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What happened to Steve Merrette? He was active here for a while, and then disappeared. I was really hoping things would work out for him, as they seem to be coming around for Mike Rimoldi.
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Jason, it's working out pretty good for him. He called me last week.
*Sonny tell that turkey we want him to check every once and awhile and give us a report.....I figure he's been real busy with his new business but i would lke to hear from him as Im sure others do to(thus this thread duh).
*I'm the same way. I was just wondering about Merrete yesterday. I hope he's doing good and wish he would check in.
*Jason, Hey, thanks for thinking about me! I'm doing better in part as I'm almost finished with my own house. Its tough running that big job as well as a host of others. As I said, I'm in the "fingers-crossed hoping stage" with those three upcoming homes. That situation will determine where I go from there. But enough about me, I emailed Steve back and forth right after Christmas just to chat. Glad to know he is doing well via Sonny's post. ...and I agree with Ron and Gunner, he needs to check in and keep us posted. We all sound like a bunch of hens watching their chicks.Mike
*He must be out thewre where the hammer head meets the nail, putting all that good advice to work.Go Steve Go!
*I was wondering myself about Steve. I was/am pulling for him. I miss him checking in. Then again I am also hoping we haven't heard from him because he has been too busy. I think the last time he checked in was roughly the time he had an issue with the fence job if I recall correctly.......which I might not.SJ
*He certainly brought up a lot of good issues that needed discussion.
*Hey! I'm alive! I have been real busy for the last couple of months. I apologize for not checking in with you knuckleheads.I don't even know where to begin.After the infamous fence job I started to get serious. I've been doing mostly small pretty profitable jobs with an occasional larger one thrown in for variety. the last bigger one was as a sub for a local builder. what was supposed to be a one week job ending up being a month and a half.I was supposed to run the trim and put in a drop ceiling. which turned into installing a kitchen, which turned into hanging doors and drywalling a section of the ceiling that the owner decided they didn't want a drop ceiling on, which turned into plumbing and vent ducts and building a walk in closet, frame, rock and all, electrical and so on and so on. the owners liked my work so much that they asked for me to do some additional things for them. I ran it by the builder and they gave me their blessings so I'm fitting that into the schedule between other things now.I have a little home time now and am working up proposals for a basement finish, deck and complete church remodel. (I've enlisted some help for that one if I get it) I also have been doing a ton of wood rot repair. I've had maybe six jobs so far that involved removing rotted wood and fixing the wound with epoxy filler. I've had people call me after seeing some of my repair work to come and fix their stuff. the one development was $300,000+ homes that were rotting apart after only four to five years. makes a bad statement for some of the local high end builders.Anyway enough of me blowing my own horn, how have you guys all been? I have missed the banter and comradery of the site and hope to get some time to get back a little more frequently. take care and thanks for letting me know I was missed.SteveP.S. I'm joining the NAHB. just thought I'd mention that.
*Well Finaly. Don't you ever run off like that again little mister! Glad to hear your doing good. Sounds like you have been building a good rep. Keep it up.
*Steve, Great to hear from you and gald everything is going so well. Looks like your hard work paid off. However, for being so tardy in checking in with the gang, I think you should be grounded from your local HD, Lowes or Sears tool department for a while. No new toys for you mister. All kidding aside, glad things are going your way, Steve.Mike
*Pictures! We want pictures! We earned them, just like parents who have sent their child out into the cold world, we need to know. Send pictures of our grandchildren.
*I've got some pictures but I don't have anything spectacular to show. It's not like I'm building custom decks or something. I mean well installed trim is well installed trim is it not? I guess I still feel humbled in you guys' presence.Hey Here's an aside, the other day I had to go to sears to exchange a screwdriver that didn't survive a dive off the ladder.Anyway I stopped at the sears hardware that was near the job and as I'm leaving the store manager asks me if I use pneumatic tools in my work and I said yes. He told me that he that they had some staplers that they weren't going to carry anymore and that he could let me have them for a good price. So by now I'm a little skeptical and wondering as too what a "Good deal" is on a crapsman air stapler.We get over to the display case and it's a bostitch S32SX-kit, brandy spankin new still with the shrink wrap and not reconditioned.The price tag on them was $129.99 so I wondered how much they were going to let them go for and he tells me $32.00!!! I didn't even hesitate! give me a couple, I can always use a spare and I'll unload the rest for a nice little profit. I've used it and as much as I hate to admit it, I like it better than the porter cable I have. It's a nice little stapler.
*Piffin, I don't know if my boy counts as your grandchildren but here goes...
*Steve that picture is sooo coool . im glad your business is taking off. Man Im so happy for ya. But ya better start start checking regularly, heck im so happy drinks for everyone on me!!!!! bar keep do ya except master card.....
*Handsome pair of Carhart loversbut I was speaking figuratively. Your work would be the offspring of our encouragement and advice.
*My granbabe likes your son!Do you believe in arranged marriages?Just kidding!
*Okay but tomorrow night. it's late and I have to install a cat door tomorrow. (ha ha)
*She's cute Piffin. I'll show her to my boy tomorrow and see if he's interested. LOLTake care, talk to ya mañana..
*Steve:Glad to hear you are well, and things are picking up on the business end. Perhaps if you have time, you could give specific examples on some of your progress as a "businessman". Many of your posts were in the business section, after all. I am not so much interested in numbers/dollars, but attitudes and strategies. My guess is you have been basking in the glow of Sonny's wisdom outside of this forum.I am going to get my daughter some of those carharts (will match my threadbare coat). Very cool. Problem is, my wife gets mad when I buy the baby clothes from the "boys" department.Great to hear from you.Jason
*Business strategies? I'm supposed to use those? I have been lucky in that I have been able to respond quickly to most clients and I think that has a little to do with it. I will be honest though the last couple of weeks I've been busy working but at night I'm dragging my feet working on proposals. I really have to get my act together on that or I'll be starving in a month or two. I think it's the winter time blues. As far as business goes, I'll have to think about that. I have some background in marketing and think that has also helped a little. I'll have to get back to you on that.
*Congrats Steve, I'm glad to hear things are taking off for you. BTW great picture.
*Okay finally I'm getting around to posting some pics. these should probably be in the gallery except that they're not worthy of some of the work displayed there and also it was asked here that I post some pics so here they are. please be gentle, I'm a beginner remember. This is a project I did as a sub contractor...
*Dang computer glitched here's the pic...
*And the kitchen I installed...
*And the bath vanity...
*And the closet I installed. this was done after the final inspection when the clients decided they didn't want the door where it was anymore...
*Here's some shot's of water damage repairs I did on another house. the first few are of the door jamb repairs I made. I only show one side because it pretty much is the same. the latter pictures are of the rotted trim boards on the front of the house and the replacement windows I put in after finding the head jamb on the two side casements just about completely rotted away...
*ok I guess my pictures are too big because I keep getting attachment too large messages. and quite frankly this is taking forever with the crappy connection I've got so take my word for it and if you really want to see the pictures I'll email you a zip file.
*Excellent work on the closet. I didn't think the pics were too big.
*Thanks, Gunner. I'll have pics of it painted on tuesday. the builder had a painter they were using so he has done his bit now and I an share the finished product. the file sizes of the remaining pics I was gonna post must have been too high a resolution and thus been too big for me to show you all. I'll get around to reducing them and posting them someday.