Tuesday mid-morning

My expensive office chair that is only like 3 years old is done.  Hydraulic pressure leaks out and the seat sinks to the bottom most position.  For a person with long legs, that doesn't work.  I dunno if these chairs can be fixed, it was an almost $400 chair.  

Anyway, I decided leaving early was a waste of time and probably made the plant manager upset.  So, I intend on leaving at around 10:30 am and get to Gurdon around 12:50 pm.  It is what it is, shrugs shoulders, deal with it, move on.  It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to go to the yard after that and waste many more hours in today's ordeal. 

The Kubota dealer is bugging me about buying a tractor even tho I flatly told him his prices were worse than the John Deere store just down the road from me.  These stores are all firm on their prices and won't budge.  I'm needing a tractor, yes, Im not needing more debt slavery.  I just don't know if I want to get into those kinds of payments, therefore, I'm just sitting on it until I can make a decision.  

Swepco says may average bill is "$536", I was looking at their averaged monthly payment plan.  The problem? It goes back the previous 12 months, averages it out and then that's what your payment is.  Yeah, This time last year the park wasn't full.  However, the summer months were wild in terms of high prices so it's kind of strange it came up to that amount.  I would love to have that kind of payment every month!  In fact, the smallest bill I'll incur is during the spring months but if full, that bill is still going to be in the $800 range.  Guess I need to go through another year with the park full/nearly full to get a real averaging, until then, I'm just going to remain on whatever the current bill is.  

I'd just like to spread it out over the months and not have $2,500 in July while it's $800 in April.  

We must be slowing down for some reason for my loads are not that many.  I have today to finish this run, off tomorrow, another late run Thursday and Friday, off the weekend (which I didn't ask for, in fact, I said I would be happy to work this coming weekend) and then working Monday.  

The guys at the washout said the new guy is working his butt off, in there all the time.  I'm going to ask them again if he's still coming in there every other day, if he is, we're going to have issues.  Getting a pay raise but subsequently getting a work reduction isn't going to work for me.  Yes, I don't want to work, that's a given, I need  to work and was fully set on that idea.  Now they have this new guy and they'll just hand him the runs since he's working for lessor pay?  I could be wrong, of course, so I will wait and see what the washout people say on Thursday.  

That's only 2 runs in this week starting Monday, that doesn't pay the bills. It doesn't keep me where I can just live off the trucking money and keep the business account money IN the business account.  The best laid plans of men.....On the other hand, Thursday's run is the only run that day, according to dispatch.  So, maybe I'm actually getting more work than this new dude and these people at the washout are just saying that because he worked the weekend.  That or dispatch is lying to me.  I'll just stick with not lying, they don't seem to be that kind of people that work the office. Pretty much down to earth and honest, I do believe.

I guess the good news is that in the next 2 weeks, there will be a lot of money in that business account, if I need some of it, it's there.  

My mother is sending another 5k.  It's in the account, it's just pending. Remember, I am still sitting on the last money she sent.  With this extra money, I can easily install a septic system and get the electrical setup done.  There would still be dirt work, pad creation, trenching and installing pipe and electrical and gravel to go.  The plan would be to get 5 more spots in there.  

However.  If I just sit on this money as well and if  can save up enough money in the business account, I could just apply for a loan with the required 20% down and get all 15 lots done at once.  That doesn't pay for a pool, tho, so I guess I would have to save up 30k. I'm dead set on a pool because I am 100% sure it would not only draw people in, it would also enable me to increase my rent rates.  Or, charge a monthly fee for long term pool users and have a coded entry door to it - and a camera.  Well that's lame! I can hear the non--payers saying.  It would be open to any overnight guests and any long term guests that pay the extra fee.  It's just a gimmick to keep a park full and get more money out of the park.  

My current finances? I am getting close to half the money down I would need.  I do wonder if I put up collateral and that down money that I currently have if I could get the loan anyway?  I have the paperwork to fill out for the local bank.  Fill it out and find out.  This RV park business is going to get to where i want it, somehow, some way. This truck driving crap is for the birds, and I'm quite sure the birds don't like it either.  You get me double the income I have now and I can live off of that.  Doesn't mean I would quit my trucking job right away, just means that I would have a lot more income to then invest in amenities.  Besides a pool, a clubhouse  - not too large but big enough for small events to rent it out - would be nice as well as a pavillion.  And other things.

It's just a plain, basic park right now, hence I don't charge as much as other places to in order to get people to move in there.  

So, I have more pondering to do now.  Like, getting into a tractor loan would probably not be good for trying to get a business collateral loan with down payment.  If I really wanted to go crazy, add a house construction loan to it.  If I ever do that, it would likely be by splitting up the property into 2 - one being the 7ish acres of the RV park and the other the rest of the property in the rear.  It would take a real estate lawyer to draw that up for not only would the properties need to be legally separated into 2, the driveway easement would have to be written into it for permanent access to the rear of the property through that driveway. Otherwise, if I ever sold the RV park but wanted to keep the rear property, they could just nix my access and there would be no way in there excepting through gas line easements and that simply wouldn't work.  You aren't actually entitled to gas line easements on other people's property. 

As I always say, lots of things swirling around inside my head.

The main thing going on in there right now? 

It's time to get some coffee made, in the thermos and get out of here.  I am guessing I'll be lucky to be home by 7 or 8 tonight.

G'day

 My plans to get home at a reasonable hour tomorrow have been dashed.  We were going back and forth in texting about the schedule and then I said I'd be coming up before offloading to switch out trucks.  The dispatcher made some convoluted comment that made no sense so I had to ask for clarification. After several back and forths, I was finally able to come to the understanding that the trailer has to be empty as well for they want to do an inspection on it.  

I don't mind this at all, actually, even if it adds hours to the day. The reason is because the trailer I have now unloads painfully slow. Even on the best of days it takes it much longer than other trailers I've had to get all the glue out of it.  

This is probably the worst part of this job: anytime I have to go to the yard, it adds at least 2 hours and usually 3 to the day.  

Whatever. I knew tomorrow would be a long day.  

Then we get to Thursday load. They had sent me it last week, and it was early load. I noticed in my tablet today there was another load in there, so I clicked on it. Another load for the same day? And late loading? This is what I get when they don't communicate with me, it turns out the first load had canceled so they gave me second load.  They just aren't going through product up there as fast as we are bringing it.  They need to keep us, the dedicated drivers, busy with it and keep the OTR people out of it when it gets like that.  

