I would like to say that court was not a circus yesterday, mostly because the judge had things quite in control.
He started the thing out by saying this isn't the People's Court, Judge Judy and a list of them, this is a court of law, etc etc etc. Went into his rather impressive and long list of his credentials and then got down to business.
To completely write out over an entire hour's worth of discussion back and forth between the judge, 350 man and I would simply take too much time, at least at this particular point in the day. As I had hoped, however, 350 pound man didn't need to say a whole lot before the judge started jumping all over his case.
350 man admitted that he had told Mark he had to leave. He admitted looking over my fence and taking pictures and then quoted a law that he had probably broken by doing so. He brought the pictures to court - which made him look even worse. Started telling the judge that I can't do this and I can't do that on my property. THAT is the point where the judge let it all loose.
Who are YOU to tell ANYONE what they can do on their own property? I am a homeowner, if someone came over to MY house and started telling me what to do with MY property, I would tell them to bug off. This went on for quite a while. In fact, this judge was telling 350 man ALL about how HE would feel as a homeowner with some neighbor coming over, sticking his nose into his personal business. He even went as far as to say that he has a neighbor that for whatever reason, they don't get along. Instead of starting trouble with each other, they ignore each other if one happens to be walking by.
So, there it was. This thing progressed. I told the judge about the threats of physical harm and this and that. 350 man denied all of it. Of course, what else could he do? Sit there and say yes, I am going to have my prison buddies come over and take care of him?
We got into the cat subject. 350 man was under the impression that I cannot place traps on my own property. The judge lit into him again, lol. On MY property, I can do anything I want to. The judge, however, turned to me and asked if I had a trap on my property. I couldn't lie, so I didn't. He then said I could plead the 5th if I wanted to, but have I ever harmed or killed any of the neighborhood cats? This asked after 350 man claimed that I had stated to him thatI had told him that "all cats should be dead. Just kill them all", a thing I have NEVER said to anyone in my entire life. I am not a cat lover, but that does not therefore make the HUGE leap to automatically mean that all cats must die.
Then 350 man said that the woman that lives behind me - who was sitting in the court room and had come as a witness on his behalf - had had to jump my fence, come into my back yard and let a cat out. ???!!!!! I turned around and looked at that woman: YOU were in MY backyard? She is very lucky I did not CATCH her in my back yard. I would have detained her and had her arrested. The ordinance about catching cats is clear: even if I KNOW whose cat it is, if I catch it on my property, I can legally hold onto for up to 24 hours before letting it loose.
Now I have sworn statements that 350 man is peering into windows - with the judge giving him a stern warning about surreptitious photography - and a woman coming into my back yard, over a fence, without my permission. The meth head was also there in court as well as 350 man's mother. I had thought more might show up. The woman that lives behind me? I have seen her maybe 5 times, total, in the 7 plus years I have lived here.
The judge asked all of the potential witnesses if any of them had actually been there when any of the things I had written out in my complaint happened. He went into a lengthy explanation about that, Mark was the only one that raised his hand and Mark was the only one that was allowed to testify. That was a blow right there to 350 man's plan. I was also able to bring up0 350 man's prison record. That certainly didn't help his case at all.
The defining moment was less than 5 minutes into the hearing. The judge looked at 350 man and said flatly: From everything I have heard here, I am not hearing ANYTHING that would cause me to want to change, drop or modify this order at all. 350 man's face turned ashen. In fact, by the time the hearing was over, he was looking very sickly, he is not used to having someone talking to him like that and not being able to start getting angry and shouting obscenities and general foulness back.
I will admit here that I hate going to court. I don't care if I'm right and have the law behind me, I generally find having to defend myself in situations like this to be unpleasant. I love going to court and WATCHING other cases, that's always fun, especially if both parties haven't got a clue and the judge starts getting ancy about all of it.
Anyway, the judge then admonished the entire crowd, including Mark and I. You are all grown adults, you should be able to talk to each other and work things out, etc etc etc. After he was done, I stated that I had gone to all persons present and attempted to discuss what to do about their cats coming onto my yard and destroying my property. The judge then said I should build a fence. I didn't bother to say that fences don't stop cats, they are like a pebble in the street to a cat, they just step over it. I simply stated that I cannot build a fence out front of my property, I already have one and the law doesn't allow it any higher.
350 man then started to dictate to me the law and how I could build one - when the judge interrupted him again and for the 5th time: who are YOU to tell HIM how to live on HIS property?!!: If you have a problem with the way he is living, then call the law, the city, let THEM deal with it - but then went into how it will only make the situation FAR worse if he does so. WORK IT OUT. The judge turned back to me: I am going to keep this order in place. However, I hope that after some time passes and if you 2 can live in peace with each other, IF that happens, that you might consider coming back in before the year is up and ask the court to drop the order.
I said fine and I would do so if such were the case. I went further: If my neighbors - all that were present - want to discuss ways to keep cats off of my property I am certainly willing to get into that discussion as I really don't want a war with my neighbors.
That was it, though I left out a lot of the details of some of the things that were said - just would go on too long. We got home and after it was apparently that "they" had also gotten home, I spoke very loudly towards April and Sam's property (April being the woman who jumped over my fence): I KNOW city code as well as you do. If you want a war, both of your properties behind me are code violations. I can report all of this junk and you will have a lot of fun dealing with the aftermath. If you want to be NEIGHBORS, then start ACTING like neighbors and get OVER it.
Sam does not want that kind of trouble - the city would have a field day over there. Well, I let that go and went out front to do some more work on the front of the property. After about 10 minutes, Sam came driving by in his pickup, completely ignoring me. I yelled out very loudly: HI SAMMMM! He SLAMMED on his brakes, skidding in the middle of the street, put his vehicle in reverse, backed up. What is going on here? Is he going to start a fight or something? He gets his truck to where his window is where I am standing. I waved again: Hi Sam! Howdy neighbor. I said it again, he said howdy neighbor again.
I got it, he had heard what I had said back there and the last thing he wants is THAT kind of attention from the city. I am hopeful that the judge's admonition that perhaps we could work out something about the cats will actually get some kind of foothold and we can now possibly discuss what to do about it, versus all of them shrugging their shoulders when I have brought it up to them and saying it isn't their problem, tough, deal with it. However, April - the woman that jumped my fence - told the judge, not in the witness chair but she had been making noises at some of my statements and laughing a few times - had addressed her in court. She stated: "I have been harassed by him. He leans over my fence and shouts at me every day!".
For the record, I have NEVER shouted at any of those people. The last time I saw her out there, we had a pleasant conversation - which was over a year ago.
Well, whatever. I still have Mark and Lynnette to deal with: what to do with them when the city comes and apparently it's a foregone conclusion that they are going to have to move out of that thing. We are discussing a travel trailer park over in Mesa at $200 per month. That's the kind of price they were looking for. I am still waiting for the City to come out and give an official notice and a time limit that they have to be moved out. Again, the City cannot supersede state law in an eviction, which is exactly what that would be. I am still guessing that perhaps one of the tenants might leave before that time limit would ever come up and then they can simply move into whatever vacated room in the house.
Whatever the case, it's Friday, my time has run out and I need to leave for work.
G'day.
ben
Friday, October 21, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Thursday 10/20/2011
So today is the day.
Yippeee and what fun.
Not, but I'm ready for it.
I'm referring to the hearing later on this afternoon.
It certainly won't be the first time that I have had to go
to a hearing to attempt to persuade to not quash a restraining
order. Though, this is an Injunction Against Harassment and
should even be easier since it isn't necessarily about violence,
it's about a person that "harasses" you. Which has a broad,
carpet-like definition that covers a multitude of differing things.
Certainly the threat of physical violence would be included under any
definition of harassment.
So, completely changing the subject as I am not going to dwell on this
all day long, I won't give that person that much credit: I had to wonder
in the case of the Philadelphia basement case, how much of this is going
on that no-one knows about? How many people are being falsely imprisoned
here, at home, this nation? I was thinking about this because if there is
one case of it going on, it is doubtful that it's the ONLY incidence that is
occurring right now.
Is Qadaffi dead, captured, what? I do hope they verify these unsubstantiated reports
sometime soon.
I was out there admiring my new travel trailer yesterday. It's in really good
condition considering it's age. Lynnette and I were in here last night attempting
to decide what pattern/color wallpaper to use in it, we did not come to a definitive
conclusion and decided to continue our search today. I don't really want that trailer
sitting here too long. It would be nice to have it here 30 days max and then move
it out of here, but I really don't know how long it's going to take to acquire the wallpaper
and then get Lynnette to install it.
I was also on the City of Phoenix site yesterday where you can check your case status.
That being any complaints that anyone has filed about your property and things going on
on your property. My property; my next door neighbor's property (the house that burned down
earlier this year) and the 2 properties that 350 man owns, or his mother actually, have
open cases. Mine has yet to be investigated, 2 of them are under review and another
has yet to be investigated.
I will be waiting to see who, if anyone else, shows up in court today to determine what
further action to take. If the neighbor behind me - who has been giving signs that he
is opposed to me, personally - this all about the cats, folks, nothing else - shows up
to testify against me today, he will have opened a can of worms that he probably shouldn't
have even looked at, much less gotten the can opener out.
His 2 properties are in chaos. One of the properties doesn't have any kind of house on it,
meaning putting ANYTHING on that property is a code violation. Well, he has the entire
property loaded up with all kinds of JUNK. He has 2 small structures which are also against
code - they can only be there if there is a house that meets the minimum square footage
requirements. Both properties are covered with over-height grass and weeds. His property with
a house on it has junk scattered around all over the place plus huge weeds and grass. I
drove around to his street yesterday, he has junk piled up all the way out to almost the very
front of his driveway.
Further, he is putting up a guy on the vacant property. The guy is sleeping in a giant moving box container. This guy is a meth head, the dude living in the box that is, and makes a lot of noise over there at night.
Well, whatever. As I said, I will wait to see who shows up. They can all say whatever they will, it's obvious from the statement that 350 man put on the reply that they are willing to lie and make up stories so who knows who will win this one.
Other than that? It's time to go to work : )
I have the peace of the Lord if nothing else, within me : )
G'day.
ben
Yippeee and what fun.
Not, but I'm ready for it.
I'm referring to the hearing later on this afternoon.
It certainly won't be the first time that I have had to go
to a hearing to attempt to persuade to not quash a restraining
order. Though, this is an Injunction Against Harassment and
should even be easier since it isn't necessarily about violence,
it's about a person that "harasses" you. Which has a broad,
carpet-like definition that covers a multitude of differing things.
Certainly the threat of physical violence would be included under any
definition of harassment.
So, completely changing the subject as I am not going to dwell on this
all day long, I won't give that person that much credit: I had to wonder
in the case of the Philadelphia basement case, how much of this is going
on that no-one knows about? How many people are being falsely imprisoned
here, at home, this nation? I was thinking about this because if there is
one case of it going on, it is doubtful that it's the ONLY incidence that is
occurring right now.
Is Qadaffi dead, captured, what? I do hope they verify these unsubstantiated reports
sometime soon.
I was out there admiring my new travel trailer yesterday. It's in really good
condition considering it's age. Lynnette and I were in here last night attempting
to decide what pattern/color wallpaper to use in it, we did not come to a definitive
conclusion and decided to continue our search today. I don't really want that trailer
sitting here too long. It would be nice to have it here 30 days max and then move
it out of here, but I really don't know how long it's going to take to acquire the wallpaper
and then get Lynnette to install it.
I was also on the City of Phoenix site yesterday where you can check your case status.
That being any complaints that anyone has filed about your property and things going on
on your property. My property; my next door neighbor's property (the house that burned down
earlier this year) and the 2 properties that 350 man owns, or his mother actually, have
open cases. Mine has yet to be investigated, 2 of them are under review and another
has yet to be investigated.
I will be waiting to see who, if anyone else, shows up in court today to determine what
further action to take. If the neighbor behind me - who has been giving signs that he
is opposed to me, personally - this all about the cats, folks, nothing else - shows up
to testify against me today, he will have opened a can of worms that he probably shouldn't
have even looked at, much less gotten the can opener out.
His 2 properties are in chaos. One of the properties doesn't have any kind of house on it,
meaning putting ANYTHING on that property is a code violation. Well, he has the entire
property loaded up with all kinds of JUNK. He has 2 small structures which are also against
code - they can only be there if there is a house that meets the minimum square footage
requirements. Both properties are covered with over-height grass and weeds. His property with
a house on it has junk scattered around all over the place plus huge weeds and grass. I
drove around to his street yesterday, he has junk piled up all the way out to almost the very
front of his driveway.
Further, he is putting up a guy on the vacant property. The guy is sleeping in a giant moving box container. This guy is a meth head, the dude living in the box that is, and makes a lot of noise over there at night.
Well, whatever. As I said, I will wait to see who shows up. They can all say whatever they will, it's obvious from the statement that 350 man put on the reply that they are willing to lie and make up stories so who knows who will win this one.
Other than that? It's time to go to work : )
I have the peace of the Lord if nothing else, within me : )
G'day.
ben
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Wednesday 10/19/2011
Well first off, the constable decided to just show up to my house yesterday and hand the papers to Mark. Whatever. 2 day notice for a court date, if I wanted to, I'm sure that can be contested.
Then I read the paper. I wanted this in advance to be able to determine what needs to be brought up in court - the paper is his reply to my allegations against him. This was his entire reply: "I have had no contact with Mr B", no was underlined. Lol. I have no idea what is going to happen in court tomorrow, or who he is bringing with him if anyone, but I wish it could be videotaped as it is certain to turn into an entertaining time if this guy is just going to sit there and belch out lies. The judge will have to decide who is lying and who is telling the truth and base his decision on it.
If he finds to quash the Injunction, I will simply start calling the police anytime the man says anything to me and I will be carrying my video camera with me around my property. I will document every single time he starts his stuff and hopefully get some of it on video and then, if/after getting enough of it, I will go back to court and apply once again for an injunction against harassment against me. If he finds for me, then I need do nothing as the man will be restrained from saying anything to me at all. One surmises that this entire problem could be taken care if an agreement on how to deal with all the cats around here could be reached.
But that kind of agreement can only be reached with normal people who don't want wars with their neighbors. 350 man has nothing else to do, getting into this kind of thing with people is the only "spark" his life has, apparently.
I also got the travel trailer - via paying a guy to move it for me with his dually pickup truck - and got it over here. When I got here - I went straight to the trailer after work yesterday - the container had been moved. When the man started to back the trailer into the driveway, it became immediately apparent that if that container had not been moved, that trailer would never have made it into my driveway.
350 man saw the trailer, got into his car and left. Whether this was a trip to the city to complain, who knows. I have no idea if having 2 trailers on a property is legal or not - but mine is far from the only property that has to trailers parked end to end. If you were to see the properties that surround me, well, having to 2 trailers doesn't come close to the filthy, degraded, junky condition of fully every single property that surrounds me. Garbage; junk; piles of wood, bikes, evaporative coolers - on and on filling properties up. Regardless, that trailer is only here temporarily as I get Lynnette to do the wall papering in it and some other minor repairs, after that it's going to be moved to my mother's property until May, when she says she goes back up there to spend the summer.
The man quoted me about $300 to move the thing up there. From my mom's property, about 150 miles, so the price is hardly unreasonable. I had one guy quoting me $300 just to move the thing 27 miles! Lol.
The whole situation with the trailer on my property has me reverting back to thinking about building a guest house - or casitas as they like to call them around here. Those are definitely "legal" to have, though you have to go through the city and get the permits and submit plans and all that, I am sure.
Well that's it, my time's up!
G'day.
ben
Then I read the paper. I wanted this in advance to be able to determine what needs to be brought up in court - the paper is his reply to my allegations against him. This was his entire reply: "I have had no contact with Mr B", no was underlined. Lol. I have no idea what is going to happen in court tomorrow, or who he is bringing with him if anyone, but I wish it could be videotaped as it is certain to turn into an entertaining time if this guy is just going to sit there and belch out lies. The judge will have to decide who is lying and who is telling the truth and base his decision on it.
If he finds to quash the Injunction, I will simply start calling the police anytime the man says anything to me and I will be carrying my video camera with me around my property. I will document every single time he starts his stuff and hopefully get some of it on video and then, if/after getting enough of it, I will go back to court and apply once again for an injunction against harassment against me. If he finds for me, then I need do nothing as the man will be restrained from saying anything to me at all. One surmises that this entire problem could be taken care if an agreement on how to deal with all the cats around here could be reached.
But that kind of agreement can only be reached with normal people who don't want wars with their neighbors. 350 man has nothing else to do, getting into this kind of thing with people is the only "spark" his life has, apparently.
I also got the travel trailer - via paying a guy to move it for me with his dually pickup truck - and got it over here. When I got here - I went straight to the trailer after work yesterday - the container had been moved. When the man started to back the trailer into the driveway, it became immediately apparent that if that container had not been moved, that trailer would never have made it into my driveway.
350 man saw the trailer, got into his car and left. Whether this was a trip to the city to complain, who knows. I have no idea if having 2 trailers on a property is legal or not - but mine is far from the only property that has to trailers parked end to end. If you were to see the properties that surround me, well, having to 2 trailers doesn't come close to the filthy, degraded, junky condition of fully every single property that surrounds me. Garbage; junk; piles of wood, bikes, evaporative coolers - on and on filling properties up. Regardless, that trailer is only here temporarily as I get Lynnette to do the wall papering in it and some other minor repairs, after that it's going to be moved to my mother's property until May, when she says she goes back up there to spend the summer.
The man quoted me about $300 to move the thing up there. From my mom's property, about 150 miles, so the price is hardly unreasonable. I had one guy quoting me $300 just to move the thing 27 miles! Lol.
The whole situation with the trailer on my property has me reverting back to thinking about building a guest house - or casitas as they like to call them around here. Those are definitely "legal" to have, though you have to go through the city and get the permits and submit plans and all that, I am sure.
Well that's it, my time's up!
G'day.
ben
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Tuesday 10/18/2011
The constable never showed up. He was supposed to call and then come over and hand whatever document.
350 man told the container company yesterday - after I called the company asking them to please move it 15 feet towards the east so I can get a trailer into my driveway - that moving it would "block the fire hydrant". Apparently, the company had sent out a driver in response to my earlier request and 350 man was arguing with the driver. Of course. Never pass up an opportunity to make a big issue out of nothing.
So, the lady from that company called and informed me that they wouldn't be able to move it because of the fire hydrant. "They have the permit, apparently". I nicely responded that the hydrant was to the west, but that there is plenty of room to the east to move that thing and still be in front of his property. "It would be blocking his driveway", she replied. Yes, I said, a driveway to a house that has been torn down. There is NOTHING there, the driveway isn't being used for anything, there is, really, no good reason why that thing couldn't be moved onto the lot itself.
