Thursday - 9:00 am

Yup, slept in.  Why not.  I haven't made any decisions about upgrades yet so I don't have a lot to do over there. The park hosts have gotten their act together, even if temporarily, that usually happens when the mom shows up and tells them what to do and get it done now, thanks.  She can't do any work but she can boss those kids around. I take it back, kid (32 year old) - the other one is in jail for some drug charges or something from the past.  

I also called the state of Texas just now before starting to write this, they were threatening to take away my franchise/business license.  Why? Because, I was told on the phone, I had put in the wrong year. Well wasn't it for 2023? I asked...yes, but you have to put 2024 on it.  That literally makes no sense to me whatsoever.  Anyway, she sent me a link to efile, I was able to bring up the correct form, it autofilled, she looked at it after I clicked on continue which sent it into their system and walaah. No more hassles with that.  

At least I got something done and probably why I didn't sleep well last night, I kept waking up thinking about it and how I was going to call today and resolve this issue, if possible.  

Actually, I intend on going over and spending a few hours on the tractor.  I want to get some more gravel from the rear and fill in some holes up front on the driveway and also see if the thing will dig into the mounds and start removing those hills formed after burning down the forest.  

I think I will go to Lowe's and price out the materials to build a covered parking setup.  Specifically, I want to know the various prices of roofing I can put up, looking for the cheapest that still looks decent.  It is highly likely I will press the GO! button in my brain on building a covered lot and get with it.  I will build the first one 30 feet long by probably 12 to 14 feet wide, depending on material costs.  I'm figured around a grand to build one but that really depends on the roofing costs.  

Oh and I'm going to take the pickup to the car wash, wash it and vacuum it out.  Vacuuming being the operative word.  Dog hair in the back seat, it's been there a long time from a dog that is no longer among the living.  So yes, I do have an agenda today, I just didn't feel like getting up early was necessary and especially since I had troubled sleep last night.  

La Quinta refunded my money for the night's stay over there.  Although that's good, I want more.  I have definitely suffered. The constant itching was unbelievable and the sleeplessness just as bad.  Admittedly taking Benadryl helped with the sleep substantially, but then you have trouble waking up and have this foggy feeling all day long.   At least they didn't try to say that I was making stuff up about the fleas.....

Oh! The grouchy driver.  See, I get along real well with the mechanics at the yard.  We're like minded and see things pretty much the same. So when I asked about "Johnny's" truck - it was obviously his because there was a mountain bike mounted to the rear of the thing, the lead mechanic said he had trashed a transmission.  Oh myyy.  I'm sure the company isn't in love with that, transmissions in semi trucks are extremely expensive either to buy or repair.  A new one is at least 10k.  You can buy used ones cheaper but you don't really know what you're getting.

He also twisted off a drive shaft on another occasion.  I know how that happens, but that's usually with oversized loads that are extremely heavy and you aren't getting into granny gear without extreme caution.  Our loads are at most 79,000 pounds and I just don't see how he could do that without extreme malice, like doing it on purpose.  But whatever, the point is that he's not a particularly good driver and also got cranky with the mechanics.  I can tell ya from experience, mechanics will give you a hard time if you've done something stupid.  They don't care for the man and I've had a couple of unpalatable experiences with him, he feels entitled to show up whenever he pleases, including during my loading or offloading time.  

The latest poll has Trump at 50 and Harris at 48 percentage of the national vote. Meaning, Trump is going to win? Oh, I've been predicting a Trump win regardless of the polls.  Even if Harris wins the popular vote, which I don't even think she'll do that, Trump will win the electoral college.  But now the polls are starting to catch up with Harris word salads.  She was asked specifically on 3 separate occasions on 3 different venues now how her presidency will differ from Biden's, she goes straight to Trump and never answers the question.  

She doesn't really answer any questions, she just goes off on how she feels, how people feel, how life was when she was young, yada yada yada and giving no specifics on the economy, the border chaos, the world stage, etc. 

I just can't envision that person being  the President of the United States.  No one wants to hear her blabbering about nothingness, they want to hear about how she is going to help their bank accounts. As I've been saying, people are going to vote with their wallets and people affected by illegal aliens swarming into and flooding their communities are going to vote for whoever they think will deal with the problem. Helllllloooooo?  Harris is IN office and was supposed to deal with the border crisis already and what has she done? NOTHING.  She finally went to the border a few weeks ago and blamed it all on Trump, blasting him and his policies that they immediately got rid of when Biden was sworn in.  Helllloooo?  WHAT is going to CHANGE? The answer is obvious: NOTHING. No, take that back: it will get far worse.

Are we supposed to somehow accept a bunch of murderers and known terrorists crossing over into our country illegally? Venezuelan gang members taking over the streets of certain communities?  I'm voting for Trump not because of his eloquent speech but because he'll take immediate steps to rid our country of these people.  Trump said the other day he's going to get rid of sanctuary cities.. How? By sending ICE in those cities, rounding these people up and deporting them.  

On a rant I guess, but this stuff is unnerving. To idly sit by and watch the destruction of our country and call yourself the President or the VP is maddening.  And people want 4 more years of this chaos?  No thank you.  If Trump loses, things are going to get a lot worse than it already is.  Will Harris carry on Biden's war on natural gas appliances and new oil leases?  

I'll stop now.  I have things to get done today after I started writing here about it.  However, coffee takes precedence! And I've only had one cup lol.  

Oh, the State of Arizona already sent me the title for the truck. Clear over here in Texas, yes.  That was fast.  And from Texas' website I have figured out that I will end up paying $395.31 in vehicle sales tax.  I don't think there is any way around it.  That's just the sales tax, btw, that doesn't include title and registration fees which will bring it to around $500 total. That's pretty outrageous.  AZ charged me $41 to do the same thing.  One need not wonder why the state of Texas has billions of dollars in a "rainy day fund".  

Wait, maybe not. The title is in my name already, I read some fine print that it's referring to having it switched over from a seller.  I dunno, I guess I'll go in and find out, if it's really going to charge me a sales tax fee I'll wait until I get at least a paycheck in to help pay for it.  I need to go in anyway, I never did get new license plates for my SUV after driving through that flooding in Galveston.  The front plate is gone and a cop could pull me over for it if they really wanted to.  So far they haven't wanted to, but it's just a matter of time and I don't know if that's a ticketable offense and if so, how much.  At least it's not a moving violation.

