Friday - evening

Well, getting closer to departure day.  I am still sort of teetering on the idea of just flying over there. It would cost more but it would get the traveling over with quickly.  I'm not afraid of driving that far, I could drive to Amarillo the first day, stay at a hotel and finish it the next.  I have more time off than I initially realizing. They tried to dump a load on me that delivers on the 1st.

I asked for the 1st = 8th off.  This morning, after telling my manager I'm not happy that another driver was there when I arrived - I was first load, what the Hercules is this dude doing here? - I also informed him I cannot deliver on the 1st.  So,  they could have given me Sunday and Monday work, but they didn't.  I mean, yes I need the money, but having 10 days off instead of 8 is fine by me as well. I need a break. Last time I was off, I was sick, hardly enjoyable time off. Staycations are ok, but going somewhere is going to be nice for once.  

I wish I had a traveling companion to pass the time, I'll just be doing what I do in the truck: listening to the news and listening to YouTube videos. More distinctly, Mr Ballen who tells stories, mostly of people dying in strange ways, Mentour Pilot, another dude I just found that tells these strange stories, a lot of conspiracy theories - it's entertaining, lol, that's what I need while driving - and other channels.  

Good news finally came today: the septic contractor got the okay from the county to install the system.  He said, and I quote: "Yes sir, I'm glad she didn't make us do all the other bullshit".  What BS? A new person working in that department demanding businesses give written plans of their intentions both current and future.   And construction plans, apparently.  Yup, I would have taken a sheet of paper, drawn a crude outline of the park and just marked where the septic system is going and where the lots will be. I'm not paying thousands of dollars for something like that, this isn't some high rise commercial building.  

He further stated they turn in their tank orders on Wednesdays so probably the week after next - I said no problem, I'm going out of town for 8 days.  I'm gonna need to spend some quality time on that tractor trying to get the entire area as smoothed out as possible with that box blade.  I kind of hated telling the dude I'm leaving town for 8 days, will that mean they will drop the ball again?  I have no idea.  I just realized I'm going to have to run an underground wire from the meter assembly over to where I want the septic system.  That's probably about 150 feet of wire, gag.  I have work to do but it's going to have to wait. 

Tomorrow is the last day of work, when I get back I'm cleaning out my pickup and getting it ready to leave.  Sunday, I intend on leaving mid to late morning.  Or not.  I might wait until Monday to go, not sure really.  I could go to church and then leave after that, around noonish.  I'll figure that out tomorrow afternoon or I will just play it by ear and leave when I feel like it. It IS a vacation after all and I will be driving with no rush on arrival time. Apparently there are family members that want to meet me.  I have been with the family going on 11 years now. 

I'm still on this alkaline diet.  It's been kind of rough for the small amounts of meat and no red meat at all - no pork and no beef.  I mean, that part isn't that hard, it's just the idea they really don't want you to eat much meat at all, get  your protein from alternate sources.  Salmon, tuna. They don't even want you eating chicken, but I have shunned that idea, I'm going to eat at least a little here and there. And on vacation? I will probably have some cheat meals for sure.  

Let's touch on politics for a minute.  The biggest news is the Supreme Court basically rebuking lower court judges who were enacting nationwide injunctions on the Trump administration's various actions they were taking against illegals and other issues that need direct attention.  I will keep saying it because it's true: the left have literally lost their minds.  Some of them are facing reality, many of them are still sticking their heads in the sand as to why they are losing. 

They just voted in a Communist mayor in New York City, a person that hates Trump, hates Jews and is anti-police. He wants to substantially raise taxes on corporations and rich people and engage in absurd ideas such as city owned supermarkets.  What on earth, where do they dig these people up and more importantly, how can voters install such outrageous people with such outlandish ideology?  How do you, in your right mind, vote for a communist to run your city?  New York is going to be a bad place to go to with this defund the police notion.  I have no plans of ever going back to New York City anyway, but I will watch with interest what this dude will get passed in terms of laws/ordinances and how it affects the city.  

You can expect more rich people to flee that place.  And then there was the bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities and the propaganda news sites saying that "they didn't sustain that much damage" based on a leak from the government.  These people are literally stupid.  Hegseth was having a meltdown over it on a press gaggle.  I have to say that I have a fairly positive view of Hegseth now that I have seen him in action.  

I don't want to touch on any more politics right now, the stuff the left condones and prioritize is absurd at best.  

I just thought about it, I think that kid at the park would do some of that tractor work I need done if I just gave him an entire month's rent off plus some cash.  I just texted him - he's extremely busy but he's young and full of energy and likes to do extra stuff for cash.  I was hoping James could do some of it but I don't think he's really all that interested in it. He's talking about switching his career to driving trucks.  He fully understands the rigors of driving trucks, I certainly haven't tried to sugar coat it.  

He's going through some stuff that I need not get into here but I can say that not having money to do the things you want to do can start to drag you down. I went through that until I started with the cryo company hauling Ethylene and starting making substantially more money than I had ever made anywhere else in my entire life.  I was loving those paychecks but over time, I was hating being out on the road all the time.

I guess that's what concerns me with him having 2 young kids.  But, people have to find their own way and I have no judgment about it.  

Just checked my next power bill - $1,500ish.  I mean, not bad for going into July.  

I'm sorry, I just realized this communist didn't win the mayoral election, he won the democrat primary.  New York is far more democrat than republican, just wondering how that is going to play out.  I'm watching some info, he's also for rent control (never works, has the opposite effect than what they think will happen) and he has literally stated he is anti-capitalism. Well duhh, lmao, he's a communist.  

I know I tend to just jump around on this blog, but new info: the kid is going to do whatever he can with the limited free time he has.  If he does a good job - which I am sure he will, he has a very good work ethic - I will make sure he doesn't regret spending the time on the tractor.  

And I am lightly considering having this couple doing the grunt work. I haven't asked them to, haven't even hinted at it. In fact, I espoused a completely opposite statement about it, but I have watched their work.  They completely removed the tree that fell over the rear of the doggy park and did an excellent job of repairing the fence.

The problem I am leery of is that people start out well and then they just digress.  They become complacent and think they can get away with doing next to nothing, as if my eyes aren't functioning and I don't understand that they are doing almost nothing to nothing at all. I confront them on it and all hell breaks loose.  Whatever, you don't want to work? Start paying rent, thanks.  Been down that road far too many times.

Well, a load of laundry in the dryer now with my new clothes.  I'll do another load of wash tomorrow for the trip and then...try to decide when to leave lol.  The bug will hit me at some point: LEAVE NOW!

G'day