So she calls 350 man again. Of course he still says no. She calls me back. I said fine, I will call the city - I have the right to egress to my driveway. This apparently got all of them motivated to do something to allieve the situation, as she called back again and said "he is going to meet you half way". ? Whatever. The guy that moves the trailers says he's pretty good at tight spots, I surely hope so because I will now consider that the thing may not be able to get on the property at all, but I am going to have him try anyway. If he can't get it up the side of my house, I will have it hauled over to my mom's property in Sun City and then either just wait until they get rid of the container or if it goes on too long, make an issue out of it. It's already been out there 3 weeks. The entire scene is ugly at best.
I am mentally preparing myself for the "showdown". If he shows up with a lawyer, I want to be prepared for that possibility, too. I will start writing notes/questions/statements down today and making sure I have it all in writing. It easy to forget things when you are sitting in a court room and the pressure is on to make your statements or ask the questions that need to be asked.
Whatever the case, my work in the front yard is coming along nicely. I have been spending time out there every day now getting everything done. Also hauling rock out there via 5 gallon buckets. No way to get a wheelbarrow in there without going over the top of plants. I have already had enough cat destruction on my plants out there, certainly don't need MORE destruction.
Cain. Interesting character. I'm watching all of this political bantering closely. It's a novel approach: no political background at all. When Perry jumped in, I thought he was the guy I would be voting for, but I have since changed my mind. Some of his views aren't exactly aligned with what I would like to see in a president. I still kinda like Bachman, but at this point, it doesn't appear she has a chance. It really is an interesting mix running for the GOP spot, I would have to guess that more will eventually end up dropping out of the race, but who knows, maybe this giant field will move all the way to the polls.
Whatever the case, it's time to go to work.
G'day.
ben
350 man told the container company yesterday - after I called the company asking them to please move it 15 feet towards the east so I can get a trailer into my driveway - that moving it would "block the fire hydrant". Apparently, the company had sent out a driver in response to my earlier request and 350 man was arguing with the driver. Of course. Never pass up an opportunity to make a big issue out of nothing.
So, the lady from that company called and informed me that they wouldn't be able to move it because of the fire hydrant. "They have the permit, apparently". I nicely responded that the hydrant was to the west, but that there is plenty of room to the east to move that thing and still be in front of his property. "It would be blocking his driveway", she replied. Yes, I said, a driveway to a house that has been torn down. There is NOTHING there, the driveway isn't being used for anything, there is, really, no good reason why that thing couldn't be moved onto the lot itself.
So she calls 350 man again. Of course he still says no. She calls me back. I said fine, I will call the city - I have the right to egress to my driveway. This apparently got all of them motivated to do something to allieve the situation, as she called back again and said "he is going to meet you half way". ? Whatever. The guy that moves the trailers says he's pretty good at tight spots, I surely hope so because I will now consider that the thing may not be able to get on the property at all, but I am going to have him try anyway. If he can't get it up the side of my house, I will have it hauled over to my mom's property in Sun City and then either just wait until they get rid of the container or if it goes on too long, make an issue out of it. It's already been out there 3 weeks. The entire scene is ugly at best.
I am mentally preparing myself for the "showdown". If he shows up with a lawyer, I want to be prepared for that possibility, too. I will start writing notes/questions/statements down today and making sure I have it all in writing. It easy to forget things when you are sitting in a court room and the pressure is on to make your statements or ask the questions that need to be asked.
Whatever the case, my work in the front yard is coming along nicely. I have been spending time out there every day now getting everything done. Also hauling rock out there via 5 gallon buckets. No way to get a wheelbarrow in there without going over the top of plants. I have already had enough cat destruction on my plants out there, certainly don't need MORE destruction.
Cain. Interesting character. I'm watching all of this political bantering closely. It's a novel approach: no political background at all. When Perry jumped in, I thought he was the guy I would be voting for, but I have since changed my mind. Some of his views aren't exactly aligned with what I would like to see in a president. I still kinda like Bachman, but at this point, it doesn't appear she has a chance. It really is an interesting mix running for the GOP spot, I would have to guess that more will eventually end up dropping out of the race, but who knows, maybe this giant field will move all the way to the polls.
Whatever the case, it's time to go to work.
G'day.
ben
Monday, October 17, 2011
Monday 10/17/2011
Weekends always just fly by. Poof, they're gone.
We are expecting this "inspection" to be done this week.
We are also pretty much expecting to have to move the trailer somewhere for them to live in it.
I will be stopping by an RV park where - not the greatest place on earth but I believe the rent is cheap. It's right next to the light rail line going through Tempe.
It was good, actually, that the city sent out a letter informing us of their intent to inspect the property. It went from what's going to happen and somewhat hysterics on the part of Lynnette to acceptance of worst-case scenario to the point of even being prepared to deal with it if it comes to that. We are already prepared, in other words, for what-may-come and there will be no shock. I am just hopeful that the time limit to get it done is - longer versus shorter.
I will wait to do anything else until we get the verdict from the city. The propane lines in that trailer need checked and get the stove and water heater working, amongst other things.
Whatever else may come this week at me, who knows.
What I do know is that my walk with the Lord is getting closer again. That is more important to me right now than anything else, to be honest. Whatever happens in this life, it's all temporal. You go through things - sometimes unpleasant things - and that's just the way it is.
Faith in God is what helps me get through whatever.
Well, short entry but I have nothing else right now and I need to get ready to leave for work.
G'day.
ben
We are expecting this "inspection" to be done this week.
We are also pretty much expecting to have to move the trailer somewhere for them to live in it.
I will be stopping by an RV park where - not the greatest place on earth but I believe the rent is cheap. It's right next to the light rail line going through Tempe.
It was good, actually, that the city sent out a letter informing us of their intent to inspect the property. It went from what's going to happen and somewhat hysterics on the part of Lynnette to acceptance of worst-case scenario to the point of even being prepared to deal with it if it comes to that. We are already prepared, in other words, for what-may-come and there will be no shock. I am just hopeful that the time limit to get it done is - longer versus shorter.
I will wait to do anything else until we get the verdict from the city. The propane lines in that trailer need checked and get the stove and water heater working, amongst other things.
Whatever else may come this week at me, who knows.
What I do know is that my walk with the Lord is getting closer again. That is more important to me right now than anything else, to be honest. Whatever happens in this life, it's all temporal. You go through things - sometimes unpleasant things - and that's just the way it is.
Faith in God is what helps me get through whatever.
Well, short entry but I have nothing else right now and I need to get ready to leave for work.
G'day.
ben
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Church
I mean, I don't really ever regret going to church.
I get some mind battles going before church or even during the service, but that is starting to diminish to a great degree at this point. Which is refreshing, to say the least.
So, we are in the worship service. I'm starting to get something from the Holy Spirit. It just comes in to me and I am just pondering what I am hearing. This is ripe from the days of old when I would get a word and go up front and deliver it to the congregation.
Well, an old lady gets up, goes to the front and gives a word. She says look, there are some people here that have words from the Lord. There are at least 3 people that need to come up and speak forth what God is saying. I'm feeling very uncomfortable. I have issues and I don't really feel like I am in the position to give out such things. Well, 3 people give a word, but I noticed her glancing at me once after she sat down.
There it was. I knew that she knew. I still didn't go up there, not because I didn't want to, I just have this idea that being out of the church so long and really just starting to get back into the flow of it, I probably should just apply whatever it is to me, do whatever it is that the Holy Spirit is speaking or change or whatever it is and be good with it.
Now, this person isn't obnoxious, demanding, whatever, very nice person but very in tune with the Lord and a leader in the church, as she should be. After a very heavy message from the pastor comes forth that definitely had me searching my heart, soul and mind about enacting some changes in my life and the service was over, she comes up to me directly with a pen and a notebook in hand, handing it to me.
She didn't ask me anything. She stated that I had a word from the Lord and didn't deliver it, please write it out. It wasn't judgmental, it wasn't demanding, it was - we want to know, whatever God is saying through whoever is or should be saying it, we want to hear it. I had to smile. I was smiling because it was yet another source of internal battles: am I really hearing from the Lord or what, exactly, is all of this? I recognized it from days past - long ago - but it's been so long, I just didn't know. So I wrote it out. In detail, of course, as is my way of writing things out. Though, admittedly, writing things by hand isn't exactly my forte. Chicken scratch is a good definer of it.
Well, anyway, it was a good service.
Got home and did some yard work, it is nice out even if getting a little warm in the afternoons.
I get some mind battles going before church or even during the service, but that is starting to diminish to a great degree at this point. Which is refreshing, to say the least.
So, we are in the worship service. I'm starting to get something from the Holy Spirit. It just comes in to me and I am just pondering what I am hearing. This is ripe from the days of old when I would get a word and go up front and deliver it to the congregation.
Well, an old lady gets up, goes to the front and gives a word. She says look, there are some people here that have words from the Lord. There are at least 3 people that need to come up and speak forth what God is saying. I'm feeling very uncomfortable. I have issues and I don't really feel like I am in the position to give out such things. Well, 3 people give a word, but I noticed her glancing at me once after she sat down.
There it was. I knew that she knew. I still didn't go up there, not because I didn't want to, I just have this idea that being out of the church so long and really just starting to get back into the flow of it, I probably should just apply whatever it is to me, do whatever it is that the Holy Spirit is speaking or change or whatever it is and be good with it.
Now, this person isn't obnoxious, demanding, whatever, very nice person but very in tune with the Lord and a leader in the church, as she should be. After a very heavy message from the pastor comes forth that definitely had me searching my heart, soul and mind about enacting some changes in my life and the service was over, she comes up to me directly with a pen and a notebook in hand, handing it to me.
She didn't ask me anything. She stated that I had a word from the Lord and didn't deliver it, please write it out. It wasn't judgmental, it wasn't demanding, it was - we want to know, whatever God is saying through whoever is or should be saying it, we want to hear it. I had to smile. I was smiling because it was yet another source of internal battles: am I really hearing from the Lord or what, exactly, is all of this? I recognized it from days past - long ago - but it's been so long, I just didn't know. So I wrote it out. In detail, of course, as is my way of writing things out. Though, admittedly, writing things by hand isn't exactly my forte. Chicken scratch is a good definer of it.
Well, anyway, it was a good service.
Got home and did some yard work, it is nice out even if getting a little warm in the afternoons.
Sunday 10/16/2011
I guess I am coming to the conclusion that probably, the RV with people living in it? Violation of City codes. If that is true, there are numerous lots around here with that particular violation going on. Down the street, there is actually a couple living in a pickup truck on the side of the house it's parked at. There are several travel trailers throughout this community parked on the side of houses with people living in them.
But, 350 pound man is only interested in attempting to make life miserable for me. I await the letter from the court stating he has asked for a hearing to attempt to have the Injunction dropped. Don't know if he's done that or not, but if he has, I should hear about it within the next few days.
Look, I pretty much hate living in this neighborhood. Short-sell the place is ohhhhh so ever-loving tempting. There are so many pro's AND con's to doing it, though, it's a tough decision. But, I will not allow myself to be bullied, harassed or otherwise mistreated by idiots who also live in the neighborhood who have not, apparently, figured life out to any degree and HAVE no life to speak of.
I go through the endless circle of mind battles attempting to determine if I could, somehow, leave this property in a short-sell and find some place that would suit my needs and be happy with it. I don't ever come up with a good answer. This prompted me to send another letter to my mortgage company, this time to the office of the President. Why not? They could refi the home, bring the interest rate down to 4.1.% and that would save another $250 per month - at least.
Changing the subject, just spent some time out front pulling grass. I haven't started on the rock project, but that's going to start soon.
But the priority now? It's time to get ready for church.
G'day.
ben
But, 350 pound man is only interested in attempting to make life miserable for me. I await the letter from the court stating he has asked for a hearing to attempt to have the Injunction dropped. Don't know if he's done that or not, but if he has, I should hear about it within the next few days.
Look, I pretty much hate living in this neighborhood. Short-sell the place is ohhhhh so ever-loving tempting. There are so many pro's AND con's to doing it, though, it's a tough decision. But, I will not allow myself to be bullied, harassed or otherwise mistreated by idiots who also live in the neighborhood who have not, apparently, figured life out to any degree and HAVE no life to speak of.
I go through the endless circle of mind battles attempting to determine if I could, somehow, leave this property in a short-sell and find some place that would suit my needs and be happy with it. I don't ever come up with a good answer. This prompted me to send another letter to my mortgage company, this time to the office of the President. Why not? They could refi the home, bring the interest rate down to 4.1.% and that would save another $250 per month - at least.
Changing the subject, just spent some time out front pulling grass. I haven't started on the rock project, but that's going to start soon.
But the priority now? It's time to get ready for church.
G'day.
ben
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Saturday 10/15/2011
So, let the wars begin.
The thought that came to mind when I thought about whether having people living in an RV on the side of my house is legal or not entered my mind when all of this crap with the 350 man started. Because it came to me so strongly, I figured it would be reported and then we would find out. So, I received notice today that the City is going to come out in the next 10 days and do an inspection. I have no feelings about it either way.
It would actually suck to have to see them go, but if that's what the City says, there will be nothing I can do about it. I am not going to be taken to court by the City of Phoenix and have civil or even criminal sanctions imposed on me if it comes to having to make them move.
I do not have an available bedroom right now for them to move into, either. That would be an easy fix to this situation if, indeed, them living in there is a violation. My only offer to them was that I could have the trailer moved to an RV park somewhere - but they would be responsible for the lot rent. Lynnette said she couldn't afford lot rent and trailer rent. I responded that I would not charge them trailer rent. The trailer is fully self contained. It can be hooked up to sewer and have a garden hose hooked up to supply water. The Direct TV box could stay with the trailer and I would simply have to get another dish. This doesn't cost any more with Direct TV, either. You can have your boxes wherever you want them, frankly.
But, since 350 pound man wants to start this stuff - once that complaint is made, it cannot be retracted, the City WILL come out and do their inspection regardless - it was my turn. He has more violations on both of his properties than you can imagine. Weeds, dead grass, unfinished fence, outdoor storage to name a few. Those complaints about the 2 properties have been filed. He will be receiving his notice this coming week, that's all I can say about that.
Gut feeling: it's probably not legal without a variance or even a change in zoning, neither of which I am likely to be able to get. But who knows? The city was out here years ago when that family was living in that other trailer. They didn't say it wasn't legal, but that they had to have access to a bathroom/running water, which they did. I have no idea, I am not going to fret about it and that bridge will be crossed when we get to it.
Undoubtedly, if they do have to move, I will be inviting them back whenever one of the rooms becomes available. They come up with enough money every month to cover enough of the normal room rent to make me happy - that along with all the help around here and the peace of mind of having someone at the house all the time.
I bought the other trailer today. It will be moved over here tomorrow. If the City of Phoenix has an issue with having 2 trailers here, no matter. I only need it here long enough for Lynnette to put wallpaper in it. Then I can move it to Sun City on my mother's property. If the City does say they have to move out of that trailer, it won't happen in 2 days. They will probably give as much time as allowable to get them to finding a new place to live. Which also means enough time to do that project - I hope anyway.
I also spoke with my mom today about the trailer and moving it up there. I would like to get it up there this winter, but I don't think that's such a good idea. Mother wants the thing in a specific place and I don't want it put up there to find out it isn't where she wants it. She will want it moved if so, meaning spending more money to do so. She doesn't go up there, she informed me, usually until May. I've never really paid a lot of attention as to when, specifically, she goes. So, plenty of time to fix the thing up - if it can stay on the property - even if not, I have the thing and I don't have to continue to look for one anymore. Further, the guy that owned it gave me the number of a guy that will move it for $50, of which I already spoke to today. That's really cheap price to move a trailer. Well, I want to put up a fence to keep the dogs in - fine,but it has to be a specific kind. What about water usage? On and on. I wanted to run a sub-panel for electric. Not a happening event, lol. I told her it would be safer than running a cord above ground, but, whatever she wants, really.
I put an ad in Craigslist today in case that guy fell through. One guy wanted to charge me $300 to move it, lol. I don't think even a company owned business would charge me that much to move the freaking thing. Another $150. Close but still a bit steep. Another said he wanted me to call him, sorry, that wasn't my instructions in the ad: if replying, please include your price for moving the thing 27 miles.
Crazy. Well, life will definitely change dramatically around here if they are forced out. I will no longer be able to leave the house or the gates unlocked. Tenants will have to get used to locking and unlocking both. That would mean dead-bolting the back door. I would also have to consider buying another video surveillance system. Basically, unless a tenant is home - which they are at various times throughout the day - my house becomes a sitting duck target for thieves or whatever. Probably couldn't install a security/alarm system because tenants would be an issue with something like that.
Whatever. I do not and will not regret having the Injunction served against that freak of nature 350 man. I can cause him just as much problems as he can me. If he speaks one word to me, I will immediately call the cops. How long can the guy stay off the drug temptation, anyway? Good question. I just looked up his criminal record, his time spend in jail was for 1 class 2 felony and 3 class 6 felonies. The class 2 felony is the bad one. That one was possession of drugs - lots of it - with intent to sell. A person in his 40's that has no life; no job; doesn't volunteer anywhere; serves absolutely no useful purpose to society. Bored out of his mind. No friends. On and on. His own, chosen life style is undoubtedly eating away at him.
Well, whatever. This entry goeth long. More news will be forthcoming concerning Mark and Lynnette and their future here - whenever the City shows up and makes their determination.
ben
The thought that came to mind when I thought about whether having people living in an RV on the side of my house is legal or not entered my mind when all of this crap with the 350 man started. Because it came to me so strongly, I figured it would be reported and then we would find out. So, I received notice today that the City is going to come out in the next 10 days and do an inspection. I have no feelings about it either way.
It would actually suck to have to see them go, but if that's what the City says, there will be nothing I can do about it. I am not going to be taken to court by the City of Phoenix and have civil or even criminal sanctions imposed on me if it comes to having to make them move.
I do not have an available bedroom right now for them to move into, either. That would be an easy fix to this situation if, indeed, them living in there is a violation. My only offer to them was that I could have the trailer moved to an RV park somewhere - but they would be responsible for the lot rent. Lynnette said she couldn't afford lot rent and trailer rent. I responded that I would not charge them trailer rent. The trailer is fully self contained. It can be hooked up to sewer and have a garden hose hooked up to supply water. The Direct TV box could stay with the trailer and I would simply have to get another dish. This doesn't cost any more with Direct TV, either. You can have your boxes wherever you want them, frankly.
