More: Arizona's Illegal Immigration Law

"If you look or sound foreign, you are going to be subjected to never-ending requests for police to confirm your identity and to confirm your citizenship," said Alessandra Soler Meetze, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, which is exploring legal action.

Really? What evidence is there of this? You cannot challenge something that "may" happen in court, your challenges must be of something that has already occured. Or, if it's a constitutional issue. Do we REALLY believe the Phoenix police department has the time or resources to beging going around asking everyone for their papers? NO, I do not. The whole world is jumping on this bandwagon, I am, most definitely - NOT and so are a LOT of other people just like me. The bandwagon of claiming that racial profiling will occur.

BTW, Hispanics are HARDLY the only illegal aliens in this country OR Arizona for that matter. Look at all the boatloads of Cubans that try to come over here on a regular basis. Look at the containers that come from China and other Asian nations of people looking to get a piece of the American pie. Where is the outcry from the Chinese/Asian community? Admittedly, there are FAR more Hispanic illegals here than any of it, so what? It's already been outlined that law enforcement officers will go through specialized training in order to enforce this law LEGALLY, without violating a person's constitutional rights.

Of course, besides God-given rights, illegal aliens HAVE no constitutional rights in this nation. Note that nowhere in this bill does it say "to only pick on Hispanics, everyone else is okay", yet you would think that it MUST say such verbage for the heat that is coming because of it. The rhetoric continues to pour in. What I find amazing is this representative or senator, whatever he is, that is from our state telling the world to boycott Arizona because of it. This man is condoning hurting the Arizona economy, INCLUDING that of the illegals - so how does THIS help ANYONE in Arizona?

Lol.

Today. Driving all day long, including a trip to Miami, AZ. PERFECT rocks - well they're small boulders, but whatever - for my waterfall in the yard of the place I was at. No, they weren't free, but they're just rocks and didn't cost that much. They are Shiraz, I think it's spelled - absolutely gorgeous. Perfect for a waterfall.

I am going back up there to a different jobsite on Thursday, hopefully there will be time to take my break up there and grab some more "regular" rocks laying around - good stuff though - to shore up the waterfall project. I would like to put this project into high gear this weekend and get this thing going before the searious (spelling intentional) heat gets here and my progress will be greatly slowed.

New tenant paid today. I wasn't expecting it today, so that was totally cool. Other tenant is behind - but only $70 - and is leaving for that training soon. I really don't want to hold that room for her for 2 months if she is not serious about coming back. I don't know that one way or the other. I have had limited interest in the room on a temporary use basis. I also wonder how often these extended training exercises are going to occur and no, this is the first and only time I will do it, after that, she would either have to pay the rent or "move out".

Mother's day coming up. Gotta do something for mom. Almost forgot about it until I saw an internet ad. One time when seeing and ad was a GOOD thing.

Dogs not happy about being left outside during the day because it is heating up. However, the temps are coming WAY down on Thursday, and the holes for a shade area have been started. Not JUST a shade area, but an area with a mister and hopefully finding an cheap old evap cooler somewhere. THAT will keep them sufficiently cool during the summer, cost very little in energy and keep my house "undefiled". The other alternative would be a very long gate in the kitchen to keep them from the rest of the house.

I have almost enough saved up to get the AC fixed in my car. Within the next month I will be having it repaired as I am not a person that likes to work in the heat all day and THEN have to get into a searing hot car and endure that heat all the way home.

Just covering things here. I sat on the east side of my house enjoying the handiwork I have done over there in the last 2 years. The ponds are sitting in the ground - not QUITE where they need to be but still, it was easy to envision water and water plants, a waterfall making soothing sounds and some fish meandering around in the water. The effort will be worth it. When will it be done? Never, apparently, from what I have read, it is an on-going thing that you constantly adjust and move things around and such. But, to pour water in there? Dunno. I think that waterfall is going to be a challenge. I don't HAVE to have it to put water in the pond and I will probably go ahead and fill them up - BUT - I MUST have that bio-filter built and in operation first.

I have definitely decided on building my own - a small version is MUCH cheaper than anything I could find at the stores.

Yup, I'm easily entertained. Give me a project that is alluring to me and I will go for it. Especially cool when the challenge involves just GETTING the stuff to make it happen, which is definitely true in this case. Top that with financial issues and it's a real hoot. On the cheap doesn't have to equate to on the junk.

My neighbor left a little while ago. I will have to take a pic of this situation to give you an idea of what I am having to look at on a daily basis. He bought this giant, 40 foot long RV trailer some time ago. It is parked from the front of his property to almost the middle, along my fence, totally blocking my views of ANYTHING towards the west. I am SURE he said he was either going to get rid of it or move it back to the back of his property when he left. Well, he didn't and I didn't know he was leaving today.

I have his phone number and will be discussing this with him. I refuse to have to be subjected to such a huge eyesore indefinitely. He should know I don't like this kind of junk going on - I can deal with some of it, I have with him for a long time now, but this thing is HUGE and blocks out most anything to the west of me.

Well, amazingly, the day is getting close to done. Long work days do that. It didn't bother me a bit to spend half a day committed to work from the time I left until the time I got home. Wish I could get a LOT more hours like today and yesterday.

Well, time for bed.

G'nite.
ben

Tuesday

I find it quite humorous the rhetoric, slamming and new-found ways to use old phrases. "Arizona The New Nazi State". All Mexicans everywhere, apparently or at least according to these people, are totally against this immigration reform bill that is signed into law.

Now, the state is being boycotted by all kinds of corporations, the City of San Francisco and leaders all over the country decrying this "abusive" law. There is now a petition drive to get a referendum putting the law to ballot.

"Kris Kobach, a University of Missouri-Kansas City law professor who helped write the Arizona legislation, said he anticipated legal challenges and carefully drafted the language. He said the state law is only prohibiting conduct already illegal under federal law."

Of COURSE they knew this thing would be challenged. Note that this professor states that the law only prohibits conduct ALREADY illegal under federal law. Interesting. As the news continues to pour in about this, I continue to be amused. People actually believe the Phoenix police department is going to start going around asking everyone for their papers. If this were an abortion debate, then yes, I would be getting heated up about as I am strictly, totally and staunchly against abortion. You would think this bill that was passed was of the same "caliber" as that, but it is, in reality, just a law making it illegal for illegal immigrants to be in our state. It's ALREADY illegal for them to be here, the part that is getting people riled up is the push to get law enforcement to ask for documentation - WHEN THERE IS REASONABLE SUSPICION TO WARRANT SUCH.

I am supposed to take a trip to Miami today. I dunno if it's going to happen or not. I WANT to go - it would be the last thing on today's agenda and I could stop on the way back, take my 30 minute break and see if I could find some nice rocks for the waterfall. I'm not even sure if I'm still going, though. It's still in our truck routing system, but things can and often-times do change.

Our branch is having a MUCH better month than previous months in terms of sales and it's only going to go up the rest of this coming work week. That's good news, indeed.

Umm, I woke up this morning to find that Prince - the giant, black Great Dane, had had 2 accidents. 1 on the carpet, the other in the bathroom. Yuck. He woke me up in the middle of the night to go outside - a simple thing to do, really, when all one has to do is open the bedroom door and he lets himself out through the doggie door. Finding THAT on your bathroom floor when about to take a shower? Doesn't exactly give you that "clean" feeling, lol. Which - set me behind today on my pre-work rituals, meaning it's time to get offa here, cause' it's almost 6:00 am.

G'day.

ben

Monday More

I wrote a rather extensive entry about my visit to Walmart today - a place I love to hate but love the deals - at times anyways. It disappeared. It was not in my drafts as I was informed I was not signed in. Hmmm, well how did I write an entry without being signed in? The site did not give me an option to ask that question, much less get an answer for it.

Well there are other things to write about anyway.

Long day at work - wrote about that and some extreme driving challenges in getting a tractor- trailer rig into a place where one was never intended to be driven. No big deal - but today had 3 such occasions which made it unusual and also taxing on mental energy.

I came home today to find 4 holes started for doggy cover in an area where I was discussing it with the trailer tenant guy. He also finished the pond hole that I was working on all weekend. Well almost finished, it needs sand and will need to be levelled and also moved forward a bit to be under the other pond so it will feed into it, but he did a bit of work today.

I was exhausted. I got 3 hours of sleep last night and I worked 9, straight, mentally challenging hours - I only watered a few plants that needed it and came back inside.

The bright point? I am going to Miami tomorrow - up in the mountains. There are plenty of areas to pull over and find some rocks. It will the the "last" run of the day, meaning I will have time to stop, take my 1/2 hour break in finding some rocks if I can find what I am looking for. I did not get a break today - I worked straight through even though, as I relentlessly point out on my blogs, that time is automatically deducted from any day's given time.

This is just a short entry, I am not motivated and I am very tired. I forced myself to stay awake after work and am going to bed a bit early and hope to get at least enough sleep tonight.

ben

Monday/Arizona Immigration Law

There is one provision in the new Immigrantion Bill that AZ has passed I don't agree with much: If a person cannot show proof of citizenship or show they are legally here, they can be jailed up to 6 months, amongst other things.

Let's not jail them and waste even more taxpayer dollars on these people, let's just get RID of them. Deport them, send them back on those big INS busses and be done with it. Alright, if the same person gets caught over and over, then a good deterrence is to make them sit in a prison house somewhere, I suppose. Because, if those people REALLY want to be here, they are just going to attempt to come right back and resume living their illegal life here as they were before.

"The Rev. Al Sharpton, speaking Sunday in New York, said that just as freedom riders battled segregation in the 1960s, he would organize "freedom walkers" to challenge the Arizona bill.

"We will go to Arizona when this bill goes into effect and walk the streets with people who refuse to give identification and force arrest," Sharpton said."

Yes, well "Reverened" Al Sharpton is hardly a beacon of light or even a modicum of truth. I have heard what the man has preached - much of it is heresy. This reverend is actually encouraging people to resist police by refusing to cooperate with what will be the law of the land. Well, Mr. Sharpton, this isn't the slavery issue and this isn't the segregation issue, this is an illegal alien issue that is FAR removed from either of the aforementioned issues.

