Went to bed early enough last night that I woke up just before 6:00 am.
I decided that I could not afford to pass up an offer that would only set me back a few dollars, so I went and got a few of those Sassoo trees.
But - it isn't just Sassoo trees, it's an entire nursery going out of business. I don't really need anything else in terms of plants and stuff for my yard excepting some vines to grow on the trellises - they were sold out of those. Which is okay, I have a vine already growing at one end of it and shortly after putting up 2 of the trellises I had purchases a small - but different kind - of vine to put near the center of them and I am going to transplant another vine which is out of place where it's at and put it next to the trellises as well.
I pointed out a row of desert trees they had - people have told me they are weeds, I firmly disagreed after seeing them being used in landscaping designs in various places around Phoenix. Sure enough, they are definitely a desert tree. They grow like weeds - yes. The tall one on my side yard was maybe 3 feet tall last year, it's now almost 8 feet tall. The man explained that they put out seeds like crazy and that's why I have about 8 more of them growing near it. I intend on transplanting the small ones just before they get too big to transplant - otherwise - I am going to have a stand of trees that are all together like a giant shrub. I think several of them out front near the house and the side walls would look excellent. Providing they survive the transplant, of course.
The man touted the virtues of Miracle Grow - something I have heard about all my life but have only used a few times. He said on the Sassoos, I could use the stuff weekly and those trees would also start growing like weeds. He further explained that if I keep trimming the Sassoos, they would grow out a nice, wide canopy about 30 to 40 feet wide when they mature. Or, you can do nothing and they will grow as tall as 60 feet but only be about 10 feet wide. I was thinking of what a situation like that would look like - the tall but narrow tree style - if I had enough of them to plant in a row. 60 foot tall trees would shade the house completely during the hot summer months, and these trees look nice. But - a 40 foot tall tree with a nice canopy would look nice, too. Better decide quickly - I want to get them in the ground today or tomorrow.
I was asking him about a cacti I have in my front yard. He provided some amazing information about it - actually them - I have 2 of them out there. They are narrow cacti right now, but - as they grow, the get up to 18 feet tall and TEN FEET wide! Whoa, Nelly, good information. Where that those 2 are planted now is NOT a good place for a plant that is going to get THAT fat. In fact, I don't WANT a plant that wide. He said just don't water them too much and they will grow slowly but still look good. Well of course - isn't that the nature of cactus? They don't need a lot of water and really don't want a lot, either.
So, I have some work to do in planting those trees and transplanting numerous other already planted plants.
Long interlude. I have one of the trees planted and a couple more holes started. The ground is so incredibly hard and rocky around here, it takes starting a hole and then watering it and doing such until you can get a tree and some mulch in there. I also was looking at an array of plants on the east side of my house - one of them is starting to show signs of underwatering. I decided I better trench around all of those plants and create a situation where you can fill the whole thing with water and be assured that the ground is getting saturated well into it. That project is now half done.
I also started digging a hole to transplant the vine and have decided to take out a plant that is out of place by the trellises and put it in the front where there are several of them that are doing quite nicely out there.
The only drawback to all of this work is that the sun is shining brightly and I can feel the "tanning" effect on my face. Must get some sunblock. I had my shirt off for a while - but in that kind of sun, 30 minutes is too long if you are a very white person underneath the clothing like I am. In fact, I can feel the warmth on my back as I am sitting here - I left it exposed too long as it is. No big deal - not long enough to get a burn that causes you pain for a week - been there done that.
My break is over and I'm headed back outside. It feels good to work in the yard.
ben
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Friday - Late
What a day.
When I found out about the pipe situation this morning, it set in gear a non-stop cascade of things going on that had me busting @$$ all day long.
The situation is that one of our salesmen placed and order with a pipe company 2 and a half weeks ago. He found out yesterday that the pipe company was "sitting" on the order, had not done anything about getting the pipe onto a truck and sent here from Texas.
So, we ordered enough pipe for the contractor to be able to work tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow, starting at 4:00am, they are working a long shift. These aren't the greatest times to be having to pay workers OT, so they must be on a tight schedule to get the job done.
I'm at the pipe manufacturer's place in west Phoenix. When I arrived, I found out the pipe lengths were 14 footers instead of the normal 20 footers, which set the whole thing up into the air. I had the truck set up to put on 20 footers - I already had pallets and other pipe on there. We're talking 2,480 feet of pipe to go on the truck.
Well, anyway, I had a forklift operator re-position everything on the truck and then they brought out the pipe to put on. JUST before they were going to start putting the pipe bundles on the truck, the salesman called. He started bitching at me about how he had been promised that the pipe was going to be on the jobsite by 9:00am - it was noon time when he called - and giving me hard time. I cut him off - this guy is always giving people a hard time and I just won't listen to it. I informed him that there was NO possible way that pipe could have EVER been to the jobsite considering everything that had to be done and that I had not made that particular promise to him, go talk to whoever made that promise and give THAT person a hard time, cause' I would have told you no earlier than noon and probably later.
He tells me the crew is going home in half an hour. Not even possible. They were going to be installing the pipe early tomorrow morning. I offered to get up early Saturday morning and take it out there. This calmed him down considerably. He hung up and called management to see if they would allow me to work on a Saturday. No problem. Anyway, the problem was blown WAY out of proportion and I was on the receiving end of all of it.
The contractor ultimately decided to wait until I got there. I had other materials on my truck that they needed by 4:00 am so it could be installed by 5:00 am so that some specialist coming out would be able to do his work with it. Well, I was happy to have that taken off of me, but I would have gladly taken that entire truckload out tomorrow morning - anything to keep me looking good at work, even if it meant getting out of bed at 2:30 am to be at a jobsite by 4:00 am.
I finally broke down and got a haircut today. I couldn't hold out any longer. My hair was almost down to my eyelashes. WAY too long. I'm just doing whatever to keep expenses down as low as possible. I hate having long hair - it gets too hot in the summer time. My hair is very thick and when it gets long, it's like having a fur cap on.
Ummm, that's it for now. I'm tired. I went overhours and I did not get a break - and I was moving all day long. It actually felt good to have a good, solid day's worth of work, but it always takes it out of me.
C'ya later.
ben
When I found out about the pipe situation this morning, it set in gear a non-stop cascade of things going on that had me busting @$$ all day long.
The situation is that one of our salesmen placed and order with a pipe company 2 and a half weeks ago. He found out yesterday that the pipe company was "sitting" on the order, had not done anything about getting the pipe onto a truck and sent here from Texas.
So, we ordered enough pipe for the contractor to be able to work tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow, starting at 4:00am, they are working a long shift. These aren't the greatest times to be having to pay workers OT, so they must be on a tight schedule to get the job done.
I'm at the pipe manufacturer's place in west Phoenix. When I arrived, I found out the pipe lengths were 14 footers instead of the normal 20 footers, which set the whole thing up into the air. I had the truck set up to put on 20 footers - I already had pallets and other pipe on there. We're talking 2,480 feet of pipe to go on the truck.
Well, anyway, I had a forklift operator re-position everything on the truck and then they brought out the pipe to put on. JUST before they were going to start putting the pipe bundles on the truck, the salesman called. He started bitching at me about how he had been promised that the pipe was going to be on the jobsite by 9:00am - it was noon time when he called - and giving me hard time. I cut him off - this guy is always giving people a hard time and I just won't listen to it. I informed him that there was NO possible way that pipe could have EVER been to the jobsite considering everything that had to be done and that I had not made that particular promise to him, go talk to whoever made that promise and give THAT person a hard time, cause' I would have told you no earlier than noon and probably later.
He tells me the crew is going home in half an hour. Not even possible. They were going to be installing the pipe early tomorrow morning. I offered to get up early Saturday morning and take it out there. This calmed him down considerably. He hung up and called management to see if they would allow me to work on a Saturday. No problem. Anyway, the problem was blown WAY out of proportion and I was on the receiving end of all of it.
The contractor ultimately decided to wait until I got there. I had other materials on my truck that they needed by 4:00 am so it could be installed by 5:00 am so that some specialist coming out would be able to do his work with it. Well, I was happy to have that taken off of me, but I would have gladly taken that entire truckload out tomorrow morning - anything to keep me looking good at work, even if it meant getting out of bed at 2:30 am to be at a jobsite by 4:00 am.
I finally broke down and got a haircut today. I couldn't hold out any longer. My hair was almost down to my eyelashes. WAY too long. I'm just doing whatever to keep expenses down as low as possible. I hate having long hair - it gets too hot in the summer time. My hair is very thick and when it gets long, it's like having a fur cap on.
Ummm, that's it for now. I'm tired. I went overhours and I did not get a break - and I was moving all day long. It actually felt good to have a good, solid day's worth of work, but it always takes it out of me.
C'ya later.
ben
Friday
Settling into a "new" routine - the new tenant is up at 2:00 am and is at work at the airport at 3:00 am. I have asked about the noise levels - he's quiet as a mouse. This guy is, from what I can tell, your basic, ideal tenant. Has enough money he doesn't have to mooch, keeps quiet, talks normally, etc etc etc.
I just got to work - have not signed in yet. A pleasant surprise awaited me this morning when I found several deliveries had been dumped into our truck routing system after I left yesterday. I do call this pleasant because this will keep me busy for at least most of the morning.
Another continuing pleasant surprise is the weather. The temps are not showing to go over 100 for at least another week. Actually, for being this far into June, that is shocking. Shockingly good, yes, but - truly amazing.
Ummm, and there is a truck driver here already wanting me to unload his truck. I'm usually firm but polite - we don't open until 6:30am - that's 15 minutes from now, I'm not on the clock, be out there then, thanks. I do not, however, say the same to a customer showing up early. Telling a customer they will have to wait 15, 30 whatever minutes is pretty much the same as telling your boss to bug off - it's not a good idea.
Well kick the day into ultra high gear - a pipe manufacturer as "f*****" us as a manager that just stopped by put it - literally - and I will be running around quite a bit today trying to get all of this done.
Gonna hafta cut this one short, get on the clock and get to workin'.
Have a great day!
ben
I just got to work - have not signed in yet. A pleasant surprise awaited me this morning when I found several deliveries had been dumped into our truck routing system after I left yesterday. I do call this pleasant because this will keep me busy for at least most of the morning.
Another continuing pleasant surprise is the weather. The temps are not showing to go over 100 for at least another week. Actually, for being this far into June, that is shocking. Shockingly good, yes, but - truly amazing.
Ummm, and there is a truck driver here already wanting me to unload his truck. I'm usually firm but polite - we don't open until 6:30am - that's 15 minutes from now, I'm not on the clock, be out there then, thanks. I do not, however, say the same to a customer showing up early. Telling a customer they will have to wait 15, 30 whatever minutes is pretty much the same as telling your boss to bug off - it's not a good idea.
Well kick the day into ultra high gear - a pipe manufacturer as "f*****" us as a manager that just stopped by put it - literally - and I will be running around quite a bit today trying to get all of this done.
Gonna hafta cut this one short, get on the clock and get to workin'.
Have a great day!
ben
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Thursday..........
..........already?!!
A slow day today at work in terms of deliveries. Only one place. I spent much of the day doing much-needed cleanup work around the warehouse and the yard. We have our bi-annual inventory in - 2 weeks I think - we're just getting everything ready. I do precounts on crates and pallets of stuff that are on high shelfs - and label them with a count so they don't have to pull it down. The CEO of our company is coming to town next month - don't know that he'll actually show up to our branch, but I would definitely like to meet him in person. I had an email exchange with him when my house burned down - he and his family are responsible for getting the company's Family Fund started. It's a fund that employees can apply for if they are in some serious financial distress. I can imagine right now they may be getting inundated with requests.
Anyway, that fund gave me 5k when my house burned down. It was a lifesaver. I had sent the CEO a thank you note - at that time, the fund had JUST started and I wanted him to know how much it was appreciated and how helpful it was in a serious moment of need.
DirectTV came through - they did send the new box and the newest tenant now has Satellite in his bedroom. Thank you, for once at least, Direct TV!!
Fry's - amazing. A vice-president of some department had called me - last week was it? I told him my concerns with the recurrent theme of not having enough of certain products, well, in fact, not having ANY of a certain - sale-priced product. We had a rather lengthy discussion. He asked me how he could make it right? I flat told the man I did NOT want freebies, because I have already received a freebie in the form of a $50 gift card from another gentleman from his company. That was the end of the conversation. I forgot about it - I'm not going to dwell on that stuff, I just like to let Fry's know about what's going on when it happens. This guy sent me a $25 gift card to Fry's, too! There isn't anyway I will quit shopping at Fry's and I have never threatened to do so, but - I have definitely been going to other stores that are giving Fry's some serious competition as well. Today, though, Fry's had lean ground beef - 2-pound chubs - for $1.99 per chub! That's an AWESOME price! I wondered if maybe they didn't have it mislabelled?
The City of Phoenix actually sent me a bill for having Mary served with the Order of Protection! The night I had her served, I wasn't even the one that made the initial call, I just used the visit already in-progress to have it served. I am going to contest this one. But - whatever - it's just another thing I can add to the lawsuit if it comes to that. I haven't heard of them charging for such a service, though, and certainly they didn't tell me about any such charge when they were serving it. Definitely going to make a phone call and look into that.
I was very tempted when I was looking through Craigslist and saw Sassoo trees being sold for $5 per tree. That is an AMAZING deal. Yet another nursery going out of business. Those trees grow to be HUGE. And they are nice-looking too. I'm going to resist, I think, but darn, that's a great price. Yeah, I still look. I look to see if perhaps another nursery is going out of business. Hey, it's my version of window-shopping.
I am going to go for a visit in the next couple of weeks - probably anyway - to meet this lady friend I have been talking with online for some time now. I decided to take Fin's advice and make the first visit a day-trip in some public setting. We are talking about hiking with her dogs versus spending money on a restaurant trip or whatever. She knows my financial situation, I thought I better just put that out there in case it turns her off. She's very well off herself, making excellent money - but some ladies are inclined to find a "rich" guy. That definitely would not be me. I wrote her yesterday about the possibility, she wrote back and said definitely.
Well, that's it for me. I have been avidly reading the news about N Korea; Iran's upcoming election; waiting to hear Israel's response to Obama's speech (which I didn't and won't bother to listen to); the pic of Obama's feet up on his desk while speaking to - was it the PM of Israel? and their offense taken; and much more keenly, the Air France Airbus jet that went down in the sea. I do hope they find the black boxes. This kind of thing fascinates me to no end. I'm sure the families of those that are lost probably don't see it that way - but - this kind of thing happens and I do feel badly for everyone. There are amazing stories about some of the things that occured, the latest is a woman that missed her flight - which would have ended up in her death, only to be killed in a head-on collision. I immediately thought of the movie: "Final Destination". If you have watched any of those movies, you know what I'm talking about. Not that there is any actual reality to such a thing (the premise of the movie, that is), but it's just what came to mind. Oh, and the now official mandate that the Swine flu has been classified as a pandemic. This world is definitely in turmoil.
Well, and then there's the "May ONLY lost 651,000 jobs". What? Is this supposed to be a SMALL number? The media, whatta crock. The numbers went down a little, so that's great news. Yeah, well be on the receiving end of one of those pink slips and you aren't going to care a diddle about that. That is a LOT of jobs to lose in one nation in one month's time.
I'm gonna shut up now.
Have a great evening!
ben
A slow day today at work in terms of deliveries. Only one place. I spent much of the day doing much-needed cleanup work around the warehouse and the yard. We have our bi-annual inventory in - 2 weeks I think - we're just getting everything ready. I do precounts on crates and pallets of stuff that are on high shelfs - and label them with a count so they don't have to pull it down. The CEO of our company is coming to town next month - don't know that he'll actually show up to our branch, but I would definitely like to meet him in person. I had an email exchange with him when my house burned down - he and his family are responsible for getting the company's Family Fund started. It's a fund that employees can apply for if they are in some serious financial distress. I can imagine right now they may be getting inundated with requests.
Anyway, that fund gave me 5k when my house burned down. It was a lifesaver. I had sent the CEO a thank you note - at that time, the fund had JUST started and I wanted him to know how much it was appreciated and how helpful it was in a serious moment of need.
DirectTV came through - they did send the new box and the newest tenant now has Satellite in his bedroom. Thank you, for once at least, Direct TV!!
Fry's - amazing. A vice-president of some department had called me - last week was it? I told him my concerns with the recurrent theme of not having enough of certain products, well, in fact, not having ANY of a certain - sale-priced product. We had a rather lengthy discussion. He asked me how he could make it right? I flat told the man I did NOT want freebies, because I have already received a freebie in the form of a $50 gift card from another gentleman from his company. That was the end of the conversation. I forgot about it - I'm not going to dwell on that stuff, I just like to let Fry's know about what's going on when it happens. This guy sent me a $25 gift card to Fry's, too! There isn't anyway I will quit shopping at Fry's and I have never threatened to do so, but - I have definitely been going to other stores that are giving Fry's some serious competition as well. Today, though, Fry's had lean ground beef - 2-pound chubs - for $1.99 per chub! That's an AWESOME price! I wondered if maybe they didn't have it mislabelled?
The City of Phoenix actually sent me a bill for having Mary served with the Order of Protection! The night I had her served, I wasn't even the one that made the initial call, I just used the visit already in-progress to have it served. I am going to contest this one. But - whatever - it's just another thing I can add to the lawsuit if it comes to that. I haven't heard of them charging for such a service, though, and certainly they didn't tell me about any such charge when they were serving it. Definitely going to make a phone call and look into that.
I was very tempted when I was looking through Craigslist and saw Sassoo trees being sold for $5 per tree. That is an AMAZING deal. Yet another nursery going out of business. Those trees grow to be HUGE. And they are nice-looking too. I'm going to resist, I think, but darn, that's a great price. Yeah, I still look. I look to see if perhaps another nursery is going out of business. Hey, it's my version of window-shopping.
I am going to go for a visit in the next couple of weeks - probably anyway - to meet this lady friend I have been talking with online for some time now. I decided to take Fin's advice and make the first visit a day-trip in some public setting. We are talking about hiking with her dogs versus spending money on a restaurant trip or whatever. She knows my financial situation, I thought I better just put that out there in case it turns her off. She's very well off herself, making excellent money - but some ladies are inclined to find a "rich" guy. That definitely would not be me. I wrote her yesterday about the possibility, she wrote back and said definitely.
