the various posts here and following people’s brave resolve and valiant efforts to "press on," I’ve come to believe that I, too, can somehow find the strength to chip the protective ice off my heart. My former husband had always been a very generous and caring father. Even after the divorce, he never begrudged the children anything. He spent much time with them, and didn’t balk about his share of funds to support the children. We maintained a civil relationship. Then, his mother died and he inherited several million $$$ (he was the only child), and he also got remarried. (I do not know which came first, as the news of his mother’s death and his remarriage were revealed to me simultaneously.) Almost immediately, he began griping about the child support payments, skipping the children’s checks here and there, hemming and hawing about things like, "I don’t think [our daughter] really NEEDS braces…" Maybe he (and/or his new wife?) was worried that I’d suddenly ask for more money for the children, but the truth is that the children were being well-taken-care-of prior to his inheritance, and didn’t REQUIRE any more funding. However, they certainly didn’t require any LESS, either!!! I decided not to rock the boat — that the new wife would eventually see that I wasn’t after "their" money, so I waited patiently for him to get back on track with the payment-schedule that had been established years ago, and to which he always adhered. Well, no such luck. It was almost as if he was DARING me to keep up the stamina to have to call him periodically to broach the subject. (He KNOWS I hate talking about money, and it was always very uncomfortable for me to have to pick up the phone and say, "Um, sorry to bother you, but we haven’t received a check in the last 3 months, and [our daughter] will not be able to participate in the marching band if we don’t pay the dues and fees for the uniform/instrument/travel expenses this week!" Eventually, I felt I had no choice but to approach an attorney. I had been very reluctant to do so, but I didn’t know where else to turn! The attorney promptly researched my former husband’s assets, and guess what the dossier turned up?: except for his airplane, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! (For insurance purposes, apparently, my former husband kept the aircraft registered in his name, but EVERYTHING ELSE, he signed over either to his new wife, or tucked away in some overseas accounts.) I know there are "forensic accountants" who can supposedly locate all sorts of hidden assets, but not only do I not have the money to retain one — I also seem to have been born without the gene to motivate me to fight with anyone over money. Some might say that it’s not about money, per se, but about what is rightly due the children, and that therefore, I SHOULD fight! If he were otherwise a rotten father, I would agree, but, in all honesty, he is really a VERY GOOD FATHER . . . when the children are with HIM, that is! It’s only when they’re with ME, that he suddenly adopts this Scrooge attitude. I mean, not only is he financially generous with them when they are with him, but, being a university professor, he is also very adept at guiding them from an educational and intellectual standpoint (which I am, as well). Emotionally, however, he may actually be better-suited, in that he doesn’t "stress out" as easily as I do (but I think if I had millions of dollars, I probably wouldn’t "stress out" as much, either!). So I recently made a VERY tough decision. I decided that it might, indeed, be best for my children to live with their father. But I am still so torn about this! This decision HAS served to end the turmoil between me and my former husband, but I still feel almost "lost" without my children living under the same roof with me!!! My "higher self" does believe this is the right decision — for THEM, for my KIDS — but my heart aches almost non-stop! This is SUCH a societally non-popular decision, and I actually shudder at the thought of admitting that I made it somewhat voluntarily. (I say "somewhat," because I feel that I was, in a way, cornered into it.) I hope I’m not coming across as trying to make myself sound like some kind of "martyr." To me, it seems like I had the choice of battling for the next however-many-years in court, while my kids went without braces, missed piano lessons, been privy to legal wranglings, etc. — OR: choose to let them experience the next few years in relative peace, knowing that their needs are being met NOW. They are 15 and 17 years old, by the way. That makes ALL the difference when it comes to my motivation to pursue a big, giant investigation and fight. With college just around the corner, these children can’t afford to wait several years for a judge to render a decision on their behalf. Please don’t stone me! I’m already bruised enough as it is, believe me! May everyone here have a "New and Improved" New Year! Good health to all in 2001! Thanks for listening (for those who have endured my long-winded drivel!)! –Alexa talexa{at}evcom{dot}net

Response:

Hi, Toni! Season’s Greetings! Well, the first question I have is do the kids *want* to live with their dad?

Oh, without a question! They are happy with either — both my former husband and I have always made sure that they feel equally comfortable with each of us. I mean, think about the motivation here.  It’s really about a lifestyle to which they’ve become accustomed.

Well, with all else being rather equal, I do admit that the motivation is financial — he and I can both provide a healthy environment for them, insofar as values and morals and and ethics are concerned. But he has the "edge" when it comes to immediate fulfillment of their medical and extra-curricular needs. Yes (as I indicated previously), it’s quite likely that a judge would have eventually rendered a decision in their favor had they continued to live under my care — but what good is a "reward" in their favor at age 20, let’s say, if they need the care and consideration NOW?!?!? Dad has the means, but is the *environment* what is best for them?

Essentially, they are in equally good care, be they with him, or with me. Is this good training for them?….What’s the lesson for them?

Great question! The "lesson" (that I’m hoping they will never have to look back upon — but IF THEY DO, IT WILL BE THERE) IS: sometimes we have to surrender those whom we love to the care of others, IF — and, mind you, ONLY IF — we have thoroughly reviewed the matter and determined that it would be entirely selfish for us to "keep them." Toni, let’s face it: realistically — by the time we’d get through arguing in court, our daughters would more than likely be well into adulthood. live maybe a less profitable life with you?

