0 Thank you to 200,000 readers

McCrabby has spent more than three years writing, although not often in the past 12 months..  Focusing on job-search topics early on, he later mixed in some satire, a little righteous indignation, and some pet peeves...  As he progressed, and slowed down on the job-search workshops and assistance, and the majority of posts here moved to the satire and righteous indignation arena.

Thanks for reading.  After starting a new company in 2012, the time to write blog posts was shifted mostly to making the new company work.  You can view that company at www.curtisfunding.com, or you can look at us on LinkedIn COMPANY.  We would appreciate it if you would "FOLLOW" us on LinkedIn, as it shows our young company as more established.   If 200,000 readers were to follow Curtis Funding Group, we'd look really big...

So, this is simply a big THANK YOU from McCrabby.  He appreciates the readership more than you know.  This blog is therapy for McCrabby, and he's hoping you have found something that makes you think, or makes you laugh, or makes you happy or mad, or sad.  He hopes you'll go back and look around again, as there is some pride in some of the topics tackled.

We hope job-seekers found some counsel to be meaningful, and McCrabby continues to provide that to those who seek it.  Just email McCrabby and he WILL respond.

If you have an idea that you'd like to see explored, leave a comment here, or email McCrabby and he'll take a look.

Writing is a passion, but so is a successful business, so that's been the focus.  But, there is some time available, so let's keep going together.  Let's keep growing together.  Share what makes you mad, sad, glad, bad, or crabby.  McCrabby will try to do the same.

You can "join this site") so we can see your picture. And follow us on 

Twitter (@curtmacrae), where we don't post much, but we'd love to see you. 

 

Detail: Thank you to 200,000 readers

0 McCrabby quits ranting... writing

This is not quite the end, but close.  This blog will become much less active, starting today.  For those that have not "gotten" the point, or who have not agreed with, or liked, McCrabby's rants, it seems like Thanksgiving is a good time to wrap it up. You'll have one more thing to be thankful for.

McCrabby has written more than 175 posts over the past two years, approximately one every four days, has gotten 100,000+ readers during that time, and had some fun.  He attempted to help job-seekers, but expanded into common sense issues, or lack-of-common-sense, and it's been fun to read the comments from readers, to get some feedback, to help a few out-of-work folks and basically have a license to write about whatever seemed worthy of writing.







But, while you may see an occasional post in the future, the regularity will be gone, and there are several reasons:

1. While the ideas never seem to run out, we've hit most of the job-search ideas that we wanted to hit, and we don't want to turn this into rants, alone.  We're still willing to help job-searchers, and we even helped a reader this week with her resume and cover letter, but there isn't a lot more to hit (so go back and read some of the old posts).
2. Regarding the rants, it's been interesting how readers interpret satire.  McCrabby has been "accused" of being a left-wing, liberal spendthrift,who shouldn't write about politics, and he's been "accused" of being right-wing, tea-party militia, who shouldn't write about politics.  There is a hint of satisfaction that the opinions are that varied.
3. While writing about the Detroit Police Department, Congressional wrong-doings, questionable legal maneuvering, and other non-common-sense topics is interesting and fun (sometimes), these subjects can become depressing, or at least frustrating.  Only so much tongue-in-cheek can be written about greed, power, and stupidity before the reality of our situation hits home.
4. It's time to quit spending time writing for 150-250 readers per day.  It's fun to have an impact, or to at least know that people are reading what you write, but we had hoped to reach many more people, and a non-sponsored blog isn't the best vehicle for reaching thousands of people.  
5. Upsetting people who don't understand satire upsets this writer, as well.  We don't want to upset people; we just wanted to help a little, and maybe make people think a little, and then maybe give them a smile.  We did some of that, but probably not enough.
6. There is no pay for this effort.  If a newspaper, or some other paying source would like to pick up a column, and offer some compensation for the effort, you'll see more writing.  Short of that happening, there won't be much more.  It takes time to write, and while it is something this writer, and every writer I know, finds enjoyable, and therapeutic, he'll write more privately in the future.

So, if you have been a regular reader, thank you.  If you have been an occasional reader, thank you, too.  If this is the first thing you've ever read here, go back and see some older stuff; we think some of it is pretty good.  And, if you have an idea for something that NEEDS to be written, and you want someone to write it, let us know.

 

Thank you to all.

Detail: McCrabby quits ranting... writing

0 Entrepreneurship - McCrabby starts a new company

This is an updated post:  The original post was July 12, but this update (October 10) is to let you know that the new company has been open for three months.  Updates in August, after four weeks of operation, are in red.  Updates for October 10, are in BLUE..