Well, that's it for me. I have been avidly reading the news about N Korea; Iran's upcoming election; waiting to hear Israel's response to Obama's speech (which I didn't and won't bother to listen to); the pic of Obama's feet up on his desk while speaking to - was it the PM of Israel? and their offense taken; and much more keenly, the Air France Airbus jet that went down in the sea. I do hope they find the black boxes. This kind of thing fascinates me to no end. I'm sure the families of those that are lost probably don't see it that way - but - this kind of thing happens and I do feel badly for everyone. There are amazing stories about some of the things that occured, the latest is a woman that missed her flight - which would have ended up in her death, only to be killed in a head-on collision. I immediately thought of the movie: "Final Destination". If you have watched any of those movies, you know what I'm talking about. Not that there is any actual reality to such a thing (the premise of the movie, that is), but it's just what came to mind. Oh, and the now official mandate that the Swine flu has been classified as a pandemic. This world is definitely in turmoil.
Well, and then there's the "May ONLY lost 651,000 jobs". What? Is this supposed to be a SMALL number? The media, whatta crock. The numbers went down a little, so that's great news. Yeah, well be on the receiving end of one of those pink slips and you aren't going to care a diddle about that. That is a LOT of jobs to lose in one nation in one month's time.
I'm gonna shut up now.
Have a great evening!
ben
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Wednesday
So, Caleb went out looking for a job today. He went to 5 different places around where his mother lives. At the Alberston's grocery store, he filled out an application on their computer kiosk and then left. He called me right after he left, I told him to go back in, find a manager, and tell that person you just applied through the computer, if you need any help I am available and I would really appreciate consideration for whatever position.
He did just that, too. That manager wasn't sure whether they needed help or not, but - to just fill out an app and not at least approach a manager may be a waste of time. I was proud of him going around to all those places and cracking the whip. I encouraged him not to get discouraged if nothing comes through right away - times are tough and a lot of people are looking for jobs. But he's got good references and the JR ROTC to list as something he's doing with both school and extra-curricular activities, can't hurt to write that in there somewhere. In fact, I think it will help immensely if there does happen to be job openings anywhere.
Well, anyway, today wasn't much. I had no deliveries but did make a trip downtown to take some material from our branch to the main branch and vice-versa. It was abysimally slow. As yesterday, there wasn't a whole lot of anything going on. The warehouse manager was washing his pickup truck for the 2cd time this week.
The general manager was cruising around, talked to him for a little bit. Actually, he was questioning me on the transition since we have gone from 4 workers at our store to 2. It's gone quite well, actually, considering there simply was not enough work to warrant 4 workers. With just 2 of us, the amount of work we are getting is enough to keep us busy - for whether driving or doing things around the store or warehouse.
Look - it's a 7 hour work day plus half hour break. Unless there is absolutely nothing going on, it goes by like a breeze. I have been busy driving lately, so even on a slow day, I can find things to do.
I have been pursuing looking into getting a passenger endorsement on my CDL and attempting to get part time work driving a tour bus - maybe for a casino on the weekends or something. I can't do Greyhound because they want full time drivers and they most certainly do not pay enough for me to want to quit my company and go work for them - not to mention the fact there are no other opportunities to do anything else there but - drive. I have not seen a part-time trucking job available since the economy went into chaos. Some companies are hiring full-time drivers, yes, but not part-time.
The transplanted tree is not doing well. I suspect that the guys that dug it up just cut out a lot of the root system, though I definitely saw a small root ball underneath it. If enough of the roots would have survived, I think I would have seen it coming back to life by now. But, just in case, I'll water it for another week. If it's just plain dead by then, it's coming out of the ground. It sucks because that is a great place to have a tree, and certainly, I do not have money to be buying trees right now. Oh well.
Which reminds me, I still need to get someone to give me a written quote on fixing the walls in Mary's rooms she was in, I am not going to - not - sue her. Not after she attempted to get me into trouble by claiming that I had shoved her. If she had not done that, I might be tempted to let it go.
Anyway, hope you all are having a luxurious day - the weather is still semi-nice here - better than very-bad - and I'll take it for as long as it lasts.
ben
He did just that, too. That manager wasn't sure whether they needed help or not, but - to just fill out an app and not at least approach a manager may be a waste of time. I was proud of him going around to all those places and cracking the whip. I encouraged him not to get discouraged if nothing comes through right away - times are tough and a lot of people are looking for jobs. But he's got good references and the JR ROTC to list as something he's doing with both school and extra-curricular activities, can't hurt to write that in there somewhere. In fact, I think it will help immensely if there does happen to be job openings anywhere.
Well, anyway, today wasn't much. I had no deliveries but did make a trip downtown to take some material from our branch to the main branch and vice-versa. It was abysimally slow. As yesterday, there wasn't a whole lot of anything going on. The warehouse manager was washing his pickup truck for the 2cd time this week.
The general manager was cruising around, talked to him for a little bit. Actually, he was questioning me on the transition since we have gone from 4 workers at our store to 2. It's gone quite well, actually, considering there simply was not enough work to warrant 4 workers. With just 2 of us, the amount of work we are getting is enough to keep us busy - for whether driving or doing things around the store or warehouse.
Look - it's a 7 hour work day plus half hour break. Unless there is absolutely nothing going on, it goes by like a breeze. I have been busy driving lately, so even on a slow day, I can find things to do.
I have been pursuing looking into getting a passenger endorsement on my CDL and attempting to get part time work driving a tour bus - maybe for a casino on the weekends or something. I can't do Greyhound because they want full time drivers and they most certainly do not pay enough for me to want to quit my company and go work for them - not to mention the fact there are no other opportunities to do anything else there but - drive. I have not seen a part-time trucking job available since the economy went into chaos. Some companies are hiring full-time drivers, yes, but not part-time.
The transplanted tree is not doing well. I suspect that the guys that dug it up just cut out a lot of the root system, though I definitely saw a small root ball underneath it. If enough of the roots would have survived, I think I would have seen it coming back to life by now. But, just in case, I'll water it for another week. If it's just plain dead by then, it's coming out of the ground. It sucks because that is a great place to have a tree, and certainly, I do not have money to be buying trees right now. Oh well.
Which reminds me, I still need to get someone to give me a written quote on fixing the walls in Mary's rooms she was in, I am not going to - not - sue her. Not after she attempted to get me into trouble by claiming that I had shoved her. If she had not done that, I might be tempted to let it go.
Anyway, hope you all are having a luxurious day - the weather is still semi-nice here - better than very-bad - and I'll take it for as long as it lasts.
ben
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Tuesday
I haven't yet heard anything from the new renter - I told him I was holding his check until today. Tomorrow, I am depositing it unless I hear something different from him. I assume he's moving in, just haven't received a phone call from him yet. Of course - if he didn't move in - another person responded to the $475 per month ad that is interested, lol.
I get a call from a Loan Mod place today. Tell you right now, the guy trying to sell me on his firm's version of it sounded like a used car salesman - at best. He tells me to check the BBB concerning his company. I said yes, I will also be reading every word on whatever you are faxing over to me - I wanted to see what kind of fine print is on the paperwork. I told him I would read everything over - but that I was at work. So, I leave work, get home, this yodel calls me again. Wants me to send in the Authorization Form which authorizes them to work on my behalf. Yeah, right, I'll just do that right now, let me get in my car and go back to work.
This guy thought I had time to look up his business under the BBB, read all of the paperwork, fill OUT all the paperwork and get it sent back to him in less than an hour's time? If I ever felt a scam coming on, this is definitely it. Instead of reading all this stuff, I'm going to tear it into pieces and when he calls me tomorrow, I will - be very blunt with him.
Meanwhile, DirectTV saga continues on. Last night, I apparently missed the call from the lady that was going to call me back. She left a message. I went to the bathroom for a minute and she called while I was taking care of business.
So, not a person to like to wait, and having ample experience with these large companies that don't give a damn about it customers and put it's policies on the Throne as some kind of god that oversees everything their portion of life's existence occupies, I called them back.
My experience with these companies? Persistence can eventually pay off. If you are willing to go through the eternity of press 1, press 2, press the red button - go from one menu to another to another, and then have a computer dictating you terms and telling you things that you learned in grade school, then finally getting through to a live person, who asks you the same questions over that the computer asked you - which I find quite annoying - and then talk to that person, who tells you no, the company will not do that, and then ask for their supervisor, they tell you the same thing and then evnetually hang up on you - and do that enough times - you will eventually get through to the "right" person. The right person has no more authority than the rest of the supervisors you talked to, it's just that your story rings a bell with that person and walaah.
I've done it many, many times. Last night, I called DirectTV a total of 8 times. Some of the people were downright rude - and I was being very polite with everyone, even if I was being quite firm in my stance. The last man? Told him the story - the receiver had been stolen, I have the police report number, on and on and on.
Told him I had already spoken with someone else - gave him her name - which did nothing for him since there are so many incoming call centers - and then he started speaking.
A breath of fresh air. Did he HAVE to give me a new receiver for free? Undoubtedly not. They weren't responsible for the box being stolen, why should they be? He looks at my record. So, you've been a Direct TV customer for a year and a half? No, I tell him, I've had 2 accounts with DirectTV, the one before my house burned down and the current one, I've actually been a customer for almost NINE years.
That was the end of that. Okay, Mr. BB, you got it. 2 to 5 business days to receive it, sent FedEX ground. $70 plus shipping/handling for free. Was it worth the unbelievable amount of time I spent getting the deal? Darn straight. In my financial situaition, everything counts, EVERYTHING. Heck, I still haven't got my hair cut (conerning spending money) - it's so long it's getting quite annoying in itself.
But, I had not time for that today. The newest tenant just showed up with a U-Haul. He gave Michael $20 to help him move in - Caleb left for home - I'm not going to tell him he left half an hour too early to make an easy $20 - the guy has some stuff, but it isn't that much stuff.
Swwwwwwweet. This latest round of trying to get a tenant in here certainly put me to the test. I wasn't about to give up, but I was getting a little - uncertain to say the least.
Up - down - up - down - that's life.
Work was nice today- it's been actually very nice weather with overcast skies for what, a week now. Certainly not June type of weather. After running around all over downtown, I drove out to the Lost Dutchman State Park for another delivery. Nice drive. Got the truck stuck back in there little hole they call a construction site - not stuck literally - just that it's a very tight squeeze - but this time noticed that they had removed enough of the gravel piles so that my truck could fit through the gate at the end of the road. Last time, I had to back up - I don't know, several football fields worth, to get out of there. I think I side it was 300 feet last time - it's much further than that. I also noted that they don't like semi trucks going into their park - but - that's the price to pay when you have construction going on.
We were busy enough - downtown? People milling around, wishing there was something to do. A whole crew of them, standing around, looking for something to do.
Long interlude. People flowing in and out of here, lots of conversation - and made myself sliced potatoes with onions fried; 2 eggs runny; a slab of cube steak, medium rare. I mostly like steak rare - but cube steak is better eaten a bit more cooked, I think.
So, with that, I'm outta here.
G'nite.
ben
I get a call from a Loan Mod place today. Tell you right now, the guy trying to sell me on his firm's version of it sounded like a used car salesman - at best. He tells me to check the BBB concerning his company. I said yes, I will also be reading every word on whatever you are faxing over to me - I wanted to see what kind of fine print is on the paperwork. I told him I would read everything over - but that I was at work. So, I leave work, get home, this yodel calls me again. Wants me to send in the Authorization Form which authorizes them to work on my behalf. Yeah, right, I'll just do that right now, let me get in my car and go back to work.
This guy thought I had time to look up his business under the BBB, read all of the paperwork, fill OUT all the paperwork and get it sent back to him in less than an hour's time? If I ever felt a scam coming on, this is definitely it. Instead of reading all this stuff, I'm going to tear it into pieces and when he calls me tomorrow, I will - be very blunt with him.
Meanwhile, DirectTV saga continues on. Last night, I apparently missed the call from the lady that was going to call me back. She left a message. I went to the bathroom for a minute and she called while I was taking care of business.
So, not a person to like to wait, and having ample experience with these large companies that don't give a damn about it customers and put it's policies on the Throne as some kind of god that oversees everything their portion of life's existence occupies, I called them back.
My experience with these companies? Persistence can eventually pay off. If you are willing to go through the eternity of press 1, press 2, press the red button - go from one menu to another to another, and then have a computer dictating you terms and telling you things that you learned in grade school, then finally getting through to a live person, who asks you the same questions over that the computer asked you - which I find quite annoying - and then talk to that person, who tells you no, the company will not do that, and then ask for their supervisor, they tell you the same thing and then evnetually hang up on you - and do that enough times - you will eventually get through to the "right" person. The right person has no more authority than the rest of the supervisors you talked to, it's just that your story rings a bell with that person and walaah.
I've done it many, many times. Last night, I called DirectTV a total of 8 times. Some of the people were downright rude - and I was being very polite with everyone, even if I was being quite firm in my stance. The last man? Told him the story - the receiver had been stolen, I have the police report number, on and on and on.
Told him I had already spoken with someone else - gave him her name - which did nothing for him since there are so many incoming call centers - and then he started speaking.
A breath of fresh air. Did he HAVE to give me a new receiver for free? Undoubtedly not. They weren't responsible for the box being stolen, why should they be? He looks at my record. So, you've been a Direct TV customer for a year and a half? No, I tell him, I've had 2 accounts with DirectTV, the one before my house burned down and the current one, I've actually been a customer for almost NINE years.
That was the end of that. Okay, Mr. BB, you got it. 2 to 5 business days to receive it, sent FedEX ground. $70 plus shipping/handling for free. Was it worth the unbelievable amount of time I spent getting the deal? Darn straight. In my financial situaition, everything counts, EVERYTHING. Heck, I still haven't got my hair cut (conerning spending money) - it's so long it's getting quite annoying in itself.
But, I had not time for that today. The newest tenant just showed up with a U-Haul. He gave Michael $20 to help him move in - Caleb left for home - I'm not going to tell him he left half an hour too early to make an easy $20 - the guy has some stuff, but it isn't that much stuff.
Swwwwwwweet. This latest round of trying to get a tenant in here certainly put me to the test. I wasn't about to give up, but I was getting a little - uncertain to say the least.
Up - down - up - down - that's life.
Work was nice today- it's been actually very nice weather with overcast skies for what, a week now. Certainly not June type of weather. After running around all over downtown, I drove out to the Lost Dutchman State Park for another delivery. Nice drive. Got the truck stuck back in there little hole they call a construction site - not stuck literally - just that it's a very tight squeeze - but this time noticed that they had removed enough of the gravel piles so that my truck could fit through the gate at the end of the road. Last time, I had to back up - I don't know, several football fields worth, to get out of there. I think I side it was 300 feet last time - it's much further than that. I also noted that they don't like semi trucks going into their park - but - that's the price to pay when you have construction going on.
We were busy enough - downtown? People milling around, wishing there was something to do. A whole crew of them, standing around, looking for something to do.
Long interlude. People flowing in and out of here, lots of conversation - and made myself sliced potatoes with onions fried; 2 eggs runny; a slab of cube steak, medium rare. I mostly like steak rare - but cube steak is better eaten a bit more cooked, I think.
So, with that, I'm outta here.
G'nite.
ben
Monday, June 8, 2009
Monday
Took a trip in the semi out to Florence today - a nice little drive - delivered some concrete meter boxes - well, delivered a LOT of concrete meter boxes - and then came back to the yard. There were no more deliveries. I ended up going through locations in the warehouse to make sure that each item we sell is in the place that the computer says it is. We are doing our semi-annual inventory soon, we always go through locations to make sure they're correct, and we usually also do a pre-inventory count to see if the actual numbers on the shelf are the same as the what the computer says we have.
DirectTV - after QUITE a lot of talking back and forth - I was not giving up unless they hung up on me - actually has agreed to replace the receiver for free. That's the one Mary took and that I have filed a police report about. They are allegedly calling back tonight - it was getting far too late last night, after ten o'clock which is well past my bedtime - to get the serial number of the unit that was stolen. I asked them to give me the serial numbers of all the boxes so I could eliminate the 3 remaining ones and therefore come up with the box that is missing. I need this to give to the police.
Anyway, quite a lot of persistence - while still being polite - got me something out of that. I am all about saving money wherever I can right now - always I am really, but even more-so now - and certainly having to replace something that was stolen from me is not something I really wanted to have to do out of my own pocket. I give no kudos to DirectTV until I actually HAVE the receiver in my possession.
A name from the past surfaced last night - Anthony. Seems he is still getting drunk and still starting trouble. He starts fights with everyone and then has father steps in - who is a hothead himself - and I can only imagine the outcome of that. They are out-of-work and I am sure the situation over there must be quite "pleasant". Michael is spending all of his time over here at this point - apparently the end-of-school is also the end of the restrictions.
I strongly suggested yesterday to both Caleb and JD - Caleb's friend - that they get up off of their lazy @$$es and start looking for a job. Sure, jobs are not easy to find, but I notice that the grocery stores are still hiring teenagers for bagboys and such. The point is to at least TRY to find something. They both had their excuses - which I basically ripped apart at the seams and fed to the garbage disposal - and told them both to get out there and start filling out applications. Both had this idea that parents/grandmothers were going to go find a job for them. WHY on earth would they want to do that? I mean, if you happen to know someone that needs someone - great - but I would far rather see them put their toes into the water and start feeling this stuff out for themselves. It's a whole new realm, no doubt, and maybe a little scary, but it's past time for both of them to start getting a taste of reality.
Ummm, new renter moves in tomorrow. I have nothing more than to print out a rental contract and find the keys from Mary, the rest is done. I'm going to have to think about building a regular closet in there - but for right now - the guy is happy enough to get the room and doesn't care about a closet - his words, not mine. I already have a check from him - I'm not cashing it until he actually moves in.
Nothing much else. Have some beef that I am going to form into hamburger patties and go outside and do some grillin'.
How are you doing? Hope everyone is well.
ben
DirectTV - after QUITE a lot of talking back and forth - I was not giving up unless they hung up on me - actually has agreed to replace the receiver for free. That's the one Mary took and that I have filed a police report about. They are allegedly calling back tonight - it was getting far too late last night, after ten o'clock which is well past my bedtime - to get the serial number of the unit that was stolen. I asked them to give me the serial numbers of all the boxes so I could eliminate the 3 remaining ones and therefore come up with the box that is missing. I need this to give to the police.
Anyway, quite a lot of persistence - while still being polite - got me something out of that. I am all about saving money wherever I can right now - always I am really, but even more-so now - and certainly having to replace something that was stolen from me is not something I really wanted to have to do out of my own pocket. I give no kudos to DirectTV until I actually HAVE the receiver in my possession.