Which reminds me, time to start pricing car insurance.  I've got 2 vehicles in my name now and it's going to cost me pretty good every month to keep them both fully insured.  I don't want to get rid of the SUV just yet.  Well I don't want to get rid of it at all.  It's worth around $7,500, it's got some issues that need to be fixed and well, I just don't see a good reason to get rid of it.  It's got new tires and it will have new brakes and rotors on it soon enough and eventually I'll get the rear AC working.  I don't need to deal with ac now since it's cooling down and frankly, the front AC blasts cold air to the point that when driving it long enough, the entire vehicle cools down anyway.  \

Oh my yes, I'll save $135 per month switching back to Allstate. I got rid of them after they jacked my policy up - and at the time with no accidents or tickets.  Now, they're far cheaper than Progressive.  I think I'll check a few more tho. This is with full coverage on both vehicles including if I cause an accident again - which hopefully I won't - and the vehicles are fully covered.  Of course, they are only going to pay market value for a totally trashed vehicle.  That would be a ripoff but that's common in the insurance industry. 

State Farm turns out to be a lot more than Allstate.  I dunno how they come up with these quotes. I'll probably do a few more and then settle on Allstate if nothing else shows up better.  All I know is I don't want to spend $408 per month with Progressive.  It's probably because they had to pay out the repairs for both vehicles in the accident. The good news is that it really wasn't that much, especially to the other person's vehicle.  A bumper and a broken tail light. 

Meh, I'm done with that for a while.  Time to get out of here and get some stuff done.

G'day

Wednesday - evening

Long day.  It's 2 hours and 40 minutes up there and the same back.  Tho that's a  little bit, the problem was they wanted to go through the whole truck.  I got in there and they told me at least 3 hours and that was with 2 of them working on it - but also included taking an hour lunch break.  It was 4 hours before I left there. 

I took the company van to a local restaurant, it was an old, wooden, passenger rail car that had been turned into a cafe, tho I tend to call such things diners.  Whatever it was, the food was quite good.  Amazingly good, in fact.  Spartan crowd, friendly people.  I was only gone maybe an hour and then I still had 3 hours to burn, so I just went into the driver's lounge - no one in there, muted the noisy tv and took a couple of naps, actually.

I had wished I had taken my laptop this morning, I didn't even think about it.  Maybe next time I go up there I'll remember.

Anyway, I am not scheduled to load until Friday morning.  I picked up a different trailer, this one is actually in good condition and they just replaced all of the brake components - slack adjusters, brake shoes, bearing, hardware and even the caps with windows that go over the hubs.  They put windows in there to be able to check that there is oil in the axles.  

Typically, it's a much longer day going up there and today was no different, tho I hoped it would be lol.  

Still no bites on any of my ads.  I hate to run a Google ad for much more money and get nothing out of it, but I'm sort of stuck here with 6 empty lots and I really need to get some of them filled. This is the time of year where you are making more money because the electric bill goes down for lack of hot weather.  I've run free facebook and a couple of pay facebook boosts and tho I'm getting some overnight traffic, no long term has appeared.  

Tomorrow might be a good day to get all of that wood off of my trailer and get it ready to go find a hot tub somewhere, or carry stuff back to the park to build a carport or whatever.  That wood has been sitting on that trailer for months, I'm tired of it stopping me from access to my trailer.   It's not my doings but if I want the use of my trailer back, I apparently am going to have to offload it.    

 Wednesday - early

Didn't sleep all that great, but I feel fine anyway.  Today will be a relatively easy day with no loading or unloading, but still going to take at least the same amount of time as doing either.  4-1/2 hours of driving total, if I'm lucky and unknown amount of time at the yard doing this and that.  I dunno, but it's why I'm up early.  Get it done and get the day over with as early as possible, I can take a nap when I get home.  

Temps have taken a turn for the better, currently 49 degrees outside, I'm done with summer, thanks.  Over the next few weeks, the highest it will get is 86 degrees and the lowest is 41.  This is all very good for me. The only thing not so great is that there is very little chance of rain in the next 15 days.  I need a good week's worth of light rain to throw some winter grass seed down everywhere including the freshly cleaned out front and get some nice looking rye grass growing. 

The stuff is so easy to grow, one wonders why they can't "invent" see that is the same for summer grass.  

I did fire up the truck yesterday, no, the day before, and let it warm up a bit and air up the tanks and air bags to ensure I didn't have any issues.  It did just fine, thankfully and so I'm hopeful they just will want to do the oil change, try to get them to fix the windshield wiper fluid motor and rotate some tires.  I have no idea about the trailer I"m picking up excepting that it's "just been through the shop" so it's "fine".  I've been told this many times over in the past only to find minor and even serious issues with them.  It will be one of the first things I do when I get up there, do a thorough inspection and make sure I don't see bad tires and such. 

I haven't been finding too much information on hurricane Helene victims, on many "news" outlets, the story has disappeared. Scroll down 40, 50 posts and nothing.  Weird.  Don't see much about these drones that have been hovering over military bases and - what are we doing about that? Or near them, I don't remember the story precisely, just know it was on or near bases.  Why aren't we shooting the things down?  

We're getting quite close to the election day where we'll get this nonsense over with and get the next President determined and move on with our lives.  

 I ended up getting a Lyft to the airport, found it in the same condition as I left it excepting a half flat tire and a paint scratch that definitely wasn't there before.  I filled the tire back up and of course no one leaves a message telling you they are sorry they dinged your vehicle.  

The ride was funny tho.  It was a black lady who was talking up a storm to her black friend (I am only saying the race because they thought it important to iterate it).  We got into this long conversation: the driver, her friend on speaker phone and me about life in general and then the proposal hit: I'm a young, beautiful black woman, single and I need a man!

Lmao! Ok?  I am not looking for a woman.  You've just been getting the wrong peoples!  I blew it off pretty quick, this lady on the phone was serious. I am definitely not looking for a woman and certainly not in some random encounter where I can't even see what she looks like.  

Today is the last day of vacation. It actually should have been over as of yesterday morning, but if my manager doesn't contact me and I am not feeling it, I won't call him.  But, I did contact him this morning, let him know I'm ready to come to work and he is having me come up there to get a trailer, get whatever needs to be done with the truck, get some paperwork and turn in papers.  I'm leaving the same time the kids do, which is typically when I leave for either direction on a run if I'm the first load.  