This blog has dealt with job-searching, and has addressed the advantages and disadvantages of having your own business.  While that approach is certainly not for everyone, McCrabby has decided it is definitely for him.


This month (starting in July), a new company has begun operations.  Curtis Funding Group, LLC will be providing equipment leasing and financing services for commercial and municipal clients, much as we have done for the past 20 years.  

This new organization allows significant costs to be cut, and it lets me deal directly with each client from start to finish on each transaction.  With reduced costs, I can pass on lower rates to my clients and provide more personal attention to each transaction, while managing the entire process more closely.  

I have added two strong individuals to partner with me in this company, and they will be bringing their equipment leasing business (and each has 10-20 years of equipment leasing experience) to Curtis Funding Group, LLC.  It is very exciting, and very gratifying to bring talented, experienced people to this new endeavor.  

We will be open to bringing in others, and are offering a rich, creative, and aggressive commission schedule to those that partner with us.

This is an exciting change and one we look forward to.  While my relationship with another leasing company the past two years has been positive, and while I have warm feelings for the people involved there, the time has come to run an operation again, and to expand my business at lower costs.

While we anticipated that we may not get every funding source we wanted, due to being brand new, it has been very rewarding to attain a relationship with virtually every funding source we have approached (except one).  

And, we have added new funding sources that we have never worked with in the past.  They give us access to some funding options we haven't had in the past.  We have every niche we wanted covered.  

It took about one month to put all procedures in place, so our business actually began processing equipment financing agreements about August 1.  And, this month, we have rejoined NAELB (National Association of Equipment Lease Brokers), where we are a "MASTER BROKER," and we have aligned with CoreLogic, which allows us to pull credits from all three credit bureaus.

We wrote more business in September than in any single month the past three years.  Business is picking up, our costs are reduced, and our capabilities have been enhanced.  Everything is in place to break records in future months.  If you'd like to know more, give us a call.

And, a special request:  Next time you're on LinkedIn, please check out Curtis Funding Group in the "COMPANIES" section, and just click to follow us.  As a new company, we don't have followers yet, and we'd like to see some.  Thank you, in advance.

After announcing our opening in LinkedIn, we had underwriters calling to seek agreements to do business with us; we actually had to turn down a few of them.

A strong and ethical past history of leasing has put us in a good position to gain the relationships we need to be successful.  Now, with our sources in place, and our website being operational (www.curtisfunding.com), our contracts and marketing materials all created, we are ready to process business.  

Incurring reduced costs, resulting in lower rates from reputable and flexible underwriting partners, is putting Curtis Funding Group into a strong position to help more customers, at more competitive rates, with better support and follow through.  

If you know any company or municipality or non-profit that needs equipment, and an economical way to finance it, have them call Curtis Funding Group.  If you want to know more, call 248.238.7214 and ask for Curt.  

Thanks for reading here this past two years.  And, thanks to all the clients that have worked with me the past 20 years.  

__________________________________
How 'bout following us on Twitter, or signing up here..    We'd love to see you..  We only have 80 folks, and we'd love to get to a couple hundred (sign up on the left, where it says "join this site") so we can see your picture on this site.  And follow us on twitter (@curtmacrae), where we don't post much, but we'd love to see you there. 

Detail: Entrepreneurship - McCrabby starts a new company

0 McCrabby's new company hits newspaper & internet

Now that Curtis Funding Group has been open for a month, attention has been increased and focused on this new, "no surprises" equipment leasing & financing company.  

Two events happened recently.  The first occurred when the Branch County Area Chamber of Commerce recognized Curtis Funding Group (below) with a special "ribbon cutting" ceremony, where the company was introduced to the local community, 

and the second event is that the new company website is up, and ready to view, at www.curtisfunding.com.  

Please take a look at our story, and visit our website.  If you know anyone in a company or municipal environment, who needs equipment, please let them know we are their "no surprises" solution to financing it.

Thank you for reading.

248.238.7214

cmac@curtisfunding.com

Detail: McCrabby's new company hits newspaper & internet

0 Oprah & McCrabby agree - take a weekend to relax here.

Oprah & McCrabby agree: 

take a day or two to relax here

Have you been searching for work for the past few months, a year, two, or more??  Sometimes you have to take a moment for you, for your spouse, for your mental health.  


McCrabby did that last weekend, staying at his favorite Bed & Breakfast location with Mrs. M.  It was so nice (our sixth stay there) that McCrabby thought he should share this gem with readers.


The Inn is owned by Kathy and Tom VanDaff, who are delightful people to get to know, and who will take your reservation personally, and tend to all or your needs.  They have owned the Inn (and completely refurbished it) since 1987.

