The only thing I know - or hope anyway - is that I'm going to church today. Whether these kids go or not is entirely up to them. I'm not going to sweat it either way.  I know you can't force God down people's throats with any kind of great results beyond negativity, resentment and loathing.  I was single digit age and was carried out to the car several times because I didn't want to go to church. I hated it.  I thought Jesus was a cartoon character that kids used crayons to color on paper - I really didn't know He was a real Person.  

I knew there was a God and I was terrified of Him, but I had no concept of the connection between God the Father and God the Son.  This is why I'm not even pushing this on these kids at all. It's entirely up to them - well their parents have to ok it of course but that hasn't been an issue - whether they go or not.  

As for me, I am now in the habit of going to church and I mostly like it tho I don't agree with some of the preaching, well, some of the omission of the preaching that goes on that doesn't include any reference to repentance when coming to the Lord Jesus Christ.  There are many references to repentance throughout the Bible, it's not a made up conception.  

++++++++++

Well that changed. We went to church, the boys loved it, we got out, no fussing, found out Taylor wasn't having the 8 year old go along with her today anyway. Applebee's, home, relax.  

And looking at trailers.  One of them is a beast.  It's huge and has 3 axles on it. It's 2001 model, it appears from pics it's been parked under a canopy and one of the slideouts had everything torn out of it. All of that would have to be replaced.  Carpet and a couch.  Or a table, or whatever was in there.  But it's 3 grand and tho it looks great except a few things, I don't think I can afford to dole out 3 grand right now plus replacing carpeting and furniture.  Well, take that back, I could, but it would take all that was given to me to do it.  

And then, tho I've had numerous calls and I know there's a shortage of housing, will someone rent it?  Well, buy it, really, with the method I was looking at online.  Good down payment and get another 8 out of it plus lot rent.  

My overnighters left and I'm back to 4 open lots.  2 of them need filled pretty filled, soon. I have one person very interested, that's it. There was a person driving a late model Corvette through the park a few days ago, dunno about them. Maybe another person wanting to buy RV parks.  If you can afford a car like that, I don't know why you'd want to be living in an RV.  I need some people by the end of the month, that's all I know.  

 Someone has an interesting idea, I only found it because I have been looking for RV's.  This park has several RV's - for sale.  So, they make you put X amount of money down, looks like 2 grand is their standard and then they charge you varying rates per month apparently according to the overall price of the unit. The last one I looked at was $475 per month for payment on the unit plus $375 per month lot rent.  That's pretty pricey for overall monthly payments. And they have a stipulation that they cannot leave the park with the unit until the entire thing is paid off.  

__________

Delicious food and good company at the graduation party.  Went to the Park afterwards to collect money. The man was as delighted as many before him with the peace and quiet my park offers away from Interstate noise.  That over with, people are showing up for a card night.  I actually think it's going to be a pool night since we got the pool going and it's very clean and nice looking. No one has been in it yet since we got it going, but this is the first weekend since we cleaned it out and dumped chemicals into it.  

________

Ok, lol. Pool and card night over.  Pool water is freezing cold, I didn't even think about getting in, it was very cool out tonight and very nice.  I only get into water like that when it's warm or hot.  The kids were freezing, the adults that got in were freezing, I was fine sitting in a comfy, rocking patio chair. Done with that, inside to play cards. Hilarious, even if half the people were worn out from the graduation stuff all day long.  

The grumpy dude.   He's in the shed doing laundry and says something I couldn't understand. Listened to it 5 times and then played it for everyone. He's going OW! OW! every time he leans down to grab the clothes out of the dryer.  No idea, I assume he must have back problems. But that wasn't the thing: as he's walking out the door, he says something like: Makes you want to take a soaper scrubber and throw it over the fence, bye!

Bad knees on her, bad back on him and bad marriage? Maybe I'm misinterpreting this situation.  Well, no, not really. It became obvious they had a bad marriage early on. Or if they think it's good, more power to them but that kind of heated yelling and arguing at each other?  Just the idea that they are taking it out on everyone else. They are, actually, to some extent.  Maybe they need to get out of the RV life, get a house and do something different. 

On another note, the State of Texas DOT sent me a notification: Your medical card is going to expire July 12. It's nice they send a notice, you know what you need to do and ample time to get it done.  Yes, I am definitely renewing it. Not renewing? Your CDL is revoked and you are put back to a regular driver license.  And from what I've heard, to get your CDL back, you are mandated to go through training again.

I intend on keeping my CDL whether I am using it or not as long as my health will pass the tests to get the medical card.  It's every 2 years.  My CDL doesn't need renewed until I'm 62 years old.  The only hard part about renewing my CDL is the hazmat test. There is no other test to take. They just renew it otherwise.  

I'm tired of the whining. I laid it down on the line again today to the 8 year old: make up your mind. Go to church or go play D&D.  You can't have both.  He wants both. The timeline doesn't necessarily accommodate for it. They come with me to church.  I go, we leave, I go the property. It's a mile and a half away from the church.  I then go out to eat -not always but sometimes. And on some Sundays, there are other things that keep me out until late afternoon. I don't go home, I go do the things I need/want to do. Need to do first.  

I don't feel the need to listen to an 8 year old pouting and whining and complaining. D&D came after we started going to church. In fact, he just started going last Sunday. We've been going to church for quite a while now.  In my view, it's God or some demonic game that isn't anything in the Christian realm. I don't put it to him like that exactly, tho I did say you can choose between God or a game.  It's truly his choice, but the pouting!  But I still want to go to church! Yes, church comes second.  You can go with mom to D&D tomorrow, I'm fine with that.

You can't force people to God, learned that long ago. Doesn't matter what age. They will accept or reject and there's nothing you can do about that.  His next demand? Let's go to church at the 9:30 service. No.  I go to the late service for a reason.  I want him to have to make a choice between the 2 and whatever his decision is, I won't deride him for it, that's between him and God.  I just want him to make his own decision. But I truly do not want to go to church at 9:30 am.  I spend Sunday mornings perusing and thinking about things and taking my time to get up, get awake and get real for church.  

He never had a problem with it - until D&D.  Games always come first.  Whatever.  Shrugs shoulders, moves on. If he does go to D&D tomorrow, I'll take the younger one to the movie theater after church tomorrow. Seems only fitting, right? 

It's late. Time to go to bed. 

 Quite the day and only 1:00 pm.  Started with the idea that the house - both inside and out - are being cleaned.  Well cleaned.  I did all the dishes and scrubbed down the counters, took out the trash, cleaned out the trash can and then started on the fish tank. It's in the kitchen area being the dining room and the kitchen on a bar type counter.  I took half the water out, caught the two now-large Koi and relocated them to the 300 gallon pond outside.  I have no idea of their status, for I needed to go back inside and get the tank finished.

Cleaning out the tank and refilling it with water and putting in some medicine that helps take out chlorine and make tap water safe, I then scrubbed the filter.  New filter media and that is done.  Over to the fridge, cleaned out food that we aren't going to eat. I tend to keep leftovers for quite a while, but over a week, that's long enough.  I got many meals out of the ensuing leftovers from dinner meals.  I like to get my money's worth out  of it, especially meat dishes, it's not like meat is cheap right now. 

Into my room, cleaning up and doing laundry and then - finally making some lunch and sitting down to relax for a while. We have a graduation party at a church to go to this evening and then a card game at the house.  

I don't necessarily need to go over to the park today. The 4 day stay came in yesterday and I charged them the amount they still owed and sent them a detailed email that is automatically generated if I choose to send them one. Which I always do, whether anyone asks for it or not.  There is another overnight coming in today, they originally had reserved 8 days but called and cut it back to just one night.  Their plans had changed, quite unfortunately, that would have been a decent chunk of money.  

In other words, there is too much to do today and unless someone needs something over there, the park is functioning quite nicely even if I currently have 3 spots empty.  Tonight it will be down to 2, but these are just temporaries. Beyond lowering my monthly rates to the "introductory rate" again, I really don't know what else I can do to get people in there besides getting an RV or cabin or tiny house to accommodate them.  I am fairly certain I could rent one out quickly.  There is a huge lack of housing in my area.