But, since 350 pound man wants to start this stuff - once that complaint is made, it cannot be retracted, the City WILL come out and do their inspection regardless - it was my turn. He has more violations on both of his properties than you can imagine. Weeds, dead grass, unfinished fence, outdoor storage to name a few. Those complaints about the 2 properties have been filed. He will be receiving his notice this coming week, that's all I can say about that.
Gut feeling: it's probably not legal without a variance or even a change in zoning, neither of which I am likely to be able to get. But who knows? The city was out here years ago when that family was living in that other trailer. They didn't say it wasn't legal, but that they had to have access to a bathroom/running water, which they did. I have no idea, I am not going to fret about it and that bridge will be crossed when we get to it.
Undoubtedly, if they do have to move, I will be inviting them back whenever one of the rooms becomes available. They come up with enough money every month to cover enough of the normal room rent to make me happy - that along with all the help around here and the peace of mind of having someone at the house all the time.
I bought the other trailer today. It will be moved over here tomorrow. If the City of Phoenix has an issue with having 2 trailers here, no matter. I only need it here long enough for Lynnette to put wallpaper in it. Then I can move it to Sun City on my mother's property. If the City does say they have to move out of that trailer, it won't happen in 2 days. They will probably give as much time as allowable to get them to finding a new place to live. Which also means enough time to do that project - I hope anyway.
I also spoke with my mom today about the trailer and moving it up there. I would like to get it up there this winter, but I don't think that's such a good idea. Mother wants the thing in a specific place and I don't want it put up there to find out it isn't where she wants it. She will want it moved if so, meaning spending more money to do so. She doesn't go up there, she informed me, usually until May. I've never really paid a lot of attention as to when, specifically, she goes. So, plenty of time to fix the thing up - if it can stay on the property - even if not, I have the thing and I don't have to continue to look for one anymore. Further, the guy that owned it gave me the number of a guy that will move it for $50, of which I already spoke to today. That's really cheap price to move a trailer. Well, I want to put up a fence to keep the dogs in - fine,but it has to be a specific kind. What about water usage? On and on. I wanted to run a sub-panel for electric. Not a happening event, lol. I told her it would be safer than running a cord above ground, but, whatever she wants, really.
I put an ad in Craigslist today in case that guy fell through. One guy wanted to charge me $300 to move it, lol. I don't think even a company owned business would charge me that much to move the freaking thing. Another $150. Close but still a bit steep. Another said he wanted me to call him, sorry, that wasn't my instructions in the ad: if replying, please include your price for moving the thing 27 miles.
Crazy. Well, life will definitely change dramatically around here if they are forced out. I will no longer be able to leave the house or the gates unlocked. Tenants will have to get used to locking and unlocking both. That would mean dead-bolting the back door. I would also have to consider buying another video surveillance system. Basically, unless a tenant is home - which they are at various times throughout the day - my house becomes a sitting duck target for thieves or whatever. Probably couldn't install a security/alarm system because tenants would be an issue with something like that.
Whatever. I do not and will not regret having the Injunction served against that freak of nature 350 man. I can cause him just as much problems as he can me. If he speaks one word to me, I will immediately call the cops. How long can the guy stay off the drug temptation, anyway? Good question. I just looked up his criminal record, his time spend in jail was for 1 class 2 felony and 3 class 6 felonies. The class 2 felony is the bad one. That one was possession of drugs - lots of it - with intent to sell. A person in his 40's that has no life; no job; doesn't volunteer anywhere; serves absolutely no useful purpose to society. Bored out of his mind. No friends. On and on. His own, chosen life style is undoubtedly eating away at him.
Well, whatever. This entry goeth long. More news will be forthcoming concerning Mark and Lynnette and their future here - whenever the City shows up and makes their determination.
ben
Saturday 10/15/2011
Sooooo........
I went and looked at the 5th wheel travel trailer yesterday.
Not too shabby. For the price, a good deal. The layout is, IMO, much better than the layout in the other one. The kitchen is in the rear and the couch is in the middle. It has AC, propane AND electric heat; propane and electric water heater (or so it appears, anyway); a brand new refrigerator; a very nice set up for the bathroom; the upholstery is still in good condition.
There are only really a few things "wrong" with it. First off, the guy pulled most of the wallpaper off, so that is all going to have to be replaced (or look at barren, wood walls). Second, the owner before him, apparently, tried to fix a leak in the roof. It does not appear that his fix job worked. I'm not really a big fan of roof leaks, but this one looks like an easy fix, so I am going to deal with that one myself. The carpet is in okay condition. Not trashed but definitely not perfect either - don't really ever expect to find perfect carpet anyway. If people think about it - well - the idea of putting throw rugs down on the travel areas of the carpet is the best remedy for the carpet itself to not get completely worn down.
So, unless this guy somehow sells it to someone else before I get over there this morning - I am going to buy it. It also has flipped axles - meaning the thing sits well off the ground. This was another thing that I would have had to have to ensure that the undercarriage and more importantly, the holding tanks, don't get damaged once I have it hauled up to my mom's property. The entrance to her driveway is very steep and a low to the ground trailer could get damaged going up that thing. This one is 27 feet long, not quite as long as I wanted to get, but looking at it? It's really pretty much perfect for what I want to do with it.
Oh, and the holding tanks appear to be in very good condition.
Speaking of RV's, my manager is seriously going to ask the general manager if he can get an RV trailer and LIVE in it on the company property! I thought he was joking at first, but he definitely is not joking about it. It's an interesting idea that could be supported by the idea of having a "guard" on the property 24 hours a day. I'm not sure if corporate will go for it, but who knows.
Anyway, I have to move the rest of the pile of landscaping rocks that is blocking any access that the trailer will have to have in having it hauled over here to park it here. Meaning I have to get my shoes and get going with this day.
Later.
ben
I went and looked at the 5th wheel travel trailer yesterday.
Not too shabby. For the price, a good deal. The layout is, IMO, much better than the layout in the other one. The kitchen is in the rear and the couch is in the middle. It has AC, propane AND electric heat; propane and electric water heater (or so it appears, anyway); a brand new refrigerator; a very nice set up for the bathroom; the upholstery is still in good condition.
There are only really a few things "wrong" with it. First off, the guy pulled most of the wallpaper off, so that is all going to have to be replaced (or look at barren, wood walls). Second, the owner before him, apparently, tried to fix a leak in the roof. It does not appear that his fix job worked. I'm not really a big fan of roof leaks, but this one looks like an easy fix, so I am going to deal with that one myself. The carpet is in okay condition. Not trashed but definitely not perfect either - don't really ever expect to find perfect carpet anyway. If people think about it - well - the idea of putting throw rugs down on the travel areas of the carpet is the best remedy for the carpet itself to not get completely worn down.
So, unless this guy somehow sells it to someone else before I get over there this morning - I am going to buy it. It also has flipped axles - meaning the thing sits well off the ground. This was another thing that I would have had to have to ensure that the undercarriage and more importantly, the holding tanks, don't get damaged once I have it hauled up to my mom's property. The entrance to her driveway is very steep and a low to the ground trailer could get damaged going up that thing. This one is 27 feet long, not quite as long as I wanted to get, but looking at it? It's really pretty much perfect for what I want to do with it.
Oh, and the holding tanks appear to be in very good condition.
Speaking of RV's, my manager is seriously going to ask the general manager if he can get an RV trailer and LIVE in it on the company property! I thought he was joking at first, but he definitely is not joking about it. It's an interesting idea that could be supported by the idea of having a "guard" on the property 24 hours a day. I'm not sure if corporate will go for it, but who knows.
Anyway, I have to move the rest of the pile of landscaping rocks that is blocking any access that the trailer will have to have in having it hauled over here to park it here. Meaning I have to get my shoes and get going with this day.
Later.
ben
Friday, October 14, 2011
Friday 10/14/2011
I called the police again last night to come serve the papers to the 350 man. He was out on "his" new property with his mother. The police came zooming up with all lights off, apparently attempting to get to him before he could get into the house. But, he was with his mother, what was he going to do? At this point, however, they had already walked back to the house - the police approached the house and out comes 350 man.
They start talking to him, hand him the papers, he reads 2 sentences of it (like scanning it) and then starts laughing. I have no idea what he was filling those police officer's ears with - and I couldn't care less. It went on for about 10 minutes - him yapping away. I would venture to guess that he had to put up an act in front of his mother, who is paying this "man's" way through life.
The police came back, handed me the rest of the paperwork that was left over -for me to show to police if something happens again, and that was that. I had no intention of holding police up to "find out" what he was telling them. Whatever it was, undoubtedly much of it was fictitious.
If I were going to guess about all of this, which I am going to now, he is going to file to contest this in court. He may even show up with a lawyer since mommy is rich and apparently doesn't care how much money he shells out for his boy (case in point: she buys him a brand new house when he gets out of prison). I don't really care, either. It's Justice Court, not Superior court, procedural rules aren't as big of an issue in the lower court. Which is the only thing that I would have a problem with since I am not a lawyer and don't know all procedural rules.
He may also try to get an injunction against me. He has already threatened legal action after his cat disappeared, though what legal action remains to be seen. If, somehow, he could prove that I caught and removed his cat and that I did it "illegally", the worst that could happen is to be forced to pay the replacement cost of the cat. However, that will never happen. At least from what I have read it won't, but who knows what a judge may find in the end. I do expect some sort of trouble from this, whatever the case, but after yesterday, enough was enough.
Undoubtedly, the man is fuming now. Attempting to invent ways to figure out how to pay me back.
Anyway, it's Friday. Another 2 days off for the weekend en-queue. I just remembered that mom told me she is going up there and leaving - tomorrow. Well, if she's leaving tomorrow, no sense in going up there to visit. She is shutting down the camp for the winter. You have to winterize those trailers or you will undoubtedly come back to a mess the next spring, finding busted pipes in it for one thing. I don't know how they do it nowadays, it used to be you would hook up a line to the feed and blast air through the entire system, forcing all water out of it. Then you would dump some antifreeze type of junk in there and that would take care of it.
My search for a trailer continues. There is one that I may go take a look at today - but then again - I may just come home and decide to work on the yard instead.
Whatever the case........
g'day.
ben
They start talking to him, hand him the papers, he reads 2 sentences of it (like scanning it) and then starts laughing. I have no idea what he was filling those police officer's ears with - and I couldn't care less. It went on for about 10 minutes - him yapping away. I would venture to guess that he had to put up an act in front of his mother, who is paying this "man's" way through life.
The police came back, handed me the rest of the paperwork that was left over -for me to show to police if something happens again, and that was that. I had no intention of holding police up to "find out" what he was telling them. Whatever it was, undoubtedly much of it was fictitious.
If I were going to guess about all of this, which I am going to now, he is going to file to contest this in court. He may even show up with a lawyer since mommy is rich and apparently doesn't care how much money he shells out for his boy (case in point: she buys him a brand new house when he gets out of prison). I don't really care, either. It's Justice Court, not Superior court, procedural rules aren't as big of an issue in the lower court. Which is the only thing that I would have a problem with since I am not a lawyer and don't know all procedural rules.
He may also try to get an injunction against me. He has already threatened legal action after his cat disappeared, though what legal action remains to be seen. If, somehow, he could prove that I caught and removed his cat and that I did it "illegally", the worst that could happen is to be forced to pay the replacement cost of the cat. However, that will never happen. At least from what I have read it won't, but who knows what a judge may find in the end. I do expect some sort of trouble from this, whatever the case, but after yesterday, enough was enough.
Undoubtedly, the man is fuming now. Attempting to invent ways to figure out how to pay me back.
Anyway, it's Friday. Another 2 days off for the weekend en-queue. I just remembered that mom told me she is going up there and leaving - tomorrow. Well, if she's leaving tomorrow, no sense in going up there to visit. She is shutting down the camp for the winter. You have to winterize those trailers or you will undoubtedly come back to a mess the next spring, finding busted pipes in it for one thing. I don't know how they do it nowadays, it used to be you would hook up a line to the feed and blast air through the entire system, forcing all water out of it. Then you would dump some antifreeze type of junk in there and that would take care of it.
My search for a trailer continues. There is one that I may go take a look at today - but then again - I may just come home and decide to work on the yard instead.
Whatever the case........
g'day.
ben
Thursday, October 13, 2011
5th Wheel Travel Trailer
"27' fifthwheel trailer king of the roud ,new propane tank and hookups ,new figideair 10 gal. fridge, tailer is in great condition,new tires, title is good , stove is like new,full bathtub and shower pluss toilet tank jst cleaned, seprit from up stairs bedroom and down stairs livingroom, fold out couch, trailer sleeps four comfertaby ,sorry no pics but i can txt pics or jst come check it out"
If it was as good as they guy has been saying it is, I would have gone and bought it today. But, court and dealing with the 350 man took precedence.
If you read the ad, it says "seprit from up stairs bedroom and down stairs living rooms". It took me a while to figure out what that word meant. See Prit? Who is Prit? Seprit. I had no idea. I am looking at the word as it is spelled not sounding it out. I should have sounded it out: Se - pr - it
Separate. That one flew right over my head, not sorry to say. I am wondering if people are using their cell phone pads to write up these ads and therefore that's why so many errors.
Umm, time has really passed here and I don't have time to finish this.
G'nite.
ben
If it was as good as they guy has been saying it is, I would have gone and bought it today. But, court and dealing with the 350 man took precedence.
If you read the ad, it says "seprit from up stairs bedroom and down stairs living rooms". It took me a while to figure out what that word meant. See Prit? Who is Prit? Seprit. I had no idea. I am looking at the word as it is spelled not sounding it out. I should have sounded it out: Se - pr - it
Separate. That one flew right over my head, not sorry to say. I am wondering if people are using their cell phone pads to write up these ads and therefore that's why so many errors.
Umm, time has really passed here and I don't have time to finish this.
G'nite.
ben
The Justice Court
Mark calls me today in hysterics, literally. Obviously upset. I was at work and on a tight time frame, but if someone calls me from my house, it's gotta be an emergency because no-one calls me from there otherwise.
The 350 pound man, again. This time, Mark came home from the store on his bicycle. He said he drove straight into the driveway, got off his bike and went to open the gate. He had his earphones on playing music off of an MP3 player. It's a recurring theme around here: feeling eyes on you. He felt eyes and turned around, shocked to see that guy standing IN my driveway, RIGHT behind Mark. This guy is 20 feet into my property. Mark didn't want to hear whatever he had to say, he started yelling at 350 pound man: get the f*** out of here, get off the property, get out of here, leave, now!!
That was it. This guy is willing to come right onto my property now? NO. When I left work, I came straight home, got on the computer, found his full name and birth date through not that much searching, went back out, got into my car and headed straight to the Justice Court building in downtown Phoenix.
The reason I haven't done this sooner? Takes hours. Wait in line, get the paperwork, go sit down at a table and then start filling it all out. Give the reasons why the court should grant the injunction. Go back to the counter, wait endlessly, give them the paperwork. They hand it back to you: you didn't fill in those blanks. Yes, that's because I don't know the answers to those questions that are concerning him, thank you. Fill one or the other in anyway. Fill it in within 10 seconds, the guy walks off. 10 minutes later, someone finally comes back. Okay, you can go take a seat - again. This goes on for an hour and a half. Finally: go to court room 100.
I got to court room 100. The clerk says there isn't any injunction cases pending. Yes, ma'am, that's because they JUST finished the paperwork and will undoubtedly be bringing it in here. "Well, there's a hearing schedule at 3:30 that is about to begin". It's 3:45 when she tells me that. Gag. The judge shows up, 2 women are called up to the front and sit down at the tables. Neither speaks English. Wait for interpreters. How can you live your whole life in America and not learn the language of the land?
But, that's the way these people are, they do not want to integrate with our society, they want to turn our society into Northern Mexico. I sit there and listen to these ladies not do a very good job on either side of persuading the judge. How does the judge figure THIS one out? After an hour, it's over and my case is finally en-queue. He says pardon me, Mr. BenB, I will be back in just 2 minutes. Oh? Well, I replied, I need to go to the bathroom if that is okay, I'll be right back as well. He replies: "yes, that is where I am headed".
I did not have to go into 3 plus years of explanations to him, I just gave him the worst occasions. He didn't hesitate to give me the injunction. I already knew 350 man can come back and attempt to get it dropped. No biggies. If he tries, I will be there, trust me, I will be there. Back out to the front counter to wait again. I am finally handed my paperwork.
Oh, I didn't even mention the metal detectors. Now this court is requiring everyone to remove their belts to put through the scanner or x-ray or whatever it is they are looking at. My pants immediately start falling down - I have been losing more weight recently. I get through the detector without it even going off.
I stand there for several minutes while they are looking through the machine at the view it is giving them of my stuff. What could possibly be so interesting? When it comes out, they hand it to me and I'm about to put it back into my pockets when another man comes along and starts digging through it. ??? Whatever.
I leave, come home, immediately call Crime Stop, that's the non-911 number. They say yes, an officer will be dispatched after any emergency calls are all done first. Understandable, I reply and thank them and hang up. It was 10 minutes later and 2 cars show up. They go over there. 350 man must have an inkling that something isn't quite right in Denmark, he has drawn all his shades and you can't see in the house. The police bang on the door, the windows, walk around to the other side. They are over there for several minutes, but come back with paperwork in hand.
"Is there a car over there in the driveway?" I ask. Yes. He's home. Nothing they can do about it. They tell me to call when I see him outside. Well, he's opened the shades now that they are gone. No worries, the man cannot stay inside forever. It isn't in his DNA to not go around and start trouble with someone in the neighborhood.
.......and then he closed them, now he's opened them yet again. Geeze.
Whatever. I probably won't do this tonight. If nothing else, this weekend will work.
The 350 pound man, again. This time, Mark came home from the store on his bicycle. He said he drove straight into the driveway, got off his bike and went to open the gate. He had his earphones on playing music off of an MP3 player. It's a recurring theme around here: feeling eyes on you. He felt eyes and turned around, shocked to see that guy standing IN my driveway, RIGHT behind Mark. This guy is 20 feet into my property. Mark didn't want to hear whatever he had to say, he started yelling at 350 pound man: get the f*** out of here, get off the property, get out of here, leave, now!!
That was it. This guy is willing to come right onto my property now? NO. When I left work, I came straight home, got on the computer, found his full name and birth date through not that much searching, went back out, got into my car and headed straight to the Justice Court building in downtown Phoenix.