As teenagers, they yearn to be autonomous — and, of course, require steady guidance. He is as good at providing that as I am. However, in addition, he is willing to provide them "perks" when they are with him — perks which he became unwilling to provide them when they are with me. (I SUSPECT this is the influence of the new wife, but I can not be certain.) Truth be told, I believe that their lives are equally profitable with each of us (again, from the spiritual and ethical point of view), but certainly enhanced — from the materialistic point of view — with him. With all else being equal, and with him having "the edge" when it comes to money, and with me having to make the choice of which is "better" for them: well, what other criteria could I have figured into this formula? It seemed that it would be pretty sexist for me to say, "Well, I’m the MOTHER, therefore I get them by default!" I don’t happen to think that way. I encourage men to cultivate their capacity for nurturing their offspring. I’m not a hypocrite who says, "Men should care more for their children," while at the same time saying, "Women are more bonded to their children, and therefore should have first dibs." Toni, I’m not asking for a cheering section. I am merely trying to present a point of view which [hopefully] illustrates that decisions such as these should not be predicated upon the the gender or desire(s) of the parent(s) — but upon that which is deemed — AFTER SERIOUS INTROSPECTION AND INVESTIGATION BY THE ADULTS INVOLED — to be in the best interest of the children. (Usually, this means not considering divorce as an option, to begin with. [Barring, of course, severe mental, emotional, and/or physical abuse.] I know that’s more than one question, but…Lots of kids don’t have many of the "things" that you speak of and many get through college without parents footing the bill.  Just some things to think about.

Oh, Toni! Don’t get me started on the subject of "things," please! I see consumerism and materialism as being the great scourge on our society and culture! If anything, it is he who is arguing about "stuff" — I am the one who has refused to do this . . . Happy, happy, happy . . . 2001 . . . to one and all! –Alexa talexa{at}evcom{dot}net

Response:

Greetings, Everyone! When I first started reading the posts on this forum, the weather outside was still balmy — however, my heart was frozen solid. I never thought I would have the courage to let it thaw, and allow myself to feel again. But after months of perusing the various posts here and following people’s brave resolve and valiant efforts to "press on," I’ve come to believe that I, too, can somehow find the strength to chip the protective ice off my heart. My former husband had always been a very generous and caring father. Even after the divorce, he never begrudged the children anything. He spent much time with them, and didn’t balk about his share of funds to support the children. We maintained a civil relationship. Then, his mother died and he inherited several million $$$ (he was the only child), and he also got remarried. (I do not know which came first, as the news of his mother’s death and his remarriage were revealed to me simultaneously.) Almost immediately, he began griping about the child support payments, skipping the children’s checks here and there, hemming and hawing about things like, "I don’t think [our daughter] really NEEDS braces…" Maybe he (and/or his new wife?) was worried that I’d suddenly ask for more money for the children, but the truth is that the children were being well-taken-care-of prior to his inheritance, and didn’t REQUIRE any more funding. However, they certainly didn’t require any LESS, either!!! I decided not to rock the boat — that the new wife would eventually see that I wasn’t after "their" money, so I waited patiently for him to get back on track with the payment-schedule that had been established years ago, and to which he always adhered. Well, no such luck. It was almost as if he was DARING me to keep up the stamina to have to call him periodically to broach the subject. (He KNOWS I hate talking about money, and it was always very uncomfortable for me to have to pick up the phone and say, "Um, sorry to bother you, but we haven’t received a check in the last 3 months, and [our daughter] will not be able to participate in the marching band if we don’t pay the dues and fees for the uniform/instrument/travel expenses this week!" Eventually, I felt I had no choice but to approach an attorney. I had been very reluctant to do so, but I didn’t know where else to turn! The attorney promptly researched my former husband’s assets, and guess what the dossier turned up?: except for his airplane, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! (For insurance purposes, apparently, my former husband kept the aircraft registered in his name, but EVERYTHING ELSE, he signed over either to his new wife, or tucked away in some overseas accounts.) I know there are "forensic accountants" who can supposedly locate all sorts of hidden assets, but not only do I not have the money to retain one — I also seem to have been born without the gene to motivate me to fight with anyone over money. Some might say that it’s not about money, per se, but about what is rightly due the children, and that therefore, I SHOULD fight! If he were otherwise a rotten father, I would agree, but, in all honesty, he is really a VERY GOOD FATHER . . . when the children are with HIM, that is! It’s only when they’re with ME, that he suddenly adopts this Scrooge attitude. I mean, not only is he financially generous with them when they are with him, but, being a university professor, he is also very adept at guiding them from an educational and intellectual standpoint (which I am, as well). Emotionally, however, he may actually be better-suited, in that he doesn’t "stress out" as easily as I do (but I think if I had millions of dollars, I probably wouldn’t "stress out" as much, either!). So I recently made a VERY tough decision. I decided that it might, indeed, be best for my children to live with their father. But I am still so torn about this! This decision HAS served to end the turmoil between me and my former husband, but I still feel almost "lost" without my children living under the same roof with me!!! My "higher self" does believe this is the right decision — for THEM, for my KIDS — but my heart aches almost non-stop! This is SUCH a societally non-popular decision, and I actually shudder at the thought of admitting that I made it somewhat voluntarily. (I say "somewhat," because I feel that I was, in a way, cornered into it.) I hope I’m not coming across as trying to make myself sound like some kind of "martyr." To me, it seems like I had the choice of battling for the next however-many-years in court, while my kids went without braces, missed piano lessons, been privy to legal wranglings, etc. — OR: choose to let them experience the next few years in relative peace, knowing that their needs are being met NOW. They are 15 and 17 years old, by the way. That makes ALL the difference when it comes to my motivation to pursue a big, giant investigation and fight. With college just around the corner, these children can’t afford to wait several years for a judge to render a decision on their behalf. Please don’t stone me! I’m already bruised enough as it is, believe me! May everyone here have a "New and Improved" New Year! Good health to all in 2001! Thanks for listening (for those who have endured my long-winded drivel!)! –Alexa talexa{at}evcom{dot}net