The truck needs an oil change the windshield wiper fluid motor isn't working.  It's the only things I can think of wrong with it beyond the AC which I have gotten used to and now we're going to be entering "winter" months, temps coming down.  Oh, there is a drive axle tire that is wearing funny for some reason, need to switch it to another position.  Save the tire from ruin before the rest of the tires wear down.  I figure to be there a couple of hours - at most.  I don't like going there for several reasons, but since it's the only thing I'm doing - not loading or delivering - not quite so bad. Plus, they have an empty trailer there so I don't have to drive clear over to the Crocket washout to get one. That adds at least 2 hours.  I was very happy to hear that.

That trailer should be washed out as well, so I won't even have to go to a washout.  

______________

Many hours later.  I wasn't going to leave the truck over at the park, I'd rather leave the SUV over there, but I never made it back over there and I don't have anything pressing to go over there for.  I've run endless ads and not making any progress for long term. I get calls but they don't convert into anyone showing up.  It's a bit disconcerting.  I have ideas for possibly bringing people in, but if I spend the money and nothing happens, then what? 

I've wasted money on a non-starter.  I don't want to throw money at this place and get no results.  I feel like I need to take a different direction with it but those directions are pricey.  Mobile homes, tiny homes, cabins.  In other words, also offering the housing.  When you are working with limited money, whatever decisions you make, you are stuck with them.  If they work, great, if they don't?  Not so great.  

I have the old motor coach the needs to be refurbished inside. The lady isn't going to do it. If she was, it would have been done by now.  It's too late anyway, she had the surgery done on her arm and that is going to stop her from doing much of anything for a while.  I don't think I'm much of a "refurbisher",  but I guess I could give it a try.  Tear out the carpet, tear out the entire kitchen setup, tear out the shower stall and replace with whatever I can find.  House type stuff, not RV stuff.  Much cheaper and just as easy to integrate.  

I may very well do that myself since I'm having no luck. It's really where I need to direct my attention I suppose, now that I think of it.  I could spend a couple thousand on it and hope that I can find a decent renter.  It will also need a new bed.  Or a very good used one anyway.  I think it's going to be a lot of work trying to figure out how to integrate a new shower in there.  It will be a lot of work to put in a new kitchen but I don't think that will be as difficult.  The toilet also needs to be replaced.  

Toilet - $150

Shower stall - small - $229

Kitchen counter stuff - around $300

New cooktop or stove with burners?  Now that will be a dilemma.  Do I put in propane or electric?  If I put in electric, will there be enough power in that thing to power it and the rest of everything else? Probably not.  I would likely have to go with propane.

Then you have to have a propane water heater.  Look, a lot of RV stuff is run off of propane. It's only a 30 amp setup, it has to have stuff running that isn't drawing off of that.  It can be a pain to have to get propane, but if you want to cook or have hot water? That's how it has to be.  

Some of this stuff could be found used and in good condition and I don't mind going that route to save money.  

I'm thinking carpet for everything but the kitchen area, which had carpet but kind of dumb I think to have that where you're cooking.  I'll be glad to get rid of that kitchen set up, it's old, bad condition and ugly.  I think that's it. That should be the next direction, that or installing at least one covered parking and well, everyone is all over the idea of a hot tub, even in the winter.  I'd have to have a concrete slab poured, get the hot tub and buy a cover kit to have it covered.  Not enclosed, just covered.  

These are the things I can do.  They're within reach and frankly, to bring new people in for the lots, the hot tub isn't going to cost that much and - who knows?  Maybe it will draw people in, maybe it won't?  I figure a grand for the slab, whatever for the hot tub - I may end up driving a longer distance to get a cheap one from the Dallas area - and a $300 soft top gazebo.  

I"m looking at a new gazebo for $258, 13X11 dimensions which is enough room for the hot tub and a table and a few chairs next to it.  I guess I'll have to put up a fence and a padlock door around it now that I think of it, that will add to the cost unfortunately.  I rarely get kids over there but it only takes one tragedy to ruin everything.  Well, even that isn't terribly expensive for enough to surround it with a gated entry.  

But, the gate has to be a self-closing type so the people who don't care whether the gate is left open or not won't cause someone else to have something happen. Honestly, the boys here are the only kids over there right now, that and one of the ladies bring her baby granddaughter over to watch while her daughter is working.  Still, for safety's sake, gotta do it. 

"There is a way which seems right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death".  Seems like a ghastly scripture to apply to such a situation, but I always think, hmm, it sounds good to me, but what does God have to say about this?  Is my thinking astray? What do I do to get the park filled again and keep it that way?  How do I get the people in there?  Good thing I have a job right now.....otherwise I might be in panic mode.  I'm just saying, what does the Lord have to say about any of this? Do I pull the trigger on any of this stuff or do I just sit patiently and wait until I see some definitive sign that I know it's the Lord showing his will? Or has He already done that and I've been blind to it? Or is my thinking about some of these things right on and His blessing would be upon it? 

I could go on like that for a while.  "Fools think they are right, but the wise listen to advice".  I haven't had any advice on this matter from anyone.  I'm certainly open to other's opinions, even if I think they are wrong I still hear people out to see if there is something to glean from what they are saying, especially in situations where I feel like I am groping in the dark. 

The book of Proverbs speaks about fools, sluggards, lazy people.  I think I will read that entire book again before I make any decisions. There is a lot of wisdom in that book and there might be something that speaks to my heart.  I feel like I am losing out on perhaps some input from church members who are also business men/women who could give me some direction.  I haven't gotten involved with the church - yet - after all the time I've been there. There are plenty of venues.  Wednesday morning bible study, Sunday morning adult groups, the Lord's Supper twice a week....they do it differently than most churches, they actually have a meal and then drink the blood/wine.  Well I doubt they are serving wine, that's sort of a Catholic thing moreso than in protestant churches.  

So there it is.  I've come up with some path to find wisdom.  Here's my thing: I am not a seasoned businessman.  I have spent a lot of time researching, and things have gone reasonably well until recently. People that were only staying temporarily - a month, 2 months, whatever, left town and left my park.  And people? Haven't been coming in their place.  I've only had overnighters since the last long term left.  That's been a while now. I looked at this new dude's place, he's been running ads all over the place and so far, he's gotten 5 or 6 people in there.  There isn't a large pool of RV'ers to draw from.  Not with all the RV parks in my immediate area and all the new parks going up all over the place.

