Author: Lee

This Is Costing Me What?

Since I am now running LML Video Services like a business and not my personal piggy bank, I am trying to reduce some of my ongoing costs as much as possible.

This has become very frustrating, especially with DVDs.  It seems as if the cost has risen by 50% since the last time I purchased any.

So if any of you out there know where to get some high quality “Inkjet Printable” DVD+R’s, please let me know.  I currently use Verbatim, as they have shown through many tests to be playable in many brands and types of DVD players.

The only other area of cost savings that I can find are DVD cases and paper goods (case inserts, shipping supplies, etc.).  Any good ideas would be appreciated greatly.

I have also started using QuickBooks.  I have the simple start version, which is all I need.  It makes things much easier than my old system which was just excel spreadsheets for check registers and invoice/reciept templates.  Now I can track all of my costs, income and customers.  It’s awesome!

The next step:  Eliminate using PayPal.  The bigger question is if a small guy like me can afford to.

Just Another Manic Monday

Oh wait, it’s Tuesday right now.  Anyways, Monday wasn’t a good day for the magic man.  About 5:30am I began feeling dizzy and lightheaded.  A sure sign that a seizure was coming on.  Not good for someone who is constantly driving equipment costing between 100 and 200k!

I decided to lay down, but where?  This is a dirty, grimy shop with nothing comfortable in sight.  So I clocked out and headed for my truck.  CJ said he would wake me in an hour or so.

I must say the nap really helped out, for a while.

As soon as I got home, I started having horrible stomach cramps.  I knew what was coming, and I didn’t like it.  I ended up praying to the porcelain god for over 2 hours.

Once I got to sleep, the phone began to ring.  Sometimes I heard it, sometimes I didn’t.  I’m a very heavy sleeper.  In the end I had 14 missed calls on my cell, and 13 messages on the answering machine.

Mostly my wife.

Good Neighbors, Bad Friends?

Today my wife accidentally drove her car into the ditch on one side of our driveway while returning from running some errands.  We received another 4 inches or so yesterday, which made it hard to spot exactly where the driveway is.

Her first instinct was to come wake me to get her out.  So I went to assess the situation.  Before we could get back to the car – our driveway is about 150 ft. long, both of our neighbors were there.

I thought the angle in which her car was at was too great to simply push the car out, so I went back to the house to get my log chain and my 4×4. 

Before I could get back to the scene, Rachel was out and coming straight at me.  My neighbors banded together and rocked her car out.

They are good neighbors.  Always helpful in a time of need, and always there to talk about whatever subject is in mind.

There is a dark side though, as my one neighbor (a former contractor) is somewhat pushy and nosy when it comes to anything we do to our place.  I understand he may have a lifetime of experience with these things, but I am no dummy.  He is pressuring us to convert our total electric house to gas.  I am mainly against this due to reasons which are hard to explain.  The main point is that it’s my home, not his!

Here Comes The Digital Bride

After transferring many peoples’ wedding videos to DVD, I have decided to create a package specifically designed for that purpose.

This package combines your wedding video with your wedding pictures (up to 100).  The best part is the price.  Normally this package would cost $34.90!  Since I’m not in the business to make money, you save 30%!  The price you ask?  A mere $24.95!

So stroll on over to LML Video Services and take a look!

This includes many extras you would not receive if you purchased them seperate too, such as a data disc, custom everything, and music for the slideshow and menus.

If your getting married, I can even help with the production of your wedding DVD.  Just contact me for more info.

The Date Draws Near

My lovely daughter, will more than likely be moving away from me in around 3 months.

When I was first told of this, I took it in stride.  Now is a different story.  Since I have to work on the weekends (when I generally have my daughter) I don’t get to spend the quality time I used to with her.  That’s all she really wants.

2 of the nights I work, I am alone.  I’m all alone right now.  I could be washing a tractor or trailer, but I’m not.  I’m contemplating my life right now.

I don’t know how much I could go on about how I’m pissed off at the “system.”  My hands are tied when it comes to anything regarding keeping her here.  I try to think of myself as a good parent, but I have my self doubts.

Through what my daughter tells me, the environment she has at home is not kind to her.  She thrives on attention and participating in creative endavors.  I like to call her my “little helper.”  She enjoys helping me around the house.  She even helped me with demolition of my garage.  It makes her feel like she’s a part of something, that’s one thing she doesn’t feel when she’s at home.  She just feels in the way.