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -New Year’s Eve! Greetings, Everyone! When I first started reading the posts on this forum, the weather outside was still balmy — however, my heart was frozen solid. I never thought I would have the courage to let it thaw, and allow myself to feel again. But after months of perusing the various posts here and following people’s brave resolve and valiant efforts to "press on," I’ve come to believe that I, too, can somehow find the strength to chip the protective ice off my heart. My former husband had always been a very generous and caring father. Even after the divorce, he never begrudged the children anything. He spent much time with them, and didn’t balk about his share of funds to support the children. We maintained a civil relationship. Then, his mother died and he inherited several million $$$ (he was the only child), and he also got remarried. (I do not know which came first, as the news of his mother’s death and his remarriage were revealed to me simultaneously.) Almost immediately, he began griping about the child support payments, skipping the children’s checks here and there, hemming and hawing about things like, "I don’t think [our daughter] really NEEDS braces…" Maybe he (and/or his new wife?) was worried that I’d suddenly ask for more money for the children, but the truth is that the children were being well-taken-care-of prior to his inheritance, and didn’t REQUIRE any more funding. However, they certainly didn’t require any LESS, either!!! I decided not to rock the boat — that the new wife would eventually see that I wasn’t after "their" money, so I waited patiently for him to get back on track with the payment-schedule that had been established years ago, and to which he always adhered. Well, no such luck. It was almost as if he was DARING me to keep up the stamina to have to call him periodically to broach the subject. (He KNOWS I hate talking about money, and it was always very uncomfortable for me to have to pick up the phone and say, "Um, sorry to bother you, but we haven’t received a check in the last 3 months, and [our daughter] will not be able to participate in the marching band if we don’t pay the dues and fees for the uniform/instrument/travel expenses this week!" Eventually, I felt I had no choice but to approach an attorney. I had been very reluctant to do so, but I didn’t know where else to turn! The attorney promptly researched my former husband’s assets, and guess what the dossier turned up?: except for his airplane, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! (For insurance purposes, apparently, my former husband kept the aircraft registered in his name, but EVERYTHING ELSE, he signed over either to his new wife, or tucked away in some overseas accounts.) I know there are "forensic accountants" who can supposedly locate all sorts of hidden assets, but not only do I not have the money to retain one — I also seem to have been born without the gene to motivate me to fight with anyone over money. Some might say that it’s not about money, per se, but about what is rightly due the children, and that therefore, I SHOULD fight! If he were otherwise a rotten father, I would agree, but, in all honesty, he is really a VERY GOOD FATHER . . . when the children are with HIM, that is! It’s only when they’re with ME, that he suddenly adopts this Scrooge attitude. I mean, not only is he financially generous with them when they are with him, but, being a university professor, he is also very adept at guiding them from an educational and intellectual standpoint (which I am, as well). Emotionally, however, he may actually be better-suited, in that he doesn’t "stress out" as easily as I do (but I think if I had millions of dollars, I probably wouldn’t "stress out" as much, either!). So I recently made a VERY tough decision. I decided that it might, indeed, be best for my children to live with their father. But I am still so torn about this! This decision HAS served to end the turmoil between me and my former husband, but I still feel almost "lost" without my children living under the same roof with me!!! My "higher self" does believe this is the right decision — for THEM, for my KIDS — but my heart aches almost non-stop! This is SUCH a societally non-popular decision, and I actually shudder at the thought of admitting that I made it somewhat voluntarily. (I say "somewhat," because I feel that I was, in a way, cornered into it.) I hope I’m not coming across as trying to make myself sound like some kind of "martyr." To me, it seems like I had the choice of battling for the next however-many-years in court, while my kids went without braces, missed piano lessons, been privy to legal wranglings, etc. — OR: choose to let them experience the next few years in relative peace, knowing that their needs are being met NOW. They are 15 and 17 years old, by the way. That makes ALL the difference when it comes to my motivation to pursue a big, giant investigation and fight. With college just around the corner, these children can’t afford to wait several years for a judge to render a decision on their behalf. Please don’t stone me! I’m already bruised enough as it is, believe me! May everyone here have a "New and Improved" New Year! Good health to all in 2001! Thanks for listening (for those who have endured my long-winded drivel!)! –Alexa talexa{at}evcom{dot}net

Well, the first question I have is do the kids *want* to live with their dad? I mean, think about the motivation here.  It’s really about a lifestyle to which they’ve become accustomed.  Dad has the means, but is the *environment* what is best for them?  Is this good training for them?….What’s the lesson for them?  Would they rather have the things that money can provide than to live maybe a less profitable life with you?  I know that’s more than one question, but…Lots of kids don’t have many of the "things" that you speak of and many get through college without parents footing the bill.  Just some things to think about.