If they go to the streets as they promise, it is highly doubtful that Phoenix or other area police are even going to ask them for their "papers". The whole idea that people would come here in groves to protest this issue through Sharpton's idea is quite laughable.

This Arizona Representative that is actually going around telling the nation to boycott Arizona is a moron at best. Not only that, but already, apparently, his life has been threatened by some freak of nature - there are more out there I am sure. If 70% of Arizonans are saying this is a good bill, then this rep is isolating himself and his chances of getting re-elected are probably going down the tube. Regardless of what you think of this bill, to tell people, corporations, whatever to stay away from the state you are allegedly serving is outrageous.

Well, whatever. I'm not really getting worked up about this nonsense, let those protestors protest away, it's getting warm here - 95 today - go ahead and walk the streets of Phoenix, if you're coming from out of state and not used to the heat, good luck with that. Actually, it isn't even HOT yet, Mother Nature is just getting a warm-up round going here. I'll let my voting fingers speak for me, I don't need to go out there and act like a circus animal to accomplish - what?

Speaking of temps, it is going to go back up during this week but then by this weekend they are saying the highs will be in the 70's. I'm not ready for 110 degree garbage yet, thank you very much, not that I ever will be, but I would rather summer come on in one, fell swoop than take it's time. Just keep it in the low 80's and then one day, it can just jump to 110. Give me 2 weeks to adjust and I'll be okay, I won't like it, but I've been doing this since I was 10 years old (and can't wait until the day I can get OUT of here!).

Meanwhile, I have been digging away at the holes for my ponds, scouring the net for items that I need and sort of wondering where I'm going to come up with the rocks I need. I emailed the Coconino forest authority to find out if it is REALLY true that it is illegal to take simple rocks from forest land. My mother told me that and I just have a hard time believing it. This Earth is MADE out of rocks!!! There are PLENTY to go around! Lol.

I'm also running ads for the temporary room situation. No REAL takers yet, some inquiries, a couple that said they need 2 months to find a place to live but - no dinero to hold the room. Sorry, Charlie, no money, no room. You can show up the day it is available if it IS still available by then, rent money in hand and have it, otherwise, oh well.

Well, the work day approaches. The semi is still loaded - heavy - from all the pipe I picked up on Friday. I mean HEAVY - it is very near 40 tons. Oh, my mom is considering going back up to her property soon, if I find out her rock statement is false, I may just go up there as well and fill the trunk of my car up with what I need. My car will look like a low rider coming back with all that weight in it, oh well. I am looking for large, flat rocks for the cascading effect on the waterfall. I have specific stuff in mind and I just don't know where to find it around here unless I want to buy it. It would be more fun to find it out in nature and adapt it to use in my waterfall instead of paying for it.

Anyway, I'm outta here.

G'day.

ben

Sunday

So, I went to north Phoenix to pick up this water clarifier.
It was unfortunate that when I got there, there was a piece missing off of it. It is a screw on cap that holds the UV light in place inside of the housing. She just gave it to me - the whole setup - said I could buy another UV light. Yes, I found out, you can, but that plastic screw-on cap is not available. Waste of time? Not sure yet, I wrote the manufacturer and asked if they sell those separately.

However, I have read several web sites today that say using them isn't really all the great for your bio system. Well whatever. Everyone says something different about these ponds and how to keep the water from turning pea soup green. What I did find was a VERY simple to put together filter set up - much easier than some of the other sites had - it's a round plastic tub. Place PVC with fittings in it in order to pump the water to the bottom, which goes through filter media and then back out a hole on the top back into your pond. VERY simple and cheap. Cheap being the operative word. I have a pump - but I am going to use that for the waterfall. I will buy another pump for this setup.

Realistically, I could build the filter and get my ponds up and running without the waterfall. I won't be putting fish into it right away - but I will see about adding some plants. People are selling plants that have overgrown in their ponds for VERY cheap at $2 per plant.

So, a plan for these ponds is slowly coming together. One pond will spill over into the other. How well this is going to work, only time will tell. It may be that I will have to have a bio filter for each pond regardless that one is feeding into the other.

Which means that I better get out there and continue with the digging process, now that I have something that I think I can actually make work, I want to get this sucker up and going!

C'ya later.
ben

More/Ace Hardware

So, the missing tenant that suddenly is no longer missing paid me a portion of the back due rent with the promise to pay the rest Monday. I took it without hesitation. There are reasons, legally, not to take it - but I am not going to worry about that. I take my losses with tenants as they come. I'm also posting ads on Craigslist to fill that room while she's gone.

I have a taker who said they would move in the day it is available - and I said cool if you're serious - but Craigslist is so full of flakes - people who make commitments or say they are coming or whatever and then - nothing. The ads will continue until the day the room is open, available and taken - ie: cash in hand, tenant takes the room. Thank you.

Dug out a piece of rebar that was unearthed during the proces of digging the holes for the ponds. It was in a position where it had to be removed. I had to dig DEEP into the ground to get that thing unstuck. Crazy.

I was at Ace Hardware today to pick up a patch kit for one of the ponds. I ordered it online - cheap, yes, but I couldn't find anything available locally. There were 2 huge tables full of clearance items. The items had already been marked down, now they were half that price. I saw a submersible pump at a ridiculous price. LOW price that is. Yes, I got it. A pond without a pump is basically a glob of green goo. Filter next.

Well, I went to the back after finding that pump to get what I had already paid for - I bought it on the net through Ace site and had them ship it there, keeping shipping costs free. I approached the counter, a man came up to the counter from the back as I was approaching. Behind me came another customer with a sales associate who walked around back and started taking care of his customer.

I moved to a position directly in front of the other guy who was standing there, at the counter, fiddling with some papers. He never acknowledged I was there. Not a single word. I was RIGHT in front of him, 2 feet away. He KNEW I was there, yet he totally ignored me. I stood there for 60 seconds waiting for this man to at least say SOMETHING. He did not and I walked. Went to the front, waited in line to pay for the pump. A lady was handing out popcorn, I asked if the manager was available.

She calls him, doesn't show up. My turn comes to pay for the pump - after several minutes - I pay, still no manager. I decided to wait and see how long it would take for this person to actually meander up to the front and deal with it - but I was also quite annoyed at that point. At Ace Hardware, I have almost ALWAYS encountered smiling employees with great attitudes. They are all about customer service, at least in my dealings with them. Manager shows up 5 minutes later. Low-key, wants to know what's going on. I tell him in a couple of sentences, he asks who it is, I said at that point it doesn't matter and I left. Well, I had asked the lady at the front for the number for the district manager before the store manager had showed up, which, btw, is NOT the general manager of the store.

I am becoming less and less tolerant of forgettable or worse customer service. In this case, definitely worse. I don't GIVE service in such pathetic terms at my work, I expect to receive at least mediocre service wherever I am going. I WANT great service, but as we all know, that is hardly likely at many different types of retail stores these days.

I walked out, called the number, was surprised that anyone answered the phone on a Saturday. It was another Ace store in Tempe where this manager also manages a store. No there, no big deal, figured I wouldn't be able to talk to this person until Monday anyway. Manager wanted to know what is going on, I told him and then asked if how I can get my money back on an internet purchase, he said he could do it, no problem. Showed up - done.

Will I go back to Ace Hardware? Of course, I am thinking this to be a fluke, it is certainly nothing like the 100 other times I've been in there (more than that, I am sure) in my lifetime. Will I get the patch from that store? NO. I have already ordered another one from somewhere else. No big hurry, either. The pond setup will not be ready for water until I get everything needed to keep water flowing and aerated.

The newest tenant, completely changing the subject because I am pretty much already at the "water under the bridge" stage with Ace and the manager apologizing profusely - is bringing her kids here tonight. Should be interesting - if I'm even awake for it, cause' my bedtime is in 1/2 hour and she is working. Her daughter is 3, her son is 7. She sat here today - we were talking - we are both talkers so talking isn't much of a problem - saying how she likes it here, thanked me for letting her in and how much of a release it is to be in a home without all the stress.

That was nice to hear. I don't like living in drama and stress - though tenants sometimes certainly cause such for me. Anyway, she went to work, then to her parent's house to bring her kids here and then - here.

Long break and it's time for me to go to bed.

G'nite.

Disappearing Tenant - Has Reappeared

?????
She went to Alabama. I knew she was leaving, but that was a long time ago! She said she left 5 days ago and got back last night. Okay, I can accept that, but where is the rent? Yes, that is my major concern here.

She JUST came walking through here, I had NO idea she was even here. Almost shocking to even see her come through here.

Anyway, she said she would pay me rent today.

THAT was my biggest concern.

We'll see - later on of course.

Saturday/Fry's Food Stores

I went to cook some chicken that I bought from Fry's Food Stores yesterday - opened the packaged - enough to make a maggot puke. It was rotten, VERY rotten. Use-by date was today, not yesterday. In the last few months, I have either thrown away or cooked and given to the dogs at least 4 packages of stuff that has clearly expired before the use-by date printed on the package.

Well, yesterday, I had had enough of this. Keep throwing away $5/$6/$7 packages of meat and get no use out of it? Bunk. I took that rotten meat up to Fry's in a plastic bag, stood in the customer service line, got up to the front. The woman gasped at the smell before I said anything, but I said it anyway: "Fry's is selling rotten meat. Smell this". She wanted nothing to do with it - neither did anyone within smelling distance. One guy waiting behind me was also grossing out at the smell.

I was not happy, by any means. I was JUST at Fry's not 30 minutes earlier on my way home from work. I had to get in my car, drive up there, go get another package, stand in a long line, etc etc etc. Who wants to do that? But if you don't, you lose the money you spent on the meat and I have already done that several times.

They DID make it right, though. I won't besmirch them that. I got the new package for free, my money back, PLUS a gift card. I was actually quite surprised. I was in no mood to ask for freebies, I just wanted my meat, go home and cook it. I didn't ASK for my money back or a gift card, I didn't even intone such. In fact, I had half a mind when I walked in there to leave the rotten meat on the meat cooler in the back, grab a "fresh" one and just walk out. But, I figured I might get into trouble for such so I resisted the impulse. It would be nice, though - rotten meat laying out with all the allegedly "good stuff".

