Sunday  mid-morning

I just posted Saturday's post - today lol

We went to the Easter Egg Hunt.  The 3 of us sat down at an empty stretch of tables, like 3 tables all pushed together to make probably 20 seats worth.  The boys went to play in the bounce house, I just sat there and just looked at everyone and everything going on.  I have made no effort to try and make friends at this church and still have my reservations about it.  So I just don't go through the effort/energy/mental stuff to do it.  I have friends, lots of friends.  Both here and at home.  

Anyway, after about half an hour, a large group of people sat down at the table.  They left us 2 seats without bothering to ask if any of them were taken.  After a while, one of the boys got up for a second and this group of people immediately stuffed a little girl in his seat, again, not bothering to ask, just take the damn seat and who cares? 

I got up and moved our stuff to the table behind us.  These are church people acting exactly like church people do.  Selfish and self-centered.  I just looked at the people after reseating, they didn't give a damn.  Of course not, this is the way churches act out.  This is why I am not involved in a church.  I volunteered for decades at various churches and on the mission field. I don't regret the mission field at all, the rest of it?  

After quite a while, they announced that all the kids come over to the wall right next to where we were seating.  A lot of kids crammed into the space and then this lady comes and stands with her back right in my face.  Basically, her butt in my face.  I mean, it would have been nice if it had at least been a nice butt to look at, lol, but I digress.  

In both instances, I was very tempted to say something, in fact, they were bite- your-tongues moments.  I don't want to start trouble at church, but then again, how can these people be so rude?  They walk around in their little bubbles, oblivious to everything going on around them and not caring that their actions are negatively affecting other people. 

Whatever the case, it was time to line up over at the very large field where there were thousands of eggs all over the place.  I put these people out of my mind, we came to do the Easter egg "hunt", not get into frivolous altercations with idiots.  After seeing how it panned out last year, I gave both boys the same instructions.  They were at different grade levels of where they would run the same field picking up eggs. I assume they do this so that the younger kids can still get something without the older kids barreling over them and taking everything in sight.

The instructions were simple: Run across the field away from all the people that are going to be crowded together and start picking up eggs over there. By the time the crowd gets to you, you will have an nice amount of eggs in there. Note these are not real eggs, they are the plastic ones that either have candy or toys in them.  It was a bit difficult to watch both boys, they were far apart. I stuck with the younger one, the older knew what to do and he did, indeed, carry out my instructions.

The younger? He ran clear across the field and was just in his own world.  It took him a minute, standing there, before he finally started picking up eggs. I then went and located the older boy, about 100 feet away. He was quite busy filling up his rather large bucket.  By the time the crowd caught up to him, he had a full bucket.  The younger didn't get so many, about half full, he just was doing it his way.  Which is fine.  It was fun, really.  I just ended up putting those people out of my mind, it's why I sit alone at church instead of seeking people out.  I care, but I don't want to be subjected to their foolishness.  I may yet go to one of the adult groups someday, but not today.  

I woke up at around 7:00 am, totally out of it, I just decided to go back to sleep for another hour and a half.  I got some good sleep last night, finally. 

With that, I realized tomorrow is the first and if I wait until the first to pay the rather large property tax bill, it's going to get even larger.  I had to pay the convenience fee of $44, the flip side is paying a much larger fee they will attach as of tomorrow, added onto the fees they already added onto the situation.  My hands were tied, I tried to go in on Friday, I didn't realize they were closed for Easter.  

So, as of now, the property tax is paid and I have until February of next year to come up with the next ridiculous amount. If they try to raise it again, I'm going to have a hearing on it. No lawyer, I'll just do it myself.  $2,700 and change for property taxes on a valuation of $179k is nothing short of outrageous, in my view. We are not some prime property area, their coffers being dried up by the shut down of the rather large coal fired generating plant is not my concern.  Now? The place I used to load out of over in Longview, Texas Eastman, is going to invest another billion plus dollars in building a new addition to their already sprawling plant.

