I am so tired.

I got in here at this hotel around 2:00 am, got to bed quickly and slept very well.  

But I woke up groggy and out of it.  

I then started thinking about my 11:30 departure.  If I leave then, it will be the middle of rush hour traffic in Houston.  

I just don't have that in me today.  Not after that grueling drive last night.  My dispatcher got me 2 days here for a reason - so I wouldn't have to be rushed out of here and I'm going to take advantage of it.  I won't leave here until 12:30 at the earliest and at least let some of that horrid traffic die down a bit by the time I get there.

I'm just sitting here in a daze. These late night drives are just not my cup of tea. 

I don't complain about it tho. Not yet anyway, tho they have been dumping them on me a lot more than in the past.  The new dispatcher, I dunno who is saying what into her ears, but drivers tend to complain about everything, whining like little babies.  

But when you do that, you can also get - treated like that.  I just try to stay on dispatch good side and do whatever they ask of me without questioning it.  They did ask me last night if I was planning on delivering last night or the next day? They don't like to hear "the next day". That adds 10 hours plus however much longer it takes for you to get down there. 

Not to mention I'm in a day cab, I can't just pull over anywhere and go to bed.  They got me this hotel down here yesterday, sent me the info and that was my motivation to complete the drive.

The news yesterday, on a different note, wasn't exactly good.  The septic install company called and went through a whole list of things they could do to help me get the project completed.  Septic, electric, water, even clearing the land and making the lots.  

Yeah, I thought, what's the price tag for all of that? 

Well, I did get a ball park for septic and it was not what I wanted to hear.  I was hoping in the 16-20k range, he said they have done many RV parks and just got through doing a 30 hook up lot for another place.  Oh? I wondered how many people are building RV parks around here?  What kind of competition am I in for?  That isn't going to stop me, but money could.

He said based on that 30 lot install, I am wanting 25 to start out with, it would cost around 26k.

I'm pretty sure I gasped, involuntarily, over the phone.  

If sewer costs that much, how much is it going to cost to get electric in there? I wondered but not out loud.  This is just for 25 spaces, not the full park's worth. So basically, there is truth to the idea that a 75 to 80 site park would cost me somewhere in the 80 to 90k range.  

Let's just say that wasn't the most pleasant of news and got me to wondering how much this entire set up at only 25 spaces would end up costing me and if it would be just better to get the whole thing done.  Meaning all of that nonsense filling out all of those forms and paying a company to do all of that work to give projections and estimates. 

When you don't know what to do, don't do anything.  At least in a scenario like this.  The water is already installed and I will find out how much to at least get power to the park.  I mean, if I never build a park on there, I am still going to want electricity to do something else.  Such as buy old mobiles, install them, fix them up and rent them out.  What's the difference? A lot less hookups for one.  No one has to be on site 2.  Less money is the end result, less revenues but a lot less hassle as well.

That would be plan B, a plan I am not currently interested in, but it's there, on the shelf, if it comes down to it.  Hide them in the woods, neighbors won't have to see any of it, lol. There are, actually, old and trashy looking mobile homes on the street. Not many of them but there are a few and they don't look good.  

Plan C would be to do nothing with the property on a commercial basis and just look forward to eventually building a cabin in the rear of the property and call it done, drive trucks for the rest of my life or as long as my health holds out and deal with it.  

Building a cabin on the rear of the property at some point in the future is actually something I would like to do regardless of any commercial operation at the front of the property.  There is a lot of room between the two.  Which would, in my mind, make it essential to at least put up 5 or more mobiles and say here ya go, maybe put in 5 or so RV lots for permanent use, not the kind of operation I am wanting to build.

I'm not giving up, lol, but the reality is that this operation I want to get going even on a small basis is going to cost far more than I anticipated and I would have to come up with some serious cash in loans and also have some reassurances in my mind that once it's done, the thing is going to take off and fill up. 

And that, might be hard to do without amenities such as a pool or a bath house.  

I feel lethargic right now.  No energy, just blaaaah.  Like, I could just go back to bed and sleep for 3 more hours.  

But, it's daylight, I am going to take a shower and I am going to force myself out of here.

G'day

 So I - get - to make another trip clear down to Brownsville in that lovely day cab! Woohooooo!

Yea, that isn't going to make my day, neither is a 1:30 loading time, meaning I will be pulling into Brownsville at around 2: 00 am - give or take depending on how long it takes to load and traffic, tho traffic shouldn't be much of an issue since I will be going through Houston long after rush hour should be either over or substantially subsided.

The water install should be done today.  I have no idea when Swepco is going to call back - within 3 business days, plus the septic people are supposed to call today.  So, I have to answer all the calls - which includes a truck load of spam calls I get every ... single....day.

The 401k ROBS will not work for me, after doing more research on the subject. They want 4 to 5 thousand dollars to start up such an account and then pay anywhere from $75 to $125 per month to maintain the account until you have paid all of that money back.  

I'll just eat the 20 k right off the bat, cash it out and be done with it.  On the up side, when I left Ferguson, the account only had 51k in it. Over the years since I left it's gone up to around 75k, so whatever I lose, at least it's nothing more than what I had when I left.  The ROBS account is probably good for people with substantial amount of money in their 401k and need all of it to get their business enterprise up and running and planning to pay it off as they start receiving revenues from their business.  

If I had half a million in a 401k I wouldn't even think about cashing it out early.  The amount of money lost right off the bat wouldn't be worth it to me.  

For right now, I'm going to go out there and measure out lots, 25 of them.  Plan on offset rv pads - where the rv actually parks in the site and off to the right of each site to give campers more room on their patio side - and then mark tress I want to keep up, if even possible.  

I'm waiting for the estimates for installs before I make any grand decisions on what to do next.  It all comes down to how much I will have to borrow to finish off the project after I get it started with the 401k cash out.  I literally have no idea how much the septic system will cost, but I will hopefully have a ball park on that by the end of today.  

Note that not getting a SBA loan does not mean I don't need any loans at all.  It just means I won't be doing the whole property in one fell swoop and I won't have to be jumping through their hoops for months to get a loan, if I can even get one.  The - new - idea is to simply get the park going on a small scale and then, down the line, get an SBA loan to finish it all off.  

Locals think I'm crazy doing all that tree cutting with a chain saw versus calling someone out there to have them do it for me.  Well, it gave me a sense of getting something - anything - done and the feeling that I can actually do this.  Motivation is a key factor in undertaking a project where you aren't even sure if you will have the financial means to actually finish said project.  

I've been hoping to get leads on locals that will do some of the stuff I need done versus finding some huge corporation that wants more money to do the same things.  

I'll tell  ya right now if I have to take out 50, 60 or more thousand in a personal loan, I'll do it.. Pray, seek the Lord, ask him for his provision.  I dunno what else t do and I'm going to just keep moving along with whatever I can do until I either come to a dead end or it's the end of the end of the project and time to open up the business.

Whatever the case, the time to depart for the yard draweth nigh.  Think I"ll finish watching a rerun of the Big Valley and then get out of here.

g'day

 Been a very interesting day.

Yesterday I came to the conclusion that I'm not going to fool around with this SBA loan nonsense.  I just don't have the time to wait forever to get the necessary information, there is far too much, I want to get this thing going.  Months wasted on just getting all of that information together, paying premium prices to some consultant agency to possibly find out I won't even qualify.

Yes, I've been wishy-washy on this subject. It's really perplexed me.  

But I came to a definitive decision last night that I've had enough of this.  I'll just put in 25 lots and see what happens. There isn't going to be a bath house to start with and definitely not a pool.  I'm sorry, guests, it is what it is. I'll charge accordingly to start with tho.

Anyway, the water guy finally showed up today.  He's busy at it.  They dug up the line and they're doing their thing.  

I called the power company, ATT, a septic installer that has more recommendations than anyone else around  another internet company and let's get with it.  ATT was useless. I'm hoping the other company can take care of my needs, because it's ridiculous attempting to get to the right people at ATT. I spent a lot of time on the phone with that company before I finally gave up on it.  

The other company said they would have their engineers look at it and get back with me.  

There are numerous return phone calls I am expecting - But starting with 25 lots and getting the ball rolling is where I'm going with this.  I won't need blue prints, design, paying a company to do all of this stuff, it's whatever my  mind decides it will be set up as.  It's going to be 15 back in lots and 10 pull throughs to start with. 

The septic company flat out told me they would get their man working on an estimate and give me a price. The power company said they would have an engineer get back with me within 3 business days.  The local internet company said they would do their research and get back with me later today or tomorrow.  The water install said he would have it done tomorrow.  

I've dramatically downscaled the initial park opening.  With only 15 back ins on the west side and 10 pull throughs across from those back in sites, I will need much less driveway to begin with, meaning less land clearing and less amount of gravel - a lot less gravel.  I'm looking at maybe 300 tons instead of the over 1,000 tons I was initially looking at.  