I'm still seriously considering a motor coach that is selling for 2 grand. It's been on the market for a while. It needs a serious cleaning but unless the ample amount of pictures aren't showing something I need to see, it's very doable. And probably could get the price lowered, Idon't think it actually runs, but I don't need it to.  Have it towed to a spot behind the shed, get it hooked up, hire someone to deep clean it and rent it out.  I have someone in mind that I could have to come over and clean it and she would do an excellent job.  Give her the cleaners and materials necessary and give her a couple hundred bucks to get it done.  

Anyway, if I could get the thing, get it over there and get it done for $2,500 or less, I would be happy.  It's just filthy. Dirt can be cleaned. It's water damage coming through the roof or a non-functioning roof ac that would concern me.  Of course, if it did have those problems and they came down enough on the price, I would do it.  As long as it isn't a huge project - I have had enough of projects and I still have more to go in the shed.  I expect Monday to finish hooking up both the drain and the cold water supply.  That will get that going.  I think I will run a line to the vanity so I can install a light right there. It will just be a setup where when I turn on the main bathroom light switch, both lights will go on.  

Oh, and I think I could get around $650 per month for renting out a trailer or coach or whatever.  An actual cabin or such would go for much more.  More like $850 or even higher.  I can't get a cabin atm, even the shells are very expensive and I don't need a project shell, I need something completed and ready to go, turn key so to speak. 

I'm going to wait until I get the next power bill to determine if I can lower the lot rent to opening day specials. I am thinking not possible, but we'll see. It's been very warm and even hot, AC's are running constantly, it will give me a good idea of how much I can lower the rent, if any, to get more people in.  The lower rent is what got a lot of the people in there in the first place. I may have no choice but to lower rates and get whatever I can in there.  Lower rates, lower profits but still, there will be profit to be had.  Next power bill should be available after the 23rd. 

_______________

A call in plus another registered arrival today plus the people that came in for 4 days 2 days ago, means I have 13 out of 14 spaces rented at least for tonight.  Yup, I'd take that other space rented and after that? I'd offer up the grassy area rental.  The registered arrival? I got a notification and saw they are in a motor coach pulling a car.  They registered for lot 12, a back in site.  You really can't back in a car on the rear of a coach like that. They were lucky that I had lot 3 available after that long term took off the other day.  

"Oh, we didn't know it was assigned a space".  Uhh, if you had read the software you were using to reserve a spot, you would have seen it says specifically lot 12 and more specifically that it is a back in lot.  But whatever, I don't get on people's case like that, I just wonder why they don't read what they are paying for. Not to mention the confirmation email I send them automatically fills in information saying the date, how much they paid, the lot they are going to be in and the designation of that lot - back in in this case.  

This isn't rocket science and I have gone through the registration a few times. "Designated Access" BI - and a legend that says BI stands for back in. I'm going to have to change the standard site to back in site so that that is what they see right off the bat.  

Anyway, we are headed to a church for a graduation party and then back home for a game of cards. I will have to run over there when lot 4 arrives. They didn't register online - there are people out there that just don't seem to be able to do it regardless of how easy it is.  I tolerate them to get the money.  A run over there isn't that far or take more than maybe 25 minutes total, round trip, if that. I can make it shorter - if people don't come looking for me wanting to chat about whatever.

Enough, time to get ready to go.  

 So do I put up with the aggravation of aholes or do I just address them directly? If I address them, it's likely they will leave after next month's rent is due.  But should money be the final, determining factor in whether I address foul behavior or not? I think not.

The dude throws his cigarette butts on the ground all the time by the shed.  He parks his truck over there.  They let one of their dogs out to run the park freely and s*** everywhere.  Last night, he went into the shed for 2 minutes to use the bathroom and turned the ac all the way up to maximum setting.  They demand I mow their lawn every 4 to 5 days.  I'm thinking time to address them. If they leave, they leave.  I can't just tolerate this anymore.  It's too aggravating and they are blatantly defying the park rules.  

I'll let myself cool down a bit before I decide what to do or what words to speak.  

Anyway, it's a very hot day today, but I got that in-the-dirt drainage stuff completed.  I realized that I don't have a fitting to hook up to the faucet.  I figured the fittings would come with the box, I figured wrong.  So now, yet another trip to Lowe's. There is a plumber that works there, I will ask him what fitting/s I need to go from that brass, threaded rod coming out from below the faucet to transition to this shark bite junk.  

That shark bit clamper? The cheapest thing they had was $66.  Harbor Freight didn't even carry one.  A worker there was asking me what I was looking for, the only one they had on the shelf was $109.  He looked it up, it says there are 3 here. So, he started looking at the stock boxes on the upper shelves and sure enough, there was one up there.

He then suggested I just use the thing and return it.  Huh?  He went on to talk about how people just walk out with stuff and they aren't even allowed to say anything about it.  Like, petty theft - well shoplifting, whatever you want to call it, pretty brazen to just take stuff and walk out the store with it.  He then said a lot of stuff that is returned, even tho in good condition, they are required to just throw in the trash can. 

What?  Insanity. But, in my mind, he was attempting to instruct me to do something that is unethical and borderline immoral.  Take something, use it and then return it as if it were defective or something. "People do it all the time".  

Well I don't.  This is what drove Montgomery Wards out of business.  They would allow returns no matter how long a person would have something. Snowbirds would come to town, outfit their trailers with all kinds of merchandise for the winter, when winter was over and they were going home?  Return all the merchandise. A road map to bankruptcy, I don't know how Lowe's can do that and stay in business. 

I do get employees not being allowed to stop the thieves. Lots of companies instruct their employees to stay out of their way to also stay out of harm's way.  You've seen the videos of them walking calmly, not even running, out of a Macy's or similar store with shopping carts full of merchandise they didn't pay for.  Thank the defund the police movement for that and a general attitude of not prosecuting these people even if they catch them.

And to think Democrats are now saying that Republicans are the anti-police party.  I was about floored when I first started hearing that. The cities that vote to defund the police? They are not republican run cities.  They gaslight and engage in revisionist history, they apparently think we are all stupid and don't have memories.  

This mostly all started with the George Floyd event and escalated from there.  Taking over entire portions of cities as "autonomous zones" and defying police officers, destroying entire buildings and even burning them down, engaging in civil disobedience to the point of violence, yet these people have the gall to accuse Republicans of wanting to defund the police because we have seen the Durham report and it totally justifies Trump's stance that it was a witch hunt and that there was no russian collusion and that Wray and the FBI were engaging in a political ruse to attempt to help Trump be defeated?  

I have no idea where this all ends.  Because we have more new movements that come out after another one is implemented, such as the trans movement.  I wonder if these people would feel the same if their daughter was accosted by some trans "person" coming into the little girl's room, such as has occurred on numerous occasions as reported in the news?  What's next?  Well I'll tell you what I believe will happen, whether the next one or not: they are going to attempt to stack the court.  They want to expand the Supreme Court to 13 or more justices to be able to have them legislate from the bench.  They talk about impeaching Clarence Thomas and even Amy Barrett.  They are now calling the Supreme Court illegitimate.  They can't stand to lose and they attempt to justify their behavior from a moral standing saying that since they are right and everything that is being done is wrong, they can do whatever they please to "fix it".  

I would have never guessed 5 years ago that the country would take this radical of a turn and a switch to worldly, evil and immoral movements that defy reason and sanity.  Or that they are now openly wanting Communism/ Socialism.  That used to be taboo, now it's one of their main talking points and they tell us that Republicans don't care about people because we won't vote for more social justice crap that lines one person with money and takes it out of another person's pocket involuntarily.  

Well, that rant started with what this person was telling me at Lowe's. I'm not going to return it simply because they won't say anything. I would have liked to have rented the tool but they don't have it for rent.  

I was at a stopping point since I don't have the parts to transition from the faucet and came home.  My jeans were filthy from crawling in the mud and I just wanted to take them off and get into clean clothes again. I won't need to crawl around in the dirt again today or hopefully, anytime soon.  

So, I'm also not going to make excuses not to keep on working, I'm headed to Lowe's to get the parts and then back to the property.  

 Sitting here wondering how many potential reservations I have missed because of the glitch with the software.  Also wondering why I didn't catch this earlier. I'll be testing the reservation site at least weekly from now on. It's just that people looking for a spot, especially if they're already traveling, won't waste time on any given park's website. If it says no sites available, they just move on to the next park they find online.  This is my website, not the others I have had problems with which I believe the problems are resolved.  