A name from the past surfaced last night - Anthony. Seems he is still getting drunk and still starting trouble. He starts fights with everyone and then has father steps in - who is a hothead himself - and I can only imagine the outcome of that. They are out-of-work and I am sure the situation over there must be quite "pleasant". Michael is spending all of his time over here at this point - apparently the end-of-school is also the end of the restrictions.
I strongly suggested yesterday to both Caleb and JD - Caleb's friend - that they get up off of their lazy @$$es and start looking for a job. Sure, jobs are not easy to find, but I notice that the grocery stores are still hiring teenagers for bagboys and such. The point is to at least TRY to find something. They both had their excuses - which I basically ripped apart at the seams and fed to the garbage disposal - and told them both to get out there and start filling out applications. Both had this idea that parents/grandmothers were going to go find a job for them. WHY on earth would they want to do that? I mean, if you happen to know someone that needs someone - great - but I would far rather see them put their toes into the water and start feeling this stuff out for themselves. It's a whole new realm, no doubt, and maybe a little scary, but it's past time for both of them to start getting a taste of reality.
Ummm, new renter moves in tomorrow. I have nothing more than to print out a rental contract and find the keys from Mary, the rest is done. I'm going to have to think about building a regular closet in there - but for right now - the guy is happy enough to get the room and doesn't care about a closet - his words, not mine. I already have a check from him - I'm not cashing it until he actually moves in.
Nothing much else. Have some beef that I am going to form into hamburger patties and go outside and do some grillin'.
How are you doing? Hope everyone is well.
ben
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Relief
FINALLY - I have rented out the room.
The guy that came earlier today - it's almost 4:00pm - and I clearly stated to him - and everyone else - first come, first served. I have check in hand. He isn't moving in until Tuesday, so I prorated this month for the rent payment - have check in hand.
Short and sweet, the man hopefully not a lunatic and seems normal enough. He is moving because his current roommate is moving and he can't swing the entire rent by himself. He works at the airport - which is like less than 5 miles from here to the entrance, much shorter directlyl to the edge of the airstrip - fenced of course - if you wanna watch em take off up close.
He will not, however, be a long-term renter. I doubt it, anyway. He is expecting an inheritance to come through - he has siblings that are fighting it in court, so it may drag on for who knows how long - but he claims to expect 500k as his share if/when the court hands it out. Whatever, I have temporary reprieve - all I needed for now.
I'm through. This has been very trying, to say the least. Just because it took so long to get someone in here. And honestly - I have no clue how long ANY of the current renters are going to stay. But - deal with the next one when it happens.
The guy that came earlier today - it's almost 4:00pm - and I clearly stated to him - and everyone else - first come, first served. I have check in hand. He isn't moving in until Tuesday, so I prorated this month for the rent payment - have check in hand.
Short and sweet, the man hopefully not a lunatic and seems normal enough. He is moving because his current roommate is moving and he can't swing the entire rent by himself. He works at the airport - which is like less than 5 miles from here to the entrance, much shorter directlyl to the edge of the airstrip - fenced of course - if you wanna watch em take off up close.
He will not, however, be a long-term renter. I doubt it, anyway. He is expecting an inheritance to come through - he has siblings that are fighting it in court, so it may drag on for who knows how long - but he claims to expect 500k as his share if/when the court hands it out. Whatever, I have temporary reprieve - all I needed for now.
I'm through. This has been very trying, to say the least. Just because it took so long to get someone in here. And honestly - I have no clue how long ANY of the current renters are going to stay. But - deal with the next one when it happens.
More
Well, I finished the paint project except for the clean up - when the potential tenant called, wanting to show up early. He's a student in some University in Indiana, down here for the summer to work at U.S. Airways - doing some sort of office type work. They have a corporate headquarters in downtown Tempe.
I thought the guy was 18 years old, to be honest, but - he said he's 28. Anyway, gave him the tour, he sounded interested - but - he had other places he wanted to check before making a decision.
Not throwing a wet blanket over my own party, but that pretty much tells me he isn't interested. I could be wrong - so beit. Find out one way or the other by the end of today, as he wants a place to stay - starting today. I just think he's looking for a furnished room and probably someone, somewhere, has one that is probably nicely furnished.
So, my next plan of attack is to get the room put back together, cleaned up and take pictures of the actual room, versus what I have posted on the most current ad, which has pics of a smaller bedroom. I will not be buying furniture for that bedroom unless someone comes in here wanting such - money is hardly a thing I can just throw to the wind right now for something that isn't a signed and sealed deal.
If you think this situation with renting this room out is a bit obsessessive with me - well, you need only place yourself in my shoes to figure this out. I have absolutely no regrets getting Mary out of here - at the same time - the money lost is an irrevocable blow if I don't get it reconciled and soon.
Anyway, at least someone came and looked at the place - after all of these people prior to this guy making appointments or showing interest and asking about coming over - and not one single show. I will be posting yet another ad today.
As for now, I am going to finish putting the room back together plus I am moving the 2, junk cabinet things out of her room and into the storage shed outside.
ben
I thought the guy was 18 years old, to be honest, but - he said he's 28. Anyway, gave him the tour, he sounded interested - but - he had other places he wanted to check before making a decision.
Not throwing a wet blanket over my own party, but that pretty much tells me he isn't interested. I could be wrong - so beit. Find out one way or the other by the end of today, as he wants a place to stay - starting today. I just think he's looking for a furnished room and probably someone, somewhere, has one that is probably nicely furnished.
So, my next plan of attack is to get the room put back together, cleaned up and take pictures of the actual room, versus what I have posted on the most current ad, which has pics of a smaller bedroom. I will not be buying furniture for that bedroom unless someone comes in here wanting such - money is hardly a thing I can just throw to the wind right now for something that isn't a signed and sealed deal.
If you think this situation with renting this room out is a bit obsessessive with me - well, you need only place yourself in my shoes to figure this out. I have absolutely no regrets getting Mary out of here - at the same time - the money lost is an irrevocable blow if I don't get it reconciled and soon.
Anyway, at least someone came and looked at the place - after all of these people prior to this guy making appointments or showing interest and asking about coming over - and not one single show. I will be posting yet another ad today.
As for now, I am going to finish putting the room back together plus I am moving the 2, junk cabinet things out of her room and into the storage shed outside.
ben
Sunday
Another nice, quiet Sunday morning. No TV on, no video games - just peace and quiet. On a Sunday morning where I am experiencing this and the boys come out - I just tell them to go find something else to do, cause' the TV's are staying off until further notice.
I was a little surprised that this sargeant did not call me back yesterday after he said he was going to do so. This concerning renting the room. I've had so many people bug out - they say they're coming and they don't show - but - that's the nature of Craigslist. Many people complain about it, there's really nothing you can actually do about it.
I did write the man a note asking him if he is still interested, but that's as far as it goes. Meanwhile, yet another individual is supposed to show up at 2:00 this afternoon. At this point, I won't hold my breath - but I will finish the painting job in the room - just need to finish the trim work. Unfortunately, I think I may have to buy another gallon of paint to accomplish that task. I'm not really interested in spending money on anything - but that room definitely needed fresh paint.
I went to bed early last night - and I am still tired. I have lost so much sleep in recent days, it has caught up to me this weekend. I took 3 naps yesterday and this morning I still feel tired after 9 hours of sleep. I will undoubtedly be napping today as well - but still trying to finish stuff around here in the interims. Can't say there's anything wrong with napping, I just want to finish a couple of more projects, or move some of them along anyway.
Well, a long inter-lude while looking at the situation here and determining what to do. That, unfortunately, means a trip to Home Depot to spend money I can't afford to spend to fix a room's walls that a particular ex-tenant made a mess of.
Off to the races!
ben
I was a little surprised that this sargeant did not call me back yesterday after he said he was going to do so. This concerning renting the room. I've had so many people bug out - they say they're coming and they don't show - but - that's the nature of Craigslist. Many people complain about it, there's really nothing you can actually do about it.
I did write the man a note asking him if he is still interested, but that's as far as it goes. Meanwhile, yet another individual is supposed to show up at 2:00 this afternoon. At this point, I won't hold my breath - but I will finish the painting job in the room - just need to finish the trim work. Unfortunately, I think I may have to buy another gallon of paint to accomplish that task. I'm not really interested in spending money on anything - but that room definitely needed fresh paint.
I went to bed early last night - and I am still tired. I have lost so much sleep in recent days, it has caught up to me this weekend. I took 3 naps yesterday and this morning I still feel tired after 9 hours of sleep. I will undoubtedly be napping today as well - but still trying to finish stuff around here in the interims. Can't say there's anything wrong with napping, I just want to finish a couple of more projects, or move some of them along anyway.
Well, a long inter-lude while looking at the situation here and determining what to do. That, unfortunately, means a trip to Home Depot to spend money I can't afford to spend to fix a room's walls that a particular ex-tenant made a mess of.
Off to the races!
ben
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Dad; The Lifesaver
Well, maybe not quite that bad - but he did send me a $150 check today that is going almost entirely to electricity.
Sweating into the 2000's, I've been outside quite a bit cleaning up, watering, digging more holes.
I also started a good cleaning in here - a day earlier than normal because I potentially have yet another person coming over to look at the room.
However, pretty soon, I'm going to have to kick it into high gear and get in there and get the paint job done. I've been working outside so much, I simply haven't had the time to deal with it. First impressions are everything, if this guy does show up today (or possibly tomorrow - per this person and his military schedule - allegedly a staff sargeant) - I want the room ready. It really doesn't take that long to paint a room - but - it's a big room and it will take a little longer, albeit one wall is done excepting the trim work.
In actuality, I really never have woken up today. I woke up this morning much later than normal and slept mostly through the night - giving me almost ten hours of sleep, whereas 3 days this week I was working on 4 to 6 hours of sleep. Not by choice, either, just wake up in the middle of the night and never able to get back to sleep.
That's it. I have had 2 replies to the latest postings on CL - today - and have talked with one individual and have yet to hear back from another.
Anyway, back to work.
Sweating into the 2000's, I've been outside quite a bit cleaning up, watering, digging more holes.
I also started a good cleaning in here - a day earlier than normal because I potentially have yet another person coming over to look at the room.
However, pretty soon, I'm going to have to kick it into high gear and get in there and get the paint job done. I've been working outside so much, I simply haven't had the time to deal with it. First impressions are everything, if this guy does show up today (or possibly tomorrow - per this person and his military schedule - allegedly a staff sargeant) - I want the room ready. It really doesn't take that long to paint a room - but - it's a big room and it will take a little longer, albeit one wall is done excepting the trim work.
In actuality, I really never have woken up today. I woke up this morning much later than normal and slept mostly through the night - giving me almost ten hours of sleep, whereas 3 days this week I was working on 4 to 6 hours of sleep. Not by choice, either, just wake up in the middle of the night and never able to get back to sleep.
That's it. I have had 2 replies to the latest postings on CL - today - and have talked with one individual and have yet to hear back from another.
Anyway, back to work.
Saturday
Amazing that the temps are staying as low as they are, considering we're starting to get into June pretty good. Projected highs for the next week are under 100, even after that, they're at 100. Not bad to work in and definitely helps keep cooling costs down - versus 110 and on up. I imagine we'll get there eventually, but I'll take whatever reprieves in finances going out that I can find.
The latest ad - has generated absolutely zero interest. Not sure what I'm going to do at this point. Just keep hoping that someone replies, as I'm not interested in going too low in the rent price. Couple of reasons. 1. Not worth having a person coming in using as much as it costs to have another person in here and then - not having much of anything on top of that. 2. If other tenants find out they're paying low then them, that could definitely cause some unrest in the ranks. 3. Why bother. The amount coming in from any single person must be enough to make it worth having them around. I don't care how nice or mellow or quiet a person is, they're still in my house and regardless, it still makes me have to do things differently than I would without tenants here at all.
The room will remain empty until someone willing to pay at least a minimum amount of rent is attracted. So, the Craigslist ads will also continue. Next ad - no pics, different desciptor. Just playing on words - without lying or exaggerating or otherwise painting a false pic. The point is to try to get someone interested by the verbage that otherwise might not have any interest.
I was also thinking of running an ad with a MUCH higher price. Reverse psychology - the room is expensive, it MUST be a nice place. Will it work? It's free to run the ad, therefore, it's worth a try.
I woke up late - for me anyway - and have been grumpy this morning. I overslept. But - that's my body paying me back for not sleeping well for 3 nights in a row. I'm starting to come out of the grumpy phase - really just need to get outside and start doing some of the work I have intended to do this weekend out there.
That's about it for now. Just paid some bills - didn't really want to do that, either, but - can't let things go forever. My hair is like a giant mop right now - I've let that go, too, in response to reduced income, but - I am going to HAVE to go get a haircut as it's too hot and I don't really like long hair - it's too much to manage and deal with.
Anyway, hope you have a great day!
ben
The latest ad - has generated absolutely zero interest. Not sure what I'm going to do at this point. Just keep hoping that someone replies, as I'm not interested in going too low in the rent price. Couple of reasons. 1. Not worth having a person coming in using as much as it costs to have another person in here and then - not having much of anything on top of that. 2. If other tenants find out they're paying low then them, that could definitely cause some unrest in the ranks. 3. Why bother. The amount coming in from any single person must be enough to make it worth having them around. I don't care how nice or mellow or quiet a person is, they're still in my house and regardless, it still makes me have to do things differently than I would without tenants here at all.
The room will remain empty until someone willing to pay at least a minimum amount of rent is attracted. So, the Craigslist ads will also continue. Next ad - no pics, different desciptor. Just playing on words - without lying or exaggerating or otherwise painting a false pic. The point is to try to get someone interested by the verbage that otherwise might not have any interest.
I was also thinking of running an ad with a MUCH higher price. Reverse psychology - the room is expensive, it MUST be a nice place. Will it work? It's free to run the ad, therefore, it's worth a try.
I woke up late - for me anyway - and have been grumpy this morning. I overslept. But - that's my body paying me back for not sleeping well for 3 nights in a row. I'm starting to come out of the grumpy phase - really just need to get outside and start doing some of the work I have intended to do this weekend out there.
That's about it for now. Just paid some bills - didn't really want to do that, either, but - can't let things go forever. My hair is like a giant mop right now - I've let that go, too, in response to reduced income, but - I am going to HAVE to go get a haircut as it's too hot and I don't really like long hair - it's too much to manage and deal with.
Anyway, hope you have a great day!
ben
Friday, June 5, 2009
Friday
So, my prospects for a new tenant - haven't been that great.
A guy is coming into town on Sunday who says he wants to come look at it.
Another guy is starting a job at a resort that is about a mile and a half away from here and wants the room - but 2 weeks from Saturday.
Others have simply disappeared off the radar. One guy's deal-breaker is that I must have a garage for his vehicle and that he would pay extra rent - sorry - no garage, no, I ain't building one anytime soon.
So, I just entered another Craigslist ad for the room. There are so many Craigslist ads for room rentals running every day, there is apparently quite the competition going. However, most of those ads are not anywhere near the ideal location that I am at in thinking of getting to downtown Phoenix or ASU in Tempe or University of Phoenix only 3 miles away. Anyway, I figure to keep my ad up in the running by running a new one every day or every other day until the room is rented, while deleting the old ads in the process.
I just got paid and I am paying off the 401k loan. There is no sense in waiting, it's $50 - I am getting to the point where "The Button" is going to be pushed and I will be getting another loan. A $2,000 plus loan will stave off the wolves for quite a while - as long as I am prudent with the money, and rest assured, with the way things are going, it will be spent on bills and whatever repairs need to be done around here. That will not eat up too much of it - I will make it not do so - and I will have some money in the bank to fall back on.
The weekend is here. I won't say "finally" here - I'm only working 7 and a half hours a day. This morning, as I almost always do - I arrived early. I like to make a pot of coffee, drink several cups, look at the internet - N Korea making more threats and all the BS that goes on in the news - arriving at work and there is a customer waiting. Done with him, another customer shows up - halfway done with them and realize I haven't even signed in yet - mainly because it's before the store "officially" opens. A freight truck shows up. Anyway, the day passed quickly enough.
My plans for this weekend: finish painting the rental bedroom. Keep track of hours spent - already have receipts. I have 4 separate things to sue Mary for - but it will all be on one complaint. I still need to get an estimate for repairs to walls. I am apparently not going to get my DirectTV receiver and remote back from her, meaning I will have to go buy replacements. More fodder for a lawsuit - and MUCH more motivation to go file that suit.
I am also going to transplant one of the vines from it's current location to next to the trellises. I will then plant 3 of the other types of flowering plants I still have in containers in the proximity of where the removed vine was at. The transplanted tree - is showing it's dislike for the transplant. I am going to give it more root therapy and keep watering it. Really all I can do - it's up to the tree to hang on, re-root and take up it's life where it left off.
Today has been overcast, which I find very pleasant. The temps are coming back down, another surprise considering it's June and usually - at least from what I remember, much hotter than it's predicted to be for the next week or so than it's actually going to be.
I'll undoubtedly talk to my lady friend this weekend - but I have no great plans besides just getting things done around here. As for today? Water some plants and probably go to bed early.
ben
A guy is coming into town on Sunday who says he wants to come look at it.
Another guy is starting a job at a resort that is about a mile and a half away from here and wants the room - but 2 weeks from Saturday.
Others have simply disappeared off the radar. One guy's deal-breaker is that I must have a garage for his vehicle and that he would pay extra rent - sorry - no garage, no, I ain't building one anytime soon.
So, I just entered another Craigslist ad for the room. There are so many Craigslist ads for room rentals running every day, there is apparently quite the competition going. However, most of those ads are not anywhere near the ideal location that I am at in thinking of getting to downtown Phoenix or ASU in Tempe or University of Phoenix only 3 miles away. Anyway, I figure to keep my ad up in the running by running a new one every day or every other day until the room is rented, while deleting the old ads in the process.
I just got paid and I am paying off the 401k loan. There is no sense in waiting, it's $50 - I am getting to the point where "The Button" is going to be pushed and I will be getting another loan. A $2,000 plus loan will stave off the wolves for quite a while - as long as I am prudent with the money, and rest assured, with the way things are going, it will be spent on bills and whatever repairs need to be done around here. That will not eat up too much of it - I will make it not do so - and I will have some money in the bank to fall back on.