This inn is a terrific get-away, an unbelievable place to hold  a summer wedding (McCrabby's daughter was married here), and the Inn has been featured on Oprah.   While the Oprah segment seems lost, here is a video story on Greencrest, that references Oprah -- CLICK VIDEO below).  

It is, without question, the nicest bed & breakfast McCrabby and Mrs. M have ever stayed in.  

In fact, the McCrabbys are planning to Inn-sit for Kathy and Tom sometime this summer (we'll post something here), so if you'd like to visit when McCrabby is there, and when Mrs. M is fixing breakfast (worth the trip just for her cooking), let us know.  We'd love the company.

Now, before McCrabby gives you the history, here's a deal:  if you want to visit Greencrest Manor, drop McCrabby's name for a ten per cent discount off your room.  

Now, the history:  Greencrest Manor was constructed, in the 1930's, as the private home for one of Battle Creek's most prominent residents. George R. Burt, son of Michigan lumber baron Wellington R. Burt, who came to Battle Creek to pursue a business career. He and his new wife, Nellie Zinn from Lafayette, Indiana, vowed to build a home on their favorite picnic spot, overlooking St. Mary's Lake.

In the course of purchasing the property, Burt passed away. His widow fulfilled their dream by completing the structure in the authentic French-Normandy style and surrounding it with extensive formal gardens.

In the early 1960s, the estate was purchased by the Catholic Church and for nearly 20 years it was used as a seminary. The estate was then sold, and the subsequent series of owners allowed the property to fall into disrepair.

In 1987 the estate was purchased by its present owners, Tom and Kathy VanDaff, who dedicated themselves to returning the property to its former glory. Two years of careful renovations followed. At last, in the spring of 1989, the property proudly reopened in its current role as a bed and breakfast.

Give yourself a break..   This place will renew you.

_______________________________________

McCrabby

How 'bout following us on Twitter, or signing up here..    We'd love to see you..

Don't forget to sign up on the left or here (where it says "join this site") 

so we can see your picture on this site.  And follow us on twitter (@curtmacrae), where we don't post much, but we'd love to see you there.  McCrabby has gotten hacked twice on Facebook, so we have left that site for good.  Sorry... 

Detail: Oprah & McCrabby agree - take a weekend to relax here.

0 McCrabby is moving to "the pulse of Michigan"

Wednesday, November 9, is moving day.  In case you don't know it yet, McCrabby is moving (physically) to a new location.  Look up Coldwater Michigan on the map (they say it's the pulse of Michigan, because of it's geographic location on the Michigan mitten).


We'll be gone for a few days from this site - busy packing, loading, moving, and setting up a new office.  But, we'll be back.  Please keep reading, join us with your picture (to the left), and stay in touch with us at our new office, which will be in the Branch County Area Chamber of Commerce building (our new address is:  

• Curt MacRae
• Human Transitions, LLC, or National Equipment Leasing Corp.
• 20 Division St.
• Coldwater, MI 49036
• 248.238.7214 (734.775.2500 - cell) 

Please make a note.   


Our phone numbers will stay the same, for now.

Our new offices are 50 yards south of the US-12 - US-27
main intersection in downtown Coldwater

Please stay with us.  We'll still write (join us HERE), we'll continue to do equipment leasing HERE), we'll still do some short-burst consulting (HERE) and workshops (HERE); we'll just be doing them from our new world headquarters in Coldwater.  


We'll still be working in the Detroit area quite often, so we'll still be meeting with our current customers; we'll just have to plan it a little more carefully.


And, if you know anyone that could use great service, creative ideas, and a strong advocate for their business, have them call 248.238.7214.


Thanks for reading and thanks, in advance, for sticking with us.  
______________________________________

Wanna connect??   

Don't forget to sign up on the left or here (where it says "join this site") so we can see 


your picture on this site.  And follow us on twitter (@curtmacrae), where we don't post 


much, but we'd love to see you there, or on Facebook (McCrabby Rants).

Detail: McCrabby is moving to "the pulse of Michigan"

0 McCrabby -- Thanks to friends

This will be short:  


Thank you.


Than you to all who helped, and to all those who attended, the moving sale that was held over the weekend.  A lot of "stuff" was sold, and the response was greatly appreciated, as we begin our plans to make a major change in our lives.


While our new base of operations will be two hours away, starting November 10, we cherish the personal and business friends we have and we want to maintain those relationships forever.  


We will continue to be in the Detroit geography often, so for those there, let's continue to meet and share.  We will also continue to write, and be available via blog, email, phone, etc., so please continue to contact us for business, for socializing or for sharing.  


