I spoke too soon. 

Actually, I went to the grand opening of the QuikTrip here today, I saw the guest, he was just standing in a corner with several other people huddled around an electronic device.  He was obviously there as backup, in case something goes wrong, he can fix it.  I didn't bother him, but I suspected he would be leaving soon.

Meanwhile, I had to cancel the 4 night stay.  I just couldn't take a chance with this guy or potentially another dude leaving, they might leave - they might not, who knows?  The other dude? I just went over there since his phone number is invalid now.  He's staying another month.  Yes sir, do you have the card on file? Yes sir, it's probably on there. Okay, just charge it tomorrow.  

Well, on my way out I noticed the QuikTrip manager had left. So, he paid for a full month, meaning he actually has 13 more days left, but he informed me when he last paid that when he leaves, it would be ok to just re-rent it, he wasn't coming back. Nope, probably never see him again.  I can't imagine another QuikTrip opening in our town....

So, I rushed back home, might as well try to get this 4 night stay back - well I have to clarify. I spoke too soon to this guy, refunded his money and told him in email earlier today that I couldn't host him, I had a person come in long term and take the spot. I wasn't able to get to my software to block it out before you reserved it, my sincere apologies.  I sent him an email 10 minutes ago telling him this other lot is available - lot 5 to be precise - and I will be unblocking it shortly.  Which I did. 5 minutes later? He already rebooked.  Sigh of relief. It's more money for that lot than what it's supposed to get for a month.  $120 worth.  He must have needed to stay on my side of town badly to be looking at his email that fast and rebooking that quickly.  

Also on the way out?  The dude that came in last night? Had a huge fire going in his fire ring.  That's what they're there for, obviously, just took me by surprise. Fires haven't been a "thing" at the park.  I've had them several times, but most guests don't have fires even with fire rings there. I had thought about getting a pallet full of prepackaged firewood for sale, but why?  If no one uses it, I've bought it for nothing but my own personal use?  I don't need that much wood over there.  I'll just keep my eyes open. If people request it or if enough long term are having fires, I can definitely accommodate. I don't remember how much it was for the wood, I would have to charge around $7 or $8 per bundle. Sounds ridiculous, go look and see what they're selling at Kroger's and the like for the same amount of wood and what price they are charging. 

Still, if long term wants fires bad enough, since they're long term, they're obviously going to town to buy groceries and supplies.  There are lots of places selling firewood.  I don't see making that much money off of it and I do see it being more trouble than it's worth beyond offering a convenience.  It's like the money changer machine I didn't buy - too expensive and not worth it. Not with just one washer and dryer.  The people that want to do laundry? They get their quarters. I don't know where from, well one of them told me they go to a local laundromat and use their money changing machine lmao.  Whatever works.  If I had 5 of each machine I'd definitely have a money changer in there. So yeah, beyond perhaps just getting a cord of wood for the winter and putting it by the big firepit, I don't think I'm going to do that.  

My mind is on expansion. Don't have the money for it, but that's where I'm at right now.  This is yet another goal - but it's big on my horizon.  Just because I know that Interstate project will be here in a few years and those people are going to be looking for places to stay.  I'm a further away from other parks, but I am starting to get a reputation.  A good reputation, lol.  Word of mouth goes a long way, well beyond any advertising.  It takes time to get that word of mouth out there, yes, but it is gold. 

I feel like this is like a Monopoly game. You spend all your money during the game, it's only at the end - if you are winning - that you get rich. I don't care about getting rich, I just want to be able to pay my bills, save money, buy decent things and be able to travel here and there.  It's not a millionaire's lifestyle, it's what a normal person wants to be able to do.  I also feel like it's a little late in life to be doing this, fast approaching 60 - 3 months from now - but what the hey.  I'm healthy enough, I guess. Knees aren't the greatest, my left arm has been giving me trouble and other minor maladies, the price of getting older.  My fingers feel it when I'm driving, one of the main reasons - out of many - that I wanted to quit driving trucks.  I pretty much lay my hands flat on the steering wheel instead of grasping it while I'm on the open highway and not a lot of traffic around.  Not like I can't instantly grab the wheel.  

I don't think age is a big issue, but it is an issue, like when will I slow down too much? Well hopefully not before I get the place where I need it and can hire people to deal with it for me.   If there's one thing that I have seen, the older you get, the slower you get.  Just the natural progression.  

