tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71060985679635517592024-02-18T18:39:24.550-08:00 Steve's World Not for the feint-hearted.Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.comBlogger310125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-23224810230354882102022-02-09T06:46:00.000-08:002022-02-09T06:46:03.254-08:00<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkyORD609PV5NaypLrYbs-sBjYw5yPw4tormgw9U_azmy3p8GJqNmul4QI-PvjqRTHbt4fI28Eyx-y1o_3bqMUt5oe7LknB9TzlaAPycOs2gH3YiQ33FY-HQmJhoxI4H603SlUkHjGeDOGx9MosiQo5fRNwVXziFA9sS3Qks7ZFXrlB2x8dh66CpzcRA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkyORD609PV5NaypLrYbs-sBjYw5yPw4tormgw9U_azmy3p8GJqNmul4QI-PvjqRTHbt4fI28Eyx-y1o_3bqMUt5oe7LknB9TzlaAPycOs2gH3YiQ33FY-HQmJhoxI4H603SlUkHjGeDOGx9MosiQo5fRNwVXziFA9sS3Qks7ZFXrlB2x8dh66CpzcRA=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I’ve been working like a dog!<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The hardest work that our dogs do, is dragging us around the block when we walk them. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I’m very happy today. I just finished the 30-day No-Sugar Challenge, and my weight was below 200 pounds for the first time in a while. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My goal was to keep my sugar intake below 38 grams/day, the recommended maximum value for men.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">At first this seemed impossible! A banana has 14 grams, a slice of bread has 5 grams, a can of soda has 40 grams!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">But after a while I realized that in my quest for keeping the sugar low, I was eating a lot more vegetables, lentils, black beans, hard boiled eggs, nuts, rice, salads, avocados, and absolutely nothing with added sugar. Everything I was eating was natural, except for whole grain bread.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I lost nine pounds, which I think is normal for ANY diet you go on. I think just watching your intake on any diet will produce a 10 pound loss in the first month.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">But I don’t feel like I’m doing anything crazy, because you really don’t need to have added sugar in you diet, and too much sugar is dangerous! In the process I’ve avoided all processed foods except for Dave’s organic bread. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So I’ve decided to stay on the No-sugar diet. I’ll increase my calories so I don’t lose any more weight, and see how it goes. So far no one has noticed any difference except that I’m cooking different stuff.</span></p>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-77728365290112073622020-07-11T12:35:00.004-07:002020-09-10T11:42:56.348-07:002020/07/11 - Abo’s Pizza <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuVBC0pMvmK_Luu19OTpk_-qf7b9vgQ_KWKnLZwgOsF_KriDzb798CSKG3CY0RJ1Unt21D8zXTiir1HdnwZDWG_A1gtlGy4zdz7HhFVWjdoSfDfNzGUh8kwlqi-jCwyR114KHJdVdyIAQ/s2048/9894AFAB-78B1-4DAA-8C51-4F355C3F05A3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><font face="verdana" size="5"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuVBC0pMvmK_Luu19OTpk_-qf7b9vgQ_KWKnLZwgOsF_KriDzb798CSKG3CY0RJ1Unt21D8zXTiir1HdnwZDWG_A1gtlGy4zdz7HhFVWjdoSfDfNzGUh8kwlqi-jCwyR114KHJdVdyIAQ/s320/9894AFAB-78B1-4DAA-8C51-4F355C3F05A3.jpeg" /></font></a></div><div><font face="verdana" size="5"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana" size="5"><br /></font></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; letter-spacing: -0.3199999928474426px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><font face="verdana" size="5">I ordered the largest size pizza from Abo’s last night with 3 extra toppings. Great tasting pizza, except they gave me an extra large pizza with small size pizza toppings. Half of all six slices had no toppings at all! (see image)</font></span></div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: -0.3199999928474426px; white-space: pre-wrap;" tabindex="0"><font face="verdana" size="5">
Sorry Abo, that’s the last time I’m spending $27 on your pizza.</font></span>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-77988832459049755452020-06-09T11:45:00.002-07:002020-06-09T11:47:31.421-07:002020/06/09 - Black Lives Matter<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I just heard of an account of a black man in his 50s who has been stopped by Baltimore Police over 30 times in the past 5 years. Holy Shit! If I was stopped ONCE in the past FIFTY years, I might have wound up in prison (Oh… I forgot I’m white.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Can you imagine once every 2 months, walking to the corner store for a 6-pack and getting stopped, thrown against the wall or on the ground, searched, and possibly injured or killed if you don’t respond exactly like the police officer wants? At the very least, it’s humiliating. What’s the crime? Walking while black?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And at night time, don’t hold up the cell phone in your hand! A swat team, armed </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">with military equipment used in Afghanistan, will fire 20 rounds into your back in self defense. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the end of one of my favorite shows, Last Week With John Oliver, a black woman said we are lucky black people are just looking for equality, not revenge. </span><br />