Once I get all of these estimates in and know how much money I'm looking at, I can go straight to getting a company started to roll over the 401k and get the full amount that is in there.  It will have to be paid back in the future, but that's fine.  I'm simply not interestedin dragging this thing out until the next of never, the 2cd of nothing, let's get something started, see how it goes and get the process going.

I am still pretty firm on the pond tho. I need that pond.  I was walking my  new trails with the dogs today, easy striding. Those trails aren't finished and I'm not renting another Bobcat. I'll find one of these people that charges by the hour, mark out the rest of my trails and they can finish it.  

The feeling of freedom came back into my veins today. I don't have to have the pressure of trying to get all of this information for an SBA loan.  I'll have a solid idea of what this venture is going to cost me hopefully within the next week.  There's 72k in the 401k account, 14k coming at the beginning of next year and personal loan will have to deal with the rest.  I'm done with this idea that I have to bow to someone else's will to get the financing I need.

I already went through that just getting the land.  

Moving on, I took the dogs for a very long walk out there today. Explored portions of the property I hadn't seen before.  Many, many sites in the back where I could put in tent campsites.  These aren't a huge money maker, just giving people an opportunity to take their families somewhere close by where they can experience the great outdoors and  not have to drive far at all to get there.  That will be back where I have my walking trails and hopefully get the pond built.  

I feel much better about this now. I'll do what I can afford and work up to bigger and better things as I can afford it. There just seemed to be so much pressure. And it was totally self-inflicted, it was needless and ridiculous.  The septic company said they would have to get a permit.  But, the road I am doing it on, could have either type of septic.  I'll take whatever works better if it's in my budget.  I'll take whatever I can afford if it's not.  I literally have no idea what that is going to cost.  I have no idea what it's going to cost to install the electrical component.

But, we're getting there.  

So much to do, but one step at a time and I took several steps today and very much happy to see that guy on his mini hoe with his worker out there today - we're getting stuff done.  

So what else is new? I dunno, isn't that enough? lol I spent hours on the phone today.  ATT is one of the worst companies in terms of customer service on the face of this planet. I hope I don't even have to use them, gag.

The dogs absolutely loved their walk today. It was from one end of the property to the other.  It was very nice temps out - let's enjoy that before it gets cold.  

I'm thinking I can have this smaller version of a park up and ready by Spring.  It's a goal, it may or may not be realistic, I'll find out soon enough.  

I really don't want to do much of anything else until I talk to the power company and ensure that there will be enough energy available to power up an entire park and also the septic company to find out how much it's going to cost.  I'm truly hoping for better news than - bad/costly.  The power company said they wanted $500 up front money if they can provide for my needs. Ok?  All of these utilities likely want up front money. Shocking!

In the news? More of this idea that tens of thousands of workers across the various industries and public servants are going to be fired.  Ok?  When do we get to the revolt? It's coming.  Don't want one but people's lives are being ruined by fact of private companies and public sectors alike forcing them to either get the jab or take a hike.  I'm proud of these people that are taking a stand for their personal freedoms.  I'll be right there along with them if my company attempts to force us to get this crap injected into our veins. After my history with the flu vaccine and now watching what my mother is going through after getting the shots? 

It isn't going to happen.  

Well whatever.  A few things I am keeping up with in the news, this is one of them. And watching for my company making any further announcements than what they have already made about this vaccine. So far, they aren't requiring it.  They probably are figuring out they will lose a massive amount of people in a forced scenario and their profits are going to - whoosh! - right out the window.  Truckers in general aren't getting the jab, not the majority of us anyway. Not saying none of us are, but a lot of us are saying no thanks.  

My truck? No clue.  I may be on another trip to Brownsville in that daycab. So beit, I won't like it, for sure I won't like it, but the money is needed. I also just got another credit card. Why? Because I will run those things right on up, all the way up, if I have to, to get this park going without having to resort to more loans. And then, take a loan out to pay all of it off and bring the numbers back down to zero on credit balances.  

And there ya go. I've been totally wishy-washy about this SBA loan stuff. I'l get one, I wont't get one, I'll get one, I'm not doing that, right now.  Sorry, I just don't really know what I am doing in the arena of finance and it shows.  Not on a business level anyway.  I want to get this thing going and whatever I can afford.  I figure I can do it with 100k.  Plus a portable office building to start with.  It can be converted into a small rental until somewhere down the line and moved out of site.  

Did I say I would love to build a house on the back of the property and actually live there?

I'm done. 

For now. I've got a plan, it's moving forward and it won't take until the 2cd of Never to accomplish. 

G'day.  

 Lol!!!

Ok, I got up this morning from that rather rag hotel, headed back to the yard, got my stuff done and got out of there. Headed to the property first - see if this dude got anything done on the water install.

Note: the water install is not of any great importance ATM, it's just a motivational factor of something that needs to be done along with everything else.  Get that going and I can see myself taking a step here, a step there.  

Nothing.  So I drove him and started calling this guy. Voicemail full, I left no messages because I couldn't but just kept pressing his number on my phone until I got tired of it and quit calling. 

30 minutes later, I loaded up the dogs, got in the SUV, went back over there.  I looked of course, I always do.  Drove down the driveway, opened the gate, drove to the back of the gas well operation and parked on a down hill going into the rear of the property.  Dogs in tow, we went on a nice, long walk.  The freshly formed trails were a huge help, no getting entangled in thorns, underbrush and more thorns.  

We left the rear of the property and walked around the gas well operation, the nicest pine trees are in that area because they are in full sun.  The rear of the property? The trees literally have no branches until near the very top on most of the very tall, 75 foot tall and higher trees. They fought for sunlight their entire lives, apparently. It's more junglish out there with the idea that there is a canopy covering everything but no branches.  

That just really caught my attention today as I was looking at this giant maple tree, my eyes following it from the bottom to the top - no branches until near the very top, amazing.  

Well, after that, we left.  Dreaming of getting my ATV going, I got to the gate, locked it and then pulled out to the street.  The corner of my eye caught something so I turned left instead of right and lo and behold.  This guy had come while I was at the back of the property.  I mean, all I had to do was just call him 7 times and walaah, there he is?!!  

He had no idea I was there and I had no idea he was there. My property goes back close to half a mile.  It's not the widest property on earth but it's definitely long.  Seriously, he never answered his phone but apparently took it to heart. I was ready to call someone else. I couldn't inform him of that since he wasn't answering and no ability to leave a voice mail.

I'm actually pretty happy the progress I've made on it. It isn't a lot, but for me and the amount of spare time I have - it really meant something to get out there and see what I had gotten done.

One of the designers finally emailed me back.  He said he had had a death in the family and he had been busy dealing with that and hence he wasn't available until now.  Okay, let's get going!

We'll see about that. He's not local but I've given up on local now.  

I'm actually content whatever happens at whatever pace now.  I think some dreams I've had about this land got me to that point. Yes, I've had vivid dreams about the property.  It wasn't about building an RV park, either, it was about building a 5 bedroom cabin in the rear of the property with 4 bathrooms and building a huge pond/small lake. 

I woke up out of that dream a bit perplexed but also a bit interested.  Well it hasn't just been one dream, there's been several.  

Well, who knows what's going to happen? Losing that land isn't on my list of things to do. Is it possible that I just need a small park and not so many pads and not so much capital involved?  I struggle with some of this.  

25 sites.  A smaller operation. Just get it going.  Spend a fraction of the money, keep the quality but get rid of the grand ideas?  

You know, I could build just one driveway and put a huge turnaround at the back so it's 2 ways and simply go as far as I can go with what I have to start with.  

It's so perplexing to me.  I get caught up in all of this thought and then I start wondering which path to take.  25 lots would generate enough money. Look at 30 lots for example.  If they are all full and only charging $30 per night, that's $900 per day.  '

I'm seriously thinking Im' just looking through eyes of greed and if that's true, it needs an adjustment.  A smaller park would work as long as the amenities are there.  The pond the only thing I really think I HAVE to have to appeal to people to come and stay.  And those trails!  I could expand them all over the place back there, connect them all together and there is a nice maze for people to get lost in - not literally - lost in thought and peace and quiet - plus fishing.  I still want a swimming pool lol.

The trail idea is definitely a winner, IMO and walking on them today definitely sealed that thought. 

I'm seriously thinking of putting in what I can get done without a huge loan and get it started. 

Because who cares if I'm not taking in 70k per month when I can still take in 20 - 30 k depending on occupancy and still make a bundle in net profit?  You tell me.  I need some input.  I mean, I can make decisions on my own, but a cozy 30 lots, maybe another 5 beyond that in a group formation - that's where you build a circle and then groups can come in and all be in the same area away from the rest of the campers. 

And tent camping. That's not a high profit thing, that's a - gee, families can come and enjoy nature cheap thing. You can drive back there atm.  After I plowed it with the bobcat a pickup can drive all the way to the back where I want the tent sites.  Away from people, away from civilization.  Just peace, nature and love.  

