An Analog Man in a Digital World

Computer Repair Problem

2010-03-05T17:44:00.000-06:00

You know it's gonna be a long day at the old Tech Support line when the day starts like this!

Caller: Hi, our printer is not working.

Customer Service: What seems to be the problem?

Caller: Umm, the mouse is jammed.

Customer Service: Mouse? Printers don't have a mouse.

Caller: Mmmmmmmmmm? Really? I'll send you a picture.

More Fun with Windows Printers

2008-10-26T11:43:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I suck at posting on a regular basis. I'm busy. Sorry.

Anyway...

If you follow this blog at all, you've probably reached the conclusion that I hate printers and print servers. You're partially right. I hate them because they're a pain in the butt, but I also enjoy them because they give me an opportunity to still do some technical stuff. Remember, I'm a manager now. I'm not supposed to be technical.

Previously I posted some code I adapted to monitor and generate statistics from my company's Windows print servers. Now I've worked on a script that runs with user rights to unmap and remap printers, correcting printer names and forcing the download of new drivers for each printer from the server. This is still a work in progress, but it works pretty darned well, even if I do say so myself. I was never very happy with anything I found on the Net, so this is my stab at this functionality. Please, feel free to give me advice for improvements, but also feel free to use this code at your own risk. I make no warranty of any of this code.


'****************************************************
'        Script by Brian E. Tower
'        October 2008 
'
' This script enumerates printers, determines which printers are
' mapped to specific print servers, makes a list of these printers
' corrects the server they are mapped to, deletes the mappings, deletes the drivers,
' remaps the printers with correct server names and resets the default printer.
'****************************************************

CheckRunner 'makes sure your running with cscript, not wscript

Dim arrMappedPrinters()
Dim arrNewMappings()
intSize = 0
Dim i, strCurrentDefaultPrinter, strRoot, strDelCmd, WshNetwork, strPrtr, strBits

On Error Resume Next

strBits = GetOS()

If strBits = 0 Then
  WScript.Echo
  WScript.Echo "You are running a 32 bit OS.  Proceeding..."
  WScript.Echo

  'find default printer currently set and set a variable equal to it and change to the right print server
  strCurrentDefaultPrinter = ChgPrntSrv(GetDefaultPrinter)

  'find the system root, save for later
  Set objShell = WScript.CreateObject( "WScript.Shell" )
  strRoot = objShell.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%SYSTEMROOT%")
  'this is the executable to delete all unused print drivers
  strDelCmd = strRoot & "\system32\cscript.exe " & strRoot & "\system32\prndrvr.vbs -x"

  Set WshNetwork = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Network")
  Set objPrinters = WshNetwork.EnumPrinterConnections

  WScript.Echo "Cataloging printer mappings:"
  WScript.Echo
  For i = 0 to objPrinters.Count - 1 Step 2
      strPrtr = lcase(objPrinters.Item(i+1))
      If InStr(1, strPrtr, "\\n1") <> 0  Then
          'push unc into array
          ReDim Preserve arrMappedPrinters(intSize)
          ReDim Preserve arrNewMappings(intSize)
          arrMappedPrinters(intSize) = strPrtr
          'change server names and put in newprinter array
          arrNewMappings(intSize) = ChgPrntSrv(arrMappedPrinters(intSize))
          intSize = intSize +1
      ElseIf InStr(1, strPrtr, "\\ac") <> 0  Then
          'push unc into array
          ReDim Preserve arrMappedPrinters(intSize)
          ReDim Preserve arrNewMappings(intSize)
          arrMappedPrinters(intSize) = strPrtr
          'change server names and put in newprinter array
          arrNewMappings(intSize) = ChgPrntSrv(arrMappedPrinters(intSize))
          intSize = intSize +1
      End If
  Next

  ' remove printers
  WScript.Echo "Deleting current mappings:"
  For each strPrinterPath in arrMappedPrinters
      WScript.Echo "Deleting " & strPrinterPath
      WshNetwork.RemovePrinterConnection strPrinterPath, true, true
  Next

  ' delete drivers
  WScript.Echo
  WScript.Echo "Deleting unused print drivers:"
  Set oExec = objShell.Exec(strDelCmd)