The reason I haven't done this sooner? Takes hours. Wait in line, get the paperwork, go sit down at a table and then start filling it all out. Give the reasons why the court should grant the injunction. Go back to the counter, wait endlessly, give them the paperwork. They hand it back to you: you didn't fill in those blanks. Yes, that's because I don't know the answers to those questions that are concerning him, thank you. Fill one or the other in anyway. Fill it in within 10 seconds, the guy walks off. 10 minutes later, someone finally comes back. Okay, you can go take a seat - again. This goes on for an hour and a half. Finally: go to court room 100.
I got to court room 100. The clerk says there isn't any injunction cases pending. Yes, ma'am, that's because they JUST finished the paperwork and will undoubtedly be bringing it in here. "Well, there's a hearing schedule at 3:30 that is about to begin". It's 3:45 when she tells me that. Gag. The judge shows up, 2 women are called up to the front and sit down at the tables. Neither speaks English. Wait for interpreters. How can you live your whole life in America and not learn the language of the land?
But, that's the way these people are, they do not want to integrate with our society, they want to turn our society into Northern Mexico. I sit there and listen to these ladies not do a very good job on either side of persuading the judge. How does the judge figure THIS one out? After an hour, it's over and my case is finally en-queue. He says pardon me, Mr. BenB, I will be back in just 2 minutes. Oh? Well, I replied, I need to go to the bathroom if that is okay, I'll be right back as well. He replies: "yes, that is where I am headed".
I did not have to go into 3 plus years of explanations to him, I just gave him the worst occasions. He didn't hesitate to give me the injunction. I already knew 350 man can come back and attempt to get it dropped. No biggies. If he tries, I will be there, trust me, I will be there. Back out to the front counter to wait again. I am finally handed my paperwork.
Oh, I didn't even mention the metal detectors. Now this court is requiring everyone to remove their belts to put through the scanner or x-ray or whatever it is they are looking at. My pants immediately start falling down - I have been losing more weight recently. I get through the detector without it even going off.
I stand there for several minutes while they are looking through the machine at the view it is giving them of my stuff. What could possibly be so interesting? When it comes out, they hand it to me and I'm about to put it back into my pockets when another man comes along and starts digging through it. ??? Whatever.
I leave, come home, immediately call Crime Stop, that's the non-911 number. They say yes, an officer will be dispatched after any emergency calls are all done first. Understandable, I reply and thank them and hang up. It was 10 minutes later and 2 cars show up. They go over there. 350 man must have an inkling that something isn't quite right in Denmark, he has drawn all his shades and you can't see in the house. The police bang on the door, the windows, walk around to the other side. They are over there for several minutes, but come back with paperwork in hand.
"Is there a car over there in the driveway?" I ask. Yes. He's home. Nothing they can do about it. They tell me to call when I see him outside. Well, he's opened the shades now that they are gone. No worries, the man cannot stay inside forever. It isn't in his DNA to not go around and start trouble with someone in the neighborhood.
.......and then he closed them, now he's opened them yet again. Geeze.
Whatever. I probably won't do this tonight. If nothing else, this weekend will work.
Thursday 10/13/2011
I paid off one of my 401k loans yesterday. It was down to $202. I decided that if something happens in 2012 - whatever that something maybe - but all these so-called experts saying another recession is coming - then I want access to my money. Not that I want to spend retirement money, but if it's going to disappear anyway, I'd rather have the opportunity to spend it. Of course you have to pay it back...........with interest..........lol. It takes 30 days before you can get another loan. The other one is down to something like $700, so not so far off on that one, either.
One manager at work wanted to get a third loan but it is not possible. Then he wanted to simply get cash out of it and take the penalty - apparently the IRS or my company or both make that very difficult and you have to have extremely extenuating circumstances for them to give it to you. With 2 incomes, I wondered how they (he and his wife) could be stressing out so badly with finances.
Well, at work I can say one thing that has changed for the better: I am getting about 5 extra hours per week as of lates, like going on for almost 2 months now. That just means I'm back up to a 40 hour work week on the weeks that there is that much work going on. In reality, there is one customer that is always calling late in the day wanting material right now. We pretty much cater to this customer since they are helping build the new Intel plant and since the contract is worth, over the next several years, millions of dollars with good GP. Still, it irritates management to no end that this guy is always calling late and demanding material like..........RIGHT NOW. And if we don't get it to him right now, he always threatens to take his business elsewhere.
As for the home front, for now anyway, all 3, new, tenants seem happy with the setup. If they aren't they aren't telling me because I ask. Are there any problems. Is there too much noise, etc etc etc. The only complaint is on the weekends when the people across the street are firing up those Harleys at 2 am and cranking on the throttles. I'm sure certain neighbors are a bit peeved right NOW because there is a truck out there pulling the container off of the street for the house that was torn down.
THAT should prove interesting. The 2 "best buddies" who like to try and give me heck are now at each other's throats. Keep a meth head from his money and see what kind of chaos ensues, lol. From what Mark said, those 2 were actually comparing their criminal records when yelling at each other yesterday. I would like to coin a new phrase: Morbid Stupidity. Well I don't know if it's new, but I've never heard it before yet it seems to fit these 2 individuals quite nicely. Let them fight with each other, I'll just blend into the trees.
My quest to find an RV continues. One is listed in there that looks really nice - has been stored INSIDE a garage. They want more money than I have for one, but let time perhaps change that. Many of these listings stay up at a high price and then eventually they start bringing it down. It has a busted AC unit, that should knock a grand off the price right there. Although I really want a 5th wheel, a motorhome would work better since I have no way of pulling a 5th wheel. Not that it's going anywhere once I get it up there, but still, the option to be able to fire the thing up and drive it wherever would be nice.
They are still wanting me to come down to AZ city and take a look at the 34 footer they have for sale. Apparently no one is biting on it. I am not so sure about it, either and don't want to drive 120 miles round trip to find out I don't really want the thing.
Well, almost time to leave. See if the 350 pound man is out there glaring at me this morning.
G'day.
ben
One manager at work wanted to get a third loan but it is not possible. Then he wanted to simply get cash out of it and take the penalty - apparently the IRS or my company or both make that very difficult and you have to have extremely extenuating circumstances for them to give it to you. With 2 incomes, I wondered how they (he and his wife) could be stressing out so badly with finances.
Well, at work I can say one thing that has changed for the better: I am getting about 5 extra hours per week as of lates, like going on for almost 2 months now. That just means I'm back up to a 40 hour work week on the weeks that there is that much work going on. In reality, there is one customer that is always calling late in the day wanting material right now. We pretty much cater to this customer since they are helping build the new Intel plant and since the contract is worth, over the next several years, millions of dollars with good GP. Still, it irritates management to no end that this guy is always calling late and demanding material like..........RIGHT NOW. And if we don't get it to him right now, he always threatens to take his business elsewhere.
As for the home front, for now anyway, all 3, new, tenants seem happy with the setup. If they aren't they aren't telling me because I ask. Are there any problems. Is there too much noise, etc etc etc. The only complaint is on the weekends when the people across the street are firing up those Harleys at 2 am and cranking on the throttles. I'm sure certain neighbors are a bit peeved right NOW because there is a truck out there pulling the container off of the street for the house that was torn down.
THAT should prove interesting. The 2 "best buddies" who like to try and give me heck are now at each other's throats. Keep a meth head from his money and see what kind of chaos ensues, lol. From what Mark said, those 2 were actually comparing their criminal records when yelling at each other yesterday. I would like to coin a new phrase: Morbid Stupidity. Well I don't know if it's new, but I've never heard it before yet it seems to fit these 2 individuals quite nicely. Let them fight with each other, I'll just blend into the trees.
My quest to find an RV continues. One is listed in there that looks really nice - has been stored INSIDE a garage. They want more money than I have for one, but let time perhaps change that. Many of these listings stay up at a high price and then eventually they start bringing it down. It has a busted AC unit, that should knock a grand off the price right there. Although I really want a 5th wheel, a motorhome would work better since I have no way of pulling a 5th wheel. Not that it's going anywhere once I get it up there, but still, the option to be able to fire the thing up and drive it wherever would be nice.
They are still wanting me to come down to AZ city and take a look at the 34 footer they have for sale. Apparently no one is biting on it. I am not so sure about it, either and don't want to drive 120 miles round trip to find out I don't really want the thing.
Well, almost time to leave. See if the 350 pound man is out there glaring at me this morning.
G'day.
ben
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Lol.
That's all I can say.
The 2 neighborhood morons - the 350 man and the 37 year old meth head - who have been starting trouble with me for about 2 plus years now?
They went at it today against each other. I missed the fun, I was at work.
Mark said they were yelling so loudly that he heard them in the trailer and came out to find out what was going on.
Well, the meth head was yelling at 350 man to "pay me for all the work I've done over here".
They were, apparently just short of fisticuffs.
Ohhh, to be there, in my front yard, which the little devils going at it with each other.
Mark said they were REALLY going at it.
Well, whatever. The 350 man has no money of his own, he gets it from his mother. I am assuming she gives him a monthly allotment. Or maybe he's just cheap. I wouldn't know, I don't work for him and never will.
I did drive by today in the company pickup. It is a brand new truck and it is not marked with the company name on it. I wanted to see what's going on in this neighborhood, lately, while I am at work. 350 pound man was sitting out in front of his house, he looked at the truck but didn't recognize it. I just drove on by, my house too, I wasn't going to stop. Apparently sme level of recognition hit him after I was well past him, lol.
My search for an RV/trailer is going south quickly. The only thing I can say about it is I have plenty of time. Summer is hardly OVER much less right over the horizon. I don't NEED one right this second. The 2 I saw several days ago would have been gold to get, but I don't have that much money and those were the ones that really got my attention.
What I am finding now is either old junk or newer and too expensive or in the right "era" for age but they want too much money. People are not inclined to pay more than they think a thing is worth, I suspect several of those things are going to come down. There is still the Airstream available - but I think they want too much considering the AC needs replaced and the bathtub as well.
"I could care less". Indeed. This coming from an assistant manager at a QT.
Attitude, the man exuded the type of arrogance you would never want to find at a convenience store that has the level of standards QT has. Long story. Today, I was in there, the store's manager followed me out the door. I'm guessing the man that said those word's fate not too good in a company like that.
Not that I wanted to get him fired, just an nice attitudinal adjustment, not to mention being appreciative of haivng a job when there are so many that would love to take his place.
G'nite.
ben
That's all I can say.
The 2 neighborhood morons - the 350 man and the 37 year old meth head - who have been starting trouble with me for about 2 plus years now?
They went at it today against each other. I missed the fun, I was at work.
Mark said they were yelling so loudly that he heard them in the trailer and came out to find out what was going on.
Well, the meth head was yelling at 350 man to "pay me for all the work I've done over here".
They were, apparently just short of fisticuffs.
Ohhh, to be there, in my front yard, which the little devils going at it with each other.
Mark said they were REALLY going at it.
Well, whatever. The 350 man has no money of his own, he gets it from his mother. I am assuming she gives him a monthly allotment. Or maybe he's just cheap. I wouldn't know, I don't work for him and never will.
I did drive by today in the company pickup. It is a brand new truck and it is not marked with the company name on it. I wanted to see what's going on in this neighborhood, lately, while I am at work. 350 pound man was sitting out in front of his house, he looked at the truck but didn't recognize it. I just drove on by, my house too, I wasn't going to stop. Apparently sme level of recognition hit him after I was well past him, lol.
My search for an RV/trailer is going south quickly. The only thing I can say about it is I have plenty of time. Summer is hardly OVER much less right over the horizon. I don't NEED one right this second. The 2 I saw several days ago would have been gold to get, but I don't have that much money and those were the ones that really got my attention.
What I am finding now is either old junk or newer and too expensive or in the right "era" for age but they want too much money. People are not inclined to pay more than they think a thing is worth, I suspect several of those things are going to come down. There is still the Airstream available - but I think they want too much considering the AC needs replaced and the bathtub as well.
"I could care less". Indeed. This coming from an assistant manager at a QT.
Attitude, the man exuded the type of arrogance you would never want to find at a convenience store that has the level of standards QT has. Long story. Today, I was in there, the store's manager followed me out the door. I'm guessing the man that said those word's fate not too good in a company like that.
Not that I wanted to get him fired, just an nice attitudinal adjustment, not to mention being appreciative of haivng a job when there are so many that would love to take his place.
G'nite.
ben
Wednesday 10/12/2011
Iran Terror Plot Act Of War?...............
reads the headline. Perhaps it is an act of war, however, certain elements in Iran would love nothing but to get into a war with the US and Israel. I don't exactly know why they would want to engage in such, but to get into a war with Iran right now? This isn't enough to start it, at least from my perspective. I certainly wouldn't be opposed to air strikes to take out their nuclear ambitions - but that would start a war regardless, not exactly sure WHAT Iran would do, though.
I don't really bid the woman that is suing Continental because of turbulence that caused her post traumatic stress syndrome any luck, whatsoever, with her lawsuit. Turbulence is a part of flying, if you can't handle it - don't fly. I remember the worst turbulence I have ever experienced. It was in 1974 in a 747, flight from Pittsburgh to here (Phoenix). We were all buckled in because we had already hit turbulence. The plane dropped, according to the crew, several thousand feet almost all at once. Wanna talk about your stomach in your mouth. The woman claims she now has a fear of flying. Whatever. If turbulence causes you to fear flying, again, it might be a good idea to stay off of airplanes.
It just amazes me the things people sue for - and then get millions of dollars in compensation.
One person's idea of "TLC" or "Fixer Upper" in relating to a travel trailer and mine are apparently 2 completely different things. When I think of fixer upper, I think replace carpet/flooring. Probably upholstery needs replacing. Mattress is a goner. The couch might be trashed. Others apparently think that a 25-30 year old travel trailer that has a lot of damage to the ceiling from water leaks; siding on the exterior that is separated from the trailer; interior wall panels that are so water damaged they are dry rotted; flooring that has holes in it is some kind of "project trailer". I look at something like that and call it junk - WAY too much work to restore it. They usually throw in the refrigerator or AC - or both - doesn't/don't work. When you add up the tab to fix something like that, not to mention the time, you are talking thousands of dollars.
Even if they GIVE the thing to you, the work, time and money involved in getting something like that up to par is not worth it. Especially the work fixing a leaking roof.
So, the first thing I look at when looking at a trailer to buy is the ceiling inside of thing. Water damage is easy to spot. Wall panels, too. I can see replacing SOME of that stuff if it the damage isn't too bad, but not half the trailer. I want to see the AC and the fridge working. If I can't, the price - or at least my offer - on that unit just went down. Way down. I'm not real big on units that have been lived in, either. Most people abuse them, not gently use them when living in them. The newer one I found on CL last night is case in point. Obviously, someone was living in that thing and definitely, they trashed it.
Anyway, I am supposed to go look at one today, but I am not sure it's worth the drive down there. They actually gave a walk through video of it - they are desperate to sell, they claim their aunt's electricity is going to be turned off and they really need the money - but, I am not so sure from what I saw. For the money, I could do better. The carpeting needs to be replaced, the couch is already gone in it - meaning having to get another one. Most of the time, pictures make a unit look much better than the condition it is really in.
Well, my time's up, time to go to work.
G'day.
ben
reads the headline. Perhaps it is an act of war, however, certain elements in Iran would love nothing but to get into a war with the US and Israel. I don't exactly know why they would want to engage in such, but to get into a war with Iran right now? This isn't enough to start it, at least from my perspective. I certainly wouldn't be opposed to air strikes to take out their nuclear ambitions - but that would start a war regardless, not exactly sure WHAT Iran would do, though.
I don't really bid the woman that is suing Continental because of turbulence that caused her post traumatic stress syndrome any luck, whatsoever, with her lawsuit. Turbulence is a part of flying, if you can't handle it - don't fly. I remember the worst turbulence I have ever experienced. It was in 1974 in a 747, flight from Pittsburgh to here (Phoenix). We were all buckled in because we had already hit turbulence. The plane dropped, according to the crew, several thousand feet almost all at once. Wanna talk about your stomach in your mouth. The woman claims she now has a fear of flying. Whatever. If turbulence causes you to fear flying, again, it might be a good idea to stay off of airplanes.
It just amazes me the things people sue for - and then get millions of dollars in compensation.
One person's idea of "TLC" or "Fixer Upper" in relating to a travel trailer and mine are apparently 2 completely different things. When I think of fixer upper, I think replace carpet/flooring. Probably upholstery needs replacing. Mattress is a goner. The couch might be trashed. Others apparently think that a 25-30 year old travel trailer that has a lot of damage to the ceiling from water leaks; siding on the exterior that is separated from the trailer; interior wall panels that are so water damaged they are dry rotted; flooring that has holes in it is some kind of "project trailer". I look at something like that and call it junk - WAY too much work to restore it. They usually throw in the refrigerator or AC - or both - doesn't/don't work. When you add up the tab to fix something like that, not to mention the time, you are talking thousands of dollars.
Even if they GIVE the thing to you, the work, time and money involved in getting something like that up to par is not worth it. Especially the work fixing a leaking roof.
So, the first thing I look at when looking at a trailer to buy is the ceiling inside of thing. Water damage is easy to spot. Wall panels, too. I can see replacing SOME of that stuff if it the damage isn't too bad, but not half the trailer. I want to see the AC and the fridge working. If I can't, the price - or at least my offer - on that unit just went down. Way down. I'm not real big on units that have been lived in, either. Most people abuse them, not gently use them when living in them. The newer one I found on CL last night is case in point. Obviously, someone was living in that thing and definitely, they trashed it.
Anyway, I am supposed to go look at one today, but I am not sure it's worth the drive down there. They actually gave a walk through video of it - they are desperate to sell, they claim their aunt's electricity is going to be turned off and they really need the money - but, I am not so sure from what I saw. For the money, I could do better. The carpeting needs to be replaced, the couch is already gone in it - meaning having to get another one. Most of the time, pictures make a unit look much better than the condition it is really in.
Well, my time's up, time to go to work.
G'day.
ben
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The 38 foot motor home fell through. Guy changed his mind on financing.
I now have leads on several other units, including a 34 foot 5th wheel - 80's vintage and a 1998 5th wheel, 34 footer.
The 1998 is a nice looking unit on the outside with 2 slide outs. On the inside? Trashed. Described as smells like dogs; needs new couch and bed mattress; carpet will have to be replaced. No guarantees on the appliances. From the pictures, been sitting out in a field Guessing someone lived in it - well that's not really a guess, the only way something that nice that isn't too old gets that trashed out on the interior is when someone who doesn't give a damn is living in it. I'll take it a step further and guess a homeless person occupied it. I offered half of what he is asking. It will need a lot of work in just cleaning it up.
