We are Living in Interesting Times. Are we Living in End Times?

 

Rule Britannia

Not owning a television leaves me free to cruise around YouTube and finding nuggets of information and opinions. For instance Samara Gill with opinions on Great Britain.

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With no YouTube channel I can find, an Australian, Michael Shoebridge, Director of Strategic Analysis Australia discussed Australia’s potential contribution to a Straits of Hormuz operation would be a “flagged fishing trawler”. 

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In a major surprise, Iran keeps on being Iran by messing with the Straight again.

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Lone Star Parson has posted about the doings in Ireland with farmers and truckers blocking the roads in protest of fuel taxes. Interestingly, this has spread to Northern Ireland. So far, peaceful protest excepting the Gardia.

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The Irish have an 800 year history of fighting oppressors. Alas, not a 800 year history of winning.  

“Wouldn’t be surprisin, if there be another risin”, said the man from the Daily Mail.

The farmers all across Europe are staging protests. Will the New World Order survive?

All of this is Trump’s fault. By standing tall and not backing down, he is showing the world you don’t have to take the status quo, IMO. He is an arrogant asshole, but he is our asshole, and the only president in my lifetime who does exactly what he says he will do. Oh, WSF, he hasn’t done this, or that, or finished this or that. My reply, no plan survives the first contact with the enemy, in this case the Swamp.

End Times?

True or click bait?

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Wolves 

Cracks are appearing in the econazi firewall with Polis term limited. Wolf introduction may be the most obvious.

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 2^nd Amendment is for all

We need all the allies we can get, IMO.

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Some of us need to recognize we are in this together and get over themselves.

A Gathering of Democrat Party True Believers

Hint: Cargo Cult

Car Story

 Safety Rims

Sales Managers like their little sales training games. One favorite is the, “Six Position Sale”.  Usually done early Saturday morning, each salesperson walks around the car pointing out features to mythical customers in front of the other salespeople. Some prize is given to the “winner” for the best presentation.

 Lori Saine, aka Sister Kink, is furiously competitive. She went from car sales to be a State Representative and a County Commissioner. I was her only competition at the Six Position competition. While I really didn’t give a shit about winning, I took delight in seeing Sister Kink’s reaction when I beat her.

Building value is a three step process, feature, benefit, and acceptance.  What it is, why it is a benefit, and the customer agreeing it matters.

The one I used that irritated Lori I used at the driver side front and went like this.

 “Folks, did you know this car has safety rims?”

 The customer indicates they don’t.

 “What safety rims will do is keep the tire on the rim if you get a flat. Say you hit some junk on the highway while you are doing 70 mph and the junk tears your tire open. That tire cannot come off the rim and jam up you steering. You will be able to safely pull off the road. Kind of important, don’t you agree?”

 Lori would seethe. I would give her a grin.

 In all the years I sold cars, no customer said they knew safety rims were required, by law, starting in 1932, on every vehicle sold in the United States.

 As always, YMMV

Election Fraud? What Election Fraud? Nothing to see here folks, just move along

 

Colorado Voter Purge

337,000 out of 4.3 million voters recently were “purged”. A big victory is being claimed by various folks. Bullshit! The names of 337,000 inactive (haven’t voted in several past elections) voters have been removed. We still have more registered voters than what census figures indicate we should have. Fraudulent registered voters haven’t been removed. With radical Democrats entrenched at all levels of government nothing will change, IMO.

 Some of Colorado’s 64 counties have cleaned up their registrations, notable El Paso (Colorado Springs). None of the solid blue counties have.

 Doubling Down Democrats

Every month it is the same irritant, a mail piece from the Democrat Party with a “ballot” asking me to vote on issues. Oh, soliciting donations.  I’ve replied with a polite, yes doubters, polite note, asking to be removed from their mailing list.

Their response? Today I received the same two mailings. One had my first and last name. The second had my first, middle, and last name.