Really, a smaller set up to being with feels more comfortable to me.  I don't need blue prints, coming up with all kinds of data that I have to pay to get.  

Yes.  I'm 90% sold on just doing what I can with what I have and what I will be getting.  

My grand ideas can wait.  400k in loans can go away.  I haven't sold myself on that yet, but it's where I'm thinking. No pressure.  I don't need or want pressure. You buy, you pay!  

Just think.  Great water pressure at every site.  Probably get away with a smaller and cheaper septic system.  Just build one driveway - huge savings on both clearing land and on gravel.  A one room bath house to begin with. Just something simple, take a hot shower here, have a nice day.  A doggy park is easy and cheap.  Okay, a swimming pool not cheap and maybe not in the initial plans, but I'm really steering myself away from this huge debt thought. Or trying to, anyway.

The thought of just doing what I can at the beginning and seeing where it goes is actually soothing to my soul.  I've been in too much anxiety over doing it all at once. 

Power: Swepco - power supplier on that street. Just told me to get a neighbor's address and then an engineer would contact me and discuss what I would need to set up a new pole - poles actually.  They would have to put a power pole along their lines and then put the runoff to a sub pole for my property.  

They are probably going to tell me I need to know how much wattage/volts I am going to need which determines the size of the transformers I will need mounted to the sub pole. I will not have that information, of course, I have no clue and not claiming to, but I want to at least get guided in the right direction. They may have leads for engineers that I can contact to get me the power design I will need.

Yes, this feels right.  Do the size i can do. Add to it later.  I was going to do this, then I hemmed and I hawed. But I am really not into all of this planning and development stuff I need to get the whole park built at once. It took a while and thinking about it and the money it will take, loans, debt, etc.  

I don't have any help with this endeavor is the real deal. James is busy with work, he started a new job and I don't expect him to want to spend his weekends working on property even if I'm paying him good money. There are more things to life than working, I totally get that. 

And finding anyone else to actually work right now?  Pleeeeeaaaassssseeeeee.  The federal government has made it a thought process to too many people that you really don't need to work anymore.

This is beyond my control and out of my thought processes. The idea that you don't have to work to survive isn't even in the bible. The bible says in the book of Proverbs that the man that doesn't work, doesn't eat.  

Yup, 30 lots at most, 25 at minimum.  Maybe even just 20.  Let's downsize this thing to start off with and get it going? And put in a buddy lot, just one, see how that goes.  

I'm going to come up with my own plan and start seeking out bids for around - 25 lots we'll say.  

I've been struggling with this. To say the least, I've been struggling with this.  I can get this thing going with my 401k and the scheme they use that's perfectly legal to use ALL of it and pay it back later - plus my mom is going to help out even more, bless her heart (I mean that, I love my mom) and a smaller, personal loan to finish it off.  

I feel rejuvenated.  It's refreshing.  No more get it all done now stuff. Just do what i can and see what happens, ask the Lord's blessing upon it and go from there.  Peace is a good thing.

With that, I am going to move forward. I still want the 2 inch install for water tho - that's going to be necessary regardless. I have tomorrow off,l that dude put his mini trackhoe over there, he must be fixing to do this job.  Water!  

Now then, get Swepco input and I have a lot of references for one specific septic system company. Like half the county gives them kudos.  Tomorrow tho, it's after 5 and I'm not going to bother those people today.  

Is there something wrong with just having 25 spots to start out with?  

Just saying/asking.

 Just getting done with the day/night, stopped at a hotel in Paris, Texas.  Baytown hotel, to be more precise about the property and about the equivalent of a fancy Motel 6.  If that.  I'm a bit surprised my company has this hotel on their list. I've never stayed at a Baytown before and I probably will never stay at one again, lmao. 
I can't even imagine what kinds of surprises that bed in front of me may have in it.........

But I have no choice now.  I am stuck here for the night and I surely cannot sleep in that day cab. The other option for this town from my company was a better - much better than this place - brand but I looked at the satellite and it was in a complex of hotels at the very end of it, it was definitely not truck friendly. This place isn't truck friendly either, even tho they said it would be.  I found a place to park out front, blocked some things - told them about it, they didn't care so neither do I.  

I got 2 "critical event" s***s today, these are the company's nanny state bs.  This day cab has "lane departure" electronics set up on it, something my regular truck doesn't  have. This old truck is pretty squirrely, I didn't go completely off the road but just driving on top of the line on the shoulder is enough to set this thing off. Set it off too many times? It sends a report to my company.  And a "critical speed" warning for going to fast - that was down a hill and the brakes on that truck aren't exactly wonderful and more importantly, there is no engine brake on the piece of junk. That is something every truck should have regardless, engine brakes should be standard equipment. This truck is at least 10 years old, probably older, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't have come equipped with an engine brake.

Whatever.  I'm almost 4 years with this company and the few critical event reports I have had the thing automatically sent to HQ? I've never heard anything about it.  They don't apparently care unless you make a habit of it.  

I'm ready for my truck back and I will be calling again tomorrow to find out the status of it.  This cramped thing I am driving now I've had enough of.  It has a terrible suspension, it just bounces and pops you up and down all day long.  It's ridiculous, you'd think the truck has leaf springs the way it lunges and jumps, it actually has airbags but it sure doesn't drive like it.

And sitting here in this room - at least it doesn't smell bad - I found a place in Longview that rents Cats.  Bulldozers included.  No prices on it, of course not, you have to contact the dealer. So I filled out the form and I would expect a call tomorrow or an email.  I'm also talking to this dude about coming with his machine and having him clear the land.  But, I am having trouble getting the guy to give me a price per acre - that's his method versus doing it per hour.  

I mean, if I could really rent a bulldozer, I could wait until next month when I get more vacation hours added to my account and take a week off and just get it done.  I suspect a week's worth of a dozer rental is the same as a month's worth of a Bobcat rental. I'm going to have to make something work that isn't going to cost a fortune.  

This dude just quoted me $2,500 per acre lmao.  The first guy that came over last week told me $2,250 and that's with a crew of people.  I dunno, but right now I"m not in the position to be spending 15 grand on land clearing.  I'm going to wade into this proposition a lot slower than I had initially planned on.  

I get back tomorrow I'm going to start making endless phone calls to engineers and whatever companies I can find that will create a plan/blue print for the property.  This is holding me up, tho I could do land clearing without any of that.  

Well I could go on but it's getting late and I'm tired.  Long day.  They're all long days, but this late night stuff needs to go by the wayside. I'm not  a night owl.  It's wearing me out.  I hope this bed doesn't turn into a nightmare lol.  I've been in lots of hotel with funny beds and they aren't pleasant.  

Outta here.  

 Driving until 1:30 am has never been my forte. Much more, having to drop the trailer when I got to the yard and then head over to the hotel.  But, the only other choice was to not get down here last night and tho I was fighting fatigue, I did make it.  Even under the best of circumstances, I would have been tired, but after 3 nights of not sleeping it was much worse.

And then this hotel....I have stayed here before and never had an issue. But getting to the 4th floor, the smell in the hallways was overpowering. Disgusting, almost gag reflex. Upon entering my room, the same smell, undoubtedly coming from the hallway, was filling the room as well.  I cannot imagine that hotel staff can come up to this floor and not notice that horrific smell.

My stay here is almost over, thank goodness.  The shower curtain had mold all over the bottom of it - black mold!  Makes a person wonder about the condition of the sheets I was laying on or the towels I dried myself off with......Like, if they never wash the shower curtains or even inspect them, what else is going on in this facility? I would have far rather stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn, my hotel of choice down here that they used to put me up in which apparently has been scrubbed off their list of available hotels. 

Well, the day cab is running better at least. That's what I was forced to drive down here in and why I was staying at a hotel.  I am determined to get back up to Longview tonight and get this trip over with. I'd really like a day off in between runs, especially if my truck isn't done. Yesterday, they told me a NOX sensor and other DEF related issues and the bill would be $1,500, which is basically nothing in the trucking world.

But do they have a NOX sensor? Parts are hard to come by nowadays with the supply chain in the mess that it's in.  They are blaming truckers, which is part of it, but the rest of it is the fact that no one wants to work anymore. DC centers, manufacturers, supplies to make the things you find on the store shelves are all lacking.  Employers are paying more than ever right now trying to lure people to come to work for them.

It sort of got me thinking about getting an RV park up and running, but there are two things. One, it won't be finished for quite a while and 2, if it comes down to it, I'll quit my job and run the place myself if it brings in the necessary revenues.  I can find someone to run it for me at the beginning, pay enough money and I'll get someone in there.  

It isn't really a "now" issue for me since I have many hurdles to face -mostly financial ones - to get that place operational.  I'll be calling some places today on the way back up and see if I can get them out there to give me some quotes.   