Response:

If you know where his mother’s estate was probated, you could get copies of the distribution reports and prove that he was hiding assets.  It shouldn’t take much, just check with the clerk of the court where she was known to reside.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Greetings, Everyone! When I first started reading the posts on this forum, the weather outside was still balmy — however, my heart was frozen solid. I never thought I would have the courage to let it thaw, and allow myself to feel again. But after months of perusing the various posts here and following people’s brave resolve and valiant efforts to "press on," I’ve come to believe that I, too, can somehow find the strength to chip the protective ice off my heart. My former husband had always been a very generous and caring father. Even after the divorce, he never begrudged the children anything. He spent much time with them, and didn’t balk about his share of funds to support the children. We maintained a civil relationship. Then, his mother died and he inherited several million $$$ (he was the only child), and he also got remarried. (I do not know which came first, as the news of his mother’s death and his remarriage were revealed to me simultaneously.) Almost immediately, he began griping about the child support payments, skipping the children’s checks here and there, hemming and hawing about things like, "I don’t think [our daughter] really NEEDS braces…" Maybe he (and/or his new wife?) was worried that I’d suddenly ask for more money for the children, but the truth is that the children were being well-taken-care-of prior to his inheritance, and didn’t REQUIRE any more funding. However, they certainly didn’t require any LESS, either!!! I decided not to rock the boat — that the new wife would eventually see that I wasn’t after "their" money, so I waited patiently for him to get back on track with the payment-schedule that had been established years ago, and to which he always adhered. Well, no such luck. It was almost as if he was DARING me to keep up the stamina to have to call him periodically to broach the subject. (He KNOWS I hate talking about money, and it was always very uncomfortable for me to have to pick up the phone and say, "Um, sorry to bother you, but we haven’t received a check in the last 3 months, and [our daughter] will not be able to participate in the marching band if we don’t pay the dues and fees for the uniform/instrument/travel expenses this week!" Eventually, I felt I had no choice but to approach an attorney. I had been very reluctant to do so, but I didn’t know where else to turn! The attorney promptly researched my former husband’s assets, and guess what the dossier turned up?: except for his airplane, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! (For insurance purposes, apparently, my former husband kept the aircraft registered in his name, but EVERYTHING ELSE, he signed over either to his new wife, or tucked away in some overseas accounts.) I know there are "forensic accountants" who can supposedly locate all sorts of hidden assets, but not only do I not have the money to retain one — I also seem to have been born without the gene to motivate me to fight with anyone over money. Some might say that it’s not about money, per se, but about what is rightly due the children, and that therefore, I SHOULD fight! If he were otherwise a rotten father, I would agree, but, in all honesty, he is really a VERY GOOD FATHER . . . when the children are with HIM, that is! It’s only when they’re with ME, that he suddenly adopts this Scrooge attitude. I mean, not only is he financially generous with them when they are with him, but, being a university professor, he is also very adept at guiding them from an educational and intellectual standpoint (which I am, as well). Emotionally, however, he may actually be better-suited, in that he doesn’t "stress out" as easily as I do (but I think if I had millions of dollars, I probably wouldn’t "stress out" as much, either!). So I recently made a VERY tough decision. I decided that it might, indeed, be best for my children to live with their father. But I am still so torn about this! This decision HAS served to end the turmoil between me and my former husband, but I still feel almost "lost" without my children living under the same roof with me!!! My "higher self" does believe this is the right decision — for THEM, for my KIDS — but my heart aches almost non-stop! This is SUCH a societally non-popular decision, and I actually shudder at the thought of admitting that I made it somewhat voluntarily. (I say "somewhat," because I feel that I was, in a way, cornered into it.) I hope I’m not coming across as trying to make myself sound like some kind of "martyr." To me, it seems like I had the choice of battling for the next however-many-years in court, while my kids went without braces, missed piano lessons, been privy to legal wranglings, etc. — OR: choose to let them experience the next few years in relative peace, knowing that their needs are being met NOW. They are 15 and 17 years old, by the way. That makes ALL the difference when it comes to my motivation to pursue a big, giant investigation and fight. With college just around the corner, these children can’t afford to wait several years for a judge to render a decision on their behalf. Please don’t stone me! I’m already bruised enough as it is, believe me! May everyone here have a "New and Improved" New Year! Good health to all in 2001! Thanks for listening (for those who have endured my long-winded drivel!)! –Alexa talexa{at}evcom{dot}net

Response:

Question:

Does anyone know of a good Accounting system for furniture industry related companies? We have about 100 users in 3 countries that we want to connect a single accounting system. We also want to track our imports using the system. Any ideas would be most helpful. — Thanks, JC Haven

Response:

"Furniture" is very broad.   We have clients who manufacture, distribute (wholesale), sell (retail), and rent.  Some are office furniture, others are home related. Office furniture is generally less custom: a chair might be described by a model number and a color.  Many of the domestic furnishings are highly customized.  One client uses cabinet modelling software which displays a computer generated picture of custom shelving, then sends the data to a computer controlled milling machine which makes the pieces. If you can provide more info on your general business model, I can offer more accurate suggestions. Respectfully,  - Carl Dick 800-997-7944   949-261-2694 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone know of a good Accounting system for furniture industry related companies? We have about 100 users in 3 countries that we want to connect a single accounting system. We also want to track our imports using the system. Any ideas would be most helpful. — Thanks, JC Haven