The pics show - some substance on the floor. I can't tell what it is, but after the description said it smells like dogs, I would guess it's dog crap. For 2 grand, it would be a steal. I would have all winter with Mark - who would work on it just for something to do - to clean it up and help fix it up.
Why would I want something like that? Because, the unit is much newer. Everything that you don't sit, sleep or stand on looks in very good condition. It obviously has oak cabinetry - and it looks good. The seating? Filthy - trashed. They didn't even show the couch which was described as something that would have to be replaced. Again, whatever was stood upon, sat upon or slept upon is history. This is what leads me to believe a homeless person. That or a terribly messy, filthy person. At 2k it would be a steal. Others will be interested in it - maybe, but my only offer is 2k. Whatever the case, that person is not going to get 4k out of that unit just because of the interior condition, regardless of how new it is.
Another, much older 34 footer also available. Very nice condition for a 79 unit. There are a lot of units in there, but, there are only a few that are catching my eye.
Well anyway. Herman Cain. Lol. 9-9-9. If there is one reason why this guy won't win the presidency, it's because of his 9-9-9 answer to the chaos we now call the federal budget. I happen to agree it's a great idea. He won't win because it makes a lot of people who pay nothing in income taxes now have to ante up. Like almost half of Americans - pay nothing. Nada. Zilch. At least that's what the news media has been saying for quite a while now on numerous different sources, I'll take their word for it on this one. 9 percent national sales tax; 9% personal flat tax and 9% business flat tax.
What I like is the idea of a fair system. And right now? It's far from fair. If you're talking 18% of my income going to taxes, I'll take it. FAR better than what I am paying now. I am not a one-issue person, but I am definitely taking notice of this guy's ideas. I also sorta like Ron Paul - though I don't feel very comfortable with his ideas on foreign policy. Yes, let's stay out of wasteful wars that we need not be engaging in, but I think he wants to take that too far. I don't like Romney for personal reasons I won't go into. Perry is starting to look a bit less favorable than he did at first. Perhaps Cain will too, once the media rips into him and exposes everything - whatever that may be./
Okay, then, just talked myself out of most of the candidates wanting the GOP nomination. No problem, I'll vote for who convinces me - I will no longer vote for who I think only has the chance to win - and that will be that.
Day is over.
G'nite.
ben
I now have leads on several other units, including a 34 foot 5th wheel - 80's vintage and a 1998 5th wheel, 34 footer.
The 1998 is a nice looking unit on the outside with 2 slide outs. On the inside? Trashed. Described as smells like dogs; needs new couch and bed mattress; carpet will have to be replaced. No guarantees on the appliances. From the pictures, been sitting out in a field Guessing someone lived in it - well that's not really a guess, the only way something that nice that isn't too old gets that trashed out on the interior is when someone who doesn't give a damn is living in it. I'll take it a step further and guess a homeless person occupied it. I offered half of what he is asking. It will need a lot of work in just cleaning it up.
The pics show - some substance on the floor. I can't tell what it is, but after the description said it smells like dogs, I would guess it's dog crap. For 2 grand, it would be a steal. I would have all winter with Mark - who would work on it just for something to do - to clean it up and help fix it up.
Why would I want something like that? Because, the unit is much newer. Everything that you don't sit, sleep or stand on looks in very good condition. It obviously has oak cabinetry - and it looks good. The seating? Filthy - trashed. They didn't even show the couch which was described as something that would have to be replaced. Again, whatever was stood upon, sat upon or slept upon is history. This is what leads me to believe a homeless person. That or a terribly messy, filthy person. At 2k it would be a steal. Others will be interested in it - maybe, but my only offer is 2k. Whatever the case, that person is not going to get 4k out of that unit just because of the interior condition, regardless of how new it is.
Another, much older 34 footer also available. Very nice condition for a 79 unit. There are a lot of units in there, but, there are only a few that are catching my eye.
Well anyway. Herman Cain. Lol. 9-9-9. If there is one reason why this guy won't win the presidency, it's because of his 9-9-9 answer to the chaos we now call the federal budget. I happen to agree it's a great idea. He won't win because it makes a lot of people who pay nothing in income taxes now have to ante up. Like almost half of Americans - pay nothing. Nada. Zilch. At least that's what the news media has been saying for quite a while now on numerous different sources, I'll take their word for it on this one. 9 percent national sales tax; 9% personal flat tax and 9% business flat tax.
What I like is the idea of a fair system. And right now? It's far from fair. If you're talking 18% of my income going to taxes, I'll take it. FAR better than what I am paying now. I am not a one-issue person, but I am definitely taking notice of this guy's ideas. I also sorta like Ron Paul - though I don't feel very comfortable with his ideas on foreign policy. Yes, let's stay out of wasteful wars that we need not be engaging in, but I think he wants to take that too far. I don't like Romney for personal reasons I won't go into. Perry is starting to look a bit less favorable than he did at first. Perhaps Cain will too, once the media rips into him and exposes everything - whatever that may be./
Okay, then, just talked myself out of most of the candidates wanting the GOP nomination. No problem, I'll vote for who convinces me - I will no longer vote for who I think only has the chance to win - and that will be that.
Day is over.
G'nite.
ben
Tuesday 10/11/2011
I can't imagine what may be waiting for me out there when I leave to go to work this morning.........
So, Japan is going to give away 10,000 tickets to fly there and visit.
Ummm, I would go in a heartbeat if I could win one of those tickets. Just don't go anywhere near that damaged nuclear plant. I have internet friends over there that could at least tell me the good places to go. If they do give away those tickets, I will be applying.
Burglars shoot a 1 year old baby in the head. I heard that on the news yesterday and about puked. They broke into the house, went to the baby's room and shot the baby. I don't get it. I do get there is a special place, reserved in Hell, for people that do such things, that's IMO anyway.
The pirates are back in the news. Some sort of chemical tanker and not much more information given. I sorta like the outcome when one of the world's navies steps in and - takes them out.
Found a 34 foot 5th wheel travel trailer for $2,000. If everything works, that's a good deal. I would love to get my hands on that 38 foot Chevy Mallard Class A Rec V, but that guy wants more money for it and I don't have the down payment he wants for it. I would offer the 5th wheel owner $1,500 which I can come up with now - well after my bonus arrives - park it in my driveway and potentially have the trailer tenants help me clean it out and get it ready for summer visits.
Umm, my savings account for this thing is up to $900 - plus bonus, I'm getting close to a deal at this point,much sooner than I thought I would but there are people out there selling these things cheap. Some ads are saying this is the time of year to go camping with these things, no, it is not. It's summertime when everyone leaves town. What the time of year it is has been that way for 3 plus years now: a bad economy and people selling off stuff to be able to float finanicially.
Anyway, my time's up.
G'day.
ben
So, Japan is going to give away 10,000 tickets to fly there and visit.
Ummm, I would go in a heartbeat if I could win one of those tickets. Just don't go anywhere near that damaged nuclear plant. I have internet friends over there that could at least tell me the good places to go. If they do give away those tickets, I will be applying.
Burglars shoot a 1 year old baby in the head. I heard that on the news yesterday and about puked. They broke into the house, went to the baby's room and shot the baby. I don't get it. I do get there is a special place, reserved in Hell, for people that do such things, that's IMO anyway.
The pirates are back in the news. Some sort of chemical tanker and not much more information given. I sorta like the outcome when one of the world's navies steps in and - takes them out.
Found a 34 foot 5th wheel travel trailer for $2,000. If everything works, that's a good deal. I would love to get my hands on that 38 foot Chevy Mallard Class A Rec V, but that guy wants more money for it and I don't have the down payment he wants for it. I would offer the 5th wheel owner $1,500 which I can come up with now - well after my bonus arrives - park it in my driveway and potentially have the trailer tenants help me clean it out and get it ready for summer visits.
Umm, my savings account for this thing is up to $900 - plus bonus, I'm getting close to a deal at this point,much sooner than I thought I would but there are people out there selling these things cheap. Some ads are saying this is the time of year to go camping with these things, no, it is not. It's summertime when everyone leaves town. What the time of year it is has been that way for 3 plus years now: a bad economy and people selling off stuff to be able to float finanicially.
Anyway, my time's up.
G'day.
ben
Monday, October 10, 2011
The 350 Pound Man
...............was standing outside, in front of his house again this morning. I didn't even notice him until I felt the eyes on me. It's one of those involuntary things where you don't even know what's happening, you just start looking around. There he was, standing in front of his house, arms folded, glaring at me. I did not have time for his games nor did I want to partake, I got in my car and left for work. When I am out the door and getting into my car to leave for work, it's a time factor, I have to leave and I have to leave now, not 10 minutes after some sort of verbal altercation that I don't want to get into, anyway.
Later, I was speaking with Lynnette on the phone. Mark had come out of my house after taking a shower through the back door, looked up and saw him standing there. He was in my other neighbor's back yard at the part where the ground is elevated so high that you can stand on it and look over the 6 foot fence. He was peeking into my back yard. That just FUMED me, this guy is a piece of work.
So, when I came home from work today, I find an extension cord running across the street from his house to his lot. I called the city Developmental services this time, a clear code violation - it wasn't even covered up to help protect it - that will be going by the wayside, though I doubt they are going to send someone out today, who knows. In reality, it is definitely a hazard with all the kids running up and down the street here.
Onto other things. I have had 2 offers on a trailer on payments now. One I spoke about yesterday, the other is not a trailer. It is a Class A RV, 1987 vintage, 38 foot Chevy Mallard. The man claims it is in excellent condition and that everything works. Certainly, the pics make it look good - though it is a very long thing. I am not sure my mom wants something that big on her property, I would have to ask about that first.
Mom told me a bit ago - yes, another interlude in writing one of my blog entries, happens frequently - that she doesn't care how big the thing is. Her only condition is that I get along with her neighbors. I don't know her neighbors, though the last time I was up there, the guy was on a Bobcat, plowing down brush and making a lot of noise. She claims it doesn't happen that much, even when they are up there. I dunno. I simly replied I would either get along with him or I would completely ignore him. If neighbors are idiots, I just don't want to talk to them at all. Especially if they are obnoxious, arrogant, crass and mouth people such as the 350 pound man is. I don't get that those people are like that, though, after watching them, just that they make a lot of noise when that thing is operating.
I also brought up the subject of whether my middle brother would get "jealous" and if he wanted to put something up there? This is the way he operates. It's a big contest to him, if one brother does something, he must one-up them. I could care less, to be quite honest about it - he can one-up me all he wants. I just don't want problems. She clearly had not given that any thought, it had not entered her mind. She got a bit uppity about it - I just said I was bringing it up so she could have an opportunity to THINK about it in case it occurs.
The second newest tenant just brought what appears to be his girlfriend through here. Whatever. Some people tell their tenants they can't have anyone in the house, especially girl/boyfriends. I care, I don't necessarily agree with such arrangements, but I don't say anything as long as it doesn't disrupt anything else in the house. People's peace, for one thing. The girl was terrified of the dogs. Lol.
G'nite.
ben
Later, I was speaking with Lynnette on the phone. Mark had come out of my house after taking a shower through the back door, looked up and saw him standing there. He was in my other neighbor's back yard at the part where the ground is elevated so high that you can stand on it and look over the 6 foot fence. He was peeking into my back yard. That just FUMED me, this guy is a piece of work.
So, when I came home from work today, I find an extension cord running across the street from his house to his lot. I called the city Developmental services this time, a clear code violation - it wasn't even covered up to help protect it - that will be going by the wayside, though I doubt they are going to send someone out today, who knows. In reality, it is definitely a hazard with all the kids running up and down the street here.
Onto other things. I have had 2 offers on a trailer on payments now. One I spoke about yesterday, the other is not a trailer. It is a Class A RV, 1987 vintage, 38 foot Chevy Mallard. The man claims it is in excellent condition and that everything works. Certainly, the pics make it look good - though it is a very long thing. I am not sure my mom wants something that big on her property, I would have to ask about that first.
Mom told me a bit ago - yes, another interlude in writing one of my blog entries, happens frequently - that she doesn't care how big the thing is. Her only condition is that I get along with her neighbors. I don't know her neighbors, though the last time I was up there, the guy was on a Bobcat, plowing down brush and making a lot of noise. She claims it doesn't happen that much, even when they are up there. I dunno. I simly replied I would either get along with him or I would completely ignore him. If neighbors are idiots, I just don't want to talk to them at all. Especially if they are obnoxious, arrogant, crass and mouth people such as the 350 pound man is. I don't get that those people are like that, though, after watching them, just that they make a lot of noise when that thing is operating.
I also brought up the subject of whether my middle brother would get "jealous" and if he wanted to put something up there? This is the way he operates. It's a big contest to him, if one brother does something, he must one-up them. I could care less, to be quite honest about it - he can one-up me all he wants. I just don't want problems. She clearly had not given that any thought, it had not entered her mind. She got a bit uppity about it - I just said I was bringing it up so she could have an opportunity to THINK about it in case it occurs.
The second newest tenant just brought what appears to be his girlfriend through here. Whatever. Some people tell their tenants they can't have anyone in the house, especially girl/boyfriends. I care, I don't necessarily agree with such arrangements, but I don't say anything as long as it doesn't disrupt anything else in the house. People's peace, for one thing. The girl was terrified of the dogs. Lol.
G'nite.
ben
Monday 10/10/2011
Well that was interesting.
I get a lot of "I haven't even seen the guy yet" on the newest 2 tenants. One comes and goes - the other finally spent a night here last night. In fact, none of the newest round is here much. When they are, you hardly see them. Were that all tenants that I found were this way!
A Airstream Argosy, 1979 vintage. People are still in love with those old Airstreams, I have always liked them as well. I had posted yet another ad to buy a trailer on payments to see if there might be any interest. Most people are not going to get into that kind of situation with a complete stranger and understandably so.
The guy contacts me and says it's in great shape - except - the AC is broken and the bathtub is broken, both need to be replaced. Well at the right price, a person could replace that stuff and come out pretty well. I didn't figure the price was right, though. He claims it's a "steal" at $1,700.00 - I thought differently. A new AC unit runs $800 to $1,000, which doesn't include tax thank you. I don't know what a new bath tub runs, but whatever it is, highly doubtful you are going to find an exact replacement for the one in there, so not only are you going to have to buy a new one, you are going to have to modify the entire set up in there. My guess, anyway.
I was attempting to look up pricing on these old things, one person had a price at $1,500 for one of the things if it was in good condition. I guess that means everything working.
I decided no thanks unless he was willing to come down to $1,000.
Haven't heard back from him, doubt I will. If he wants to get his money out of the thing, he is going to have to fix those thing first.
There are 2 RV trailers, fifth wheels in there that I WISH I had the money for. One at $4,000, the thing is in excellent condition. The other at $3,500, it is in great condition.
Oh well. There is one thing, though, that helps my savings account out tremendously: when all 3 rooms are rented and at this time of year when electric use is going WAY down? I can save a bit more.
Umm, well time is running out. "They" are predicting highs of as high as 104 this week! I hope "they" are wrong again. The forecast changes daily, it's ridiculous.
Anyway, g'day.
ben
I get a lot of "I haven't even seen the guy yet" on the newest 2 tenants. One comes and goes - the other finally spent a night here last night. In fact, none of the newest round is here much. When they are, you hardly see them. Were that all tenants that I found were this way!
A Airstream Argosy, 1979 vintage. People are still in love with those old Airstreams, I have always liked them as well. I had posted yet another ad to buy a trailer on payments to see if there might be any interest. Most people are not going to get into that kind of situation with a complete stranger and understandably so.
The guy contacts me and says it's in great shape - except - the AC is broken and the bathtub is broken, both need to be replaced. Well at the right price, a person could replace that stuff and come out pretty well. I didn't figure the price was right, though. He claims it's a "steal" at $1,700.00 - I thought differently. A new AC unit runs $800 to $1,000, which doesn't include tax thank you. I don't know what a new bath tub runs, but whatever it is, highly doubtful you are going to find an exact replacement for the one in there, so not only are you going to have to buy a new one, you are going to have to modify the entire set up in there. My guess, anyway.
I was attempting to look up pricing on these old things, one person had a price at $1,500 for one of the things if it was in good condition. I guess that means everything working.
I decided no thanks unless he was willing to come down to $1,000.
Haven't heard back from him, doubt I will. If he wants to get his money out of the thing, he is going to have to fix those thing first.
There are 2 RV trailers, fifth wheels in there that I WISH I had the money for. One at $4,000, the thing is in excellent condition. The other at $3,500, it is in great condition.
Oh well. There is one thing, though, that helps my savings account out tremendously: when all 3 rooms are rented and at this time of year when electric use is going WAY down? I can save a bit more.
Umm, well time is running out. "They" are predicting highs of as high as 104 this week! I hope "they" are wrong again. The forecast changes daily, it's ridiculous.
Anyway, g'day.
ben
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Church
Church today was a bit more than I expected.
The Lord has been speaking to my inner man for 2 weeks about a certain thing and the sermon? Was the exact same thing that has been running through my head.
I suppose I shouldn't be shocked that the Lord would confirm His message to me through an entire sermon that was geared that way - I haven't been to church since 3 Sundays ago.
I went up front after the message was delivered because the offer to come up front was worded - the way that I had pretty-much heard it worded when the Lord was speaking earlier this week - or before I even went to church today, for that matter. . After we prayed, talked for a second, hugged (yes, Christians still hug each other regardless of genders or whether it's the same gender hugging, there is absolutely nothing sexual or sensual about it, thank you), I was walked back to my seat, actually I was ready to leave. The pastor called me back up and asked if we could go to lunch together here and there and try to establish a bit closer relationship.
In the world of Christiandom and the church, I am no-one and nothing, yet I have always somehow forged relationships - usually very close relationships after time has passed - with the pastors of the churches I have attended. Whatever the case, I certainly don't regret going today.
Got home and - went outside to do a bit more cleanup out front. An hour's worth and I am done with that for the day. Or not - who knows, maybe sunset will loom and I will go out and do a bit more.
Well that's it. I don't really feel like doing into anything else.
The Lord has been speaking to my inner man for 2 weeks about a certain thing and the sermon? Was the exact same thing that has been running through my head.
I suppose I shouldn't be shocked that the Lord would confirm His message to me through an entire sermon that was geared that way - I haven't been to church since 3 Sundays ago.
I went up front after the message was delivered because the offer to come up front was worded - the way that I had pretty-much heard it worded when the Lord was speaking earlier this week - or before I even went to church today, for that matter. . After we prayed, talked for a second, hugged (yes, Christians still hug each other regardless of genders or whether it's the same gender hugging, there is absolutely nothing sexual or sensual about it, thank you), I was walked back to my seat, actually I was ready to leave. The pastor called me back up and asked if we could go to lunch together here and there and try to establish a bit closer relationship.
