Of course I got up here early and of course they aren't ready to unload.  So, I headed to the hotel, got a room and went to Buffalo Wild Wings for incredible bone-in wings that rock the world.  

I haven't used this laptop since the vacation, the battery was almost completely dead, gag.  

The property is dead at the moment. It's been raining and they can't do any dirt work until it's dried out. That will be next week at the earliest and then? It's supposed to rain again. 

If only they would have come last week.  The pedestals are in, there isn't any holdup there.  In fact, I got on the road and the dude called me.  Wants payment for it, I told him I'm just leaving town (literally had just left the city limits) and wouldn't be back for 4 days.  

I am still doing research on RV parks - but much of it now is coming from owners, managers and investors.  Whatever a handful of people might say on the internet does not necessarily translate into what most people either like or will tolerate. 

Not that I don't want to see what RV'ers have to say, but I was giving the internet too much credence.  What do the people that have been in it for years or decades have to say?  People that have dozens of parks in different states?  

Or people that only own one park but have been doing it a long time.  They have gone through the ins and outs of owning a park, they have an understanding.  I've gained more insight to what I should and shouldn't have - and still have people wanting to come. Most things haven't changed, but the beginning of this setup has definitely changed to address my finances versus what I "should" have.  

_____________

That was several days ago. I'm home now, it took 1-1/4 days to get back.  I was home before noon yesterday and was informed that I could take a load up to Morris in Illinois if I wanted it, she was giving me first dibs at it because she knows I like the Illinois runs. And I do.  Especially since Brownsville isn't getting any detention pay right now, they are getting empty trailers to the staging yard in time for drivers to swap out when they arrive. 

This next trip - leaving tomorrow/Sunday - will be the third long trip in a row.  I'm not a big fan of them, but I lost a lot of income on those 12 days off that I definitely haven't made back yet.  These 3 runs will help with that.  It's a 3 day run unless they hold me up at the plant. It's happened before, usually they get me out of there within 3 to 6 hours depending on who is unloading.  All I have to do is make it back to St Louis the second day and I will be able to finish out the run on the 3rd day.

It's around 1,700 miles round trip, so it's a good run and good money for 3 days gone.  3 runs around 4 grand gross pay I'm good with that. 

Diet is coming along nicely.  Some days I struggle, especially with intermittent fasting, such as this morning lol.  Another 3 hours before I can eat anything and I'm hungry right now.  But, I'm down to 213 pounds and the fat loss is noticeable.  My gut has definitely shrunken (shrank?) quite a bit and I get full quickly because of the fasting.  I don't feel so hungry during the day after I finally eat my first meal. It's not the easiest diet plan to follow, but it's probably the fastest way besides getting that operation on your stomach.  

I know people who have had that operation and they eventually end up losing hundreds of pounds. These are people that were out of control with their eating and had to take drastic action to get the weight down, facing serious health problems.  Exactly why I don't want to get big like that, my job doesn't help at all. Sitting in a truck all day long and then when the driving day is over, I don't feel like doing much of anything but going to bed.  

I'm trying to get the contractor nailed down on when he's going to come back.  The rain blew all plans right on up.  I'm going over there today to see if it's dried significantly, it's been 3 days? 2 days?  I dunno, I was out of town 4 days.  He doesn't respond right away to texts.  In fact, I'm pretty sure he doesn't look at them until he's ready to do anything, the texts show read receipts and if he has his phone set up right, he can see the beginning text of what anyone is saying.  Yes, it's kind of lame, but I have few options in this area, especially at the rates he is charging.  

There are lots of bigger projects going on with companies that have much deeper pockets, I am just worked in when they are in a lull.  It isn't optimal but so far I am patiently waiting this guy out, tho I do send short texts such as a few minutes ago asking him politely if he has a revised time frame for coming out again.  Yes, the land has to dry up, but I still would like a potential commitment.  

His electrical contractor told me 5 days ago the pedestals were in.  So we were supposed to meet yesterday to hand over the cash.  He never followed through, so I also sent him a text this morning.  He also hasn't replied.  I don't think they work weekends so it may just be that they don't deal with this stuff on Saturdays or Sundays. 

There is going to be a point in the near future where, if they don't start moving on  my project, I'm going to bite the bullet and go find other contractors to do the work.  None of the rest of them do all of it, it would have to be different contractors doing the various things that need to be done.  I don't have until the next of never to do this project. I want the work done and the money spent so I can get moving.  He really should have had this dirt work done by now, it's obvious other projects are taking priority.  

It would be nice if people would simply be upfront with their intentions and if they have other stuff going on that will cause' the project to take longer than it probably should.  This contractor is the "premiere" septic system installation company in this entire region.  I suppose I could get everything else done by other contractors and then use him just for the septic part.  

Whenever I do get to the crossing of the line - where he is just not getting the work done, I'm simply going to issue an ultimatum, get it done or I'll just move on.  He will likely respond to move on.  Hence I am not there yet.  Once a person tells me to move on, I'm done with them regardless of how good a job they may do or even the best price.  

There is another dirt contractor just outside of town that has a huge construction company. His pricing was higher but I will use him if I have to.  Actually, the more I'm thinking about it, it's really starting to get at me.  I need at least an explanation?  Well, I'll give at least another week.  If he doesn't show up by then I'll call the other guy out to give a revised quote since the land clearing is already done.  

______________

Feeling extremely lazy after doing all kinds of housekeeping stuff, I found a person to come over and do the front yard.  The person showed up with their entire family .They all got out with rakes - but they were also pulling a trailer with a large zero-turn professional style mower on it.  

I was amazed. They got straight to work, the only one that wasn't doing anything was a 5 year old (guessing) girl,lol, didn't expect her to do anything.  Raking, weed-eating, mowing, getting all the leaves up. This is leaves from fall, lmao, a bit embarrassing I guess, but it's all gone. They even supplied their own leaf size bags and hauled the leaves off. The price tab? $45!  I gave them a $5 tip for hauling off the leaves even tho they didn't have to be asked to do that. 

I have that run tomorrow, hence I don't feel like doing anything else.  I am not going to do food prep, I have a place to stop both nights and they serve excellent, tasty food.  Just grab the sandwich making stuff and I'm good to go.  A local restaurant has finally started making the keto meals they were advertising.  I was going to get  a couple for the road and try them out - but - their dishwasher broke down and they had to shut down temporarily until it is replaced.  

Maybe next trip.