Response:

Thank you for replying to my inquiry. This company designs, manufactures, sells and distributes domestic furniture and furniture compenents. Most of our sales involve domestic furniture made overseas and finished here. Our needs range from simple order entry to the cataloging of detailed artwork for furniture design. The area we need most help in is the order entry area. We need a system that will allow all departments to view, add, or modify parts of an order through each step of fulfillment including the status of imports. If you know of such a system (I know we can’t have everything) I would be most aprreciative. Thanks, Charles Haven —

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Furniture" is very broad.   We have clients who manufacture, distribute (wholesale), sell (retail), and rent.  Some are office furniture, others are home related. Office furniture is generally less custom: a chair might be described by a model number and a color.  Many of the domestic furnishings are highly customized.  One client uses cabinet modelling software which displays a computer generated picture of custom shelving, then sends the data to a computer controlled milling machine which makes the pieces. If you can provide more info on your general business model, I can offer more accurate suggestions. Respectfully,  - Carl Dick 800-997-7944   949-261-2694 Does anyone know of a good Accounting system for furniture industry related companies? We have about 100 users in 3 countries that we want to connect a single accounting system. We also want to track our imports using the system. Any ideas would be most helpful. — Thanks, JC Haven

Response:

Question:

Does anyone know if it’s OK to take TWO of the main medications at one go? For instance, could one take both Risperdal AND Zyprexa? I would ask the mental health professionals, but having just got them off my back I don’t really want to contact them. Incidentally, they have approved me as being one hundred percent OK and fit to hand back to the doctor and no need of further help from them! HUH!  Shows how clever I am for sure! I convinced them that it was the rest of the world that was insane and not me and they believed me! Michelle

Response:

Hi I was prescribed two meds at once by my pdoc. I was on a low dose of haldol and seroquel at the same time.  I took the haldol during the day and the seroquel at night.   I liked that combo because I had energy during the day and slept well at night. I wouldn’t just take two different meds on my own though, you might end up with more side effects that way. penguin

Response:

I "ve been thinking. I need a roady/manager/agent/ to help me make money. I don’t drive. I play guitar. If I had somebody to help me get to gigs I could make some money. I’ve even come up with a few percentages  for how to cut the money up between us. Yeah so it seems I should put an add in the personals for help but all the personals are for hooking up with dates. Does anybody know of some service that help me find someone in the nearby area, Trenton and vicinity, who would want to go have some fun and share the excitement and make a little money Its possible that if I tin cupped it at Atlantic city I could make a couple hundred. If what I hear is true. They supposedly encourage street musicians there. I understand New York is a good place too.. But all the details I don’t know. I’d like the Roady/Manager/spiritual advisor/agent type person to stay by me. Look important. Snap a few pictures. Test the sound if I’m amplified, watch my gear while I run to the bathroom. etc. Where can I find such a person? So if anybody has any ideas for locating such a person online, lemme know. The thing is I have no idea what kind of money I can make but am told such tincup arrangements pay well. Any ideas? http://community.webtv.net/damodara/MystoryasIseeit

Response:

I suppose that location means a lot. Like if I was in a touristy place and had a place to play I could probably make out real good. But even if so I’d need to have a residence, someplace to keep my equiptment safe. See I don’t have eighty zillion friends around here. Just a few. And everybody has their own lives to live. My one friend, volunteered to me the other day as we drove back from a little "escape" up river and walking around, she would take me to Atlantic City. This was after we had dropped in on a shop owner I know up in one of the "touristy places" along the Delaware. He explained that the town discourages music. Need all kinds of permits and stuff. Blocking up the sidewalk and all is a no-no. He then continued speaking of Atlantic City where "street musicians" are encouraged to play along the boardwalk. So……….she then pulled out a "someday" on me. "Someday. I told her that sounded very bad. Someyime after the first she said in response. The effect this leaves me with is that my self image is taking a beating. Seems to me, we should set plans. Instead I am left hanging. I don’t like this. I feel I’m being treated in a condescending manner. This one friend , another one,  who had been going along with the program and seemingly enjoying the attention and the fanfare that goes along with it. It was working rather well. But then she "figured out my problems" and knew just how I should change, take meds, stop drinking, don’t play bars, Then she even went into how I am a burden on my friends, and turned aginst me concerning my discussions with Social Security. So………I don’t want someone around me who undermines me like that. For a special event or gig I might ask her for a ride. But oh no, when someone turns on me like that I have never seen them change back. Never in all my days. To me, being a guitar player is a way of life, a lifestyle and, to me, I see it as a place where I don’t have to compromise a twit. I know this sounds self defeating but I won’t hand over "the good" of being independent and autonomous  for a compromised social situation where I am "the child" and my helper the "the adult". Whats agrevating is my current feelings towards my friend who recently volunteered to do Atlantic City with me. We were talking a very big percentage incidently. Do I want to incorporate with someone who be serious in her dealings? Who leaves me hanging? Who isn’t enthused about it? She would go lay on the beach with some as yet unnamed person while I play. Other people I know are simply involved in their own lives. So my not compromising the sincereity of my feelings and preserving this "guitar player path" , I am winding up with being a guitar player who rarely performs. I’m not a guitar player unless I play guitar for people. So for now, I sit here and pinch pennies, and stay alone, and make no money. I stopped playing the old mill because of the stresses it was placing on pour relationship. I needed a ride. And she started whining and moaning about it. So I let it go. I felt it was poisoning the good I see as a guitar player. I intend to preserve my autonomy concerning my music. I don’t have to let in the exact feelings and attitudes that I see Guitar enables me to transcend. I don’t have to let in any "headshit". Its the one place where I can preserve my autonomy and not become involved in emotional compromises and sell outs. I go out, I play, I have good times and fun. Thats it. I share my music joyfully and upbeat, happy. Thats my plan. There’s a gloom over the Atlantic City thing now. She said, "You’re just like a little boy now this is all that you’re going to talk about until we go" This was in response to my saying, "We’ll discus this on Sunday or monday, dates, and times and percentage cuts." See that air she blew on me? I don’t want that on my music. http://community.webtv.net/damodara/MystoryasIseeit