Once our plans are finalized, we will publish any changes to our contact information.  In the meantime, it's business as usual.


Thanks again, to all.

______________________________________ 

Wanna connect??   

Don't forget to sign up on the left or here (where it says "join this site") so we can see your picture on this site.  And follow us on twitter (@curtmacrae), where we don't post much, but we'd love to see you there, or on Facebook (McCrabby Rants).

See all contact info HERE 

Detail: McCrabby -- Thanks to friends

0 You can hire McCrabby - two hours per week

TO: Readers


Thank you for reading this blog.  


On a personal note, we have launched a new, low-cost consulting program, where we allocate eight hours/month, per client, to be used as needed.  If you can refer us, we would greatly appreciate it.  Our information and announcement is below, or you can see all information. in detail, at our newly revamped website (HUMAN TRANSITIONS), with references.

Thank you.

__________________________________________

August, 2011

This is new, and we can do this anywhere in the country, or even out of the country.  In August of 2011, we are announcing a new idea that will allow us to work with more clients, perform more services, and do it with economy. 


While we still do equipment leasing, and will continue to do so, and while we still do some GET TO WORKshops (go to website: www.humantransitions.com), many people have asked for some short-term assistance with some quick marketing pieces, or communications pieces, or even to write blog articles for them.


To address that need, we considered that most companies and municipalities find themselves sometimes lacking in some of the resource they require to operate at their most efficient levels. But, hiring additional staff, or seeking out expertise for full time consulting assignments is expensive and often incurs extra hours of non-productive time. Human Transitions’ new offering of “Consulting in Short Bursts” provides assistance without committing to full time staff, or long term consulting contracts.


Our solution is to provide eight hours a month of help for your company or your municipality. And, those eight hours can be used monthly, or saved up for a special project. You can use four hours this month, two hours next month, and 18 hours the following month. Or, you may have a short term project you couldn’t get to, and use 20 hours this month, but zero for the next two or three months. You decide, you schedule, you allocate.


And, you don’t have a person on payroll, sitting around waiting for a project. You don’t pay benefits, or FICA.  You pay for only what you need, and for what pays dividends back to you. You have a quality, experienced person at your disposal, to run with short-term projects that you designate. And, maybe some of those small projects that you never get around to, can now be completed.


The cost? We set up a six-month or one-year contract. You pay quarterly, in advance, and you’ll get a statement each month of the hours used, and the deliverables provided. For $85 / per hour ($680 / month), we’ll be on call. We work for you.


And, if you need a little more help, buy two units, and get 16 hours per month, or three. Flexibility is key and we provide that flexibility.


Initially, we are offering eleven units of this proposal, which will allow coverage to be flexible, while providing efficient service and quick response. As we expand this program, caution will be exercised to ensure that future clients will not infringe upon the responsiveness we provide to current clients.


Please call Curt MacRae at 248.238.7214, for more information or to request support.   See next page for more description, or ask us to send it to you.

Curt MacRae

____________________________________________

 Livonia, MI  * 248.238.7214 * FAX 248.247.2986 * www.humantransitions.com

____________________________________________________________________________________

Detail: You can hire McCrabby - two hours per week

0 A personal story: The stone that cancelled the cruise

The Stone...

McCrabby usually writes in third-person.  This one is written in first person, because it's a personal story, promised to readers, and detailing an account of a frustrating ordeal that should have been a week of fun.  It didn't turn out that way.

It began on Sunday morning, April 17, at about 9:15 a.m.– the twinge...
We were planning, on Sunday night, to settle in early, get a good night’s sleep, awake Monday morning at 3:30 a.m., head to the airport by 5:00 for a 7:05 flight to Miami. Then, a short shuttle to the Royal Caribbean Cruise ship, Majesty of the Seas, followed by a week of cruising, relaxation, sun, warmth, entertainment, food, and did we mention, relaxation?

The twinge came, while reading the Sunday morning paper, before church. It began as just a small, dulling pain in my left side; nothing serious. But we were leaving on a cruise tomorrow, and as a past-kidney-stone patient, my radar went up. Was it a stone? Or, maybe just a pulled muscle – we’ve been working out a lot and I was testing new muscles. I mentioned it to Mrs. McCrabby.

By noon the pain was almost gone; so even if it turned out to be a kidney stone, they sometimes stay dormant for weeks, right?? I could make this cruise. Our kids and kid-in-law had paid for the cruise, the airfare, the gratuities, the transfers, everything. They knew, after the last 3-4 years we’ve had, we wouldn’t be taking any vacations for awhile. We have great kids... We also had a non-refundable cruise (no insurance).