I was raised in a similar situation and I really feel for her. 

She had a cat named “Polkadots,” her stepdad didn’t like Polkadots, so he went out a bought a dog to scare her away.  Which worked.  This theme seems to run it’s course through every aspect of my daughters life lately.

I’m not trying to blame here, nothing I say or do will change the end result.  Ever since I met her stepdad, I think he felt threatened by me.  Until he left for basic training, I couldn’t even talk with my daughters’ mom alone.  Now he will just have an inflated ego because he’s in the army.

Part of me feels that she would be better off to stay with us until her stepdad and mom get the big picture.  When you have children, your wants and some of your needs become secondary to theirs.  I don’t want to start that argument though.

I hope our upcoming vacation to Disney World will show Taylor that she is loved, and will always be loved by her daddy and Rachel.  I am starting to work on a present to give to her before she leaves.

This is hurting me worse than any thing I can imagine.  Compounded by the problem that I cannot fix it, I can only deal with it. 

2007, A Growing Year?

I am hoping to continue LML Video Services‘ growth this year.  The major problem is trying to figure out how.

I took the first step by making it an actual business, and start a business checking account.  I also have a UPS account now.  I am trying to account for all financial items as well, as I used to use money from the business for what seemed right at the time.  I am looking into using Quickbooks, but it’s somewhat expensive.

One problem is visibility.  I don’t have a whole lot.  When I have some free time, I hope to write a nice email to one of the reporters in the local newspaper.  I try to do business locally when I can, but I do work with online clientele as well.  If any one out there knows how to raise your visibility with little or no money, please let me know!

I know this business will not bloom overnight, but it would be nice to actually make enough to live off of in 10 years or so.  I think this is the best option for me as I have never had a good experience working for someone else.

I have been a self taught wiz when it comes to technology related items since I was a teenager.  I actually had some excellent programming skillz until Windoze 2k came out, that changed everything.

As my wife sometimes thinks, I’m married to the computer, I just have an on going affair with her.

I do love u babe (do-do, do-do) 🙂

The Never Ending Story…

This week I rewired one circuit in the garage.  Now I only have one more to go.  After that I will just need to redo the plumbing, cover everything, and we will have a new garage!

One item that is a hard, very hard decision is regarding our heat pump.  It is original to the house (33 years).  It is not efficient and quite loud at startup (I think the bearings in the blower motor are going out.)  Most people I’ve spoken with are shocked that it has lasted this long.

After receiving out electric bill, we were quite flabbergasted!  We keep our thermostat very low (between 64º and 67º).  It was $50 more than last months bill.  This brought up the discussion that we might be throwing a lot of money away due to this old heat pump that hasn’t been maintained very well.

I have contacted a few HVAC contractors in the area regarding replacement.  All of them say they need a look at our home to “size it up.”  Which seems fishy to me, I’m just wanting a price range.  So I have 4 people coming next week.

One piece of good news is about the efficiency of newer heat pumps.  One contractor told me that certain models are energy star rated, which I love to hear.  He also told me that those models use the same energy as a refrigerator.  It seems crazy to me, but I like it.  He said depending on the model we purchase, we could save anywhere from $600 to $2700 a year on energy costs alone!!!

I want a geothermal system, but it seems as if regular systems have caught up to them in efficiency.  I was told they are generally double the cost, and use the same amount of energy.

When we bought the house, we were hoping it would just go out, so our home warrantee would cover the costs of replacing it.  I think it will be a good investment in the end.  I just know it will be very hard for Rachel to spend this kind of money on this.  I’ve been told of some great financing options, so we’ll see I guess.

Money Won’t Buy You This!

I am not a big sports fan, per say.  I follow a little bit of this and that, but I ALWAYS watch the superbowl.  The Colts finally pulled it out, and won their first Vince Lombardi trophy!

This year was the one to watch.  The Colts vs. The Bears, with Bloomington native Rex Grossman as the QB for the Bears.  More on that later.

Luckily, my sister and brother-in-law were there in Miami for the game.  Or should I say unluckily?  It was raining cats and dogs.  It is the first time it has rained at a superbowl, this was SuperBowl 41.