I informed them that whoever is working the meat department giving these use-by dates is wrong. It's happened enough times that there is an obvious flaw in their calculation. From the stench of the meat, that stuff I had was probably 2 days into the rotting process. Regardless, I refuse to lose another penny to rotten meat. Although they compensated me, I was still not very happy about having to drive all the way up there after I had just gotten home for the weekend, settling in, thinking about what I might do and attempting to cook some dinner.

End of that story. If you Googled for the Fry's story, that's it, the rest is just my personal, daily stuff. You are welomed to read it, obviously, but just lettin' ya know.

I have several options concerning work around the house for this weekend, I have not decided on which - if any - I am going to do. I am looking daily for pond items for my ponds. Without a pump and filter setup, there will be no water put into them. They aren't quite IN the ground yet, probably 2/3rd's done with the digging. People are selling stuff on Craigslist - just not as cheap as I'm looking for. I have a set up in the back to put together for shade for the dogs for summer. I have several plants in pots that need put in to the ground - just have to decide where to plant them. There is work to be done inside the trailer - but that is on -hold for awhile. Who knows. I usually get a wild-hair and go out and start in on something.

Meanwhile, the missing tenant is still missing. I would have already moved her stuff out of the room on an abandonment notice, but how does a person abandon a nice pick-up truck in excellent condition? She simply isn't here - but WHERE is she? And why hasn't she contacted me? Oh, how I wish I would remember to get people's phone numbers. I have the other 2 tenant's numbers, I don't have hers. I have held off on the notice, but today I am posting it. Whatever her situation is, I can't and won't wait forever for her to either pay the rent or deal with her stuff in getting it out of here. She doesn't have that much things, it won't take much to empty out the room once I gain legal access to it.

Diet? It's going. Yesterday, I ate a plain bagel in the morning. I was at the main branch at work and there were bagels out on the table. I toasted one of them and ate it without any cream cheese or any kind of spread. 8 hours later, I ate a good sized Talapia filet with more broccoli and just some tomato sauce, onions and spices. Quite delicious. That was IT for eating yesterday. I figure that bagel MIGHT have had 250 calories at most. Talapia is VERY low calorie stuff. A 4 ounce filet is around 100 calories. I figure that meal was less than 400 calories. So, yesterday's calorie count - 650. I'm a bit hungry this morning, but not as much as I thought I might be. Yes, my stomach is growling but I have no motivation right now to get up and make food. I might toast a couple of slices of bread - 200 calories just for that - and eat it plain to tide me over until this afternoon when I will decide what I am going to eat. I have plenty of that frozen Talapia and it is QUITE good, I love fish.

Oh, the chicken I got from Fry's? By the time I got back from Fry's, I was disgusted with all of it and just put the chicken in the fridge. I didn't even cook right away my fish dinner, I just put it all out of my mind for a while. I think dieting and eating in general are all, totally in the mind. If you can change your way of thinking about eating, well, it's importance and impulses to eat go way down or even disappear altogether. Yes, you have to eat, no you don't have to eat all day long and no, you don't have to eat all kinds of junk food that is doing nothing but adding fat to your body. Will I be able to last? I'm sort of taking the AA approach to it - one day at a time. Decide each morning to not give in.

For example, I'm sitting here on the computer, Michael has the TV in the living room on. A Dairy Queen commercial comes on. They have Blizzards on sale. Buy one, get the other for - whatever it was 20 cents or something. I LOVE Blizzards. I also steer way clear of eating ice cream. If I eat it 3 times a year, that would be a generous estimate. My favorite is the German Chocolate Blizzard. Because I eat very little sugar, I get a pretty good sugar high if I do eat one.

But, I put that out of my mind. What do I need ONE Blizzard for, much less TWO of them for? My problem in eating is that I like sauces and creams on my dishes. I also make foods that sometimes have high fat content.

Well, whatever. Do what I can and not beat myself up if I blow it somehow.

As for the Arizona Immigration Law - I read about all these inflamed Latinos, yet I talk to Hispanics personally who have NO problem with this law. Sure, there are plenty of Hispanics against it, but there are plenty that AREN'T against it, either. Simply put, a few voices that are getting media coverage are NOT speaking for EVERYONE. Obama wants to put an end to it. Great, Obama, then DO something about the HUGE problem we have in our state!

"It's going to change our lives," said Emilio Almodovar, a 13-year-old American citizen from Phoenix. "We can't walk to school any more. We can't be in the streets anymore without the pigs thinking we're illegal immigrants." This was a great quotation from a punk - juvenile that views cops as pigs. Is THIS the voice of the Latino opposition? ROFL!!!!! Do these people REALLY think the "pigs" are going to start stopping High School students on their way to school? No, I do not view cops as pigs, this was this kid's statement, not mine.

Mexico warned the proposal could affect cross-border relations, with Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa saying her country would have to "consider whether the cooperation agreements that have been developed with Arizona are viable and useful."

Well, dear Mexico, I find YOUR inability to control your own citizens, deal with the drug cartels and your desire to send your people here so they can send BILLIONS of American dollars back to you to be less than useful, too. What's Mexico going to do, stop the "rich" Americans from coming in and spending money over there? Laughable.

This entry has waxed long - I'm ending it.

G'day.

ben

AZ Immigration Bill Signed Into Law

Don't really care if you oppose this bill, if you are here looking for someone who is opposed to it, you came to the wrong place.

The Federal government has neglected our borders far too long. I don't care, either, if the bill is held up eternally in the court system. It is going to do what I figure they designed it to do: force the hand.

I want a secure border, the feds are charged with the responsibility, they have defaulted on it, the Governor of the State of Arizona has asked FIVE times now of Obama to send the National Guard - I DEFINITELY agree with her signing that bill into law.

Obama can no longer ignore this issue, it has raised nationwide fury on both sides of the issue, EXACTLY what this particular issue needed to get Congress to start talking about this issue and DO something about it. When we talk of budget cuts, the LAST thing that should EVER go is the security and safety of our nation's borders.

Million dollar toilet seats in national parks can go by the wayside. Earmarks and all the BS can go right down the tube as far as I'm concerned.

Yes, the State of Arizona has now FORCED the issue with the feds, they have NO CHOICE but to "find" some money and get that fence built, reinstate all the INS agents they let go and whatever else I don't know about that they have done, via budget cuts, to compromise the security of our border. And yes, send the National Freaking Guard, PLEASE. This alone should be enough to turn a LOT of people against the current administration.

Oh, well you don't live in AZ. That's right. You don't have tens or hundreds of thousands of them sucking your local economy dry. It doesn't affect you, therefore, who cares, right?

Will there be abuses? Is the use of stun guns abused by a rogue element of police? Are there police that beat the crap out of innocent people? Have you ever read about a police officer shooting a person down that was unarmed? The question answers itself. It will happen and the media will pounce all over it and attempt to make it the rallying point to get rid of the law. No matter. Just the fact of signing it into law creates a powerful force of energy blasted against the current administration and our reps and senators to get their asses in gear, get to discussing it, get to writing up a bill.

I'm all for it.

Friday

Another work week almost trashed, cashed and done with.

"Health Law To Increase Costs" is the "major" headline this morning.
I sincerely hope that no-one is surprised by that statement. It's going to cost you and I, the people that actually pay for this stuff, a LOT more money for health care in the end. It is NOT going to cost less or the same as Obama, Pelosi, Reid and others spouted during the push to get that bill signed into law.

We're only on the very tip of that money-sucking iceberg, time will tell just how much more it's going to cost all of us. Those rich people who get the best, free healthcare for the rest of their lives that are standing on capitol hill couldn't care less how much it costs us, heyyyy, we got our faces and names going down in the books for history to look back on, yayyyy! That's ALL they care about. I hope something is done to stop this nonsense and that history will look back on them like a bunch of senseless whoremongers, greedy, wanting the spotlight and caring less what the American MAJORITY had to say during the time that thing was pushed through.

I'm still waiting to see what Governor Brewer is going to do with that immigrant bill sitting on her desk. I FULLY support it, btw. People are running amock claiming it's anti-hispanic/Mexican and that it will create racial profiling. Bunk. Law enforcement officials will have training and will have to have a REASON to suspect they are illegal, they are not going to be able to just look at a brown -skinned person and ask for their papers because they are brown and no other reason.

The Federal Government is doing next-to-NOTHING to protect our very borders, that's a FACT, we HAVE to take matters into our own hands if, for no other reason, to get their attention, which by now, I think we have. I still say sign the bill and let the chips fall where they may.

LOTS of stuff going on in this world, but right here in good ole' AZ? We have the nation's attention because of that bill. I hope Gov. Brewer doesn't turn tail and run because of all of the opposition. A poll showed that fully 70% of Arizonans SUPPORT this bill. That is an over-whelming majority. The poll had a error percentage of 4%.

Anyway, Friday is here, 7-1/2 hours of work and then go home for the weekend. Plans? Nothing grand, the same ole' thing of working around the house, get those ponds in the ground, stuff like that. I have some plants sitting around that need planted as well. In fact, I have at least 10 plants right now that need planted that I have accumulated from different places over the last year and a half. Funny how long plants can survive in plastic pots.

Anyway, have a good day, c'yall later.
ben

Stuff

I wonder how many people have opted out of flying - or flying as little as possible - because of all the BS games the airlines are playing? It seems like every week - or sometimes every day - some airline, somewhere, is playing a newly thought-up fee game. Pay to use the toilet? Getting rid of reclining chairs? And then there's one airline's idea that may soon be coming to have standing only passengers.

I hope THAT is a short flight!

