<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.2919.6307" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT size=2>That sounds a little reassuring however:  = Sears, J.C. Penneys, LTV Steel, Ray-O-Vac batteries, Dexter Shoe Co., Sara Lee, = Clarks Shoes - the list is too long to provide in it's entirety. The fact of the = matter is good jobs in this country are continuing to relocate in China, Mexico, Argentina, Taiwan - you name it - anywhere a company can get away with 8 = cents an hour wages.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I live in an area that was very dependant upon LTV = Steel as well as many other mining companies who are finding it impossible to = compete with illegal foreign steel imports. The grocery store and the liquor = store are holding their own as are the power and gas utilities. THIS tuner is = experiencing a significant decline in tuning appointments as the customer base favors = spending what little they have left after the heating bills to buy food = - not tuning / restoration.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Sorry kids, but we're in a recession and I see no = light at the end of the tunnel. When ALL the mfg jobs are gone and the people in this = country who used to make a good living are selling Chineese shoes at Wall Mart = for minimum wage or a tad better, who is going to be left to buy those tunings??</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Willem, I'm truly sorry to see you close your store, = and I wish you the very best in the future as I do all of our colleagues on = this list. I only hope that the "luxury" service we provide can withstand this = economic attack, (from within by the way.)</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Roy Ulrich</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: = 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A href="mailto:jgrassi@silverlink.net" = title=jgrassi@silverlink.net>Jeannie Grassi</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title=pianotech@ptg.org>pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, January 28, 2001 = 1:39 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: bittersweet = day</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=240153819-28012001>Wim,</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=240153819-28012001>Changes bring about good with the = bad.  Even if you can't see the positive side right now, it will become evident if = you keep open to it.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=240153819-28012001></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=240153819-28012001>jeannie</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> <A href="mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org">owner-pianotech@ptg.org</A> = [<A = href="mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org">mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org</A= >]<B>On Behalf Of</B> <A = href="mailto:Wimblees@AOL.COM">Wimblees@AOL.COM</A><BR><B>Sent:</B> = Sunday, January 28, 2001 10:47 AM<BR><B>To:</B> = Pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> bittersweet day<BR><BR></DIV></FONT><FONT = face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=2>My friends <BR><BR>Yesterday was a bittersweet day for me. = After 7 years in the retail business, <BR>I closed my store. </FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>