It's in our county so any tax revenues will go to the county. Perhaps that will make these county and school district officials happy.  I'd love to run for one of those positions, I don't want that kind of scrutiny.  Texas lawmakers may indeed do something about property taxes, wait and see. Homestead exemption is the only alternative I have and it's just not in the cards right now - having to build a house.  Actually would love to live over there in a nice house.  It has been discussed, albeit not at length. 

Well, the idea of buying land and building a house on it has been discussed, it was only until recently that we had a conversation about building a house on my property.  It would be building it on the rear 15 acres. Basically, divide the land legally and have 2 properties. One with the RV park and the other for doing with whatever we please.  It would be costly tho.  We would have to have power lines run all the way back there, install a septic system and either have well water or run a line back there from the front as well.  That doesn't include clearing the pad for the house and building the house. I could easily see 200k in a development like that.  

It would take 2 more telephone poles, maybe 3. They'd have to stretch a line clear over the gas easement, but it could be done.  They have one of the lines of my property stretched a very long way.  I haven't measured it but it looks to be at least 200 feet between the poles.  I actually think I could get a loan on it - with a decent down payment of course.  Land also as collateral since it's apparently worth far more than I paid for it.  It's something I have considered but I fear that getting property split up like that is probably pretty costly.  Plus having to add an easement addendum to it - guaranteeing access to rear of property through the front and through the gas easement.  The gas easement has no right to stop me from going across that land or attempting to say I can't add my own access binder to the property description and legal definitions.

Regardless, I did finally find the keys to the coach in the coach. She had them hanging on a hook on the wall in her bedroom. I haven't gone back there, that whole thing is pretty gross right now, there are still lots of bugs in there.  I'm going to gut it, now that I have gotten that far in my thinking with it.  The bathroom, the shower stall, the kitchen area and start all over with used stuff to replace it. Much nicer used stuff. And gain access to the areas where all those bugs and rodents are/were and be able to clean all of that up and then bleach it and sanitize it.  Meanwhile, some people wanted to move into that space, I haven't called them back.  

I don't know if I want another trailer there. I have a guy in a trailer next to the coach, I'm thinking of my options here. Mostly, the electricity setup.  Wondering if I just keep it to one person living back there instead of 2 units, if I would still have to add the electrical line I have been telling myself I need to do and soon before summer heat hits. 

I have also been arguing with myself the actual need for a tractor.  I can rent tractors, I can get one with teeth in it albeit from a neighboring town and having to haul the thing a much longer distance. I need a mini ex for the electrical line and dig a trench for the pipe to go across the driveway, I wouldn't be buying a mini ex anyway.  So, the need for a tractor boils down to the driveway and clearing land for new lots to be added.  

My mind is full of stuff right now.  I'm just waiting to see what my next paycheck is going to be before making any decisions, but I think buying an expensive, brand new tractor is not in the cards and not a good business decision. I don't want a new one anyway, I wanted to see if the dealer had any used ones. Yes, but they are asking ridiculous price for it.  I mean, you might as well buy a brand new one for that much money.

Today - church in queue. I haven't been since 3 Sundays ago, the boys haven't been since 4 Sundays ago.  They went to grandma's and then work has gotten in the way of my taking them or me going.  The ministry worker that runs the children's ministry actually told me they were missing us.  That was a nice offering at least.  

After church, go to the property and decide on this motor coach.  Move it or just leave it. Yes, it would be more money.  Hard to turn down money right now.  Still, I have the income of 15 lots going and that's a fairly nice chunk of change, especially this time of year when electric bills are low and not eating up my profits.  I've been hinting at installing meters and the word is getting around.  Conserve electricity where you can or expect changes.  People may move, I don't know, that's on them.  I don't see the need to pay $150 and higher per lot on electric charges during summer months.  

I think my job earnings are going to dictate my next business decisions and that's why I'm sitting on that money I received earlier this week. Have to be able to work out a business budget, there is a major point in that decision that has to be included in the plan I would like to implement and that is: how much will I be making now?  Net pay. 

Well, I need to take a shower before church and time is running out.

G'day