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Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-67487906092726570242020-06-08T13:27:00.002-07:002020-06-08T13:27:38.830-07:002020/06/08 - I’m starting to understand the Burka<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I realize this sounds insane but I finding women to be sexy with masks! Is that crazy or what? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At 70, I’m getting excited walking around the supermarket.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But think about it. What’s the chances that a person’s nose, lips, teeth, & chin make them look better than just looking at their eyes? And women have an advantage that eye makeup is socially acceptable for them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So what you are left with is a pair of eyes, and a mystery for you to use your imagination.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Me… I say under my mask: “You look marvelous!”</span><br />
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<br />Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-67532964977757463352020-03-30T07:36:00.001-07:002020-03-30T18:21:59.630-07:002020/03/30 - Coronavirus Beard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Out of shear stupidity, I’ve decided to grow a coronavirus beard, basically to annoy my wife. Hopefully I will not look like ZZ Top when the crises is finally over. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUx4LUjhnIOHlGGNx-_e_Y9ssHrJU1jtvl3q_9TrSLuvcimcy7jddYVbO1EsJ7GhAtZrVZnnTlCOnuYr5HahamC0Jhg7Dcs7rbN5w1uKZ3mUTXtVRYj8l9CTLFCPmWCaLZHaeNvnRe3kG5/s1600/72E30BB2-8063-48E1-87E7-5F7A52B7F906.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUx4LUjhnIOHlGGNx-_e_Y9ssHrJU1jtvl3q_9TrSLuvcimcy7jddYVbO1EsJ7GhAtZrVZnnTlCOnuYr5HahamC0Jhg7Dcs7rbN5w1uKZ3mUTXtVRYj8l9CTLFCPmWCaLZHaeNvnRe3kG5/s640/72E30BB2-8063-48E1-87E7-5F7A52B7F906.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></li>
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<br />Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-51447384449601729892020-03-20T15:26:00.003-07:002020-03-20T15:39:08.754-07:002020/03/20 - Junkyard Dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnil96plHq2Lw4t6AldC5ZKj1gYXMkbTnMuBbu-PinSiS3BP_z4asfQNyjzjW8EvpNnv7XIuCnpcdsr4KSBBAsG0GoZYJ7hOG7YRP_NXYUSDJVbkX4Qe-gWq7MG9u4uTQkcoUCdIvG4Lad/s1600/CAF6ACC8-AF44-449B-A84E-629CB218F114.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnil96plHq2Lw4t6AldC5ZKj1gYXMkbTnMuBbu-PinSiS3BP_z4asfQNyjzjW8EvpNnv7XIuCnpcdsr4KSBBAsG0GoZYJ7hOG7YRP_NXYUSDJVbkX4Qe-gWq7MG9u4uTQkcoUCdIvG4Lad/s320/CAF6ACC8-AF44-449B-A84E-629CB218F114.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We finally got the results from Billy’s DNA testing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We have always suspected that she is not a purebred Labrador Retriever. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We joke and call her</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> “Fake Lab”. The ridge on her nose is suspicious. we tell her that she tricked us into spending $500 on a fake dog!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She’s a useless bum! She just lays around and sleeps all day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Seriously, I love her to death and have a special relationship with her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She seems to love me like no dog I have ever had. She is so happy to see me walk down the stairs every morning, that she looses her balance wildly wagging her tail. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In fact, her personality is so much different than Satchmo’a and Trixie’s, my other Labs, that it added to my suspicion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The results are in! She is half Labrador Retriever, and half Junkyard Dog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just kidding, I don’t want to know her pedigree, but that’s how I’m teasing her from now on.</span>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-57100559253368925872020-03-17T09:01:00.002-07:002020-03-17T10:18:58.069-07:002020/03/17 - Out of Business<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday I received a Notice of Violation from my homeowners association, saying that I was running an unauthorized business out of my home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This morning I filed a statement of dissolution for The Pipe Man LLC with the State of Colorado. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just when I figured out a way to pay for mom’s assisted living. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m going to have to rethink this business, maybe rent out some industrial space. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The punches just keep on coming....</span></div>
Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-35700105868307720872020-03-03T17:22:00.002-08:002020-03-03T17:23:46.144-08:002020/03/03 - The Pipe Line<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7aSQBnyJa4B6jMkBP5L_jK8yqTnko1GHworSLtR3KoZMGn7mAvQkB_iSlkFMCtsBR6qrV1GkOlyDKKV8Zqc7kK-h_sA48kRPY4Yc1Q99CUwDZq-DbiTYu_4EeRbPqtnocZb2-t2CkCE3/s1600/B165851C-85EE-4CCA-A96E-A2A7B580039D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1583" data-original-width="1600" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7aSQBnyJa4B6jMkBP5L_jK8yqTnko1GHworSLtR3KoZMGn7mAvQkB_iSlkFMCtsBR6qrV1GkOlyDKKV8Zqc7kK-h_sA48kRPY4Yc1Q99CUwDZq-DbiTYu_4EeRbPqtnocZb2-t2CkCE3/s400/B165851C-85EE-4CCA-A96E-A2A7B580039D.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My pipes are now in SEVEN stores, and so far I have sold 250 pipes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’m the pipe man!</span>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-81282382060809741022020-03-01T15:03:00.000-08:002020-03-03T17:24:57.830-08:002020/03/01 - Just checking in<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMI-ASKSSzZbtW6Och7G8C8Q8mcHnZ6tGMx8aL-ZTaI8cZOp3w3mesUzJdplOZ8Zp6aYWrWf1PjCwViA3HdVek4kZ0cDrDNnDFVoJ0gkHuld8zhRFE4Hz3ZyUs5KiFmzJuraiqNTX_-Z9/s1600/29BB9BFD-B4C8-4504-A349-4D6EC88637DB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1249" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMI-ASKSSzZbtW6Och7G8C8Q8mcHnZ6tGMx8aL-ZTaI8cZOp3w3mesUzJdplOZ8Zp6aYWrWf1PjCwViA3HdVek4kZ0cDrDNnDFVoJ0gkHuld8zhRFE4Hz3ZyUs5KiFmzJuraiqNTX_-Z9/s400/29BB9BFD-B4C8-4504-A349-4D6EC88637DB.jpeg" width="310" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yep, I’m still alive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Actually alive and almost well. My shoulder is almost better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With 3 weeks left until Spring, I’m anxious to get beck on the bike. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the meantime I’m making the pipes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And doing lots of product testing. 😎</span>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-35461543006777682142020-02-14T10:55:00.001-08:002020-02-16T06:43:45.788-08:002020/02/14 - Valentines Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Flowers, card, & chocolates always rings the bell!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNkJj803xm7BMybJga2_b5ZKpTU9c3X24ZeFtMWb7K5htRnXhfK7JTRoRPutCVIXPUEMBHHzbN0E-WBwufsXfGEcAcf73jCg1NmmeAUn7S_ci3HbST4c9LDpUgrOXR14ynI0amJyxyz7O/s1600/5FF1BF87-B9FD-4761-BBAF-0004EB138D3C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNkJj803xm7BMybJga2_b5ZKpTU9c3X24ZeFtMWb7K5htRnXhfK7JTRoRPutCVIXPUEMBHHzbN0E-WBwufsXfGEcAcf73jCg1NmmeAUn7S_ci3HbST4c9LDpUgrOXR14ynI0amJyxyz7O/s400/5FF1BF87-B9FD-4761-BBAF-0004EB138D3C.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">PS: I fucked up with the flowers this year. In order to hide them from Val, I kept them in the car overnight. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the morning they were frozen!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Luckily they were still beautiful when she woke up, but when the roses thawed, the peddles just started falling off, and the next morning all that were left turned brown. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh well! It’s the thought that counts right?</span>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-37094889004828576652020-02-11T05:54:00.000-08:002020-02-11T05:55:03.654-08:002020/01/08 - Val and I cut a rug<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieASj970sBTweskoyXfpvulfz2zbcQb_ml6PRl4x3i6uL_NcLyVfU0_QewWWBLbfL4aJwQiZcxe891rV_mwTM6FajJACP4V1fJ6ZacHljfao5j_3N7Rwx4_c5jtaIhmRYgXVTV6qCiA82n/s1600/D0F9205F-FAA2-4BC9-96BD-0055A252D1C0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieASj970sBTweskoyXfpvulfz2zbcQb_ml6PRl4x3i6uL_NcLyVfU0_QewWWBLbfL4aJwQiZcxe891rV_mwTM6FajJACP4V1fJ6ZacHljfao5j_3N7Rwx4_c5jtaIhmRYgXVTV6qCiA82n/s640/D0F9205F-FAA2-4BC9-96BD-0055A252D1C0.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After getting an estimate of $500 to remove our living room rug, Val and I decided to do it ourselves. It took us about 4-5 hours altogether.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next step is to replace with tile. </span>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-62050373012760761552020-02-02T06:52:00.000-08:002020-02-02T07:03:05.679-08:002020/01/01 - Abrusci’s Fire & Vine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2Vj3LWBRU8IuweFZbHqaq0Y_g-H2U0IHOpimvhoTjc7OHncxyrfaAs_zKVPaBsGGLrQttFItQsD553IyA6UQfBdb-Pv-A1SnCxZ88Qce6kRtXR42f6vZZiYTF7_LgiD1hdZqdjx17IBa/s1600/A86FFE28-E241-4B4A-9C65-28D695AD2A16.