The weekend is here. I won't say "finally" here - I'm only working 7 and a half hours a day. This morning, as I almost always do - I arrived early. I like to make a pot of coffee, drink several cups, look at the internet - N Korea making more threats and all the BS that goes on in the news - arriving at work and there is a customer waiting. Done with him, another customer shows up - halfway done with them and realize I haven't even signed in yet - mainly because it's before the store "officially" opens. A freight truck shows up. Anyway, the day passed quickly enough.
My plans for this weekend: finish painting the rental bedroom. Keep track of hours spent - already have receipts. I have 4 separate things to sue Mary for - but it will all be on one complaint. I still need to get an estimate for repairs to walls. I am apparently not going to get my DirectTV receiver and remote back from her, meaning I will have to go buy replacements. More fodder for a lawsuit - and MUCH more motivation to go file that suit.
I am also going to transplant one of the vines from it's current location to next to the trellises. I will then plant 3 of the other types of flowering plants I still have in containers in the proximity of where the removed vine was at. The transplanted tree - is showing it's dislike for the transplant. I am going to give it more root therapy and keep watering it. Really all I can do - it's up to the tree to hang on, re-root and take up it's life where it left off.
Today has been overcast, which I find very pleasant. The temps are coming back down, another surprise considering it's June and usually - at least from what I remember, much hotter than it's predicted to be for the next week or so than it's actually going to be.
I'll undoubtedly talk to my lady friend this weekend - but I have no great plans besides just getting things done around here. As for today? Water some plants and probably go to bed early.
ben
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Thursday
Taking my break at work.
The more thought I give to my current situation, the more evident it is becoming that I am not going to make it through this without taking out another 401k loan.
I'm not exactly chomping at the bit at such an idea, either. You have the option of how many years to pay it back, but - you get too close in the amount of time to pay it off and the payments are pretty high.
Second, it eats into my retirement and does "irrevocable" damage to the account.
But life is slapping me in the face now, not 25 years from now, and there isn't much I can do about it. The fact of the matter is, any kind of financial blow was enough to push me over the edge. Getting rid of Mary - while effecting a marvelous change in the atmosphere of my home, not to mention no more meth being smoked (changes include not having a person up all night long, making all kinds of noise, keeping people awake; not having a line of guys walking in during those all-night episodes; wasteful uses of electricity and water are gone, and a lot more minor things not needful to go into here - but also the fact that she is no longer here to start trouble with other tenants) in my house.
I'm frantically working on getting another renter in there yes - but every day that I don't have one eats into an already extremely-strained budget that couldn't deal with the newest loss of hours at work to begin with.
I am, however, still resolved that I am not going to cave into just anyone coming into my house. If they seem strange, whacko, have serious financial issues, evictions on their record - or I just don't feel right about it, I will not give them a room in my house. One guy said he either will or might come over today to look at it. Giving the wrong person a room just adds another drain to the already full plate.
I'm hopeful today that when I get home from work and check my personal email, there will be more inquiries after placing that ad last night.
The 401k loan is my only backup plan. My dad offered that if I get into a position where I am facing imminent foreclosure, to call him and he would see what he could do. I am definitely NOT wanting to get to that place - that is some serious - back-to-the-wall positioning that I hate to be in - but, really - I'm already there, just still have a cushion in terms of time before foreclosure notices start coming my way.
Anyway, back to work.
ben
The more thought I give to my current situation, the more evident it is becoming that I am not going to make it through this without taking out another 401k loan.
I'm not exactly chomping at the bit at such an idea, either. You have the option of how many years to pay it back, but - you get too close in the amount of time to pay it off and the payments are pretty high.
Second, it eats into my retirement and does "irrevocable" damage to the account.
But life is slapping me in the face now, not 25 years from now, and there isn't much I can do about it. The fact of the matter is, any kind of financial blow was enough to push me over the edge. Getting rid of Mary - while effecting a marvelous change in the atmosphere of my home, not to mention no more meth being smoked (changes include not having a person up all night long, making all kinds of noise, keeping people awake; not having a line of guys walking in during those all-night episodes; wasteful uses of electricity and water are gone, and a lot more minor things not needful to go into here - but also the fact that she is no longer here to start trouble with other tenants) in my house.
I'm frantically working on getting another renter in there yes - but every day that I don't have one eats into an already extremely-strained budget that couldn't deal with the newest loss of hours at work to begin with.
I am, however, still resolved that I am not going to cave into just anyone coming into my house. If they seem strange, whacko, have serious financial issues, evictions on their record - or I just don't feel right about it, I will not give them a room in my house. One guy said he either will or might come over today to look at it. Giving the wrong person a room just adds another drain to the already full plate.
I'm hopeful today that when I get home from work and check my personal email, there will be more inquiries after placing that ad last night.
The 401k loan is my only backup plan. My dad offered that if I get into a position where I am facing imminent foreclosure, to call him and he would see what he could do. I am definitely NOT wanting to get to that place - that is some serious - back-to-the-wall positioning that I hate to be in - but, really - I'm already there, just still have a cushion in terms of time before foreclosure notices start coming my way.
Anyway, back to work.
ben
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
More
I've had a phone call and an email already from people interested in the room - amazing the difference that can be made by wording an ad differently and throwing some pics in.
The first guy - works in downtown Phoenix - I'm all of 8 miles away from there.
The second guy is starting a job a the Arizona Grande Resort - that's all of a mile and a half from my house.
Oh, and yes, this woman that was supposed to come twice now and didn't and then was supposed to come today - and didn't - well, I hope she doesn't bother calling me because I am going to politely tell her to bug off. I'm not sure how one does that politely, but I'll find a way.
The second guy - lives in North Phoenix currently which is a LONG ways off from the Arizona Grande. He also wants me to hold the room for 2 weeks, lol, until he gets his first paycheck. Probably this guy isn't going to end up with the room unless there is absolutely no-one else that wants it before then, cause' I don't want to wait that long to get money to start being generated from the rental of the room.
Anyway, hopefully I'll get even more inquiries by tomorrow and maybe get someone in here out of it. Just a little more optimistic now that I've got some leads, even if it's just words on a computer screen or a conversation on the phone.
As for me, I'm trashed - as in tired - and am headed off to bed early.
G'nite!
ben
The first guy - works in downtown Phoenix - I'm all of 8 miles away from there.
The second guy is starting a job a the Arizona Grande Resort - that's all of a mile and a half from my house.
Oh, and yes, this woman that was supposed to come twice now and didn't and then was supposed to come today - and didn't - well, I hope she doesn't bother calling me because I am going to politely tell her to bug off. I'm not sure how one does that politely, but I'll find a way.
The second guy - lives in North Phoenix currently which is a LONG ways off from the Arizona Grande. He also wants me to hold the room for 2 weeks, lol, until he gets his first paycheck. Probably this guy isn't going to end up with the room unless there is absolutely no-one else that wants it before then, cause' I don't want to wait that long to get money to start being generated from the rental of the room.
Anyway, hopefully I'll get even more inquiries by tomorrow and maybe get someone in here out of it. Just a little more optimistic now that I've got some leads, even if it's just words on a computer screen or a conversation on the phone.
As for me, I'm trashed - as in tired - and am headed off to bed early.
G'nite!
ben
Wednesday
Took another trip to the Lost Dutchman State Park located just outside of Apache Junction, up against the Superstition Mountains. The park caters mostly to RV-ers but I think there are also camp/tent sites. This time of year? I doubt anyone is tenting out there. The problem with this place? Most certainly NOT designed for semi-trucks. One lane roads that curve around all over the place. I drove down about a 1,000 foot long road - to a dead end where the job-site is. Last time, I was able to pull through and out the other side, this time - not.
I had to back all the way out of there. Fortunately, there was no traffic at all to deal with and it was - an interesting ride anyway, just because of the turns in the road and the fact that there is anywhere from a 2 to 4 foot drop off at any given time on both sides of the road - and the fact that the road is JUST wide enough for the truck to fit on it.
So, allegedly, this lady is coming over today to look at the house. If she does not come this time, I'm blowing her off - this will make the 3rd missed appointment. I will know soon enough - she has Wednesdays off and is supposed to come between 3 and 5 pm. I'll see if the other person still needs a room reserved for him - he's coming to town on the 8th I think he said, if not, I'll run the ad again and continue my search.
I have no idea what the police have done about Mary. I think the guy was going to email her, apparently, to ask about this situation with her taking my Direct TV and remote. Apparently, Mary did not take me seriously when I said I was going to file a report with the Phoenix Police Department. How can you "accidentally" take something like that? You clearly don't own it. Anyway, if this has to be taken to court, I will have a report number to show to the judge to show at least that I was serious enough about it to take this kind of action. I don't know if Mary will lie about taking it or not, to be honest.
Today? 106. Doesn't feel that warm. I think I have gotten pretty good at tricking my mind to tell myself that this isn't that bad, and think what it's going to be like when it's 110 or more. Oh that it wouldn't GET that hot this summer. I mostly say that for the idea of electric bills - the higher the temps - obviously, the more use of AC to keep it cool in here.
I'm still watching with interest the developments of the crashed Airbus. One expert predicts they will never recover the blackboxes. Although that is certainly a possibility, I was just watching Air Crash Investigation of a commercial jet that went down over deep - deep - waters. They located the wreckage and then used some sort of machine that went down to the bottom - the found both boxes and brought them back up. It was thousands and thousands of feet down. I think this expert was basing it on not having the right equipment, but from what I've read, the right equipment is on it's way "as we speak". Certainly the world of aviation - who makes the Airbus, Boeing? - want to find out WHAT, exactly, happened to that plane. Certainly, if there's a flaw with the design or something that needs fixed, whatever it takes to find out the info is worth the price. They ALWAYS spend a lot of time and money on these investigations, I can't see that this one will be any different. I hope they are able to retrieve the boxes and get the data off of them.
In other news, a DPS officer had arrested a drunken driver today and put that individual in the back of his cruiser. Apparently, ANOTHER drunken driver smashed into the back of the cruiser, killing the woman inside of it. So I read, anyway. All I can say is, at least another cop didn't get killed this time. It's happened several times here - an officer is stopped on the side of the freeway, inside of his car, and some bright person smashes into the stopped cruiser, killing or seriously injuring the officer.
I'm ending this one. I ate at Filiberto's this morning - whatever was in that stuff, it is still churning in my stomach. It is not a good feeling with all of that acid - and I don't have anything to take to deal with it. Yuck.
C'ya later.
ben
I had to back all the way out of there. Fortunately, there was no traffic at all to deal with and it was - an interesting ride anyway, just because of the turns in the road and the fact that there is anywhere from a 2 to 4 foot drop off at any given time on both sides of the road - and the fact that the road is JUST wide enough for the truck to fit on it.
So, allegedly, this lady is coming over today to look at the house. If she does not come this time, I'm blowing her off - this will make the 3rd missed appointment. I will know soon enough - she has Wednesdays off and is supposed to come between 3 and 5 pm. I'll see if the other person still needs a room reserved for him - he's coming to town on the 8th I think he said, if not, I'll run the ad again and continue my search.
I have no idea what the police have done about Mary. I think the guy was going to email her, apparently, to ask about this situation with her taking my Direct TV and remote. Apparently, Mary did not take me seriously when I said I was going to file a report with the Phoenix Police Department. How can you "accidentally" take something like that? You clearly don't own it. Anyway, if this has to be taken to court, I will have a report number to show to the judge to show at least that I was serious enough about it to take this kind of action. I don't know if Mary will lie about taking it or not, to be honest.
Today? 106. Doesn't feel that warm. I think I have gotten pretty good at tricking my mind to tell myself that this isn't that bad, and think what it's going to be like when it's 110 or more. Oh that it wouldn't GET that hot this summer. I mostly say that for the idea of electric bills - the higher the temps - obviously, the more use of AC to keep it cool in here.
I'm still watching with interest the developments of the crashed Airbus. One expert predicts they will never recover the blackboxes. Although that is certainly a possibility, I was just watching Air Crash Investigation of a commercial jet that went down over deep - deep - waters. They located the wreckage and then used some sort of machine that went down to the bottom - the found both boxes and brought them back up. It was thousands and thousands of feet down. I think this expert was basing it on not having the right equipment, but from what I've read, the right equipment is on it's way "as we speak". Certainly the world of aviation - who makes the Airbus, Boeing? - want to find out WHAT, exactly, happened to that plane. Certainly, if there's a flaw with the design or something that needs fixed, whatever it takes to find out the info is worth the price. They ALWAYS spend a lot of time and money on these investigations, I can't see that this one will be any different. I hope they are able to retrieve the boxes and get the data off of them.
In other news, a DPS officer had arrested a drunken driver today and put that individual in the back of his cruiser. Apparently, ANOTHER drunken driver smashed into the back of the cruiser, killing the woman inside of it. So I read, anyway. All I can say is, at least another cop didn't get killed this time. It's happened several times here - an officer is stopped on the side of the freeway, inside of his car, and some bright person smashes into the stopped cruiser, killing or seriously injuring the officer.
I'm ending this one. I ate at Filiberto's this morning - whatever was in that stuff, it is still churning in my stomach. It is not a good feeling with all of that acid - and I don't have anything to take to deal with it. Yuck.
C'ya later.
ben
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tuesday
Another partial Mary post.
I wrote her again today - twice.
The second message was my final notice: Have someone contact me or email me about when she is going to bring back my Direct TV receiver and remote, or I'm calling the police and reporting it as stolen when I get home from work.
Nothing. True to my word, I just got off the phone with the Phoenix Police Department. They're going to take the complaint over the phone. I could sue her for the loss - and most certainly I will if it comes to that - but I have 2 prospects for tenancy now and I NEED it NOW, not a month or 2 or whenever the court date is set. If worse comes to worse, I'll have no choice but to buy a used receiver off of Craigslist with remote and then add that stuff to the lawsuit I am going to file against her. Oh, and if I wanted to treat her like she's treated me, I could have her arrested for committing a crime against me per the Order of Protection. I won't even try to do that, but the temptation certainly surfaced if only for a few minutes.
Dad wants me to come down with Caleb - next week! - to go sailing. Can't swing time off that fast. I decided I want to go ahead and take some time off - not too much - but at least a couple of days coupled to a weekend. It's halfway through the year - almost anyway - and I've only taken time off for court and the already-scheduled holidays set by the company. I have tons of vacation time and I want to use at least some of it.
My lady friend wants me to come up - whenever - to meet her. Mother wants me to come up and visit her there. In all 3 cases, accomodations are free. Dad is going to pay for a hotel room, my lady friend has 2 guest bedrooms and mother has a couch in front of her RV. Gasoline, however, is not free, and money is very tight right now. Getting another tenant in here will ease that squeeze considerably.
So far, the freshly transplanted pine tree is looking good. But - give it a couple of weeks and then we'll see what it looks like. Which reminds me - I need to water it right now, like asap after getting done with this entry. Gotta keep it wet/moist.
So I'm going through Fry's today to get a few things. I always pass by the meat department - today I bought 2 more packages of the ground beef that's on sale. I'm walking along and lo and behold - beef tongues!!! GROSS!!! More amazing? One tongue was almost TWENTY FIVE dollars. That's absurd! I figure that tongue - ain't worth anything but to cook, cut up and give to dogs. I had absolutely no clue that stuff is that expensive.
Well I've rambled enough and I wanna take a short nap before going outside and digging a hole for the small tree I've had sitting in a pot - forever.
ben
I wrote her again today - twice.
The second message was my final notice: Have someone contact me or email me about when she is going to bring back my Direct TV receiver and remote, or I'm calling the police and reporting it as stolen when I get home from work.
Nothing. True to my word, I just got off the phone with the Phoenix Police Department. They're going to take the complaint over the phone. I could sue her for the loss - and most certainly I will if it comes to that - but I have 2 prospects for tenancy now and I NEED it NOW, not a month or 2 or whenever the court date is set. If worse comes to worse, I'll have no choice but to buy a used receiver off of Craigslist with remote and then add that stuff to the lawsuit I am going to file against her. Oh, and if I wanted to treat her like she's treated me, I could have her arrested for committing a crime against me per the Order of Protection. I won't even try to do that, but the temptation certainly surfaced if only for a few minutes.
Dad wants me to come down with Caleb - next week! - to go sailing. Can't swing time off that fast. I decided I want to go ahead and take some time off - not too much - but at least a couple of days coupled to a weekend. It's halfway through the year - almost anyway - and I've only taken time off for court and the already-scheduled holidays set by the company. I have tons of vacation time and I want to use at least some of it.
My lady friend wants me to come up - whenever - to meet her. Mother wants me to come up and visit her there. In all 3 cases, accomodations are free. Dad is going to pay for a hotel room, my lady friend has 2 guest bedrooms and mother has a couch in front of her RV. Gasoline, however, is not free, and money is very tight right now. Getting another tenant in here will ease that squeeze considerably.
So far, the freshly transplanted pine tree is looking good. But - give it a couple of weeks and then we'll see what it looks like. Which reminds me - I need to water it right now, like asap after getting done with this entry. Gotta keep it wet/moist.
So I'm going through Fry's today to get a few things. I always pass by the meat department - today I bought 2 more packages of the ground beef that's on sale. I'm walking along and lo and behold - beef tongues!!! GROSS!!! More amazing? One tongue was almost TWENTY FIVE dollars. That's absurd! I figure that tongue - ain't worth anything but to cook, cut up and give to dogs. I had absolutely no clue that stuff is that expensive.
Well I've rambled enough and I wanna take a short nap before going outside and digging a hole for the small tree I've had sitting in a pot - forever.
ben
Monday, June 1, 2009
The Potential Tenant.............
...............DID call. I gave up on her, actually, and was going to write the other person a note about holding the room - for a small deposit. At least a post-dated check if nothing else.
She did NOT say she was coming today. Something allegedly came up with her parents. Tomorrow doesn't work, either. No, Wednesday. Perhaps my good feeling about this is starting to vanish into thin air. I hate to put another potential off for a person that is - continuing to miss appointments. This is twice now. She claims she has Wednesday off and that would work for her. I said okay - I did not say, however, that if she puts me off on Wednesday, I will not be wanting to hear from her again.
Meanwhile, I was outside watering every plant on the property. I did a deep watering this weekend - but it's not enough in this heat. A light watering pretty much every day is necessary.
It started with the pine tree that I planted this weekend. IT must be kept wet. I see no other way for it to survive than to keep it wet for - quite a while actually - until it decides whether it's going to live or die.