Today - Friday - going back to Lowe's, yet again, to get the right sized reducer, get over there, get the dirt portion of this project completed and be done with it.  Install the vanity - which will mean cutting yet another hole. I had to come up through the floor.  It doesn't really matter how I get the drain pipe up in there, it just needs to get there. To that end I have enough fitting for that under sink pipe - whatever it's called - to run it to the drain.  

That is the hardest part - I think. I've never dealt with shark bite fittings so that may turn out to be a pain as well, who knows.  I just remembered I don't have the tool to clamp those fittings together.  Lol. So, while I"m at Lowe's, spend $35 on a tool that I will only use once?  I don't have any choices beyond running the CPVC I have in the wall over there.  That would be extremely difficult, to put it mildly.  Won't even go into the details, excepting to say I would have to figure out how to get it to get behind the shower stall - meaning going around a corner I have no access to. 

I suppose I could run a hot water line under the shed and up through the same hole the drain pipe is going through.  But it's just for people to wash their hands and perhaps shave, brush teeth, etc. Cold water will work for now. Just not going to that trouble and expense atm to install hot water line.  I can imagine the grumpy dude going in there to take care of more than just toilet functions.  He was in the shed last night - I got a notification I looked - it was him, glaring at the camera again and staring at the setting on the AC unit.  He reached over to it so I assume he turned it to a colder setting. I will turn it to a warmer setting when I get over there this morning. 

I see no particularly good reason to keep it cold in there during the day with little or no use.  It's mostly evening and night time when people are using it, save Sundays when people do laundry pretty much all day long.  He was also inspecting my work again.  When the dude has the balls to say something to my face, then I'll address it appropriately.  For now? He can live in his own, grumpy misery. I assume it's a bad marriage that's causing his unhappiness, judging from the frequent arguments, calling each other vile and lewd names and basically treating each other like shit.  That is their business, tho they sometimes make it everyone's considering the volume level.  Taking it out on other people, however, is taking it too far.  

Well enough. It's still early, I want to get over to Lowe's, get the part and the tool and get this stuff over with.

G'day

 So, the gross stuff is over.  I cut out the Sewer T that I had installed the wrong way, flipped it around, had to add another coupling and a piece of pipe, but I got it all set up again.  Of course, as always, it meant a trip to Lowe's. This time because I have no extra sewer pipe laying around, I used all of it up.  I only needed a couple of feet.  The only thing I can say is I have some around now for emergencies.  I also had to buy a stick of 2" PVC for the vent pipe.  

Oh, I did say it was gross. That's because what happened in the pipe is exactly as I figured would happen. The T with the 90 turn in it was turned the wrong way, towards the end of the pipe.  I took the cap off the end and as suspected, poop and toilet paper.  I mean, fix it now or fix it later....later would be a much worse mess. 

Now, I also had bought an adapter.  It was supposed to be 2 inch that narrows down to the pipe that runs under your sink, that skinny stuff. I know I got the fitting I have from the 2 inch box.  Someone must have thrown a 1-1/2 inch fitting in there, they do that a lot.  You have to check everything, I guess I must not have checked that. So, I wasn't able to finish the under-the-shed stuff, I will have to make yet another trip to Lowe's for the proper size adapter.  It is coming to a close, however, I need to wrap this thing up and get it behind me. I've decided for now to just wait on the drywall. I will see about installing the drywall I have so that I don't have sheets of it sitting up against the wall, I want everything cleaned out of there.  

So what's left is the vanity, finish up the insulation, install the other 6 sheets of drywall that are left - or is it 8? I don't remember, enough to be PITA, and then just clean all my stuff out of there and give the entire place a good Spring cleaning.  I'm intent on getting that vanity drain done tomorrow. Once I get that adapter there isn't much left under the shed.  I've already got a hole in the floor and the drain pipe just sitting through it - I needed it there for a guide to place my incoming drain pipe from the main line.  

One guy called today asking about long term.  I gave him the run down and invited him to take a look. He claims he is looking to buy a 5th wheel trailer for lack of available housing in the area and will be needing a place to park it. Bring it on! The housing situation will be at least partially relieved once the giant, luxury apartment complex they are building on the other side of town is completed. It looks like they still have a ways to go tho.  People have been complaining about the lack of affordable housing in the area for some time. I doubt those apartments will be "affordable", but it may attract people with money out of existing apartments who want a better place to stay. 

Well, it was mid afternoon by the time I got stuck on the pipe adapter, I just ended up going home and mowing the front yard and plowing down junk in the back yard. We are intent on getting that back yard cleaned up -  no small amount of work. I was so sweaty from both working at the park and then working at home that I could literally smell myself.  Yes, I took a shower this morning!  I also took a shower this evening, lol. 

 7 days til departure. I'm still undecided on whether to get 34's or 35's - I need some new jeans. I have torn up and thrown away several pair from working over there and most of what I have left is not in good condition, they just don't have tears in them. I don't need designer jeans but I'm definitely going to buy something. I'm in 34's right now just because those are the only jeans I have that are still decent looking.  They're actually pretty comfortable.  Maybe I'll just pull all my old 34's out and try them all on and see if I have enough that will fit that I can forego the spending spree.  I've gotten much more frugal since getting out of the trucking industry.  It doesn't bother me, either.  As long as I can live comfortably, I have no problem with making a lessor amount of money.  I'm still weighing whether I want to get back into trucking for a year or two and get some debt paid down and get another loan. 

Well, I definitely don't want  to go back into trucking, it's more a thing about prudence and making rational decisions beyond my desire not to have to live that kind of lifestyle.  A couple more years wouldn't hurt that bad, would it? lol, don't ask me, I'll give you an answer that would direct to the - yes - department.  Drive drive drive. Put up with idiots on the road all day long. Worry about where to park at night.  Deal with customers on both ends, shippers and receivers.  

I did my second workout with weights today. I'm doing a workout every 3 days. I do pushups every day as well. Not a lot, but enough to start making a difference with all the muscle I've lost since I got that last job and just drove all over the place instead of the job prior to that, where I was pulling orders and lifting extremely heavy fittings all the time.  I'm also pushing myself to work harder and longer, heat or no.  I really want to get back into shape and although I know that eating habits are the way to get rid of pounds, workouts are the way to get my muscle back. 

Coming up to a very busy weekend and I"m not talking Park stuff.  We have events scheduled to attend that will take us into Sunday. Park stuff will undoubtedly come up - it always does.  

Oh, yes, as far as I can see it, the software issue is resolved.  They fixed it and then told me that no one will be able to see lot 15 - the new lot - because of the way I have it set up and that I need to add some parameters.  He was right, of course, I checked it and sure enough, it's not showing up at all.  I'll fix that tonight, I'm just chilling right now.  I have 2 lots available right now showing on the reservation grid, if someone wanted to come in tonight and just reserve it online, they could do so without lot 15.  I'm going to charge less for lot 15 to see if it will generate some more nomads that need a place to stay overnight in to my place.  Probably between $15 and $20.  I have a size limitation on it, tho and it's only 30 amps.  

Well that was easy.  Lot 15 updated, set a picture in (they fixed their photo glitch, now I don't have to try and resize pictures) so that people understand this is not the regular rv park and it's in the grass so there are no surprised.  

Oh, that reminds me.  I need to go around with a shovel and the chainsaw and cut out roots sticking about the ground. There are several of them in various places throughout the park and I have to mow around the stuff. I want to mow OVER all of it.  

Well enough.  I have stuff to do yet even tho it is 9:00 pm.  

 Well, I feel better today anyway.  Slept much better than the night before.  A week away from departure date, 

3 hours and 21 minutes. That's the longest leg of the flight to AZ and that's quite a long time to sit in cramped seating with my legs poking into the back of the seat in front of me.  Trust me, I don't like the fact that that happens, but I can't shorten my legs for a flight. I can try to slide them sideways, but then that gets very uncomfortable as well. The biggest gripe I have is my knees start hurting - badly.  

According to the 3 flights, I'm going to be crammed into an airplane for a total of 5 hours and 56 minutes.  So, not going to be a fun day.  The alternative is driving there and I definitely don't want to do that.  The point is the getting more leg room costs a lot more money and tho these flights are free, or a least, I didn't have to pay money for them out of pocket, I'm not really looking forward to it. There are one of two routes I will take: either take pain killers or have a few drinks.  Either one will help reduce the knee pain during the LA bound flight.  Probably pain killers will be a better choice, lol, we've all seen what happens with drunks on flights.