Response:

damod…@webtv.net wrote:  meaningfull things

Hi Damo. You play very well guitar. People in America have a liberal way of life.  The only meaning they find to life is to make money, for them, their wife, their kids… You think you want to make money, but actually you want to jump on board  of that huge ship where they feast.  I mean, i think you want to play guitar and only play guitar. They don’t see it that way however.  It’s not possible to play on the guitar for a living. I think you get the point. You’re a good guitar-player, Mr Damo. They are poor dreamers.  That’s all. M is the name of a male artist in France who sings with a high octave voice. He is allways talking about the schizophrenia in art.  I’m not setting this up. He’s being quite a succes by now. Nevertheless don’t let them get you down on that stuff. Nicely. DrenKa.

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In LA, you need an artists’ permit to set up shop on the sidewalk. The wait list for a permit runs into the multiples of years, just like HUD housing Voucher waiting lists. But it never (hardly ever) rains in So Cal between April and October, and you’ll be choking on dust and smog. They (the TV/radio) tell people to stay indoors when the air is bad. If you smoke or have lots of pets in your apartment, the air could be MUCH worse indoors than outside though. If you had a real band out there, and you wanted to play in a club that is packed every night; well the club is packed every night because every band breaks the "No Flyers" Law and leaves thousands of flyers for their upcoming gig around the ground by passing them out to strangers (who immediately dump the flyers within a block or two) within the week or two before the gig. How did they get the club space you ask? They have a thing called "Pay To Play", where the band pays $500 to $1000 (or more) to the club owner as a booking deposit; and the band wins it back at the door (a percentage of the entry fee) on gig night. So, entry might be $5 to $15 per person, and the band might get a third to half of that. The club has a limit to the number of persons allowed into the club per order of the Fire Marshall, and that doesn’t include strange clothing! It’s a total freak show when the customers arrive, if they care to arrive. I was too broke to take a night out like that, but I did pass by the lines of people waiting to go into the club…and I was terrified about not fitting in, why bother anyway?

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The band doesn’t actually get their $500 to $1000 (or more) booking deposit back; the club owner keeps it.

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Hi Cymbalman There is a local hot spot that does something similar to what you describe happens in L.A. . Its a big place. They took over one of the pld redbrick steel factories on the rivers edge here in Trenton, they have patio space and outdoor areas corralled in by factory walls they left standing. No roof though. It directly over looks the river. Beautiful. Of course you don’t want to sit out on the patio during low tide because the exposed river mud has an odor that makes people want to move inland as fast as possible. Quickly as possible too. I don’t know the details but its something like, the band rents one of the showcase rooms on an off night and there is a door fee. If the band draws then they make money. If they don’t draw, then they lose money. The club has to hire help to man the bars and hire bouncers and hire waitreeses. So they will go along with the band if the band can assure them they won’t lose money on it. Yes I believe the band has to give upfront money. Its on an "off night". Wednesday night or tuesday night. On their big nights of course they want no competition to the bands they pay to come in. Usually the patio area is where they put the big names.. With the low tide river stench wafting over the enthused college kids. Big river. To me, it dominates the whole area. Its quite significant, the Delaware. Of course I suspect most folks hardly notice it. The river does it right back. The river hardly notices the people. L.A. is too far to go, thanks for idea however. Damo http://community.webtv.net/damodara/MystoryasIseeit

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Is there no way you can buy a car for yourself?  I once sold a car that still ran good for only $500.  That car would go anywhere but I didn’t like the stick shift and there was no A/C. <damod…@webtv.net> wrote in message

news:24418-4108F49B-229@storefull-3236.bay.webtv.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I "ve been thinking. > I need a roady/manager/agent/ to help me make money. > I don’t drive. I play guitar. If I had somebody to help me get to gigs I > could make some money. > I’ve even come up with a few percentages  for how to cut the money up > between us. > Yeah so it seems I should put an add in the personals for help but all > the personals are for hooking up with dates. > Does anybody know of some service that help me find someone in the > nearby area, Trenton and vicinity, who would want to go have some fun > and share the excitement and make a little money > Its possible that if I tin cupped it at Atlantic city I could make a > couple hundred. If what I hear is true. They supposedly encourage street > musicians there. > I understand New York is a good place too.. But all the details I don’t > know. > I’d like the Roady/Manager/spiritual advisor/agent type person to stay > by me. > Look important. Snap a few pictures. > Test the sound if I’m amplified, watch my gear while I run to the > bathroom. etc. > Where can I find such a person? > So if anybody has any ideas for locating such a person online, lemme > know. > The thing is I have no idea what kind of money I can make but am told > such tincup arrangements pay well. > Any ideas? > http://community.webtv.net/damodara/MystoryasIseeit

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"Just Me" <thecli…@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:BlgOc.2438$cK.2130@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net… | Is there no way you can buy a car for yourself?  I once sold a car that still ran good for only $500.  That car would go anywhere but I didn’t like the stick shift and there was no A/C. You can’t buy a car if you can’t buy your meat How can you buy your meat if you can’t buy a car? PS: milk spoils in 10 minutes at 90 degrees.