I'm getting better at identifying snakes.  There are a lot of them in the back portion of the property, I want to know what's venomous and what's not.  At this point, I can tell if a snake is venomous or not even if I can't identify what kind of snake it is. How? I have no idea, but the group I am in have pics of snakes and people asking to identify all day long and so far, I can tell if it's not venomous. That is really the only reason I am in there, I don't really CARE what KIND of snake it is, I despise snakes.  

However, if they're non-venomous, they can stay.  They eat rodents. In fact, I didn't kill off the Cottonmouths and they are definitely venomous. I kind of considered them my friends since I worked so close to them for so long, thinking they were harmless yellow bellied plain water snakes.  When I was informed they are not harmless, that's when I decided I needed to get myself cozy with finding out which ones out there are and which ones out there are not.  

The pics show up on my feed often, I make my guess and then I look to see if it's correct.

Getting late.  

 Thursday - mid morning

Yup, slept in again. Tho this time, it's because I woke up at 2 am and maybe got back to sleep around 5ish?  

Last night, I ran back over to the park for a 4th time to use a volt meter to establish factually that the power problem isn't coming from the park.  Nope.  It showed normal voltage coming out of each leg.  His GFCI circuit breaker won't reset, that's a great place to start. Otherwise, he's going to take it somewhere in Tyler and I will refund his money, minus the 2 days of stay.  He has to work today, I guess he isn't going to try that until after he gets home.  I would do it for him, since he lacks the knowledge or the confidence, but I don't want to be responsible for any problems that might occur, especially with electrical in a trailer.  

I told him how to do it, simple stuff, he'll just have to work that out on his own.  Or, leave and find a place to repair it. My RV repair guy isn't available anytime soon and didn't actually have a date when he could come, he just wrote it down on his schedule and apparently going to try and work it in when he can. 

Today.  Well, I think it's a good day to cut down the vegetation that has grown over portions of the driveway.  It would be a good day to fill in potholes.  Just need some gravel......Dunno if I want to spend that much money right now.  Filling in with dirt is only a temporary solution, albeit it is a solution. Just doesn't last very long.  

Oh, and I'm going to go buy a couple 5 gallon buckets, some PVC, hangars and build mice traps. People are getting mice in their trailers, I found a simple, cheap solution that will work, at least according to everyone that is touting the method.  You build a trap that the mice jump onto at the top of the 5 gallon bucket (put peanut butter on it), it spins when the mouse gets on the thing and they fall into the bucket.  Put about 4 inches of water at the bottom and they drown.  

I found it unbelievable this dude in that group going off about how inhumane it is.  Like what? These are rodents, not humans.  Thank you, have a nice day.  All rodents can die as far as I'm concerned and varmints as well, including the coyotes he seemed to be so fond of. 

I'm doing serious research again on these glamping tents, attempting to come up with a price tag to build a deck, put up the tent and outfit it with the necessary amenities.  I really think if I can keep the park full that my business finances will start building up.  I guess it's a big if for keeping the park full, but right now, the place is completely filled up.  

The man with the trailer problems is apparently staying. He had the rv mechanic coming out Monday, the soonest the guy could make it out.  I'm confident he can fix whatever the problem is, but I still suggested to the guest that he replace that GFCI circuit, it is highly likely the problem. 

I have heard nothing from the trucking company and I'm ok with that this week.  The plant is shut down and they don't have enough work for everyone.  My luck they will try to get me to go do something this weekend.  It wouldn't be shocking, at all.  This is the way trucking companies work.  They don't care about your personal life.  I've said that 100 times in this blog, I'll keep saying it, they simply don't care.  I mean, they are in business to haul goods, I get that.  But I also get that I made my intentions very clear at the get go.  I won't hold it against them if they are "demanding" me work this weekend, just kind of ridiculous.  

Well, I guess I'll also call the rock company and see if they will let me have a small load of rock to fill in potholes.  I'll tell the guy I'm with my rv park, y'all hauled almost 30k worth of rock over here, can I buy a small amount to fill potholes with?  It's not a good look, those potholes and I'd like to fix them.  

The QuikTrip guy. NO idea when he's leaving.  He's paid up until the 15th, that's all I know.  His lot should be coming available soon, but when?  The QT is opening today, he does the networking cabling and setup for all the electronics in the store. I would imagine his work there is done. But, he ends up leaving and going elsewhere - other states even - to do work and just leaves the trailer there. Not an issue, I guess, but I would like to know for a fact.  I just canceled the 4 day reservation, not something I like to do.  

Well enough of this.  Time to get busy. The day is wasting away.

G'day