I know I'm a bad poet, but I'm a good man. All I ask is that... is that you try to see me—

William ,'Conversations with Dead People'


Natter 77: I miss my friends. I miss my enemies. I miss the people I talked to every day.  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, butt kicking, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Steph L. - Dec 22, 2023 2:35:38 pm PST #27570 of 30000
Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe

Tomorrow night I'm going to see the White House decorations, though, so that will be very Christmassy!

So fun!

I have wrapped all the presents (well, put them in gift bags and tried to tuck in tissue paper to make it look somewhat acceptable) and Tim is bringing home pizza. I'll bake the pumpkin bread later tonight, do a grocery pickup tomorrow, and we'll be all set.


dcp - Dec 22, 2023 2:52:45 pm PST #27571 of 30000
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.

all of my clients are not paying on time

Will you have leverage for better contract terms (up-front deposits, bonds, escrow, etc.) next year?


NoiseDesign - Dec 22, 2023 3:06:26 pm PST #27572 of 30000
Our wings are not tired

Will you have leverage for better contract terms (up-front deposits, bonds, escrow, etc.) next year?

Yes, all of these clients have been moved to the Payment in full before work begins category. Pretty much all of these were bigger projects where they have paid at least 50% of the project already, they are just lagging on milestone or closeout payments.


dcp - Dec 22, 2023 3:18:05 pm PST #27573 of 30000
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.

Sorry for the headache.

My grandmother worked for a contracting firm in the D.C. suburbs. (I'm ashamed to admit I don't remember the name of it.) She had a company swag T-shirt with a Frito Bandito logo inside a double circle with the motto: Beltway Bandit Protective Association -- "If you can't make the payments, you don't get the contract."


Consuela - Dec 22, 2023 5:08:39 pm PST #27574 of 30000
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix

That must be intolerable, ND. I'm so sorry that your (presumably well-funded) clients are such assholes.

I got a bunch of books for the kids, and a bunch of socks as stocking-stuffers (which is a bit meta, I guess). Now my back is really acting up and I'm back on the couch, not looking forward to doing more baking.


NoiseDesign - Dec 22, 2023 5:17:22 pm PST #27575 of 30000
Our wings are not tired

presumably well-funded

One of them is a Vegas sports book, so yeah, well funded.


Laura - Dec 23, 2023 7:41:36 am PST #27576 of 30000
Our wings are not tired.

Ugh. My very bad miserable cold is indeed Covid. Tested positive this morning. Worst part is that I can't read without it hurting my head. If I am going to be sick I want to stay in bed and read. It seems only right.


Steph L. - Dec 23, 2023 7:44:12 am PST #27577 of 30000
Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe

Ugh indeed, Laura! That sucks.


JenP - Dec 23, 2023 8:56:09 am PST #27578 of 30000

Boo, Laura, I'm sorry. May it pass quickly.

I'm about to head out shopping. Wish me inspiration, please. I'm going to wear.my plaid Santa hat -- it seems to take the edge off for anyone who might be feeling... edgy. Gives poor randos like me out in it a little cheer sometimes.

Still not sure when Christmas w/ the fam will be for us, but I suppose I still need to act like it'll happen soon.


lisah - Dec 23, 2023 9:09:34 am PST #27579 of 30000
Punishingly Intricate

Ugh I’m so sorry, Laura. We’re in Chicago for one night only and spending some time reporting Bob’s lost credit card. Womp womp. It’s the card all the bills go through so will take some work to redirect everything to the new card when he gets it. But at least it wasn’t stolen! Which I want to spell “stollen” because we’re about to head to the christkringlemart!