In Colorado when you apply for a driver license, you are automatically registered to vote. You are asked if you wish to declare a party affiliation. Voting in Colorado is by mail. So, send out propaganda to each and all; much, like the way Jena Griswold runs election voting.

With a list of registered voters, sending mail is easy. For example, this AWFUL (Affluent White Female Urban Liberal), one of five or more candidates qualified for the primary ballot for CO-8.

Are more “male” Democrats growing facial air to show they are “tough”?

Back to driver licenses.

Yes, a citizenship question is asked, but it is not a requirement for obtaining a license. Under the Colorado Road and Community Safety Act (SB-251), Colorado issues driver’s licenses to residents regardless of immigration status or citizenship. The application determines if the applicant is a citizen or a non-citizen to issue the appropriate, distinct type of license.

Cynical me wonders how diligent clerks are with this question? The applicant marked the question. Do the clerks ever ask or just accept the application?

 Charlie Kirk Bullet Controversy

Portions of the internet and You Tube are talking about alleged discrepancies between the recovered fatal bullet and the recovered firearm. Mass conspiracy theories are out for public consumption.

So what to believe? I find the opinion of these two attorneys who defend people where firearms are involved interesting.

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My takeaway? Tain’t settled science.

Wolves

The saga continues.

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Has it ever occurred to the wolf advocates that taking a animal from the place it has survived and putting it into a completely new place might constitute animal cruelty?

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 War Story 

“The drinks are on the house, the change is from you last visit”, said the restaurant proprietor as he placed two large margaritas and money on our table. My wife and I had returned to our favorite Mexican restaurant after a few weeks avoiding the place.

Renton, WA late 1980’s had a small Mexican Restaurant, Rodriguez’s, on 3^rd Avenue that shared space with a bar. For those who know Renton, parking on 3^rd is scarce but there was ample parking towards 2^nd.  The bar entrance faced 2^nd Avenue near Wells Avenue, where we parked.

 My wife enjoyed margaritas. We would start our meal with margaritas and then order. One evening after finishing our meal, we left through the bar and passed a table with three drunks, one who reached out and grabbed my wife’s breast, saying, “Are those real?”

 A nearby chair broke over his head. His two companions quickly jumped up. The chair was still mostly intact so they each received a whack or two.

 After walked over to the bar and leaving money for the damages, we exited out to the car. Wife, of course, played the pissed off card. Secretly she was pleased. Good material to entertain her friends with, no doubt.

The Rodriguez family went on to build a big business with a large stand alone building in Renton and branches in the Seattle area.

 The drunks? Never heard a peep from Renton P.D., or saw the drunks around town.

As always, YMMV

Who Can I Annoy Today?

Living the Healthy Life Style

It turns out; I’ve been doing it all my life. It is good to know my choice is backed by “settled science”!

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Lesser of two evils

One adult son doesn’t vote. His point of view is the lesser of two evils is still evil. I don’t argue with him; he is an adult. I do share with him why I vote. He gives me the courtesy of listening.

Is his point of view shared by many who don’t vote?

In Colorado, if you have an interaction with the Department of Motor Vehicles (driver’s license, vehicle titles, license plates, etc.) you automatically are registered to vote. Likely, there is no rigorous check of citizenship status. You are asked if you want to declare a party affiliation. The numbers indicate most people don't. Some 48% of registered voters are unaffiliated. 

Tina Peters

I’ve avoided talking about her case because I have nothing constructive to add. I admire the woman’s courage and know in my heart she was singled out by the blue (P)regressives as an example. Shut up, serf, and do as you are told. Oppose us, and you will get hammered. A recent convoluted court decision makes little sense, IMO, but some of the mover and shaker comments show their thinking and opinion of the public in general.

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 Attorney General Phil Weiser, in a statement, called Peters’ original sentence fair and appropriate.

“Ms. Peters is in prison because of her own criminal conduct to prove false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 elections, and she has not shown any remorse for her actions,” Weiser said. “Whatever happens with her sentence, Tina Peters will always be a convicted felon who violated her duty as Mesa County clerk, put other lives at risk, and threatened our democracy. Nothing will remove that stain.”

