A few things on this lovely Wednesday morning with a projected chance of rain coming at noon and lasting all day long.  Nothing new around here, that's for sure.  

The mower. It works great - after fixing a tire and putting in a new battery. The only other issue right now is the deck plate sits way too low.  It's cutting the grass too short even with the adjuster all the way up. So, I need to fiddle with that and see if I can get it to go up an inch or two.  If I can't, I'll take it to someone who can. I'm not exactly a riding-mower mechanic, but a lot of it is fairly simple stuff.  

I ;have yet to start the vanity installation.  I'm trying to re-motivate myself.  The shed is just an on-going project that seems to have no end in sight. One thing I have definitely determined: I am not installing that drywall.  I will put up the 6 sheets I have sitting there, the rest? It can wait until I feel I have enough finances to pay a person to come in and do it for me.  The spray foam I bought didn't work worth a hootin' nanny holler either, so I used it on large gaps and threw the can in the trash.

Another trip to Lowe's yesterday and bought 4 cans of different stuff.  I also cut an 8X8 board in half and set that for a stair.  I now need to drill some holes in it and pound rebar down to hold it in place.  

The AC is working ok - but it will be a lot better once I get all the gaps filled with the insulation.  I'm seriously considering buying a larger unit.  This one is just chugging along trying to keep up. A larger unit with more btu's would be able to cycle on and off more frequently, saving me money on electric.  They have them with wifi now, I just found out.  I think it was a 10,000 btu for less than $300.  The money spent will be the money saved and then some in electricity and the ability to comfortably cool the building.

Further, I can control the temperature from anywhere - people tend to turn it all the way to max setting and the leave it there. That's wonderful! If you aren't paying the electric bill, that is.  I have the space in the wall, just would have to cut out a bit more tin off the side of the shed and possibly have to remove the 2X4 I put to hold it up and move it down a bit. I'm probably going to do it.  

I've ordered a new 27 inch soft side piece of luggage for the trip. I also ordered an actual 30 amp outlet for next to the shed, the thing I put together just isn't that great. It works but it could be better.  

Hipcamp is live now that I have that 30 amp setup out there.  Yea, so far hasn't generated any bookings.  I've had a couple for the RV park portion from the hipcamp website but  not for my Hipcamp area.  Glad I didn't spend a lot of money on that, I'm still going to install the outlets since I have the wire.  In fact, I have no overnighters booked on any site until the 20th. It's an 8 day stay, but still, I need more overnights coming in. If you do a search on Hipcamp for my town, I did this on incognito window,  my park is the first thing that shows up.  

I don't know what else I can do.  This may be the lack of motivation going on right now. The shed is fully functional for a toilet, a shower and coin op laundry and so far, the only thing that really gets used is the laundry.  Well, one of the grumpy folks like to use the toilet.  I don't  know why, don't care either, he can use it all he wants.  They mow their lawn like every 4 to 5 days.  This is what they want me doing with the entire park.  No thank you.  I'm going to get a calendar and start scheduling the mow dates. 2 to 3 times per month.  Not, 7 or 8 times per month, that's ridiculous. 

It is still necessary to mow in between the trailers with push mower, btw, that won't change anytime soon.  Rocks are the reason and the push mower has a bag to catch all of that stuff instead of it being hurled at windows and sides of trailers.  We can't be having that.  

A person of interest has sent me some money.  Note that the only thing I"ve said about money in recent times is trying to get a large loan to expand the park.  This amount wasn't anything near that but it is definitely a start.  I might be hinting at anyone that has the resources for a loan, yes, but that's mostly in groups that are designed for that purpose.  People need loans - other people have money.  Or companies that have money to loan. I've had a couple of people contact me about it but so far, nothing has materialized.  I don't want investors having partial ownership of the park, I want a collateral loan that will give me full control over the finances and decision making. 

Could I actually fill up 14 more spots? At the right price, probably.  I'm not currently advertising that price, I got the idea of high electric bills and decided I would raise the price to what's the norm for this area and see what happens. I've had several come in on the higher price, but if push comes to shove, I will lower it back down if I have to.  It will get people in there. That's because it's a smoking deal.  

I'm facing fully 5 lots being emptied out here sooner or later - not too long from now in other words - and I am going to be needing those filled up.  I do have one person allegedly coming in on Saturday for long term.  He said he drove through the park in his car and liked what he saw.  Well, I hope that turns to be a new check in the "lot 7 is full" column.  But I need more.  I have lot 7 open until Saturday morning for any stragglers that need a place to stay overnight.  Lot 12 is the one that has some longer reservations.  I only actually have 2 empty lots right now, I just know that several people are leaving in the near future and I will need those filled back up quickly.

Hmmm. That lady that is the truck driver trainer apparently extended her stay.  It went out like another month and the reservation system is showing her owing more money now. It was originally 33 days. Well, I'll deal with that after she's been there 33 days, lol.  She can stay as long as she wants.  I didn't know they could do that.  I looked at that thing numerous times, I know she paid for 33 days, just took me by surprise that the thing is showing her staying until near the end of June now.  They must not be anticipating anyone coming in to take her place anytime soon.  She also says she likes it out here.

So, I was going to spray more grass killer today, but I'm not doing that with rain coming. That stuff isn't cheap and having it wash away into grass that I don't want killed isn't too appealing either. And then there's this little tidbit about summer grass.  I suppose I could use a portion of that money I was given to purchase enough sod to do the entire park. A truckload, delivered, 16 pallets worth is $2,320.  I have been dreading this.  It doesn't matter how I do it, it's going to cost money. And planting seed just doesn't seem the way to go.  