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My budget after rent, phone, ISP and laundry quarters is about 250 a month. I haven’t had milk for weeks, I am out of bread for about two weeks, I am trying to make the toilet paper last until tuesday. Today I ran out of coffee. I am using drips of dish detergent to wash dishes as that is down to last drips. I am out of mouth wash. The good news is I’ll be getting foodstamps, so they say, thats they said on July three but they have been mute. I’m getting county to pick up medicare payments that means another 66 a month. And I believe they said I qualified for about 50 bucks of SSI a month. So…….in September or October I’ll get arrearage checks for the money still being taken for medicare and arrearage checks for SSI.  I can’t wait. Its hard being hungry. I go to a food pantriry. I AIN’T working, I’m going to put my self or others through that anymore. See I was making a dollar now and then with my guitar but…….. There was an issue so I stopped. I won’t go into right here. Buy a cheap car? Yeah sure. I can’t even buy pants currently. This check buys a pair of dungarees. I’ve got stuff I should sell. I have a muzzel loader shotgun up in the attic. Newspapers from the 1700s wiren in funny fonts, stuff like that. Antique cathederal radio up there. Everyone is dead so there’s no reason to hoard it any longer. I could play, maybe, if I tried to sell myself to few places. I only need about twenty extra a week and I’d be able to catch buses and perform. See but its hot. I’d sweat too much. I only play day gigs as a single performer. And if I spend the money for the bus I will get into trouble financially. So….I don’t choose to risk it. I’ll wait for October. That’ll mean foodstamps and I think an extra hundred a month. Add to that the arearage monies and I’ll be back in business., able to ride on buses and afford to have clean clothes. I’ll call the election and campaign headquarters for the democrats soon. And there is a chance for a tin cup gig down town next friday. On "payday", thats tuesday, I could grab a bus and my guitar and get an okay from someone for Friday. I was going out with a friend and we would always stop for a bite. I felt it was important to ensure my social security so I allowed the expense. But her attitude has gone too far. No more rides in the car and stop for restaurant food. That will mean a lot. I know far better days are coming as I have never been better on the instrument. I played several hours yesterday for example. I will update "Disinherited" and sell it for johnnie cheapo prrices to those who had bought the original. And I need a new one, mid priced range . I’m thinking of making it of my "favorites". I put a lot of time in at the old mill and I have matured significantly with the songs and the instrument. And I’ll be playing for the Democrats. Hopefully. I’ll be fine. If I didn’t catch a bad case of zombies I would have been able to much better turning a some money tricks with my guitar. http://community.webtv.net/damodara/MystoryasIseeit

Response:

Hi Again, (Just

Question:

Hi Diane A very successful way to follow-up is to send prospects some useful information, then follow that up with a pressure free:  "Do you need any more information at this stage?"   Remember, if you use any pressure you kill it. Repeat 7 times. The time between follow-ups will depend on your products/services. Good luck Mark Metcalf Your Own Virtual In-House Marketing Expertise Now Available. Breakthrough" We also work for accountants, consultants, etc. For more Info, FREE Newsletters, FREE Reports, and FREE Growth Assessment

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I send out follow ups two times within a two week to one month period. You do not want to get your prospects angry and accuse you of spamming. Follow-ups are excellent and a must in online businesses. Some people do not read all of the information or they just set it aside and say yes I will take a look at this again later after I think about it….but some people never go back to it. It is good to remind people of your excellent information or opportunities or services. But do not spam them with your follow-ups. Diane Waltman LadyDi’s Free Weekly Marketing Tips E-Zine http://www.ladydibz.com  on your news server or www.dejanews.com      Also at  www.dakine.demon.nl/mbmm/ Please, reduce quoted text to essential when replying and max line length at 80.

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Question:

I have a a flight arriving at 10:50pm from Sydney, Aus. Afterwards, I have a flight bound to Vancouver at 12:10am on a separate ticket. My ticket agent mentioned to me that my luggage must clear US customs and then re-submitted to Air Canada at the Honolulu airport. Does one hour sound reasonable? -Thanks in advance, Rajiv T.

Sounds to me like you will be on a Qantas flight from Sydney that is part of the code-shared Qantas-Canadian Airlines services that continue to Canada after a switch of planes at Honolulu. This switch of planes is done in a sealed off area and hence does not require passengers to clear US customs at all. This allows for a relatively short connection time since no customs are involved, and baggage containers are just switched from one aircraft to another without having to open/sort the baggage inside. HOWEVER, if for some reason which I assume is very important to you, you choose not to continue on these direct services to Canada and instead switch to Air Canada, you will be taken to a special area upon deplaning at Honolulu, wait for a little bus (WIKI WIKI ?) that will take you to the building that has the customs facilities and then clear customs/wait for luggage. You cannot walk/run to customs, you MUST take that bus. If you have to check in to Air Canada’s counters at Honolulu, you then have to add more time since any airline will expect you to check in at least half an hour ahead on a trans border flight. And you should also ask AC if their gates are still near the customs area now that AC has/will convert its charter services to scheduled ones with customs-pre clearance at Vancouver. If your first flight is not the combined Quantas-Canadian Airlines one, then you can simply forget this whole message as it would not apply to you. I would however be interested in finding out why you have two separate tickets.