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said Thursday she appreciated the court’s decision to reject Trump’s “unlawful attempt to pardon her” so that Peters faces accountability for the security breach.

 “Her actions have been repeatedly used to spread conspiracy theories, amplify falsehoods, and fuel dangerous election lies,” Griswold said in a statement. “Peters should not receive any special treatment as the District Court considers re-sentencing.”

Ms Griswold has her own problems.

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Cory Gaines nails it!

He is a Colorado conservative, Sterling residents, and a Junior College professor who deep dives into Colorado politics minutiae.

Part of his discussion of a Lakewood zoning fight caught, IMO, the state of our state.

Both of them involve our state being used as a lab or playground for wealthy liberal groups to push their policy, even if that policy doesn't fit with the wishes and values of those living here. They try to overwhelm the people's desires with floods of cash; this is a dynamic that, I believe, we can trace back to The Blue Print.**

The Blue Print was a plan hatched by Emperor Polis and three other wealthy friends to turn Colorado from red to blue some years ago.

Trust but Verify

Results, when you don’t. Sad, was one of the best used pickup lots in Northern Colorado.

Iran

Sitting with my neighbors solving all the problems of the world the actions of Iran’s military came up. Some readers of this blog have a lot of military experience. Perhaps you may choose to tear apart my theory.

 First, like all military’s, “what if” contingency plans are always being formulated. Second, almost all senior officers have been killed and command and control channels degraded. That leaves more junior officers; colonels, majors, maybe even captains in charge.  Are they following contingency plans?  Third, the “fuck it” factor. We are being hit and destroyed. Might as well shoot what we have while we still have it.

A couple of neighbors nodded, while the rest gave me blank stares.

Car Story

Chrysler 300

The 2004 Denver Car show got mentioned in comments in a previous blog posting.

 At the time my sister was a successful saleswoman at a Nissan Dealership in Loveland, CO. We decided to attend the car show together and I would drive. Our ride was a F-350 Dually Crew Cab with a miniature Schnauzer, Fraser,  in the back to guard the truck while we were gone.

 The new iteration of the Chrysler 300, introduced as a 2005 year model was on display. We looked closely, curious as to what a Detroit built Mercedes looked. My remark, “It looks like a reworked Checker Cab”, offended the representatives in the booth.

For personal reasons, Sisty needed a flex time job. That is nearly impossible when you sell cars at a dealership. She moved on to doing other automotive related jobs. Sad, she was a very good, totally professional, saleswoman. To be clear, I didn’t teach her. That is probably the reason she was successful. To this day, she has amazing people skills.

Sisty had to drag me away from the Morgan Aero 8 on display. That is one of a very few cars I lust for.

A bit of history you might not find elsewhere. Mercedes came up with a new cylinder head design they called “the wedge”. One problem, it was a direct copy of the Chrysler hemi. Chrysler sued and looked to win. Mercedes decided it was cheaper to buy Chrysler

As always, YMMV

 

Did the Communists Get Their Money's Worth?

 

No Kings

Many sources list the communist organizers and funders.

The American Media Maggots (h/t BZ) MSM gave this a lot of play. Out of morbid curiosity, I watched several YT videos from around the country. All seemed to have thing in common. Most participants were between thirty and say, sixty five. By my estimate, 95% were Caucasian.

During the last years of the Vietnam cluster fuck, I was attending Metropolitan State College, located in downtown Denver. My friends and I soon discovered participating in the protests was an excellent way to get laid. Protesting as foreplay/mating ritual, so to speak.

That raises the question, in my mind, what are the motivations of the No Kings protestors?

 Union Pacific #4014 Big Boy

Departed Cheyenne 3/29/2026 one hour+ late for the Western Tour. That is normal. I opted for Cheyenne to view it along with many people braving Wyoming wind. Cheyenne was the good choice as the tracks diverge just past I-25. To the left is the Harriman cutoff, a longer but lower elevation climb. Straight is the traditional route near the Ames Monument. The two merge at Dove Creek just before the Hermosa Tunnels.

