This is the current bottom line, P.O.V. Tom Jennings.

I hate to complain, really, but I'm run ragged. I underestimated
the task. To say the least. I think I've done OK, and Pozar has
done far too much work. Worst, of all, I'M NOT HAVING FUN ANYMORE
and I haven't now for a couple of months.

What has happened since August 93 is, we built a rather substantial
Internetwork, expanded from our two little 56K POPs which were not
much more than vanity net connections, into an expandable and
standalone regional network, with two new vastly expandable POPs,
a standalone T1 connection, and for under $25,000 total price, for
shit's sake. Toss in another $4000, as a guess, and I think that
would cover the entire cost of the new TLG through the beginning
of the year, when it will easily pay for itself month to month.

TLG won't compete volume-wise with Alternet and the like; but we
have already had enormous effect on the local network providers.
From the circumstantial evidence, rumors, second-hand info, etc,
BARRnet is scare shitless, not just of us, but what we represent.
This was part of the goal, and we've acheived it.

I have two interlocked problems, involved in a deadly embrace. They
both involve my time and skills stretched to the maximum and beyond.

One, I have fifteen (15) in-progress installs, one is 56K, one is
T1, and an additional 56K is pending. These are critical for our
operating income. I am interrupt-heavy and doing a poor job on all
of them because of it. In addition, I'm still building the
infrastructure upon which they install.

Two, I have been trying to prepare the necessary basic business
books and documentation to (1) fully understand and report on our
financial position and (2) be able to come back to the TLG membership
to ask for more money, as I was scolded for not doing so in the
first place.

[I have to add here this: I assumed a higher level of trust, and
I guess just as important, I assumed the membership knew this to
be pretty much a sure thing, as these things go, that we're not
talking dog races here, but unique timing combined with the right
specialized skills, timing and resources. This isn't an ongoing
complaint, I've adjusted my thinking to match.]


So I would like to ask for two things from TLG members, especially
those who were around since say Spring 93, to find a way to come
up with $13,000; $5000 of which will immediately pay back John
Gilmore, who in Oct lent TLG $5K, plus an additional $5K for the
month of Nov to get us to this point. The additional $8K loan is
to cover the one-time shortfall we have now, plus the difference
between operating costs and income for the next few months. A
trivial view of payback on $13,000 in 12 months is $1083/mo; 16
new 14.4K members, >3 56K members, or >1 T1 member.

There are hidden details like, this whole venture is part of my
*personal* finances, and come April94 taxes will be due. There
needs to be money for a tax accountant and to cover the added tax
bill -- I sure as shit ain't paying it!

If we had the luxury of another month or two, likely I could come
up with the books all clean'n'neat to satisfy the budding venture
capitalists; alas what I have is a simple cash system that a smart
technical person, not a financial wiz -- me -- was able to put
together.  Rather than yell at me for lacking proper backing, I'd
much appreciate you coming over here to spend a day with the books.
Fair?

Also, except for Rich Morin, who you can always count on to do this
sort of thing, and a handful of the Usual Suspects (names will be
named later, thanks!), there's not much TLG lore being transmitted
to the newbies, not that it's anyone's fault.  We've expanded from
four "SLIP members" Aug92 to thirty-four Nov93. I had been expanding
the monthly mailings into little newsletters, but even this has
halted in these last two months.  New members won't understand
what's been going on during this build-out, and are excused to a
large degree.

In short -- I've acheived deep burnout. I want my life back, too.
Here it is 0050, and I'm still working.  This was a part-time job,
and I'm getting part-time pay, and there is no end in sight. It is
now time to change this.