Just wanted to share what is going on in my life. I've adapted really well to my prosthetic lower leg. I put it on in the morning and take it off at night and really don't notice it most of the time. I was walking w/o a cane or anything for a couple of weeks but hurt my lower back right before Christmas so I had to go back to using a walker. I pinched a nerve that made my good leg go numb and my knee would just fold up on me. The pain is mostly gone now and I am walking short distances without any assistance as leg gets stronger and the numbness fades. I'll get an opinion from my doctor in another couple of weeks but so far so good.
On the business side things are getting real exciting. I converted my sole proprietorship business to a Chapter S corporation. I am now majority stockholder in BigFoot Technical Services Inc. My wife and my apprentice are also stockholders. We are also the corporate officers.
My apprentice kept my business going when I wasn't able to, and giving him ownership is both a reward for that and an incentive. I have no doubts that he would do just as good a job without this, he is a man of good morals and character. Which is why I have no problem giving him some stock. Truthfully, I have never wanted to start a business with anyone else, but something feels good about this whole thing. (He and his wife were over for supper last Saturday for my 61st birthday - she is a sweet and very bright woman and has no problems with him throwing in with me.)
I have been working with my banker to get corporate account set up and borrow enough money to buy a Haas TM1-P CNC mill. He thinks I will have a bank draft to give to my Haas rep next Monday, and my rep says he can have a mill delivered in about two weeks. I am working with a handyman to make some changes to the shop - we have to cut away part of four trusses and reinforce them, and remove the garage door. A commercial service that does garage doors (we use them for our mini storage facility) is going to install a rollup type door, the door I have now that is on tracks just won't work.
Got all my federal stuff done, and I'm waiting to get my State tax stuff sent to me. I will have to charge sales tax on Indiana purchases but I won't have to pay sales tax for most business purchases.
I am going to hire a commercial service to do payroll and make all the proper tax payments so I can concentrate on what I do best.
My son is helping me get a website set up. He works for a site development company and is really good at what he does, and he understands what I'm doing and the image I want to convey so I think that will come out fine.
I'm blown away to think that I could have a CNC mill in my shop by the middle of February. The first thing I'm planning to run is some Lyman-sized die retention nut drivers.
A year ago I was in pain, had two holes in my foot, and was attached to a wound vac. I made a decision to do what it took to get better. My life works a lot better when I take charge and make decisions, even tough ones. I know that we can't control what happens to us sometimes, but when we can we need to man up and make the best decisions we can. I decided that instead of living forever on disability (guaranteed income and few risks) and sucking on the sympathy bottle I'm going to stand tall and fulfill my dreams of owning my own shop. I may fail, but it won't be from not trying.
By the way, I don't consider myself handicapped, my brain still works just fine.
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