A woman that lives in the neighborhood died today. She was in her 30's. Overdose. Drugs run rampant in this neighborhood in a certain mix of people - of all ages, actually. Meth being the drug of choice, it's amazing how grown adults even in their 50's can be addicted to such. My conodolences to whatever family, there is nothing good to be gained out of a situation like this. This neighborhood is quite the mix - a large population of older generation who have lived here 30 plus years; numerous sex offenders; lots of drug users; lots of illegals. Some nice people and some very, very cranky and un-nice people, I have had my run-ins with those that want to bully and try to dominate the neighborhood. I have a rule about that, I will NOT be shoved around in or near the place I live, period.

Got off early today - yes there was work to do but there was nothing to do after I got back and I decided to just leave an hour early. With the manager's blessing, of course. I have all of these vacation hours stacking up and soon even more, getting very near my limit, I figure to use some of them getting off early and next month, I figure to ask for a couple of days off. Haven't decided when, but I am not going to lose vacation hours when I have them coming to me, and if I get to 80, I WILL lose any more hours that are being accrued.

Today's eating - so far - has been an apple and a salad. The salad had one slice of ham, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and light dressing. I am going to have more fish and veggies in a couple of hours and that will be it for today. I've eaten no more than 500 calories worth and the fish dinner will be less than 500 calories. Actually, I will have eaten around 800 calories - considering the exertion I did at work today plus the extreme exertion I did when I came home digging out rocks and dirt, calories consumed will be far outweighed by calories expended. I've gotten FAR more serious about dieting - I will NOT turn into a human pig if I have anything to do with it - and of course - I have EVERYTHING to do with it, as well all do in our own individual case.


Tomorrow's Friday. I have heard nothing from the tenant who has disappeared yet whose truck is still in my driveway and whose room is locked. I have no clue.

I'm going to go through email about the time she moved in - I can't remember if she called me directly from my ad, thereby bypassing email or if she emailed me.

Later.
ben

Thursday

Missing tenant.
That's all I can say about it. She hasn't been back since last Thursday, I believe. I would consider her just gone permanently but her little red truck is parked in my driveway. She is also 7 days past due on the rent. I think she called me initially in setting up an appointment to see the room, so I can't email her to find out what's going on.

40% chance of rain today. Not good for deliveries and there are 3 in the system which will take me all over the east valley. Hopefully the rain doesn't start until later. Rain almost always shuts down most job sites, making a delivery impossible.

So, I put an ad on Craigslist to see if I could drum up some of this stuff for the pond - for cheap of course. A water clarifier was offered for $40. The thing sells for $130 at Home Depot. Keep the pond from getting green, allegedly anyway. No offers on pumps or waterfalls, I am going to keep scouring the ads for such - or figure out how to built my own waterfall with rocks and cement or mortar.

I'm also about to start running ads for the room while the tenant that is already gone - is gone. Strange, yes. I keep asking other people in the house if they have seen her while I'm at work (people do strange things when they owe money and can't pay it, not saying that's her situation, I really don't know until I can speak to her about it) - no is the repeated reply. Meanwhile, the trailer people paid me the $25 yesterday and told me next week they would be up to 3 days late with the next $25. I'm really only interested in them paying for their own utilities, it's not a money making proposition so I just said fine. With the addition of the MasterCool cooler on the trailer - versus an energy-sucking AC unit - I figure $100 per month covers their use of water, hot water and electricity. Oh, and my grill. They use that thing - daily I think.

Instead of coming in and cooking (which I never said they couldn't), they seem to like to cook on the grill. All well and fine, but it costs $20 to refill that sucker. I refilled it about 3 weeks ago, there is still gas in it. I have used it 4 times in that period. I like grilling but I don't do it every day, maybe once a week. A tank can last me a good, long time.

Anyway, off to read the news. I noticed Iran is doing their hype and aggrandizement junk in doing more military games. Are we supposed to shudder in fear? South Korea is blaming North Korea for shooting a torpedo at their Navy ship. Now, if they can prove that, what, exactly, is the next step? Most folks would consider that an act of war, doncha think? Our guys and gals would be dragged into such a theatre - seems like we have enough going on right now. The North is denying any involvement.

Well, enough.
Have a great day.
ben

Cafe World Tips 16: Super Stoves - Get Them Without Paying Cash For Them

Obviously, I would think, everyone is going to want your Cafe World kitchen equipped with Super Stoves. I mean, personally, I have been playing long enough now that I am kinda tired of having to go through all the prep work to get a dish cooking.

I got my first stove for free when they first came out with them simply by signing up for it in advance with Cafe World.

When they became available to buy, well, give me a break. Zynga/Cafe World wants $50 CASH - real money - to buy one. That's just unbelievable. What other online game do you know of besides maybe online casino gambling requires you to pay such exorbitant amounts of money to play the game?

Of course, you don't HAVE to have Super Stoves to play, but it would be MUCH nicer.

Well, Zynga came out with the build-your-own-stove option. You have to get X amount of 4 different parts to put the stove together and you can only get those parts from gifting from your neighbors.

Well fortunately, I have a LOT of neighbors and for the first stove, they have given me a helping hand. I completed building the first stove today and will be getting it in a few minutes when my current round of dishes being cooked are done and I can pull out a stove to put that back in.

Unless a hack comes out to get them for nothing - which I am sure the hackers in this world are already trying to do - this is the only way to get them without paying real money for them.

Now, when you want to start building the next stove? Costs you 100,000 - one hundred thousand - gold coins to buy the frame to start building it. No big deal there, I have over 4,000,000 coins in my inventory, I bought that and will start asking neighbors again tomorrow to help me out.

Look, these Super Stoves are a totally awesome addition to the game. As with the spices, they are also going to be hard to acquire. There are STILL people out there that are trying to get all the parts they need to get the spice rack done and get with the spice program (I have an entry on spices and how to effectively use them, just google Cafe World how to use spices effectively and you will find my post).

I have 17 stoves left to go - I imagine months before I have all of them converted to Super Stoves - maybe even longer. Oh well. In the meantime, I will be scouring the internet for any cheats that might come along to get them for free, as what occured with the Spice Racks before Zynga patched the hack and it was gone.

In-General

Pond 1 is at correct depth - not done yet but correct depth.

Didn't start on pond 2.

Today's eating: salad with veggies, no cheese, light dressing.
Fish with various spices, tomato sauce dumped over top and broccoli.

I'm getting better at the eating department. I am cutting out cheese almost altogether - it's very wonderful stuff and is very high fat and calorie stuff as well. Not a good part of a diet.

I have decided that I am going to eat a lot more fish, salads, cut out some of the beef eating and probably stay about where I'm already at with the chicken. Pork - good pork anyway - is usually pretty pricey so I only eat it once in a while.

My manager has some brand new - and pretty awesome workout equipment. He suggested today that we show up early for work and work out. He apparently doesn't have time to do it at home - or more probably - just can't do it for pressures from all sides.

I replied that I am already showing up at 5:30 am, showing up at 5:00 am, 3 times a week would be okay with me. It's always much easier to get a workout program going with someone who is doing it with you.

I will get myself 20 pounds lighter one way or another. I will continue to deprive myself of whatever until I start to see the reversal in a substantial way. I am going about it slowly - the eating department especially. I am finding it much easier to say no to cheese in whatever food I am eating. Which, initially, I thought would be next to impossible.

Dunno, but I am running out of time and I have another entry I want to write plus I am doing a couple of load of laundry, sooooo....
g'nite!
ben

Wednesday

Well I wonder how long it's going to take to get the skies over Europe back to normal? What a menagerie of chaos!

Meanwhile, it was a pleasant read to see American made cars are making a comeback in popularity over Asian made cars. It seems like Toyota is coming out with a fresh, new recall every week!

Then there's the story of the bus driver who crashed into the rear of a pickup truck on I-10 here in good ole' AZ - apparently the driver was driving so erratically that a couple of motorists had called 911 shortly before that horrific crash that killed 3 people. I just amazes me the "quality" of commercial drivers I see coming through this area that are weaving in and out of traffic, speeding, tail-gating, texting and all kinds of other crap.

This new breed of driver? The roadways are not safe, I'll just put it that way.

Whatever the case, the expected high today is 70 degrees - more than 20 degree difference than yesterday's high and supposedly even lower tomorrow. Very nice.

Anyway, I'm outta here as the work day snuck up on me and I have to get moving.

ben

More: Pond

So, I stopped at AutoZone today to get some tire sealant. I had stopped at Home Depot first to see about getting a new tire with wheel - $25. Forget that. Buy a whole new wheelbarrow for $40. I also found a HUGE wheelbarrow - thing is worth $125 minimum - for $25. I did not, however, want to drive that far to get it - way out in the far east valley. Doesn't matter, the tire sealant worked. The guy at Home Depot said if it goes flat again, Harbor Freight sells inner tubes for those tires for $2 plus change.

I get home. The trailer guy has been working on that hole like crazy. He borrowed a big, heavy, thick steel rod from a neighbor and had been hacking away at the dirt/rocks. I started in on it with the shovel and - well we got that hole almost entirely dug for that pond. Amazing. I am going to have it sitting at least inches above ground and then have it pour into the pond that will be below it.

That project is going way faster than I had expected - only because of the help. I spent an hour at it and quit. I don't really have the money to continue on with the project after the ponds are installed, so there is no big hurry. I have a couple of pumps to buy, plus make or buy a waterfall for aeration and a filter to either buy or make.

Those things will undoubtedly take time to find cause' I ain't spending huge money on this. Find people that are selling their stuff cheap - maybe people who are being foreclosed on that want to sell that stuff. I guess that didn't sound right - I don't want to take advantage of a bad situation - sort of - but if they are going to list it on CL, then I will buy it if it's at a good price.

Quite encouraging, actually, but a little too fast.

As for everything else, pretty much normal. The Army reservist has been gone for quite a while now - though her pickup is parked in my driveway. She is late on her rent. Supposedly she came home a day ago - didn't know about it - and left again. No clue, different lifestyle, I just want my rent money.

I have been giving my opinion on the absolute, total neglect of definitively dealing with Iran and it's nuke ambitions for some time now. It is obvious Obama has no intention of doing anything about it, or if he does, it will be a toothless, gutless piece of garbage that will only make the Iranian government laugh - publicly and for the whole world to see and hear - that much the harder, longer and loudly at us.

