Thursday - afternoon

Just got back from Arkansas.  Pretty standard trip replete with idiots cutting trucks off to the point that you wonder how they got their license, how they aren't already dead from making such risky and stupid moves in traffic and what goes through their minds when they are engaging in such unbelievable driving stupor. 

But, that is a daily occurrence, albeit the fact that there are some instances that stick out where you think, I could have just killed that person for what they just did and they don't even realize it .  Not that I want to kill anyone, quite the opposite, it's why I stay hyper-focused on the road while driving the truck.  The instance 2 days ago was one of those times.

Coming into Atlanta, Texas from the south on highway 59, you approach a stop light and are forced to make a left turn, at least for trucks, for the through highway.  Probably half a mile before that light, there is a highway that dead ends at 59. In the mornings, it is super busy in that area and the speed limit is 50.  Those people coming up on that dead end are always wanting to make a left hand turn into the lane/s you are already in.

There is so much traffic wanting to make that turn, they installed a sort of on ramp lane that they can turn into to give them a chance to speed up and merge with prevailing traffic.  They aren't supposed to just jump right out in front of oncoming traffic and ignore that on ramp.  But, 2 days ago? That's exactly what a mini SUV driver did.  RIGHT in front of me.  I had a split second to look to my right and hope that there aren't any cars in the lane next to me..  Note that I have to be in the left lane there to continue on 59.  Trucks are not allowed to stay on the right through restricted areas of town. 

There was a pickup just behind where I would come over and I went for it.  The pickup driver was paying enough attention to slam on their brakes, throw up their hands at me - clearly didn't and couldn't see what has just happened and continued to give me glares and stares after the incident occurred. 

You see, I was going 50 mph and that car that inserted itself in front of me wasn't even done making the turn, they might have been half way through it I would have t boned them and it is likely going that speed that someone would have died.  That is why I took the chance of side swiping the pickup, otherwise I would have spared the innocent driver who had nothing to do with it and just smashed into the car, come what may. 

The amount of stupidity and distracted driving going on out there just makes me want to quit driving today. I wish I could afford to.  

Onto other things. The man that moved in, paid for a month and then moved back out 2 weeks later - which was a few days ago - and THEN contacted me about issues he was allegedly having in the park.  The people next door have a trashy setup, their dogs are out barking until 3 am and they -are crack heads.  I don't want to waste a lot of time with this, so short story: THEY decided to take that lot, not me, I told them they could have nay of the 3 available lots.  THEY stayed their 2 WEEKS before they left and they KNEW what the next door neighbors place looked liked WHEN they moved in there. 

They demanded their money back. Again, they move out, claim issues with the park after they moved out and then the same day want their money back, the unused portion of their month long stay.  They were allegedly going to be long term.  Oh, and I didn't even collect from them until two days after they moved in, if they didn't like it they could have easily left. I would have wanted 2 nights stay worth of money but not a whole month. 

So, he's texting me his demand and I texted back that I am investigating this situation with the people you are complaining about.  I was not going to take this dude's word for it simply because he said so. I don't know if the dogs are out there barking all night long.  He then texts back that he wants his money right now and that I have until 5 pm tonight (that night) to send it to him or he is going to post a bad review.  I replied that I don't tolerate people threatening me and he won't get anything if he continues.  HE says it's not a threat, it's a promise.  I said bye.  Yes, he left a stupid review on facebook of which I have already replied the details of the truth that he left out.  

There are NO crack heads in my park. I do not tolerate drug use, at all.

I've now got all 3 mowers I took into that guy's place fixed and running smoothly.  These are nice mowers, the carbs were gunked up I guess and he cleaned out 2 of them and replaced one.  Sharpened blades, oil changes, etc maintenance and repair and all of them are purring like kittens now. Money well spent versus buying brand new ones that are quite expensive in this hyper inflated market. 

He told me to bring in the one that has been sitting there so long, it has weeds growing through it.  I said I'm not sure it's worth it? He said well even if I can't get it running the parts off of it are worth something. Yes, I would just give it to him if he can't get it going so I will be taking that one in as well.  We've gone through a lot of mower at the house and the property.  They stop running, we buiy new ones and I thought, this is insanity, let's try to get these things working!

Unfortunately, I have procrastinated this long and still haven't started on taxes. I have tomorrow and Monday off, I'm going to devote many hours on those days to getting it dealt with.  It's going to be exasperating and I'm not looking forward to it.  No idea whether I will get money back, break even or owe the government.  I'm good with it if I don't owe them anything. 

They are going to build a massive AI date center in a town 83 miles from here. It is causing quite a lot of stir in the local communities for people are fearing a lot of noise, power drain and most importantly: contaminated water.  I dunno, just sort of sitting back and watching this all unfold.  It will bring a lot of temporary construction jobs but not a lot of permanent positions so I am not all that excited either way about it.  

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Night time.  We made dinner, watched one of the kids pouting, crying, fussing, throwing tantrums because he didn't want to eat the vegetables and then after all was said and done, he finally ate it all long after we left the table.  It's amazing how utterly difficult a child will make their life for want of having their own way, not listening and defying parents and generally attempting to make everyone else's lives miserable since they are going to sit and sulk in their own pudding bowl of misery. 

I've grown used to it.. They have tried everything and I do mean everything including psychological counseling. 

But, whatever.  It's getting late, I have been playing some games and it's time to go to bed. I hope to get a large chunk of mowing done over there tomorrow.  I have to work the entire weekend, I won't want to do any of that after having to get up early on both a Saturday and a Sunday plus missing church, gag.

If I get that mowing done in a reasonable amount of time, I might even jump down into the ditch and start putting pipe together again.  Except I think I need more primer and glue.  I won't make any promises in that department, there is a lot of grass out there and even with that huge mower, it's going to take a while to cut it down.  

Making no huge plans about that, I'll get done what I get done and that will be that. I need to spend time on taxes anyway, but, I can find time for the park and taxes, I think anyway.