Regardless, I'm not sure that my truck is going to be finished and available to pick up today, and even if it is, someone else would have to go get it and bring it to the yard since I won't be getting back into town until long after the Rush truck center closes.  So, I just expect that it will be next week before I get back into my truck and therefore, prepare myself for a weekend run in this daycab. 

It's just soooo small.  There is no leg room, there is no room to store your stuff besides just cramming it down in front of the passenger seat.  It only has one fuel tank - daycabs are supposed to be used for local runs, not out of tonight overnight stuff.  At least it's running better than last time.  Whatever the case, I'm making money off of it, just bite the bullet and move on.

Well I'm an hour off from having to leave and I need breakfast and I want to get to the yard where the empty trailer is, get hooked up to it and be ready to go when the clock hits the mark where I can come back on duty again.

G'day. 

 Brownsville trip en-queue.  \

Taking the day cab, a truck I would have liked to never drive again for multiple reasons.  Earning a paycheck and getting money into the bank to move on with the RV project takes precedence over my personal desires, so I readily volunteered yesterday to go on another run somewhere.

It will mean that tonight I will have to find a hotel to stay at.  That's one of the reasons I really don't like taking that truck. Hotel stays are nice - if you are actually staying there for a while.  Not so nice if it's rushed in, take your 10 hour, and then usually up early and out of there even earlier so you can go hook up to a trailer and prepare for the drive that day.  It isn't optimal, but it's a good paying run so I will not complain about it too much.  

At least there is a "decent" hotel near the yard down there, I don't want to stay at one of the higher quality brands we normally are put into down there, just because I don't want to have to drive too far to get to the yard tomorrow morning. 

As for my sleep, I a in a 3 day funk.  I slept miserably last night, I stayed in bed 11 hours in order to attempt to somehow make up for the lack of sleep last night when I woke up.  My whole sleep cycle has been disrupted from the last trip and I suspect it will be a while before it returns to normal.  

Regardless, this day cab has no refrigerator and very little room. I will be relying on stopping at places to get something to eat versus having a refrigerator stocked with ample food.  I also have to drive clear to Tyler this morning to retrieve my forgotten paperwork out of my truck. I have no choice, the paperwork is due, has been due and I don't get paid until I turn it in.  

I will, however, be doing my usual drive by the property to see if by some miracle, this water install company has actually shown up to do their job. I don't know what the delay is.  Perhaps they had to order the meter or other parts? The man knows what he's doing, if he didn't the city wouldn't be using him.  So, unless he's busy, which was never indicated, there must be a causal reason for the delay in installing.  If he wanted a deposit up front, I would have given him one.  But, that request was never made. So, I have really no idea what's going on and getting a hold of him on the phone is near impossible.

Anyway, my departure time draws night. It's almost 9:00 am, but with having to drive to Tyler, I hvae to give myself an extra hour of drive time.  I really wish I had remembered the paperwork.  It was 3:00 am when I got dropped off at the hotel from the tow truck and I had to climb up into my truck that was on the tow hoist to get everything, it simply slipped my mind.  I even sat in the cab for a minute, trying to remember everything.  My mind was in a fog and I was extremely tired.  

So, pay the price and drive over there, that's all I can do.  At least there's a Carl's Jr. on the way, I'm going to stop and get a lettuce wrapped burger for breakfast/lunch.  

And with that, I must be offa here and out of here.

G'day.  

 The ordeal began Tuesday Am/Monday night.  Getting done with work at 1 am, stopping at the casino truck stop, I went straight to bed.  At 3:00, a loud dinging noise woke me up out of a deep sleep.  It took a few seconds of orienting myself ot the new reality - being awake long before I should have been or wantd to be - to understand that that dinging probably meant something.....bad.

Well, you can't ignore that noise.  It's loud, it dings about 3 times per second and it never stops.  I was exhausted.  It had already been a long, long day and only 2 hours of sleep and here I am having to somehow deal with this nonsense.

It was a DEF related problem. DEF is the bane of trucking existence. I won't go into detail, I don't feel like it for one - I'm quite well done, exhausted, lack of sleep 2 nights in a row.  And it's too much to go into in any great detail.  It's a system they created to reduce emissions, using it's own fuel system and different type of fuel than diesel fuel and when they break, they do a fine job of messing everything up. We'll go that far with it.

I got back into the sleeper, put ear plugs into my ears, turned the fan up on high, and tried to go back to sleep.  I'd get to sleep and it would just wake me right back up. I basically got no more sleep after that.  My phone started blowing up at 6:30 am.  What trailer do you have? Sorry to bother you this early - dispatchers having no idea what I was going through for I had contacted no one yet.

I have such and such trailer, but I have an issue going on with the truck.  And thus it began.  Phone call...after phone call....after phone call. Texts, unending texts.  

We have a phone number you call, not a division in the company, but a separate company that our company uses to take break down issues and find repair trucks or tow trucks.  I won't even go into all of that right now, I'm just too tired. I spoke with probably 10 different people, it went on for over 10 hours and they got nothing done in that entire time.  Only when I finally got cranky about it and started digging into them about their incompetence and the left hand not know what the right hand is doing did I get anything done. 

Later, after all of that, a different repair truck showed up, could figure out nothing as I predicted they wouldn't be able to, this is a dealer issue that peterbilt will have to diagnose - wasted $552.43 on that for nothing and then...they called a tow truck from 120 miles away to come fetch the truck. 

After the tow truck drive called me, I went to bed.  I got two plus hours of sleep and that was all I got until we got into Tyler, Texas at around 3:00 am.  2 nights in a row only getting a few hours of sleep, I was soo tired.  I just wanted to pass out somewhere. The tow truck driver dropped me off at a hotel complex.  I didn't bother to call my company, I would pay for it and demand repayment after.  I wasn't calling dispatchers or my manager at that hour of the day.  

The Best Western? Closest hotel I could walk to with a giant bag full of my stuff in it - I expect my truck won't be fixed anytime soon and wanted most of my gear with me - the doors were locked. There was a sign on the door saying their computers were down, sorry. The doorbell button was busted.  Locking the doors? To the main entrance? Isn't that illegal? what if there's a fire?  I know there are local health codes that govern such things.

So, I picked up my stuff and lugged it down to the Hampton. Hampton is expensive, I didn't want to spend that much money incase my company gave me trouble getting my money back. Just wanted a bed, sleep a few hours, get a hold of my manager, go home.  They were as expensive as I thought they would be. They wouldn't give me any discount, even tho it was already 3:00 am and they insisted check out time is 11:00 am.  Wow, just wow.  It really bugged me, but what was I to do? There was a Holiday Inn, but it was 1,000 feet away, I had no energy and that bag and other bag were getting awfully heavy.....

So, I paid it with a credit card and got the card keys and went to the 3rd floor.  I found my room, tried to use the card - nothing.  Pulled out the other card- nothing.  You just swipe the card in front of a reader on the door and it opens the lock.  I stood there a few minutes trying, thinking it's just me, I'm too tired, I'm not doing something right.  I finally went back down to the front desk, got the cards reloaded, went back up - again, nothing.  Same thing, stood there for several minutes.

Went back down, these aren't working. They did this again.  I went back up again,  Nothing.  Exasperated, exhausted and getting highly irritated, I just sank onto the floor for a while. I contemplated just going to sleep in front of the door.  I finally pulled myself up, dragged my @$$ down to the front office, this time with my bags, told them if they can't make their system work, I'm getting my money back and leaving.  

This time, the dude came back up with me.  I handed him the cards, maybe, just maaaybe, I'm not doing it right.  I can't possibly fathom how you can't do it right, but maybe.  He tried both cards, neither of them worked.  I wanted him to do that, to see that their system isn't working, it's not just an old man that can't do anything.  He had a wrist band that magically opens all doors, apparently, he swiped that let me in and I immediately went to bed.

But it was fitful sleep.  I was awake most of the time. It was mostly my irritation with how getting this room had gone down.  I was cranky, freely admit it.  I got up at 8:30 am, texted my manager, told him where I was and needing a ride back to Longview - about 40 miles away I think - and I got in the shower.  Went down for breakfast, got a plate, headed back to the room - only to be almost mowed over by an employee coming out the door, not looking before exiting.  I was just standing there waiting for him to exit the elevator...it was just another thing to increase my irritation levels because of lack of sleep and what had happened. 

I got back to my room, ate my breakfast and then replied to my manager's text about him having an Uber ready to order. He ordered it, I walked down past the front desk, told them while walking by that I didn't have any room cards to turn in, I was in room 307 and this is a horrible hotel.  The man looked at me...waaa, whaaat?  I replied: I don't have any key cards, I was in room 307 and this is a horrible hotel.