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2Vj3LWBRU8IuweFZbHqaq0Y_g-H2U0IHOpimvhoTjc7OHncxyrfaAs_zKVPaBsGGLrQttFItQsD553IyA6UQfBdb-Pv-A1SnCxZ88Qce6kRtXR42f6vZZiYTF7_LgiD1hdZqdjx17IBa/s640/A86FFE28-E241-4B4A-9C65-28D695AD2A16.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had a nice dinner out last night at Abrusci's Fire and Vine in Lakewood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The atmosphere and food were great but, and this is a huge <b>BUT</b>, they automatically added a 20% tip without telling us. I was all set to add a 20% tip to our $102 tab, when I noticed a 20% “Hospitality Service” already included!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The thing is, we wouldn’t have even noticed it, if we weren’t checking to see if they split up the bill properly between the couples. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That pisses me off!</span></div>
Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-63882388822008787022020-01-28T15:46:00.000-08:002020-01-28T15:46:33.831-08:002020/01/28 - High on the Dream<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I just got another bite from a dispensary Idaho Springs. We are arranging a meeting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’m so high on this pipe dream, that if if all ended tomorrow, it would have been worth it. </span><br />
Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-83452641132742241722020-01-28T07:08:00.001-08:002020-01-28T15:42:01.224-08:002020/01/27 -- The Pipe Man LLC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDacLFfr0npcbbefucR0VqMOWGlcJSRGVkx9Zo8m9AHLfUROknKkpjxUJUgPgFGiB2LzZ9FZUcBA1XewKkxJHyyw5MPTsNqECD8vT9vQEjjTKiLnoa37MPDiRg7FShA8e-rRxUoazEIh4J/s1600/ABB1504B-A92B-4759-80DF-5458B4B5421B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDacLFfr0npcbbefucR0VqMOWGlcJSRGVkx9Zo8m9AHLfUROknKkpjxUJUgPgFGiB2LzZ9FZUcBA1XewKkxJHyyw5MPTsNqECD8vT9vQEjjTKiLnoa37MPDiRg7FShA8e-rRxUoazEIh4J/s400/ABB1504B-A92B-4759-80DF-5458B4B5421B.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-37635917105239344822020-01-23T16:00:00.000-08:002020-01-28T07:10:00.384-08:002020/01/23 - Relaxation and planning<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wow... Yesterday sucked! It was almost like work! I cant believe I ever did this shit willingly every day for years!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So it was nice to relax and plan for the next order. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I figured that I wasn’t going to get any pipe re-ups for a while, and that any bites from my new 5 msgs/day task would only yield new customers, whom I promise the “deluxe” display FREE on their first order.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you know that there are over 200 dispensaries in Colorado?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I figured that the best use of my time today would be to make deluxe display cases. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I took my time and between chess games I made two deluxe display cases. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-48321497751066735762020-01-22T18:03:00.001-08:002020-01-22T18:08:01.103-08:002020/01/22 - The Pipe Line<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today was a very busy day. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuKJ5XN6YRBQJCNW6ojkZigInJ0UFSbICNUa_IuY9bS5ONyh2-RKgoTIGzEJ1LRQZJXMIvGW8kQjw4iEGBUxzlksQ646UDmnkRO8u-SUDrKpArcL4dnZZm3F8bvBHsrDYLPQXgG2jLz8c/s1600/A5E7576D-BA2B-4747-98F9-82E75C4AC3F9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuKJ5XN6YRBQJCNW6ojkZigInJ0UFSbICNUa_IuY9bS5ONyh2-RKgoTIGzEJ1LRQZJXMIvGW8kQjw4iEGBUxzlksQ646UDmnkRO8u-SUDrKpArcL4dnZZm3F8bvBHsrDYLPQXgG2jLz8c/s640/A5E7576D-BA2B-4747-98F9-82E75C4AC3F9.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had to deliver 40 Swivel-Lid pipes to my new customer in North Denver. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hate to drive and this round-trip took 90 minutes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had the 40 pipes ready, but only 2 of the fancy hardwood displays which were supposed to go free to customers on their first order. But they were ordering one for each of 4 stores, so I understood their wanting 4 displays. Besides, I want to present my pipes in the best light possible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But that meant making 2 more fancy displays before leaving the house at 12:15 PM to make my 1:00 PM meeting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I waited until 8:00 PM to start, so as not to make too much noise with my table saw before I heard other competitive noises outside. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Taking a few breaks for chess and other necessities, I wound up rushing to get done in time to leave!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I took a long-cut so as to avoid highways and got there 10 minutes beforehand to wait in the car and check out the location. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to look inside the store. The waiting room was packed, and my contact came right out to meet me and we sat outside at a picnic table. She was young enough to to be my grand-daughter and had all necessary piercings, tattoos, and hair colors required for her age and position. She was actually very pretty, but at my age, youth itself is beautiful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Obviously she knew little about the transaction except her instructions to meet me for 40 pipes. She asked if I was paid, I say yes by PayPal this morning. She asked how much they were each. I told her $5. She immediately doubled it for a $10 retail price. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’m anxious to see how they do. She said that she thinks they will sell good and they will be reordering soon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To be continued...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-6298936422265930342020-01-21T17:35:00.000-08:002020-01-22T06:31:32.116-08:002020/01/21 - The Pipe Line <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh man... This new business venture has so far been a hell of an emotional roller-coaster ride, but I love the excitement. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With no responses from the new Craigslist ad that I placed Sunday, and no </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">responses from yesterday’s 5 friendly email offerings (as mentioned in yesterday’s post), I repeated the process this morning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On my 2nd mail. I got a hit! Wow! It was like the trill of catching a fish!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This reply was from an owner of 4 stores. He bought 40 of my Swivel-Lid pipes, 10 for each store. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’m now in FIVE stores!!!</span>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-24653273747359600142020-01-20T15:57:00.000-08:002020-01-20T16:48:47.802-08:002020/01/20- The Pipe Line<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I guess I’m betting my whole ego on pipes right now. It’s going to make or break me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I haven’t had a whole lot of interest in making pipes in more than a few days. Depression? Sure...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But this morning was the start of a new week and I decided to try something different. I located email addresses or “contact us” forms on 5 of the nearest dispensaries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I created a friendly email offering my pipes and sent it to the 5 dispensaries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No one had responded yet, but it’s giving me that small dose of hope that I need right now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I plan to do 5 more each day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Meanwhile no one has responded to my Craigslist ad. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After thought: As I reread this, I realized that it might sound like I’m depressed and seeking sympathy. Totally the opposite. I want to get you hooked on this ultimate success story! And like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, I started in my garage! </span>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-3701548698420388522020-01-19T08:17:00.001-08:002020-01-19T08:17:13.553-08:002020/01/19 - Take Two <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I just published a new ad on Craigslist looking for a new sales person:</span><br />
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<a href="https://denver.craigslist.org/sls/d/arvada-part-time-commission-based-sales/7058973004.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">https://denver.craigslist.org/sls/d/arvada-part-time-commission-based-sales/7058973004.html</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wish me luck!</span>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-90089315822915645752020-01-18T12:40:00.001-08:002020-01-18T12:48:27.592-08:002020/01/18 - Who let the dogs out!<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This morning, after feeding our two labs breakfast, Billie (our chocolate lab) went to the backyard door asking to be let out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Meanwhile I was doing my budgeting and reading the news.