I have another tree I bought some time ago that's just sitting in the plastic pot it came in. I have not been able to decide where to plant it. I think a particular naysayer about that kind of tree sort of gave me the idea that putting it anywhere where I want shade in the future may not be a good idea.
However, my senses returned to me. The tree grows a 20 to 30 foot canopy if it survives and grows to maturity. It grows up to 40 feet tall. I did not get that information from the naysayer, I got that information from the tag that came with the tree - which also has a picture of a mature version of it. IF it dies, certainly will be easy enough to dig out since it's not that big and the roots take quite a lot of time to take hold, anyway.
I have therefore decided it belong somewhere near the pine tree I just planted. Since this one has a much smaller trunk, it will go into just before where the driveway meets the wall at a V type of angle. Or perhaps a Y type of angle is more appropriate. That tree should easily survive being planted since it will come out as a whole unit out of the plastic container, unlike the pine tree that was dug out of the ground.
So, the handyman returned my email, asking to see photos of all of it, thusly hoping to make an estimate without actually having to come out. I haven't gotten that far yet - watering plants took priority. Oh, I'm referring to the holes in the wall left behind by Mary, along with accompanying gobs of spackling.
I was amazed to see news of the Airbus going down today. Well, assuming it went down - obviously it went down - apparently into the ocean. The reason being is because I have been watching videos just like that "alleged" crash for several weeks now on YouTube - I do an Air Crash Investigation search and all kinds of stuff comes up. It's a series hosted by National Geographic of commercial aircraft disasters - the crash, the aftermath, the ensuing investigation.
If I had life to do all over again, I would most certainly be a pilot. I would have joined the Air Force after High School and then would have eventually become a commercial jet pilot. That is a line of work that I would find endless pleasure in. I have watched every aspect of it, over and over and over, even the unbelievably long checklists? I would love every moment of it.
I do feel, however, bad for those families that I would have to assume at this point have lost their loved ones on that flight. I can't imagine the horror.........
And then there's the rest of the news, nothing worth wasting my time going into.
I have brats and chicken breast grilling - think I need to tendtoit.
ben
She did NOT say she was coming today. Something allegedly came up with her parents. Tomorrow doesn't work, either. No, Wednesday. Perhaps my good feeling about this is starting to vanish into thin air. I hate to put another potential off for a person that is - continuing to miss appointments. This is twice now. She claims she has Wednesday off and that would work for her. I said okay - I did not say, however, that if she puts me off on Wednesday, I will not be wanting to hear from her again.
Meanwhile, I was outside watering every plant on the property. I did a deep watering this weekend - but it's not enough in this heat. A light watering pretty much every day is necessary.
It started with the pine tree that I planted this weekend. IT must be kept wet. I see no other way for it to survive than to keep it wet for - quite a while actually - until it decides whether it's going to live or die.
I have another tree I bought some time ago that's just sitting in the plastic pot it came in. I have not been able to decide where to plant it. I think a particular naysayer about that kind of tree sort of gave me the idea that putting it anywhere where I want shade in the future may not be a good idea.
However, my senses returned to me. The tree grows a 20 to 30 foot canopy if it survives and grows to maturity. It grows up to 40 feet tall. I did not get that information from the naysayer, I got that information from the tag that came with the tree - which also has a picture of a mature version of it. IF it dies, certainly will be easy enough to dig out since it's not that big and the roots take quite a lot of time to take hold, anyway.
I have therefore decided it belong somewhere near the pine tree I just planted. Since this one has a much smaller trunk, it will go into just before where the driveway meets the wall at a V type of angle. Or perhaps a Y type of angle is more appropriate. That tree should easily survive being planted since it will come out as a whole unit out of the plastic container, unlike the pine tree that was dug out of the ground.
So, the handyman returned my email, asking to see photos of all of it, thusly hoping to make an estimate without actually having to come out. I haven't gotten that far yet - watering plants took priority. Oh, I'm referring to the holes in the wall left behind by Mary, along with accompanying gobs of spackling.
I was amazed to see news of the Airbus going down today. Well, assuming it went down - obviously it went down - apparently into the ocean. The reason being is because I have been watching videos just like that "alleged" crash for several weeks now on YouTube - I do an Air Crash Investigation search and all kinds of stuff comes up. It's a series hosted by National Geographic of commercial aircraft disasters - the crash, the aftermath, the ensuing investigation.
If I had life to do all over again, I would most certainly be a pilot. I would have joined the Air Force after High School and then would have eventually become a commercial jet pilot. That is a line of work that I would find endless pleasure in. I have watched every aspect of it, over and over and over, even the unbelievably long checklists? I would love every moment of it.
I do feel, however, bad for those families that I would have to assume at this point have lost their loved ones on that flight. I can't imagine the horror.........
And then there's the rest of the news, nothing worth wasting my time going into.
I have brats and chicken breast grilling - think I need to tendtoit.
ben
Monday
Slept fairly well last night so I felt good today.
However, at work this morning, something triggered in my mind: I started painting her room yesterday and realized that she has taken my Direct TV receiver and remote control.
I wrote her 2 emails today about getting it back to me - immediately.
No reply.
Just 2 more items to add to the lawsuit list. I have contacted a handyman about getting the drywall repaired properly - my fix jobs don't look too shabby, actually, but her fix jobs are incredibly BAD. She just gobbed spackling over the holes and didn't bother to either smooth it out or sand it down. I have no intention on fixing the stuff - she will have to pay for it.
I started burning - really - when I realized she had taken my receiver and the remote. About $75 worth of electronics plus shipping and handling if ordered from Direct TV's site.
As soon as I get a written estimate of the damages from someone, I'm going to the courthouse and file a lawsuit. She is not responding to any of my demands to fix the walls; pay back-rent or get my electronics back to me. I will not sit on this - at all.
Meanwhile, Ken wrote her via her email address and asked if he could have the dresser. He forwarded her reply to me - which said yes, definitely you can have it. That's all I need - something in writing from her that says it so in case she tries something, I have proof of her approval.
Enough about Mary. It's just seemingly a never-ending pile of crap that gets heaped higher and higher.
Really not much else going on. I am waiting for this potential tenant to stop by or call - well call first, she said anyway. If she doesn't show up today, there is another guy that has written that is definitely interested in the room. I would rather she did stop by - I have a good feeling about it at this point and I think it would be longer term than the guy that wrote that only needs a room for 2 and a half months (but I'll take that over nothing!). I also keep getting the idea that the other female tenant already in here is going to be leaving sooner or later - she is always looking at houses for sale online and I hear her talking about it to whoever about going in on the house in terms of renting rooms or something like that.
It just puts the fire on the feet to get someone else in here quickly.
Anyway, I think I'm going to go in the room and start painting again - I bought a regular roller versus that sponge thing I accidentally bought yesterday - I'll never buy one like that again!
Actually, a wave of fatigue just swept over me - I think I'll go take a nap instead.
ben
However, at work this morning, something triggered in my mind: I started painting her room yesterday and realized that she has taken my Direct TV receiver and remote control.
I wrote her 2 emails today about getting it back to me - immediately.
No reply.
Just 2 more items to add to the lawsuit list. I have contacted a handyman about getting the drywall repaired properly - my fix jobs don't look too shabby, actually, but her fix jobs are incredibly BAD. She just gobbed spackling over the holes and didn't bother to either smooth it out or sand it down. I have no intention on fixing the stuff - she will have to pay for it.
I started burning - really - when I realized she had taken my receiver and the remote. About $75 worth of electronics plus shipping and handling if ordered from Direct TV's site.
As soon as I get a written estimate of the damages from someone, I'm going to the courthouse and file a lawsuit. She is not responding to any of my demands to fix the walls; pay back-rent or get my electronics back to me. I will not sit on this - at all.
Meanwhile, Ken wrote her via her email address and asked if he could have the dresser. He forwarded her reply to me - which said yes, definitely you can have it. That's all I need - something in writing from her that says it so in case she tries something, I have proof of her approval.
Enough about Mary. It's just seemingly a never-ending pile of crap that gets heaped higher and higher.
Really not much else going on. I am waiting for this potential tenant to stop by or call - well call first, she said anyway. If she doesn't show up today, there is another guy that has written that is definitely interested in the room. I would rather she did stop by - I have a good feeling about it at this point and I think it would be longer term than the guy that wrote that only needs a room for 2 and a half months (but I'll take that over nothing!). I also keep getting the idea that the other female tenant already in here is going to be leaving sooner or later - she is always looking at houses for sale online and I hear her talking about it to whoever about going in on the house in terms of renting rooms or something like that.
It just puts the fire on the feet to get someone else in here quickly.
Anyway, I think I'm going to go in the room and start painting again - I bought a regular roller versus that sponge thing I accidentally bought yesterday - I'll never buy one like that again!
Actually, a wave of fatigue just swept over me - I think I'll go take a nap instead.
ben
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Her
We talk daily - either in email; IM's or on the phone.
My phone has unlimited long distance, so calling her doesn't cost me anything.
I have never seen her, I know that from her self descrtiptor she is on the heavy side but has been steadily losing weight for some time.
Her home is situated in the forest, her property adjoins National Forest land.
She has 2 dogs and has a great career.
She has lots and lots of friends.
She determined that she wanted to try and find someone that wasn't related to the company she is working for.
I wrote an ad on Craigslist, she, along with a LOT of other ladies responded.
Hers stood out to me. The reply was genuine. It was long and detailed - nothing different than the way I write and really, what I like to read. I'm into the details of things, and I like reading people's blogs and things that go into details.
We talked at length today - the connection kept getting cut off, there was a storm coming through where she lives and her cell reception cuts out periodically when that happens.
Of course, the inevitable has occured. We want to meet each other in person. I'll take depth of character and personality over looks anyday. Not that I have any clue what she looks like - but I never want to get involved with the wrong person, ever again. I have taken steps to ensure that we get to know each other as much as possible via electronic communications LONG before I ever thought about a meeting in person.
I can't possibly think of going up there and spending a night in a hotel or whatever right now - it would have to be a day trip. Up, visit, back. I have had some pretty miserable results with the CL ladies I've met or talked to online so far - but I feel so much better about the potential here just because of our back and forth communication for a couple of months now.
If you think I've been distracted lately, well, here's a portion of that equation. That with the issues with Mary and the probability that the other lady tenant will be moving out sooner or later - she's trying to buy her own house as far as I can tell. Not that I blame her - if you can get a place and afford it, nice.
Speaking of that, allegedly, within the next half hour or so, the next potential tenant is showing up. The only thing I know so far about this person is she proclaims to be Christian and was going to go to church before coming over here. Fast forward - planted 2 plants, watered them, waiting for this person to arrive: no-show.
BUT, she just called. She said she got caught up after church talking with people and hanging with her son who is with her on the weekends. She now wants to come over tomorrow. I have no other leads right now, just endless emails with people who are half serious but make no commitment to at least come and view the property. That's the way it is with Craigslist - on most things, not just renting out rooms - I've learned to tolerate it. One guy just wrote a while ago saying a garage was a necessary apportionment to his renting out a room, and even agreed to pay more money for the use of it.
I have no garage. I am not building one any time soon. Sorry.
Next?
Oh, and I'm attempting to work out my summer visits to people. My dad - I want to go down there even if I really shouldn't be taking time off of work. I can show up for July 4th weekend if he's open for that and spend a couple of days. I can do an overnight at mom's place and I can now do an overnight at my lady friend's house. NO, it's NOT going to be doing THAT!!! We are both on the SAME page, thank God Almighty. She has guest rooms - she already eluded to that a while back - that I could stay in overnight. I think I would fall in love with the place, if not with her as well - it sounds like a dream property. I'm just a guy - I don't want to grow old alone and I definitely AIN'T gettin' no younger!
Umm, and I pulled out that giant plant today. It has nice looking flowers - but the rest of it looks like a giant weed. It got to the point I couldn't stand looking at it - I now believe it IS a weed - whatever the case, it came right out and I immediately planted one of my potted plants in it's place.
That's it, really. Considering it's almost bedtime, that's definitely it!
G'nite!
ben
My phone has unlimited long distance, so calling her doesn't cost me anything.
I have never seen her, I know that from her self descrtiptor she is on the heavy side but has been steadily losing weight for some time.
Her home is situated in the forest, her property adjoins National Forest land.
She has 2 dogs and has a great career.
She has lots and lots of friends.
She determined that she wanted to try and find someone that wasn't related to the company she is working for.
I wrote an ad on Craigslist, she, along with a LOT of other ladies responded.
Hers stood out to me. The reply was genuine. It was long and detailed - nothing different than the way I write and really, what I like to read. I'm into the details of things, and I like reading people's blogs and things that go into details.
We talked at length today - the connection kept getting cut off, there was a storm coming through where she lives and her cell reception cuts out periodically when that happens.
Of course, the inevitable has occured. We want to meet each other in person. I'll take depth of character and personality over looks anyday. Not that I have any clue what she looks like - but I never want to get involved with the wrong person, ever again. I have taken steps to ensure that we get to know each other as much as possible via electronic communications LONG before I ever thought about a meeting in person.
I can't possibly think of going up there and spending a night in a hotel or whatever right now - it would have to be a day trip. Up, visit, back. I have had some pretty miserable results with the CL ladies I've met or talked to online so far - but I feel so much better about the potential here just because of our back and forth communication for a couple of months now.
If you think I've been distracted lately, well, here's a portion of that equation. That with the issues with Mary and the probability that the other lady tenant will be moving out sooner or later - she's trying to buy her own house as far as I can tell. Not that I blame her - if you can get a place and afford it, nice.
Speaking of that, allegedly, within the next half hour or so, the next potential tenant is showing up. The only thing I know so far about this person is she proclaims to be Christian and was going to go to church before coming over here. Fast forward - planted 2 plants, watered them, waiting for this person to arrive: no-show.
BUT, she just called. She said she got caught up after church talking with people and hanging with her son who is with her on the weekends. She now wants to come over tomorrow. I have no other leads right now, just endless emails with people who are half serious but make no commitment to at least come and view the property. That's the way it is with Craigslist - on most things, not just renting out rooms - I've learned to tolerate it. One guy just wrote a while ago saying a garage was a necessary apportionment to his renting out a room, and even agreed to pay more money for the use of it.
I have no garage. I am not building one any time soon. Sorry.
Next?
Oh, and I'm attempting to work out my summer visits to people. My dad - I want to go down there even if I really shouldn't be taking time off of work. I can show up for July 4th weekend if he's open for that and spend a couple of days. I can do an overnight at mom's place and I can now do an overnight at my lady friend's house. NO, it's NOT going to be doing THAT!!! We are both on the SAME page, thank God Almighty. She has guest rooms - she already eluded to that a while back - that I could stay in overnight. I think I would fall in love with the place, if not with her as well - it sounds like a dream property. I'm just a guy - I don't want to grow old alone and I definitely AIN'T gettin' no younger!
Umm, and I pulled out that giant plant today. It has nice looking flowers - but the rest of it looks like a giant weed. It got to the point I couldn't stand looking at it - I now believe it IS a weed - whatever the case, it came right out and I immediately planted one of my potted plants in it's place.
That's it, really. Considering it's almost bedtime, that's definitely it!
G'nite!
ben
The Things That Mary Left
I was assessing the things Mary left behind.
She still has to come for those storage units and the dresser, but it's the rest of the stuff that is intriguing.
Note that Mary was in here, looking at everything, and chose to leave the items.
1. A weaved basket type thing with a blanket in it that Comet, my lil' Rat Terrier loves to sleep in.
2. A dust pan with a long handle on it - like you might see a janitor using to sweep up debris off the floor.
3. Broom
4. A hefty amount of silverware. She declared she was just leaving it for me. The police were standing right there when she said it - I wanted her to take all of her stuff so that there would be no room for - whatever she might start - be she just left it. Lots of spoons, knives, forks and also cutting tools.
5. Several bowls and cups.
6. A Spider plant.
7. A collander - I was going to go buy one when she left, but - she left it in there. It was in the same place as the rest of her kitchen stuff was, so I guess she left it in there for "my" use?
8. Fake flowers. My mother gave me a nice little outdoorsy type of teapot - something you would plant a flower or plant in - a long time ago. One of the few remnants from the fire now almost 2 years ago. Mary had put fake flowers in it - she left the flowers but took the table the flowers were sitting, lol.
9. Over 60 holes in her room's walls. I know that sounds weird to say she "left them behind", but really, that is exactly what she did. As I said before, a few small holes for nails or screws is one thing, this situation is outrageous. Whatever Mary left behind, it most certainly does not equal the amount of money it will cost to have someone come over and fill all of that. And because there is so much of it, I have to believe the only way the wall is going to look right is to retexture it. I can fill the holes with putty or spackling I guess it is, but - it will still look gawdy because all those blank spots will be left without texturing.
I do not have a mud sprayer or an air compressor to spray it with. I have no intention on buying a setup like that, either. The only way I would ever consider doing that is if I had several rental properties. Then one would be prudent to have such machinery in their possession because it would be imminent that a wall would have to be repaired at some point or another. I do believe they sell some sort of texturing that comes in a spray can, however. I dunno, I just don't think it right for her to do all that damage to those walls and not receive the compensation from her that is necessary to have them fixed. OTOH, taking her to court yet AGAIN would be another pain in the butt. And then, I would probably have to garnish her wages to get that money, which would be even more legwork and money out of my pocket. I'm sure that it will cost hundreds of dollars even just using a handyman off of CL to come over and do the job.
Dunno. I'll have to sit on that one for a while - if I had to go that far to get compensation for negligent damages, I would also go after her for unpaid rent.
Dunno, but that 401k loan money is starting to look more and more appealing. Get that stuff fixed, and then dump the money into a savings account and let it sit there until this economic crisis is over. I continue to have this same thought, over and over: what if the AC breaks down? I don't have the money to fix it and the "bumper-to-bumper" warranty has expired. Sure, the compressor is covered for 5 years, but there are a LOT of other things that can go wrong with an AC unit. I wouldn't have the money to fix it and - I would have one heckuva BAD situation sitting here. If just about anything else broke - I could replace it and not have too huge a financial disaster going. Well, take that back, anything right now would be teetotalling on the brink of economic disaster. A refrigerator goes out/washer-dryer/water-heater. I also have this pervading thought of what if the car breaks down?