What can I do to make this better? Nothing, what can you do? I walked out front, waiting for the Uber ride.  I wasn't looking for freebies, didn't really care at that point in time, just wanted to go home.  About 2 minutes later this man came out, he couldn't just let it alone.  I suppose that's his job, find out what's wrong and try to fix it or explain it away, but I was not in the mood for it.  He asked again, what can i do to make this better? I don't even know what's going on? Well, what can you do?  Getting money back was the furthest thing from my mind. I just didn't care. This is how tired I was an how out of touch with reality I was in my thinking at the time.  

So I decided to engage him. Told him about the door, the price - which I wouldn't have minded as long as I had been offered enough time to get rested up, especially at that price.  The man almost running me over at the elevator.  I'll give the guy credit, he apologized more times than he needed to.  He went off how they had just had a 30k card system installed in the hotel and it wasn't working properly, they had made repeated calls to the company that installed it and - they didn't have anyone to come out.

He then went off on how people don't want to work anymore - now this I am hearing from all over the place.  From business owners and managers all over the place.   The government really screwed this one up and yes, that started with Trump and Congress at the time.  Pelosi and Biden aren't any better in this current dilemma, a lot of things were done to placate the citizens that shouldn't have been done. It's transforming our society into a different type of thinking about how much the government should be involved in our lives and whether anyone actually wants to lift a finger to pay for their existence.

10 years ago Socilaism was taboo. Now it's accepted and enough big mouths are propped up in the right places to make it appear that the whole country wants it! Nothing could be further from the truth, but I fear the damage is done.

Anyway, I heard him out, at least.  His apologies softened my tones with him, turns out he is the GM of that hotel and he probably didn't want me filling the internet with bad reviews, he offered all of my money back. I had to think about that for a minute.  Perhaps the point is better made if you don't take the money back. They you are saying things that you actually mean about the service and that you aren't just making things up to get freebies. 

I never asked for or even wanted freebies, btw.  I never hinted at it.  It just wasn't in my thinking.  It was my first time at a Hampton Inn and it didn't come off as any better than any of the other chains.  Holiday Inn, La Quinta, Comfort Inn  - the middle of the line chains - aren't any worse and several of them are much cheaper.  "When I say that, I am not referring to service, just the layout and quality of the place.  Comfort Inn easily matches it and it's usually in the 80 per night range, not the 127-139 per night range.  

Whatever the case, my Uber showed up, I got back to the yard and realized I had forgotten my paperwork out of the truck.  I will have to go get it tomorrow if the truck isn't fixed by then.  If the truck needs a sensor as our mechanic predicted it would, it might be up to 2 months.  That's supply chain issues and it's real.  Oh, I wasn't going back there to get paperwork today.  I was beyond burnout stage, there was no way I was driving clear back there for it.  

Of course, my manager told me at the shop that they "need you back" hinting that the day cab truck is available to use.  Did they ever fix it?  What do you mean? I mean it will have a bunch of codes pop up on the dash and then the power goes out.  The mechanic, over hearing us, barked out that Peterbilt had actually come to the yard and fixed it.

Ok, I'll use it then.  What else can i do? I literally could be sitting weeks waiting on my truck to be repaired. I just went through that with 14 days off for Covid, I can't afford that.  How do you know it will be weeks? Historically, our trucks sit over there a long, long time, no matter what the issue is, before they are fixed and ready to go.  On the good side of things, there has been an engine light on in my truck for months now, maybe they will find that problem as well. They will have to hook up their computer to it to find the codes and find out what's wrong with the DEF system anyways.  

So, I left the yard, drove by my property - absolutely no intention of working there today, but wanted to see if the water install guy had come out - no. Great!  I'm not calling him.  If he doesn't show up by Friday I might try to call and ask what's going on.  I don't need the water out there that bad, it can wait, I just wanted to get it over with and see if the city was going to give any trouble for getting a larger tap installed.  

Home, Taylor and I went out to a Japanese restaurant for lunch, then over to Game Stop, her aunt had sent money for the boys to get some stuff for - halloween I guess - and then to Walmart for prescription.  If you haven't figured it out by reading this blog for a while, Taylor and I are really good friends at this point. It's kind of grown over the years.  We like hanging out with each other. It's nothing sensual, sexual, whatever, it's just friends but it's more, at least in my view, than "just friends".  We like each other's company, that I can pretty much say with confidence. 

Regardless, I am home, she went to work, I'm hanging out with doggies, hoping that the exhaustion will catch up to me and soon so I can nap for a few hours.  I'm on one of those second winds - unwanted.  I don't need a second wind right now, I need all this sleep deprivation to catch up with me and zonk me out.  I'm going to watch reruns of the Big Valley and see if that will help it.  Take a nap with my big doggie laying next to me, lol.  He's in attention deficit, apparently, he's demanding it and I'm giving it to him lol.  Belly rub, ear rub, back rub, ear scratch, well if you have dogs you know the drill.

With that, Im offa here. Things I need to contemplate without all the demands of having to do this and that taking my attention away.

G'day.  

 Shortly before 1:00 am, I got to the casino truck stop, intent on going to bed immediately after getting paperwork done - which I did.

Around 3:00 am, a loud beeping noise went off in the cab.  I've heard that sound before, I instantly knew it wasn't going to be anything good.

It wasn't.  A "Limp home mode, maximum derate, fix SCR" notification on the truck screen.  That means something with the DEF system. Lots of that going on lately in other trucks - and months wait time for parts.  As with the rest of the supply chain, truck parts are hard to come by and slow to arrive.  

Is this because everyone is getting fired for not getting vaccinated?  That's really what it's coming down to. I've been looking all over the internet for answers to this supply chain problem and it seems that many companies are shooting themselves in the foot demanding employees getting vaxxed - or else. Many are choosing the "or else" option regardless of the consequences.

The contrast between what Trump did for our economy and what Biden is doing to our economy couldn't be more stark. Despise Trump's mannerisms all you want, we had nothing like the supply chain issues we are facing, the labor shortages we are facing and the inflation - which will convert to hyper-inflation if this reconciliation bill is passed  - under Biden. 

The worst part is, Biden doesn't seem to care.  Isn't this what Socialists and Communists do? Take over the supply chain through whatever means they can and attempt to control people's lives through dictates accompanied with fear-mongering?  

I digress.  I've been here since 12/47 am, it's now 3:22 pm. The situation has gotten so desperate for dispatch that they are sending a driver up here, bobtailing in a tractor only, to retrieve the truck and potentially I am going with the driver. I can't legally leave a hazmat trailer here unattended, I can leave a tractor here.  That's up to them, however, I don't call the shots and I don't want to call that shot. If something happens, it's fully on them.

As it stands, I am still waiting for a mechanic to show up to try and fix the problem.  He called me a long time ago, diagnosing the problem over the phone - whether he is correct or not who knows without hooking up to the truck's computer - and attempting to find the parts.  He informed me I should go get a hotel room over at the casino.

Uhh, no, they won't do that, if it's that bad they'll have the truck towed.  So, who is coming first? The other driver or the mechanic? And what do I do if the driver arrives first? Call dispatch. The driver is here, what do you want me to do? I am not leaving this truck unloacked, I can tell you that, for that mechanic.  I have valuables in here and I can't take it all with me back to the yard in the other guy's truck.  Too much stuff.  

Oh, did I say I'm operating on 3 or less hours of sleep? Yes, go ahead and try to sleep with that constant dinging going on, as I am listening to now.  It's humid outside, it's making it too uncomfortable to shut the truck off.  

If I were to have shut down where I was going to last night - at the Love's in Okmulgee, this would be a completely different situation.  There wasn't any place to park so I drove clear on down here, where I know there is always a parking space somewhere.  They'd be towing the truck to Tulsa if I were up there and at the very least an overnight stay in a hotel.  And a lot of breakdown pay.  

They are desperate for the trailer I have, tho, they may have sent a bobtail up there as well, I dunno, but they wouldn't be wasting time with a mechanic, they'd just tow the thing.  

Ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding....constantly...about twice per second, maybe 3 times actually, very loud, incessant, non-stop, hellish in nature.  No shut off for it, they do it on purpose, but to what end.  I got the message - over 12 hours ago thanks.  I don't need mother noise maker telling me about the problem, I know, I know, I know.  

Well, whatever. I'd like to milk this breakdown pay cow because I know that I either am going to be sitting home for a while or they'll try putting me in that pile of junk day cab.  Supposedly they fixed it, but still it's an ancient dinosaur, a relic from another era, a piece of history that belongs in the Smithsonian, not on the road.  

I wish I could sleep. Turning the truck off it will get to hot. Leaving it on, the constant dinging.  Like some sort of Chinese torture, there is nothing I can do.  Maybe turn it off and leave my little fan going, perhaps I can get a little sleep anyway, I figure it at least another hour, if not hours, before anyone shows up here. The other drive said at least 3 hours if not longer, he wasn't at home when they called him.  

I'm a bit cranky, I think I will  try turning this truck off and at least getting a few minutes of shut eye. 