  ' remap  printers
  WScript.Echo
  WScript.Echo "Remapping printers:"
  For Each strPrinterAdd in arrNewMappings
      WScript.Echo "Mapping " & strPrinterAdd
      WshNetwork.AddWindowsPrinterConnection strPrinterAdd
      If Err <> 0 Then
          WScript.Echo "Error mapping " & strPrinterAdd & ".  You will need to map this printer manually."
          DisplayErrorInfo
      End If
      'WScript.Sleep 1000
  Next

  'set default printer
  WScript.Echo
  WScript.Echo "Setting Default Printer:"
  If Not strCurrentDefaultPrinter = "" then
      WScript.Echo "Setting default printer to " & strCurrentDefaultPrinter
      WshNetwork.SetDefaultPrinter strCurrentDefaultPrinter
  Else
      WScript.Echo "No default printer defined"
  End If

Else
  WScript.Echo
  WScript.Echo
  WScript.Echo "64 bit OS detected.  This utility does not run on 64 bit OS"
  WScript.Echo
  WScript.Echo
End If


'****************************************************
' Functions and Notes below this point
'****************************************************
Function GetDefaultPrinter() 'this function finds the default printer setting for the current user
Set objShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
strRegVal = "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Device"
strDefault = ""
On Error Resume Next
strDefault = objShell.RegRead(strRegVal)
strDefault = Left(strDefault ,InStr(strDefault, ",") - 1)
On Error Goto 0
GetDefaultPrinter = strDefault
End Function


Function ChgPrntSrv(strServer) 'this function converts old print server names to new print server names
  If InStr(1, strServer, "\\n1ps01") <> 0 Then
      ChgPrntSrv = Replace(strServer, "n1ps01", "n1print01")
  ElseIf InStr(1, strServer, "\\n1ps02") <> 0 Then
      ChgPrntSrv = Replace(strServer, "n1ps02", "n1print01") 
  ElseIf InStr(1, strServer, "\\n1ps03") <> 0 Then
      ChgPrntSrv = Replace(strServer, "n1ps03", "n1print02")
  ElseIf InStr(1, strServer, "\\n1ps04") <> 0 Then
      ChgPrntSrv = Replace(strServer, "n1ps04", "n1print02")
  ElseIf InStr(1, strServer, "\\n1prntsrv01") <> 0 Then
      ChgPrntSrv = Replace(strServer, "n1prntsrv01", "n1print01")
  ElseIf InStr(1, strServer, "\\n1prntsrv02") <> 0 Then
      ChgPrntSrv = Replace(strServer, "n1prntsrv02", "n1print02")     
  ElseIf InStr(1, strServer, "\\acprnt01") <> 0 Then
      ChgPrntSrv = Replace(strServer, "acprnt01", "acprint02")
  ElseIf InStr(1, strServer, "\\acprnt02") <> 0 Then
      ChgPrntSrv = Replace(strServer, "acprnt02", "acprint02")
  ElseIf InStr(1, strServer, "\\acps02") <> 0 Then
      ChgPrntSrv = Replace(strServer, "acps02", "acprint02")
  ElseIf InStr(1, strServer, "\\acprnt03") <> 0 Then
      ChgPrntSrv = Replace(strServer, "acprnt03", "acprint01")
  ElseIf InStr(1, strServer, "\\acprnt04") <> 0 Then
      ChgPrntSrv = Replace(strServer, "acprnt04", "acprint01")
  ElseIf InStr(1, strServer, "\\acps01") <> 0 Then
      ChgPrntSrv = Replace(strServer, "acps01", "acprint01")
  Else
      ChgPrntSrv = strServer
  End If
End Function

Function GetOS() 'this function determines if the OS is 64 or 32 bit
  Dim oWMI
  Dim oOS, xOS
  Dim oRX_Bit
  Dim b64      'Boolean value. If true, it is 64Bit, else  it's 32Bit.