Not that I planned on getting drunk, I just don't want any problems with anyone and especially flight attendants.  

I do wonder if I shouldn't just start taking aisle seats so I can stick a leg out to at least get some stretching room?  They may not care for that, tho.  

Today, I'm going to go get dirty, dig out that trench under the shed and get with the vanity. It really needs to be finished and I can get my stuff out of the building and into one of the sheds. I'm going to have to stack stuff pretty high in the sheds, but it's a pretty bad look having all that stuff in the bathroom. Now don't get me wrong, the bathroom is rather large, it's just the way it worked out.  There is plenty of room for my tools against the far wall, it just looks a bit - ridiculous.  

I just know it's going to be a dirty job and oh well, get the dirt part over with and get the drain hooked up.  Or at least, get the drain up through the flooring and into the shed.  

After a couple of weeks, there's only about $50 in the machines coin vaults.  That's not enough to pay for itself and tho there are several people that regularly use the machines, it's not enough.  So, I'll call laundry a fail for getting more people in there.  An expensive fail at that.  When I say pay for itself, I'm not only referring to the monthly payment, I'm also referring to the electricity it costs to run those machines - washer and dryer, plus an electric water heater and an ac unit.  Now, the ac unit I keep set at a high temperature. 

If someone wants to cool it down more while they're in there, fine.  They don't ever turn it back up, tho.  We're talking a pretty good loss here that doesn't make that setup worth it, at least no to me.  There are workers that must just go to laundromats to wash their clothing.  The bathroom gets used regularly, but that's just a convenience.  It doesn't cost them anything and doesn't really do anything for my bottom line excepting to have it available and be able to list it as an available amenity. 

So I'm at the whatever point now.  It's why I am going to install this vanity and then? Probably finish the insulation, there isn't a lot left to do there and then?  Quit working on it for a while.  It's just drywall that needs installed and I see no good reason to pay anyone to do that and I am not that good at installing the stuff.  I wouldn't call the amenities shed a bust, but it didn't do what I hoped it would. Most RV parks have those amenities, so it might have been worth it to bring in a few people, it's not driving traffic to my park in quantities that would have made it noticeable after listing all the stuff on the websites. 

I'm getting a few overnight reservations here and there. Nothing like I hoped for.  Nothing is really going that well with it right now what with 4 lots empty facing another one leaving soon.  I've got ads running, everyone I know knows about the open lots, if they encounter anyone that needs a place, here I am.  What else is there?  I mean, when people are looking for a lot long or short term, they're basically going to Google.  I have my Google site covered.  

Ok. Well that doesn't help. Some of the options for reserving a space are showing no availability when there is availability.  I used incognito window to test all of them and fully 3 options came back with nothing available.  So, I went into the software and deleted all of those. I don't need them.  I didn't know they weren't showing anything.  However, after refreshing the software and yes, still showing that those had been eliminated? It is still showing those options on the website and still saying nothing. 

I have to wonder if this is why I'm not getting more business.  Other options show availability.  So, I sent  a support ticket and informed them what's going on, they can find out why their system isn't working properly. Note that on those options, I had them set up the same as the rest.  They should have shown availability.  This software stuff really aggravates me at times.  If someone clicks on one of the options that shows no availability, they are likely to just move on to another rv park. They have no desire to go sifting through all of the options. Even if I miss a phone call with an inquiry, I call them back they say "we found another place". 

Gag.

Well, hopefully they'll fix that and if they don't, they can tell me why it isn't working properly. That stuff should have fallen off of there when I changed it.  

I'm outta here.

G'day

 Another one of those "Hi there, we are at your RV park, we don't see an office anywhere, do you have anything available for tonight?".  

Lol. What if I didn't? I thought but didn't say. You would have shown up for nothing.  It's amazing how many people have done this, just show up and hope, I guess, there is something available instead of calling ahead.  Well no matter, took her payment over the phone and looked at this motorcoach on the camera.

Wow!  Between that fancy motorcoach and the new looking 4 door, full sized bed dodge ram they were pulling behind it, they must have 300 grand worth of moving parts there.  They didn't fuss about the lot rent, didn't even question it, I just told them the price and it didn't phase them.  

Well, I've slept really good for many nights in a row, so it was not so much fun last night being awake half the night.  I don't know what time I really fell asleep, somewhere around 5 am I think. Of course, now it is late in the day, my version of it anyway, being 9:30 and just getting started.  There isn't any reason for me to force myself out of bed after a night like that, I'll sleep in as long as sleep will continue. 

I got the rest of the mowing done yesterday - which reminds me, writing down the dates. West side - 5/15, east side - 5/16.  

I'm going to go look at harrows today at tractor supply.  They're the only ones in town that sell them and likely anywhere nearby. Beyond that you can buy them online, but the shipping would be ridiculous since it's an all solid metal setup.  The driveway is in bad shape. All the rains have created runners across it where the water is draining and numerous potholes, some of them large.  

I was reading about how to deal with potholes in dirt driveways, for I have tried this in the past in another setting with bad results.  You fill in the pothole but a week later it's just a pothole again.  So the video I was watching made perfect sense:  the walls of the pothole get very rigid.  You can't just fill the holes in, you need to dig up around the holes and break up the stiff, packed dirt.  Otherwise, the dirt or gravel you put in there just bounces right back out every time a vehicle passes over it and walahh. You have a giant pothole again.

I want to deal with it, it's getting bad and I need a solution that doesn't cost a fortune.  A 4 foot wide harrow is around $300.  From what I've seen, for added digging effect, people will put weights on top of the harrow to force the spines to dig down into the dirt better. I intend on pulling it behind my ATV which has a ball hitch on it.  

These are the types of things that make people unhappy.  Some people will complain if there's even a few bumps in the road, but potholes? Now, I could get the shovel out there and dig it up and I may well do that as well.  I think it needs both. Dig it up and then drag the harrow over it as many times as needed.  I know, a harrow is expensive but what else am I to do?  A grader - which is the best option - isn't even rented at the local rental place and any place that does rent them the price is astronomical.  Hiring someone to come out and do it, the same effect.  

It is a risk, buying a harrow and not being completely sure if it will work.  I'm just not willing to pay for a service every time the driveway gets bad - we're talking at least a thousand dollars.  I did look on both Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace - people them for sale for even more money than a brand new one.

____________

Not a very long day work wise.  I did some stuff over at the property and I went and looked at a harrow at Tractor supply, but nothing like I would have accomplished if I had been well rested. The harrow at Tractor supply, seeing it in person, was nothing near what the price tag suggest it's worth at $376. There is no way I was going to take a risk on that thing.  I spent quite a bit of time looking at different attachments and settled on a thing that has rippers - spikes - that stick into the ground and tear it up as you move along.  Bulldozers have rippers on them as well, they are always mounted to the rear of the machine and they simply tear up the hardened ground.

If it works as the video shows it does, I can tear up the driveway in certain spots. Just got back and forth with those rippers until it's all torn up several inches deep and then just run over it and compact it. I will likely still have to dig out the potholes, but after I dig them out and use those rippers over those areas, it should completely smooth it out. 

This is not a permanent answer.  It is, however, something I can use over and over until/if/when I am better financial situation to be able to do something more permanent.  Mostly, that would be having about 6 inches deep worth of gravel dumped all the way down the driveway and a dozer to spread it.  I think I determined it would take 15, 15 ton truckloads to do the entire length of the driveway, probably around 8 or 9 truckloads to get up to the entrance to the park.  With the price of gravel now high, just 8 truckloads is $6,000 which doesn't include having it spread. 

You can figure another $1,500 to $2,000 to pay for a bulldozer and operator to come out.  So, 8 grand to fix the driveway. Yeah, I don't have that kind of money to spare right now.  I will just hope this attachment will work - it's made to be pulled by ATV's or even a pickup.  My SUV could pull it as well, but it would be easier on the 4 wheeler.  If the attachment works, I can probably expect to have to do it every couple of months during the rainy season.  

It's an answer and at only $207 and from what I saw it doing on the video, I'm willing to take the chance that it will work. 

