Hello all, I know it has been a long time since I have written on my blog, and for that I apologize to all of you.  Today's blog is personal and is intended only for me to vent.  Those of you who wish to comment may, I would love to see how you all feel on this topic.

A good friend of mine came to me over the summer when his son wrecked his car and asked me to help him build a new one, as the son just turned 18 and wanted a muscle car.  I accepted this job on one condition.  That his son be present to help with the car and they cover all of the parts.  Now, doesn't seem to hard since it is summer and all right?  Wrong. 

The car in question is a 1984 Monte Carlo with T-Tops that someone dropped a 300 hp chevy 350 from a 73 Camaro Z-28 into and really had no idea what they were doing, and I had no idea what I was getting into.  In the end the son hardly ever showed up, and in my spare time I rebuilt the top half of the engine, (new heads, distributor, intake and exhaust manifolds, new carb, new fuel lines), new alternator, starter, fuel pump, serviced transmission, new universal joints for the drive shaft, pulled the real axle, new backing plates and brakes, new brake lines, new wiring harness (yes, I had to rewire the whole stupid car it was so butchered up), new timing chain and gears, and so on.  I think you get the point.  Finally at the end of October the car was almost done, all they had to do was put the power steering pump on, plug in the engine wiring and vacuum hoses and set the front nose back on the car and they wouldn't show up so I kicked the car out of here back to their house. 

Well, now it is March and the car sits at their garage still waiting for them to do the work, nothing has been completed since it left my place.  Only a lot of bitching that it's not done.  Tonight I received a call telling me I need to get the car done in the next 7 days for them.  Now hold on, wait one fucking minute here.  Since when do I have to do anything for them.  Keep in mind that this started as a favor to a friend and nothing more.  A favor conditioned upon them helping with it and they never wanted to show up.  In addition to this favor I also put brake lines on another car, fabricated a radiator support for a third, did multiple repairs to a fourth and helped the other son with his car, which was a fifth and also put a gas tank in his wife's car (are you counting, that makes six), all of which was free.  Oh yeah, the third one also got new wheel bearings put in it for free.  In addition, when the Monte Carlo left I gave them all the old socket and wrench sets I no longer use so they would have tools to work on it. 

Now keep in mind also that if they went to a shop to get all of these repairs done that they would have spent several thousands of dollars in labor, we all know that, which they got for free.  I bought specialized tools to do this car, I ran up my electric bill running an air compressor and 1000 watt halogen lights to work on this car.  I bought an engine lift for this car.  Torque wrenches and line wrenches and computer scanners (engine scanner) and many other unique and specialized tools to help them.  Now what do I get for my trouble.  Cussed out because my schedule of trying to open a small car lot and continuing to do my mortgage business is taking up to much of my time to help them. 

Well, what I say to this is quite simple.  Fuck off.  I know that seems harsh, but I am tired of people coming to me for help and then expecting it at their convenience regardless of my personal obligations.  I am tired of everyone else's crap coming down on me and expecting me to drop everything for them.  What I want to know is when did their problems become my responsibility?  When?

I have friends that I help at a moments notice, that is because they go out of their way to help me, they I am glad to help.  Those who take without giving can go to hell