Collected rent from the new guy and then got an odd call this evening from the college kid.  He had to take his truck into the shop, he claimed, so he only had $300 but could come up with the other $100 on the 6th.  He then started going off into a tangent about how he might be able to come up with the other money before then, but I cut him off: the 6th is fine, I have no problem with it. They've been at my park the entire school year, why get upset over $100 one time? He then asked if there was any work he could do? No, I have a new guy to do that, but please don't worry about the $100, pay it when you get it, it's no big deal.

Apparently this was stressing him wayyyyyy more than me, for 2 minutes later, I got the $100 payment. Lol, ok?  He texted: I didn't want to hold you up on rent and a friend loaned me the $100.  ?? Ok.  I'm not going to complain about getting my money, but I really did not have a problem with waiting and tried to convey that to him.  

Whatever the case, I collected $800 today and more to come.  

The new people - the dude was doing a lot more mowing today.  I'm fine with that, I'm fine with giving them up to $300 off on their rent. They aren't occupying a regular lot and tho the electricity will cost me this summer, it's still a good trade off in my mind.  The riding mower isn't working, something wrong with the deck, I need to take it off of there and find out what's wrong and fix it.  He's just using the new push mower on everything and doing a lot of it. 

I'm trying not to let this dude get chummy with me. Mark did that and tho I didn't want it, in fact I told him to his face I really didn't want his help with anything, he still decided to force his way into my business and then, well you know the story/ies if you were reading this blog during that time. Mark is a truly forgettable person and I don't want to dwell on him.  I don't mind being friends with people - as long as they aren't trying to take advantage of the situation.  It's trying to figure out their intent, that takes time.  Unless they blab something out that reveals their motive.  

I actually had no idea they were wanting to work for rent.  I wouldn't have agreed to it, people are lazy and just want to take advantage of you. I've been down that road enough times. However, once I saw that he is actually getting some stuff done, I'm good with it - as long as he keeps it up. 

Anyway, it's been a long day, for I had the late load and I didn't get back til late afternoon and then eat dinner and then off to the youngest' baseball game.  They were brutalized by that other team who blew them away. But, it turns out, that other team is a tournament league team that sticks together. I really have a problem with a youth baseball association allowing that to come into what is otherwise mostly a bunch of players that know nothing about the game and are just getting started.  They'll easily win the league and it's not even real competition for them.  So what's the point? Kids getting lessons in humility and losing?  I mean, yes, they should get a dose of that, but a team that way outclasses every other team doesn't really even belong in that league - or - they should split ;them up between the teams to give everyone a fighting chance.  

That's just me and take on the younger kids in baseball. Once they start getting older, sure, they can go for the throat and it becomes highly competitive. Or at this age, these kids and their parents all into it that they are basically playing ball year round.  I did youth sports - baseball - for 10 years in a Little League and I was on the board, coaching, umpiring, crowd control, you name it.  I'm pretty well versed in this stuff.  Not like it just went out of memory banks.  

The one month stay people should be leaving in 2 days.  I have one lot available right now, but I'm going to have that other one available as well and probably a couple more in a short period of time.  My Facebook ad is still running, I got this new guy in here and unless he gets unhappy with the park, he's there for a while. He took a job at TXTC (state university in town here) and I am the closest park to his job.  Much closer, in fact.  But it's not enough. I really try to keep the park full and a few bucks spent on ads is worth it to me.  

I also kind of think I'm spinning my wheels trying to fill up 15 more spots? Without the amenities to get them in there?  I dunno about that.  Namely, a swimming pool. Yes, I know I have discussed this subject at length and I'm not going to go into great depth here, but I really think if I want to get higher rates and more spots filled especially with overnighters, a pool is the way to go.  If I really want to find a loan for something, maybe a pool loan is what I really should be looking for.  I can raise my rates and pay for the pool payments, maintenance and then some.  

I just throw things around in my head, all the time, folks.  I was looking today at how I would want to create more lots. Seems like moving the doggy park is going to have to happen, that or have to create another huge entrance, wasting a lot of space where I could put more pads.  But then I thought, I sometimes struggle getting enough people in here. Not all the time, but there are instances where numerous people are all leaving at around the same time. Not because they are unhappy with my park, a lot of these people are temp workers who get moved around all over the place.  

And frankly, if I could attract more overnighters, I would make a lot more money.  That's just the nuts and bolts of it. Expenses would go down as well, namely: electricity.  You free a space up at noon and the next people don't come in until 5, 6 or later?  That's all those hot afternoon hours during the summer when no one is there and not using electricity.  It was my goal from the get-go to do mostly overnighters. My fantasies were dashed with reality, when I realized that your name has to "get out there" for awhile and you have to build a good reputation that slowly and over time gets spread out across the country.  I have people stopping in from all over the country. Not just Texas or neighboring states.  

BTW. I have 74 likes on my latest boosted ad. Amazing that has only translated into one person showing up.  I don't know who all of those people are, lol.  

Well enough of this.  My business account is going to start looking pretty nice with far more money coming in than going out - the next electric bill hasn't posted yet but I doubt it's going to be much more than the previous month. Maybe a few hundred dollars difference.  And I"ll be collecting another 4 grand before then.  It's all nice fine and dandy until you realize high electric bills are coming and then the end of the year will come once again and taxes and insurance due - once again.  

 Monday - 8:00 am

I mean, it's a 1:00 pm load and they don't like people showing up too early at the plant, so I'm just sitting here biding my time until I figure I can leave, get the trailer washed out and show up there at the plant maybe an hour early.  Or less, actually, maybe leave here at 9:30 am and then I'll only be maybe a half hour early.  They pulled that stunt a while back on the second load where they made me wait an hour and half after my appointment time, I just don't need a repeat of that.  Might as well just sit at home and drink coffee.

Tomorrow is the much longer day with not only a late load, but having to stop at the yard and switch trucks.  Since I have the late load, I will just leave here early, go to the yard first, switch out and then go to Gurdon.  It's 2-1/2 hours to El Dorado, actually more like 2 hours 45 minutes even tho it's a shorter distance than going to Gurdon.  Half hour at least at the yard switching out and then almost 2 more hours up to Gurdon? I'm just leaving here at my normal time for the early load and that should have me in Gurdon after noon.  