Dunno, but as it stands right now, I could pay the loan off over the phone, have to wait a couple of days for it to clear and then be open for another loan. It would be about a week before the check actually arrived. Yes, I tend to think things out - the what-ifs, the Murphy's laws, the things that go wrong in life that you have absolutely no control over. A week without any of those things listed would be - a nightmare. Certainly the AC. Plan? Right now - pay it off next paycheck. That's this coming Friday. I will only owe like $50 after they deduct the next amount off. Then, if something happens, at least the first step - which is a bridge that would take a while to cross - would already be done. Don't take out a loan - yet - just have it available. Takes 2 days to have that check sitting at your doorstep.
Okay, standing down. That's my plan as I just came up with it and I'm going to pursue it. One thing's for sure, I'm definitely missing that third tenant payment. I'm hopeful that this person will show up today, that no red flags are raised, and that I can get the room occupied, even if at a reduced rate. I'm not going to ask for the full rate with the walls like that.
Oh heck, I guess I should just go out and buy a bunch of spackling - like a gallon bucket, get in there and at least fill in the holes. Ummm, take pics of all of it first.......ummmm.........okay. Sounds like a plan. If the person wants the room, I can have Caleb and Michael take those 3 remaining pieces of furniture out of there, stuff it into the storage shed and it will be ready to go.
????????
Don't ask - I just got to thinking about all of this and logic started kicking in, I think it's logic, anyway.
ben
She still has to come for those storage units and the dresser, but it's the rest of the stuff that is intriguing.
Note that Mary was in here, looking at everything, and chose to leave the items.
1. A weaved basket type thing with a blanket in it that Comet, my lil' Rat Terrier loves to sleep in.
2. A dust pan with a long handle on it - like you might see a janitor using to sweep up debris off the floor.
3. Broom
4. A hefty amount of silverware. She declared she was just leaving it for me. The police were standing right there when she said it - I wanted her to take all of her stuff so that there would be no room for - whatever she might start - be she just left it. Lots of spoons, knives, forks and also cutting tools.
5. Several bowls and cups.
6. A Spider plant.
7. A collander - I was going to go buy one when she left, but - she left it in there. It was in the same place as the rest of her kitchen stuff was, so I guess she left it in there for "my" use?
8. Fake flowers. My mother gave me a nice little outdoorsy type of teapot - something you would plant a flower or plant in - a long time ago. One of the few remnants from the fire now almost 2 years ago. Mary had put fake flowers in it - she left the flowers but took the table the flowers were sitting, lol.
9. Over 60 holes in her room's walls. I know that sounds weird to say she "left them behind", but really, that is exactly what she did. As I said before, a few small holes for nails or screws is one thing, this situation is outrageous. Whatever Mary left behind, it most certainly does not equal the amount of money it will cost to have someone come over and fill all of that. And because there is so much of it, I have to believe the only way the wall is going to look right is to retexture it. I can fill the holes with putty or spackling I guess it is, but - it will still look gawdy because all those blank spots will be left without texturing.
I do not have a mud sprayer or an air compressor to spray it with. I have no intention on buying a setup like that, either. The only way I would ever consider doing that is if I had several rental properties. Then one would be prudent to have such machinery in their possession because it would be imminent that a wall would have to be repaired at some point or another. I do believe they sell some sort of texturing that comes in a spray can, however. I dunno, I just don't think it right for her to do all that damage to those walls and not receive the compensation from her that is necessary to have them fixed. OTOH, taking her to court yet AGAIN would be another pain in the butt. And then, I would probably have to garnish her wages to get that money, which would be even more legwork and money out of my pocket. I'm sure that it will cost hundreds of dollars even just using a handyman off of CL to come over and do the job.
Dunno. I'll have to sit on that one for a while - if I had to go that far to get compensation for negligent damages, I would also go after her for unpaid rent.
Dunno, but that 401k loan money is starting to look more and more appealing. Get that stuff fixed, and then dump the money into a savings account and let it sit there until this economic crisis is over. I continue to have this same thought, over and over: what if the AC breaks down? I don't have the money to fix it and the "bumper-to-bumper" warranty has expired. Sure, the compressor is covered for 5 years, but there are a LOT of other things that can go wrong with an AC unit. I wouldn't have the money to fix it and - I would have one heckuva BAD situation sitting here. If just about anything else broke - I could replace it and not have too huge a financial disaster going. Well, take that back, anything right now would be teetotalling on the brink of economic disaster. A refrigerator goes out/washer-dryer/water-heater. I also have this pervading thought of what if the car breaks down?
Dunno, but as it stands right now, I could pay the loan off over the phone, have to wait a couple of days for it to clear and then be open for another loan. It would be about a week before the check actually arrived. Yes, I tend to think things out - the what-ifs, the Murphy's laws, the things that go wrong in life that you have absolutely no control over. A week without any of those things listed would be - a nightmare. Certainly the AC. Plan? Right now - pay it off next paycheck. That's this coming Friday. I will only owe like $50 after they deduct the next amount off. Then, if something happens, at least the first step - which is a bridge that would take a while to cross - would already be done. Don't take out a loan - yet - just have it available. Takes 2 days to have that check sitting at your doorstep.
Okay, standing down. That's my plan as I just came up with it and I'm going to pursue it. One thing's for sure, I'm definitely missing that third tenant payment. I'm hopeful that this person will show up today, that no red flags are raised, and that I can get the room occupied, even if at a reduced rate. I'm not going to ask for the full rate with the walls like that.
Oh heck, I guess I should just go out and buy a bunch of spackling - like a gallon bucket, get in there and at least fill in the holes. Ummm, take pics of all of it first.......ummmm.........okay. Sounds like a plan. If the person wants the room, I can have Caleb and Michael take those 3 remaining pieces of furniture out of there, stuff it into the storage shed and it will be ready to go.
????????
Don't ask - I just got to thinking about all of this and logic started kicking in, I think it's logic, anyway.
ben
Sunday
The tree is in the ground. Whether it lives or not - matter of time. Going this morning to get more Vitamin B to put into the ground at it's trunk to help the roots/tree survive the shock. Mom says she's never had luck at having them survive, but I got the whole root ball and I am at least hopeful. Otherwise, it's just a giant Christmas tree in May, dry up, whither away, heaped into the junk pile.
Yesterday was not a particularly productive day for me in terms of weekend projects, I'm hopeful today will be a little different. I finally got a good bite on a person needing a room. In fact, this person appears to be in a bind. I listened to her story - it all sounded well and good - but I had no "instincts" jumping up at me to say yes or no internally. She is allegedly coming over today, which is when I will press the situation and get some details. When people are making up stories, many usually fail the details department. They cut their own throat by going on, and on, and on and finally, the story starts falling apart.
I need the money, yes, but I don't need another nightmare. I would rather let it sit empty until the right person comes along than give into "desperation" and get the wrong person in there that you are then going to have to force to leave, anyway. As it stands, at least a portion of any new rent money coming in is going to have to go to buying some sort of closet set-up - probably from Ikea, as that room has no closet. I could build one, but - it would take too long as I'm not exactly the best carpenter in the world and it would take me a while to get the finished product to my liking. I mean, a closet is nothing more than 2X4's/drywall/door with texturing and trim.
Well, anyway, already started on my Sunday cleaning rituals in scrubbing down the kitchen, sweeping the floor and now off to the mop race.
C'yall later.
ben
Yesterday was not a particularly productive day for me in terms of weekend projects, I'm hopeful today will be a little different. I finally got a good bite on a person needing a room. In fact, this person appears to be in a bind. I listened to her story - it all sounded well and good - but I had no "instincts" jumping up at me to say yes or no internally. She is allegedly coming over today, which is when I will press the situation and get some details. When people are making up stories, many usually fail the details department. They cut their own throat by going on, and on, and on and finally, the story starts falling apart.
I need the money, yes, but I don't need another nightmare. I would rather let it sit empty until the right person comes along than give into "desperation" and get the wrong person in there that you are then going to have to force to leave, anyway. As it stands, at least a portion of any new rent money coming in is going to have to go to buying some sort of closet set-up - probably from Ikea, as that room has no closet. I could build one, but - it would take too long as I'm not exactly the best carpenter in the world and it would take me a while to get the finished product to my liking. I mean, a closet is nothing more than 2X4's/drywall/door with texturing and trim.
Well, anyway, already started on my Sunday cleaning rituals in scrubbing down the kitchen, sweeping the floor and now off to the mop race.
C'yall later.
ben
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Saturday
So, I'm trying to do ANYTHING on this computer today and find everything dragging at a snail's pace.
History/temp files - deleted.
Went to "their" account to see if anything was going on there - nothing.
Decided to start Avast search through all files to see if something snuck through.
That is still running.
Then I went to "Installed Programs" - Actiontec Gateway.
I have no idea what that is, but I have encountered it before. Whatever it does, it slows the entire computer down, this from experience. Took a while to get the thing to come up and get it uninstalled, too. After I finally got it out of there, the system is back up and running again.
I was beginning to wonder if I would have to dump the entire operating system again and start over. That's always lovely - usually takes days to reinstall all my software, settings and such.
Onto other things. I'm watching with extreme curiosity, if nothing else, all the threats that N Korea is making about sending nukes every which way but loose. I'm a firm believer in the Bible, therefore, I have to take into account the book of Revelations, which is the most intriguing book in there, for me anyway. It basically paints the picture of the demise of this earth. The description that a 1/3rd of the earth is going to burn is what captivates me about this situation. Eventually, this world is going to end, at least if you believe the Bible, a guessing man might say that a nuclear war could certainly set a third of this earth on fire. Not that N Korea has any capability of inflicting that much damage - but - they have their allies.
Umm, so I have this hole to go out there and dig. Not really looking forward to that - it will have to be a big hole - but I have to get it done soon or kiss that tree a big goodbye. Certainly worth the attempt to replant it, give it some root shock therapy and see what happens.
My mom is finally back up on her property near the Mogollon Rim. Last year, she was at her house in Sun City, fell, broke her ankle and wasn't able to go up for the rest of the summer. I'm imagining she's loving it up there - and probably being a little more careful, I would hope anyway. I'm going to call her in a little while and bug her about carrying her cell phone with her at all times when she's up there alone. I called her yesterday - she did not have the phone with her and it took a while for her to answer.
If something like that were to happen to her up there, there would be no-one to help her. There are other people living up there, yes, but very doubtful they would happen to see anything. Her property is up off the dirt road - her trailer is well off the road and though you can see it from the road, there is way too much property for someone to just happen along and actually see anything.
I've had a couple more bites on the room rental - but nothing that has actually solidified into someone moving in here. I have noticed a great swelling of the numbers of rooms for rent on Craigslist. I do not, however, see a lot of it in my area - I will get someone in here eventually, just a matter of time. The strength of my location is it's proximity to a huge area filled with all kinds of industrial plants and businesses. Plus a university not far at all from here. Mostly, the people that have moved in here do so because of the proximity to this particular area of businesses, factories and industrial that they happen to work at. Worried? No. Just waiting.
Plenty to do this weekend - without having to spend money, either. The expenditure of money is not high on my list of things I want to do right now. Only for bills or food, nothing else. The price of fuel is going up and up again. That can only spell even more financial chaos for everyone that is suffering at the hands of unemployment, or people like me that are teetering on the edge. I have an ace in the hole right now, at least - I only owe $87 on the 401k loan. Pay it off and I can get another loan. And right now, that amount would be close to 3k if I really needed it. I am not planning on paying off the $87 early - only if I get into serious financial trouble will I do that. I'm still floating right now - barely. The ship is taking on water, the pumps are pumping it out as fast as it's coming in. Another blow of any kind right now and the ship is going to start to sink. So, thank God I have some kind of backup if it becomes absolutely necessary. My dad is going to send another small check - every bit counts right now. If he does, it will go either to the water bill or more electricity.
Ummm - as for now - I am enjoying coffee and some sort of serenity. My son plays jazz music all night long while he's sleeping, although it's not turned up high, it is enough to break the silence that I love on weekend mornings. Which doesn't matter, I need to get moving and get out there and start digging that hole.
Have a great day!
ben
History/temp files - deleted.
Went to "their" account to see if anything was going on there - nothing.
Decided to start Avast search through all files to see if something snuck through.
That is still running.
Then I went to "Installed Programs" - Actiontec Gateway.
I have no idea what that is, but I have encountered it before. Whatever it does, it slows the entire computer down, this from experience. Took a while to get the thing to come up and get it uninstalled, too. After I finally got it out of there, the system is back up and running again.
I was beginning to wonder if I would have to dump the entire operating system again and start over. That's always lovely - usually takes days to reinstall all my software, settings and such.
Onto other things. I'm watching with extreme curiosity, if nothing else, all the threats that N Korea is making about sending nukes every which way but loose. I'm a firm believer in the Bible, therefore, I have to take into account the book of Revelations, which is the most intriguing book in there, for me anyway. It basically paints the picture of the demise of this earth. The description that a 1/3rd of the earth is going to burn is what captivates me about this situation. Eventually, this world is going to end, at least if you believe the Bible, a guessing man might say that a nuclear war could certainly set a third of this earth on fire. Not that N Korea has any capability of inflicting that much damage - but - they have their allies.
Umm, so I have this hole to go out there and dig. Not really looking forward to that - it will have to be a big hole - but I have to get it done soon or kiss that tree a big goodbye. Certainly worth the attempt to replant it, give it some root shock therapy and see what happens.
My mom is finally back up on her property near the Mogollon Rim. Last year, she was at her house in Sun City, fell, broke her ankle and wasn't able to go up for the rest of the summer. I'm imagining she's loving it up there - and probably being a little more careful, I would hope anyway. I'm going to call her in a little while and bug her about carrying her cell phone with her at all times when she's up there alone. I called her yesterday - she did not have the phone with her and it took a while for her to answer.
If something like that were to happen to her up there, there would be no-one to help her. There are other people living up there, yes, but very doubtful they would happen to see anything. Her property is up off the dirt road - her trailer is well off the road and though you can see it from the road, there is way too much property for someone to just happen along and actually see anything.
I've had a couple more bites on the room rental - but nothing that has actually solidified into someone moving in here. I have noticed a great swelling of the numbers of rooms for rent on Craigslist. I do not, however, see a lot of it in my area - I will get someone in here eventually, just a matter of time. The strength of my location is it's proximity to a huge area filled with all kinds of industrial plants and businesses. Plus a university not far at all from here. Mostly, the people that have moved in here do so because of the proximity to this particular area of businesses, factories and industrial that they happen to work at. Worried? No. Just waiting.
Plenty to do this weekend - without having to spend money, either. The expenditure of money is not high on my list of things I want to do right now. Only for bills or food, nothing else. The price of fuel is going up and up again. That can only spell even more financial chaos for everyone that is suffering at the hands of unemployment, or people like me that are teetering on the edge. I have an ace in the hole right now, at least - I only owe $87 on the 401k loan. Pay it off and I can get another loan. And right now, that amount would be close to 3k if I really needed it. I am not planning on paying off the $87 early - only if I get into serious financial trouble will I do that. I'm still floating right now - barely. The ship is taking on water, the pumps are pumping it out as fast as it's coming in. Another blow of any kind right now and the ship is going to start to sink. So, thank God I have some kind of backup if it becomes absolutely necessary. My dad is going to send another small check - every bit counts right now. If he does, it will go either to the water bill or more electricity.
Ummm - as for now - I am enjoying coffee and some sort of serenity. My son plays jazz music all night long while he's sleeping, although it's not turned up high, it is enough to break the silence that I love on weekend mornings. Which doesn't matter, I need to get moving and get out there and start digging that hole.
Have a great day!
ben
Friday, May 29, 2009
Heat
The Mary saga likely will never end, or so it will seem.
She writes me an email today telling me her paycheck is being sent to my house, yada yada yada, she's going to call federal authorities if I "do anything with it". Further that she is going to come and take it right out of my mailbox. Lots of threats and BS. I replied that again, I could have her arrested just for contacting me about something that has nothing to do with the room, and for making threats.
Ahhhhhhh, the weekend.
I get to dig a big hole outside somewhere tomorrow and plant that tree - and hope it lives.
I have the place in mind, on the west side of the house. There is nothing in terms of plants there - the only place, really, on the entire property that there isn't - I reserved it for - trees, what else.
I hope to sleep a little better tonight - last night sucked and the night before was just as bad - and get up early enough to beat the heat in terms of digging out the hole for the tree. It's sitting in a huge container of water right now, so I have a little breathing room, but definitely, needs to be planted this weekend.
Still unfinished projects as well - most notably the trellis project, of which I have stalled on cause it's a pain trying to dig holes around the plants and I have been busy, anyway, and also one more window I want to put the foam with material over.
My latest rental ad has resulted in zero replies. Amazing. However, this is the end of month, I am going to write another one and see if I can get some bites. Somebody, somewhere, wants to move out of whatever they're in and into someplace else.
The end of this one, I am so tired, I can barely keep my eyes open.
Just gonna watch a movie - movies - until bedtime and go to bed early - around 8ish.
ben
She writes me an email today telling me her paycheck is being sent to my house, yada yada yada, she's going to call federal authorities if I "do anything with it". Further that she is going to come and take it right out of my mailbox. Lots of threats and BS. I replied that again, I could have her arrested just for contacting me about something that has nothing to do with the room, and for making threats.
Ahhhhhhh, the weekend.
I get to dig a big hole outside somewhere tomorrow and plant that tree - and hope it lives.
I have the place in mind, on the west side of the house. There is nothing in terms of plants there - the only place, really, on the entire property that there isn't - I reserved it for - trees, what else.
I hope to sleep a little better tonight - last night sucked and the night before was just as bad - and get up early enough to beat the heat in terms of digging out the hole for the tree. It's sitting in a huge container of water right now, so I have a little breathing room, but definitely, needs to be planted this weekend.
Still unfinished projects as well - most notably the trellis project, of which I have stalled on cause it's a pain trying to dig holes around the plants and I have been busy, anyway, and also one more window I want to put the foam with material over.
My latest rental ad has resulted in zero replies. Amazing. However, this is the end of month, I am going to write another one and see if I can get some bites. Somebody, somewhere, wants to move out of whatever they're in and into someplace else.
The end of this one, I am so tired, I can barely keep my eyes open.
Just gonna watch a movie - movies - until bedtime and go to bed early - around 8ish.
ben
Friday Morning
Got up early this morning - woke up, wasn't sleeping, might as well get up, get out there and do some early morning watering - really the best time of day to do such a thing.
It was relatively cool this morning as well - low 70's. Local forecasters are calling it unusually warm here - which I don't really buy - it's always warm at the end of May and going into June.
But, they are saying May is going to break a record for the number of days over 100 degrees. That IS unusual for May, I'll give them that.