In the world of Christiandom and the church, I am no-one and nothing, yet I have always somehow forged relationships - usually very close relationships after time has passed - with the pastors of the churches I have attended. Whatever the case, I certainly don't regret going today.
Got home and - went outside to do a bit more cleanup out front. An hour's worth and I am done with that for the day. Or not - who knows, maybe sunset will loom and I will go out and do a bit more.
Well that's it. I don't really feel like doing into anything else.
Sunday 10/9/2011
Well, I am planning on going to church this morning. Guess I better get busy about that pretty soon, cause' it's 10 after 9 and church starts in 50 minutes. Fortunately, church is less than 10 minute drive away. I don't really feel like going, but that's true at least half of the time I am headed there anyway, so nothing new.
So, church this morning and then this afternoon probably at least a little time spent outside fooling with landscaping issues.
I continue to torture myself by looking at all the nice Travel Trailers for sale. Lol.
I wonder, though, if by the time 2012 gets here and I potentially have the money saved up to by one, if I won't just let that savings sit there. I am curious about these ever-increasing predictions that we are going to fall into another recession coming 2012.
It might be prudent to go into such with some kind of savings versus having spent it all on a trailer that - I want but definitely do not NEED.
Gotta start getting ready for church.
G'day.
ben
So, church this morning and then this afternoon probably at least a little time spent outside fooling with landscaping issues.
I continue to torture myself by looking at all the nice Travel Trailers for sale. Lol.
I wonder, though, if by the time 2012 gets here and I potentially have the money saved up to by one, if I won't just let that savings sit there. I am curious about these ever-increasing predictions that we are going to fall into another recession coming 2012.
It might be prudent to go into such with some kind of savings versus having spent it all on a trailer that - I want but definitely do not NEED.
Gotta start getting ready for church.
G'day.
ben
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Saturday 10/8/2011
Well, I couldn't resist. I went out there this morning and started in on all of it. 2 of the grass plants that were overgrown - I cut well back and down. I need to "groom" them to make them look a little better, but it isn't the mess that it was. I also started in on the area where the cats have basically killed off 2/3rd's of my ground covering plants. Pretty much a pain, to be honest. The dead plants and the live portions are all on the same - system I guess you call it - separating them wasn't any easy task.
I got about 2/3rd's of that done and then called it quits. Ran out of energy is mainly the reason why. The 350 pound man wasn't out there but the meth head was. I kept to myself, minding my own business and enjoying the cool weather. If he were to start in on me again, I figured, I would call the police. This time, daddy would be home when they would go down there pounding on his door and daddy wouldn't be too happy about that, at all.
I should have taken my camera out there as backup, but I totally forgot about it. I am going back out in a while to trim back a large, 8 foot tall bush that has overgrown onto the pathway that leads to the other gate. I don't really want to cut it back that much, but, it's in the way and I have no choice. I also cut off a large branch off of one of the naturally growing desert trees. It became obvious that as that tree continues to grow - along with that errant branch - that branch would get heavier and heavier. A good wind storm would eventually rip it off of there and probably take out the entire tree with it. I like that tree and would rather not see it come collapsing down.
I have a LOT to do out there, is what this morning's activities reinforced. No biggies, though, just do an hour here, a couple there and eventually it will all be done.
I caught a black cat last night. No idea whose it is, but in this neighborhood, 80% chance it's a feral cat. I decided not to do anything with it. Just leave it in there for the day and then release it. City ordinances say I can hold it for 24 hours in a cage. I figure maybe if I keep it in there for a while, it will come to dislike my property greatly. It has already been let out. I figured it was in there a good 12 hours, long enough.
So, interlude. I went back out front to cut back the shrubs. 350 pound man shows up in his car, parks in front of "his" property across the street, but doesn't get out of the car. He has limo tint windows, I can't see through them so I can't tell what he is doing. There isn't any reason for him to be parked there since his house is 2 houses down on the other side of the street. I was curious if his mother might be in there. I looked at the car and then - I completely ignored it and went about my business.
__________________________________________
Long interval. Trailer tenants must have gotten their food stamps. They made a huge meal including T-Bone steak; potato salad; Texas Toast; and beans. Yes, they brought me in a huge dish loaded with the stuff, very good.
I was out front again. I sat down in my chair and took the front yard in - after doing some more trim work. After I get the clean job done, I am going to change the appearance of the front yard. First, I think I am going to get rid of the grass plants that Mary put in. I didn't like them when she put them in, I don't really like them now. I also decided to create a completely different effect and will do so by using some of the 5 tons of landscaping rock I had delivered 2 or 3 weeks ago and have done nothing with yet. I have cut the ground covering plants back drastically. Mostly because they were dead, but I also cut them back far enough to reveal a small, rock border that Mary had created. Mary did good work out there regardless of her drug habit. So, I will not only finish uncovering that rock border, I am going to extend it. I also need to bring out some more dirt and finish shoring up the small pond. After seeing the fish thrive this summer in that thing - that water got pretty warm - I decided it can become a permanent part of the visual out there.
When I am done - which will take some time to say the least - it will have a much cleaner, sharper look to it out there. Some plants needs to go, others just need to be trimmed down quite a lot. It isn't just something to do, it is something that needs to be done.
The side of the house doesn't need as much change, it just needs the plastic put down and the rock hauled over there and dumped on top of it. The plants are mostly doing well and once that is done, again, a sharp, nice look to it.
I've missed 2 Sundays in a row now. I don't go to church sick. Perhaps I should and get prayed over, but I dislike the idea of giving everyone else my sickness so I don't do it. Last Sunday I felt so miserably bad that there was no way I was going to to church or much of anywhere else for that matter. Well, they sent me a post card.
My dad just wrote. He has moved back to Sierra Vista. In my view of it, they should have never left. His wife owns the house, outright. It sits on a golf course. It has beautiful views. They can hire people to come in an do whatever they need done around the house for FAR cheaper than paying to live at an assisted living center. I have been filling his head up with that idea for quite a while now. They already have a great lawn maintenance family - it is literally an entire family from little kids to the parents - that comes and does everything that needs to be done outside. If they needed help inside, there are PLENTY of licensed, bonded and insured companies that do whatever housecleaning that need be done. They pretty much eat out a lot anyway, so cooking isn't really a big issue.
He is obviously upset, however, that he couldn't find a place to fit me in. I had offered to come down for a visit to his Tucson place numerous times - it's I-10 all the way there and most of it is 75mph speed limit. Now he's asking if Caleb and I can come for Thanksgiving. I seriously doubt Caleb will be able to do that. His work schedule is now up to almost 40 hours per week and it's pretty much the schedule that no-one on earth wants. I am sure that newbie cashiers are going to get the junk schedule until they get some seniority going. It wouldn't surprise me if they have him working on Thanksgiving Day. It wouldn't surprise me, either, if they have him working Christmas Day, if Albertson's is open Christmas Day (which I hope it is not, I would be happy if all of these stores would just shut down like they used to in the "old days" for the day and be happy that their employees get to go home and spend some time with family and friends). Whatever the case, he doesn't complain at all and pretty soon he is going to start getting substantially larger paychecks than he is used to getting.
Which should be interesting as well.
But I will hold my comment concerning that - for now.
G'day.
ben
I got about 2/3rd's of that done and then called it quits. Ran out of energy is mainly the reason why. The 350 pound man wasn't out there but the meth head was. I kept to myself, minding my own business and enjoying the cool weather. If he were to start in on me again, I figured, I would call the police. This time, daddy would be home when they would go down there pounding on his door and daddy wouldn't be too happy about that, at all.
I should have taken my camera out there as backup, but I totally forgot about it. I am going back out in a while to trim back a large, 8 foot tall bush that has overgrown onto the pathway that leads to the other gate. I don't really want to cut it back that much, but, it's in the way and I have no choice. I also cut off a large branch off of one of the naturally growing desert trees. It became obvious that as that tree continues to grow - along with that errant branch - that branch would get heavier and heavier. A good wind storm would eventually rip it off of there and probably take out the entire tree with it. I like that tree and would rather not see it come collapsing down.
I have a LOT to do out there, is what this morning's activities reinforced. No biggies, though, just do an hour here, a couple there and eventually it will all be done.
I caught a black cat last night. No idea whose it is, but in this neighborhood, 80% chance it's a feral cat. I decided not to do anything with it. Just leave it in there for the day and then release it. City ordinances say I can hold it for 24 hours in a cage. I figure maybe if I keep it in there for a while, it will come to dislike my property greatly. It has already been let out. I figured it was in there a good 12 hours, long enough.
So, interlude. I went back out front to cut back the shrubs. 350 pound man shows up in his car, parks in front of "his" property across the street, but doesn't get out of the car. He has limo tint windows, I can't see through them so I can't tell what he is doing. There isn't any reason for him to be parked there since his house is 2 houses down on the other side of the street. I was curious if his mother might be in there. I looked at the car and then - I completely ignored it and went about my business.
__________________________________________
Long interval. Trailer tenants must have gotten their food stamps. They made a huge meal including T-Bone steak; potato salad; Texas Toast; and beans. Yes, they brought me in a huge dish loaded with the stuff, very good.
I was out front again. I sat down in my chair and took the front yard in - after doing some more trim work. After I get the clean job done, I am going to change the appearance of the front yard. First, I think I am going to get rid of the grass plants that Mary put in. I didn't like them when she put them in, I don't really like them now. I also decided to create a completely different effect and will do so by using some of the 5 tons of landscaping rock I had delivered 2 or 3 weeks ago and have done nothing with yet. I have cut the ground covering plants back drastically. Mostly because they were dead, but I also cut them back far enough to reveal a small, rock border that Mary had created. Mary did good work out there regardless of her drug habit. So, I will not only finish uncovering that rock border, I am going to extend it. I also need to bring out some more dirt and finish shoring up the small pond. After seeing the fish thrive this summer in that thing - that water got pretty warm - I decided it can become a permanent part of the visual out there.
When I am done - which will take some time to say the least - it will have a much cleaner, sharper look to it out there. Some plants needs to go, others just need to be trimmed down quite a lot. It isn't just something to do, it is something that needs to be done.
The side of the house doesn't need as much change, it just needs the plastic put down and the rock hauled over there and dumped on top of it. The plants are mostly doing well and once that is done, again, a sharp, nice look to it.
I've missed 2 Sundays in a row now. I don't go to church sick. Perhaps I should and get prayed over, but I dislike the idea of giving everyone else my sickness so I don't do it. Last Sunday I felt so miserably bad that there was no way I was going to to church or much of anywhere else for that matter. Well, they sent me a post card.
My dad just wrote. He has moved back to Sierra Vista. In my view of it, they should have never left. His wife owns the house, outright. It sits on a golf course. It has beautiful views. They can hire people to come in an do whatever they need done around the house for FAR cheaper than paying to live at an assisted living center. I have been filling his head up with that idea for quite a while now. They already have a great lawn maintenance family - it is literally an entire family from little kids to the parents - that comes and does everything that needs to be done outside. If they needed help inside, there are PLENTY of licensed, bonded and insured companies that do whatever housecleaning that need be done. They pretty much eat out a lot anyway, so cooking isn't really a big issue.
He is obviously upset, however, that he couldn't find a place to fit me in. I had offered to come down for a visit to his Tucson place numerous times - it's I-10 all the way there and most of it is 75mph speed limit. Now he's asking if Caleb and I can come for Thanksgiving. I seriously doubt Caleb will be able to do that. His work schedule is now up to almost 40 hours per week and it's pretty much the schedule that no-one on earth wants. I am sure that newbie cashiers are going to get the junk schedule until they get some seniority going. It wouldn't surprise me if they have him working on Thanksgiving Day. It wouldn't surprise me, either, if they have him working Christmas Day, if Albertson's is open Christmas Day (which I hope it is not, I would be happy if all of these stores would just shut down like they used to in the "old days" for the day and be happy that their employees get to go home and spend some time with family and friends). Whatever the case, he doesn't complain at all and pretty soon he is going to start getting substantially larger paychecks than he is used to getting.
Which should be interesting as well.
But I will hold my comment concerning that - for now.
G'day.
ben
Friday, October 7, 2011
Friday 10/7/2011
I walked out the back door yesterday morning, along side the property bidding my adioses to my dogs as I was walking towards the gate. They kinda follow me the whole way. Went through the gate, was opening my car when who shows up. The neighbor with the "lost" cat. It was 5:30am, I was in NO mood to listen to him mouthing off.
"What'd you do with my cat?" I didn't answer him, instead told him to bug off. "Where's my cat?" Again, told him to piss off. He has been on my bad side ever since he threatened to have me killed and I will not speak to him in any sense of the word "conversation". I will tell him exactly how I feel about him; I will tell him to leave me alone. I will tell him if he doesn't leave me alone, I am going to call the police, but I am NOT getting into any kind of discussion with him.
I got into my car and he flipped me the birdie. It was surprising to see him out there that early, even more so that he appeared out of the dark. He had been sitting on a chair in the middle of my next door neighbor's lot, either waiting for his kitty to show up or waiting for me to come out - or both.
Twice during the work day, I get a phone call from home declaring this guy is getting into everyone's face that lives here asking about the cat. When I got home, well, he wasn't anywhere to be seen. I was ready to simply call the police, yet again. I'm going to have to carry my camera around with me, apparently, while doing anything outside to catch this nonsense on camera, if at all possible.
I am finally starting to feel better, though I have a lingering problem that I don't care to discuss online - or with anyone for that matter - aftermath of illness or side effects of the drugs, I am not sure which. Regardless, if I feel this good tomorrow, I might do some light duty work outside just to get a start on it. Or not. Perhaps the best idea is to just rest and get all better. Guess I'll make that decision when tomorrow comes.
Feeling rather crappy this week and still ended up with almost 5 hours OT. Didn't really want to do that, but I'm at work, I have to do whatever comes along including staying over if necessary.
Got home from work today, nothing. Neither one of the two neighborhood trolls were out there. The 47 year old homeless methhead was out there working away. I won't say the guy won't work, just that he apparently can't get off the drugs long enough to keep a job.
Whatever the case, the other room is rented and the man has already moved in. I had numerous female respondents to my latest room rental ad, but I figured I better just stick with the guys considering the abysmal history I have with ladies in this house. A few good ones, the rest prostitutes or meth heads. What, is this neighborhood a magnet for meth users? This guy is a professional businessman - which made me wonder why he would want to rent a third bedroom in a house full of renters - excepting his work is 1-1/2 miles away.
Did I mention I went to bed at 7:00 pm last night? I actually got 8 hours of sleep - I was in bed 10 hours.
Did I also mention that I weighed myself today and it was at 189 pounds? I haven't even been trying to diet in the last week and a half or so - when I get sick I just eat whatever's available. Now that I think about it, that's been a lot of soup. Soup diet, there ya go. I haven't been below 190 in a long time now.
I have some things to get done, done with this one.
Later.
ben
"What'd you do with my cat?" I didn't answer him, instead told him to bug off. "Where's my cat?" Again, told him to piss off. He has been on my bad side ever since he threatened to have me killed and I will not speak to him in any sense of the word "conversation". I will tell him exactly how I feel about him; I will tell him to leave me alone. I will tell him if he doesn't leave me alone, I am going to call the police, but I am NOT getting into any kind of discussion with him.
I got into my car and he flipped me the birdie. It was surprising to see him out there that early, even more so that he appeared out of the dark. He had been sitting on a chair in the middle of my next door neighbor's lot, either waiting for his kitty to show up or waiting for me to come out - or both.
Twice during the work day, I get a phone call from home declaring this guy is getting into everyone's face that lives here asking about the cat. When I got home, well, he wasn't anywhere to be seen. I was ready to simply call the police, yet again. I'm going to have to carry my camera around with me, apparently, while doing anything outside to catch this nonsense on camera, if at all possible.
I am finally starting to feel better, though I have a lingering problem that I don't care to discuss online - or with anyone for that matter - aftermath of illness or side effects of the drugs, I am not sure which. Regardless, if I feel this good tomorrow, I might do some light duty work outside just to get a start on it. Or not. Perhaps the best idea is to just rest and get all better. Guess I'll make that decision when tomorrow comes.
Feeling rather crappy this week and still ended up with almost 5 hours OT. Didn't really want to do that, but I'm at work, I have to do whatever comes along including staying over if necessary.
Got home from work today, nothing. Neither one of the two neighborhood trolls were out there. The 47 year old homeless methhead was out there working away. I won't say the guy won't work, just that he apparently can't get off the drugs long enough to keep a job.
Whatever the case, the other room is rented and the man has already moved in. I had numerous female respondents to my latest room rental ad, but I figured I better just stick with the guys considering the abysmal history I have with ladies in this house. A few good ones, the rest prostitutes or meth heads. What, is this neighborhood a magnet for meth users? This guy is a professional businessman - which made me wonder why he would want to rent a third bedroom in a house full of renters - excepting his work is 1-1/2 miles away.
Did I mention I went to bed at 7:00 pm last night? I actually got 8 hours of sleep - I was in bed 10 hours.
Did I also mention that I weighed myself today and it was at 189 pounds? I haven't even been trying to diet in the last week and a half or so - when I get sick I just eat whatever's available. Now that I think about it, that's been a lot of soup. Soup diet, there ya go. I haven't been below 190 in a long time now.
I have some things to get done, done with this one.
Later.
ben
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Thursday 10/6/2011
It dawned on me this morning that 350lb man is going to try and have a 2 story house built directly across the street from me. If he were inclined to do that, it would mean completely blocking out my view of Camelback mountain, amongst other things. Not to mention the idea of him sitting up there, snooping on everyone. That's what got me going this morning, the thought of this guy being able to look down into other people's yards, including mine. This also includes the idea that my neighbor says he has listening and viewing devices he is already using to snoop on people.
I really do NOT want this "person" living directly across the street from me. Anyway, if a "zoning variance" sign shows up at the end of the street,I will be at that meeting, with pictures. I have lived here 8 years, it is zoned a single level community, there is no good reason to allow a giant box to be built that will stand out. We already HAVE one of those and it is butt-ugly.
Regardless, I didn't know that the first feline that I would catch would happen to be, apparently, his. It wouldn't shock me that if I try to catch a second one, it will also be his. That one - the second one I want - is the most destructive friggin' thing ever.
Besides this man threatening to have me killed, I will never forget his and my other neighbor's reaction when I confronted them on their cats coming onto my yard. They just shrugged their shoulders, they couldn't have cared less. They made no bones about the fact that their cats are running around at night, doing whatever they are doing and that I should just "shoo" them off my property. Yeah. I just have all night long to sit around and shoo cats away. THAT was a brilliant idea whose demise was immediate. I stood there, incredulous at their brazen attitudes about it. It was MY problem, apparently, I would have to figure out how to deal with it.