That is sort of a confirmation in and of itself that I either need to be offering housing or I need to get amenities in there that no one else has - or potentially better: both.  I don't think a single RV park in my area is offering a hot tub.  Many of them have trees for shade, I don't have that.  Hence the thought of covered parking which appears to be highly popular anywhere I see it offered. But see, just because it's popular at a park 90 miles away, does that mean it will be popular enough to draw people into place?  

Again, if that was my only source of income, I would be in panic mode right now.  

Which reminds me, I have to get up early and the hour is growing late. Late for an early rise anyway.  I have been going to sleep pretty early this entire time I've been off anyway, not much of a transition excepting forcing my @$$ out of bed at 5:30 am.  

Enough.  I throw myself into a conundrum of thought attempting to sort out what I should do and at the end of it, I just come up with: I need wisdom.  Wisdom coming from those that are experienced in making business decisions.  People who have no vested interest, but want to see others succeed.  This is where I have been stuck at for a while now.  Without wisdom and clear instruction, it's kind of hard to proceed in any direction - all of them require spending money and I am just not willing to go there atm without decisive direction.

BTW, God uses people for such things in many cases.  This is why I am open to whoever, wherever that might have something to say that I am just not seeing. A person might say something that confirms to another person the direction they should go and the person saying it might not even realize that what they are saying is akin to revelation to the person hearing it. 

 Tuesday - late morning

I haven't been posting - I get started on an entry and then get distracted by things and don't get back to the blog.  

I left off at the 700 mile mark in Odessa, spending the night there at the Marriott Residence Inn.  It was a good night's sleep and I ate a wonderful breakfast - they have a huge breakfast bar at all of them and it includes meat, potatoes, cereals, waffles, scrambled eggs, etc.  I didn't eat too much meat but they were serving egg white scrambled so I scooped up a bunch of that.

The rest of the drive home was uneventful even if full of stupid people who have no business having a driver license.  Ridiculous nonsense.  

The truck ran perfectly, never a single hiccup.  It gets almost 18 mpg which is good for that thing, I have subsequently found out looking it up online.  My SUV only gets 15 on the highway, I was already used to gas hogs. In fact, the SUV is still at the airport and I am trying to find a ride over there. Taylor doesn't have to go over there all the time anymore and by the time she goes back, I will be on the road and won't be able to take advantage of hitching a ride.  

So, I am likely going to have to pay for a ride. I dunno if I can get an Uber or Lyft over here but I'm going to try.  The SUV can be parked at the property for now, it needs work and tho I want to do it, it's not high on the priority list.  Front brakes and rotors, rear ac not working and a bushing.  I'm guessing a grand need be dumped into it, but I will likely replace the brakes/rotors myself and save a ton of money.  

Anyway, I stayed at a local La Quinta the day I returned for reasons I won't get into here, unpleasantries I will label it as. It was the first really good night's sleep I had had since the Sunday I had left. Marriott was good sleep, but not great.  I forgot about the part where someone was stomping up and down the hallway at 5:00 am-ish, I was planning on sleeping in until 7 - 7:30.  The noise went on so long that I was tempted to get up, get dressed and go out there and confront whoever.  I didn't do that, but still.

La Quinta was great sleep - but.... it's also the "Dog Inn" where people are allowed to bring their dogs in for stays as well.  Not a problem, except....I realized my bed was full of fleas too late.  My arms, chest and back were bitten all over and I have the bumps and red marks to prove it.  I have spent the last 2 days in itching hell and took a Benadryl at 3:00 am last night.  I went to sleep, yes, but now I have having trouble waking up, that stuff will knock you out.

That was the point of taking it, I just have things I'd like to get done today. I am not back at work, the manager hasn't contacted me and frankly, didn't really want to go back to work right away.  I am thinking of contacting him later  on today and working out getting back to work tomorrow. I'll need a trailer to start with, which is why I'm dreading going back to work. It is highly unlikely I'll get the trailer I have been using for many months and I'll have to start back at ground zero with whatever issues some other trialer - WILL - have because they always have problems and drivers don't get the stuff fixed. 

The truck needs a complete cleaning, I will say that. Dog hair and it just needs wiped down good and get that dog smell out of there.  I might do that today.  The city has forced a water limitation on everyone and the car washes were shut down. They had a main valve bust and they have to have one manufactured.  This city has a very old water transmission system that needs to be completely replaced.  They piecemeal everything together and constantly fixing water leaks.  Apparently, one of the local washes got permission to open back up, I'd like to get it washed and then spend quality time vacuuming out the interior.  

However, I am going to go to the park in a bit and see if I can get an uber from there to the airport.  I have heard Uber is up and running here again, I will try it. It will be an expensive ride but I can't leave my vehicle sitting there forever.  I don't want to bring the SUV back here, too many vehicles here as it stands I have one, the folks have 2 and a motorcycle.  

I just texted the manager the dreaded text: ready to go back to work tomorrow or whenever such is available.  I can't stay off work forever and trust me, if I'm not forced back into it and I get into "that" mindset, I will just sit it out for as long as I can get away with it.  Lol.  It's been long enough, I think the flea bites are starting to heal sufficiently but if it isn't oh well, deal with it.  

It's really bad on my fingers.  I didn't realize what was happening until too late. Started itching my fingers and cranking on them without thinking about it.  By the time I realized what I was doing?  Too late.  Have these giant bumps all over.  

And was on hold with the Texas State Comptroller. Required filing every year, I sent it off months ago and now they are threatening to take away my business license because I didn't file?  I sent it off to them via snail mail.  No clue there, but I intend on getting to the bottom of it for I need that license to operate my business.  

Whatever else?  I just talked with the manager. He wants me to come up and pick up a trailer, plus do whatever service the mechanics deem necessary and I have paperwork to turn in as well as hazmat paperwork that needs renewed.  I'm not hauling hazmat atm, but if the situation arises, need to be legal for it.  I'm going to leave early in the morning so I don't have to waste an entire day doing that nonsense.  Like, out of the house by 6:30 am, out of the park by 7 and up there around 9:30. It's only 136 miles but it takes 2-1/2 hours to get up there, probably spend a few hours there and the same amount of time back.  Gets me home no later than...2:30 we'll give some extra time there. 

