Rancher

There is a bit of news online that I was reading today that captured my interest - greatly.
It seems there is a rancher that owns 22,000 acres of land that is right next to the border. Illegal aliens have been using this rancher's property for years and years as a way to try and enter the U.S. illegally.

A little blurp from the story:
"""""""Mr. Barnett told The Washington Times in a 2002 interview that he began rounding up illegal immigrants after they started to vandalize his property, northeast of Douglas along Arizona Highway 80. He said the immigrants tore up water pumps, killed calves, destroyed fences and gates, stole trucks and broke into his home.

Some of his cattle died from ingesting the plastic bottles left behind by the immigrants, he said, adding that he installed a faucet on an 8,000-gallon water tank so the immigrants would stop damaging the tank to get water.

Mr. Barnett said some of the ranch´s established immigrant trails were littered with trash 10 inches deep, including human waste, used toilet paper, soiled diapers, cigarette packs, clothes, backpacks, empty 1-gallon water bottles, chewing-gum wrappers and aluminum foil - which supposedly is used to pack the drugs the immigrant smugglers give their "clients" to keep them running.

He said he carried a pistol during his searches for the immigrants and had a rifle in his truck "for protection" against immigrant and drug smugglers, who often are armed.


ASSOCIATED PRESS DEFENDANT: Roger Barnett said he had turned over 12,000 illegal immigrants to the Border Patrol since 1998.""""""""""

Now, the fascinating part of this is that 16 ILLEGAL ALIENS are suing this rancher, in the news story's words: who accuse him of conspiring to violate their civil rights when he stopped them at gunpoint on his ranch on the U.S.-Mexico border.

These people are NOT legal citizens of the United States. What did they expect from people on our side of the border, a Welcome Wagon? The unbelievable part of this to me is that a federal judge is actually entertaining this 32 million dollar lawsuit.

I was just flabbergasted to read that a U.S. court is actually hearing this case. What unbelievably BAD kind of precedent will this lawsuit serve if those illegals actually WIN their case? This is the kind of thing where I would like to see the Supreme Court step in and put this nonsense to an end.

I'm just in awe here. I mean - this man actually helped the U.S. Border Patrol by turning in thousands of these illegals. If I owned a property like his and had illegals wandering through, you can be rest assured that I, too, would be going around my property HEAVILY ARMED.

Well, whatever.

I worked pretty hard today, wore myself out. That's a good thing. I put up yet another CL ad and had 2 replies within minutes. First was a crock of s*** from a "french" lady that is asking for personal information who doesn't even live here. The second was a phone call - I put my broadband phone number on there. I didn't answer the phone because my Magic Jack didn't show a phone number from whoever was calling. It is a lady - judging from her voice definitely older - who is moving here from Oregon and needs a temp place to stay until she finds her own place. The catch? Well, as I've been warned numerous times before, I should probably stick with guy renters. The second is that she has 2 Pomeranians. I actually like Pomeranians - my mother's now-passed "husband" had 2 of them. Little yip dogs, but very lovable and very loyal. I just don't know if I need 2 MORE dogs around here.

So I don't know about that and haven't returned the phone call. It's after 5:00, so whoever was supposed to come - isn't coming apparently. Which leaves - another guy who I didn't hear back from after I replied to his email. He did, however, leave a phone number, so I may just call.

It was cool here today - I was wearing a jacket most of the day. I'm getting more and more winter wimpy every year. I find I don't really like the cold that much anymore. I mean, not even in the 40's - where I used to love it. I don't like extreme heat, either. I can tolerate it, but I definitely don't LIKE it.

Perfect.? I just got off the phone with a potential renter moving in from out-of-state. I've had 2 of those so far and both of them were excellent renters. This conversation went well over an hour. They're moving back here from Oregon and will be looking for a new home and expect to need a place to rent for 2 months.

I'm not looking for a long-term renter on the 3rd bedroom - just enough to get paid up on some things and maybe even get ahead. Or - take all of that renter's money and put it on the electric card reader and have 2 of the 3 hottest months of summer paid for before it ever gets here. Perhaps THAT is the best idea. No, in that case, put that money in my ING account and have it in savings to use for electric. I have never "lost" any money on those card readers, but to have that much money on one would be a little - scary - for me. Plus - I would have the money for any emergency, something I don't have right now.

Ummm, I have numerous things to do before going to bed, and it ain't gettin' any earlier.

Lord knows I HOPE that there is some kind of orders to pull and deliveries to make tomorrow - please???????
G'nite folks.
ben

Tuesday

I get to work this morning and there's an email that has been distributed to everyone. About the regional manager coming for a visit - like - the manager of the entire western half of the country, I think.
The general manager is asking everyone to greet him and - clean up everything before he gets here.

With me, that's a given. Big boys/girls come along, you spiff up the place as much as you can.
Aren't coming until Tuesday - but there was a LOT of NOTHING to do today - I didn't drive any trucks, I spent the entire day at the yard, sweeping, cleaning, vacuuming, picking up stuff, moving things around. An eternity of a day I can tell ya.

Of course, the speculation continued on even more. Why is this guy coming now? He's going to every single of our stores - which is only 5 total anyway - but they're spread out. Tucson, Downtown Phoenix, the East Valley, the West Valley and then Albuquerque. Take that back, there are 6 stores, but he's not visiting the one in El Paso, Texas. I imagine this is a tour to make decisions. That's me guessing - but my guesses are usually pretty close in these situations. Keep all the stores open - or not? Reduce the labor pool? Get rid of equipment? Who knows. Keeps up thinking, guessing and wondering, that's for sure.

I slept okay last night, but I'm very tired. Probably because of the sleep I have lost on other nights. I'm thinking another long nap coming in-queue very quickly here. At least lay down for a while - I was on my feet all day long.

My work-week is half over. If I really do get Friday off, then this is half-week right now. I think I could really use another 3-day weekend right now.

Allegedly a potential renter coming over today. I think it was a 5:00 o'clock apppointment. I dunno. I want to take a nap, do a little cleaning up around here and if they show, great, if not, another person waiting on-hold if they haven't found a place yet. If neither of those work out - have to place another ad. May just do that anyway to get mine back up near the top. It must be buried by at least 500 ads by now. It's apparent that renting out rooms is something more and more people are willing to do in order to try and save their homes. I've given the hints to people that are struggling - it's easy money - or is it? Depends on the person you get in there, that's a fact.

I'm still thinking it's tougher to get a tenant when you already have 2. I disclose the fact that there are already 2 tenants in here. A potential renter should know whatever pertinent facts there are concerning a place they want to live at. At the same time, I read ads on Craigslist frequently that are home filled with 4 and even more tenants - all individuals that are not related to each other - so I know it's possible to get more people in here, just have to keep the ads running until it happens. Mary is not a done deal yet. I'm going to wait until her payday to find out whether she's still a renter in my house or history.

I have other things running through my head, but I need that nap.
C'ya later.
ben