Yes, and indeed I have. I asked them at the time how they would feel if I brought my Great Danes over to s*** on their driveway. Of course they wouldn't like that, but it didn't phase them one bit.
Antibiotics and I don't really get along that well. They do their job, yes, but they also mess with my guts. Get a nice stoppage going for 3 or 4 days and see how that feels, lol. Thursday - 2 more work days and I can take another weekend off from doing anything. Which sucks because the weather has finally cooled and it's time to get out there and get the stuff done around the house with the landscaping that needs to be done. Oh well. I'll take getting better over that any day, though I actually enjoy that kind of work - as long as it isn't 225 degrees outside and my flesh isn't peeling off for the heat.
Heavy workload at work today. I already know, the system was full of stuff to do yesterday when I was leaving work. Not really into it today, but there is nothing I can do about it. My coughing, at least, has slowed down quite a lot and I am definitely come out of this - but certainly far from 100%.
G'day.
ben
I really do NOT want this "person" living directly across the street from me. Anyway, if a "zoning variance" sign shows up at the end of the street,I will be at that meeting, with pictures. I have lived here 8 years, it is zoned a single level community, there is no good reason to allow a giant box to be built that will stand out. We already HAVE one of those and it is butt-ugly.
Regardless, I didn't know that the first feline that I would catch would happen to be, apparently, his. It wouldn't shock me that if I try to catch a second one, it will also be his. That one - the second one I want - is the most destructive friggin' thing ever.
Besides this man threatening to have me killed, I will never forget his and my other neighbor's reaction when I confronted them on their cats coming onto my yard. They just shrugged their shoulders, they couldn't have cared less. They made no bones about the fact that their cats are running around at night, doing whatever they are doing and that I should just "shoo" them off my property. Yeah. I just have all night long to sit around and shoo cats away. THAT was a brilliant idea whose demise was immediate. I stood there, incredulous at their brazen attitudes about it. It was MY problem, apparently, I would have to figure out how to deal with it.
Yes, and indeed I have. I asked them at the time how they would feel if I brought my Great Danes over to s*** on their driveway. Of course they wouldn't like that, but it didn't phase them one bit.
Antibiotics and I don't really get along that well. They do their job, yes, but they also mess with my guts. Get a nice stoppage going for 3 or 4 days and see how that feels, lol. Thursday - 2 more work days and I can take another weekend off from doing anything. Which sucks because the weather has finally cooled and it's time to get out there and get the stuff done around the house with the landscaping that needs to be done. Oh well. I'll take getting better over that any day, though I actually enjoy that kind of work - as long as it isn't 225 degrees outside and my flesh isn't peeling off for the heat.
Heavy workload at work today. I already know, the system was full of stuff to do yesterday when I was leaving work. Not really into it today, but there is nothing I can do about it. My coughing, at least, has slowed down quite a lot and I am definitely come out of this - but certainly far from 100%.
G'day.
ben
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Wednesday 10/5/2011
I almost forgot an old credit card payment. The card was shut off a few years ago - allegedly at my request (it was not, but I no longer wanted the thing anyway, the real situation is the company apparently went bankrupt). This card has the worst fees of any card I have seen out there. I have been attempting to pay it down to zero for some time. Miss a payment by ten second? $40 fee. $7 fee per month to have the card, though that is cancelled since I can't use it any longer. I've got it down to the $300 range and fighting to get it down to zero. I say I almost forgot about it - if you want to pay that card online, better get to it 2 days before the payment is due, cause' if you try to pay it the day before or the day it is due online? It won't post until the day after, stinging you with yet another $40 fee. I don't know what the interest rate is, but it must be astronomical considering the amount charged every month.
Well anyway. I was going to put the cat trap out last night. It started raining - really hard - last night but then it stopped. So, I was heading out to the car to get the trap and lo and behold, it started raining again. I didn't figure cats are too receptive to being out in the rain, I didn't want to waste a can of tuna fish, so, put it off til' tonight.
But I am gung-ho into this now. Just like when I moved on to this property some 8 years ago and there were approximately 25 cats living underneath my old house. I got rid of all of them - ben's relocation campaign. Didn't kill or harm a single one of them, they were are let loose at different locations - far from my house - they were gone, permanently. The county wants over $100 to turn in a feral cat. That's right, if you have a cat - or cats - living on your property that aren't yours and you don't want, they want to charge you around $100 to turn it in.
Fortunately, the Phoenix police department said I could catch all of them and "relocate" them as long as they don't have ID on them.
So that's that.
I am only beginning to start feeling slightly better. I wake up all night long - have been for about a week now - which makes me really tired at work. I get the work done, but around 1:00 pm - I am ready to go home even though it's an hour before quitting time.
I have been looking at travel trailers on Craigslist - NOW is the time to buy! Too bad I don't have the money now! There are some great deals out there. Nice units even IF older going pretty cheap. The only ones that don't interest me are the ads that say they replaced "everything but the refrigerator, which needs replaced". If you have any idea how much a travel trailer type of refrigerator costs that works on propane, electric and DC? You get the idea.
Anyway, time to be off to work.
ben
Well anyway. I was going to put the cat trap out last night. It started raining - really hard - last night but then it stopped. So, I was heading out to the car to get the trap and lo and behold, it started raining again. I didn't figure cats are too receptive to being out in the rain, I didn't want to waste a can of tuna fish, so, put it off til' tonight.
But I am gung-ho into this now. Just like when I moved on to this property some 8 years ago and there were approximately 25 cats living underneath my old house. I got rid of all of them - ben's relocation campaign. Didn't kill or harm a single one of them, they were are let loose at different locations - far from my house - they were gone, permanently. The county wants over $100 to turn in a feral cat. That's right, if you have a cat - or cats - living on your property that aren't yours and you don't want, they want to charge you around $100 to turn it in.
Fortunately, the Phoenix police department said I could catch all of them and "relocate" them as long as they don't have ID on them.
So that's that.
I am only beginning to start feeling slightly better. I wake up all night long - have been for about a week now - which makes me really tired at work. I get the work done, but around 1:00 pm - I am ready to go home even though it's an hour before quitting time.
I have been looking at travel trailers on Craigslist - NOW is the time to buy! Too bad I don't have the money now! There are some great deals out there. Nice units even IF older going pretty cheap. The only ones that don't interest me are the ads that say they replaced "everything but the refrigerator, which needs replaced". If you have any idea how much a travel trailer type of refrigerator costs that works on propane, electric and DC? You get the idea.
Anyway, time to be off to work.
ben
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
If.....
..........one were to ponder the issues of life long enough, one would start getting one's self depressed. Or so I imagine. Instead, I tend to linger on the goals I have set for myself.......and the Lord.
So my current goal, which is probably going to take a while to realize, is to get another travel trailer. I know, I have already discussed this a bit on this blog. Oh well. It's on my mind is all I can say.
The only thing that would really set this off is another recession. The talk about another recession in 2012 is growing and and growing amongst the so-called experts. Are they really experts? I dunno, but they are out there, they are in the news and they are talking. A recession would mean that any savings I have would be clung to like glue on paper.
If you listen to the experts that are really on the extreme end of things, you'd better prepare yourself to fend for yourself. Food will be extremely expensive and not that much of it around. People will be getting desperate and will be contemplating doing things - think: crime - that they otherwise never would have thought of before. Get yourself armed, get yourself a big garden growing and get your food reserves stocked up.
Hmmm, well I did get the guns, but not because of these statements. I don't have a lot of food stocked up right now, I have let that supply dwindle down. I mean, I have a month and a half or so worth, not as much as I had before and I sorta stopped collecting it. Lots of things I COULD do, but are they prudent and necessary? I have no clue. My company seems to believe they are girded up for any looming recession. It released several videos as of this morning about last year's performance, the numbers, 2012 and yes, answering questions about a potential, looming recession.
It's nice to know that the leadership in the company you work for has confidence that they are sitting tight and pretty and ready for whatever may come. In the product my company sells, there are certain entities that will not stop buying the stuff, namely municipalities (cities). If they stop buying, then we are in serious trouble. A city that isn't repairing or replacing broken fire hydrants is probably a city that is - bankrupt, actually. Other markets, though, could definitely dry up.
I dunno.
I'm just going to keep saving for this other travel trailer and if it happens, it happens, if it doesn't, not the end of the world. Still a nice goal to have and hopefully see happen by Spring.
I would love to say where this property is, you could see it from a treetop view of it, but there is no way I am posting where my 76 year old mother lives, alone with her doggie, up in the mountains, on the world wide web. Well, the people that have the property next to her are actually there quite a bit now, appearing out of nowhere after many years of not seeing anyone there. In fact, the property next to THAT the guy also showed up, built a house and walaah. But that would not mitigate the stupidity of my posting, basically, her address on here. Just that it's such a beautiful area. So I won't : )
Whatever. The house demolition started - legally I am assuming - across the street today. It's a 1-man operation. I know this guy that is doing it from when I first moved into this neighborhood. He described himself as a "1-man tool of destruction" in reference to his ability to tear things down. I will give him credit, he is good at that. He is NOT good at any kind of construction, but demolition? He's got that one nailed. The guy that threatened to kill me that bought the property - is over there watching his every move. Oh, btw, the guy that is tearing down the house? Also a meth user. I know this for a fact, not from hearsay.
That guy was looking at me when I was approaching my house from work today - the man with the threats - I will call him fat man from this point forth since he's somewhere around the 350 pound range - no diss on obese people, but this guy deserves the title - I looked right back at him. Again, they apparently think they can stare me down and I will slither away like a snake and never be seen again. I got out of my car and completely ignored him, however, turning my back to the entire scene over there.
At the point of destruction the house is at - a person could actually stop and do a nice rebuild on it. Fat man won't do that, of course, but if it were mine and considering my financial situation - fat man's mother pays for everything as fat man has nothing in and of himself - I would halt the demo operation and start a construction operation. Leave the frame of the house intact and put up "new" walls inside and out. Replace the 4X8 flooring, redo the entire house, on a budget. Quite possible to do a good job of it and keep the costs down when considering people that are remodeling their homes are always wanting to sell off, cheap, that which they are getting rid of.
Neither here nor there, I suppose, but it's a thought I had already had before this guy got that place.
It dawned on me today that I could be listening to the Bible while driving the semi - if I had the Bible on ............ cassette tape. What has cassette tape players anymore? 2006 International 8600 semi tractors, for one. That truck isn't being turned in for 2 years. Anything new nowadays is going to have a CD player in it. I'm interested, at this point, in filling my head with the Word, not a bunch of other junk if at all possible.
It poured rain here about 1/2 an hour ago. For about 30 seconds. That was it. I mean, it was a downpour - for 30, whole seconds. Feels like a cruel joke, really.
I have nothing else, at least that I feel like going into.
ben
So my current goal, which is probably going to take a while to realize, is to get another travel trailer. I know, I have already discussed this a bit on this blog. Oh well. It's on my mind is all I can say.
The only thing that would really set this off is another recession. The talk about another recession in 2012 is growing and and growing amongst the so-called experts. Are they really experts? I dunno, but they are out there, they are in the news and they are talking. A recession would mean that any savings I have would be clung to like glue on paper.
If you listen to the experts that are really on the extreme end of things, you'd better prepare yourself to fend for yourself. Food will be extremely expensive and not that much of it around. People will be getting desperate and will be contemplating doing things - think: crime - that they otherwise never would have thought of before. Get yourself armed, get yourself a big garden growing and get your food reserves stocked up.
Hmmm, well I did get the guns, but not because of these statements. I don't have a lot of food stocked up right now, I have let that supply dwindle down. I mean, I have a month and a half or so worth, not as much as I had before and I sorta stopped collecting it. Lots of things I COULD do, but are they prudent and necessary? I have no clue. My company seems to believe they are girded up for any looming recession. It released several videos as of this morning about last year's performance, the numbers, 2012 and yes, answering questions about a potential, looming recession.
It's nice to know that the leadership in the company you work for has confidence that they are sitting tight and pretty and ready for whatever may come. In the product my company sells, there are certain entities that will not stop buying the stuff, namely municipalities (cities). If they stop buying, then we are in serious trouble. A city that isn't repairing or replacing broken fire hydrants is probably a city that is - bankrupt, actually. Other markets, though, could definitely dry up.
I dunno.
I'm just going to keep saving for this other travel trailer and if it happens, it happens, if it doesn't, not the end of the world. Still a nice goal to have and hopefully see happen by Spring.
I would love to say where this property is, you could see it from a treetop view of it, but there is no way I am posting where my 76 year old mother lives, alone with her doggie, up in the mountains, on the world wide web. Well, the people that have the property next to her are actually there quite a bit now, appearing out of nowhere after many years of not seeing anyone there. In fact, the property next to THAT the guy also showed up, built a house and walaah. But that would not mitigate the stupidity of my posting, basically, her address on here. Just that it's such a beautiful area. So I won't : )
Whatever. The house demolition started - legally I am assuming - across the street today. It's a 1-man operation. I know this guy that is doing it from when I first moved into this neighborhood. He described himself as a "1-man tool of destruction" in reference to his ability to tear things down. I will give him credit, he is good at that. He is NOT good at any kind of construction, but demolition? He's got that one nailed. The guy that threatened to kill me that bought the property - is over there watching his every move. Oh, btw, the guy that is tearing down the house? Also a meth user. I know this for a fact, not from hearsay.
That guy was looking at me when I was approaching my house from work today - the man with the threats - I will call him fat man from this point forth since he's somewhere around the 350 pound range - no diss on obese people, but this guy deserves the title - I looked right back at him. Again, they apparently think they can stare me down and I will slither away like a snake and never be seen again. I got out of my car and completely ignored him, however, turning my back to the entire scene over there.
At the point of destruction the house is at - a person could actually stop and do a nice rebuild on it. Fat man won't do that, of course, but if it were mine and considering my financial situation - fat man's mother pays for everything as fat man has nothing in and of himself - I would halt the demo operation and start a construction operation. Leave the frame of the house intact and put up "new" walls inside and out. Replace the 4X8 flooring, redo the entire house, on a budget. Quite possible to do a good job of it and keep the costs down when considering people that are remodeling their homes are always wanting to sell off, cheap, that which they are getting rid of.
Neither here nor there, I suppose, but it's a thought I had already had before this guy got that place.
It dawned on me today that I could be listening to the Bible while driving the semi - if I had the Bible on ............ cassette tape. What has cassette tape players anymore? 2006 International 8600 semi tractors, for one. That truck isn't being turned in for 2 years. Anything new nowadays is going to have a CD player in it. I'm interested, at this point, in filling my head with the Word, not a bunch of other junk if at all possible.
It poured rain here about 1/2 an hour ago. For about 30 seconds. That was it. I mean, it was a downpour - for 30, whole seconds. Feels like a cruel joke, really.
I have nothing else, at least that I feel like going into.
ben
Tuesday 10/4/2011
Gag, it's only Tuesday. I need another weekend to get here to rest and recover.
Pipe dream at this point, especially considering today's workload is going to be incredibly intense.
Last night, I set the trap and knew I would catch something. Sure enough, there is one sitting in it right now, waiting to be taken to a new home.
Wherever that is.
Meanwhile, the house they started tearing down across the street?
That work has been stopped since I called the police on Sunday.
I am guessing the REAL owner has to go down and apply for the permit, which would be the guy's mother. That guy goes around saying how he buys this, that and the other thing, when everyone knows he buys nothing, his mother is paying for his life.
At this point, they can finish the job, though I am guessing the city got involved yesterday since I also filed with them on Sunday and is demanding they get the proper permit, read: pay the fee, to be able to do the demo work on the property.
I woke up several times last night, coughing. Though the steroids are definitely doing a nice job of keeping me feeling better than I would without them, the cough medicine still has to be used. I have no idea how I feel today, it's too early and I am still half asleep. The only thing I do know is that I am extremely tired.
And with that statement, I am offa here.
G'day.
ben
Pipe dream at this point, especially considering today's workload is going to be incredibly intense.
Last night, I set the trap and knew I would catch something. Sure enough, there is one sitting in it right now, waiting to be taken to a new home.
Wherever that is.
Meanwhile, the house they started tearing down across the street?
That work has been stopped since I called the police on Sunday.
I am guessing the REAL owner has to go down and apply for the permit, which would be the guy's mother. That guy goes around saying how he buys this, that and the other thing, when everyone knows he buys nothing, his mother is paying for his life.
At this point, they can finish the job, though I am guessing the city got involved yesterday since I also filed with them on Sunday and is demanding they get the proper permit, read: pay the fee, to be able to do the demo work on the property.
I woke up several times last night, coughing. Though the steroids are definitely doing a nice job of keeping me feeling better than I would without them, the cough medicine still has to be used. I have no idea how I feel today, it's too early and I am still half asleep. The only thing I do know is that I am extremely tired.
And with that statement, I am offa here.
G'day.
ben
Monday, October 3, 2011
Property
There isn't any time like the present to start thinking about getting some mountain property.
It's been running through my mind for quite some time now. The area where my mother and brother's property would be a nice place to find a vacant stretch of land that might be for sale on payments. Well, a nice cabin would be great - but that's out of the question for now. There are properties near my mom's place up there that are vacant, though not necessarily for sale. I dunno if they are or not, there are no signs up, that's for sure. \
I don't just want to find "any" property. The area where my mother and my brother are at are very nice areas. They are 8 miles apart from each other. If I wanted to buy a property in the mountains, which I do, it is going to be in a forested section with tall pine trees, not in some foothills below the REAL mountains. Those lots are being sold cheap and have been forever. It's high desert, really, it's nothing you would want to retire at. Well it's not a property I envision retiring at, anyway.
Well that was interesting. A conversation with my mother and it progressed to the point we were talking about the area she lives in and properties for sale. Lot 4 in her subdivision, if you want to call it that, wanting $150,000 for a 2.4 acre parcel of land. No structure, doesn't even have the electric running on it yet. My mother is all over that area: yes, she knows the property, yes, everyone there says it's WAY over-priced. Okay, but a person wanting to ask that much for a property is never going to come down enough to what I want to pay for it.
The conversation progressed. Well, she continues, if anyone wants my property, I am going to have to put it into my trust. I haven't asked for her property - when she dies - had had thoughts about it, but would never bring the subject up. My mother brings up her eventual demise frequently - what's going to happen with everything, etc etc etc. She goes well into it and, well, I can't just say no, I wouldn't want the property, even if it has to be somehow "split" between 2 other brothers. My oldest brother already owns property and a cabin up there, he doesn't need it. My middle brother?