I have more confidence in Israel dealing with them than I do our own - weak-knee'd as it stands now - government. If we don't take it to them, eventually, THEY are going to bring it to OUR doorstep.

ben

Tuesday

Dear U.S. Government:
Why do you continue to impose your will upon the people? Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?
When you have a good answer for me that doesn't have 2-steps and other fancy dance moves involved, please reply.
Thanks.
Sincerely,
benb

BTW, I do not add salt to my food - ever. I am always looking at sodium contents on packaged product labels. I do think that many foods have FAR too much sodium content in them and I tend to stay away from such. OR, if I do eat something that has a high sodium content, I make sure that I don't eat anything else that day that has anything but a very low sodium count in it. I go by the percentage of a day's intake, as apparently dictated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Of whom are going to start imposing their will to force companies that produce packaged foods to lower the sodium content. People who like salt?.......will probably just ad MORE to the food. Instead of forcing companies to reduce sodium content, perhaps educating the masses about the potential future problems of massive salt/sodium intake would be better? Yes? I think that at this point, people are starting to get sick of a government - in whichever form - that does not listen to the people that voted/put/assigned them in there.

If they really thing it is a "neglected disease", then that intones that people don't understand the implications of eating too much salt - which is where I would fully supprt the USFDA to start a massive EDUCATION program, as salt is readily available anywhere - people can add as much as they want! It's great if companies are reducing the amount they add to their foods, but this does not eradicate the very real potential of a person simply lifting the salt shaker and adding more.

Me? I put lots of pepper onto foods. On foods that will taste good with it, I also add garlic powder. It doesn't mean you can't eat ANY salt, it just means that Americans are eating far too much of the substance and people are - down the road - dying from it. Well, we all have to die one way or another, I would like to just get my Full Life's Serving of allotted days to live - and hopefully in relative good health at that.

In other benb news, the newest tenant is a cleaner! yayyyy! Really, without asking, she is wiping down counters and doing all kinds of cleaning tasks in the house. I only state in my ad to please clean up after yourself, not that you have to clean up after everyone else. I spend a good deal of time doing cleaning tasks in my house. Well, anyway, it is nice to finally have someone that is of like mind as me - clean when and where necessary - and yes, it's always necessary if it isn't clean, thank you.

She hinted yesterday - a couple of times - about having her dog living there. Showed me pics of her daughter and her boy - and then there was the dog pic. Okay, don't worry, the son and daughter are NOT moving in, I am considering the dog. I usually charge a pet rent for dogs simply because of the problems they can cause. Not all dogs are the same - some are troublemakers, some do nothing. I'm guessing she WOULD have her kids living with her if she could. Anyway, I am consideringt he dog request that wasn't really a request but was a request by the subtle way she put it.

And with that, my work day begins,
c'yall later!
ben

Monday

So, the new tenant is moved in. Or I assume she is, who knows. She was asking, just before I went to bed last night, if she could bring more stuff. In other words, late at night. I simply responded that neither of the other tenants are home, the guy in the room next to you is half deaf (seriously, he IS! - he receives a monthly disability check from the military for damage to his hearing in one ear due to an explosion going off near his head) -- go for it but if the other female comes home, please try to keep the noise levels down.

That's it. Her car is out front, no clue how much stuff she took in there, will probably take a look at video surveillance to see just how much goods this person is introducing into that room. Why? I'm nosy. No, not really, it just seems the more a person has, the more entrenched they are in staying and not going anywhere for a while. That can be a good thing, as long as that person pays their rent on time, every time. She seems like a really sweet gal. I hope that pans out in the near future. She was driving a LONG way to get to work every day, I'll say that - living in north Phoenix and working in west Tempe.

I decided, after transplanting that tree yesterday, to do the "Ground-Breaking Ceremonies" for the first pond. Okay, I just took some orange paint, did an outline of the bottom of the pond, dug out about 6 inches all around and filled it with water. The really good news, though, is that I only have a few plants left to cover on the drip system and it is done - for now. The only thing lacking is installing a timer and having the system turn on and off by itself.

If I want to go out of town this summer, that system is going to have to be installed is all I can say about that. It's about $40 for the timer that can handle that many stations. Actually, those people in the trailer would probably look after it, I just want the thing fully automated. I would prefer the watering to be done just before sunrise. Well, I'm usually at work at that point in time, even if not, I don't have the time to go out there, turn on valves and wait until everything is watered.

I'm not saying the system is useless in it's current form - it's totally awesome, actually. The hardest part about installing this system was trying to figure out how much water - gallons per hour - I would need for each plant. Admittedly, I may still not have that particular part down. I figure there are a couple of small Sissoo trees that will have to have more water than what I am giving them at 2 GPH - it's very simple to change out the emitters - or just add another one and have 2 per tree.

In about a month, my son turns 17. School will almost be out for the summer. He is hopefully getting a job very soon. I need to get him driving more so he can get his driver's license. He's going to need to be able to drive himself to work if he gets a job, because I most certainly do not want to be taxiing him all over the place. That car - my old Buick - will cost around $400 or less to get everything fixed on it and get it up and running. Well, it's already running, just need to get some stuff fixed on it. It only has 139,000 miles, for a Buick, it's just getting started : )

Anyway, one tenant issue down, facing another one soon. The Army reserve gal is leaving for 60 days and I MUST have that tenant income to pay for the high electric bills that are already starting to creep upwards as the daytime temps increase. The ex-Marine is talking moving around August. Cross that bridge when I get to it - unfortunately that room is not furnished and will be harder to rent out.

Anyway, work day approaches - though there is NOTHING in our truck routing system, which kinda sucks. Means finding cleaning chores and such to do around here.

G'day.

ben

Today's Doings

I set out to get most of the emitter stuff done. I installed somewhere around 40 or 50 more of those.

I wanted to get the tree transplanted - done.

I had to both vacuum and the use the carpet cleaner in the new tenant's bedroom. Done.

Decided to get started on digging out the hole for the 1st pond since the tree was removed. Removing the tree was definitely the right thing to do and where I planted it was a much better location than where I originally had it.

So, I put the pond where I wanted it, got some orange spray paint that I bought from work awhile back, sprayed an outline.

Dug out the outline - all the way around - and then filled it up with water. It is VERY difficult to dig out a large hole in this area if the ground is wet, it is freakin' next-to-impossible dry.

It took my 5 days last year to dig out a hole that was approximately 3-1/2 feet in diameter and almost 4 feet deep for that tree I planted. 5 days. I figure as much for just one pond, maybe more for the first.

I am also going to have to find a bunch of good looking rocks for the permiters of both ponds. Dunno about that yet, haven't even started looking. The task at hand is enough: get the ponds in the ground.

I don't even have enough money right now to get the rest of the stuff I will need, so - no big hurry, just want the ponds in before the heat gets worse. I was out there sweating very nicely today, it was very warm in the direct sunlight.

Newest tenant called a while ago and said she was on her way.
She called again and said her dad's truck got a flat and didn't know when she was going to make it with the first load, but sometime "tonight".

I replied no problem - though if after 8:30 pm, she's on her own.

Oh, and I didn't think about this til' today: fill both ponds up most of the way with water and make sure there are no leaks BEFORE putting them into the ground. Leaks are much easier to fix with full access than when they are already in the ground.

That is a day's worth of doings, if I do say so myself. I got a lot accomplished and yes, I'm happy about that. The drip system? I can now say IS almost done. Just a FEW more plants, maybe a handful, and some modifications on setups I already made and I'm done. Guessing another hour's worth of work. I have nothing more than to go to the valves, turn 2 of them on at the same time, and watch plants being watered while I'm sipping sugar-free lemonade. Lol.

Oh, and to get a glimpse of the heat today:
"Temperatures reached the mid-90s on Sunday, and the warm weather got the best of a few firefighters, Caskey said. One rescuer needed an IV and was taken to a hospital for treatment."

Firefighters had been called to rescue an older gentleman who was hiking, fell some 20 plus feet, injured his head and back. When you come out of a nice, cool, spring, there is always an adaptation time to get used to the heat again. I sat out there and forced myself into the midst of it today because - I hate the heat at this point and the only way for me to get accustomed to it each year is to simply go out, in the direct sunlight - with plenty of water of course - work in it and get the idea that yes, this is going to be life for the next 6 or so months.

According to the weather reports, the high temps this coming week are coming back down significantly. I will be totally focusing on getting as much of those holes dug as possible while the getting is good.

Which reminds me, I must get a misting system up for the dogs to help with handling the heat. I have all the materials I need for that project - lumber; dark shade screen; water access; tubing - I only need the misters themselves. I am going to build an overhand off the back fence with the dark sunscreen and install the misters so that the cooling is to be fund underneath that screen. I have a lot of that stuff left, but I wish now that I would have bought more way back when I bought it from a guy that was going out of business and selling it at unbelievably reduced rates.

Oh well. I still think I should have enough to cover everything I want to do out there.

Done for the day.

Good evening.

ben

Pre-Formed Pond

As I continue to ponder how to install these 2 ponds I have acquired, I also decided to take a trip to both Home Depot and Lowe's for some ideas on what is available in accessories and necessities for this setup.

However, even though I have a location picked out - or approximate - I still had no idea how to install 2 ponds that would make it so that one pours into the other.

After looking at picture after picture after picture of such, I finally came to the conclusion that for the best effect, one pond is going to have to be raised slightly higher than the other. Even though I am using pre-formed pond liners, this is going to be quite the challenge for me as I have never even attempted to install anything like this.

It will, however, answer the question as to where I am going to put at least some of the dirt that is dug out of the ground. I will have to build up dirt on the sides of the raised pond with some of that dirt, and if I choose to, I can also use more dirt to build up a waterfall.

Let's just get the ponds in the ground first and then consider waterfalls, pumps, bio-filters and the like. After seeing the price tag of bio-filters, I am definitely going to try to build one myself with some help of one particular site on the net with some people who have been toying with ponds and trying to keep them clear for a couple of decades now.

