Assorted thoughts

In the nine or ten days since my last post, I've gone to a couple of job sites with the new operation, done some revenue work (although I haven't billed for it--yet), completed a couple of smaller jobs (for which I HAVE been paid), and wondered how I'm going to find enough gumption to really chase after enough work to keep me busy and be profitable.

I needed a mental break, after the shop closed, and still find need for one, but don't have the money for an extended vacation. I must get some work and do it.

I had need of some tools and supplies for a job I'm doing tomorrow, so I rode the Dummy to Lowe's. My route to the nearest Lowe's store goes south on Lyndon Lane, crossing Shelbyville Road, east on Nottingham Parkway through the City of Hurstbourne (in defiance against the "no through traffic" signs, figuring that a bicycle guy isn't the main target of the objection). As I rode east on Nottingham Parkway, I noticed a something ahead. As I neared this something, I wondered whether it was a cyclist pulling a child trailer, or a recumbent trike rider, or just what. I got closer, and realized that it was a young teenager driving a riding lawn mower, as if for transportation. She had traveled BLOCKS from where I first saw her, and didn't seem to be riding to get the mower to her next lawn-mowing gig.

I had to wonder what she thought when I passed her--on my bicycle. If she was using the mower for transportation, I thought, she was being ridiculously lazy. There was no weed whacker in evidence to suggest that she was mowing lawns for teenager money. I wonder what her parents think of her use of the gas and mower? Do they encourage such waste of resources (well, it IS Hurstbourne, after all...).

One of the items I bought was an extension pole for use with either a paint roller or (as I plan to use it tomorrow) a scrub brush (I'm cleaning some mildew off some siding for a customer). It's about six feet long. I used bungee cords to secure it to the deck of the Big Dummy, then went to the Contractors' Sales area to snag a flag and some twine to make the end of the pole a bit more visible for following road users. I'm sure I got some folks wondering what I was doing as they saw me working my way home.