<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv=Content-Type> <META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.19394"> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>    Hey Jerry:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>    Healing the body should be your top priority regardless.  The world won't end if you can keep your schedule.  But here's an alternative:  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>    One of our chapter members was down with medical issues last December around Christmas, the busiest time of year for techs.  He asked me if I would pinch hit for him until he recovered.  Since I was not busy I gladly filled in for him.  He selected the customers and pre-arranged with them and me.  I could use the extra work, and he didn't disappoint those "special" jobs that couldn't be postponed.  It was a win-win for everyone.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>    We both agreed however that I would not solicit the customers to switch to me in the future, and that was only right.  Perhaps this is an answer?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>    Mike Kurta</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=tunerboy3@comcast.net href="mailto:tunerboy3@comcast.net">tunerboy3@comcast.net</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, January 21, 2013 11:06 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [pianotech] Off the wall question...</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV>I am curious about something that I feel stupid asking but yet, I don't have an answer either.  The doctor sure isn't going to know the answer.  Not to this question. <BR><BR>Here's the story and then the question.  <BR><BR>On January 10th, I had my Gallbladder removed.  I've been home since.  I was planning on going back to work today to tune one piano and see how it went until, last night when I realized I've got a fairly good infection going on in a couple of the incisions.  They don't look good.  It is hurting more in those areas today than on Friday.  The incisions are not healed yet due to the infection which is oozing...  I am going to see the doctor tomorrow morning about the infections.  <BR><BR>I have quite a lot of grands to tune at my college and other pianos too of course but, I'm wondering about the pulling part of tuning on the incisions while they are trying to heal which leads me to my question?  Especially on pianos with tight tuning pins.  <BR><BR>When we tune, we pull with our arms, leaning backwards without thinking with our bodies pulling away from what is pulling us forward.  That has to put more stress on certain areas in our belly etc., that we normally don't even think about.  Anyone have any idea how much force is required to pull while tuning?  How much force is on our bodies?  How does this effect our bodies in these areas while they are trying to heal closed?  <BR><BR>With my incisions not healed closed yet I'm really wondering what sort of decision I should make about tuning?  I'm falling so darn far behind everything it's going to take me forever to catch up again.  <BR><BR>Any ideas?  Gone through it?  Thoughts?  <BR><BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>Jerry Groot RPT<BR><A href="http://www.grootpiano.com">www.grootpiano.com</A></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>