The short form, believe it or not.

I agreed to do a job for my boss. Specifically, painting the interior of his "weekend home". I estimated it would take nine days. Then some tasks were added, so I guessed twelve and added two more crew. Then I got there. The job was three times more work as described.

After the shock waned and my mouth went from agape to its normal, half-frown position, I went to work. Then after fifteen, fourteen-hour work days I sent the crew home (I couldn't afford to pay them another day)--the job a little over half completed. Then I went back, worked four more days, came home. I will go back again on Thursday.

I won't say I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, but there does appear to be a glimmer-like thing in the distance. Like the sheen on the oiled-up bloated belly of Brittany Spears, or similar.

I know there's some appropriate adage, along the lines of "never a lender or a borrower be..." about working for friends and relatives. How one should NOT do so. How does that go?