 

 Concerned that they haven't called me about getting the Bobcat, I called them a few minutes ago.  Oh no, sir, we wait on you to call us. 

That was not communicated to me at the time of rental.  I was under the assumption from the way they were talking they would be about promptly on the 30th day to pick it up.

Now the thing is in limbo, I have no idea whether they are going to try to hit me for a few extra days - or what.  They "got busy" and will call me back later.  

Come get the thing, that's what I have to say about that.  I need a dozer if I'm going to continue on with this, not a bobcat.  They don't have dozers, of course.  

It's Monday and I'm heading back up to - where else - Oklahoma today.  Got bac from Brownsville early after noon yesterday. I was able to leave early morning, like getting up at 3:30 am and get that trip over with.  My only concern about this next pay period is if they get me something decent before it's up. Then I can have another decent paycheck versus what I will be getting this week.  This week reflects the first week of this new dispatcher - doing miserably at her job so far, hopefully will get better.

Apparently the idea that she isn't the friendliest person got back to her from whoever, she is now at least putting heart emojis on replies and making an attempt to use socially acceptable intro's to her texts.  Maybe she's just nervous, I dunno.  I just don't like the idea that we have to keep going through these new people, what kind of working conditions do they have over there that they keep quitting? 

Well, being the trucking industry? Probably not good.  The trucking industry is fairly brutal all around, no matter what part of it you are working in, tho the drivers get the lion's share of the bs,I'm speaking generally of the entire industry, not my particular job.  My job would be considered on the "easier" end of the scale what with not being out all the time, coming home after almost every run, the kind of pay we are getting and at least half decent management.

Well whatever. I'm still putting in emails to companies that claim they do the drawups for business plans.  I've got to find out how much that costs - I expect a couple thousand anyway if they are literallyi doing the entire site plan from start to finish.  Maybe more, I really don't know, never waded into these waters.  So far I have found 3 local companies that say they are architects, planning, draftsmen.  One of which is the surveying company that did the botched survey on the property.....

I haven't worked on the property in at least 3 days.  I took yesterday off - it was Sunday, my arrival at home was enough for me to just stay here.  Sundays are not good days for me to work and I had spent 10 hours on the road anyway.  

I can tell  ya, if I don't get a loan to do everything all at once? It's gonna be years at the rate I'm going before this thing is at any stage of "alllllmooooost done!".  Yes I expected that, but the reality of it isn't all that pleasant.  

My search for a rental dozer is going to ramped up today.  If I can find one, I'm taking several days off and just do that those  several days.  The company that came out said they would just pluck the trees out of the ground with an attachment on a track hoe.  That sounds ideal, but at $2,200 per acre, that's pricey as well.  15 grand just to clear the property.......maybe that's not too much, I dunno, but it's out of my affordability right now if I want to keep my 401k intact until I have to have it for the underground stuff.

This thing will either work itself out - or it won't. If it doesn't, it won't be because I didn't try until the very end.  I don't even know if the water install has taken place yet, that guy isn't exactly big on communication.  I'll be driving by there this morning to see if anything is happening. When he shows up, it should just be a one day install, if even a whole day.  I'm guessing it will take them 4 or 5 hours from start to finish, it's a pretty simple job for an experienced installer and he appears to have been doing this install for decades.  He was just questioning my need for a 2 inch tap.

Well that's enough.  I'm gonna hit up Waffle House (no waffles tho lol) for breakfast before heading into the yard.  This won't be a one day trip since I am loading at noon - that would put me at 3:00 am to get back to the yard and home.  Too late, ruins the next day getting to bed so late, I'll probably just hit the Casino truck stop up again on the way back and finish the trip tomorrow morning.  No, I haven't been gambling. I did a few months ago at another casino up near the plant up there when the truck broke down.  But I just hit up the bar top thing that you put money into - and won actually lol.

But, I'm pretty much giving up the "vices" and seeking the Lord.  That kind of thing interferes with your relationship with Him, IMO and I need it out of my life.  It might be all of these people that I know passing away in recent times, or just the need for His presence, or both, but I feel like I need to take a different direction than what I have been doing.

Y'all have a great day.

 And with that, I am done for the day.  I need a day off of all of this stuff.  Working or property - it gets a bit much.  After doing all of my chores around town, came home, started enjoying a keto crust pizza from  a local pizzeria and started up on laundry.  That will take all day long as it is.  

The SBA director wrote back and said he had a person that could help, he's got an email in for him, he will let me know when he replies.  I went over to the property to see if the water guy is out there yet - nothing.  I dunno, lol, this guy is a real character.  I'm not going to give it much longer before I switch to another contractor. 

There is nothing else, per se.  The dogs are - smelly and need baths.  The SUV just got new steps installed on it.  It didn't have any when I bought it, which I thought strange. James put the new set on and pulled off a broken mount from underneath it and said the whole thing was damaged. That answers that story: It came with them but someone drove into something and tore that side off.  So they just took both sides off instead of replacing it. Weird. It's 10 years old but it's still in great condition, hence I figured to keep it for a while longer while I'm trying to sort out loans and such.  

My credit score took an 80 point hit when my credit card payment for the bobcat went through and then the beginning of the month hit.  Yes, it's a larger sum of money, but they didn't even give me until the payment was due to hit my credit score with that nonsense.  I dumped the cash to pay that stuff off but I have no idea how long it will be before my score goes back up...a bit ridiculous to say the least.  

The small property sale is almost complete. The buyer has to pay to have the deed filed, pay the amount owed to me and we will have this thing done with.  I'll make around a grand off of it.  Another property will go up for sale after this one is complete.  One of them I really want rid of - there are large trees on it that need to come down. I'd just as soon pass that headache off to someone else.  

I guess I was wrong about the city council's intentions. I was at Chili's yesterday when this local guy that everyone knows showed up, we hadn't seen each other in a while so we spent quite a bit of time talking. He claims that the only vacant lots the city is wanting to address with even a class C misdemeanor if necessary are those with junky old houses on them that are uninhabitable, not purely vacant lots.  Id have to listen to that meeting again, it sure sounded like they were talking about all lots that have no one living on them. I can see wanting to get rid of old houses that are falling apart. They are an eyesore and they are dangerous.

Many of those come up for sale at all of the auctions, which is why you have to do your homework.  You don't want a lot with a house that has to be torn down on it, that will cost you thousands of dollars and good luck getting your money back out of it.  But I gotta tell you, if that IS true, I will buy several more of those at the year end sale where they start the bidding off at $30.  I am selling mine at thousands of dollars -even tens of thousands of dollars - less than comparable lots in the city.  I spend an hour or two buying them and then the agent takes care of the rest?  That's pretty easy money.  

I think that covers everything for now.  I'm going to turn on Dish and watch reruns of old western shows and relax, lol.

 The new dispatcher has the personality of a rock. Any social graces such as thank you, please, you're welcomes are lost on deaf ears.  She literally doesn't even want to talk to anyone, just send dry, curt text messages and nothing back. She asked me yesterday what trailer I had brought back and I told her in a return text. She didn't say thank you or anything, so a couple of hours later, I replied "you're welcome".  I didn't receive any response to that, either. 

Beyond that, since she started a week ago, I've only had 2 Oklahoma runs.  I mean, yes I love staying at home, but it doesn't pay the bills and doesn't get me ahead.  I'm spending some money right now. After I got back from that 14 days off, I was being given a lot of great runs with Oklahoma's interspersed into them. I didn't mind that, but next week's paycheck is going to be less than a thousand gross pay.  That doesn't work.  I've got $452 in new expenses every month starting the beginning of November. That was expected of course, and with normal running in the truck, I can easily afford it.  

To that end, I asked my manager about it the other day, he said he would look into it for me.  Of course, he is overworked and inundated with other driver's calls and texts, heard  nothing back. So, I just texted him again and of course heard nothing back - but that is normal for him.

Meanwhile, I am upping my search for a designer to blueprint my RV park.  I've been looking locally, finding nothing, I am now going out of my territory and looking for anyone in the US that specializes in it, of which there are several that I have found thus far and reached out to.  I also asked the SBA consultant if he knew anyone local, also awaiting any kind of word on that.

The land clearing company came out yesterday, but he wants a blueprint. He charges a flat rate per hour for his work, I said I needed an estimate and he just said give me a blueprint to work with.  Okay, well, that's where I've been stalled so far.  That isn't stopping me from going out to the property and cutting down trees, but even the chainsaws I bought are offering even more trouble than the first one I bought. These things are apparently heating up and the chain guides are warping.  Yes, they are adjusted properly and yes there is bar/chain oil in them.  Not sure what the problem is, the instructions give nothing beyond if it's heating up, make sure you have bar oil and the chain isn't too tight. lol

I was going to go to the tax sale auction the other day, but after taking another look at what was available and the starting bids, I scrapped that idea. I was off work that day, but it just seemed to me that I didn't need to be getting involved with another purchase of land right now. My money needs to be reserved for getting the property blueprinted.  I put up a local request on a facebook group for all of the estimates I need to get this thing moving along here. 

