I'm finally starting to feel - much better.  Still a bit low on the energy levels but the coughing has gone way down.  I'm not asking to go back to work earlier than Monday and they probably have Monday filled up so it's probably going to be Tuesday before I can go back to work. It's far too long for taking work off, but I had little choice. There was simply no way I could have worked, especially that kind of work, feeling like that.  Even a short trip would have just been beyond miserable.

So I go a week without a paycheck? Actually more than a week, closing in on 2 weeks.  Amazing they don't push me to come back or threaten to fire me if I don't.  Then again, they aren't exactly busting at the seams with new prospects wanting to join the driving ranks.  I dunno why they allow employees off so long for sickness, it's part of life but I know some companies won't "tolerate" it.  If I can't work, I can't work. Not like I try to find excuses to get out of work on a frequent basis.  

Anyway, I went over to the property yesterday to see what the guy had done with the box attachment and then bush hogging it after I said I wanted it all done.  It's ok, but I guess there is no good way to get rid of the sticks sticking up after the initial tree clearing. The closest thing to gone that I have seen of that stuff is the dirt work they did with the bulldozer. Even that still has some "stuff" sticking out, but it's pretty minimal.  I don't know, but I'm going to put grass seed down on this freshly dragged portion, there is plenty of exposed soil.  I really don't know what else I can do besides going around with cutters and cutting all of these sticks down by hand - there are hundreds of them.  

I'll wait before going to that much trouble, see if these sticks are going to push out leaves and start trying to grow or not. If not, they can just sit there and rot, it isn't worth that much effort.  I do wonder if a riding mower would cut those things down tho.  I've been looking at used zero turns going as low as $800.  

I also met with the contractor, he was out there measuring distances.  He's aware that I'm trying to keep costs down and says he does things to make it as minimal as possible.  For example, instead of running a main sewer line along the driveway, you just cut across the lots where all of the outlets will be.  That way you save all of that pipe that you would otherwise need going up and down the lots.

Some people would balk at this - what happens if you need to repair it? Well, if I need to repair any of that within the next 20-30 years, they did a poor installation.  Otherwise,  there won't be any issues with it and nothing will have to be dug up. Same with electricity.  And water pipe.  

So, he said he doesn't make any money off of the pipe, he just charges me whatever he gets charged. Good, I replied, is it okay if I try to get it cheaper? I still have connections in the waterworks industry.  Sure!  Not trying to bring my own steak to the restaurant but since he said he doesn't make any profit there really isn't any reason not to let me at least try. I'll get middleman pricing.  Or maybe a very small percentage tacked on to it.  They'll charge me their cost plus whatever it cost them to ship it to their store.  I dunno, tho, this guy has been in business for 30 plus years, he may have good contacts.  

I'm waiting for him to send me the list.  

Well, this one isn't going to go on too long.  Just hanging out, resting mostly, trying to get better.