I don't know what else. Still running ads and not getting a lot of hits.  I'm being undercut by other parks so I have advertised $200 off, given out over a 3 month period. I'm not giving $200 off the first month, it's long term and if they want the discount, they'll have to stay 3 months to get all of it. The new guy has meters so he's advertising much less and disclosed in fine print that the power is extra.  People will figure it out after they stay there a while, it isn't the bargain they think it is.  

However, I could install some meters on some lots for fairly cheap and try it.  Just take the profit in the rent and the guest can eat the electric bill.  I'm still about these covered parking setups and I'm going to have one installed, or do it myself because they will probably charge a fortune to install it.  Just rent an auger machine, dig out the post holes, put the posts in, cement them, etc.  I kind of want to build a woodens structure, they don't look tacky such as their metal ones do.  I have seen several parks with the metal versions I just don't like the way it looks.  I don't know if anyone else cares, but I am about nature and the metal isn't about nature.  

Shrugs shoulders, obviously my "old" way of getting people in isn't working I have to reinvent the park.  That only happens with additional amenities.  

Oh, and Lyft is actually available here.  $38, it's 40 miles there so that's not really a bad price. Get my vehicle back and have that issue taken care of. 

In fact, I'm going to finish getting dressed, head over to the park and order the ride.  

G'day

 Friday - night

I started early today.  Got up, sat down with mom at the kitchen table, chatted a bit, drank some coffee. I knew this was going to be hard, but it was time to go.  I took her second and last vehicle.  I didn't ask for this vehicle, btw, I didn't even know she was considering that until she asked me if I wanted it.  A truck with 53,000 on it that's loaded for it's year and is in excellent condition? For free? And knowing it's mom's truck. She loves this thing - loved.  I feel so bad for her.  I know she's very old and it was very responsible for her to give up her driving privileges knowing that she basically was posing a threat to other motorists with her vision problems - but in our currently reality? 

Not having the freedom to go wherever you want to when you want to after living a life of doing so is a hard thing to digest. The flip side is Uber/Lyft are quite abundant out there. But yes, you give up a freedom that you might take for granted until it's gone. Seeing that truck - it was really something to her - backing out of that driveway and seeing her face? I started crying. She's my mom.  It's one of the few reasons I want to live there, I would be over there all the time asking what she wants, what she needs, do you need to go anywhere? 

I knew this would be hard but knowing it didn't make it any easier.  I have mom's truck she's had it since she bought it new in 2008 and I will never sell it. It's in excellent condition, as noted driving it 700 miles today and it will be around a long time before it's ready to be smelted and made into something else.  I lost everything I had in a house fire in 2004, things from my grandma that are absolutely irreplaceable, things I wish I still had.  You get mom's truck? You aren't getting rid of it. Sentimental value, memories, things that are irreplaceable.  

So it was a bit of an emotional departure this morning.  

Anyway, I got 700 miles covered and I called this right.  I reserved the room at this Residence Inn yesterday figuring I would want to stop at the 700 mile mark and I was definitely right about that. I was more than ready to stop driving when I got here.  And I was very glad that the points actually worked, my name was in their system and I didn't have to show them anything beyond giving a credit card for "incidentals".  

I just want to go back again, not a year from now, but during winter.  It was just unbearable for me.  I don't care how hot it is outside as long as you can go inside and cool off.  I don't even know if it's going to be better at her place in the winter, she probably turns the heat on when the heat is not called for?  But there is a remedy for that. Close the outlet on the ceiling and open the window. 

It was a sign for me that I did the right thing when I booked this room: I walked in here and the thermostat was set at 65 degrees. I probably could have driven the other 500 miles out, miserable, get it over with, blah blah blah type of mentality, screw that.  

I didn't sleep well last night. I haven't slept well since I got there. I am not trying to find fault with mom, I just can't sleep in conditions that resemble being outside in blazing heat.  And she really needs to replace her bed mattress. I do not want her bedroom  but she always insists I take it.  She's a very wonderful person and no one could ever tell me differently.  I sent her flowers after I left : )  

I have had people telling me I should just stay at a hotel when I come to town. And do what?  Offend my mom?  Her place isn't good enough for me? She lives for family.  I'll lie in coals before I do that. I might say something about it on my blog but in real life, I would just deal with it.  

She sent me off with a cooler full of food. Sandwiches, oranges, a plastic baggies full of banana nut biscuits - do you understand?  She is very precious to me and I do not want to offend her and I definitely ate a lot of that food today.  So, as long as she is among the living, I will stay there when I come and even tho there won't be a vehicle to drive, it will be good.  Uber/Lyft. They are abundant out there.  

I'm tired.  It's getting late. I'm going to bed. 

 Thursday - afternoon

Less than 24 hours and I'm out of here.  It's just so hot here, it really took me by surprise that it's still as hot as it is.  Most people that live here are also not happy about it, lol.  October and it's still 110, 108, 106?

We went to the Dollar Tree a bit ago and mom stocked up on whatever she wanted.  Her second and only remaining vehicle is leaving here tomorrow morning, I am sympathetic to her continued verbiage of having lost her freedom.  Can't hop into a vehicle and take off anymore.  I did offer if some miracle happens and her vision comes back, she can have her truck back.  I know that's unlikely, but through Christ all things are possible....

Last night I spent 5 hours at a pub in Florence with one of my buddies.  I did have a couple of beers but I stopped drinking long before I had to leave, no sense taking risks when you have a CDL.  He wants to meet again tonight, he's pretty much pouring out his heart - his wife died during covid because of covid, the connection is that I knew her wife from high school days.  I knew him as well, tho we didn't hang out much.  

Today I'm visiting with my son at Texas Roadhouse followed by a couple more hours at a different bar, I guess, with the old friend.  I'm going there to visit him, that is his place of consolation apparently. Can't judge the man, he's in a psychological hell losing the lady of his life, I think they were married something like 40 years.  I'm not staying late there, however, I want to get up early and head out.  Drive about 10 hours, stop for the night probably in Odessa and then finish out the trip on Saturday.  

Credit card rewards paid for the trip out here, the Texas Roadhouse adventure tonight (I have the gift card in my email and ready to go) and hopefully, a hotel for tomorrow night. I was going to use BofA points, they do it differently.  You purchase whatever is approved and then you get reimbursed for it later.  So, I just redeemed all of that, some $400 plus and it's going to be deducted from my current balance.  

I am now going back to Chase to see what I have left there, I didn't have much Wells Fargo rewards because I had used them previously on an expensive desk chair for my room and then for the Texas Roadhouse thing.  