There is one thing about sod that would be great: there would be no more rocks to deal with.  I could use the riding mower everywhere.  I just shudder at the thought of spending that much more money on this project. Really would like to have this done and over with.  The truckload is the cheapest way to do it. But then, I have a full truckload of sod I need to install myself? Lol that's a lot of work.  Not to mention I would have to try to time it when there is plenty of rain in the forecast - having to water that many lots would be a bit ridiculous.   I can see weeks worth of moving hoses and sprinklers around. 

If only Bermuda seed would grow as easily as rye grass seed! Just throw it out there right before several days rain and a week and half later, you have grass!  You don't even have to put down mulch or fertilizer.  See, that's where putting down grass seed becomes untenable.  You aren't just spending over a thousand dollars on grass seed, you are also having to do a lot of prep work.  Sod? Much easier. 

Honestly, I don't want to do any of it.  Mostly because of the money.  

I think when I get to the point I have no choice, I'm just going to buy a couple of pallets worth at a time so I am not rushed trying to install an entire truckload of it and also, I can  water it if need be without having to move hoses all over the park every day.  A bit wishy washy on this subject, the savings of simply getting an entire truckload delivered are substantial. $1,680 cheaper than buying a few pallets here and there....I am not going to decide this yet.  It's just another headache to have to deal with.  The winter grass is still alive.  

Well whatever.  Now that I have the money to get an appraisal done, I may - or may not - try to approach another bank about a loan.  Is anyone even lending in this nightmare we are calling an economy with the Fed raising the interest rates even more and the newest numbers out showing even more inflation hitting Americans hard? It may not be the best time for this.  I guess it doesn't hurt to try, but I don't want to drop thousands of dollars on an appraisal and get nothing in return out of it.  I'd need a bank to do everything else on my credit first and find that if the appraisal is good, they will give me the loan. Otherwise, I've spent that much money on nothing, basically. 

I may just go through the nightmare of applying for an SBA loan and see what happens.  I don't know if they need an appraisal, but when I originally talked to the agent that helps you prepare the documents, he said I wouldn't need a down payment.  It's just going through all of that again.....

BTW, what do you think of McCarthy's stance with the White House and Republican demands to force decreased spending with a new debt ceiling?  I am watching this pretty closely now that things are starting to get heated up. The left all came out at once and demanded to take default off the table. If McCarthy takes that off the table, there is no bargaining chip because the left refuse to negotiate. They don't say that, of course, but that's what it really boils down to: Our way or the highway.  That's what they have always done. Pelosi set the standard for doing backdoor deals without any Republican input and ramming bills through.

I wonder why they are so outraged now that Republicans are using the lefty playbook? Well, because they see no need to limit spending and they want to continue their march towards a completely centralized federal government that has total power over the states.   This is also why they are targeting conservative SCOTUS justices.  They want to impeach one of them for "extravagant vacations on a billionaire's dime".  Blah blah blah. I've heard all the rhetoric and I have dismissed it. They claim Clarence Thomas is in cohoots with whoever the billionaire is and has made rulings favorable to that individual's desires because of it. 

It's endless the parade of nonsense they pump out against Republicans, the whole lot of them are nothing more than hypocrites that engage in the same s***. Just look at all the new revelations about the Biden family having received "millions of dollars from foreign entities" revelation that says they attempted to hide the sources. Politicians are, in my view, mostly corrupt regardless of which side of the aisle they are on.  They are in it for the power, the fame but mostly the money.  

Ok, off the pedestal, I was going to apply at this company that haul cryogenics but found out they have inward facing cameras with microphones. Nope, no, no and no.  I'm not going to subject myself to being spied on. That company - Groendyke - is desperate for drivers and has been for quite a while.  Sorry folks, you aren't going to sit there and be able to watch me while I'm driving. You can have a forward facing camera, I'm all for that, but a microphone? I remember now a few of their drivers at the scale house at Eastman. They complained about it but said if they cover up the camera, they would get fired. I didn't care with my company, I covered it up anyway.  

I literally don't care what anyone thinks about my desire to keep my personal life - personal - inside of a truck. It doesn't matter to me who owns the damn thing, I'm not going to subject myself to that kind of scrutiny. I might change my mind if I get into a financial bind and that's the only way out. But they expect you to be robotic in your driving demeanor. Artificial Intelligence is a part of these cameras now, identifying if you are sleepy, if you are taking a drink of water, if your seatbelt is on or off, a host of things.  I know myself entirely too well, having someone jumping down my throat because of some report an AI controlled software system generates would make me angry.  I would just give it straight back at them and quit before they could fire me. It isn't even worth going there to begin with.

There are plenty of jobs out there without AI controlled, inward facing cameras with microphones listening to everything you are saying.  

Enough of that. This entry waxes long. I'm out of here.  Go get something done over there, probably just try to use all 4 cans of that insulation up and see how it goes.  Maybe try to adjust the mower.  I've got one dude that came for a month that either needs to pay up or leave.  Not that I would put it that way, but that's where he's at.  The month is up as of today, I don't give away free spaces.  He has a girlfriend that lives there with him - he didn't tell me about that when he moved in.  She's a real gem, too, putting that sarcastically.  

G'day