Meanwhile, I'm watching these anti-Israel protestors.  Their premise is absurd, their reasoning is based on propaganda.  Hamas is the target, a terrorist group that has done nothing but murder innocent people since it's inception. They have no loyalty to the Palestinians.  Israel is not targeting Palestinians but these people are calling it genocide.  They completely ignore the atrocity Hamas committed against Israel in killing innocent civilians inside Israel territory, they don't care that Hamas used and uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, they are right!  

But, we've seen such protests at universities through the decades of my existence, I just think this takes it to the next level, but on a religious perspective.  Israel is the apple of God's eye and coming against it may be setting yourself on dangerous territory. At the same time, the Bible tells us that the "beast" will rise up in Jerusalem at the holy temple itself and tells the Jews to run to the hills when they see the signs of this occurring.  It would not surprise me in the least if we were at the verge of the end times.  

And we have this sham of a trial against Trump going on today in federal court. Sorry, but I don't believe this and the rest of the charges being brought against him are anything but a political hit job.  The left fears Trump being elected into his second term as President and they are and have been willing to do anything to stop him.  There is a long list of things they have already tried, this is just the next cog in the wheel of a two-tiered justice system.  

Whatever. I just shake my head in disgust at the way politics and politicians are acting out right now, along with the DOJ and other prosecutors who have a mission to stop him from becoming President. Let the people decide at the ballot box.  I believe these trials are turning Trump into a political martyr and will have the opposite effect that these people believe it will have.  Even the polls are showing that people that are undecided on who to vote for are saying that these charges are politically motivated.

I guess I'm a bit more interested in the Middle East tho, because of the potential for what the Israel-Palestine-Hamas-Iran situation could turn into.  

My latest paycheck wasn't as good as the previous one. I expected that, however, for I was off too many days. In fact, they still haven't updated the tablet, I have no idea what days I will be working this coming week, which is a bit unusual for this company that normally loads the thing up with work going on 10 days in advance.  

I keep watching CreditKarma for they are the best source of loans that I have found - anywhere.  So far, the best offer is 17.9% on a 5 year loan for 20k.  That is actually much better than any of the other offers available.  I've got offers in there for 32k loans that have you end up paying 28k in interest.  So, yeah, no.  The feds have indicated they aren't convinced about inflation and that they aren't yet ready to start lowering interest rates again.  What a jacked up system.  Make us pay!  I wonder why the federal government should have that much control over  the monetary system to begin with.  

This nonsense all started with COVID, people getting ridiculous amounts of "free money" and spending trillions of dollars in "covid relief" stimulus.  The government spends ridiculous, unbelievable amounts of money we don't have on a crisis that didn't need that much money thrown at it, tells people to stay home while they're at it and then...we have the mess going on now.  Oh, it's the best economy in 40 years! ...they tell us, while completely ignoring the fact that interest rates have skyrocketed, the cost of groceries are forcing people to use credit cards, the cost of energy has also skyrocketed....etc....ad-infinitum.  

I'll get off of that soapbox, I am watching the news and most of it is forgettable but there are snippets of the Israel protesters are universities, cops being killed and the Trump trial going on. OH! and let's not forget giving Ukraine 6i1 BILLION dollars!  Zelensky is NO friend of the US, btw.  

Anyway, what's up now?  Meh.  Collect money from the new guy, check my book to see who owes what and see if I can find the other new guy/wife and discuss what's next for them.  The amount that is deducted from their rent relies solely on the amount of work he will do.  

I haven't seen any signs, whatsoever, that the grass seed I put down is coming up. At all and anywhere.  I will be inspected the entire area again, but it appears that $83 is down the drain.  Ahh, so yeah. 

So, I may take the John Deere tractor offer. Maybe.  I need to see when that shed is going to be paid off.  That payment being redirected towards a tractor payment would cover about 2/3rd's of the monthly payment and coming up with the rest would be relatively easy.  I'm waiting for the next statement to come in from the loan company for the shed, I throw those things in the trash as soon as I get them and didn't check what the payoff date is the last one that showed up.  I think it's getting close, like 5 or 6 months.  

The fact of the matter is: I need some kind of earth moving equipment out there.  Endless renting may work, I guess, I'm still weighing the advantages and disadvantages.  If I could get a tractor with a backhoe attachment, this would help greatly.  Trenching becomes readily available without renting a machine every time.  

Honestly, to, I'd rather get a new vehicle.  Not new new, but something a little closer to the year we are currently in. That thing is 13 years old, a gas guzzler and tho it's been pretty reliable, the the seats and the carpet is getting bad and if I'm going to keep it, I'm going to have to have it reupholstered.  The exterior is still in great condition, a few small dings from people opening their car doors against it.....

A tractor payment would come out of the business account, but a car payment would be personal finances.  It's not really in the cards right now, I'm just dreaming I guess.  

I really just need another 15 lots out there.  And a swimming pool to draw people in there.  

And with that, it's getting close to departure time.

G'day

 A fun day.

Church was good and the message really got me to thinking about my relationship with the Lord and also the end times.  He didn't specifically say or intone that we are in the last times, I have had my own thoughts about that tho.  Really, what it boils down to is, whether Christ returns in our lifetimes or not, are we prepared to meet our Maker?  Because it's going to happen regardless.  I pretty much got lost in thought and had to resurface to take in more of the message.  

After that, to Applebee's.  It took about 30 minutes to get our food. For that place and considering the place was nearly full (which is miraculous in itself), I was pretty happy about it. Our waitress was attentive and returned often enough to check on us but not too often, if you understand that.  It is actually just as irritating to have a server coming back too often as it is one that doesn't come back often enough.  This was the bartender serving us tho, even tho we were nowhere near the bar.  Either they were short handed or the GM was just making sure we were getting half decent service - yes she was there.

At the end, I did tell the waitress that I wanted the comp meal. She gave a weird look on her face, comp meal? Yes, this meal is free, just ask the GM, she knows about it.  Maybe 5 minutes later she came back with a receipt, it was $70 which is actually more than we usually spend there.  I tipped the bartender more than 20%, I'm not going to stiff her simply because this was supposed to be a free meal.  I really don't stiff servers at all unless it's really, really, reeeeaaaalllllyyyyy bad service.  And if it's that bad, the management is going to be called over, which I rarely ever do either, excepting in this case where I spent an hour and forty five minutes waiting for my food - which never arrived.  