To the end of getting them installed, I started to move all the landscaping rock out of the way and am watering the tree that needs to be moved heavily. It is a very small tree - maybe 2 feet in heighth, still a "twig", basically, I am hoping it will survive the transplant process. A little vitamin B will help it with shock. I may do that transplant today. Just prepping everything to even start digging is turning into quite the load of work.

I am not, however, deterred, because the eventual outcome will be WELL worth the effort involved.

I am just glad that I am dipping my feet into this unknown by starting with relatively small ponds. When I get it all installed and get plants and a few fish in there and learn how to keep it clean and looking wonderful, THEN I might consider going to a much larger set-up using a liner instead of pre-formed.

But, a larger setup will cost a lot more money and that is a thought for the future. I'm looking at probably a couple of months of install - at the pace I work it anyway - to get it to the "finished" point. That's because I have a lot going on around here, I devote an hour here, a couple hours there to projects such as this until it is done.

Yesterday, I got the half inch line installed for the remaining plants that are not serviced by the drip system. THAT was a pain with all kinds of bends and feeding the line underneath plants and attempting to get it at least a bit underground so that my landscaping rock will not push holes through the tubing. I closed off the end and I powered it up with a full pressurization of water. It held for an hour and that's all I needed to see. I mean, it held pressure for an hour with no visible leaks anywhere in the line, which is about 90 feet long with various 90 degree bends. Meaning several areas where potential leaks could exist.

I have been very pleased at the outcome of the drip system. It is remarkably easy to install, even though at first you definitely have your questions and concerns, and it works QUITE well. It doesn't just save time, it also saves a lot of water. You are applying water to the root zones instead of just using a hose and getting the entire area around the plant wet. A remarkable waste of water in such a situation, I am going green, so-to-speak, with this drip system setup. I have spent more money on it than I thought I would.

I can only add here that I am GLAD that I get employee discount on the entire system or the end-cost of this system would have been nearly quadrupled. Yes, quadrupled, that's the amount of discount I am getting on most every product that I needed for it. I checked the prices at Home Depot and Lowe's, which is where I would have bought the stuff if I had to buy it through normal methods.

Basically, I would have only got one portion of the system up and running at regular prices.

I am headed out there shortly to continue getting more done on the drip system, as it takes precedence over the pond. Though, I will also undoubtedly move all of the landscaping rock out of the way today and probably get that tree transplanted.
OHHHHH gag, I totally forgot - again - to clean that carpet in that room. Well, it'll take half an hour. I can't believe I forgot about that, I got totally absorbed into the world of ponds and it just totally slipped my mind. Off to work!!

G'day.

ben

Sunday

Excuse the last posting, but I was reading the online news, I felt the need to vent my feelings about this on-going and ever-escalating situation with Iran.

As for the homestead, the newest tenant - who hasn't moved in yet but stated she would probably start bringing stuff over today (she has to be out of her current place by Tuesday) - well we sat around and talked for quite a while at the kitchen table yesterday.

I will not rent a room to anyone unless they come over here, sit down, start talking and we get to feel each other out. Is it a good fit? Is there any possibility that there might be problems? If so, I want to hear about it - whether they voluntarily give it out or let it slip - before we start talking about moving in.

I pretty much get a conversation rolling and then, if the person is so inclined, let them talk away for however long I can keep it going. When a person starts feeling comfortable, THAT'S when you might hear something that will identify that this person is going to be a problem, next please. Well, we talked for about an hour. She has a lot going on in life, no doubting that, but I didn't hear anything excessive. She has 2 kids - that are not moving in here thank you but will be visiting from time to time. They are young kids, too; a 3 year old daughter and a 7 year old son. I love kids so that isn't a problem. I did ask about the giant dogs and how the kids might handle it. They would never bite them, in fact, Prince, the black Great Dane, will let anyone just climb all over him, he's the most passive dog I have ever owned in that scenario.

Inserted here, a BTW: this keyboard I bought a while ago is "acting up" and some of the keystrokes do not end up on the screen, hence the mistakes I am making in spelling. The C key is the worst offender and I have to keep going back and fixing it - time for a new keyboard, again.

I asked her what the situation is in her current rental situation and boy, did I get an earful about THAT. She is living with a couple - lesbians - that are, at least from what I gathered from her, total control freaks. I need not go into it, as I don't want to. I know what it's like to live with a control freak, it brings back the old agitations and feelings just thinking about it, I don't want to go there. So I won't.

Will this turn out to be the tenant from hell or a great, nice, person? Only time will tell - time and opportunity to either be nice or stupid always is the telling tale in this kind of arrangement. My house is conveniently located a mile and a half from her work, the reason she wanted to move in here. She doesn't have a TV, heard that after I was pointing out the Direct TV receiver in the room. I just happen to have an extra - I have NO idea where it came from. It isn't mine, is all I know. It's in the other female's closet, I don't even know if it works but I am going to get it out of there and find out. Tenants leave things, is all I can say, and sometimes they leave some pretty nice stuff.

Anyway, my ears perked when she stated without being asked that she is very conscientious about electric usage and turning things off that are not in use. Another score was when she stated she is drama free, doesn't like to get into arguments and is very "chill" - laid back. Nice, I hope that is true and it pans out.

That was my meeting with this lady who decided to move in after all was said.
Today? Dunno - I did a pretty good cleaning in here yesterday and the only thing left is some laundry, my room and my bathroom. I can knock that stuff out pretty quick. Oops, just remembered I promised to clean the carpet in that bedroom, have to get to that early on, like right now after I post this entry. I'm also hungry - some hashed browns loaded with onions and tomatoes sounds delicious. No cheese, thanks, I am still on a diet of sorts. I really had no idea how much calories cheese has in it until I started looking at a lot of labels. WOW!! There is a diet-killer right there. I have backed off the consumption of cheese quite a lot - which I wish I didn't have to do because I absolutely love cheese on just about anything and everything.

Not much else. I think the Suns (NBA) are playing today and they have looked pretty darn good in recent games, they made it to the playoffs I hope they are able to pull something out of the hat and go somewhere with it. I have my projects outside - always have projects outside - which I will also be continuing on with today at least to some extent.

For that, I bid you a Happy Sunday and to remember that this is the day that that Lord hath made - I will rejoice and be glad in it!

ben

Iran, It's Threats And Obama

Does anyone really believe that Iran is producing those nuclear fuel rods for peaceful purposes only? This is not the same scenario as Iraq - Iran is a rogue nation (at best), has publicly and repeatedly called for the destruction of both Israel and the U.S., has called the U.S. on numerous occasions the "Great Satan", is guilty of human rights abuses against it's own people to the point of killing them simply because they were the opposition in the recent elections and has a leader that mouths off at every opportunity against the U.S. and even Obama in particular. They are looking at us like we are a bunch of cowards because our Commander in Chief apparently is afraid of these people.

That's what I get out of Obama's lack of action. I can think of past Presidents that might have already taken out Iran's nuclear production facilities by this point in time. If we did engage in such, what is Iran going to do, send a bunch of troops over here in airplanes to start a war with us? We need not start a war with them, simply dispose of those facilities and put them back to ground zero.

Actually, I do have a glimpse of what they would do: start a terrorism war against us on our own soil. I fully believe they are funding the likes of Al Queda and that they have their own agenda, not unlike Hitler's Germany. You think that's off the wall? Good, let's just sit around another couple of years and see what they DO with nuclear weapons. They will SELL them to TERRORIST organizations and you can bet your @$$ they are going to use those weapons against US on our OWN soil. They MIGHT shoot them off at Israel.

Whatever the case, you basically have the ingredients for World War III, but this time, the world ends. You cannot start popping nukes all over the place and expect the earth to be able to sustain such and just continue on as if nothing has happened. It will be the Book of Revelations type of destruction.

Don't get the wrong picture,I am not a theory conspirorist, I don't sit around fretting about all of this, but I will be vocal enough to state that if we don't do something SIGNFICANT about this situation with Iran NOW, we are going to pay and pay dearly later - and not that much later, either.

But, we cannot - strike that, we apparently WILL not defend even our OWN borders! I wonder how the people that voted for Obama feel about him now, at this juncture? Oh sure, die-hard Dems will say they love him, but what about the people that got on the "Race Train" - let's vote in a black president regardless of the fact that the man has almost zero credentials to fill what is deemed to be the most powerful position in the world. This Iran situation is exactly why I voted for McCain. I have no idea how the man would deal with all of this economic catastrophe going on - I suspect that whoever got into the White House, regardless of poitical leanings - would have had the same problems and potential outcomes that Obama has had.

But, I have no doubt in my mind the McCain would have already escalated this situation with Iran into serious plans of "covert missions" to take out the nuke facilities in that country. Certainly, there would have been very strong sanctions already implemented. Look, I truly believe Obama is pretty much viewed by the world, certainly the extremist world, as a wimp, a lemonade-bleeding yellow belly that has no intestinal fortitude and will run at the first sign of a fight. How many times has this man visited the troops in comparison to past presidents on the battle fields?

WHERE are this man's priorities?

I'm venting, definitely. When it comes to dealing with world powers that are making obnoxious and outrageous threats and are developing the technology to be able to back those threats up, I don't CARE what political affiliation the President has, he BETTER get his @$$ in gear and get the train moving. This situation is a or THE defining moment for Obama, not healthcare. If he fails, we ALL pay for it. He has too much time left as the Commander in Chief - there isn't going to BE another President coming into the Oval Office before something dire and drastic may or will happen with Iran and it's desire - to own the world. That's it. They don't CARE about human life, they are power hungry, they want to dominate the world. Their religious beliefs tell them that we are all evil and should be disposed of in an appropriate manner. Mix power with religion and see what the results of that little lovely add up to.

I certainly don't have a highly read blog here, so I am mostly just relieving myself of pent-up frustration. While Iran is puking out it's threats; while American is reeling in the aftermath of an on-going housing crisis; while our own borders on the Mexican side are being threatened by what amounts to Hooligans with limited power simply because they have gotten rich off of selling drugs; while Americans are dealing with lost jobs, homelessness, fear of the uncertainty of what is going to happen to them; Obama spend a full YEAR with an intense and almost-total focus on HEALTHCARE?