As for today - just a bunch of running around to do this morning, get off work early cause' I'm over on hours, start the weekend early as well. Which reminds me, gotta get Caleb on the way home today - no school, don't have to go home and then turn around, go get him and then go home again.
Actually a pleasant morning - gotta love that.
C'yall later ......
ben
It was relatively cool this morning as well - low 70's. Local forecasters are calling it unusually warm here - which I don't really buy - it's always warm at the end of May and going into June.
But, they are saying May is going to break a record for the number of days over 100 degrees. That IS unusual for May, I'll give them that.
As for today - just a bunch of running around to do this morning, get off work early cause' I'm over on hours, start the weekend early as well. Which reminds me, gotta get Caleb on the way home today - no school, don't have to go home and then turn around, go get him and then go home again.
Actually a pleasant morning - gotta love that.
C'yall later ......
ben
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Thursday
LONG day. I woke up last night and couldn't get back to sleep. I got less than 5 hours of sleep.
I did finally get back to sleep about 45 minutes to an hour before the alarm went off - I was wasted tired.
Forced my @$$ out of bed, took my shower, all that junk, go to work. I wasn't on the clock but I was filling out a performance review of - myself. My company makes everyone do that once a year. I find it VERY difficult to evaluate myself. I mean, isn't that a job best left to your superiors?
Get done with that, sign in - off to the races. 5 deliveries spread out all over the place plus a stop downtown.
I continue to hear, on an almost daily basis, are people that are enthralled by my backing of the truck.
Hey, if I do at least one thing well, I might as well talk about it.
People ask me how I did that? You do something that comes to you in automatic mode, you don't think about it. Construction sites are often either very small, or very large but no room in either case to turn around. You have to back out the way you came in - whether that's 50 feet or a quarter mile.
Well, whatever. I was busting butt all day long - well past the 7-hour maximum that corporate has enacted. It's end of month, our numbers are down, we are going to get out whatever we can and deal with the aftermath later. Today was a $23,000.00 day in terms of sales on the deliveries I made. Tomorrow will have - I think around 10k as well. 3 days in a row will total over 50k, which is pretty good considering the times we are in, and will boost our stores numbers to a bit more acceptable level for month-long sales totals.
Get back to the yard - had to go in for my review with the boss. I will say he gave me a very good review, very heartening to hear and read that. He has to answer the same review fields that I had to, and rate each set of directives.
Anyway, done with that, went home - for 5 minutes - and left. Off to Karen's house - she had some guys dig out that pine tree she was going to give me yesterday. I wanted to get it here and get it into a large container of water, just before it starts dying. So, I put a blanket on the top of my car, put the tree on that, roped it down with 3 ropes. Visited with Karen for a couple of hours - she made some grilled baby-back ribs that were just excellent - had some good conversation.
Headed home. But, I stopped at the Fry's down the road before getting here. I had spoken to the GM of that store yesterday - she said they had some of the chicken breast in and would hold it for me in the cooler until today. Great, I wanted some of that stuff. I go to the meat department, ring the doorbell. I hear the bell ring, I hear a guy in there working, no answer. Ring it again - and again, and again - nothing. I back up to see the guy is spraying something off with a garden hose, apparently couldn't be bothered with customers.
Whatever, I just asked for a manager to go back there, get my meat, I wanted out of there. The manager - not the GM who isn't there that late - opened up a closed lane, gave me an additional $5 off the already low price - I paid $5 and change for 4 large packages of bone-in chicken breast. Worth the stop, I figured - shook the man's hand, thanked him and left.
Got home. Task of getting the tree unhooked from the car, finding a suitable container large enough to put the root ball - what's left of it anyway - into so I could fill it with water overnight and probably into Saturday.
Done with that. I'm here, it's almost 9:00 o'clock - where I got the energy to write this energy who knows, I only hope the energy goes away and I go to sleep and STAY that way tonight. I was NOT going to go to Karen's today after the miserable night's sleep I had last night, but I figured that tree would probably die without resurrection if I didn't get it here and get the roots underwater. She had it packed with mud and wet - but - this tree did not have a deep root system, had not been sufficiently watered by whoever had lived in that place before, and is in obvious need of a good dose of water, especially considering being uprooted from the ground.
Somewhere, I have a container of vitamin B which I will also be giving it to help it survive the move. Karen's house? Unbelievably nice - I mean, she paid $31,000 for it - a 3 bedroom place, not huge but PLENTY big enough. New carpet and tile, paint, the owners/bank/whoever had done a lot to it to make it sellable. I'm imagining a huge loss, regardless for whoever owned the property before Karen bought it. A steal in every sense of the word excepting, of course, actually stealing it.
Mary? No more from her. She has closed the channels and is not communicating with me. My last words to her in email were that if she didn't want to deal with me in email, she would be forced to deal with me in front of a judge. I would rather the former, but I just about guarantee the latter. This will not be an eviction case, either, it will be a plain-jane lawsuit. It will take longer, but it will cost less in court costs.
I'm toast, fried and well-done, therefore, I'm gettin' offa this and going to bed.
G'nite.
ben
I did finally get back to sleep about 45 minutes to an hour before the alarm went off - I was wasted tired.
Forced my @$$ out of bed, took my shower, all that junk, go to work. I wasn't on the clock but I was filling out a performance review of - myself. My company makes everyone do that once a year. I find it VERY difficult to evaluate myself. I mean, isn't that a job best left to your superiors?
Get done with that, sign in - off to the races. 5 deliveries spread out all over the place plus a stop downtown.
I continue to hear, on an almost daily basis, are people that are enthralled by my backing of the truck.
Hey, if I do at least one thing well, I might as well talk about it.
People ask me how I did that? You do something that comes to you in automatic mode, you don't think about it. Construction sites are often either very small, or very large but no room in either case to turn around. You have to back out the way you came in - whether that's 50 feet or a quarter mile.
Well, whatever. I was busting butt all day long - well past the 7-hour maximum that corporate has enacted. It's end of month, our numbers are down, we are going to get out whatever we can and deal with the aftermath later. Today was a $23,000.00 day in terms of sales on the deliveries I made. Tomorrow will have - I think around 10k as well. 3 days in a row will total over 50k, which is pretty good considering the times we are in, and will boost our stores numbers to a bit more acceptable level for month-long sales totals.
Get back to the yard - had to go in for my review with the boss. I will say he gave me a very good review, very heartening to hear and read that. He has to answer the same review fields that I had to, and rate each set of directives.
Anyway, done with that, went home - for 5 minutes - and left. Off to Karen's house - she had some guys dig out that pine tree she was going to give me yesterday. I wanted to get it here and get it into a large container of water, just before it starts dying. So, I put a blanket on the top of my car, put the tree on that, roped it down with 3 ropes. Visited with Karen for a couple of hours - she made some grilled baby-back ribs that were just excellent - had some good conversation.
Headed home. But, I stopped at the Fry's down the road before getting here. I had spoken to the GM of that store yesterday - she said they had some of the chicken breast in and would hold it for me in the cooler until today. Great, I wanted some of that stuff. I go to the meat department, ring the doorbell. I hear the bell ring, I hear a guy in there working, no answer. Ring it again - and again, and again - nothing. I back up to see the guy is spraying something off with a garden hose, apparently couldn't be bothered with customers.
Whatever, I just asked for a manager to go back there, get my meat, I wanted out of there. The manager - not the GM who isn't there that late - opened up a closed lane, gave me an additional $5 off the already low price - I paid $5 and change for 4 large packages of bone-in chicken breast. Worth the stop, I figured - shook the man's hand, thanked him and left.
Got home. Task of getting the tree unhooked from the car, finding a suitable container large enough to put the root ball - what's left of it anyway - into so I could fill it with water overnight and probably into Saturday.
Done with that. I'm here, it's almost 9:00 o'clock - where I got the energy to write this energy who knows, I only hope the energy goes away and I go to sleep and STAY that way tonight. I was NOT going to go to Karen's today after the miserable night's sleep I had last night, but I figured that tree would probably die without resurrection if I didn't get it here and get the roots underwater. She had it packed with mud and wet - but - this tree did not have a deep root system, had not been sufficiently watered by whoever had lived in that place before, and is in obvious need of a good dose of water, especially considering being uprooted from the ground.
Somewhere, I have a container of vitamin B which I will also be giving it to help it survive the move. Karen's house? Unbelievably nice - I mean, she paid $31,000 for it - a 3 bedroom place, not huge but PLENTY big enough. New carpet and tile, paint, the owners/bank/whoever had done a lot to it to make it sellable. I'm imagining a huge loss, regardless for whoever owned the property before Karen bought it. A steal in every sense of the word excepting, of course, actually stealing it.
Mary? No more from her. She has closed the channels and is not communicating with me. My last words to her in email were that if she didn't want to deal with me in email, she would be forced to deal with me in front of a judge. I would rather the former, but I just about guarantee the latter. This will not be an eviction case, either, it will be a plain-jane lawsuit. It will take longer, but it will cost less in court costs.
I'm toast, fried and well-done, therefore, I'm gettin' offa this and going to bed.
G'nite.
ben
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Drained
I just find going through such things with people such as Mary and the outrageous, unbeievable attitudes and hostility to be more than I can deal with on occasion. I tend to shut down and go to the "cave".
Mary's continued writings are horrendous at best. Her response to the walls in her room and all the holes she made in them was - incredulous.
Because of all that has happened - I am definitely considering suing her. The thing that really eats at me and got me going was her claim to Phoenix police that I had shoved her - equating aggravated assault - equating arrest and jail time. I shudder to think what would have happened if I had not acquired the Order of Protection against her.
I give attest again - and again - and again - to the advantages of having a video surveillance system giving me backup, 24 hours a day, every day, always. No, the cops didn't want to see it. WHY didn't they want to see it, is the question. In my mind - the fact that I so persistently and forcefully asked them to look at it - perhaps that just confirms to them that what I am saying is true and that they don't NEED to see it. Certainly, when I make my case about something, detail is something that is not ambiguous.
IF they had believed her, or had some question of credibility on my part, it would only be logical for the next step to ask to SEE this video surveillance of mine. That CD is in my possession and will remain so - in storage along with all the rest of the documentation, in case Mary EVER brings up anything about this again. Same with the judge, who had no desire to see my video recording of Mary basically committing perjury in the court.
It is not a case of paranoia. Having video surveillance is simply a total, 100% recall of any event that might happen. It is not clouded by human emotion. It's memory is not based on whether it was tired or not - as long as it has electricity and the computer program to run it, it never tires. It it totally unbiased, it shows the scenes as they happen. It can't edit itself while running to make one person look good and another look very bad. It IS what it is. It IS one of the best uses of my financial occupations that I have ever spent, and most certainly, the only regret I MIGHT have is not going for the 8 camera option. But I don't regret that, 4 is sufficient. 8 is better- but costs twice as much and that much more electricity for cameras to run.
Totally changing the subject, Michael apparently is not going home this week. One imagines that it is end of month, food stamps have run out at their house, money is very tight if existent at all, and food is scarce. I have imperical data to back it up - but it has to do with their use of illegal substance, so I will refrain excepting this sentence's inferences - leave it to your imagination, though long-time readers may very well surmise the correct rendition.
I have written a 3rd - and totally different - Craigslist ad for the room. Greatly reduced to accomodate for the situation with the walls - still a nice room and very large. The price is right, guarantee that. Or not.
My ad may change even more after I thought about what I really should have said in it - but - another day. I'll let this one run a couple of days and see what kind of response I might get.
Ummm, I'm tired - repetetive - but I have been driving all day long most every day I am at work now. It is relentless, though I really like that kind of environment. Keeps my mind occupied and keeps me on my toes. We are near end of month - they will be driving to get out every delivery the salesmen can muster to get out of the branches. Tomorrow looks to be a VERY busy day. Couple that with a fuel problem on the semi - I have to keep checking both tanks to make sure they are equalizing. I am trying to burn up the fuel in both tanks to get it down far enough for the mechanic to return and address the problem: faulty fuel indicators in the tanks, apparently a problem that this particular model of truck has had since it's inception.
The problem? The sensors go bad, reading faulty information, and start pumping fuel from one tank to the other - ONE way. Meaning ALL the fuel is trying to pump out of one tank and into the other tank, which doesn't have room for all of that fuel. This problem started on full tanks - I have been driving the thing with the fuel pump disengaged. Remember, this is a semi tractor, not a car, there is much more technology and necessary mechanics engineered into these kinds of vehicles than you will ever find necessary for the common automobile.
A semi truck's gauges and idiot lights will tell you so much more information than that of in a car, it's a totally different realm. Computers on trucks, however, do not equate into the eradication of common sense.
With that, I am going to BED.
G'nite!
ben
Mary's continued writings are horrendous at best. Her response to the walls in her room and all the holes she made in them was - incredulous.
Because of all that has happened - I am definitely considering suing her. The thing that really eats at me and got me going was her claim to Phoenix police that I had shoved her - equating aggravated assault - equating arrest and jail time. I shudder to think what would have happened if I had not acquired the Order of Protection against her.
I give attest again - and again - and again - to the advantages of having a video surveillance system giving me backup, 24 hours a day, every day, always. No, the cops didn't want to see it. WHY didn't they want to see it, is the question. In my mind - the fact that I so persistently and forcefully asked them to look at it - perhaps that just confirms to them that what I am saying is true and that they don't NEED to see it. Certainly, when I make my case about something, detail is something that is not ambiguous.
IF they had believed her, or had some question of credibility on my part, it would only be logical for the next step to ask to SEE this video surveillance of mine. That CD is in my possession and will remain so - in storage along with all the rest of the documentation, in case Mary EVER brings up anything about this again. Same with the judge, who had no desire to see my video recording of Mary basically committing perjury in the court.
It is not a case of paranoia. Having video surveillance is simply a total, 100% recall of any event that might happen. It is not clouded by human emotion. It's memory is not based on whether it was tired or not - as long as it has electricity and the computer program to run it, it never tires. It it totally unbiased, it shows the scenes as they happen. It can't edit itself while running to make one person look good and another look very bad. It IS what it is. It IS one of the best uses of my financial occupations that I have ever spent, and most certainly, the only regret I MIGHT have is not going for the 8 camera option. But I don't regret that, 4 is sufficient. 8 is better- but costs twice as much and that much more electricity for cameras to run.
Totally changing the subject, Michael apparently is not going home this week. One imagines that it is end of month, food stamps have run out at their house, money is very tight if existent at all, and food is scarce. I have imperical data to back it up - but it has to do with their use of illegal substance, so I will refrain excepting this sentence's inferences - leave it to your imagination, though long-time readers may very well surmise the correct rendition.
I have written a 3rd - and totally different - Craigslist ad for the room. Greatly reduced to accomodate for the situation with the walls - still a nice room and very large. The price is right, guarantee that. Or not.
My ad may change even more after I thought about what I really should have said in it - but - another day. I'll let this one run a couple of days and see what kind of response I might get.
Ummm, I'm tired - repetetive - but I have been driving all day long most every day I am at work now. It is relentless, though I really like that kind of environment. Keeps my mind occupied and keeps me on my toes. We are near end of month - they will be driving to get out every delivery the salesmen can muster to get out of the branches. Tomorrow looks to be a VERY busy day. Couple that with a fuel problem on the semi - I have to keep checking both tanks to make sure they are equalizing. I am trying to burn up the fuel in both tanks to get it down far enough for the mechanic to return and address the problem: faulty fuel indicators in the tanks, apparently a problem that this particular model of truck has had since it's inception.
The problem? The sensors go bad, reading faulty information, and start pumping fuel from one tank to the other - ONE way. Meaning ALL the fuel is trying to pump out of one tank and into the other tank, which doesn't have room for all of that fuel. This problem started on full tanks - I have been driving the thing with the fuel pump disengaged. Remember, this is a semi tractor, not a car, there is much more technology and necessary mechanics engineered into these kinds of vehicles than you will ever find necessary for the common automobile.
A semi truck's gauges and idiot lights will tell you so much more information than that of in a car, it's a totally different realm. Computers on trucks, however, do not equate into the eradication of common sense.
With that, I am going to BED.
G'nite!
ben
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Tuesday More
So, I get home from work today and receive a reply from Mary.
Note that the judge ordered us both to communicate via email to come up with a date/time to get her things out of here.
Mary ignored that order and showed up on Sunday regardless.
So, today, Mary writes more hate mail. She is replying to the 3 emails that I wrote her after the court hearing and before she showed up on Sunday.
It is a total waste of time to go into what she said - it was incomprehensible and went into issues that had nothing to do with anything about moving her stuff out.
She did, however, think that she has 30 days to get her stuff out of here!
Ummm - well I responded to it, because her manner of writing is so off-the-wall, you really can't understand WHAT she is trying to say.
Regardless, the woman that is Mary's friend - a person that seems sane and lucent - showed up today - like right now - about 2 hours after the arranged time. That's all I need. 3 pickup trucks and 3 women. No U-haul and no guys to help haul the heavy stuff. They are going to attempt to take everything out of here today (I thing I can only DREAM happens).
Video surveillance is running and recording, of course. Note that the agreement for these people to come get Mary's things - without Mary present - was witnessed by 2 Phoenix Police officers. Listening to the women that are present, it becomes obvious that these people work with Mary at the University. How Mary gets out of having to help get her own things is - unbelievable, actually. The police can come again and again, according to them anyway.
This will undoubtedly go on for hours - none of Mary's things are packed, and when the ladies walked into the room, they were shocked. There is SO much stuff in there, it's amazing. I could fill more than half a house with the stuff she has crammed in there.
Today at work - busy. All day long. Got off of work 27 minutes late. Tomorrow looks to be more of the same. With all the running around I have to do tomorrow, I will be lucky to get it all done in 7 hours period. That's 7 hours without a break, btw, a break that they automatically take off of my time regardless of whether I actually take one or not.
Loan modifications. I have been contacted by about half a dozen companies - they all want rates that I simply don't care for. $2,000.00; $2,300.00; $2,500.00. They continue to talk about a "lawyer" and how this person is somehow doing the work. BUNK. Lawyers don't do their own paperwork - the menial stuff is left to paralegals and clerks. I asked specifically WHAT, exactly, the lawyer does? I get detailed responses to all of my questions BUT that one.
There are so many scams concerning modifications, I am very leery of it. I called the bank that is owned by the same mother company as my mortgage company, the man said he would call me back. He never did.
I will be calling them again.