I think most people would agree waiting almost 2 hours for food, being told 3 times during that wait that it's "done" and still not arriving, that you would probably walk out of the place and you would have a beef with whoever is responsible for it.  Or not, we are all different and we don't all have the same gearing in our reactions to things. 

After that, we went to the "Touch A Truck" festival. It's where businesses and government entities bring their trucks and rigs.  Fire trucks, ambulances, school busses, all kinds of police vehicles, hearses, other kinds of rigs and all kinds of tent booths set up giving kids free fidget toys and candy.  We stayed there for 3 plus hours going to every single booth and truck. My legs gave out on me and the boys were finally getting tired at the end as well. We had found a large area in the grass where they had wands that you dip into 5 gallon buckets filled with water and liquid dish soap to make floating bubbles.  They did that for quite a while along with dozens of other kids before they finally got tired of it and agreed, yes, it's time to go home.

Didn't matter, they were all tearing everything down and leaving anyway. 

Home.  Watched a few movies, kept getting asked to watch kids playing video games, so attention divided between the 2 and now? 9 pm, going to bed in an hour or so.  I don't have to get up particularly early since I have the late load and the plant is none too keen on people arriving there too early, they'll just make you wait.  I figure to show up there after noon, maybe around 12:30 or even a little later.  So, yes, I don't need to get up early for that. It's an hour and a half to the washout, usually around 30-40 minutes to get that done, 35 minutes to the plant from there.  

Oh, and yes, that dude did indeed show up to the park today, trailer in tow and parked at lot - 4 I think. Doesn't really matter, just didn't want him at lot 1.  I never went over there today, no need to and was too busy taking it easy. This week, I have no idea beyond Monday and Tuesday, unless they have updated the tablet, one moment please.....play some Jeopardy music.....oh my, I left the thing in the car. I guess I'll have to go out and get it, I always check it the night before and the morning of any run.  They change it too often and don't give a head's up.  I do want to work tomorrow, well, I don't want to work, I need to work, let's clarify that. 

I definitely didn't want the late load. Oh well.  

Reservations keep coming in for 1, 2, 4 day stays.  This is great. Almost tempted to leave 2 spots open for short term stuff.  We'll see.  If the demand picks up, I will leave 2 spaces empty, excepting now. If another person wants to come for long term, I'm giving the other available spot out, for I know more people are leaving soon and I will need the people in there.  

Which reminds me, I guess I need to get that tractor back over there and do the driveway yet again.  Hands are tied on that one, can't leave it like that. So, $800 about to get removed from the account for earth moving equipment rental. The tractor and the mini ex.  I'm just going to wait until they do, for unknown reasons, not give me anything for trucking for 2 or more days and get that stuff done.  I might be able to get that new guy to help me with the underground wire installation.  

Enough. Going to bed soon.  

 Sunday mid-morning, just a bit before we have to leave for church.

Well, we don't have to.

Did I say that these lunatics that talk about people shooting them with lasers all the time were at it again yesterday?

I didn't?  I get a phone call from an overnighter. He's been there before.  He says this man named Bill came over and demanded to know why he shot his wife with a laser?  The guy, of course, is dumbfounded and has no clue what he is talking about. "Well, you're the only ones that just came in here, it must have been you".   "I'm going to call the owner and he's going to have a talk with you". "I'll talk to the owner myself".

So, he calls me.  He was laughing, which was a good sign at least.  He has a sense of humor even tho these people completely serious.  He said he was leaving until late tonight and hoped they wouldn't be back. I replied if they do, call me and I'll deal with it.  

Those farmers? Are lunatics.  I'm sorry, but the government isn't just going around hiring people to shoot you with lasers.  They think everyone is poor and broke and the money is too easy to say no to, so these absolute strangers - and we're talking a lot of people at this point - are shooting them with lasers because the government wants them to.  

Yea. I don't believe the government has our best interests at hand, either.  Most of the people running our governments are selfish, greedy and power hungry. They become corrupted quickly if they aren't already.  Some go in with good intentions, but, "the love of money is the root of all evil". At the same time, I doubt the government has some covert operation against a couple of retired farmers, if it did, they would be dead by now.  It's gotten to the point I am going to have to address them and I am quite sure they will leave, if not at the time I say something, certainly when their rent is due again.  I don't know what happened to these people to believe that everyone, literally everyone, is out to get them...

I'm already facing several people leaving soon and 2 lots available already.  But, I won't trade mine and other's sanity for money.  People will come sooner or later, one is allegedly moving in today.  I did put up a Facebook ad.  It's received quite a few hits, hopefully I can get this dude and maybe at least one more person right off the bat and then run another one once a couple more lots are cleared out.  

Yesterday was quick and easy, in a relative sense to many other times going up to Gurdon and offloading.  The product was coming out quickly, at least for that trailer and I was out of there in an hour and a half.  On other trailers, I would have been out of there in an hour or less.  But, whatever, I got home early, before 1 pm, so no worries there.

Tomorrow is a late load day, unfortunately.  They know I like the early load but they give me a late load once a week or so now.  It doesn't matter, I need to go to the yard in Eldo, drop the trailer, switch trucks and then go up to Gurdon and offload.  It might be there a few days them trying to get things straightened out on that truck.  I want the AC fixed once and for all.  But, the air bag is leaking so heavily that one of the tenants was walking by it and sent me a photo of the tire next to it, telling me it is leaking heavily.  

I thanked him for his concern.  I was more interested in if his new neighbors were causing any problems? No, I've met them, he replied, they seem like nice people.  Ok, well they have little yip dogs and I asked them to ensure that the barking be nipped in the bud.  He replied that there is some barking, but it isn't bothering him.  Ok?  

So far, the new guy has mowed the doggy park, the large lot 1, lot 2 and I think lot 3. He's swept out the amenities shed and that's all I've seen so far. He has not washed his trailer, I will be asking them again to please scrub it down. It's not a huge trailer, but it's very dirty.  Spend the hour or 2 it will take to clean it up, it will be good to go for quite a while.  

Anyway, church en-queue and then Applebee's. I haven't been back since the ordeal where the boys didn't get there food for over an hour and ten minutes and I never got my food after an hour and forty-five minutes.  The GM assured me they will comp my next meal.  We'll see, but I won't be exposing myself to that kind of service again, if they can't have my food on the table within a half hour's time, we will get up and leave.  Even half an hour is too long, but I feel that's giving them enough time to get our order taken care of.  