The tent camper never showed. She texted me on and off today, but she was way behind her driving schedule and finally succumbed to the fact that she wouldn't be able to make it today and therefore, would stop on her way back. From where, I don't know, but coming up from Houston so heading north somewhere.  I haven't had much luck with tent campers even after running a free Facebook ad. And we're talking cheap, I think I have it listed at $8 per night.  Oh well.  I haven't really spent a lot of time with it.  My park is at 4 empty spaces and soon enough, probably more.  

If it goes on too long, I will be tempted to lower the rates once again to get people in there.  I'll give it a week tho. I had some people on the hook yesterday, but they broke free from it when they found something much closer to their workplace. I don't blame them, but they had a very  nice 5th wheel and sounded like great people.  Oh well. My other option is to buy a travel trailer, clean it up and rent it out.  I've read a lot of negative and positive about doing that, I'm really undecided. I've received a lot of calls about it tho.  Do you rent the campers too? No, but I'm thinking about it.

I just don't want to buy a piece of junk.  I don't want a project, either.  As with everything else, even old trailers are going for a mint. They aren't worth anything near what the people are asking for them. I have lowballed several of them to no avail.  They think they can sell them for 2, 3 even 4 times their value.  Good luck. It's really a risk tho to rent one out.  I am responsible for everything working and they - the tenant that rents it - could be decent folk or could be not so great and tear the thing up.  If I do get one, I would want inspection rights to come in and take a look at everything.  Legal? Don't know by force. By volunteering, however, in writing, yes it's legal. They will authorize and inspection or they won't get the unit.  And I don't know how much I would charge.  At least $550, maybe more.  Rentals in the entire region for anything are high.  

I'm just going to keep looking at the Marketplace. Sooner or later, someone who has money and doesn't really care about getting a lot out of the sale of one will post on there.  That's basically what the riding mower was about, the man clearly had money and clearly didn't care about the price.  He just wanted it gone. I think the Lord was involved in that one, it was sitting out there all day and no one ever saw it until I showed up and then all of a sudden there were several people pulling up?  Thank you Jesus! That's what I will say about that. I mean, for $150 and the way that thing runs? I got a steal of a deal!

Plus it's a larger motor for one of those things at 21 cc's.  

Anyway, it's getting near bedtime and I am hoping that I will get some sleep tonight. I'd like to dig out under that shed and get this vanity drain over and done with.  

Oh! That dog pooping everywhere. The older couple sent a pic - the thing had pooped right in front of their door! She was pissed.  She said to not do anything about it, but look what that damned dog of theirs did!  I replied I really have no choice, I need to address them. She said no, you need the money. 

I don't discuss my finances with anyone over there, but apparently they understand that without that park full or near full, I ain't paying the bills and being able to give myself a paycheck of any size. They did help run a park somewhere else for quite while in their past.  They're really nice people.  

Well, time to get offa here. 

 Tuesday - early.

Not going to overheat myself again today as I did yesterday.  I'll be out there at around 7:30 am to finish up the mowing and any future mowings wll be done early as well. It doesn't even have to be done in a single day and tho I like to get the job done, I don't need heat stroke either.  

The first inquiry of my new ad yesterday was a scammer.  Wants to send me a code.  The code is used to somehow use your actual phone number in scams with other people.  These scams you have no knowledge of. "She" instantly blocked me as soon as I told her I knew she was a scammer and reporting to Facebook.  

Well, whatever the case, I'm hopeful I can get a couple of people out of that ad.  Or, at least, give people something to think about before the 1st arrives and they may be thinking about moving.  People get pretty unhappy in poorly run parks where people do whatever they please without any rules or if there are rules, any rule enforcement.  I don't really go around ramming rules down people's throats, I just make my presence known well enough to ensure that people understand there is management on-property. 

Thankfully, the guy with the trailer leaking water put a whole new setup on it and no more leaks.  Water leaking that badly will cost you at the end of the month.  In fact, the bill had gone up since he came in and I was scratching my head.  It makes it warranted and prudent to go around inspecting people's trailers both for electrical infractions and water leaks.  And anything else, such as leaving trash laying around, a nice magnet for rodents.  And then, when you get the rodents, you get the snakes.....and you turn off people cruising through taking a look at the property to see if they want to live there. 

Or, overnighters who are quick to post bad reviews when the slightest thing is off or doesn't go their way....I only have 4 Google reviews so far and thankfully, those are good reviews.  I stopped trying to get people to leave them.  Even people that promise to leave a review without asking them don't do it. They space it out? Or whatever, but prodding them doesn't help so I just leave it up to the individual.  

What I do with the rest of the day after the mowing? Not sure yet. We are in for rain again today, but not til this afternoon. I'll see if the trench is dry enough to dig out and try to get a drain installed for the vanity.  People are using the bathroom, I'd like to get the bathroom finished and get my tools and stuff out of there.  

Well, I'm not getting anything done sitting here.  I'm just hopeful most people have left for the day.

Outta here. 

 It's basically bad news when it comes to people in the park right now. None of these temporary workers were going to stay forever, but a few of them made it sound like they were staying longer than what they actually are.  For example, lot 3 texted me today - he was supposedly sticking around for a year. He's been there for about 3 months. He's leaving Sunday. That was totally unexpected.

Lot 4, 7 and 12 are currently empty.  A few overnight gigs coming up, but nothing to compensate for this kind of loss. Lot 2 will be leaving in about 3 weeks. Lot 5 I'm not really sure about. I need 2 long term immediately, basically.  Well, at least 1 with more needed soon.  

I can't fret about these things, I just have to hope some people show up out of nowhere, say they are staying for awhile, do you have anything? That's pretty much how it happens. I'm probably going to run a boosted Facebook ad. I have ads up, free ones, but I need ads up targeting people looking for long term. 

To that end, I'm going to join a bunch of Facebook groups over in Shreveport - right now actually - be back in a few, lmao. There we go, numerous join requests.  And a huge Dallas group was in the midst of the Shreveport stuff, so I put in a join request there as well. I get lots of visitors from Dallas, I can add that short term is also available on my next ad. I"m going to create a new ad versus keep using the old ones. They don't seem to be effective, I need fresh material with at least a few newer pics. 

It seems to me I should also be joining groups in Carthage, Longview and Tyler.  People move around in this region a lot. 

I did get more than half the park finished today, but I overheated badly. I should have taken more water and sugar free Gatorade with me, I will remember tomorrow morning to go finish that stuff. I ended up soaking wet in sweat - head to toes - I was not feeling well at all. It was hot in the sense of direct sunlight and high humidity.  I felt so bad I just came home and sat down in my cold bedroom office chair and sat there.  I was contemplating going back this afternoon to finish up, but that was a no go.  Hydration!  I had water, didn't bring near enough.

There.  Brand new ad.  Posted all over the place, including an attempt to post in the Dallas group.  Facebook boost added. Now to wait for them to approve or reject it. I have no idea why some of the ads Facebook says is ok and others Facebook says no.  They don't tell you. It's why I don't delete the ads that they accept.   I'm just sitting here thinking to go to bed early and try to get up early. Depending on sleep quality. Get the rest of the mowing done while the temps are still lower.  

I also just realized that most of the pics I have are from winter and not showing all the beautiful greenery in the trees.  I will take a bunch of fresh pics tomorrow and update all of my ads.  I'll be able to get shots with freshly mowed grass.  

Enough.  Ad created, workout completed. I haven't done curls with curl bar in ages.  Gag I'm so out of shape!

 "Your park is the best one in this entire area".  

I hear this a lot, regardless of a couple of people making demands that are beyond anything reasonable.  They are actually talking to me again, they are nosy and want to know everything.  The husband of the grumpies went over there immediately last night, apparently, as soon as they came in.  I didn't hear anything negative had been said to them about me, but I find it suspect that they are addressing new tenants before they even have the rig set up and getting comfy in their new surroundings.  

Maybe it's just because of what the grumps have been doing with me.  I am referring to the new people coming in.  I spent an hour visiting with them - they had me in their trailer and showed me around. They told me they went to all of the parks in the area and mine was "by far" the best.  I will take any compliments I can get.  I'm afraid that title may be lost at some point to that new park that hasn't opened and has been sitting there, idle, for some time now.  

I think the problem with that park is that they want way too much money for it.  And keeping that many sites full, if an investor is looking to profit off of it, is going to be difficult with the competition keeping prices lower than they should be.  I'm considering reaching out to all of the parks in the area, big, small, dumps or whatever they've got and discussing having some sort of board or committee - an association if you will - to get together and discuss all of us raising our rates all at the same time.  

