More

So, Sargeant McBroom wrote back after I inquired him about what else I can possibly do to help Michael get with the program.
I already figured he has had number absences - it's a month into the school year and already 9 absences.

He said he would try to get him a bus pass. That will be the end of it for me, if Michael gets a free bus pass from school and STILL has absences, I'm washing my hands of him. He will be told he can come back and visit us - after the school year is over in June. Seriously. He allegedly got a new video game for his system as his family's house - which is why I didn't see him yesterday - I assume he missed yesterday as well. Missing school to stay home and play video games.

His parents think this totally acceptable and want to be "friends" with their kids. Nice - after they are grown up and out of the house - until that point, you are their PARENT, not their best friend. The things you force your kids to do probably aren't going to be very popular with them, such as the stance I am taking with Caleb right now. I'm sure when he grows up he'll think I was the worst dad on earth - so beit. I will not have him compromising his future because he's too lazy to get his homework done or doesn't want to participate in class.

So, time plods on and so do the issues. Seems like I can't buy a free moment of time to not have anything going on that is totally negative.

But, I did have a few moments of peace outside. For some reason, the dogs next door decided to not bark at me and I ended up putting in 4 more plants. I have 10 small ficus trees left to plant and 2 more larger plants, the name of which escapes me right now.

My problem is that I have no idea WHERE I want to put those ficus trees. I have a couple of spots left, sure, but 10 of them? I planted all 3 of the Chinese Elm this morning. 2 in the back and one out front, while ridding the front of dead mini rose plants. Half of them could not survive the intense summer heat. They just burned up. The other half were much denser and made their own shade to survive with. I like the little roses they put out, but I don't like the thorns when trying to clear away any weeds or grass that is growing around them, so no loss on getting rid of the dead ones and decided whether I want any of those plants out there at all.

The ficus cannot take their place, unfortunately. I have enough trees and shrubs out there already, I need more ground covering plants, the likes of which I have none. Some more nurseries are going out of business - but I'm not sure I want to spend another penny on plants right now, I have plenty. Until I figure out what I want to do, I have plenty of rocks from the back I can haul out there to cover the exposed ground.

Oh, I was thinking of putting the ficus out on the very front, next to the sidewalk, but I have had great difficulty getting anything to grow out there. So, gonna take a walk around the property, look at places an eventual tree might go, if there aren't any good places, I'm going to give them away - I paid all of a buck a piece for them. lol

That's it. Ken's mom just tried to call - and I was in the middle of looking for a video on my puter files which froze the whole computer up - the call went unanswered.
So, gonna call her back and then go take a look at where those ficus trees might go.

Rent

Jeff - the ex-tenant who has moved back in temporarily - asked yesterday if he could get me to write up a rental agreement. I still have his "old" one from before, but I said okay, it's apparently for use for his lawyer. HOW it is going to be used, I have no idea, but that really doesn't matter.

While doing so - and writing in the monthly amount to be paid - he continued on with his rather unending statements about how much it's going to cost him to retain this lawyer. Supposedly, he has til' November to come up with 5k. I'm not so gullible as to believe much of what anyone says anymore. People I don't know very well? Could be lying through their teeth.

The last time I was looking for the lawyer route, I was told all kinds of extremely high prices - but that it could be paid off in payments. HIGH payments, yes, over a span of 10 months is what one of them stated.

The man has given me no choice. I mean, I have been waiting for him to talk to me about the rent, as there has been no agreement from me that this is a free ride here. I am sorry that life is hitting him squarely between the eyes with his girlfriend breaking court orders and not allowing him to see his own son, but I have MY problems, too, and most of it is directly related to my finances. To think that this guy is feeling that he's going to stay here this month, next month and half the next month after that - for free - is off the wall. Throw me a bone, give me SOMETHING to work with here. Instead, I am hearing constant statements about how much money this lawyer is going to cost.

I'll bet he isn't sending a letter to the loan company that is carrying his vehicle title with such statements: "Hey, I'm going to have to put you on hold for 3 months while I get my personal stuff taken care of". Guaranteed, they'll come and haul that sucker off.

So, I have no choice but to confront him on it. If he feels he simply cannot pay rent - albeit the fact he's working 6 days a week and taking in very good money with OT - then he can find a new place to live. Most people aren't handing out free rooms right now that I know of, especially in this economy where many folks are finding renting out rooms is a lifeline that is helping them stay afloat. My situation exactly. I would love to be in a better position and help him out - but my circumstances dictate my actions in this particular case.

What makes it even worse for me is that I terminated the ad, told people the room is rented and thought I had this all behind me. I hate having to be the guy that is always giving out bad news, I really do.

I was outside for a little while. Those stupid dogs next door started yelping the second I walked out there. I'm going to start logging the day and time they are barking and doing more video of them sitting there, barking away in case this ends up becoming a court matter.

My next plan of attack, as ugly as it may be - is to block their view of my yard with that black plastic. It only need be high enough so they can't see, that might, just might, help quelch this stuff.

Well, I'm off to read some world news and then get a start on the day.

Happy Saturday!
ben