And as it stands? My clock has run out. It's time to put on my shoes and get out of here.

Happy Sunday. 

 Friday - early

It was a good day yesterday. 

Got up early, saw the kids out, got on the road about the same time they would be leaving the school. I knew I would beat them, I didn't realize I would beat them by almost an hour.  No biggies, just sat out in the parking lot in my vehicle and then decided to mosey up to the entrance and wait for them.  I had no idea that there would be several other schools showing up from all over the place. 

Once our busses showed up, we went in side, bought a few souvenirs and then headed into the arena.  Huge affair, looked like a light, powdery sand on the floor where the performances were done, there were hundreds of people in there at least, the place was full.  There was lunch waiting at our seats which had a long, narrow strip of counter top running in front of the rows of seats for your food and drinks.  

The boy wanted a drink, so I got up and waited in line. The performance started while I was out doing that, I didn't miss much. It was some dude on a horse in the middle of the arena facing the King and Queen, the Queen seated on a large throne, the platform they were on near the ceiling at one of the ends of the arena.  

Some actors came out and there was a skit done about bullying.  But, of course, they took that portion too far and went into DEI.  Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness. These are alert words, you hear any of that you know you are being exposed to pure, unadulterated wokeness.  It was disheartening to hear all of that and wondered whether the entire show was going to be like this?  The message about bullying was ok, the rest of it was ridiculous.  I then assessed - well, this is  Dallas, a leftist bastion of socialist/communist ideologies, not surprising you are going to hear such nonsense here. Just one of the reasons I refuse to ever live in a big city again. 

They got done with that s*** and then the real show started, fortunately and thankfully.  It was pretty cool. They had actors on horses - well versed actors that had obviously taken the time to learn their parts and also hone their sword and jostling skills - and they did the entire show on different factions "fighting" each other for the championship title.  Yes, the place is divided up into 6 different groupings, wherever you are seating, you in one of those grouping and your knight in shining armor represents you in the arena.  

 There were skill sets, fighting sets, horse back agility sets.  They were using real, metal swords, by the way, these were not wood or plastic stuff. The sparks from when the swords clashed against each other proved that, which gave the whole scenario a heightened sense of reality, like: this isn't fake, they could actually do each other real harm if they mess up and accidentally hit each other. Not that I would want that to happen, but it added to the authenticity of the event.  

I was imagining what this place must be like filled with adults and getting rid of the "school" style talk, this show was definitely geared towards kids, but, it was a lot of fun regardless.  The boy had a blast, I was egging him and others on to cheer on our knight. The instructions online stated the more you shout for your knight, the better he will fight!  

I can say that 2 hours of it was about the perfect length.   By the time they had all of their skill sets/fighting scenes done, I was also done. Oh, well, during this time we ate our meal which consisted of a half chicken (small chicken, lol), half a small baked potato and a half piece of corn on the cob.  After that, they brought around some garlic toast, very delicious and after that, they brought some large, prepackaged chocolate chip cookies.  I ate one of the 2 in my package and gave the other one to the kid, who happily devoured 3 of them.  

Fortunately, my pep talk on not being able to go home with me worked, he was all happy when we left, but mostly that was because I let him take his newly acquired sword and shield and lighted cup with him.  

The drive home was uneventful even if the road is filled with idiots paying more attention to their phones than the road and acting like morons cutting people off all over the place. That's on the Interstate, driving in Dallas is the same as driving in any other big city: it sucks.  I'm well versed in it, I don't miss it at all.  I just let people do their thing and enjoyed my ride home.  I sort of pushed the speed limit a bit, will freely admit, I was following along a small group of vehicles going a wee tad faster than posted signage allowed for.  

Got home, relaxed.  I never did go to the park yesterday, but I did note on the security system that the new people were cleaning the amenities shed and mowing grass. 

I made dinner which consisted of reuben sandwiches, quite delicious if I do say so myself. Taylor agreed, we have somewhat same tastes in food, tho I love onions and she hates them, lol.

I ended up going to bed early, 8:45 pm.  And for once, I slept through the night, only waking up once and quickly getting back to sleep. The sleep monitor app said my sleep was "average", balderdash.  I slept quite well and I feel pretty good this morning.  I think it counts snoring against me.  When I'm tired like that, I will snore quite a bit.  It said I was snoring well over an hour and also a very minor amount of sleep apnea.  

The reason I got the app was to see if my problems were related to sleep apnea.  I almost never show any of it on there and if it does show some, it's because I'm wasted tired when I go to bed.  Never more than a minute, couple of minutes at most. But, I guess they think snoring isn't so great either.  

Never-the-less, I am ready to hit the ground running, so to speak, get down to Nac, get the trailer washed out, get over to Lufkin, load, come home and then see what this dude has done.  They are clearly looking for reduced or even eliminated rent rate.  My only beef so far is the trailer is dirty.  It's in good shape, but it's covered with dirt and mildew.  Please clean that.  

 
Thursday - early

They just left for the school bus. We decided that the bus would, indeed, make it to school on time and that would be that.  It is much easier for him to take the school bus instead of being dropped off, for dropping them off means going to a street near the school and sitting there and waiting in a long line.  You've seen them, I don't care where you live. If you're near an elementary or middle school, the parents line up in very long lines well in advance of picking up or dropping off and sit there...and sit there...and sit there. So, it's not a huge chance, Taylor has an app that shows where the bus is at.  As long as it makes it there by 7, we are good.  I am not leaving here until around 7:15, another hour off.  No need to, they aren't leaving until then and I will easily beat them there. 

I can safely say that unless stranded on the side of the highway, I have never been passed by a school bus lol.  Not that they drive slow, tho, just they aren't cruising at 75-80, which is the speed limit out there once you get past Longview on 80.  For some reason, all the towns along the I-20 corridor starting  at the state line and going to partially into Longview voted to agree with TDOT to lower the speed limit to 70.  

Yes, I'm sure that will force all the idiots to start paying attention to the roadway in front of them! Lower the speed limit by 5 mph!  I listened to that session of city council. The police chief made a 1 minute presentation and without any questioning, they voted for it.  But, that's the way this town operates.  They make a lot of stupid decisions that cost a lot of money for not a lot of return and ignore the glaring elephants in the room. Things such as a 70 year old water and sewer transmission system that is falling apart.  Residential streets that are in horrible condition.  