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">About 45 minutes later Trixie (our yellow lab) came out of the garage (she likes to take a short nap on the cold concrete after breakfast) also asking go out into the back yard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now that both dogs were outside, I started playing a game of chess.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Somewhere during my game I heard a distant barking. It sounded like my dogs, but way too far away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Curious... I opened the door to the back yard and started calling them, but they were gone!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had a tremendous wind storm last night that blew the covers off our outdoor grill and furniture, and also a small portion of my backyard fence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The dogs were gone. Luckily it was just turning to dawn, so there wasn’t any traffic in the street.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I finally found them, they were down the street, barking at someone’s Christmas blow-up Santa flapping in the wind. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I eventually got them back in the house, they were so excited from their adventure I actually had to separate them to calm them down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A taste of Freedom!</span>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-60392170817794296312020-01-18T12:03:00.002-08:002020-01-18T12:04:15.266-08:002020/01/17 - Can I get you anything? Something to drink maybe?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-60979333903918289772020-01-16T15:46:00.002-08:002020-01-16T16:01:48.812-08:002020/01/16 - Wouldn’t it be my luck?<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know I’m paranoid, but there were a couple of things that just didn’t add up about my sales-person.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">First of all her resume presented a retired woman from a pretty good career. Second, she wasn’t exactly poor. At our first meeting, she pulled up in a nice BWM.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But her story was that she was bored after her first year of retirement and looking for something to keep her busy. She was too good to be true, and I bought it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">During our initial interview she mentioned that she had a sister that was wheelchair ridden, but she could help with assembly, and that her husband was a hobbyist woodworker and could help with the woodworking. She was thinking really big-time mass-production. I was like, “Slow down, let’s start by seeing if your contact likes the pipes.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In retrospect, I think she was a little too interested in my construction process (in the guise of drainstorming improvement ideas) but that’s probably just my paranoia kicking in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I should have thought of this, but I’m such a trusting soul, or as some would say, a fool.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She took my 50 pipes home, she and her family examined them and said “We could make these pipes ourselves. Why do we need Steve?”.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Her 20 store connection (which probably did return her call) was her ticket to stealing my idea and running with it, destined to be the next billionaire weed-pipe magnet. 😎</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sound familiar?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This really didn’t happen, as far as I know, but wouldn’t it be my luck?</span>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-65703663027425665972020-01-16T07:29:00.001-08:002020-01-16T16:08:51.149-08:002020/01/13 - “The Pipe Line” <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I took a steep fall on Friday afternoon on my roller-coaster ride of a pipe business. I hate the feeling that this is just another one of ”Stevo’s Foleys.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But... It was a Friday afternoon, and that’s still a good thing in my life. It’s “dinners out“ with Val and sometimes friends, and a weekend of crafting together in the garage. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But things all came crashing down this Monday morning as I got back to my spiraling-down life adventure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the afternoon, I met my sales-person to pick up the 50 pipes that I had given her sell. I was disappointed that she gave up so easily but I’ve come to suspect that she was banking on her contact with the 20 stores, and that would have been quick and easy money for her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She also made a comment that the market is getting flooded with cheep Chinese versions of my pipe. I think that’s bullshit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But the day wasn’t a total loss. I visited the one store that is currently selling my pipes, and they ordered 30 more. And the manager was full of complements on my pipes and was impressed with my new packaging. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also tried something different with my store contact. Up until now I’ve been dealing with one on the budtenders. The problem with that is that I’m on a line of customers, and don’t want to hold up the line with my sales pitches. So my conversations have been short and unsatisfying.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I decided to try and call the manager directly. To my surprise he took my call and I was able to arrange a meeting with him the same day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He loves my pipes. He’s a kid in his 30’s and said that all of his father’s friends had a pipe like these at one time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He took his sweet time choosing which packages of 10, saying ‘Im looking for one I like best for myself!” And then added “And I already have one!”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway This gave me new hope and I plan to place another ad on Craigslist Sunday, looking for a new salesperson. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlnco3LhGG7rBS-77Znar4Iq64BXsOmaFqn0PwwzaxcokOa1TC4rVV69BJZm_CPdP8NW0_NfCMWdsjhd-FNCqEy_yhKeB9FwvxchMhHA9gwSmhKrSyUhWX3hfWkQx-HlmOlquHC41TXu2/s1600/07FFFC33-5C50-46AF-9F87-D9F16F10812B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlnco3LhGG7rBS-77Znar4Iq64BXsOmaFqn0PwwzaxcokOa1TC4rVV69BJZm_CPdP8NW0_NfCMWdsjhd-FNCqEy_yhKeB9FwvxchMhHA9gwSmhKrSyUhWX3hfWkQx-HlmOlquHC41TXu2/s640/07FFFC33-5C50-46AF-9F87-D9F16F10812B.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-55118262579687877122020-01-10T15:49:00.001-08:002020-01-10T16:11:26.880-08:002020/01/10 - A Rude Awakening from Pipe Dreaming<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wow... How my reality can change in a moment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hadn’t heard from my sales person all week. I didn’t want to bug her, so I waited until Friday afternoon to ask for a status report. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I texted her: “How did you make out this week?” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She replied “Not good. You may have the wrong person for this. I did not get my foot in a single door, I think it’s my age. They just are not opening the door for anyone over 40”. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I asked “How about you contact with the 20 stores?” She replied “Never got a response back by email or phone”.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Meanwhile I’ve been working on making pipes all week, high on a dream, thinking I’ve finally found a way to stop spiraling down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In my daily budgeting, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I even started counting pipes as if the were $5 bills, counting pipe inventory as money in the bank. What a jerk dreamer I can be...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So now I have a huge inventory of pipes, and maybe another folly. 14erWorld comes to mind. So does cookies, and Brazilian mini-pies. This is embarrassing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the very least it gave me hope. And hope is extremely addictive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I once heard of a man with a gambling addiction. He said it wasn’t the winning that gave him the “high”. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was the excitement from the moment the ball started rolling on the roulette wheel until it stopped. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That was the period of “hope”. And hope is extremely addictive. </span>Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106098567963551759.post-24788255403102179192020-01-06T16:48:00.003-08:002020-01-06T16:48:54.918-08:002020/01/06 - Spiraling Down<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘When I woke up this mornin, things were lookin thin. Seems like the bottom is the only place I’ve been.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">-John Prine </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I check my budget this mornin, it said “Steve you better start selling pipes, if not you only have 24 months to live in the style you are accustomed to”.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Darn... I thought those days were over, and I’d live my retirement out comfortably on my savings. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn’t plan on having to keep mom in assisted living. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was done working!!!!</span><br />
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<br />Steven Hoffmeyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126833332690313725noreply@blogger.com0