I have been following the many stories the local newspaper has ran on Rex Grossman and his father lately.  These stories have been very “fluffed,” as they have done nothing but speak of how he was “destined” to do this.  Just read this line I grabbed from the paper: “Chicago prides itself as a city that works, so Rex Grossman, a blue-collar guy, fits right in.” Blue collar?  He doesn’t even know the true meaning of that term.

He is a member of one of the richest familys in the area.  Their home is called “The Grossman Mansion.”  Rexs’ father is a wealthy doctor and co founder of Monroe Hospital.  There is even a “Rex Grossman BLVD.”  The only reason Rex did so well while he played at Florida in my opinion is because his father donated 10 million to the school.  I think it is also the reason he lost the Heisman as well.

I am the same age as Rex, and even went to school with him.  I may not know him now, or ever really knew him, but I never agreed with his “upper crust” attitude.

I hope in some way this game has finally shown him that money doesn’t buy you everything.  It really doesn’t. 

 

Some may not agree with my stance, or statement.  But it is my opinion, not a fact.

Photos courtesy of The NFL

Out With The Old, In With The New

Friday I removed our old dishwasher, pictured below.  It was an interesting exercise in reverse installation.

Sunday, Rachel, Taylor and I installed our new dishwasher.  It was a long time coming, as nobody would offer to do the dishes (including me).  Just look at the pile of dishes in the picture.  Luckily there were no major surprises installing the unit.  I had to change the route for the drain line, but nothing major.  I finished installation at 11:30 or so Sunday night.  As I finish writing this at 9:30am on Monday morning, those dishes are just a distant memory.

It is a nice “middle of the road” GE, Energy Star Compliant model 🙂  I was appalled at the lack of sound insulation on the unit.  Our 30 year old one had more, so we applied a nice layer of R-19 (left over from the garage renovation) to the top of it.  It made the fit perfect!  After running the unit, it’s actually quite silent for a dishwasher.  Was it our extra insulation, or pure design?  I guess we’ll never know.

There is only one major appliance left in the kitchen which was in the home when we purchased it 7 months ago.  As I previously wrote, the stove is probably on it’s last leg. The oven quit working for months then mysteriously started again after touching the display.

Future kitchen projects:  Countertops, Cabinet Facelift and Flooring.  We haven’t decided for sure yet, but I think we will be working on the cabinets soon.  After those are complete, we will have a new kitchen basically!

Moving On, And Up?

Rachel has moved up the higher education ladder, finally.  She accepted a position with the IU school of Informatics.  I cannot remember the exact position title, but I believe it is Director or Assistant Director of Graduate affairs???

I am thrilled for her, as she has been under-employed and under-appreciated since she moved to B-Town.  Her talents and abilities have yet to be unleashed.

With this new job, comes the honor of being my sugar mamma too 🙂

I will miss everyone she worked with at The Kelley School of Business MBA Program, Admissions office.  They have become a second family over the years.  Through parties, social gatherings, and personal events we have came to respect and love each other for who we are.  They even threw us a wedding shower (I’ll never forget that).  I hope her new office has the same feeling.

So here’s some words for those I will miss.

Terill & Joe:  I will miss the annual Christmas party.  The both of you are excellent hosts.  The “gay” bathroom is something I will never forget, in a good way.
Jenny:  What can I say?  Will you miss the love letters I wrote with deep passion in mind?  I will miss your love for life, and your high maintenance ways, as you are the closest thing I have had to a “girly girl-friend.”
Jeanie:  You are one of the sweetest persons I have ever met!  You helped us move in that blistering heat!  Your passion to help others is one that I will always remember.
Jim:  What can I say?  Your a great guy, who makes some killer guacomole.  I hope to hear from you in the future.
Lisa:  I love ya!  Your killer personality amazes me.  There is no “title” that can describe, or limit your possibilities.
Tim:  Your scandinavian ways never make me stop thinking.  Rachel and I will never forget how beautiful of a team Mary and you make.  We will always remember with joy, your vocal abilities at our wedding.  We need more people (and couples) like you in this world.
Brandon:  Call me, I promise we’ll go out for a night before you go off and leave me alone with Rachel.  I’m very interested in this “Property Management” thing.

If any of you need to reach me, you can via my website, LMLVideoservices.com