Anyway, the kid started getting extremely  pouty because we decided not to take him to school. After explaining how much easier it is to take the bus - he just gets on, they pull right up to the school and gets off versus the waiting scenario described above? Didn't matter. That is when we both said oh, well you don't have to go then.  You don't have to go to Dallas at all.  That changed his mood quickly. 

"I wish I had never said anything", he later stated.  Yes, you need to learn how to switch that s*** off and quickly.  There was literally nothing  to get upset about.  I figure him saying "I wish I hadn't said anything" is a good learning experience for him. There are times when you should just keep your mouth shut, think about what you are saying and what the implications of what you are saying might be.  There's a time to speak and there's a time to be silent.  It's a learning experience.  Anyway, he is already at school and it's well  before their departure time, so, I'm going  to sit here, relax, sip some coffee and do ---- nothing.  

He has been informed a couple of times now that he won't be able to come home with me after the event is over. Apparently I would have to go through a background check and that they didn't think it would be done in time.  Yes, I've gone through several of those types of checks for my CDL, the hazmat part of it, concealed carry and TWIC card.  It can take months for them to do that stuff.  Not because it takes particularly long for them to go through your files/history, just because they are backlogged.  The CCW took many months before they finally approved it.  I don't really understand how a person that is designated as a person that can actually pick the child up at school can't also take the child home, but whatever.  It's a better experience to ride in the bus with other kids his age and continue on learning social skills.

I was looking this place up.  It appears you dine in an arena where they have jostling events and sword fighting.  It looks like a lot of fun, actually.  According to maps, it's 155 miles, 2 hours and 33 minutes. Almost guaranteed it will take me 2 hours and 15 minutes or less.  I don't stop for anything going to Dallas and the speed limit is high almost the entire route, the only thing that would hold me up is heavy traffic/accidents.

Well enough of that.  The new people are moved in, whether they stay or not is entirely up to them and their behavior.  I am quite sure I made it crystal clear about certain things yesterday, we'll see if it pans out.  Because if it doesn't, I have no problems confronting them and even getting rid of them.  I have no problems getting rid of anyone in that park if their behavior is unacceptable. It doesn't appear like there will be problems, but you never know.  I'm just hoping that this offer to mow grass and stuff actually works out, I don't mind giving substantial cut on lot rent in exchange for a good amount of work.  Weedeater and lawnmower work would save me a lot of time wasted in engaging in such things and could focus on other projects. 

Or just being lazy at times and doing nothing at all.  It would be nice to have help with the power line project.  Or having someone hold the ladder while I'm up 20 feet installing the router at the top of the pole.  I haven't done that yet for I haven't felt like it.  It's just another thing to do in a long list.  Mostly, I was waiting for the rain to not only stop but also dry out so that that concrete would harden.  

So many things to do over there, always.

And with that, departure time draweth nigh.  I want a nice thermos full of coffee to sip on on the way over there.  

G'day

 Well, the trailer isn't terrible anyway. Dirty, I told them to wash it but it's in good shape. This is the new people. I didn't know they had 4 yip dogs. I educated them on that as well.  I was pretty direct: clean up after your dogs immediately. No poop left anywhere, there are dog poop bags right there and a trash can.  No excessive barking.  Are you friendly people?  Oh yes.  They seemed like they were, but I'm going to get down to the nuts and bolts of this right away.  The man wants to do some work. I don't mind giving them some money off their rent in exchange for working.  However, I collected the first month's rent up front.  

I have no way of knowing whether he will actually work or not and I am not giving them a break until I see how he does.  Grass and trimming, that would be a big help.  Other stuff as well.  

During that time, a dude called telling me he is with so and so contractors, he needs to fill up a 300 gallon tank.  How much will you charge?  I have no idea.  I don't really want to get into the water business, it won't make any money, but the water is readily available.  I said 15, he said 10, I said fine.  So, he showed up and yes, filled up a 300 gallon tank. They spray gas pipe line easements for weeds.  I just did it to help them out, there is no money to be made in selling water nor did the thought ever cross my mind.  I dunno what made him call an RV park, I guess his experience tells him he has the best luck going that route.  They are not from around here.  

So now, it's just get ready for tomorrow.  Take the kid to school tomorrow, we're worried his school bus won't get to school in time and the bus leaves whether anyone that should be there is there or not.  So, if we leave their normal time to get on the bus, I will have him there 30 minutes early.  I will likely just take off for Dallas after that, if I have to wait, I will take my laptop with me so I can pass the time.  

Another tractor company quoted me far higher than even John Deere.  Amazingly ridiculous.  I guess I'm too cheap for this?  No.  I just know what I can afford.  This is all new machinery, not what I want.  Just can't find anyone selling used with financing.  Half the price. This guy quoted me a higher monthly payment and a 10 year installment loan. There is no way  I am getting involved with a 10 year loan, 7 sounded ridiculous, this even more so.  He says zero interest, so I am assuming extremely inflated pricing.  

I mean, I'd take the John Deere - trusted name for many, many decades over this foreign stuff. Just me. I have owned foreign made vehicles, not bad, not great, I'm a Chevy person when it comes to vehicles even tho I own a Ford SUV.  Just what was available at the time and I didn't feel like spending weeks/months looking.  

Anyway, I'm in no rush for a tractor. I'd love to have one, but it's just not in the cards right now.  I'll just have to rent one again to fix the driveway again.  

_________

Many hours later.  One call for a lot today, they put it in the system today and just showed up, lol. Well, no biggies, I was over there and had no clue they were coming. I don't check my email all day long, but I do check it frequently enough, I get a notification if there is reservation.  Big ole' giant motor coach pulling a 20 foot trailer, walled/enclosed.  Who knows what they had in there, probably a car or motorcycles at least.  Diesel pusher, expensive.  As I have been saying for some time, these people spend the big bucks on their toys but boy howdy do they want to tell everyone about high prices for overnight stays! Hence, I get enough traffic coming through on those types of people wanting cheaper prices.  

Time to wind down and get ready for bed. The SUV is filled with gas, vacuumed out and washed. Did all of that a little while ago, she needed a bath and a good vacuuming, which is free with the wash.  This place also has air chucks at every vacuum station, you can check all of your tire air pressure, which I'm glad I did, one of them has a slow leak and was at 25 pounds - it should be at 50.  I put it at 55 since it's a leaker that Ive had fixed how many times now? I think it's time for a pair of tires for the back of this boat.  Actually, it's time to replace all 4.  