Ahh yes, enough for a nice night's stay at the Marriott Residence Inn.  Haven't been to one since...Oh, we stayed at one of their properties in Dallas area when we went to 6 Flags.  I had my own room because I sleep better without other snorers around, lmao.  

I've driven the truck around town quite a bit, a gas guzzler like my SUV, oh well. Once I get it back it will be driven around a very small town for the most part.  I've had my SUV for 6 years and put maybe 50,000 miles on it, that's including driving to previous work several times a week which was 32 miles each way. None of that now, I will not rack up the miles on the odometer.  It would be many, many years before it gets up to 100k miles.  

I'm just happy that a vast portion of this trip was paid for with rewards that I have had sitting in there for quite a while.  I wondered if there are expiration dates to them so yes, I have cashed most of it in.  

I was watching the hurricane devastation.  Over 3 million people without power, a terrible amount of property damage and 5 people confirmed dead so far. It's the tornadoes that really got to me, tornadoes are "evil" in nature, popping out of the sky and completely unpredictable in their path.  Not like a hurricane which people can see well in advance and can plan on whether they need to leave or not. 

I think a Sheriff said one county alone had had 17 of them.  

But the real tragedy is Kamala Harris attempting to make a political issue out of it.  DeSantis rightfully stated she has no role in it whatsoever and openly discussed his conversations with both Biden and the head of FEMA.  It sounds like Biden and DeSantis have remained on good terms with each other in order to deal as best as the government can with the aftermath.  

I'll be glad when this election comes and is done and over with. The ads here in AZ about both local politicians' campaigns and national are unbelievable.  

I've heard no complaints from the park.  One person wanted to pay me cash, I told them I'd collect it when I return. The park host people - the mom is there now - said there was no 2 stroke oil so I had some delivered yesterday to cut the excuses for not doing anything out.  I have a 4 night stay coming in today, plus the 2 1-week stays and a couple of overnighters coming in tomorrow, at least I've got something going on with the available lots. I've had several inquiries about long term, but they hear my price and balk at it.  Yeah, wait til you go to the competitors.  In fact, stay with them awhile, get charged the extra for electricity and then I'll see you in a month or two, lol.  

I think that's it for now. It's 11:30 am and still many hours before I leave to meet my son and have a little adventure. 

 Well that's over with.  We got there and the guy was saying they can't just put the title over in my name, they have to register it as well.  Well dang.  I was thinking a lot of money because the truck is worth a bit, 16-18k on the market.  We stood there discussing this back and forth and I just said well let's see how much it's going to cost to register it in my name?  The thing is, they had trouble doing it with my brother and the car she gave him last week.  

But, this guy made it much easier than what they went through last week.  The end of the story is that I have the truck registered and titled in Arizona in my name at my house and they are going to send all of the stuff to the house in Texas.  For $40.  Yeah, I was almost shocked, I really thought a lot more. Much easier to just transfer a title already in my name than one in another name that also has a living trust attached to it.  That was the point, bypass the living trust stuff.  So, I don't think it was wasteful in that regard to go ahead and do it here only to have to do it all over again in Texas.  

It gives me 30 days to figure out how much that's going to cost me, but the thing is, it said it was almost a thousand dollars.  Crazy.  A 15 year old vehicle costing me that much because it's a new-to-me vehicle so they are going to charge tax on it.  

Anyway, it's good to have that over with and I already put insurance on it, don't want to be driving it around without insurance obviously. The truck needs a good interior cleaning but otherwise it's in good shape.  

Arizona is a swing state. I've been sitting here watching the smear tactic ads coming from both sides against the other. It's absolutely brutal.  I've seen nothing like these ads in Texas but that's because we aren't really a swing state.  I wouldn't say Texas is a solid red state what with Houston, Dallas, Austin and other towns but it's more so red than blue.  I just sitting here in awe the viciousness of the attacks. I'm assuming these are coming from super pacs.  

Well, mom wants to go eat, I'll have to get back to this later.  

_________________

Good taste in food, Mexican food more specifically.  

Meanwhile just sitting here watching all of the news and reels and videos of people in dilemmas of what to do.  I mean, if we're talking a Cat 5 hurricane, I'm outta there.  Helene was bad enough and those people haven't really even cleaned up after the first one.  They're predicting landfall Wednesday night.  I think if I lived in Florida - and I don't because of things like this and house sized mosquitoes - I would have a pile of plywood and screws readily available in a shed, on-property, to deal with this stuff last minute notice and then get the heck out of there.

Yes, it will likely downsize, but a Cat 3 can wreak horrible damage.  Not like it turns into a puff of wind and then it's gone.  I feel for those people, definitely, but again, I don't live in Florida for a reason and it's been a long, long time since I've been down there.  I remember getting stuck in Miami once long ago when I took a truckload of stuff down there but they couldn't find anything to get me back out of there. After something like 5 days I told the company they either get me out or I'm just driving out of there regardless.  I wasn't getting paid at all. 

Oh, I'm thinking I'll just drive 10 to 20 for the route back. I kinda need to make up my mind soon because using those credit card points for hotels, you kind of need to do it in advance.  I was thinking make it to Odessa the first day and finish it out after.  

It is very warm in this house.  It's still hot here and she just doesn't like it too cool.  I'm actually mildly sweating sitting here.  Which when you are in that all day long....Grin and bear it.  2-1/2 days and I'm out of here.  Plus I'm going to see a friend either tonight or tomorrow, I'm waiting on him to tell me when and Thursday will be dining with my son and spending some time together.  I wouldn't mind driving around and seeing all the changes here since I've moved out of this place.  

There seems to be a helluva lot of people either changing their minds about voting for Kamala and therefore voting for Trump or not voting for Kamala as they were going to but not voting for Trump either. Either way, Trump picks up gains.  I don't believe these polls.  I just don't.  There are 3 or more historically democrat supporting unions that have decided they aren't going to support either party.  That's a win.  

I dunno, I haven't looked at the metrics of any of these polls, I might start doing that again. Find out what sampling they took of each party.  I saw so many in the 2016 polls that were sampling more democrats than republicans even the parties have pretty much the same percentage of eligible voters.  Many of the polls are run by leftists.....

I get calls once in a while to do a survey, they find out I'm conservative and then it ends, lol.  