Parks going any direction that is out of our city area are getting at least $10 more per night.  Or, for long term, they are charging separately for electricity.  So, you could bring your monthly lot rent rate down but charge separate for electricity and end up way ahead.  If you don't have meters, such as I, increase the rates $50 per month.  

I was a bit - stupid - to let my contractor who built my park and also built the competing park know how much I am charging per month for rent. He asked and I just blurted it out without thinking.  If they open up and start charging the same rates as all of us, how is that going to pan out?  I probably spend too much time thinking about this. They are 12 miles from downtown, they aren't close to anything.  Their only hope, IMO, is to either cut throat their rates or turn it into a resort. 

Oh well, the contractor gave me a lot of free work, it's probably why I didn't think twice to let him know.  

Anyway, these new people are a 3-some plus 2 dogs. They're in their early 30's, I'm guessing and a 4 year old boy.  They bought property nearby, but that was a fiasco in itself. The lady that owns the property wouldn't sell it to the farmer that owns hundreds of acres that literally surrounds it.  After the deal was done, the farmer asked if they would be interested in a different 6 acre parcel of land and could he have that one?  Turns out the other parcel is much nicer than the one they bought.  The farmer gets the land back and the old lady - grudges, misgivings, who knows - didn't get her way at the end of the day.  

Well whatever. I'm just sitting here, as normal on a weekday morning, drinking my coffee and contemplating getting this grass stuff done and over with and also contemplating, as I have been, what I'm going to do when the winter grass dies off.  It's already starting to do that now.  I wish I could find somewhere that sell hundreds of pounds of bermuda grass seed at bulk prices. I've looked and looked, I can't find a "good" price anywhere.  

I'm going to keep looking, it really doesn't matter where it comes from in the US, it can be shipped, obviously.  I think I ended up putting down 500 pounds of rye grass seed.  That's 2 to 3 grand in terms of buying that much Bermuda seed and an actual truckload of sod is cheaper, amazingly enough.  That doesn't mean it's cheap, per se, it's just less expensive and already grown.  Much easier, but still a bit more than I can absorb into my business checking account right now.  

Maybe the beginning of June?  I don't want to put anything more on credit cards.  Just no thanks.  

Well, while I bake and stew on that thought, it's 9:00 am, there is no rain in the immediate forecast, time to get over there and get this chore over and done with.

G'day.  

 We worked yesterday, but i can say it had nothing to do with the Park excepting to go over there to get a shovel.  Either at the house or at the Park, I see no good reason - for the most part anyway - to be buying duplicitous tools for each place.  If a thing isn't getting that much use, it can be toted between the 2 places.  

Anjway, this pool I bought last year.  We didn't maintain it during the winter. Even being mostly under a canopy, the thing was full of leaves and dirt.  Leaves were built up against the outside of the pool on the bottom and they were wet and stinky.  

It took many hours of two of us constantly working, but the pool is completely cleaned out, the leaves and dirt gone, rinsed out several times and now filled almost all the way up with water.  Turn on the pump and...nothing! Lol.  James had already ordered another one so it won't be sitting there too long without any water pumping or filtration.  I certainly hope not, filling up a pool is not cheap or free. It's probably $100 worth extra on the water bill.

The outside of the pool and the surrounding area actually took much longer than cleaning the inside of the pool itself. I had also bought new patio furniture and a nice looking fence setup to go with the pool. Thankfully, that stuff is still in good shape.  I probably spent a grand or more on that setup, so seeing it back in one piece, clean and functional is great.  The patio furniture was a set with a small round table, 2 rocking, heavily padded lounge chairs and a couch that rocks back and forth, also heavily padded. I bought an extra, outdoor, glass top table to finish it off.  

Anyway, that is done and it feels good to get that over with. The rest of the back yard needs cleaned up, perhaps we will try to start tackling that as well, but the entire concrete area here the pool and accoutrements are is nicely cleaned.

The problem? The next door neighbors. Their yard is, as always, filthy.  They never clean up the leaves and their trees dump s*** all over our back yard. This is where I signed off on the back yard.  I got tired of cleaning it all up and 5 days later, looking almost as bad as it did when I cleaned it up or even worse, depending on rain.  We are on a hill, their stuff just washes into our back yard.  The pool is the first thing it runs into.  So, realistically, a person would have to do a thorough cleaning once a week to keep up with it. 

Now then, onto the park and grass mowing.  I'm going to start writing down in my large notebook the days that I mow it.  I am tired of this person complaining about grass. It gets mowed frequently.  It needs mowed again, yes, the constant rain has it just popping up to the sky in a very short time.  But again, I'm not going to spend the rest of my life mowing every day.  If it's once a week, that is too much. Once every 2 weeks would be good. I'm kind of thinking once every week and a half.  Of course, summer is coming and all of that stuff is going to die anyway. 

Then these people will undoubtedly be demanding summer grass.  Which is on my horizon, I just don't want people telling me what to do.  Customers, yes, boss? No.  Customers are sort of your boss in the sense they can make demands or take their business elsewhere. There is a line where you put up with a customer for so long before you decide this person/people aren't worth the constant bit*****.  

Whatever, it's Sunday, I'm just sitting here drinking my coffee, getting mentally prepared for church and attempting to decide what I'm going to do today after church. Mow lawns at the park or start raking the back yard or, as has become typical for my Sundays, do nothing.  Absolutely. Nothing. Eat, watch tv, hang out, but no work.  The park mowing can wait until tomorrow. In fact, it's probably a much better idea to do so anyway. Sundays the park is basically filled with people hanging out and lots of vehicles.  I do need to go over and collect rent from the new long term people.  They got in late in the day yesterday and I told them I would just come and deal with it tomorrow.  It's nice that that lot refilled as quickly as it did.

Seamless, in fact. Yesterday morning the other people left, yesterday afternoon these people came in. Doesn't take care of the other lots that are going to be emptied, but I'll count my blessings as the come in. Plus, I could see on the camera, it's a late model trailer in very good condition.  

_____________

Well that went south.  Went to church with the boys.  After the service and getting the boys from the children's ministry, one of the volunteers rushed out to tell me how well the oldest boy had done with leading a group and leading in prayer.  Great!  When we walked outside, however, I could tell that something wasn't right with the younger boy.  What's wrong?  Playing on the obviousness that this boy "wasn't good" in church versus his older brother, "you weren't good in church today, I am taking it". 

He shook his head no and proceeded to tell me that he had flipped off an older boy, who in turn, had reported it to the volunteers.  Why the volunteers didn't give me that info, I'll never know, but this is the last thing I want to see happen at church. Take kids, cause trouble.  

THEN, the older one started getting pissy about going home.  I want to go to D&D with mom today!  I have things to do after church, these kids know this. I always go straight to the park and deal with whatever needs to be dealt with.  Today, it was meet and greet new people. Really nice folks. I was there quite a while as we discussed everything, then the boys came in and started playing with their kid.  We get into the car after that and start heading to Applebee's, an after-church custom that started a while back.  

This is when the pissing started bad.  Where is mom? I looked, she was somewhere - not sure where - but the app hadn't updated itself. After telling him she was already there, he started to have a meltdown. Well can you take me? No, I want to go eat at Applebee's, the younger one wanted to as well.  This went back and forth and I eventually just went home.  Told him he can go with mom on Sundays to D&D and I will go to church.  NOOOO!  I want to do both! No, we aren't doing that.  I am not dealing with that kind of attitude every Sunday afternoon after church is out. 

So, next week, it is highly likely that I will go to church without either one of them. The youngest can miss a Sunday, the oldest can do his thing with mom.  If the oldest doesn't like it, I'm shrugging my shoulders. You made your decision, now live with it.  You like that more than church, that's your decision, I'm not going to put up with your attitude.  

Fortunately, after had just discussed this with one of the parents, there is agreement on it.  The child will have to decide which he wants to do, make a decision and that's that.  The boy as adamant that he "can do both". Nope. Not with that kind of attitude. I'm not going to be harassed after church every week because he wants to do something else.

Now then.  They are gone, the youngest is bound to the living room couch - got into serious trouble for his behavior at church today, it's pretty quiet. I think I can spend some time working on a resume.  Or working on the loan. I just kind of think with all my debt, even with overwhelming assets, that a bank is going to frown on it.  I don't know that for sure, of course, but with my finances being a bit iffy, a resume is probably more prudent use of time.  