Again, unless Obama does something DRASTICALLY different, I truly believe he will be viewed, after all is said and done, by history as the absolute WORST President that ever occupied that office and position.

A Cat With Holes

I was outside - my usual thing on weekends for sure - on the east side of the house. The east side of the house is my primary focus for landscaping, ponds, beautification.

Coco - my Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog mixed with Great Dane (though mostly Leopard Dog) is ALWAYS out there with me. I don't ask her to come out there, she follows me like a magnet on steel. I could say the more appropriate axiom, but I don't want to digress.

I was laying out the 1/2 inch tubing, paying no attention to her whatsoever. I don't normally do that anyway, pay attention to dogs while I am working that is.

I look up, something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. She was on TOP of a cat that had come into our backyard and was inflicting bite wounds into it. I absolutely HATE cats, with a passion. They come over here and crap.

I was shocked. How did all of this happen without any sound? Coco is not afraid of cats. I know, people always think a cat will win against a dog - not ALL dogs, thank you very much. She - Coco - doesn't CARE if that cat bites or scratches her, but more to the point, she is MUCH faster than a cat, her reflexes are very sharp and I can't find a single scratch or bite mark on here anywhere. She had that cat upside down, her mouth over it's sides, the cat wasn't able to do anything, she had it pinned and was inflicting pain.

The cat, unbelievably, was totally helpless. You don't see THAT every day, nuh-uhhh. Cats invariably get a way from dogs, this is my experience with the dogs that I have owned - except with Coco. She is a nutcase. She will stand at that back fence for HOURS, looking at the cats in the neighbor's backyard as if they were a Hostess Cupcake. Capture it, eat it.

I had to literally FORCE her to let go of that cat. It limped to the fence and crawled up it, jumped down the other side and beelined to the window of the house - where it's owners were anxiously awaiting. They just happened to be in that room of their house, doing laundry.

I could see them through their back window, examining the cat. I am quite sure, especially after seeing it limping, that it is wounded. Although I despise cats with a passion, I am not a person inclined to see animals being - killed - by other animals. Of course it goes on in nature and that doesn't bother me a bit - the food chain. But in the case of domesticated animals, it really doesn't "turn me on" at all.

Coco was only doing what comes naturally to her. I make no apologies for the actions of one of my dogs against a natural "enemy" that has come into our back yard. I won't even apologize for the damage to the cat - why should cats have free reign to run all over people's properties where they don't belong? I DID get the assault stopped as quickly as I could, yes.

But, if those people think I am going to pay for a vet for the wounds inflicted on that animal, they have a totally 'nother thing coming. I only say that because I know that woman over there well enough to know that she might attempt to make such demand.

I don't also wonder if there is retribution coming. I am going to aim one of my cameras towards that area of the back yard - if something happens to Coco - I love that dog, she is a totally cool doggy - I am going to have it on film and I am going to be able to......press charges, actually.

Speaking of cameras, I have been dreaming of an 8 camera system. My 4 camera system is nice, but it would be FAR nicer to have more complete coverage of my property. I think the guy that sent that stuff to me from - China - is still selling those systems on eBay and still selling it at FAR lower prices than ANYWHERE else I have been able to find. I have had that system up there for 2 going on 2 and a half years now. I have had minimal problems with it - the biggest problem was attempting to figure out how to get everything into English versus the default it is sent in at Chinese. Buying another 4 camera system would integrate into the system I have - no extra software - and I would only have to set up the cameras, run the lines and install another inlet plate on the back of the computer.

Of course, that is only a dream right now. At $249 for the system, I have much more pressing issues to deal with.

I just had to come in and write this up - I was getting hot out there anyway, was time to take a break. It's in the mid 90's today. Not HOT HOT - it only motivates me to get some of this harder labor stuff done before earthly hell arrives. With the addition of this 4th station on my drip system, I will have 98% of the plants on my property covered by the system. This will free up a lot of time for me in the summer versus spending 1-1/2 hours per day watering plants. The system can water all those plants for me, I need only turn on the system. I am resisting doing a fully automatic system - even though I have it set up for such - because I LIKE going out there, even during the hot summer, and inspecting every thing and make sure the emitters are working.

Which reminds me, it is soon going to be time to cover up my sliding glass door here - in the kitchen - on the west side of the house - to reduce the heating factor of such.

C'ya later.
ben

Urgent Announcement

The room has been rented.
That will be all.
Have a nice day.

Problems With Direct TV Billing

So, I go online to pay up several bills that are due.
I look at the Direct TV bill - $104.92.
What?!!
I have 6 receivers, I have to pay $5 for each receiver after the first one. All of these companies do that, so even though I don't like it, I'm good with it. That's $30 just for all the receivers in this house. $69.00 for the programming plus tax.

I realized what happened - they had dropped my $15 per month reduction for bundling with Qwest. I immediately called Diret TV and - ended up speaking to 4 different individuals over a 45 minute span. Multi-tasking, I know these conversations with these people are going to be endless, I was mopping the floor while talking and waiting on the phone.

First person couldn't help me, I expected that. Second department couldn't help me either, neither expected or didn't expect that. 3rd department - I am being transferred between departments, not individuals within the same department. They did this because I told them if they didn't reinstate the discount, I would be leaving Direct TV - not an idle threat either - and going either with Dish Network or Cox Cable. I hate all 3 of these companies, so who cares which one you go with.....whoever is giving the best deal, really.

The 3rd guy gives me a very long run around, but I stood firm and he ends up giving an additional 6 months of $10 off per month. I have to call Qwest to get the other amount dropped. Great. I can JUST imagine that. I then ask to have it verified that my contract, which should have been over in January, is now going to be over in June.

No, sir, you contract isn't up until March 3rd. Dealing with this company is like talking to ducks, they just quack at you incessantly with all kinds of hyperbole and computer script. I was getting unhappy but I maintained my phone composure and etiquette. I knew instantly what they had done: when I bought a used receiver last month for those trailer people, even though I VERIFIED that it would not extend my contract, they extended it anyway.

After getting my discount - which is NOT showing up in my current bill yet - I was handed off to a 4th department that deals with this kind of stuff. I informed them that I had bought the receiver off of Craigslist, I did NOT lease it through Direct TV, the contract should be up in June of this year, NOT March of NEXT year. Another inderminate amount of time - I was busy mopping just to keep the agitation levels down with these people and not paying attention to how much time was elapsing. This lady finally comes back and says that they can't modify contracts, so they did away with it completely, meaning that I am NOW free to cancel my contract with DirectTV.

Yes, I am probably going to start up with another company. Only if DirectTV will give me new equipment and a better price - for a full 2 years - will I change my mind. I doubt they will, but I will give it a try anyway. All new equipment - 6 receivers worth, that's what I want. It would be easier to stay with this company than to have to deal with getting another company to come out here and set up all their stuff and remove all of my stuff.

What got me going today was the second individual I spoke to who stated I could reduce my programming and theirby reduce my monthly fee. NOT happening, I replied quite bluntly, I have been an almost-10-year customer, if this is the way you are going to treat me, I am simply going to go with another company. It appears the Direct TV is starting to listen to such threats now, because they didn't used to. For them to hand me over to different departments to "see what they could do for me" is unprecedented with my long history with this company. On their status-quo days, they simply say okay, do what makes you happy, if you want to switch, go ahead and switch.

I have literally been told that by this company in the past.

Well, now I have to call back and ask why the $10 reduction isn't showing on the bill.

Fun fun.

Saturday

I believe I have finally decided where to put those ponds. When all is said and done, it should look nice - like in about 6 months, lol. I am not normally in a huge hurry when I get started on these kinds of projects - first because I like to take my time and make sure things are done right the first time and second because usually, projects take money. I am a pay as I go type of project worker. In this case, acquire the ponds, figure out where to put them, install them and then move onto the next need, which would be a bio filter and pump. Oh, and a waterfall as well to aerate the water. Part 2 will be more expensive than the ponds. That may take a while.

Meanwhile, I am doing my normal Craigslist thing in looking for another roommate by writing up a new ad every day - sometimes I'll write up 2 ads at different times of the day and delete older ads. Some people will not go through too many of the ads that are on there in looking for a room to rent. There are literally hundreds of them posted every day. I have found in the past that some of the people that moved in here found my ad near the top and I was one of the first or THE first ad that they responded to.

Umm, unfortunately, I have yet to receive a single reply to, so far, 3 ads I have posted plus the one I just posted a few minutes ago. THAT - is odd. Interlude. No more than I wrote the preceding sentence and a man calls. He's a paramedic with "Con Air". I laughed loudly - he works for the U.S. Marshall's office and flies all over the place taking care of prisoners. Proves my point to myself if no-one else: people see the first ad they find that looks appealing and look no further. He is - allegedly - coming over this afternoon.

Onto other things. Arizona passed the legislation - it will soon be legal to carry a concealed weapon in the state of Arizona WITHOUT a permit. Good - and bad. I think there are people out there that REALLY need to go through some training before they start carrying around a loaded 9 millimeter and considering the thought of actually shooting someone at whatever point in time when their life is threatened. REALLY, a person should know without hesitation the laws concerning such and when it is allowable to fire on a person and in what situations it is NOT allowable.

I do know that if you happen to come along on someone that is raping someone else, for example, that person committing the act? You can shoot that sucker. But, I don't claim to know all the situations where you might be able to fire upon a person and where you should NOT.

Well, today's farings, or at least this morning, is to go into the now empty room and clean it. It isn't dirty, really, but that guy was using the vacuum cleaner in there, which is nice, but he didn't empty the already full canister, which is not-so-nice. Means I have to take the vacuum cleaner apart, clean out the undoubtedly-now-clogged ports to get it to work again. I figure to head up to the store here pretty quick and get some of the stuff you sprinkle onto the carpet to make it smell fresh/nice. Of course, I could get the carpet cleaning machine out and do a nice little leaning of the traffic areas in there as well. Dunno, it's still early and I am still drinking my morning coffee.