 I spent a couple hours over there dealing with this and other things,  mostly this, this being the dumpster.  I sat there in awe of people who are capable of doing such things without blinking twice about it.  Oh well, now it's his  problem, they must have thought with a smug grin on their face as they dumped all of that and left.  Yes, they are very lucky - I am too now that I think of it - that I didn't happen upon them doing it for it would have gotten ugly, quickly.  

I don't take kindly to trailer trash mentality.  As it stands, I blew up her phone with pics of the disgusting filth - some of it was quite nasty, had to put gloves on to deal with it - and told her she WILL be paying for it.  She said she'd send me $40, it's all she has.  Good, it's better than nothing.  

I've got most of it cleaned up and put in the dumpster.  The bags were overloaded and I didn't want to load them onto my trailer like that.  The dumpster still has about 2/3rd's room left, hopefully it will last til next week. If it doesn't, figure something out.  The big stuff is behind the dumpster and I am not going to waste money taking it to the landfill.  I will burn the wood stuff and just throw in larger items as I can until it's gone.  This will save me from having to spend money on this crap.  

That's as done as it needs to be for now.  I cleaned out my vehicle, still have to go up to the carwash, get it washed and vacuum it out.  I don't really have to do all of that, lol, it's just me driving there and back, the kid has to take the bus there and back, apparently it's a school rule, they can't drive back with parents/guardians.  Oh, and fill the thing up with gas.  The venue is already paid for, it was $40 per person for the tickets. It's dinner and shows. Like 2 hours worth of shows with medieval theme. It should be fun. I would stick around Dallas afterward and check some other stuff out, but I'll have to go back to work on Friday, so I'll just drive straight home after it's over.  

I'm looking forward to it.  That is all I am going to do with the rest of today. Oops, plans changed. Those people never showed up, hence I left.  Well, they just called right now, they are going to be at the park in 45 minutes.   I need to move my utility trailer out of the way so they can get the trailer in there.  No rush, I'm 7 minutes away from the park and it only takes a couple minutes to hook up the trailer.  

I sort of need some time to just chill out here.  Tomorrow maybe while I'm driving.  But, I hate driving and especially along I-20 to Dallas.  It's just constant traffic and people looking at their cell phones. 

Anyway, I think I'll get another cuppa and get out of here, get over there and mow their area back down real quick as well.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 Wednesday mid-morning

Still reeling after the view of all of that trash laying out there by the dumpster.  They filled the dumpster up first...it's like a dumpster and a half total of trash they chucked....mostly onto the ground.  The lady trying to defer blame to the dudes living with her....Whatever it costs me, it's going to cost her.  She lives here locally with family, I am not eating this.      

It makes the case that people that don't have very much in terms of finances also don't live very well. At least not with the experiences I have had so far with people that are in the lower income bracket.  I don't have these problems with higher income bracket people.  I'm not trying to be a bigot, but so far, these observations are holding true and I am having serious doubts about whether I am going to allow any of these types of people in my park again.  I'd rather have empty lots than dealing with trashy people.  Proof of income or living comfortably off of retirement.  

I do have a retired couple that moved in getting close to 2 months ago, they have worked out well so far.

Moving on with this, Republic services texted me a little bit ago that they have completed the service, meaning they have emptied the dumpster.  However, I can't just fill the whole damned thing back up with their trash. Where is everyone else going to put their household trash? On the ground, of course.  I'm likely going to load that s*** onto the trailer and either haul it up to the landfill and eat the cost or just leave it on there in the back and wait until Tuesday next week and load the dumpster up as far as I can with it without overloading the dumpster.  

I just still can't believe this lady not only thought it ok to do this, but didn't give a damn the amount of my own time I will have to sacrifice to deal with their s***. Actually, I'm thinking I can burn at least some of it.  I still have the huge burn piles in the front of the property where they had burned up the forest in giant piles. Stuff that can be burned, this is mostly junk, not the waste from cooking and normal day to day stuff.  Just sort out the plastics and burn the wood stuff and maybe I can reduce the amount of trash I have to deal with.

5 paragraphs to convey the irritation and aggravating feeling I am experiencing right now.  

Whatever.

2 days off starting today. I have some new people moving in today, I'm waiting for their text or call telling me they are on their way.  If they do what they laughed about doing - well maybe you'll show up and we'll be in one of the spaces - they are going to also receive a hellish welcome.  I have given them specific instructions of where I want them and that they are not to park anywhere without contacting me first, I will direct them to the spot they need to take.  

If I didn't have the field trip tomorrow, I would be renting a mini ex today.  Get that trench done and over with.  It's starting to warm up, but nowhere near temps it will take to start overheating the main circuit breaker.  I have been saying I need to get that done for many months, however, I knew I wouldn't get to it until - about now, maybe next month.  No later than next month tho. We get into June and that's when the problems will begin if I don't fix it.

So today? Well, I have to deal with that trash.  I can't just leave it like that, it's a very unsightly appearance and I am not going to just leave it there.  After that, I dunno. Maybe nothing.  Well, clean out my car, take it to the car wash, get it all nice and cleaned up for the drive tomorrow.  That will take some time and then, well there's always something to do.   Basically, I'm just sitting here waiting for these people to call. Not going to wait all day, lots of people say they are coming and then - no show.  

Oh, Turbotax cost $237.  We'll see if it was worth that much for an online service, tho I did contact support a couple of times with questions.  Some of the answers were helpful, I'll give them that.  I think I'm stressing pretty good right now, a nice long walk in my woods would probably be beneficial. Get out into nature, temporarily leave the world behind and dial it in.  Life isn't worth living in stress.  Take the dog, let him run free for a while. Sounds like a great idea, actually.

 So, I drive up to Gurdon, feeling miserable I might add.  It was at least good that the product was over 60 degrees inside the tanker and therefore, the delivery was much shorter time than many previous deliveries. But I was soooo tired.  I tried to take a nap while the glue was draining,  just wasn't happening.  

Anyway, I'm on my way back and this lady contacts me: her boyfriend and the other dude living with her basically shafted her, she needs to leave.  Ok.....do you know anyone that might want to buy the trailer?  Long story short, I said I'd ask around, which I was going to do.  