He would want it or try to sell it or do something with it just to make sure no-one else gets any enjoyment out of it. This is the main reason I have never brought it up to my mother. She won't just put it in anyone's specific name, either. It would be open in her trust. Yes, it goes to ALL 3 of us, how we decide to deal with it? Up to us. The way she is leaving it, when that day arrives, it's probably not going to be a pleasant affair attempting to create a fair 3-way for everyone. She may be doing this on purpose, in fact, I don't wonder if that's definitely the case. What she couldn't accomplish in life, she may think she might be able to accomplish in her grave: her 3 boys actually coming together and actually coming up with some kind of agreement on something and perhaps, establishing relationships with each other.
Novel idea. I'm going to give it at least a 65% chance that that's the reason she is leaving it the way she is.
I will start my search for a property up there, anyway. Just because I don't want to be held hostage, in the end, by a brother whose idea of fairness is - all about him. I could think of a variety of ways to make the property mine a fair exchange or even, if possible, make half of it mine and half of it his and pay the oldest brother off.
Meanwhile, I am fully committed to the idea of having a travel trailer up there, on her property, and preferably in time for the summer season next year. The account is up to $840. After the bonus, it will be up to $1,490. Lots to consider in this undertaking. Direct TV being one of them. I will not be without TV up there. I actually don't watch that much TV, but when I want it, I want it! This is a simple matter of getting another Direct TV box and paying another $5 per month for an extra receiver. I can buy both another box and satellite dish online, on Craigslist, cheap. You can have receivers wherever you want - you don't have to have 2 accounts paying double monthly bill.
The next consideration is water. She does not have running water up there, instead she has a water tank on a trailer. I guess she doesn't feel comfortable pulling the thing, though she definitely has a pickup that can pull it. So I don't know how we will work that out. I don't need much water, but I know how she is about such things. I would refill the thing at my cost - not that expensive - I just haven't even got there yet. Electricity obvious: just pay whatever she says it's over her normal amount.
Oh, computer. How do you get computer up in the mountains? The only way I know of is through Direct TV's whatever - Hughes network I think it's called. Satellite. Dunno about that. Do I need internet access up there? Take it back: My Cricket internet worked up there last time I was up there. An air card might work. Perhaps I should not be thinking about whether I can get on a computer and start thinking about getting myself back to nature, as it was in my youth. I just know how I am now - wondering how to separate myself from it all.
I dunno. I just know that after this summer - I really want to do something different. I would like to try and reconnect with my oldest brother if that's at all possible. This would be one way to try to do it: he is up there pretty much every weekend. I mean, year round. Doesn't matter what the weather is or if there is snow on the ground. I am not that interested in my middle brother, but my oldest brother is a different - set of problems. Mostly that he has his own life and has never wanted to have anything to do with family, even since he was a kid. He was ALWAYS hanging around his friends - always. Family meant nothing to him then, it means little to him now.
Well whatever, that isn't the real reason I want a place to go in the mountains. I just want to be able to get out of this valley when I want to and be able to have a place to go when I want to do that. Vacations are nice, but expensive. The property is about 130 miles from my house. Cost in fuel, but not that much of anything else. Well, time spent getting up there and back. I can envision driving up on a Friday after work and coming back early afternoon Sunday, with semi-frequent taking a day off either on Monday or Friday.
There's only one problem with this plan: church.
Yikes.
Talking about throwing a wrench into the plans!
G'nite.
ben
It's been running through my mind for quite some time now. The area where my mother and brother's property would be a nice place to find a vacant stretch of land that might be for sale on payments. Well, a nice cabin would be great - but that's out of the question for now. There are properties near my mom's place up there that are vacant, though not necessarily for sale. I dunno if they are or not, there are no signs up, that's for sure. \
I don't just want to find "any" property. The area where my mother and my brother are at are very nice areas. They are 8 miles apart from each other. If I wanted to buy a property in the mountains, which I do, it is going to be in a forested section with tall pine trees, not in some foothills below the REAL mountains. Those lots are being sold cheap and have been forever. It's high desert, really, it's nothing you would want to retire at. Well it's not a property I envision retiring at, anyway.
Well that was interesting. A conversation with my mother and it progressed to the point we were talking about the area she lives in and properties for sale. Lot 4 in her subdivision, if you want to call it that, wanting $150,000 for a 2.4 acre parcel of land. No structure, doesn't even have the electric running on it yet. My mother is all over that area: yes, she knows the property, yes, everyone there says it's WAY over-priced. Okay, but a person wanting to ask that much for a property is never going to come down enough to what I want to pay for it.
The conversation progressed. Well, she continues, if anyone wants my property, I am going to have to put it into my trust. I haven't asked for her property - when she dies - had had thoughts about it, but would never bring the subject up. My mother brings up her eventual demise frequently - what's going to happen with everything, etc etc etc. She goes well into it and, well, I can't just say no, I wouldn't want the property, even if it has to be somehow "split" between 2 other brothers. My oldest brother already owns property and a cabin up there, he doesn't need it. My middle brother?
He would want it or try to sell it or do something with it just to make sure no-one else gets any enjoyment out of it. This is the main reason I have never brought it up to my mother. She won't just put it in anyone's specific name, either. It would be open in her trust. Yes, it goes to ALL 3 of us, how we decide to deal with it? Up to us. The way she is leaving it, when that day arrives, it's probably not going to be a pleasant affair attempting to create a fair 3-way for everyone. She may be doing this on purpose, in fact, I don't wonder if that's definitely the case. What she couldn't accomplish in life, she may think she might be able to accomplish in her grave: her 3 boys actually coming together and actually coming up with some kind of agreement on something and perhaps, establishing relationships with each other.
Novel idea. I'm going to give it at least a 65% chance that that's the reason she is leaving it the way she is.
I will start my search for a property up there, anyway. Just because I don't want to be held hostage, in the end, by a brother whose idea of fairness is - all about him. I could think of a variety of ways to make the property mine a fair exchange or even, if possible, make half of it mine and half of it his and pay the oldest brother off.
Meanwhile, I am fully committed to the idea of having a travel trailer up there, on her property, and preferably in time for the summer season next year. The account is up to $840. After the bonus, it will be up to $1,490. Lots to consider in this undertaking. Direct TV being one of them. I will not be without TV up there. I actually don't watch that much TV, but when I want it, I want it! This is a simple matter of getting another Direct TV box and paying another $5 per month for an extra receiver. I can buy both another box and satellite dish online, on Craigslist, cheap. You can have receivers wherever you want - you don't have to have 2 accounts paying double monthly bill.
The next consideration is water. She does not have running water up there, instead she has a water tank on a trailer. I guess she doesn't feel comfortable pulling the thing, though she definitely has a pickup that can pull it. So I don't know how we will work that out. I don't need much water, but I know how she is about such things. I would refill the thing at my cost - not that expensive - I just haven't even got there yet. Electricity obvious: just pay whatever she says it's over her normal amount.
Oh, computer. How do you get computer up in the mountains? The only way I know of is through Direct TV's whatever - Hughes network I think it's called. Satellite. Dunno about that. Do I need internet access up there? Take it back: My Cricket internet worked up there last time I was up there. An air card might work. Perhaps I should not be thinking about whether I can get on a computer and start thinking about getting myself back to nature, as it was in my youth. I just know how I am now - wondering how to separate myself from it all.
I dunno. I just know that after this summer - I really want to do something different. I would like to try and reconnect with my oldest brother if that's at all possible. This would be one way to try to do it: he is up there pretty much every weekend. I mean, year round. Doesn't matter what the weather is or if there is snow on the ground. I am not that interested in my middle brother, but my oldest brother is a different - set of problems. Mostly that he has his own life and has never wanted to have anything to do with family, even since he was a kid. He was ALWAYS hanging around his friends - always. Family meant nothing to him then, it means little to him now.
Well whatever, that isn't the real reason I want a place to go in the mountains. I just want to be able to get out of this valley when I want to and be able to have a place to go when I want to do that. Vacations are nice, but expensive. The property is about 130 miles from my house. Cost in fuel, but not that much of anything else. Well, time spent getting up there and back. I can envision driving up on a Friday after work and coming back early afternoon Sunday, with semi-frequent taking a day off either on Monday or Friday.
There's only one problem with this plan: church.
Yikes.
Talking about throwing a wrench into the plans!
G'nite.
ben
The Police
I wasn't feeling good - I really should have called in sick to work today - after I got back from getting everything done and asked to leave a little early. If you were to see me right now, you could look at me and easily tell I am not only not faking, but don't look very well, either.
My manager said yes, but please stop at the bank on the way home and make a deposit. No problem. So, I pull into my driveway - completely minding my own business, my only thought of getting into the house, sitting down in my extremely comfortable computer chair, kick back and get on the internet, then go take a nap. I hear something being yelled at me from down the street. I ignore it, I know who it is and I don't feel like getting into it with this guy.
He continues - a lot of cuss words, we'll put it that way. I let one roll out back at him, but decided that it was stupid to lower myself to his level, so I just went through the gate, meanwhile he continues on. I stopped. I looked down the street at him and promised him that if he didn't stop, I would be calling the police. He kept the f bombs and other adjectives flowing. I called the police.
The police showed up about an hour later - not a high priority call, not like I dialed 911, I have the police department phone number memorized at this point - I told them what was going on. Again, as they have in the past, they suggested that the best way to deal with this situation is to get an injunction against harassment against him. Take that back, they actually said an order of protection. The "guy" - the meth user, 37 years old, has never left his parent's home, no job, doesn't go to school, etc etc etc - had disappeared. His buddy from across the street comes out of his house. This is the guy that threatened to have me killed for catching the cats.
They start talking, loudly, with the meth user pointing at me, calling me a moron, etc etc etc. I said nothing. I had my camera phone out in case he was going to come down the street to me. I'm just waiting for the police. Well, I got tired and went inside the house, but the police show up. They go down there after instructing me to get that order of protection. That guy, who said "yeah, call the police!" had disappeared. They were down there ringing the doorbell. He was inside, so was his mother. Cops stood there, banging on windows, ringing the doorbell, knocking on the door for several minutes, no answer.
Of course. The ex-con comes out again (the dude that wants to have me killed) and stops the police on their way back to their cars in front of my house. I immediately went back outside, whenever that guy speaks, not too much truth actually exits his mouth. They have already lied to the police in the past to make it look like I started the trouble with them. The police come back, they obviously gave no credence to whatever he was telling them and just said again: look, the best thing to do is get that order of protection.
I would have gone down to the courthouse today if I wasn't feeling so bad. It is something I have been wanting to do, I just haven't wanted to go through all that trouble. Well, this situation isn't going away, obviously, even though I have made it a point to ignore, turn my back on or otherwise make sure that if anything starts, it is not because I provoked it. I don't really have a choice at this point: I am going to have to go get that order. Then, I am guessing, he will ask for a hearing, or worse, he will get an order against me. As soon as it is served, I can no longer be in possession of firearms.
It's a gamble, but I have no options.
So, after the police left, I went up to the corner market/ Circle K. Who is in there? Denise. Denise is Anthony and Michael's mother. Long time readers know who I am talking about, no need to go into all of that here. I actually looked up to see her looking at me. I instantly thought she might start something in the store, but she said nothing and I said nothing as well, got my goods, paid for them and left. However, the relatives that she was there with - a large man in particular that I know from the past - was staring at me, apparently attempting to intimidate me with the glare/snarl he had on his face. I looked right back at him, if he had something to say, say it. I didn't say anything to him, just waiting for him to do whatever. He changed his expression and then went back to what he was doing. I let it go. Not worth it, none of it is.
I spent time in the Word this morning and really, these kinds of potentially hostile situations I would rather avoid. But, I am not going to back down to bullies. I did that when I was 5 years old - a situation my mother made me face in having to take on fully 5 kids at once - and I never looked back. There is no point in allowing people to make your life miserable simply because they want to lord themselves over you, thinking if they can tower over you, you will slink back and crawl away on the ground like some injured animal.
I dunno. It really isn't that much fun to have to deal with all of this.
My manager said yes, but please stop at the bank on the way home and make a deposit. No problem. So, I pull into my driveway - completely minding my own business, my only thought of getting into the house, sitting down in my extremely comfortable computer chair, kick back and get on the internet, then go take a nap. I hear something being yelled at me from down the street. I ignore it, I know who it is and I don't feel like getting into it with this guy.
He continues - a lot of cuss words, we'll put it that way. I let one roll out back at him, but decided that it was stupid to lower myself to his level, so I just went through the gate, meanwhile he continues on. I stopped. I looked down the street at him and promised him that if he didn't stop, I would be calling the police. He kept the f bombs and other adjectives flowing. I called the police.
The police showed up about an hour later - not a high priority call, not like I dialed 911, I have the police department phone number memorized at this point - I told them what was going on. Again, as they have in the past, they suggested that the best way to deal with this situation is to get an injunction against harassment against him. Take that back, they actually said an order of protection. The "guy" - the meth user, 37 years old, has never left his parent's home, no job, doesn't go to school, etc etc etc - had disappeared. His buddy from across the street comes out of his house. This is the guy that threatened to have me killed for catching the cats.
They start talking, loudly, with the meth user pointing at me, calling me a moron, etc etc etc. I said nothing. I had my camera phone out in case he was going to come down the street to me. I'm just waiting for the police. Well, I got tired and went inside the house, but the police show up. They go down there after instructing me to get that order of protection. That guy, who said "yeah, call the police!" had disappeared. They were down there ringing the doorbell. He was inside, so was his mother. Cops stood there, banging on windows, ringing the doorbell, knocking on the door for several minutes, no answer.
Of course. The ex-con comes out again (the dude that wants to have me killed) and stops the police on their way back to their cars in front of my house. I immediately went back outside, whenever that guy speaks, not too much truth actually exits his mouth. They have already lied to the police in the past to make it look like I started the trouble with them. The police come back, they obviously gave no credence to whatever he was telling them and just said again: look, the best thing to do is get that order of protection.
I would have gone down to the courthouse today if I wasn't feeling so bad. It is something I have been wanting to do, I just haven't wanted to go through all that trouble. Well, this situation isn't going away, obviously, even though I have made it a point to ignore, turn my back on or otherwise make sure that if anything starts, it is not because I provoked it. I don't really have a choice at this point: I am going to have to go get that order. Then, I am guessing, he will ask for a hearing, or worse, he will get an order against me. As soon as it is served, I can no longer be in possession of firearms.
It's a gamble, but I have no options.
So, after the police left, I went up to the corner market/ Circle K. Who is in there? Denise. Denise is Anthony and Michael's mother. Long time readers know who I am talking about, no need to go into all of that here. I actually looked up to see her looking at me. I instantly thought she might start something in the store, but she said nothing and I said nothing as well, got my goods, paid for them and left. However, the relatives that she was there with - a large man in particular that I know from the past - was staring at me, apparently attempting to intimidate me with the glare/snarl he had on his face. I looked right back at him, if he had something to say, say it. I didn't say anything to him, just waiting for him to do whatever. He changed his expression and then went back to what he was doing. I let it go. Not worth it, none of it is.
I spent time in the Word this morning and really, these kinds of potentially hostile situations I would rather avoid. But, I am not going to back down to bullies. I did that when I was 5 years old - a situation my mother made me face in having to take on fully 5 kids at once - and I never looked back. There is no point in allowing people to make your life miserable simply because they want to lord themselves over you, thinking if they can tower over you, you will slink back and crawl away on the ground like some injured animal.
I dunno. It really isn't that much fun to have to deal with all of this.
Monday 10/3/2011
Somehow, I knew I should have called in sick yesterday evening when I was debating internally whether to do so or not.
I am actually feeling better, those steroids have opened everything up and I am breathing easier. No extreme head pain last night, either.
But it would have been good to get another day of rest.
Oh well. I actually hope there is something to do, because if not, sitting around sick all day long isn't going to be too much fun.
On another note, I have a word to the world around Israel: Don't mess with Israel.
Just thought I'd throw that in there. It isn't because they're big and bad, it's because of the relationship with God - the real God that is - that exists. Mess with man all you want, but messing with the Almighty is another situation entirely. Who knows what may happen in that region.
Peace. That's all one can say about it. The woman is gone. The dude that came over, I was informed after he left, apparently wanted to kick my @$$. Lol. He didn't speak a word to me when he came in the house but he certainly had a look on his face. No-one is coming into my home - especially a person that doesn't live here - and starting trouble with me. That will get them physically thrown out the door if they have ill intent - such as wanting to inflict harm. Anyway, when they started moving, I left and went to my bedroom. I wanted nothing to do with it, didn't want to hear her ramblings. She talks to herself. So, now, I guess she still wants to be "friends" with Lynnette, who doesn't want anything to do with her. In fact, not a single person here wants anything to do with her and a big sigh of relief was gasped when she was finally gone.
I have a few prospects for the room, but nothing solid yet. I have 2 rooms rented for now, hopefully that situation won't change any time soon.
Well enough for this one. I have to leave soon and try to get my mind into work phase. It's more into go-back-to-bed-and-sleep phase right now, which simply won't do.
ben
I am actually feeling better, those steroids have opened everything up and I am breathing easier. No extreme head pain last night, either.
But it would have been good to get another day of rest.
Oh well. I actually hope there is something to do, because if not, sitting around sick all day long isn't going to be too much fun.
On another note, I have a word to the world around Israel: Don't mess with Israel.
Just thought I'd throw that in there. It isn't because they're big and bad, it's because of the relationship with God - the real God that is - that exists. Mess with man all you want, but messing with the Almighty is another situation entirely. Who knows what may happen in that region.
Peace. That's all one can say about it. The woman is gone. The dude that came over, I was informed after he left, apparently wanted to kick my @$$. Lol. He didn't speak a word to me when he came in the house but he certainly had a look on his face. No-one is coming into my home - especially a person that doesn't live here - and starting trouble with me. That will get them physically thrown out the door if they have ill intent - such as wanting to inflict harm. Anyway, when they started moving, I left and went to my bedroom. I wanted nothing to do with it, didn't want to hear her ramblings. She talks to herself. So, now, I guess she still wants to be "friends" with Lynnette, who doesn't want anything to do with her. In fact, not a single person here wants anything to do with her and a big sigh of relief was gasped when she was finally gone.
I have a few prospects for the room, but nothing solid yet. I have 2 rooms rented for now, hopefully that situation won't change any time soon.
Well enough for this one. I have to leave soon and try to get my mind into work phase. It's more into go-back-to-bed-and-sleep phase right now, which simply won't do.
ben
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