About 6 p.m. the pain came back. It still wasn’t huge, but it wasn’t to be ignored. Should we go to the hospital? I know how painful these can be, but other people have them floating around for weeks without real problems, so we figured we’d make the best of it and we’d be goin’ cruisin’.

At 11 p.m. we were at the emergency room. After waiting for an hour, I was given a CAT SCAN and it was announced that I was the proud owner of a 7-mm kidney stone –not as big as last time, but too big to pass. There would be morphine tonight, and a surgical procedure in the morning, not a flight.


The entire hospital staff began to learn of our cruise plans, and by morning even the doctor was expediting things to see if we could have surgery and still make the cruise at it’s first port. I was operated on at 9:45 a.m. and IF EVERYTHING went perfectly, we might be able to fly out Tuesday morning to Key West (first port for the cruise). Thankfully, we didn’t book that and pay the extra... yet.


Monday afternoon, I was sent home from the hospital to recover at home. The pain was intense, and we weren’t optimistic that we’d fly Tuesday, but we’d test those waters in the a.m.
By 6 p.m., things didn’t seem to be working quite right. They said they’re be some blood for a couple days, but this seemed like too much. By 8 p.m., a call to my surgeon resulted in the response of "just keep drinking; sometimes these procedures take some time." So, I kept drinking.


By 11 p.m., it was apparent that things weren’t going according to schedule, and neither was I.

Lots of liquid was going in but nothing was coming out, except blood. I toughed it out because I knew how painful kidney stones can be and the doctor said keep drinking. If other people could get through this, so could I. At 1:30 a.m., the pain was debilitating, excruciating, and more intense, by far, than anything I had ever gone through before. I have ripped ligaments in my ankle, taken twelve stitches in a finger that was almost severed, and had teeth kicked out in a kids’ hockey game, by a skate. This was worse. We headed back to the E.R.

Upon admittance this time (two ER visits in two days!!), I got to meet Amy, who calls herself the P-nurse (draw your own conclusions). Within 30 seconds of meeting Amy, she was doing things I had never had done. In fact, it raised a question, "who was the first doctor to suggest using a catheter, and what was the response of the first test patient when informed of this new idea for a procedure?" 


Amy explained to me that most people feel an urge to "pee" (direct from the P-nurse) when they have 200 milliliters of liquid in their bladder. When Amy got done with me, she had emptied 1,400.


Later, when my son asked what would be the maximum someone could hold, I answered "It appears to be 1,400."

I'd like to point out here that Amy started with the large catheter, and then changed (yes, we got to do this twice) to the XL catheter, which I am convinced was designed with NBA players, or race horses, in mind. While I was proud to be in the XL category, it was an uncomfortable position. We’ll leave it at that.


Upon Amy’s completed effort, I was checked into my second hospital room in two nights, and kept "under observation" for the rest of Monday night and through Wednesday afternoon; we obviously weren’t goin’ cruisin’. Three hours of sleep in the past 48 hours, and missing our non-refundable cruise, did not have me in the best of spirits. Damn...


The ongoing schedule would include another hospital visit two days later, to finally get that stone blasted by sonar (one more anesthetic, and one more "procedure" ), and then a week of trying not to mess anything up before my doctor would remove the stent, the following Friday. Two days later, I was back on the racquetball court, feeling better, and feeling good to be able to "go" about doing normal things again, finally.


Our trip?  Well, I'd like to report that American Airlines provided us vouchers for our full airfares, usable any time in the next year; that was very nice.  We’re still talking with Royal Caribbean about whether they can/will do more for us; they did allow us a 50% credit on a future cruise -- I always wonder when a company representative makes a statement like, "We CAN’T do anything else for you." REALLY? You CAN’T? There is NO WAY you can help us? NONE? Your company has NO WAY to show humanity to a prospective customer?   We'll let our readers know if they do more.


Even if they decide to do more, do I dare get on a ship?  What if my ailment would have happened one day later?  And, do I have the money to pay for another cruise? I still have stones in my kidneys, and when will those drop?


Anyone know the best kind of trip insurance to get???


Next post? My roommates in the hospital – they were interesting...


And, later?  The hospital staff -- angels??  Read that one HERE



McCrabby

 

　

NOTE:  Wanna see more McCrabby or connect in other areas??    

See all contact info HERE

And, for the weekend, this is how we IMAGINED the cruise went, once we couldn't go...  Watch both videos to get the full picture....

Detail: A personal story: The stone that cancelled the cruise