  Set oWMI = GetObject("winmgmts:")
  Set oRX_Bit = New RegExp
  oRX_Bit.Pattern = "x64"
  oRX_Bit.IgnoreCase = True

  Set oOS = oWMI.ExecQuery("SELECT * FROM Win32_OperatingSystem")
  For Each xOS In oOS
      If oRX_Bit.Test(xOS.Name) Then
          b64 = True
      Else
          b64 = False
      End If
  Next
  GetOS = b64
End Function

Sub DisplayErrorInfo
  WScript.Echo "Error:      : " & Err
  WScript.Echo "Error (hex) : &H" & Hex(Err)
  WScript.Echo "Source      : " & Err.Source
  WScript.Echo "Description : " & Err.Description
  Err.Clear
End Sub

Sub CheckRunner
  dim arrProgRun, intEnd, strExecute

  arrProgRun = split(WScript.FullName, "\")
  intEnd = Ubound(arrProgRun)
  strExecute = arrProgRun(intEnd)

  if not lcase(strExecute) = "cscript.exe" then
      WScript.Echo "You must run this script with CScript. " & vbCrLf & "Please read the instructions!!!" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & "Bet you clicked an icon."
      WScript.Quit (1)
  end if
End Sub

Auditing Windows 2003 Print Servers

2008-09-09T20:10:00.000-05:00

As many of you know I lead a team that manages a large number of Windows servers - along with other stuff - for a large corporation. One of the most dreaded things we deal with are print servers. In general, they're just a pain, but I digress.

A while back I was trying to come up with a way to audit the print servers to determine who was using each queue, how many pages were being printed by each queue, which queues were actually being used, etc. Much to my surprise, there were no programs or tools available that do what I want. Not even from Uncle Bill's big blue company. Not even Open Source. Then I found this really good blog with a script that did about 90 percent of what I need, written by a gentleman in Brisbane Australia named Wayne. For a full explanation of how to use these scripts, please see Wayne's blog.

To make a long story short, I took Wayne's script and in the spirit of open source modified it to do what I needed it to do. Now I'm returning the script to the "wild" and hoping some other lucky slob finds it useful.

So, here's my version of the ProcessPrinterLogs.vbs script originally posted by Wayne.

---


Const ForReading = 1, ForWriting = 2, ForAppending = 8

Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set objShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

Main()


Sub Main()
   If WScript.Arguments.Named.Exists("f") Then
       sSource = Wscript.Arguments.Named("f")
   Else
       Wscript.Arguments.ShowUsage()
       Wscript.Echo "Source file or directory must be supplied"
       Wscript.Quit(2)
   End If

   If Wscript.Arguments.Named.Exists("o") Then
       sOutputFile = Wscript.Arguments.Named("o")
   Else
       dNow = Now   
       dLogDate = DatePart("yyyy", dNow)
       dLogDate = dLogDate & String(2 - Len(DatePart("m", dNow)),"0") & DatePart("m", dNow)
       dLogDate = dLogDate & String(2 - Len(DatePart("d", dNow)),"0") & DatePart("d", dNow)   
sOutputFile = Left(WScript.ScriptName, InStrRev(WScript.ScriptName,".vbs")-1) & "_" & dLogDate & ".csv"
   End If

   wscript.echo "Input file/dir: '" & sSource & "'"
   wscript.echo "Output file: '" & sOutputFile & "'"


   If objFSO.FileExists(sSource) Then
       sFileSet = sSource                                        ' Process a single file
       wscript.echo "Single file specified - " & sFileSet
   ElseIf objFSO.FolderExists(sSource) Then
       wscript.echo "Source specified was a directory, reading files from '" & sSource & "'"
       sFileSet = ""
       Set oFolder = objFSO.GetFolder(sSource)                                ' Get the folder
       Set oFiles = oFolder.Files
       For Each oFile in oFiles                                    ' For each file
           sFileset = sFileset & vbCRLF & oFile.Path                         ' Append to the fileset
       Next
       If Len(sFileSet) > Len(vbCRLF) Then sFileSet = Right(sFileSet, Len(sFileSet) - Len(vbCRLF))    ' Trim the leading CRLF
   End If

   Set dPrinters  = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")                            ' Create the dictionary objects
   Set dUsersPerPrinter  = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
Set dusers = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")   
   Set dDates = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
   Set dJobs = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")

   For Each sFile in Split(sFileset, vbCRLF)                                ' For Each file

 Set objFile = objFSO.GetFile(sFile)       
 If objFile.size > 0 then           ' Don't process the file if it is a 0 byte file
  wscript.echo "Processing '" & sFile & "'"
  sBuffer = ""
   Set objTextStream = objFSO.OpenTextFile(sFile, ForReading)     
  sBuffer = objTextStream.ReadAll

  For Each sLine in Split(sBuffer, vbCRLF)                            ' For each line in this file
   Call ProcessLogEntry(sLine, dPrinters, dUsers, dDates, dJobs, dUsersPerPrinter)                ' Process the log entry
  Next
 End If
   Next


   Call ProduceOutput(sOutput, dPrinters, dUsers, dDates, dJobs, dUsersPerPrinter)                        ' Produce the output
   Set objTextStream = objFSO.OpenTextFile(sOutputFile, ForWriting, True)
   objTextStream.Write sOutput
   wscript.echo "Output saved to '" & sOutputFile & "', " & Len(sOutput) & " characters."

