Can't believe I made it!

I should have posted this 2 weeks ago, took that long to decompress and gather my thoughts. I had a GREAT fall season- started around the 2nd week of Sept. and didn't end until Christmas eve. I worked myself to exhaustion, didn't post anything on this forum for fear that it would be bad luck and "something" would happen. The last 2 winters were colder than Alaska in NJ ( literally). Business was virtually non existent. Really hurt the bottom line. My vans Tranny started slipping in 2nd gear around August- pretty bad. Just kept going, no time to worry or get fixed, just keep working till it blows. Spark plug backed out of head ao Harbour Freight engine in july, I must have not tightened it enough. Jammed it back in and cross threaded it in the 100 degree weather, I just jammed it in there and kept going, and it kept going ( still going while I wait 5 months for new head and gasket from China). Hit another deer in 270,000 mile 2001 Chevy van, grill smashed up, lights broken, no time to stop just keep going. And calls kept coming.... and I kept working. I almost cried as I headed home after my last job at the end of the day on 12/23. I CAN"T BELIEVE that I didn't have a blow trans or catastrophic machine failure. The weather cooperated too. No snow or ice storms, 50-60 degree weather in Nov & Dec. To top it all off My wife FINALLY got hired as a CPA after not being able to find good employment for the last 7 years. Great salary, full benefits. Still pretty busy in January! Unheard of! Was going to go to ICE but decided to stay home and get a new van and transfer all equipment, but that's another story. Feeling blessed and lucky. In the end you realize- everything you do, all the dotted i's and crossed t's. returned calls, prompt reliable service that you stand behind unequivocally, all the extra touches and front door mats cleaned for free, all the hard work and diligence makes the luck that easier to come you way.

Thats great El "D" your story is close to mine...my wife recently took a new career that is paying her what shes worth. My business has been strong and I think we are all headed for a great year! glad you're in the groove!

I dont call it luck...luck is temporary, I call it reputation!

That is just damn AWESOME dude!

Give 'em hell and ride the wave to the shore.

That's called "blessed" !!

Blessed for sure.

What a difference a year makes hey Diablo. Last year in your neck of the woods it snowed like crazy and you were hurting so good for you earned it.

What didnt you just get a new engine? I thought you got that three year replacement warranty from harbor freight?

Mo wrote:What a difference a year makes hey Diablo. Last year in your neck of the woods it snowed like crazy and you were hurting so good for you earned it.

What didnt you just get a new engine? I thought you got that three year replacement warranty from harbor freight?

I did get the warranty. Called them up, told about "spark plug blowing out of head" They couldn't get anyone to fix it due to parts coming from "slow boat from China" Literally!. Sent me a new engine. Just didn't have the time to switch heads and thought it better to just order parts instead of messing with new motor, now it's a fresh backup if needed. Ordered parts on Sept 1, 2015. They arrived in USA on 11/27/2015, still haven't been notified that they are on they way. They send you a postcard in the mail telling you that the parts are ready.

I would probably use the old one as the spare.

Looks like your getting a big storm upntherw Diablo the phone is going tonsie now. You probably need the rest anyways

nice dude, ya I would also probably just pop in the new motor and keep the other one on the side, fix it when parts come