I really didn't think this was going to be an issue so I never looked before now.  Literally all I need is around 75 spaces, an office, a bathhouse, a swimming pool/jacuzzi, laundry, dog park, the electrical,water and sewer hookups and design, a pond dug out, the land cleared etc.  I mean, I know what it needs is the point, I'm not clueless, but I can't draw up blueprints!  Lol

Well, I have stuff to do today beyond the property, I can't spend all of my time out there.  The small property needs a paper notarized - totally forgot about it, probably making my realtor a bit unhappy, the house in AZ said the satellite isn't working - the bill is paid thank you, no clue what's going on there.  I need to go do some grocery shopping and I'd lik toget these dogs out for a walk.  The property will just take as much time as it takes. If it's years, it's years.  Shrugging my shoulders. I can't make anyone do anything faster than they are going to do it.

Even the water tap installer was questioning why I need a 2 inch tap?  I will need the capacity at a future date, please just install it. Well, you know a water meter that size is $1,100?  ..... he originally quoted $1,100 for the entire project, but that was a 3/4 install. Yes, sir, I know, it's not cheap. Neither is the 2 inch ball valve, the saddle or the copper tubing. The meter box should be cheap, about the only thing about that setup that won't cost a fortune. I originally figured 4 to 5 grand, it's probably going to cost me $2,500 to $3,000, so I'll consider that a wash.  

I've come to the conclusion the park area is going to have to be leveled, meaning clearing out all the trees.  I'll have to start all over with vegetation, unfortunately, but there is no way around it. I can't have a swimming pool on uneven lot and RVers aren't particularly fond of unlevel sites, especially in a new park.  the trees will come down and I will just have to plant new trees and shrubs.  It's a big loss in my book, but it has to be done. At least it's just small maple trees, not the giant majestic pines that are prevalent in the area.  The views surrounding the park will still be stunning, I do believe, plus I will still have the forested walking trails in the back. 

I was quoted, btw, $2,000 per acre to clear it all out.  Pretty penny, $14, 000 to clear it all off, I guess that's really not that unreasonable with large, heavy earth moving equipment and the experienced personnel doing the job, he said it would take less than a week to clear it all.  Yes, if I had access to a large trackhoe with the proper attachment, I could easily do all of that myself and save a  ton of money.  I'm still trying to find a bulldozer, plowing those trees down would be easy work for a large dozer.  These are things I am keeping in mind incase this loan doesn't go through. And I don't just want to stop working out there because I "might" get a loan.  That will easily take months at least to come up with an answer.  

Now what? I'm just looking up RV designers all over the country and sending off emails.  And waiting on my manager to give some kind of an answer as to what's going on .  Maybe there is something happening at work that I don't know about. There was a rumor that the plant was shut down, but I just got a text from another driver in the driver group saying he is loading. Obviously that can't be true.

Looking for another job right now is really nothing I want to do, so I'm keeping my tones down and good attitude, but I do want some answers.  

Well the day ain't gettin' any younger.

G'day.  

 Facebook experiencing worldwide disruptions lol.  I can't even access the site.  I think they said Myspace and Whatsapp - both Facebook owned social media platforms - are also down.  I think it would be wonderful if the site would stay down for say - a month.  Let people get used to not being on Facebook constantly and get used to living a - normal - life again.  Of course, that isn't likely to happen, but it would probably help this world immensely.  

I went out to the property early this morning and got with it.  I bypassed doing any RV park work and went straight to work on creating walking trails.  I spent something like 6 hours doing that total, plus the time I spent there the other day, got quite a lot done.  It isn't finished and isn't likely to be,l my time with that machine is running out.  I quit earlier than I would have liked, just got very warm and hence, quite fatigued.  

It wasn't the easiest work back there either. It's like a jungle back there, unchecked growth that was so thick it took quite a bit of time to work through any of it.  But it was something that I really wanted to at least get a good start on and that I did.

After I was through with that - got to dead ends, things in the way that the machine can't move and no alternate routes - I went back to work on the RV portion of the site.  

I'm not sure what's going on, perhaps a load being sent for tomorrow late, there is no reason I should not be going on a road trip somewhere tomorrow.  I'll gladly take another day to work on the property, but these dispatchers lately are sending loads late in the afternoon. It's 4:00 pm right now, that's getting late.  They don't seem to have a problem leaving people's lives - on hold.

I have been watching the democrat infighting and some of it is disgusting. People stalking Senator Sinema into a bathroom, protesting her stance on the reconciliation bill while she's using the toilet?  Kayakers going to Manchins house boat to protest his stance on the reconciliation bill as well?  There is no low for these people. Bloodlust for raw power, the biggest power grab we've probably ever seen in this nation's history.  I was aghast when I read yesterday that Sanders originally wanting six trillion dollars, and thinks 3.5 trillion is lowballing it. 

Or Biden declaring this bill costs zero dollars! Pelosi reaffirming that position.  And then you find out the stuff that is IN that bill and it's scary, to say the least.  Forget the money, they are attempting to reshape the culture and the belief systems of this nation.  It is utterly amazing, they have just caved to the far left progressive-Communist ideology, these people that are espousing this stuff are a small minority, yet you'd think they are literally running the party. And the hate and disdain they are expressing to the 2 aforementioned hold outs that refuse to kow tow to party lines.

The only thing I can do is send letters to representatives and senators, pray and hope for the best. Short of a civil war, I don't see these progressives being stopped. Eventually they will get their way, if not now, it will happen down the road.  Even more astonishing, at least to me, is these people think that most Americans are for this nonsense.  I sincerely doubt that.  I am quite certain most if not all Republicans and conservatives will never agree to anything with a price tag that high or having the government intruding into your personal business to such a degree.

Reporting to the IRS any transactions over $600 in your banking account?  You really think that average Americans, especially the middle class, aren't going to be on the receiving end of high taxation?  A mileage tax to drive your car?  And far more garbage buried inside that bill, it would be a huge stepping stone to out and out Socialism.

Whatever.  The dude that is supposed to install the water tap on the main line hasn't shown up nor has he called me.  I know 2 inch material for the project is readily available at any water works store.  It's common usage and they all keep it in stock.  The tap, the saddle,  the ball valve, the meter, everything should be easy to get.  So why this guy is neither doing the job nor calling me about it is unknown.  I will let a few more days pass and if he still doesn't show up, I will call him.  

Not in any great hurry to get it done, but now that the wheels are rolling, let's get it over with.  I do wonder if the city raised any kinds of alarms over my wanting a 2 inch installation.  

I'm not going to start making phone calls on the SBA information until after the Bobcat is gone. That thing is taking up my energies and I just don't have it in me to work with that thing all day and make phone calls.  I need to get estimates, I have contacted by email two companies who have not responded.  

Ugh. I completely forgot about getting a warranty deed paper notarized.  

Well, I'm invited to go to the fall festival at the 6 year old's school.  I'm planning on going, might as well see what they have to see and perhaps meet some of the teachers.  He's not my boy, of course, but he certainly has his attachments to me lol.  

With that, i think I'll take a short nap, then get the roast in the oven and then get ready to go. 

G'day. 

 Oklahoma run today, loading at noon.

The paperwork for the SBA loan is the headache I figured it would be.  So much information I will have to come up with, well beyond anything I had to do for the land loan.  

But, however long it takes to come up with all of this - quite a while I'm guessing - I think it will be worth it to at least try to get one of these loans. Otherwise I'm going to be short on the cash necessary to build the park and I will have to take out personal loans at much higher interest rate and subsequent higher payments.  

I'm going to get estimates for the whole, fell swoop done all at once. That will include a medium sized swimming pool with jacuzzi, fencing and bathroom at the pool.  Whether I get that or not is unknown, but it's something I have identified that would appeal to many more RV'ers, especially during the summer months when it's hot outside and not much to do without burning up.

It will also include a 4-room bath house quote - absolutely necessary, a small structure for washer/dryer set up, a small office, don't really need anything giant, digging out a pond in the back, the land clearing, lot set up and gravel, a dog park, small playground, all the picnic tables and fire rings, possibly cement patios, electric, water and septic install and whatever else I'm not remembering.  I'm thinking of going 80 lots instead of 60 to be able to pay for all of this stuff. If it has a swimming pool I can expect the place to be 80% full much of the time. Yes, that's much more money than I initially was thinking, but if I'm going to go for it, I might as well go for it all.  

The man at the SBA center can tell me what is realistic and what is not after he sees what I have come up with.  Right off the bat, I need to get a design company to produce a blue print for the park, something I didn't want to do because it probably is fairly pricey, but now I have no choice.

This is what I will be working on for quite a while, unless something else pops up that can finance it without having to go through all of that. 