End Sub

Function ProduceOutput(ByRef sOutput, ByRef dPrinters, ByRef dUsers, ByRef dDates, ByRef dJobs, ByRef dUsersPerPrinter)
   Dim strPrinter, strPort, dtmDate, strUser, strserver, strDocumentName, intSize, intPages, strInformation, strTotal
   Dim strUserTotal, strPrinterTotal, strDateTotal, strJobTotal, aJobTotal

   sOutput = ""
   For Each strPrinter in dPrinters.Keys       
       sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF & strPrinter & "," & dPrinters.Item(strPrinter)
   Next

   sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF
   For Each strUser in dUsers.Keys
       sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF & strUser & "," & dUsers.Item(strUser)
   Next

'new portion to output list of users per print queue
sOutPut = sOutput & vbCRLF
For Each strPrinter in dUsersPerPrinter.Keys
 sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF & strPrinter & ","  & dUsersPerPrinter.Item(strPrinter)
Next
'end of new output

   sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF
   For Each dtmDate in dDates.Keys
       sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF & dtmDate & "," & dDates.Item(dtmDate)
   Next

   sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF
   For Each strTotal in dJobs.Keys
       strJobTotal = dJobs.Item(strTotal)
       aJobTotal = Split(strJobTotal, ",")
       sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF & "Total Jobs," & aJobTotal(0)
       sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF & "Total Pages," & aJobTotal(1)
       sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF & "Total Size (MB)," & aJobTotal(2)
   Next

   sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF
   strUserTotal = UBound(dUsers.Keys)+1
   strPrinterTotal = UBound(dPrinters.Keys)+1
   strDateTotal = UBound(dDates.Keys)+1
   sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF & "Printers," & strPrinterTotal
   sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF & "Users," & strUserTotal
   sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF & "Days," & strDateTotal

   aJobTotal = Split(strJobTotal, ",")
   sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF

   sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF & "Average jobs/person," & CInt(aJobTotal(0)/strUserTotal)
   sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF & "Average pages/person," & CInt(aJobTotal(1)/strUserTotal)
   sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF & "Average pages/person/day," & CInt(CInt(aJobTotal(1)/strUserTotal) / strDateTotal)
   sOutput = sOutput & vbCRLF & "Average pages/minute," & CInt(aJobTotal(1) / (strDateTotal * 8 * 60))

End Function

Function ProcessLogEntry(ByRef sLine, ByRef dPrinters, ByRef dUsers, ByRef dDates, ByRef dJobs, ByRef dUsersPerPrinter)
   Dim strPrinter, strPort, dtmDate, strUser, strserver, strDocumentName, intSize, intPages, strInformation
   Dim aPrintJob, intOffset, strTemp, aTemp

   aPrintJob = Split(sLine, vbTAB)


   If UBound(aPrintJob) = 9 Then
       dtmDate = aPrintJob(0) ' & " " & aPrintJob(1)
       aTemp = Split(dtmDate, "/")
       dtmDate = Right("00" & Trim(aTemp(1)), 2) & "/" & Right("00" & Trim(aTemp(0)), 2) & "/" & aTemp(2)        ' Trim, pad and switch to dd/mm/yyyy instead of mm/dd/yyyy
       strServer = aPrintJob(8)

       strInformation = Trim(aPrintJob(9))
       strInformation = Right(strInformation, Len(strInformation) - InStr(strInformation, " "))    ' Remove the job ID
       intOffset = InStrRev(strInformation, " ")
       intPages = Right(strInformation, Len(strInformation) - intOffset)        ' Extract the number of pages from the end
       strInformation = Left(strInformation, intOffset-1)                ' Trim the string
  