I also want to keep on plugging away at this drip watering system. Everytime I think I'm just about done, I realize I still have a bunch of other things to deal with.

I am not sure whether I will start on the ponds today - or even this weekend. Probably will start the digging process tomorrow, just not sure how motivated I am to do that while I have this tenancy issue going on. It kind of consumes me - getting a room rented - until it actually is rented and I have money in-hand.

Well, I'm off to read the news and see what kind of nonsense is going on in this world today.

G'day.

Ben

Friday

So, here we go again, the relentless search for a roommate until I find one. I won't be going anywhere this weekend, that's a fact.

Well I just blew most of my pre-work time in writing up another Craigslist ad. That takes precedence over writing entries. I didn't even get to look at much of the news!! Waaaaaah!!

Lol.

Well, anyway, it's Friday, the end of the work week is almost here, bummer that there isn't any work in the truck routing system, hope something comes up soon that will take that problem away.

Anyway, have to cut this short, have a great day!
ben

No Advance Notice

So, I go to Caleb's award ceremony. All the JROTC cadets were there, a lot of them. Caleb got a couple of awards - I think he did not get what he was hoping to in terms of authority command for next year. Can't help him there, those people running the show don't ask for parents opinion and - they shouldn't anyway. He is in a position of some authority now, I do imagine he will be promoted, just not to the level he wanted. He's a good kid, big heart, don't know about his future, that's up to him, God's will and how motivated he is to follow through.

So, it was pretty cool ceremony. I get home, there is a pickup truck parking in the street in front of my house, partially blocking my parking space. The tailgate is open, there are Tupperware style storage tubs in the bed. It came to me right then that the dude that is behind in rent is moving out. No fore-notice, nothing. I started to get upset. This guy gets a job and then moves out, owing me money and not even giving me at least a few days notice? I also started getting mad at the dude in the pickup who wasn't moving his vehicle to let me back in.

One of my failings in life is a sometimes-short temper. I can get REALLY mad, REALLY fast when I am being shafted or dissed. Not exactly the traits of a "real" Christian, well, we all have our failings, short-comings and whatever else. I sometimes get visions of beating people to a bloody pulp. Just beat them until they are not conscious and won't be for a while. Break some ribs, knock some teeth out, maybe break an arm. Bad stuff, yes.

But, I never act out on those feelings and they don't last long as I battle against them until it subsides. I will NOT act out on that junk, but I have had to deal with it my entire life. I gave into it when I was a teen, most people never believe the things I did to people, cars, houses, whatever I felt like during that time frame. I don't much care to talk about it, either. I have written it all out in the past, but that was on JS and all of that is permanently gone. I may write it out again - on another, mostly unused, journal as I take no pride in my past and it haunts me to this day.

I have had people talking trash to me to the point that I had to relinquish my "normal" mind, ie: blank stare, and deal with what's going on in my head that seems to be going all over my body. The desire to just punch the person's head a few times, knock him down and be done with it.

Look, I am always wanting to be honest on my journals. But I want to state here that I have NEVER had such desires against any woman/lady/female beast. I wasn't brought up that way. I will just walk away from it. But dudes talking s*** to me? No. That's all it is: no. No thanks and I am not going to stand there and listen to it. I don't go looking for trouble in the physical, hurting type ever. I do pick my battles against corporations, but always on a professional level.

I have totally digressed here. I come into the house - 3 teenagers in the living room, not an unusual thing to see here, I ask them what's going on. "That guy in that room (telling me the room it is ) is moving stuff out of there". I knew it was that guy. He got a job - he claims anyway - but it didn't pan out. Well, whatever. "Why didn't you at least give me notice?". I listened to a well thought out answer - undoubtedly a rehearsed thing he had been going over in his mind. I had thoughts of telling him how I feel about it, I bit my lip. Just get your stuff and get out, I thought, I didn't say much of anything. He is to be out of here by tomorrow.

I am going to let it go, just get him out of here and find someone that has enough money - and a job - to take his place. I have already posted another ad on Craigslist. I have let several of these things go in the past - it isn't worth going after them for the most part, just get them out of here and get someone else.

It's very late for me. I couldn't just go to sleep - that ceremony went on for hours and took me all the way til' my bedtime by the time I got home. No big deal - maybe it will help me sleep through the night. 6 hours of sleep is the same no matter how you get it.

Umm, ending this one, time for bed.

G'nite.

ben

More

Unbelievable that this work week is almost over already. This one flew by - I was very busy today and yesterday. Unfortunately, there is nothing in the truck routing system for tomorrow, but I am always optimistic that something might be dumped in there - the inside sales guys work much later than I do (a dream that I could get my hours back). I still have 3 coolers to work on at our branch if nothing comes up, though, which would take a good portion of the day to put the new pads in and clean out the units.

Caleb - my son - called me earlier asking if I am coming to the awards ceremony. What awards ceremony? I think it's for JROTC - he isn't sure whether he's getting one, but he wants me to come. I am not a big fan of anything that has to occur in the evening on a weeknight - not at all, but I'll go for his sake if nothing else.

I already took a rather long, afternoon siesta. I usually try to make up for the night before's lack of sleep - at this point anyway, I didn't used to - after I get home from work. Still 2 and half hours until I have to be at his school, so I am going to go outside in a few minutes here and take yet another look at this pond situation. I have not made up my mind where I want it for sure, but the place I am looking at would entail moving one of my sissoos. It is one that was planted just before winter last year - it is still small and should be easy enough to dig up and transplant if that's where the final stamp of approval dictates it to be.

I'm "eagerly" waiting for some dough to come my way. The newest tenant should be paying me tomorrow - it's the dude that just got another job a few plus weeks ago that's up in the air. I NEED the money from him and soon. $200 now and the rest in a few more weeks would work for me.....I have not seem him in several days (which is normal for him) so I don't know. No, he really couldn't move out of here without my knowing about it - ie: taking off and leave me hanging (though if this goes on much longer, I will force the issue with him anyway) - he has FAR too much stuff in there. Took his friends the better part of a day on several trips to get it all over here.

Nothing much else. I totally forgot to go to the doc's office and get that scrip today - I ain't going now. Not with having to go to Caleb's ceremony this evening, plus doing laundry right now plus a visit to the great outdoors - the east side of my house to be precise. I read about a "biologial filter" that everyone says you pretty much have to have if you want clear ponds, those things are EXPENSIVE. But, in my "cheap" style of trying to get great results for as little money as possible, I found several sites that show you how to make your own. One of them is using a plastic tub (already have several of those), a large amount of cheap sponges (dollar store stuff) and a small pump. So, for 30 or 40 bucks, I can do what they want MUCH more for at Home Depot or whatnot.

Having settled on doing that - though not even thinking about actually doing it yet - no need to until the ponds are in and I am ready to put water into them - I am now looking at trying to find a small waterfall. Apparently a necessary item to keep the water aerated and also help cool the water in the summer months.

I have also been reading from various sites of people in the Phoenix area who have these ponds with fish in them year round - apparently they can take the heat as long as you take the necessary steps to keep them as cool as possible. BTW, the fish are pretty cheap, so are the plants. Plenty of people are raising fish in their ponds and selling them at great prices and also pond plants.

I still need to see a lot more pics of different set-ups before I make any decisions on how my finished product will look. In fact, I am going to email some people on Craigslist and ask them for advice as well as all the searching for sites on the web for info. I would like to ask people around here how they deal, specifically, with heat issues, I don't think fish really like hot or even warm water, but I really don't know.

Anyway, the great outdoors is calling my name, I must respond!
ben

Thursday

Not to be a proliferator of doom and gloom, but the big headline this morning was: Foreclosure Rates Surge, Biggest Jump in 5 Years and that the banks are on track of taking back 1,000,000 homes this year alone. That's unbelievable. 1 in every 138 homes received a foreclosure notice.

Look, I wish the economy to get better and soon, but I don't see how that's possible with all of this stuff still going on.

Whatever the case, there ARE ways people can save their homes, they just don't want to do it. All well and fine, but still, if you lose your home and don't exhaust your options, I don't want to hear about it. Not to be cold, but this foreclosure business is what started the tanking of the U.S. economy to begin with. It had a cascading effect that started affecting industries that catered to the building of new homes and it spread out from there.

Just because everyone else is doing it does not make it right. If you CAN'T make your payment and have tried everything, then great. I know I'm struggling - greatly - but I'm still there. As I have said before, I will move out of my master bedroom and into a TENT out back if I have to, renting out that room with it's own bathroom and walk-in closet for $500 minimum per month and - not be happy about it, but still have my place. Alright, no tent. A wood structure, about 15X15 with it's own facilities.

You don't think I would do that? Lol. You don't know me. Simply because I don't want to go under again, ever again, in my lifetime, I am willing to go to great lengths to try and keep what I have. Going under means going bankrupt, avoiding that at ALL costs is worth doing whatever I can to make it through. Which reminds me, I keep forgetting to send out that letter requesting a reduction in the loan to reflect the value of the home to my lender. I have a great excuse, though: yesterday was that physical and my mind was not going anywhere else until I got that nonsense OVER with, thank you very much. Physicals are a good thing to do, especially when you break the 40 mark, but it ain't no fun.

I'm sure somebody wants to slam me for my statements about walking from a house. Don't care, really. People got into loans that they knew they would not be able to afford with the interest rate was going to adjust in 5 years or whatever on those ARM's. People expected the housing market to continually go up. Buy a house, wait for it to increase in value, sell it, start over. People were doing that, great - but - as we all now see - it can't go on forever. I have no expectation that I will be able to sell my home for a long, long time. That's because the mortgage is higher than the market value. Which is why I am continuing on with projects. Might as well do what I can to make it a very sellable place whenever that magical day appears when I can get out of it.

Oh yes, I could walk like everyone else is doing - and if I were FORCED to, ie: lose my job and simply have no means to make the payments - then I would. But, I have an ethical problem with walking, dumping it onto the bank and making them pay for it when I still have options open to stay in it.

Anyway, the work day is here and I must be offa here.

G'day.
ben