 Tuesday - mid morning

I can't say either flight was uneventful. Both flights, kids were seated behind me. Very young and very, very loud with the screaming and crying.  On the main flight, the mom had fully 4 children with her and no one else to help her out.  I don't want to judge too harshly, but please.  If you are going to have more than you can handle, you really should consider bringing someone with you to deal with it. Normally, I would have said something but I did have a little sympathy, even with the kid kicking my seat off and on the entire trip. 

I will say here that once I got to Dallas, I ate lunch and yes, had a couple beers. Figured I could just go to sleep on the second/main flight.  There was no sleeping, I can assure you of that.  When we finally got to Phoenix, I got to the baggage area, got my bag and then went and just sat down.  Take a minute to compose myself after such a dreadful flight. It would have been nice if the flight attendants would have at least tried to help the mom....

In about 50 minutes, we are heading to the MVD to get the title over into my name. She already did this with my brother with giving him her car so I figure this should go relatively easy.  

And it figures I would get people calling me for spots while I'm gone.  It also took quite a while to figure out why my laptop wouldn't connect with my personal hotspot on my phone.  It was bringing up an old iphone credential, I finally figured out, with a different hotspot password on it, changed that and it finally connected. I had to see if I had any spots available. I've had 2 people come in for 1 week stays, these people wanted to come in on Saturday.  I said yes, that's fine after finally getting connected to the campground software, but I only have back in spots available. So she decided to go ahead and book a back in spot.

Unfortunately, my T Mobile doesn't have the greatest signal strength here, which is pretty odd. Phoenix is the 6th largest city in the nation, granted I'm out east of there but you would think they would ensure good signal strength everywhere in highly populated areas.  I ended up switch off 5g and connecting LTE which works much better.

I have no great plans for today beyond the MVD trip. I think mom wants to go shopping but after that?  No idea.  I always show up here during the week which is a mistake.  I don't know why I didn't think of that, people are off on weekends, not weekdays excepting my son who has Thursday off. Oh well, lol, 3 days including today and I will be off.  

GPS isn't even giving me the option for taking I-40 from here, it just goes straight heading east on the Superstition 60, into the mountains and eventually connecting to I-10.  Hmm, Google maps lets you alter the route.  I dunno, maybe I'll just go I-10, it seems like it's being forced on me lol. 

Well, it's almost time to leave.  Having a nice visit, house a bit warm but that's the way she likes it.  

 I may be a bit of a chatterbox going on here.

But, I successfully checked in both flights, signed up for text alerts about those flights and paid the baggage fee up front, saving me $5.  AA charges $40 for first checked bag.  If I were getting a deal on the flight, I could see that, but the flight was $350 or around there, I think it was, for a one way ticket. That's hardly a deal.  Then again, I didn't pay anything for it by using Credit Card points but still.  

I then had the thought that my trip to Texas Roadhouse with my son could be made through credit card points and sure enough, BofA has the option of electronic delivery.  Chase didn't but oh well.  So, hopefully that arrives before or on Thursday and that dining experience will cost me nothing more than I've already paid to the CC company. 

I'm not sure about hotels, I'd like to decide where I want to stop for the night meaning which route I'll take home and get that on there. It takes up to 24 hours for them to process it, we found out the hard way.  This will greatly reduce my expenses on this trip.  So far I've only paid for one way baggage.  I have an Uber trip to mom's house which will probably cost around $40 - it's quite the distance - and then whatever activities I may get involved with, but nothing spectacular.  Mostly just hanging out.  One thing I don't have to do this time and that is stay until Friday if I feel like I've visited enough and want to leave.  

I dunno, really depends on mom since I'm staying at her house.  If my staying too long is going to cause her problems I will just leave - no I can't leave on Thursday, I am meeting up with my son Thursday evening. Well, I guess I could leave Thursday night but why bother.  Might as well just get up Friday morning, bid my farewells to mom and head home.  It's probably the only thing that I miss about living there is being close to mom and son. I'd definitely be over to her house once a week to help her with anything and to go stores and such.  She apparently has a list of things she wants me to do as it stands.  

Ok, well, it's 9:00 am I just checked and time to be off to the bank and Krogers. 

___________

Bank deposit made, electric bill for park paid, Kroger's done, battery pack on camera almost charged.  Oops, guess it takes more than 3 hours, it's a huge battery pack. Hopefully it will last the week, I didn't have time or desire to put it back on the charger and go back there yet again before leaving.  New weed eater delivered to the shed, toilet paper put in the dispenser the rest of the pack in the outside shed, fuel tank filled up, gas station coffee bought, clothes in the dryer - I wanted to wash a last-minute set of clothing - and now I'm pretty much set to go.  

Oh, and Allen contacted yet again. The boy only mowed the dog park, he did not mow behind the shed and pick up the blocks James -- former tenant who left without paying 2 months worth of rent, tho the second month was currently due, not well past due at least - left behind.  Nice blocks actually. Not mine, but he left them so now they are.  Told Allen he needs to do that today along with spraying the grass killer I have repeatedly asked to have done.

A little less than 2 hours before I leave here. I'm going to show up well in advance. It's a boring airport, very small, but they tell you to arrive early and I take their advice always to just show up early in case there are issues.  I'll have my laptop and my phones and chargers so at least I'll have something to do while waiting. 

If there is something else, I"m at the shrugs shoulders stage.  I'm checked in early with the scan code to show at the airport along with the baggage.  What else is there? Probably something, there is always something I forget.  Oh, yes.

Snakes. Have devoured most of my Koi and goldfish.  And just ordered the bait and about to order the trap.  If I catch the thing/s, I will probably just relocate it versus killing them. Although I am sure I will be tempted to kill them since they have devoured literally hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of Koi fish.  I only have small goldfish left and maybe 2 small Koi that I bought not terribly long ago.  I buy them small and just let them grow throughout the years.  The bigger Koi were around 8 inches long.  Just pisses me off and yes, I am going to get rid of them one way or the other.  

Pretty sad, actually, not like those Koi can defend themselves.  There are hiding places but I don't think those work against snakes, they work against birds or raccoons and such.  Watersnakes will simply go underwater to catch their prey.  

_________

Departure time fast approaching. For some reason, I don't really want to go. If it weren't for my mom and son, I definitely wouldn't go.  My family doesn't make any attempt to reach out to me beyond those two, it was the same when I lived there.  Show up for Christmas and sometimes Thanksgiving and that was about the extent of family get togethers that often-times ended in arguments and people storming out.  I don't miss that nonsense at all.  