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Hi, Just wondering if someone ( who has some experience with US Customs at Honolulu ) could advise me how long it usually takes to clear US Customs at Honolulu airport. [Some background] I have a a flight arriving at 10:50pm from Sydney, Aus. Afterwards, I have a flight bound to Vancouver at 12:10am on a separate ticket. My ticket agent mentioned to me that my luggage must clear US customs and then re-submitted to Air Canada at the Honolulu airport. Does one hour sound reasonable? -Thanks in advance, Rajiv T.

Response:

Ottawa SE) writes: Hi, Just wondering if someone ( who has some experience with US Customs at Honolulu ) could advise me how long it usually takes to clear US Customs at Honolulu airport.

Honolulu customs can be a disaster.  But there is a "re-check" booth after you go through customs; I would assume you can re-check your luggage there and proceed straight to the Air Canada gate. Jeff

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: Assuming the following: : SYD-HNL is one one airline, on one ticket. : HNL-Canada is on another airline, on a separate ticket. : No code sharing is involved between the above 2 airlines. : Would the re-check counter accept his luggage if it is not tagged to canada and : if the passenger hasn’t yet gotten his boarding pass for the AC flight ? : Can any airline in any city issue a boarding pass for another airline ? (eg: : could Qantas issue a boarding pass in Sydney for a connecting AC flight that is : on a different ticket ? or would the passenger be forced to check in at the AC : desk in Honolulu ? This is a great question. Recent developments have been surfacing in the world of Airline Reservation systems and how there are independant yet all connected. A conference on EDIFACT (EDI for Accounting, Commerce and Transportation??) was held in Lisbon one year ago to develop the ability for ailines to through-check onto other carriers. Result: Airlines have been forming alliances which allow this occurance. E.g. Air Canada has agreements with UA, CO, CX, SR and BD and soon AF and NH. This allows the two airlines to check in passengers onto connecting flights even when it is an OAL. Seat queries are even allowed so for example if you checked in on AC at YYZ to go to ORD and connect on UA to DEN, AC could check-in and print your boarding pass for both airlines and even select you seats. To answer the question above, AC does not have an EDIFACT agreemnt with any of the Southern carriers around Austrailia so there would be no EDIFACT through check-in available. BUT it is possible to have online baggage agreements with the carrier. E.g. this means that QF could check a bag from SYD-HNL onto AC and send through the system all the required bag tag information. You would still have to check-in in HNL but you would not have to pick up the bags as they are going to go through customs in Vancouver. Hope this helps. — Darren Downs Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration University of British Columbia Vancouver, B.C. Canada

Response:

Honolulu customs can be a disaster.  But there is a "re-check" booth after you go through customs; I would assume you can re-check your luggage there and proceed straight to the Air Canada gate.

Assuming the following: SYD-HNL is one one airline, on one ticket. HNL-Canada is on another airline, on a separate ticket. No code sharing is involved between the above 2 airlines. Would the re-check counter accept his luggage if it is not tagged to canada and if the passenger hasn’t yet gotten his boarding pass for the AC flight ? Can any airline in any city issue a boarding pass for another airline ? (eg: could Qantas issue a boarding pass in Sydney for a connecting AC flight that is on a different ticket ? or would the passenger be forced to check in at the AC desk in Honolulu ?

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Question:

Last week I ran into a problem with my Leigh dovetail jig…  or to be more precise, with my understanding of how to use the jig.   I ended up solving the problem with some brute force methods (micrometers, etc…).   In some degree of frustration at the manual, I sent Leigh a 2 pag fax outlining what my problem was, asking if I was dense or what,  and complaining about the manual (but saying that I liked the jig). I got a very nice letter back from the president (Kenneth M Grisley), with a 3 page set of handdrawn instructions on how to more easily solve my problem.   In addition he said; "Yes, I agree about the manual, the jig is good in spite of it, not because of it.  Paradoxically, it has been highly praised ("best in the industry") but there is no accounting for taste. Happily I am busily engaged in production of a new version which will (hopefully) solve all the problems.  This will consist of many sequentially captioned drawings for each of the various modes and operations.  Similar in style to, but improved over our M.M.T.A. manual, for which we get very few negative comments." My reasons for posting are twofold:  1) to spread the info that Leigh is a nice company.    2)  I thought that since others on this newsgroup had similarly indicated that they didn’t like the old manual, that I might collect a small group of 3 or 4 names and offer "our" services to make comments on a draft of the new manual.   If anybody would like to offer to read the new manual and make constructive criticisms,  please post or send e-mail to me. Thanks Tom

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Tom & All

        I agree 100% about the Leigh jig being a great tool but the manual being almost worthless.  I am a Ph.D. and that $%^&*# manual makes me feel like an idiot.  I have not done anything too fancy or complcated with the jig except 1/2 blind DT on a rabet. It was however impossible to get these DT’s tight because of the limited depth of cut.  I have also had some trouble getting Tight enough through DTs. I was wondering if the video was worth renting. I would be more than happy to help with a new manual.  What were you trying to do would Grisley’s drawings be of interest to all? Thanks for the info. John Sloan

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