       intOffset = InStrRev(strInformation, " ")
       intSize = Right(strInformation, Len(strInformation) - intOffset)        ' Extract the number of bytes from the end
       strInformation = Left(strInformation, intOffset-1)                ' Trim the string   
  
       intOffset = InStrRev(strInformation, " ")
       strPort = Right(strInformation, Len(strInformation) - intOffset)        ' Extract the port from the end
       strInformation = Left(strInformation, intOffset-1)                ' Trim the string   
  
       intOffset = InStrRev(strInformation, " ")
       strPrinter = Right(strInformation, Len(strInformation) - intOffset)        ' Extract the printer from the end
       strInformation = Left(strInformation, intOffset-1)                ' Trim the string   
  
       intOffset = InStrRev(strInformation, " ")
       strUser = Right(strInformation, Len(strInformation) - intOffset)        ' Extract the user from the end
       strInformation = Left(strInformation, intOffset-1)                ' Trim the string   
  
       strDocumentName = strInformation

       If dPrinters.Exists(strPrinter) Then                         ' Does this printer already exist in the dictionary?
           aTemp = Split(dPrinters.Item(strPrinter), ",")                ' Find the existing printer job/page count
           aTemp(0) = aTemp(0) + 1                            ' Increment the job count
           aTemp(1) = aTemp(1) + CInt(intPages)                    ' Add to the page count
           aTemp(2) = aTemp(2) + CInt(intSize/1024/1024)                ' Add to the byte count
           dPrinters.Item(strPrinter) = Join(aTemp, ",")                ' Update the dictionary
       Else
           aTemp = Array(1, intPages, CInt(intsize /1024/1024))            ' Start the job/page count
           dPrinters.Add strPrinter, Join(aTemp, ",")                ' Create this item
       End If
  
       If dUsers.Exists(strUser) Then                             ' Does this user already exist in the dictionary?
           aTemp = Split(dUsers.Item(strUser), ",")                ' Find the existing user job/page count
           aTemp(0) = aTemp(0) + 1                            ' Increment the job count
           aTemp(1) = aTemp(1) + CInt(intPages)                    ' Add to the page count
           aTemp(2) = aTemp(2) + CInt(intSize/1024/1024)                ' Add to the byte count
           dUsers.Item(strUser) = Join(aTemp, ",")                    ' Update the dictionary
       Else
           aTemp = Array(1, intPages, CInt(intsize /1024/1024))            ' Start the job/page count
           dUsers.Add strUser, Join(aTemp, ",")                    ' Create this item
       End If

       If dDates.Exists(dtmDate) Then                             ' Does this date already exist in the dictionary?
           aTemp = Split(dDates.Item(dtmDate), ",")                ' Find the existing date job/page count
           aTemp(0) = aTemp(0) + 1                            ' Increment the job count
           aTemp(1) = aTemp(1) + CInt(intPages)                    ' Add to the page count
           aTemp(2) = aTemp(2) + CInt(intSize/1024/1024)                ' Add to the byte count
           dDates.Item(dtmDate) = Join(aTemp, ",")                    ' Update the dictionary
       Else
           aTemp = Array(1, intPages, CInt(intsize /1024/1024))            ' Start the job/page count
           dDates.Add dtmDate, Join(aTemp, ",")                    ' Create this item
       End If

       If dJobs.Exists(JOB_TOTAL) Then                         ' Does the total already exist in the dictionary?
           aTemp = Split(dJobs.Item(JOB_TOTAL), ",")                ' Find the existing total counts
           aTemp(0) = aTemp(0) + 1                            ' Increment the job count
           aTemp(1) = aTemp(1) + CInt(intPages)                    ' Add to the page count
           aTemp(2) = aTemp(2) + CInt(intSize/1024/1024)                ' Add to the byte count
           dJobs.Item(JOB_TOTAL) = Join(aTemp, ",")                ' Update the dictionary
       Else
           aTemp = Array(1, intPages, CInt(intsize /1024/1024))            ' Start the job/page count
           dJobs.Add JOB_TOTAL, Join(aTemp, ",")                    ' Create this item
       End If