It's a lot of effort, lost time at work, money, etc to take a trip like this is all I'm saying and frankly, I like my own bed.  It sounds selfish and maybe it is, mom isn't getting any  younger, no idea how much longer she'll be with us so there is a sense of urgency to spend a few days with her.  Other than that, I really would just say screw it, stay home.  The traveling is sort of fun, I would pay for an upgrade but the only seats left available on the aircraft are middle seats.  Still, I'll ask when I get to the boarding gate at DFW if there are going to be any no shows, I'd pay some extra money for extra leg room.  By the time one of these flights is over with, my knees are hurting badly from being cramped in such a position.  I do have a window seat so I can sort of turn sideways which usually helps.  And so far? There is no one taking the middle seat next to me.  That would be grand if it stayed that way....

It already changed. The middle seat next to me is now taken.  There are only 2 seats left on the aircraft at the very back and both middle seats.  I just refuse to sit in middle seats, it's bad enough sitting on the row or next to the windows......

Closing this one out.  Next update will be DFW, tho I'll probably just do a Facebook update for that.

 Monday - early

I don't have to leave here until noonish, but I have stuff to get done and I was already about it.  I got up, took a shower and immediately headed over to the park.  The outside camera needs recharged and I wanted to wait until just before leaving so I can hopefully have it charged enough to last the entire week. It usually lasts at least that long with a full charge. Also took the new weedeater over there and put it in the closet in the shed next to the shower.  I dont want it left outside and I was hesitant to even bring it over in the first place. 

The kid, no idea. He's 31 years old so not exactly a child, but that's the way he acts. Spoiled and immature.  I haven't been keeping track of him since the ultimatum except that day when I made it, he worked that day, has he since then? I can look at the camera once I get to Dallas and sitting there for 2-1/2 hours twiddling my thumbs.

I still have to go to the bank and deposit cash and go get some TP for the shed.  I have to go back over after 3 hours or so anyway, might as well take the toilet tissue over there as well. I don't much care to keep it stocked, people take advantage of it and go through it quickly. I suspect some are still sneaking rolls of it out for their trailers.  It's a convenience, yes, but people use it constantly versus using the bathroom in their trailers.  And lots of people take showers in there.  I get that, those older trailers have 5 gallon water heaters in them and you might take a 3 minute shower or something like that and then it's done.  No more hot water.  

I also still have to pack, but that won't take but 10 minutes and that will be done.  

Nice clear flying weather today. No storms between here and AZ, 1 stop at DFW, nice day to fly.  No red eye flights, I chose this afternoon flying on purpose.  I used to do the red eyes to save money, but what a hassle.  I also used to drive to either Love's field or DFW to save money.  And tho the savings can be significant, you have to factor in driving over there, so gas spent and then paying exorbitant amount of money per day to park your vehicle.  

The savings disappear when you take the whole picture into consideration.  A lot less hassle. It's a very small airport over at GGG, same security measures to get into the secured areas but after that, there is no more.  Yes, my license has the gold star for RealID compliance, I just checked lol.  That is a requirement now, or I guess if you have a passport.  

Alright, quick break, I want to get packed so I have that done and over with...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Okay, that was easy. But, I like to pack it, sit down, think about it for a while and try to remember anything I should be taking with me.  I probably should take a copy of my insurance with me to show for getting that truck into my name, however, it's just going to be title, not registration, really shouldn't need it.  We have an appointment for Tuesday I think she said to sit down and deal with it, under a living trust and apparently that makes it difficult for anyone to do anything different than what's in it already.

My friend I was going to visit over there is still going through hellish times mentally and emotionally, I'd love to visit him but it appears he's not in any mood to entertain friends.  I dunno, play it by ear as the old saying goes.  I figure time spent with mom, taking her wherever she needs to go, spend an evening with my son and if I don't see anyone else, the purpose of the trip has been made.  Taking the pickup home is an extra added benefit but it also marks a sad day that her vehicles are now gone - she gave her other vehicle to one of my brothers already - and that she has to depend on Uber to go anywhere.  

The upside is my oldest brother still takes her up to her mountain getaway and taking an Uber isn't the end of the world.  Plan your trips and make them infrequent, she doesn't go out that much anyway.  Still, I can imagine losing the freedom of being able to drive has to hit hard. This was all voluntary on her part, btw, the state didn't revoke her license.  

I feel like eating something, like going to IHOP, but I decided to wait until I get to DFW and have a nice meal at one of the restaurants there. A bit pricey, but the food is good and a good time to eat as soon as I get there and have time to digest food and any bathroom needs taken care of before boarding the A320 for Phoenix.  Yes, I checked the type of aircraft, I do not want to get on a 737 Max under any circumstances.  They stand right up there with the MD-11in my mind and they can keep it.  It took 2 crashes killing everyone on board both flights if I recall correctly before the FAA did anything about it.

And now you see lots of near misses with aircraft taxing on runways - with clearance - and aircraft landing at the same time.  Ridiculous.  I probably watch too much Mentour Pilot, VASAviation and Mayday Aircrash Investigation episodes. Not to get into fear of flying, but the fascination of learning about commercial jetliners - which listening to Mentour Pilot you can learn a lot about how such aircraft fly and the nuances of it - to see what happened and what they ended up doing about it.

There was a particular aircraft that had a cargo door blowout and took out a part of the floor of the main cabin.  I think the first time it happened the people were lucky and the second time? Not so lucky as a couple of rows of seats were sucked out with it.  I have no fear of flying per se, but taking off sort of ruffles my feathers.  I don't much care for it.  

I"m watching more footage of the Helene aftermath.  Many areas now have food and water but no power, running water or communications.  Starlink coming in, people shipping in generators and I've seen gas tankers pumping fuel fight off the tanker.  I have a problem with them charging $10 per gallon, however, that has the appearance of price gouging and taking advantage of desperate people.  They are predicting it will take years to rebuild and I would have to agree. I also wonder about insurance companies and how difficult they are going to make it to get payouts.  

But they're going to have to fix the roads to get into some of those places and there are still reports of remote areas that still don't have anything.  Horses and pack mules are headed into those areas if they aren't there already.  The worst thing that could happen right now is another storm and here we go with Hurricane Milton.  

Well that's enough for now.  I have many more hours to burn before I have to leave here. Off to Kroger's for toilet paper for the shed and deposit cash into the business account.

G'day