I ain’t gonna do nothing this morning but try to write something.  We just finished a big 20 day paint job and I’ll be on a roof when the weather clears.  I’ve got to carve some time out to write this little memoir about career.  And secondly, my album #5  has already been written and I just need to find a quiet basement and some instruments.  Of course I know where that place is, and I’ve just got to get there.

As of last Friday my painting operations became organized.  Licensed, bonded and insured.  ”Licensed” in this case meaning a business license.  But in addition, my Home Improvement Contractors License application packet has been sent off to the state board of contractors.  It’s a lot of tape mostly.  I’ll probably get approved because I was willing to pay all the fees and jump the hoops, like anything else, and my credit is good, and the cops have never caught me.  These fees roll off like line items on a grocery list and my favorite one was paying a $100 processing fee and a $100 application fee along with a $5.50 convenience fee in order to acknowledge that I would like to exempt myself from carrying workers comp on myself.  Awesome.

If I were to have employees, I just don’t see how I could.  I’m sincerely trying to create some jobs.  But with the taxes I’d have to pay, social security, added liability, and the workers comp I’m required to carry which is rated in the assumption that we will be climbing 40 foot ladders (which would be correct) I can’t afford it.  Or I pay $20 to give a man $7 and work his ass off.  Hence, I’m going to have to 1099 my guys and call them subcontractors which is nice because that means cash for now.  But that’s not what it means for them in April.  Goodness gracious, and the world turns.

All that said, I got a new toy.  A Graco 390 commercial airless sprayer.   It has a flow rate of .47 gallons per minute and 3300 psi maximum working pressure.  I’m still a brush and roller guy, but like I said, I need to carve out some time.  A half gallon a minute is a good way to do that.

Anyways, I don’t know why I thought this would make an interesting blog but writing is cathartic and the rest of the morning is my little hole in time to be an artist while the baby sleeps, and the world turns, and my mustache will not give in.