 I like the Harriman cutoff as there are many good viewpoints with interesting scenery for photo ops. With a late start, the UP used the shorter route to make up some time. Of course, the UP halted a three mile long freight train just before the steamer left Cheyenne, blocking some of the better view points.

The train will return late next month and I will likely be near the Hermosa Tunnels.

Great except the weather

Wyoming as the #1 state for retiring? Who knew?

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Along with this trend, Colorado is bleeding talent and investment North to Wyoming. Lower taxes, less stifling regulations, saner politics and no Boulder mindset are some of the attractions.

So, WSF, when are you moving?  My age and medical needs are concerns. 

Blog Comments

Other bloggers opinions about comments solicited. I don’t want to censor anyone but have started deleting comments that clearly have nothing to do with anything in the blog. My impression is some commenters don’t read the blog; simply use it to spread their message. Am I wrong to at least get a kiss first? 

Car Story

The Isuzu VehiCROSS may be the silliest niche vehicle I ever sold. That sale proved my approach to selling cars was valid.

A couple came in and wanted to buy one. Their appearance made me dubious; obvious lower income blue collar types. OK, work the process. Once on paper my initial impression was confirmed. A mid 500 credit score and 5% down payment. They wanted to know how much down payment they needed. 1/3 I replied. 

During the whole process I remained courteous, respectful with no taint of condensation and did my “winner walk”. I always walked with the customer to their car while thanking them for coming in. That made for several sales over the years.

About four days later they returned with 1/3 down! With that down I could Ted Bundy  financed.

People’s financial decisions often baffled me. These people lived in a rented house. Their rent was, memory serves, about 35% of their net monthly income. The down payment they made on a vehicle was a down payment on a home, not a toy. Oh well. I’m not their mother.

The VehCROSS was, like all Isuzu products, a superior vehicle. It was not a serious vehicle.

 NOTE: The GM cars re-badged as Isuzu are crap. The re-badged Honda minivans, if any are still on the road, a rare bargain.

As Always, YMMV

The Big Boy is Coming Your Way

 

 

Union Pacific “Big Boy” 4014

Two tours this year. The West tour starts Sunday.

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The Eastern schedule is, at this point, tentative but will include Pennsylvania.

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The UP and the Norfolk Southern are holding merger talks which would form the first and only coast to coast railroad.

As is my habit (some call it an obsession) I will be somewhere along the tracks to watch it.

Rare Earths

A start to ending China’s near monopoly.

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Got Nothing

So many things are going on in the state and the world that my umbrage locker is overfull. Nothing I can write anything coherent about. You get another car story.

Car Story

Stuck, in a 4x4 1990’s Nissan Pickup way off the main highway while being my usual fool self.

The pickup came from our Grand Junction store inventory I decided to use after dropping off some vehicle I drove over from our Longmont store. My destination was Craig via Highway 13 when I decided to detour to a county road and take another route into Meeker. Boredom overrode judgment.

There was still snow on the ground and a few miles into the detour the county road was blocked. Rather than a sensible three point U turn on gravel I chose making a left into sagebrush covered with about a foot of snow. Mud underneath. No problem, 4x4, right? Turned out the 4x4 indicator on the dash showed 4x4 but the truck was in 2 wd. I was both stuck and fucked.

Did I mention I was in a cell phone dead area?

The next hour was spent crawling under the truck trying to get it into 4 wd. Finally, looked at the owners manual and  got smart enough to start checking fuses. Suddenly heard a welcome "clunk". From that point easily drove out. After changing clothes, the rest of the trip was uneventful.

Did I learn anything from the experience? Hell no, on to the next bad decision.

As always, YMMV

Didn't Pay Climate Tax

 Spring Equinox

81° on my balcony.  I turned on the apartment A/C this morning. This is the strangest winter I can remember. We need a minimum of precipitation to keep the soil microbes alive and I fear we haven’t had enough. Bad summer coming?

