X-ray question
I am going to a chiropractor for the first time this Friday. I've had back pain for years and about a week ago it went out yet again. I suppose that would be the straw that broke the landscapers back. 
I own a landscaping company and one of my clients is a chiropractor so I'll be going to him. I've already talked to him briefly about it and he said that all my symptoms indicate that my back pain is probably from spinal compression. Probably caused by 25 years of bouncing around on a mower. Of course he will have to confirm this with an official examination and X-rays.
Which brings me to my question. For an x-ray of the spine do you have to take your shirt off? I'm assuming yes. For those of you who don't know I self harmed for many years and have a ton of scars on both my arms that really can't be ignored. I've gone to doctors a handful of times over the years and every single one that has seen my arms have asked about it. I guess the bigger issue in this case is I know him, his family, and all of his staff (I mow his office too). I would consider he and his wife to be friends not just clients. So if anyone does see the scars I know I would be asked about it.
5 comments posted: Sunday, July 16th, 2023
How should this have been handled differently?
We have a very large outdoor Christmas display that a lot of people drive by to see. This year I not only amped up the outside lights (nearly doubled them to 25,000 lights) but I stepped up my inside decor. I do almost all of it myself as my SO is really busy this time of year. I've been working on the display for months and between the inside and out have spent probably over 150 hours. 
Last night SO had a couple friend of hers, and their 5 year old kid over. They are very hands off when it comes to discipling their kid and although they do tell him no he is allowed to do things that my parents would have never let me do. Example: they not only allowed the kid to jump on our couch but encouraged it. I really don't care about jumping on the couch but my parents would have killed me if I did that. I know this about them and also know that our decorations and house is not very kid proof.
So I sat in the living room where most of the decorations are as well as the kid and they sat at the kitchen table about 20' away. I was able to listen to the conversation and chime in here and there but I was mostly trying to keep the kid from either hurting himself or destroying the house. Unfortunately they only sent him with 2 hot wheels cars to play with so he got bored quickly. Just to say, I was totally fine with babysitting and giving the parents a break as well as let SO enjoy her company.
Some of the things I had to stop him from doing multiple times: pulling the tree over on top of himself, grabbing the glass ornaments, and punching/head butting the glass of the electric fireplace. When we went outside I had to stop him multiple times from trying to use the string of lights as a climbing rope as well as running into the street while cars were coming.
At the end of the night SO was upset with me that I sat in the living room all night. I explained what I was doing and she basically said it's not worth having any company over then if she can't spend time with me too. I understand that and would agree that maybe having little kids to our house isn't the best idea but I doubt that we will never have kids over again.
This situation is going to come up again in life. So how would you handle this? I don't think talking to the parents would have gotten me anywhere. Like I said, they encouraged him to jump on the couch and run around the house. In the past we have had company sit and eat in the living room so this hasn't been an issue before.
12 comments posted: Sunday, December 18th, 2022
Looking for some help with a new direction in life.
I own a small landscaping business for the last 20 plus years. Something I have noticed over the years is that a lot of employees tend to open up to me about stuff they are dealing with in life. I've gotten very good at helping them navigate through their issues. I've had more than one employee describe working for me feels like they are in a "life group" where everyone helps each other navigate life's challenges.
My best friend, who used to work for me, has told me a number of times that although I'm very good a my job, I'm wasting my talents. I'm too good at helping people figure their stuff out to be wasting it landscaping. She says I need a bigger "stage" to reach more people.
She's not the only one that has hinted at that. I can't tell you how many employees over the years have asked me to talk to their friend because they think that I can help them.
It's not just employees or friends of employees that I've been able to help. Last year a client that I had for many years but never actually talked to, started texting me. Long story short, he had gone through some tragedy in his life a few years ago and became an alcoholic. I talked him into going to rehab and he just celebrated 6 months sobriety. My neighbor, who I never talked to until recently, lost his dad last year. I did too so he texts me nearly every day. Mostly about his motorcycle or guns but will also talk about how hard it has been without his Dad. He is the last guy you'd expect to talk about his feelings.
I used to work in youth group at my church (teenagers) and I did very well with that as well. I do feel like I'm more geared for the 20-30 year old age group.
Some of you know my story or at least part of it and, like most of us here, I've been through some stuff. Which is probably why I'm good at helping people walk through life's mess. I don't want to waste my talents if I can help people. I just don't know what to do to reach more people. I'm not looking to necessarily switch careers, but I'm not opposed to it. I'm okay with this being something that I can do in addition to my business.