 ' This section creates a list of users that are using each print queue
 If dUsersPerPrinter.Exists(strPrinter) Then      ' Does the printer exist as a key in the dictionary?
  dim bTemp
  bTemp = dUsersPerPrinter.Item(strPrinter) & "," & strUser ' build up the list of users
  dUsersPerPrinter.Item(strPrinter) = DedupeString(bTemp,",") ' dedupe sting of users and populate dictionary
 Else
  dUsersPerPrinter.Add strPrinter, strUser     ' Create this item
 End If
 ' End of user list creation

   Else
       wscript.echo "skipped '" & sLine & "'"       ' line skipped because number of elemnts in array not equal to 9 ( need to figure this one out)
   End If
End Function


' Deduping  a  string
' must use this function so we end up with a unique list of users with no duplicates
Function DedupeString(inString,strSeperate)
  Dim vObjects, myDict, index, strFinal
  strFinal = ""
  Set myDict = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
  vObjects = split(inString,strSeperate)
  for index = 0 to UBound(vObjects)
     if ( not myDict.Exists(vObjects(index)) ) then
        myDict.Add vObjects(index), vObjects(index)
        if (Len(strFinal)) > 0 Then
           strFinal = strFinal & strSeperate & myDict(vObjects(index))
        else
           strFinal = myDict(vObjects(index))
        end if
     end if
  next
  DedupeString = strFinal
End Function

---

The other big change I made was in the wrapper batch file that pulls down the log files. I changed it so that a single script loops through a list of print servers.

Here's my version of the auditprinters.bat script.

---



:: bet_auditprint.bat
:: batch wrapper script to collect relevant event log entries from multiple print servers and then process these logs with ProcessPrinterLogs.vbs

for  %%S in (Server1, Server2, Server3) do (

Set print_server=%%S
CALL :s_get_logs

)
GOTO eof

:s_get_logs
set MainDir=d:\BETPrinters\%print_server%
Set PrintDir=%MainDir%\printdir
Set LogDir=%MainDir%\logs

:: Delete log files older than 30 days
forfiles /p %LogDir% /d -30 /c "CMD /C del @FILE"

:: Create needed directories
if not exist %PrintDir% md %PrintDir%
if not exist %LogDir% md %LogDir%

:: Set date format
for /f "tokens=1-8 delims=/:. " %%i in ('echo %date%') do Set DateFlat=%%j%%k%%l

:: Set log an backup files
Set LogFile=%print_server%_jobs_%DateFlat%.csv
Set BackFile=PrintJobs_%DateFlat%.csv

:: Dump the printer log
:: Using full path for safety
D:\SystemApps32\ResourceKit\dumpel -s \\%print_server% -l System -e 10 -m Print -d 1 >> %logDir%\%LogFile%

:: Make a backup copy
copy %logDir%\%print_server%_jobs_%DateFlat%.csv %PrintDir%\%BackFile% /y

:: Process the logs
cscript ProcessPrinterLogs.vbs /f:%LogDir% /o:%MainDir%\%print_server%_auditoutput.csv
:eof

---

Okay, so there it is. Enjoy! Use it in good health and for non nefarious purposes!

Don't judge a book by its cover

2008-07-08T21:17:00.000-05:00

I got a interesting lesson in making judgments the other day.

As I said in a previous blog, I have been trying to sell my home gym. I finally had somebody come look at it and offer to buy it. This guy was actually interested in the gym and not in the scrap value. Anyway, we arranged for him to come pick it up the morning of July 4th. He had to get his uncle's truck and bring some help.

So the guy arrives at the appointed time with the truck and his help. He introduces me to the first guy as his uncle and then said "And this is my brother, Lee."

About that time this guy steps out from behind the truck. He's a fairly stocky fella, probably about 5' 10" and 225 to 250 pounds. What's shocking is his face full of piercings and the plethora of tattoos sticking out from beneath his sleeves and collar. I take one look at this guy and think "Uh Oh!" Then I made the mistake of reading his T-shirt. Plain black shirt, white text with the following message

It's all about the pain. The jewelry and ink are just souvenirs.

So read this and start laughing my butt off. I look at the guy, worried about what he's gonna do and say, "I'm sorry, but that's just plain funny."

Lee looks back at me, cracks a big smile and says "Ain't it, though?"

So, it turns out that Lee is a really nice, soft-spoken gentle bear of a man.

I'm sure glad he had that shirt on to break the ice or I might have missed out on getting to know a truly interesting guy.