Regardless, it's almost time to leave. Trucking will be, unfortunately for me, a thing that I will still have to do for some time to come.

G'day. 

 Brownsville, Texas.

I have a day or so to go on Facebook suspension.  There are a few people's pages I would have liked to have been able to say something.  I have no regrets on my activities that got me the suspension, it will likely happen again and sooner or later, they will delete my account and then....I will have to decide whether I want to bother with Facebook.  

My thought processes lead me back to an SBA loan today.  The loan officer I had originally talked to about getting an SBA loan left out one very important detail that would have had me pursuing an SBA loan if I had known it at the time.  

This is how this went down today.  I started thinking, I'm going to have to take a loan of some kind regardless if I do this myself or if I have sub contractors helping me out.  If I end up doing a personal loan, the interest rates are high. The payments are high because of it - well that and short terms.  I thought, what if I could get a much bigger loan but at a much lessor interest rate?  The payments might not be so far off from each other.  

After much pondering, I decided I would be wondering about this for - a long time - if I didn't at least try to get one of these loans.  Remember, I have to make that decision before I start using my 401k money.  I haven't cashed it out - yet - but if I spend any of it on building the property, there goes any kind of high dollar loan out the window. All of that money would have to go as down payment or whatever they are calling it to get - 250k is what I want.  

So, I texted my next door neighbor who is a banker and runs 2 banks.  He had told me he knows the guy that does SBA loans in another town and he could introduce him to me.  Before going on, I just found out a few minutes ago my neighbor has tested positive for Covid. He is in good health, I suspect he will not have any great problems with it.  

He texted me back the name of the man that runs the bank and the name of the bank - said he was driving and didn't have the phone number, but to contact him, tell him I am your neighbor and I sent you.  So, after I got through Houston and then all the construction down south of it - rain/thunder storms and terrible driving conditions - I called. Ended up he had to call me back, told me what I have to do to get one of those loans: Call such and such man at the small business help center (or whatever it's called, sorry, I've heard a lot of different names in the last several days and I am not good with names to begin with) and he will help you put all the paperwork together including the projections you will need.  

He basically said they would do all of the paperwork for me, or most of it anyway.  Trust me, there is a lot of paperwork to fill out. If you remember, I was writing about this months ago, I decided against it because I would have to pay a firm to do all of this stuff for me, I couldn't possibly, legitimately, come up with those kinds of numbers and even if I could, a bank likely wouldn't be taking my word for it.  They want experts to sign off on it. My objection to that at the time as well as now was I didn't want to pay some firm thousands of dollars for something that I am not guaranteed to receive.  

Here comes the part I didn't know: That SBA center? Is a government financed agency.  The first loan agent I talked told me nothing about this agency and  - may not know about it himself? The second revelation was the best part: it costs me nothing.  It's financed by Mother Government and Mama says they be giving away such stuff for nothing.  Yup, your taxpayer dollars at work, the things we sometimes find out about, revelations, that are actually surprising.  I'm not one for government handouts, but if this is the way to get the loan - which the bank officer said it was the only way they would finance me - then there you go.

What kind of hellish nightmare am I in for giving these people all the information they will need? I have no idea.  I do believe it will be far more involved than the loan for the land.  

But think about it, if I  could get a 250k loan, what that implies.  I simply pay a construction company to come out and clear the land - or not - I'm not sold on that even with that kind of money. The reason is that I don't want them cutting down all the trees and I can't really get a feel for how the thing can be laid out until I get all that junk out of there while at the same time leaving up the bigger trees.  I could just lay out the blue print which is in my mind on paper and say okay, any trees - here - stay up - any trees here - come down.  But in my mind, it's just not that simple and I will continue to work on clearing the land by hand until something different - if something different - occurs.  

So lets' get past the land clearing.  I will need a blue print for them to finance this, that's just common knowledge.  There are firms that specialize in RV parks that can do this, it would be the only out put of money I know of that I would have to do for this loan - unless this agency also does that as well.  I doubt it tho, RV parks are a specialty thing.

Regardless, a 250k gets me an office, a laundry room, a  4 room bath house, all the lots and the driveways created, around 300 tons of gravel (maybe more, not sure about that yet), the electricity, water lines and septic installed, a dog park, a playground, a pond built in the back  and possibly even a swimming pool installed with a jacuzzi.  In this scenario, I would still create my own walkways in the back of the property, just something I'd like to do.  And the tent campsites, I don't need a contractor for that. It would include a picnic table and a fire ring at every lot.  It would hopefully allow for a pavilion - a covered gathering area for large parties that might come or just the people that are there to use as a gathering place.  

This park would be built much faster than my current time table and it would be far better endowed with amenities that I want to have with the park.  I am so far off with having to take any steps beyond land clearing that I am definitely going to at least try going the SBA loan route. 

I did call the man at the SBA center, but he was unavailable - it was near closing time.  I should hear back from him tomorrow, if not I will be calling back lol.  

Really, after finding out the government pays for an agency to help you with all the paperwork, that was all I needed to hear.  It's not information that I had heard anywhere before today, not even in the RV build groups.  I should have taken my neighbor's advice and offer to call that banker sooner. I'm not experienced at this, I am wading through unknown waters, it's a nice challenge but it can be a bit perplexing.  This information was more "finding out by accident" than anything.  A Godsend, tho, as far as I'm concerned.  

So tomorrow, I hope to talk to this  man and get a feel - or direct information - of what I will need to do to get this process started. I am sure it's a process, dunno how long it takes.  A month, months, no idea. I'm probably months out from getting all of that land cleared so I don't have any looming decisions to make beyond what I have already decided on - the water install and the survey marking out the entire eastern side of the property.  I do hope that takes him less than a day to do, at $125 per hour, that could get expensive.  My great interest is the portion of the property in the front - how far east does it go?  Can we set some stakes in the ground starting at the road and going all the way back t where the trees start and then, ribbons around the trees?  

Yes, he is going to do that, sometime this coming month.  Well, October is virtually here, a few more hours and there it is lol.

What if this SBA loan doesn't work out? The lady I talked to at the center today said they do the paperwork for "all kinds of business loans, not just SBA loans".  Oh?  I didn't ask, she just said the SBA loans give the best interest rates.  What other types of loans are there? What do they want up front? I will find that out of SBA doesn't work.  As I have said, I will find a way to finance this venture. It's not if I can, it's how it will happen.  Personal loan, HELOC loan, SBA loan, other type of business loan, who knows, maybe someone with money that I haven't thought of will offer a loan.  That's not a hint, I'm just saying, there are many ways this could work out.  I will exhaust every avenue until I find some way to make it work.  

And with that? It's almost 9:00 pm and I have - well need - to get up at 5:00 am, to leave here around 5:30 am.  I ran into all kinds of traffic snarls today with the rain and slow downs with visibility reduced to almost nothing, everyone slowed down, but for good reason.  I got here later than I would have normally without all of those delays, so I'm leaving later than I would like to because of it.

G'nite. 

 Started early - 4:30, got back up to Longview at 2:45 pm, got out of the yard and headed straight to the property. Got on the Bobcat and got busy for 2 hours.  

I could have stayed out there longer, plenty of daylight, but this is a grueling schedule.  I have to go straight back down to Brownsville in the early AM, 2 hours was all I could handle. And more hornets trying to get at me, stirred up yet another nest = somewhere. I see old, rotten wood and I get a bit - respectful of the idea that there may be yet another hornet's nest under there.

And believe me, I was upending a lot of old, rotten logs.  They have to go.  Put them in piles and get them ready to burn.  I've got 5 huge piles in the back going now.  I'll likely set them all on fire after the Bobcat is gone.  My days with that Bobcat aren't over, I'll need it again, I just won't get it for a whole month.  I really need my own machine.  Just too much debt.  For now anyway.  

My focus right now is use the machine until they come get it. Chainsaw work can wait. If I can get others out there using the chainsaws, they can do that, but I still have ample Bobcat work.  I got down in the rear of the property and started clearing out a path where there was once a drive.  

That took quite a while, but it was worth it.  I still have the rest of the rear to go.  It was steep down that hill, I was afraid of tipping the thing over but it's pretty stable machine. There is hill to go in the rear of the property - and it's bad back there.  Vince, thorn vines, thorn bushes everywhere.  But, there is still plenty of Bobcat work at the rear of the RV park portion.  

I can only do what I can do.  But interestingly, I'm feeling more energetic.  Figure that. More work equals more energy? Seems like it would be the other way around. Must be the almost 4 years of sitting in a driver's seat of a truck and now getting out and getting some real movement .

.......
 

Umm, that's all the time I have.  It's bedtime and another long drive tomorrow.

g'nite

 Beautiful Wednesday morning. Heading up from Brownsville, if I get back early enough I’ll run over to the property and get some more work done. 

 As normal for this app, the 3 minute video I uploaded didn’t show up. I also didn’t get after a days work pics.