I guess I should throw in here that I slept very well last night and thoroughly enjoyed the church service this morning. All the nonsense didn't occur until after church. 

I missed an overnight opportunity last night because I had my ringer turned off. Sometimes I forget to turn it back on during the day.  That's money down the drain, I'm going to have to get better at turning that thing on first thing in the morning.  Meanwhile, only 11 days left to go before heading to AZ....I've let 4 people know I'm coming, make that 5, no 6, well you know.  I said something about it on my FB wall and a few people were asking.  I wouldn't mind visiting my friends that used to live in my house, but they are SO far away. The metro Phoenix area is huge.  It's 90 miles give or take depending on where you want to end the metro area. But going east, it is all connected clear out to Gold Canyon. Sort of the same going out to the Winterburg area.  

I dunno if I'll have time to visit them.  The friend whose wife passed away last year I'm definitely visiting. Going to try to get to the house, see a couple of high school friends and obviously my son.  

Anyway, I think I'm done for today beyond attempting some paperwork stuff.  

 So today, the grumpy people owe rent. I don't see them making moves to leave, but it really doesn't take that long to put everything up and get a truck hooked up and pull it out of there.  Their entire attitude changed toward me when they - whatever, I'm not sure to be honest.  I guess because I won't mow lawns every 4 days?  Who does that?  I haven't actually "refused" in so many words, I just won't do it.  Every 2 weeks is more like it. 

But, I was out there yesterday on the riding mower.  I got the doggy park, the Hipcamp area, most of the older couple's yard done and a huge swatch behind the west side trailer cut down.  I won't cut near the trailers for fear a rock will spurt up at one of them and then I'm stuck with another window bill or worse, fixing someone's vehicle.  Hoping the rain holds off today and I can cut again.  It wasn't even 2 weeks ago that I cut out there, but it is growing pretty good again. 

I was amazed the riding mower did so well on wet grass.  The push mower get all clogged up with wet grass after rain like that  

I don't see them - grumpy people - making any moves - yet - to pack up and leave.  They were talking about moving over to Longview with some other folks, but allegedly decided to stay put.  That because my park is much closer to the dude's work.  She, however, makes more money doing Doordash over in Longview than in our town.  I don't want them to leave, I'm just bracing myself in case they do.  If they stay as long as they originally said they were, they will be there into next year.  

People were driving through yesterday checking out the park.  They waved, I knew they didn't belong there but I don't mind if people want to take a look to decide if they want to come or not for long term. There are a couple of people that are definite maybes.  Shrugs shoulders, just doing the best I can and trying to get the most money I can out of any given deal without going beyond what anyone else is charging in the region.  

Weight is down this morning to 212 - with my clothes on.  That is a massive improvement over what it's been at.  I'm going to stay on keto all the way up to the trip and then - very likely - cheat for the full 5 days.  Not way overboard cheating, but I'm not going to restrict others from eating whatever they want simply because I want to stay on a diet.  I won't go overboard because I don't want to have to spend 2 months getting off what I gained back.  I do, however, foresee pasta, potatoes and rice in my future, lol.

More days of no new reservations coming in.  It's strange how one day you get several calls and then for  a week or even several weeks you get nothing.  As of today, lot 7 is closed for any overnighters to see if these people are actually going to move in. No worries, I have lot 12 available if someone wants to make an online reservation.  

Anyway, in my quest to come up to speed with other parks, I found a drone with a camera for less than $60 at Harbor Freight. I haven't bought it yet, but I'm not going to wait forever for Google to update the satellite image of my property.  People look, they see a forest, they scratch their heads.  Most come to the conclusion that it must be a newer park, but this is what people are looking for.  A view of what they are contemplating coming to.  If I buy the thing, take the footage and post it online, will that guarantee more people coming?

Of course not. There are no guarantees on anything that I do making it guaranteed that people will come. But enough people ask about it to understand that this is part of what they are looking for.  

Every time I spend any money out of that business account, it's eating up my profits for myself.  We are getting near the end of that besides getting that drywall installed. And I don't feel much compulsion to do that at the moment for the only people really using the shed is a couple of people that like to use the toilet and several people using the coin op laundry.  But none of those people are overnighters, the crowd I've been trying to appeal to. 

I just have to face the reality that if someone wants an overnight spot in my area, they are going to the 2 top competitors first. If they are full, then I might get a call.  But I also know that if people looking for long term actually come to my park while being at one of those parks? They are going to contemplate moving to my place.  It's just getting them in my park to take a look that seems to be the problem. From the map, it apparently appears to be "way out of the way", when in reality, I'm closer to town than either of those 2 parks.  I'm just on the other side of town.  

Well, I am going to install that vanity and started trying to dry out the holes yesterday. I got stuck with a piece of wood in the way after going through 2 layers. It's at the bottom of the shed and my cutter went as far as the drill could go down before I got stuck.  I'll have to dig it out under there, drill a hole from the top down so I can tell where to cut and come up from the bottom.

Nope. Not doing that until that ditch dries up, it's been rain, rain, rain. It really shouldn't take long to get the installation in once I can get that hold drilled. the water line is already there for the toilet and I have the stuff for the sewer line.  I am probably missing something, I always am, but I don't go buying stuff until I get stuck on something. I will likely put a mirror up in there, I already have a ceiling light and getting that vanity done, I will probably move all of my tools out of the main shed.  

__________

I guess I'll wait?  Family members coming to visit in August, one is bringing their drone.  It's just that it's such a long time until August.  3 months.  I'm not sure I want to wait that long to get some aerial footage of the property.  

I uhh, was a bit apprehensive when I saw a headline of a "major airline" with pilots picketing.  Like what?  If it's American Airlines, I'm screwed.  Fortunately, it's United.  I have had my issues with American, but like I said in a prior post, they are the only ones that fly with a separate company but still under American out of GGG.  Parking there is free, or at least it was last time I parked there. 

I'm looking forward to this trip. My new piece of luggage arrived today, I like it.  Just the right size, I think.  I'll probably spend most of my time visiting with mom, a day spent with my son. Friends and I told the people at my house to expect a visit.  Nothing too long, but I do want to inspect the property.  I'm going to call AA to see about transporting my firearm.  I think it just has to be in a hard case and the ammo/magazine has to be in a separate box.  I think, if I recall correctly.  I really don't want to go without something for self-defense.  I don't live my life in fear, at the same time, you don't know when you're going to need the protection that a firearm will give you, especially in the Phoenix Metro area, gag.  My concealed carry is valid there, tho neither state requires one now.  

Anyway, I volunteered to pay for food for the wedding in August.  We found a great deal, but we need to verify it with the restaurant.  I also contacted a friend that manages a local outlet of a national, very popular chain restaurant (I am not mentioning the name since I don't really think it's such a great idea to give that info out on the web) about getting some chips and salsa?  "I got you".  She's so wonderful, she is really a great person.  I have given her bottles of wine, lots of them from an online venue, but she would have done that regardless.  I really believe that.  I have subsequently discontinued that wine subscription, it's money I don't need to spend and I can't really drink wine on Keto anyway. Far too many carbs. 

___________

I have no idea what their issue was. This is a very young couple, this dude was supposed to stay a month and never said anything about his girlfriend showing up and staying in the trailer all day long.  I got a notification on my phone so I looked. They went into the shed, went into the bathroom, aggressively shoved the shower curtain aside, looked into the shower - which is crystal clean, I can tell ya after bleaching it and scrubbing the entire thing down - and walked out saying stuff about it. 

If you don't like it, don't use it! They obviously have their own damn shower, this is the first time in 31 days that they've even looked in there that I know of. What, do they want to go in the shower stall and have sex? I don't get it.  I wouldn't hesitate to take a shower in that stall. It's clean, it's in good condition, it has hot and cold running water.  If you're looking for perfection, go stay at a damn Hilton Hotel.  Geeze.   

People will say the damndest things about you behind your back.  This boy is probably 18 years old, or 20, who knows, he's young.  I went over there yesterday to get the rent.  He is fully a foot shorter than me.  I don't give a hoarding hootness about his age, per se, but if you're going to talk trash, have the manhood to say it to the person's face. It's that or shut the hercules hondurans up.  He wouldn't say that nonsense to my face and apparently she won't either.  If you think you can do better, tell me about it! What would you differently? What do you think should be done to make it more appealing?  Maybe I should leave a comment box. People can leave anonymous comments. No, I can't do that in the shed since I have cameras.  