 Sick Propaganda

A high school classmate posted this on Facebook. I called him out.

This man is well educated, a world traveler from a Little Snake River ranching family. I am baffled by smart people getting sucked into lies. Of course, that would never happen to any of us, right?

David StLouis

pdrensotSo53t1c5u5354562a9mff65i2m1cuufc9uhti4gtm1hu3106l7i1 ·

I'm angry! Copied from a blog:

The United States, once the repository of truth and freedom preserving institutions, can betray all morality, all law, by intentionally attacking a girl’s school in Iran for children of Iranian Guards in order to demoralize the Iranian military force in hopes of reducing its ability to resist Israeli-American unprovoked aggression against the Iranian nation. Trump and Netanyahu opened their war by murdering 185 little girls.

Do governments so totally evil, so overflowing with self-righteousness and self-justification for their crimes against humanity as Washington and Israel have a right to exist? This is the question that is before us. Yet the entire world, including Putin and Xi, refuse to confront the question, preferring to defer to evil.

Comment

Frank White

Nice propaganda hit. Any creditable third party verification? Any likelihood that school was intended as a human shield ala Hamas in Gaza? Seems Irianian military forces are targeted directly

.Let us remember Iranians during the Iran/Iraq war (1980-1988) used their own children to clear mine fields. Yes, those children became martyrs, so that was a noble thing. (sarcasm intended)

Fence Me In

My late mother liked to joke, “Glamorous cowboy occupation. Stacking hay and fixing fences”. In my teens I stacked many tons of hay and fixed fences, made fences, and cursed fences. This technology changes the fixing fence part.

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The downside might be the satellites going dark.

 Nothing new to those who read this blog, joining the Army filled me with anticipation. Drive a tank. Shoot Artillery.  Infantry; mortars and such. Nope, MOS 122 (later 12B) Combat Engineers. Stack sandbags and string nasty barb wire. If you have never worked with concertina wire, count yourself lucky.

Lithium

In previous posts, I reported a huge lithium brine deposit on University of Wyoming trust land. Could this process work?

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 What we are talking about. 

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The evaluation made after the find was the amount of lithium in the brine wasn’t high enough for economical viable extraction. Maybe a new evaluation is in order?

Dream on, Jon Caldera

He presents a case for independent audits of elections and the Secretary of State operations.

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 IMO, the (P)regressives are only interested in winning and to hell with what the voters want.

 Are they going to be deterred from their higher calling, their God complex, by any laws?

 Way Back Story

Not a car story; a trip down memory lane and why some customers are best lost to your competition.

Larry Lambert  (Virtual Mirage) recently posted about exploring places in Utah. During the 1970’s that was part of  my sales/installation territory for a modular and pre-fab operation out of Ogden, Utah.

Long ago and far away long distance phone calls were expensive. Companies could enroll in a WATS line (Wide Area Telephone Service) with unlimited one line long distance phone calls, in or out, but not both. Patience, this has a point.

The sales rep for our competitor in the area was Max Phelps. We were friends. Max started his sales career hauling around coffins in a pickup to isolated Utah and Arizona towns and ranches selling direct to consumers. This was a common practice at the time, especially among Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints families. I remember him telling a story of being up in an oxygen tent beside a hospital bed showing his prospect a catalog while the grieving family filled the room. Motivated customer!

 Mr. Blivet, with access to a WATS line, was the purchasing agent for a coal mine in Utah, who wanted to buy a modular house for himself. Among other demands, he insisted no dimension could exceed 1/8” out of spec. I politely told him we couldn’t meet his requirement and suggested he contact Max’s company. With unlimited WATS access, he was able to torture others. I didn’t want the hassle.

Fast forward a few months when Max and I were having lunch in a Kanab restaurant. I waited until he took a bite then asked, “How are you getting along with Mr. Blivet?”.

After choking, and taking a gulp of water, Max freely expressed himself on the subject of Mr. Blivet, with a sidebar directed at me.