Any ideas on direction for this?
6 comments posted: Sunday, April 17th, 2022
Is this a red flag or a one off thing?
So I've been dating SO for almost a year now. Things have gone really well. Not even so much as an argument between us. We definitely have disagreed about some things but we are both so laid back that we're both good to just agree to disagree or bend to the other person. Neither one of us HAS to be right every time or win every argument.
She has vented about people to me and said things like "well if they do XYZ then I'm going to..." and she proceeds to really go to the extreme with what mean things she's going to say to them. I've called her out on it a few times and said that I hope she doesn't actually say those things to someone. And she always comes back with "No I wouldn't really say that." So I've always taken it as venting. And I'm perfectly fine with that.
She has been working for/with me on my mowing crew since March and although we have a small crew she has always gotten along with everyone. Until last Thursday.
There was a guy that had been working with us about 3 weeks. Apparently he was unintentionally kicking her seat in the truck the last few days they worked together. Then on Thursday he was slurping his food or something and long story short she went off on the guy big time. F words and everything. It caught everyone off guard because her reaction was WAY over the top.
That ended up being his last day as he quit even though I told him he would never have to work with her again. I think he was hurt and embarrassed. As her boss I talked to her privately as soon as the truck stopped and told her if she ever talked to another employee like that again she would be fired. I'm going to write her up and not allow her to work next week.
To be fair, she HATES slurping. Far more than your average person. I think she even said it on our first date. As her boyfriend do you think this was a one time issue or a sign of things to come? As her boyfriend do you think this was a one time issue or a sign of things to come? I'm honestly still really angry at her for this.
40 comments posted: Saturday, August 29th, 2020
Post your Christmas decor
So this is the first year in a long time that I've gone full on "elf" with the Christmas decorating. Thought I'd post some pics. I would love to see everyone else's Christmas decorations.
Well first I should figure out how to post pics. 
[This message edited by Myname at 11:22 AM, December 11th (Monday)]
29 comments posted: Monday, December 11th, 2017
Pumpkin season is almost here!!!!
I'm so excited. 
A friend of mine text me yesterday and said they saw pumpkins and the grocery store.
I have a new logo for my company that I want to do on a pumpkin. That shouldn't take too long to do. Unfortunately I won't be able to post that one on here because it falls under advertising. SO just started a company and has a really intricate logo that she wants me to do on a pumpkin. It will take a while to do. That one won't get posted here either. 
I'm not sure what I'm going to do for pumpkins this year besides those two. I have some really cool ideas of different things I can do with the pumpkin that is a little out of the box but it will only work for the right type of carving.
My big thing is going to be time. I really like carving pumpkins but each one seems to take longer than the last. I still have a business to run. Although I have better employees this year than I have in years past so I'm going to try to do a couple of pumpkins.
15 comments posted: Monday, September 12th, 2016
Happy Festivus!!!!!
3 comments posted: Wednesday, December 23rd, 2015
Help. I can't figure out how to post a pic
Photo bucket changed their setup and I can't figure out how to post a pic.
My images are uploaded to photo bucket already. I just can't figure out how to post them.
4 comments posted: Wednesday, October 28th, 2015
Mayweather Pacquiao fight!!!
I have been waiting over 5 years for this fight. I can't believe it's tonight. I'm so excited.
I'm going to watch it at my parents house.
Who do you think will win?
I'm pulling for Pacquiao. I've always been a Pacquiao fan. Never liked mayweather.
3 comments posted: Saturday, May 2nd, 2015
Call me immature but
this just cracked me up. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCeY7vTY13k
9 comments posted: Sunday, February 22nd, 2015
Mayweather and Pacquiao
It's happening!!! They're really going to fight May 2nd!!!
I've been waiting for this for years! I can't wait!!!!!
2 comments posted: Saturday, February 21st, 2015
Me and microwaving potatoes
I tried to microwave a potato for a late night snack and it nearly caught on fire. It's totally non edible. 
I guess it's a little better than my last attempt at microwaving potatoes. Those actually did catch on fire. 
20 comments posted: Sunday, December 14th, 2014
It's pumpkin time
I actually did one already this year but it was for a company so I can't post that one but I'm going to do another one today. It's a very different style than what I've done in the past so we'll see how it comes out.
Here's a couple from years past for some of the newbies. I think they're worth re-posting. Tinkerbell is one of my favorites. 
ETA: This post was useless without pics.
[This message edited by Myname at 12:52 PM, October 11th (Saturday)]
42 comments posted: Saturday, October 11th, 2014