Well, I pull into the park and lo and behold, her whole family is out there moving her out.  I mean, we went from moving out before the rent is due to moving out today. Whatever.  I thought nothing of it.

Fast forward many hours and another person calls. You know those people dumped trash all around the dumpster? Which people? The ones that moved out.  You mean they took the trailer out as well?  So I'm thinking, well how bad can it be, the trash around the dumpster that is?  

I found out.  Some travelers had called earlier needing a place, I had to go over and collect their payment.  The dumpster? There was a huge pile of trash sitting next to the dumpster on the ground and they had over loaded it.  It gets worse.  After I left, well, I hadn't seen the huge amount of trash they had thrown behind the dumpster. This is at  least an entire dumpster worth of trash laying next to it.  They also left a oil drain pan full of, what else? Used oil.   

I was pissed. I texted her, replete with pictures of the disaster she had left.  I flat told her I am not eating this, you either need to come back and clean this shit up or pay me to deal with it.  She ignored my texts for a while but then finally tried to tell me that since she had left early, can I work with her on it?  I guess she thinks I will immediately have that lot re-rented. There is another lot that needs re-rented already and then hers.  

But I unloaded on her.  Why would you treat me this way? You dump trash all around the dumpster and act like a bunch of hillbillies and expect my @$$ to deal with it? WTH.  Yes, I was pissed.  Especially after she said it wasn't her stuff, it was those guys living with her.  YOU rented the LOT, YOU are responsible, not to mention those guys didn't dump that stuff there, she and her family did.                  

I had to stop texting her. It was just too much. Like it's somehow normal to just dump a bunch of junk - as we are talking a lot of stuff here - on the ground and then act is if it's somehow MY responsibility to deal with it.  

Amazingly irresponsible and completely selfish, asinine bs.   I just can't believe people sometimes.  

Whatever.  

 I had to take  a long nap after I returned home today, I was completely out of it.  Wednesday and Thursday are days off. I only needed Thursday off, but the way it works...it's a 2 day run.  So, I'm working Friday and Saturday, they wanted me to work Sunday. Nope.  I worked last Sunday, you are welcome to schedule me for the following Sunday but I'm not missing two weeks in a row of church.  

Well, just realized it's getting late.  I don't have anything forced upon me tomorrow, stuff I'd like to get done but I'm not going to fret it if I don't.  This tax thing really got to me and I don't mind relaxing for a day.  

 Tuesday - early

Sleep eluded me last night.  Fall asleep, wake up, fall asleep, wake up.  Too much stuff going on in my mind and wasn't feeling all the great either.

In fact, if the tanker wasn't loaded with glue, I'd call in sick today.  Not that I am sick per se, just tired and not feeling it.  

I think it's the tax stuff that has really messed with me in the last week or so.  "Your Federal Tax was accepted by the IRS", Turbotax sent me an email. Well, whatever that means. Accepted could simply mean they have it. Do they review these things? Or is it just some sort of program that scans them?  I can't imagine them individually reviewing hundreds of millions of tax returns, but who knows?  I'm sure AI will be involved with this in the future if it isn't already.  

Well, at least they have it.  Sent in on time, barely.  

Today, I'm supposed to offload the tanker and then go switch out trucks. 

However, from how I'm feeling right now? Switching out trucks can wait.  We'll see how I feel later on today when I'm leaving the plant. It's a decision that actually needs to be made before leaving the plant, because going to El Dorado necessarily means heading south on a 2 lane highway that starts in Gurdon.  That is the only way to get down there, other than that, you go way out of your way to get to Eldo from there. 

Anyway, I have an open lot I need filled at the park and I think there are more openings coming.  I'll wait for more to open up before I take out another Facebook ad boost.  I have ads on there, just on my business home page.  It's the ad boost that targets people looking for RV parks.  It is inexpensive and usually generates results. Not always, but generally I'll get one or more people in the park out of those ads being "boosted".  

Anyway, I have 20 minutes to get my stuff ready and get out of here.

G'day

 Monday - late afternoon

It is finished.  I added other sources of income I had forgotten about and done with it.  It has been sent, they are claiming I am owed almost 2 grand, we'll see.  Will the IRS see it differently? Under the current administration that wanted to add almost 80,000 agents and have banks submit to them any transactions over $600?  

Yeah.  Who knows. I'm hoping that if something needs changed, they will simply tell me that more info is needed, or something like that.  I dunno, but I am washing my hands of it for now, if something changes, I will deal with it when I get to the entrance to that bridge.  Hopefully it's a drawbridge and traffic can be stopped to - deal with things.

"It is finished" meaning I have electronically filed my tax return.  Really, the only thing I needed to change was some income that I had forgotten about. It was easy to find, it was in my business checking account.  And I needed to add the check I received from the AG loan company on my mortgage, it says right on the form they sent me it is recordable income.  So yeah, I put that on there.

Meanwhile, the air leak on the truck has grown significantly, to the point I reached out the to lead mechanic - who is the person you reach out to for stuff like this - and asked him if he's available to get this stuff done in the next 3 days? Well, 4 actually.  That should be plenty to replace an air bag and tear apart the guts inside the truck and git'er done.  That is, fix the AC once and for all. If they can't get it right this time, I am going to demand, not ask, for it to be taken to an actual AC repair shop.  This will the the third time trying to get this fixed.

Anyway, a sigh of relief as I am finally done with this junk and have learned a few lessons about inputting where things should be inputted on quickbook/income and expenses for tax return purposes. Do it right now, don't have to have to pull the hair out of my head about it later.  

Oh, well, one kid has a baseball game and the other has a soccer practice. I am taking one of them to the soccer practice.  It's like a mile away from here and its about an hour and 15 to 30 minutes.  The coaches keep them later than the one hour that is advertised, lol.  

Tomorrow will be a long day. Up early, get up to Gurdon, offload and then drive to El Dorado, switch trucks and then drive home. Add 2 hours at least to the return-to-home drive time.  Why can't they have a yard closer to an Interstate? Well, I haven't asked for it's a useless conversation, they are doing what they are doing, but it is probably because they have local people running the day-to-day of the place and why bother switching things up?  Well, because it would be far easier for OTR and drivers like me to access it and not waste a huge amount of time just getting TO and FROM the place.  Trust me, El Dorado AR is not close to any Interstates.