Blivet: Two pounds of horseshit in a one pound bag.

As always, YMMV

 

Stupid is, More if You are Rich

 

Don’t Fly into Terrain

2/13/2026 an Epic 100 with four aboard flew into the crest of Emerald Mountain near Steamboat Springs, CO. Why my interest? That airport is where I first learned to fly. The best analysis I’ve found is here. 

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There is a perfect good all weather airport just twelve miles to the west at Hayden. Low terrain, full ILS, and a wide well lighted runway that will accommodate nearly any commercial aircraft. Still, the pressure of rich people wanting to do “The Boat” has led to putting lipstick on a pig. The Steamboat strip was “upgraded” enough to handle DHC-6’s.

Add people with more money than capability buying airplanes they aren’t trained enough to operate properly (think doctors/lawyers and V Tail Bonanzas) and shit happens.

Wind is seldom a factor at that strip and few locals ever landed or took off to the North. Off the South end you immediately have 200’ of elevation and a right hand turn takes you down the river and lower terrain. Straight ahead is a 9,000’ mountain.

So, WSF, you never took chances as a pilot? I most certainly did. One difference; I was always solo.

ICE

Personally conflicted describes my feeling about the mass deportations underway. On one hand, I’m all in favor. My reservations are based on actions allowed now can be used for other purposes later. What happens if/when the (P)regressives take back the Presidency? Will I get a pallet next to the stove at the reeducation camp?

Our on-line left wing newspaper, self proclaimed as unbiased, covers part of the question.

Bias? Early in the article we read, “mostly of people who have no criminal record”.  Ignoring that entering the country illegally is a criminal offense. Liberal logic? 

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From the article.

Dionisio Castillo, 53, tearfully recalled how two ICE agents arrested him at his construction job site in January without asking him any personal questions. Had they asked, they would have known he has lived undocumented in the U.S. for 30 years, has three U.S. citizen children and no criminal history. He spent 48 days at the ICE detention facility in Aurora. His family had to pay a $2,500 bond for his release.

“I was standing next to my truck and I turned to the right and I saw that the officers were walking toward me,” said Castillo through an interpreter. “They handcuffed me with my hands behind my back.”

Been here 30 years and needs an interpreter?  Been here 30 years and did nothing to gain legal status? Sorry, no sympathy from me.

ICE +Voting

Twenty Blue States demanding ICE pledge to not have agents near voting stations? Why, do they expect illegals to show up and vote? 

Up Yours, Gun Grabbers

Concealed carry in Colorado.

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Every legislative session more gun grabber bills get passed. I’m sure I violate some law someway every time I leave my apartment.

To the North, Wyoming lowered the age for concealed carry to eighteen.

Iran

I’ve put variations of this on other blogs and FB as comments.

PDJT has stated his goal is to insure Iran never has a nuclear weapon. OK, we probably know where all the facilities are, bombed or not bombed. Send in Sea Bees and/or Army Combat Engineers, backed up by combat units to protect them as they work, and utterly destroy these facilities. Salt the earth, so to speak.

Once that is done, get the hell out and let Southwest  Asian people go back to slaughtering each other as they have for millenniums.

 Oh, WSF, that is too simplistic. OK, why?

Car Story

 Montana Molesters

Among the very best retail car sellers I ever worked with were five men from Kalispell, MT. All had worked at the same store in Kalispell. They drifted over to Washington State for larger opportunities.

 They quickly became monthly sales leaders and greatly upset the old guard. I welcomed them. The more successful the store became, the more opportunities were opened for me. Let them be salesman of the month! Let me continue to be “grossmonster”. 

(We were paid on gross profit. Bonuses were paid on number of sales regardless of gross profit. One guess as to which, over time, put pleasing numbers on the end of the month check?)

 Their personal lives were chaotic. The parade of girlfriends, wives, infidelities, and after hour adventures earned them the name, Montana Molesters. Not my problem, I wasn’t a manager.

As always, YMMV