having a cruddy day...rant

[chewie]

this morning i got a call, a gallery who had my artwork had been acting shady lately, i pulled everything out and got my final check--which has now bounced. i called the owner, said hey! this check bounced! she says very simply, oh yeah, i know. like she was telling a child the ice cream was all gone, just an 'oh well' tone.

then half hour after that, the local extention office calls, if we dont' leave our goats at the fair for all 3 days, we'll be banned for next year. now, these are dairy animals, plus the 'watchmen' are all teenage boys who run all night, not watch livestock. i've had my goats pestered so badly that we now dont' even use their stalls, but keep them in the trailer, not to mention i can actually SEE the CL (goat disease) on a few of the other herds, so i refuse to let mine near them. i told them this, and oh gee, too bad. rules stand. my kids are very upset over this, as the goat show was something they liked. the 'officials' want them to stay simply to have a draw (free petting zoo) so ppl come. mostly its kids who's parents want them out of their hair for the day, and last year i had to save my goats from a pitchfork, junk food, gates being opened, and more.

wow, all this before noon too. good day to build fence i guess.

[Timberline]

I hope your day gets better! I understand how you and your kids would be upset, but that doesn't sound like a safe place for your goats at all.

I never show my animals. When I was raising Dexters, everyone wanted us to take them to the annual show and sale. For more than 10 years, I never did, I think it's too stressful, disease risk, etc. My number one priority with my Dexters was their well being, and in my opinion, the stress and risk involved with showing was not in their best interest.

When I was a kid and had animals in 4-H, they were sold at the fair. They did not come back home and risk bringing a problem back into the herd. Maybe your kids could do something like that.

[farmerscotty]

"if you never had bad, you never know how good good really is"

something I live by alot........and it is soo true

[Kathleen in WI]

Sorry you are having a lousy day. So what does the gallery owner plan to do about the bounced check? I think you can report that to the police, can't you? maybe that will get her to pay you.

I don't blame you about the goats either. That sounds like a bad situation. I've never been fond of having kids mess with my animals unless I know how the kids were raised (which sounds snooty, I know). So many kids aren't taught how to respect animals. Drives me nuts to see kids picking up puppies by the neck or something like that.

Between the kids and the obvious signs of illness, there is no way I'd want my animals there.

Hope things get resolved for you.

[hippygirl]

Sorry about your day...I hope it ends better than it began for you.

About the check...go down to the courthouse and find out what the requirements are for filing bad check charges.

Here, it used to be you had to send them a certified letter and then wait 10 days after delivery before filing.

[sweetbabyjane]

Hi chewie,
If the gallery's bank account is still open, call the bank every day and see if the funds are there. When they are there, get to their bank pronto and cash the check, then have no more to do with them.

I had to do this with a couple of customers awhile back, but I finally got my money.

Good luck,
SBJ

[Minelson]

I'm sorry you are having a bad day

[ronbre]

well you wouldn't leave your kids in that situation..so don't leave your goats there..pull them out

[AR Transplant]

bummer about your day,

about the goats, who would expose their goats to that kind of madness?

about the bounced check, don't let it pass, keep at it and if you have to contact the prosecuting attorney. These people just can't keep doing it to honest people.

remember, tomorrow will be better!

[Win07_351]

Knowingly writing a bad check is the same as stealing.

[Mel-]

here, you used to be able to contact the district attorneys office for a form to fill out that would then be sent to the offender. if it wasn't made good then they would prosecute. didn't cost anything to send the form.

been 10 years since we sold our business so things may have changed but it might pay to call and find out.

[chewie]

thanks you guys! my bank is working with me, said they'd try it once more, but after calling her bank, (2 hours away), they gave me no hopes that it will be good. they said to be sure i have nothing else there. i think they are going to close her down soon.

i am going to keep pursuing the check/gallery. i called her again this evening and said i need my money now. she fully knows it will not go thru, and is very 'oh well' about it all. ''just a bad time right now for me" is all she keeps saying. yeah lady, me too!

i did mention about that this was stealing, and more of the same 'oh, gosh, i never meant for things to get this way' but in a tone that says she well knew what she did by lying/writing the bad check.

i am not sure what steps i can take to go after my cash, its not alot but i'd sure like to have it. i know another who she owes a huge amt to, so this is not looking good, except that i got the rest of my paintings out before she got them too.

and i called the state 4H and asked them if this situation is state issued or local. its local, and i asked a few more questions and then he asked me why/what was going on and i told him of the issues. he's going to look into it. we can show this year, but next year we'll still prolly be banned. my kids are kinda bummed, but not stressing out the poor goats dont' hurt my feelings any, we'll switch to doing mroe static exhibits and the dogs.

so i've done what i can, and i guess the rest will just have to sort itself out.

on a good note, my kids knew i had this rotten day, and after i got home from town-chores, they made supper, had the house picked up and even made me cookies! so all is not lost!

[tamilee]

Originally Posted by chewie

this morning i got a call, a gallery who had my artwork had been acting shady lately, i pulled everything out and got my final check--which has now bounced. i called the owner, said hey! this check bounced! she says very simply, oh yeah, i know. like she was telling a child the ice cream was all gone, just an 'oh well' tone.

I've been there. Dh and I have been ripped off by EVERY single gallery we have dealt with, except for one, and a welathy retiree owns/runs that one. We have been scammed every way possible when it comes to dh art. We don't deal with ANY galleries except for the one I referred to above. When it comes to art without a patron you have to be a self-promoter or you WILL be ripped off. I am sorry this happened to you. It is a lesson all serious, professional artists learn.

[Our Little Farm]

I'd rather be banned than risk my goats, and as for the check, I hope you get your money back.