Regardless, there is far too much noise going on in here to continue writing this entry with them moving her stuff out of here.
ben
Note that the judge ordered us both to communicate via email to come up with a date/time to get her things out of here.
Mary ignored that order and showed up on Sunday regardless.
So, today, Mary writes more hate mail. She is replying to the 3 emails that I wrote her after the court hearing and before she showed up on Sunday.
It is a total waste of time to go into what she said - it was incomprehensible and went into issues that had nothing to do with anything about moving her stuff out.
She did, however, think that she has 30 days to get her stuff out of here!
Ummm - well I responded to it, because her manner of writing is so off-the-wall, you really can't understand WHAT she is trying to say.
Regardless, the woman that is Mary's friend - a person that seems sane and lucent - showed up today - like right now - about 2 hours after the arranged time. That's all I need. 3 pickup trucks and 3 women. No U-haul and no guys to help haul the heavy stuff. They are going to attempt to take everything out of here today (I thing I can only DREAM happens).
Video surveillance is running and recording, of course. Note that the agreement for these people to come get Mary's things - without Mary present - was witnessed by 2 Phoenix Police officers. Listening to the women that are present, it becomes obvious that these people work with Mary at the University. How Mary gets out of having to help get her own things is - unbelievable, actually. The police can come again and again, according to them anyway.
This will undoubtedly go on for hours - none of Mary's things are packed, and when the ladies walked into the room, they were shocked. There is SO much stuff in there, it's amazing. I could fill more than half a house with the stuff she has crammed in there.
Today at work - busy. All day long. Got off of work 27 minutes late. Tomorrow looks to be more of the same. With all the running around I have to do tomorrow, I will be lucky to get it all done in 7 hours period. That's 7 hours without a break, btw, a break that they automatically take off of my time regardless of whether I actually take one or not.
Loan modifications. I have been contacted by about half a dozen companies - they all want rates that I simply don't care for. $2,000.00; $2,300.00; $2,500.00. They continue to talk about a "lawyer" and how this person is somehow doing the work. BUNK. Lawyers don't do their own paperwork - the menial stuff is left to paralegals and clerks. I asked specifically WHAT, exactly, the lawyer does? I get detailed responses to all of my questions BUT that one.
There are so many scams concerning modifications, I am very leery of it. I called the bank that is owned by the same mother company as my mortgage company, the man said he would call me back. He never did.
I will be calling them again.
Regardless, there is far too much noise going on in here to continue writing this entry with them moving her stuff out of here.
ben
Tuesday
So, Michael's sitting in the living room yesterday, asking about a vacation.
Sure - just come up with about $500 and we'll take a 3 day trip.
Lol.
Mary's friends are again supposed to come today, after I get home from work, to get the rest of her stuff.
Which is good because I have a solid lead on a new roommate.
Got to work early this morning as I like to sit here before clocking in and read the news and such.
Iran sending warships to international waters and North Korea detonating a nuke AND sending two more test missiles - great news!
Pretty nice 4 days off regardless of the excitement in court and the police showing up yet again at my house to let Mary get her things. Got plenty done this weekend, so I don't look at it as a waste.
Anyway, now it's just a 4-day work week - always easier to handle than the entire 5!
Have a great day!
ben
Sure - just come up with about $500 and we'll take a 3 day trip.
Lol.
Mary's friends are again supposed to come today, after I get home from work, to get the rest of her stuff.
Which is good because I have a solid lead on a new roommate.
Got to work early this morning as I like to sit here before clocking in and read the news and such.
Iran sending warships to international waters and North Korea detonating a nuke AND sending two more test missiles - great news!
Pretty nice 4 days off regardless of the excitement in court and the police showing up yet again at my house to let Mary get her things. Got plenty done this weekend, so I don't look at it as a waste.
Anyway, now it's just a 4-day work week - always easier to handle than the entire 5!
Have a great day!
ben
Monday, May 25, 2009
Memorial Day
Just voicing my great respect and giving my thanks to those that have served and are serving in our nation's military. As far as journaling goes, Old Solider comes to mind - as well as a few others.
To those families that have lost loved ones who have gone to Iraq, or Afghanistan - or wherever: Thank You. The loss is inmitigatable - but your country and your fellow countrymen are indebted forever.
I always think of those that went to Vietnam - I see them on the streets everyday. I have talked to many of them - that war messed with their heads, many have not been able to cope.
I think of the great World Wars - imagine what life would be like if Hitler had his way, or Japan was able to finish what they started. You think of how many military personnel lost their lives in those wars. It's a staggering thought. It's even more amazing that Japan is now an ally.
Well, moving on. Mary's friend was supposed to be here at 8:00am to get the rest of Mary's things. A friend I email with back and forth wrote me back this morning and said: "don't hold your breath". Lol.
I have had some interest in the room, but nothing solid so far. Just people interested. I believe it's a bit tighter market out there right now for room rentals - lots of people are doing it. Still, I'm a great location and that alone is usually what ends up landing the next tenant.
Regardless, I assume they are coming for the stuff - if they did not - there is now room in the shed to put the rest of Mary's larger stuff and store it onsight, versus paying to store it offsite. I think so, anyway. Crossing my fingers it doesn't have to go there and that they will show up at "any time now".
I've decided to take the day off. I have been working around the house every day. Lots accomplished - the only thing I am doing outside right now is finishing the slow watering of all the plants. I have a couple of loads of laundry I want to get done, but that's it. Oh how I wish there were a beach near here!
I can't imagine what it might be like to live near the ocean - storms, hurricanes and waterspots with earthquakes thrown in put aside. Oh, and underwater volanoes.
Hmmm, maybe not so great after all!
Have a great day!
ben
To those families that have lost loved ones who have gone to Iraq, or Afghanistan - or wherever: Thank You. The loss is inmitigatable - but your country and your fellow countrymen are indebted forever.
I always think of those that went to Vietnam - I see them on the streets everyday. I have talked to many of them - that war messed with their heads, many have not been able to cope.
I think of the great World Wars - imagine what life would be like if Hitler had his way, or Japan was able to finish what they started. You think of how many military personnel lost their lives in those wars. It's a staggering thought. It's even more amazing that Japan is now an ally.
Well, moving on. Mary's friend was supposed to be here at 8:00am to get the rest of Mary's things. A friend I email with back and forth wrote me back this morning and said: "don't hold your breath". Lol.
I have had some interest in the room, but nothing solid so far. Just people interested. I believe it's a bit tighter market out there right now for room rentals - lots of people are doing it. Still, I'm a great location and that alone is usually what ends up landing the next tenant.
Regardless, I assume they are coming for the stuff - if they did not - there is now room in the shed to put the rest of Mary's larger stuff and store it onsight, versus paying to store it offsite. I think so, anyway. Crossing my fingers it doesn't have to go there and that they will show up at "any time now".
I've decided to take the day off. I have been working around the house every day. Lots accomplished - the only thing I am doing outside right now is finishing the slow watering of all the plants. I have a couple of loads of laundry I want to get done, but that's it. Oh how I wish there were a beach near here!
I can't imagine what it might be like to live near the ocean - storms, hurricanes and waterspots with earthquakes thrown in put aside. Oh, and underwater volanoes.
Hmmm, maybe not so great after all!
Have a great day!
ben
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Mary
"I'll do it, myyyyyyyyyaaaawwwwyyyyyyy wayyyyy".
As always, Mary does things her own way.
In this case, completely ignoring the directive of the judge.
The judge issued the directive, via a modification of the Order of Protection, that we email each other about when she is to come and get her stuff.
I emailed her 3 times on 3 consecutive days.
She replied NONCE.
She was supposed to show up, originally, at 1:00 pm today with a U-Haul and several people to get her things out of here.
I didn't put it past her to do such a thing without notice, even though a court ordered it.
At 1:30, I figured a done deal - she ain't showing.
Wrong.
At 3:00 pm, the police are at my gate.
I go out there.
I inform them of the judge's directive.
It is, rightfully, left totally up to me.
Get her stuff out of here, that's what my head was screaming at me, and that's what I allowed.
But looking at the pickup, it was quite obvious that was NOT going to suffice.
There was only contention about a coffee cup and silverware. The coffee cup I gave up on - just take it, go ahead, have the coffee cup, I have a dozen more. She said no, I could "have" it, and left it. Silverware? Geeze. I had no clue where mine starts and hers ended. I offered that she could take out what she thought was hers and then I would look at it to see if I agreed with it or not.
She decided to leave ALL of her silverware, at my behest. I countered - you have a lot of stuff in there, go ahead and take what's yours. No. She left all of that stuff. She did, of course, take everything else. No problem there, but her bedroom is STILL - FULL - of her stuff. They took some things out of there, yes, but to look at her room right now? Totally full.
I did not want to have to deal with this tomorrow - I have yet another BBQ planned, this time a Memorial Day get together. Not with strangers, either.
The police asked if they could come, I said no, I have plans, they will have to try some other day. Then Mary's friend asked again - if she and some "male friends" could come without Mary to get the rest of it - no need for police since Mary won't be there. I thought no - again - but my head said - what are you thinking? Get that stuff OUT of here.
So, I said yes, at 8:00 am, you can come over and get the rest of this stuff. I'm already well awake by 8:00 am, and this gives them time to undoubtedly make at least 2 trips, cause' I don't see it happening in one. I was rather critical of them not just renting a U-Haul or similar and getting it over in one fell swoop. It becomes apparent that Mary has blown her money yet again and can't pay for a U-Haul.
The objective: get all of it out of here and get that room rented out again. I had 2 stipulations. 1 - the entire thing is video taped by surveillance and that you agree to it, and 2 - no-one in the moving party has any weapongs on them, especially hand guns since Mary has a friend that carries what looks to be a .45 caliper around with him everywhere he goes, including in my house. I had asked Mary a couple of times to tell the dude to check the gun at the curb.
So that's it. The kitchen part is over with - all of her stuff is out of there as well as my storage shed and whatever she had outside plus some stuff from her room. My greatest contention was the kitchen part - the stuff in her room, none of that is mine and I don't NEED to inspect it, as I don't note that anything of mine is missing.
I will be much more aggessively attempting to find a roommate after tomorrow - providing all her stuff is out of there.
Done.
ben
As always, Mary does things her own way.
In this case, completely ignoring the directive of the judge.
The judge issued the directive, via a modification of the Order of Protection, that we email each other about when she is to come and get her stuff.
I emailed her 3 times on 3 consecutive days.
She replied NONCE.
She was supposed to show up, originally, at 1:00 pm today with a U-Haul and several people to get her things out of here.
I didn't put it past her to do such a thing without notice, even though a court ordered it.
At 1:30, I figured a done deal - she ain't showing.
Wrong.
At 3:00 pm, the police are at my gate.
I go out there.
I inform them of the judge's directive.
It is, rightfully, left totally up to me.
Get her stuff out of here, that's what my head was screaming at me, and that's what I allowed.
But looking at the pickup, it was quite obvious that was NOT going to suffice.
There was only contention about a coffee cup and silverware. The coffee cup I gave up on - just take it, go ahead, have the coffee cup, I have a dozen more. She said no, I could "have" it, and left it. Silverware? Geeze. I had no clue where mine starts and hers ended. I offered that she could take out what she thought was hers and then I would look at it to see if I agreed with it or not.
She decided to leave ALL of her silverware, at my behest. I countered - you have a lot of stuff in there, go ahead and take what's yours. No. She left all of that stuff. She did, of course, take everything else. No problem there, but her bedroom is STILL - FULL - of her stuff. They took some things out of there, yes, but to look at her room right now? Totally full.
I did not want to have to deal with this tomorrow - I have yet another BBQ planned, this time a Memorial Day get together. Not with strangers, either.
The police asked if they could come, I said no, I have plans, they will have to try some other day. Then Mary's friend asked again - if she and some "male friends" could come without Mary to get the rest of it - no need for police since Mary won't be there. I thought no - again - but my head said - what are you thinking? Get that stuff OUT of here.
So, I said yes, at 8:00 am, you can come over and get the rest of this stuff. I'm already well awake by 8:00 am, and this gives them time to undoubtedly make at least 2 trips, cause' I don't see it happening in one. I was rather critical of them not just renting a U-Haul or similar and getting it over in one fell swoop. It becomes apparent that Mary has blown her money yet again and can't pay for a U-Haul.
The objective: get all of it out of here and get that room rented out again. I had 2 stipulations. 1 - the entire thing is video taped by surveillance and that you agree to it, and 2 - no-one in the moving party has any weapongs on them, especially hand guns since Mary has a friend that carries what looks to be a .45 caliper around with him everywhere he goes, including in my house. I had asked Mary a couple of times to tell the dude to check the gun at the curb.
So that's it. The kitchen part is over with - all of her stuff is out of there as well as my storage shed and whatever she had outside plus some stuff from her room. My greatest contention was the kitchen part - the stuff in her room, none of that is mine and I don't NEED to inspect it, as I don't note that anything of mine is missing.
I will be much more aggessively attempting to find a roommate after tomorrow - providing all her stuff is out of there.
Done.
ben
More
Okay, hanging laundry about the 4th load starts to get old. Not the biggest ordeal on earth, but - not exactly Sunday afternoon fun, either.
Also continued the deep watering I started yesterday. Should be completed by the end of the holiday weekend.
Went to Fry's. For me, Fry's Food Stores are becoming notorious for issuing ads with product that they don't have.
This time - 88 cents per pound chicken breast, bone-in. None. Tude Dude was back there, I avoided him like the plague - he gave me a long stare - so - I decided it only fitting to - completely ignore him.
When done with shopping, I asked the guy at the front about when there will be more chicken coming in. I knew the answer before he called the meat department: tomorrow. I decided to ask them to call another Fry's down the road - the man disappeared. When done paying for my stuff, the printer wasn't working and it did not give me my receipt. I ALWAYS check my receipt to make sure the computer hasn't over-charged me. It happens frequently enough that it warrants me to stand at the front of the store and go over the entire receipt.
I ask the lady 3 times to print the receipt - she never does. I finally get word back - no meat at the other store. Now, I really don't take pleasure in making life difficult for these people, but they also should not be luring people into their stores by having these "wonderful" sales for the customer to find NONE of the product on their shelves. I was definitely not the only person back there looking for the chicken - there were 3 other people standing there with rather bewildered looks on their faces - looking at a giant sign that says 88cent chicken breast, bone-in - the sign was planted in the middle of a bunch of whole fryers, there was definitely none of the sale chicken breast anywhere on those shelves.
So, as is my fashion, I ask for the manager. The lady at the front calls for her 5 times. Lol. She then asks for the second in command - of whom I would have rather talked to anyway if I had known he was there. He explains that they have been shorted on all of their chicken orders. I replied that that is the same story I have been hearing every time they have a sale and don't have the sale product. He offers to substitute, I rejected it. I wanted chicken breast with the bones, not the boneless. I think it grills better, and they didn't have another brand on the shelf.
Long story short? Same-o, same-o. One starts thinking at what point do you switch from thinking - Gee, they're just out, I'll get some tomorrow - to - Gee, they're always out, they are doing this on purpose - get people in the store, they will buy something else at a higher price, most people won't go to the trouble of saying something as I do.
Whatever. I wanted to cook the stuff up today for an afternoon BBQ for Caleb - it's his 16th birthday today. Actually, I ended up doing what I just said other people would do - I bought him a fat steak instead and will be grilling that later.
It's an amazing thought that my son is 16 years old. He is my only child - and soon he will be grown up and out of the house. THAT will definitely be strange. At the same time, "only" 2 more years of child support payments. I'm at 4 and a half years of it already. Basically could have bought a car on payments with what I have paid, and then another half of one by the time this is over.
Well, back to the races - I dumped tick killing powder on my bedroom floor - dogs have infested with them and it's been a daily war for over 2 weeks now trying to get rid of them - and it's almost time to vacuum that stuff up.
ben
Also continued the deep watering I started yesterday. Should be completed by the end of the holiday weekend.
Went to Fry's. For me, Fry's Food Stores are becoming notorious for issuing ads with product that they don't have.
This time - 88 cents per pound chicken breast, bone-in. None. Tude Dude was back there, I avoided him like the plague - he gave me a long stare - so - I decided it only fitting to - completely ignore him.
When done with shopping, I asked the guy at the front about when there will be more chicken coming in. I knew the answer before he called the meat department: tomorrow. I decided to ask them to call another Fry's down the road - the man disappeared. When done paying for my stuff, the printer wasn't working and it did not give me my receipt. I ALWAYS check my receipt to make sure the computer hasn't over-charged me. It happens frequently enough that it warrants me to stand at the front of the store and go over the entire receipt.
I ask the lady 3 times to print the receipt - she never does. I finally get word back - no meat at the other store. Now, I really don't take pleasure in making life difficult for these people, but they also should not be luring people into their stores by having these "wonderful" sales for the customer to find NONE of the product on their shelves. I was definitely not the only person back there looking for the chicken - there were 3 other people standing there with rather bewildered looks on their faces - looking at a giant sign that says 88cent chicken breast, bone-in - the sign was planted in the middle of a bunch of whole fryers, there was definitely none of the sale chicken breast anywhere on those shelves.
So, as is my fashion, I ask for the manager. The lady at the front calls for her 5 times. Lol. She then asks for the second in command - of whom I would have rather talked to anyway if I had known he was there. He explains that they have been shorted on all of their chicken orders. I replied that that is the same story I have been hearing every time they have a sale and don't have the sale product. He offers to substitute, I rejected it. I wanted chicken breast with the bones, not the boneless. I think it grills better, and they didn't have another brand on the shelf.
Long story short? Same-o, same-o. One starts thinking at what point do you switch from thinking - Gee, they're just out, I'll get some tomorrow - to - Gee, they're always out, they are doing this on purpose - get people in the store, they will buy something else at a higher price, most people won't go to the trouble of saying something as I do.
Whatever. I wanted to cook the stuff up today for an afternoon BBQ for Caleb - it's his 16th birthday today. Actually, I ended up doing what I just said other people would do - I bought him a fat steak instead and will be grilling that later.
It's an amazing thought that my son is 16 years old. He is my only child - and soon he will be grown up and out of the house. THAT will definitely be strange. At the same time, "only" 2 more years of child support payments. I'm at 4 and a half years of it already. Basically could have bought a car on payments with what I have paid, and then another half of one by the time this is over.
Well, back to the races - I dumped tick killing powder on my bedroom floor - dogs have infested with them and it's been a daily war for over 2 weeks now trying to get rid of them - and it's almost time to vacuum that stuff up.
ben
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