Nah, now that I think of it, that's just letting people take pot shots at me for no good reason.  There are other parks in the area, lots of them. If it's so damned bad, get the bleep out of my park and go to one of those parks. No, I won't say that to anyone, I'm just venting and getting some steam off of my chest.  I know, people will s***-talk businesses.  Even the best of them get trashed.  I knew this going into this. 

Whatever. Friday is over.  I went and got the parts to fix the leaking spigot at lot 12 and to install water line in the shed.  I should have bought a shut off valve for it too.  I didn't even think about it, I got a shut off valve to install at lot 12 and that sort of cancelled out the thought of another shut off valve out.  I will install shut off valves at every lot that ends up having 

 Took the dog for a nice long walk out in the back 15.  Addler enjoyed that thoroughly.  Back to the shed, I got the rebar pounded in through freshly drilled holes in the 8X8 board for steps.  It's just one step up but I put 2 of them side by side.  I now don't have to worry about wood slipping out from someone's feet and causing them to fall and hurt themselves. I am ever conscious about liability issues.  I would like to make it through the first year without making any claims, if at all possible and Lord willing, and hopefully have the premium reduced.   

I then used a can of the other insulation.  It works better, a lot better actually.  But the problem? I need to get some plastic sheeting to cover everything underneath where I'm applying it. Some of it falls on the floor and I just don't want to have to deal with that.  I don't really think it's going to take more than maybe 7 or 8 cans, tho.  I already did quite a bit.  I then started looking at the area where I'll need to drill a hole to install a drain pipe for the vanity.  I need a new hole saw, the one I have is done, shot, kaput.  I mean, there's no way around it, a hole must be drilled through the flooring.  

And then, with Addler laying on the floor in there, it started raining. Harder and harder until the sound was deafening.  Addler was clearly not liking it and as soon as it let up maybe half an hour later? I got him the SUV and took him home. No matter, I have to go buy more stuff.  Unfortunately.  The items listed above.  

I just got another call for long term.  He said he's calling around checking prices. Well, do that then, I thought, my prices are comparable to everyone else's, actually, I brought it down $25 just to get some people thinking about it.  He wants to take a drive through. Certainly! Drive through, see if it's something you might want to get involved with! He said yes, it sounds great.  Another person called as well, but her work requires her to have cabled internet.  Do you have Fidelity internet? No ma'am. I can have it if I want to shell out almost 7 thousand dollars, but I"m just a 14 space park and that is well beyond anything I"m willing to fork out just for the privilege of having internet service. 

I gave her some leads on a couple of parks in the area which do have Fidelity in their parks.  

Still, I have 2 potentials on the hook.  We'll see if we can reel them in. I can put one up immediately, another I can put up in 2 days.  The dude that called earlier is looking around so it didn't sound like he needed one right off the bat and I wasn't telling him he'd have to wait.  Only if he says yes, I want one of your lots will I do that.  IF he drives through all the places he calls, it is highly likely he will find mine the most appealing.  

I'm not speaking egotistically or patting myself on the back, this is what people tell me about my park whether they are long or short term.  

Whoops! and just now someone contacting me Facebook messenger off of one of my ads.  I haven't had this kind of inquiry going on in weeks.  Be nice if at least 2 of them would convert into long term.  Friday, a long term is moving out and lot 7 is available now.  I don't know about lot 2 - they said a month and that's today.  I misplaced his phone number, I'll have to catch him when he's home this evening.  

Oh. Well the lady that contacted me via Messenger is the same one that called earlier. She's literally calling every RV park in the entire area.  She must have struck out with the 2 top competitor parks, they stay busy.  They fill up with long term oil/energy workers and they stay full. The other parks probably don't have cabled internet.  She is striking out.  I mean, if she wants to shell out 8 grand for internet I'd be happy to help her, lmao.  

I finally met the people that moved in next door. I had never seen them and they have been there several weeks now.  A much older lady, very sweet.  She was out back, they don't go out front.  

Thankfully just remembered to cancel autoship with Chewy.  I have 6 bags of dog food in the pantry already, I don't need any more for a couple of months. And another subscription that I remembered to get rid of - that I am not using.  I've been cleaning house on expenditures for a couple of months now.  It's this - I don't have a full time job - thing and attempting to make it with the money I'm getting from the park, for a while longer anyway.  

I'm happy to get this money that was given to me - but I don't want to waste it on normal, monthly bills.  If I have to do that, that means I need to get a job.  Not, I just want to protract my time away from trucking.  I do want to do that, admittedly, but if my expenses are not being met by the RV park, then it's time to do something different.  

dirt work $1,071.42  15,000

, gravel  $2,000         28,000

, septic  $500               7,000

, power,  $2,500        35,000

water  $714.28          10,000

sewer lines. $714.28  10,000

$6,999.98

Above is just using this to write stuff down. I called the bank and spoke with the VP for quite a while and then ended up in his office.  We talked about the RV park but then we went on to discussions about AZ and a variety of other things. Very personable man.  Gave me a packet of stuff to fill out, explained all of it and that was that.  So, there it is. A packet of stuff yet again to fill out. This time, I have no idea whether I will qualify, what with all the credit card debt. 

The flip side is that they would be giving me a total of $189,000 loan on a property that is worth, IMO, around 400k .  They could easily sell that property off for what is owed on it plus paperwork if I ever defaulted.  I can tell ya, I would rather die than default and lose a couple decades worth of money saved in 401k accounts and money received on rising housing costs for my home.  Ok, I wouldn't rather die, I'm just saying I would do whatever it takes to keep it, even if it meant going OTR.  I am not necessarily expecting an approval, I'm just hoping I can get one.  

I will start examining and filling out paperwork later on this evening. 

Well, that was exciting at least. . 

Well anyway....this dude that said he's only staying a month?  Well, I had to go over there and get into his personal space, so to speak, to find out what's going on. He's been there a month as of today.  He said he's staying another month, is that okay? Sure!  He paid me right away with Cashapp and that took care of that. It also took a little pressure off in thinking about replacing 5 lots worth of trailers. 

A few things on this lovely Wednesday morning with a projected chance of rain coming at noon and lasting all day long.  Nothing new around here, that's for sure.  

The mower. It works great - after fixing a tire and putting in a new battery. The only other issue right now is the deck plate sits way too low.  It's cutting the grass too short even with the adjuster all the way up. So, I need to fiddle with that and see if I can get it to go up an inch or two.  If I can't, I'll take it to someone who can. I'm not exactly a riding-mower mechanic, but a lot of it is fairly simple stuff.  

I ;have yet to start the vanity installation.  I'm trying to re-motivate myself.  The shed is just an on-going project that seems to have no end in sight. One thing I have definitely determined: I am not installing that drywall.  I will put up the 6 sheets I have sitting there, the rest? It can wait until I feel I have enough finances to pay a person to come in and do it for me.  The spray foam I bought didn't work worth a hootin' nanny holler either, so I used it on large gaps and threw the can in the trash.

Another trip to Lowe's yesterday and bought 4 cans of different stuff.  I also cut an 8X8 board in half and set that for a stair.  I now need to drill some holes in it and pound rebar down to hold it in place.  

The AC is working ok - but it will be a lot better once I get all the gaps filled with the insulation.  I'm seriously considering buying a larger unit.  This one is just chugging along trying to keep up. A larger unit with more btu's would be able to cycle on and off more frequently, saving me money on electric.  They have them with wifi now, I just found out.  I think it was a 10,000 btu for less than $300.  The money spent will be the money saved and then some in electricity and the ability to comfortably cool the building.

Further, I can control the temperature from anywhere - people tend to turn it all the way to max setting and the leave it there. That's wonderful! If you aren't paying the electric bill, that is.  I have the space in the wall, just would have to cut out a bit more tin off the side of the shed and possibly have to remove the 2X4 I put to hold it up and move it down a bit. I'm probably going to do it.  

I've ordered a new 27 inch soft side piece of luggage for the trip. I also ordered an actual 30 amp outlet for next to the shed, the thing I put together just isn't that great. It works but it could be better.  

Hipcamp is live now that I have that 30 amp setup out there.  Yea, so far hasn't generated any bookings.  I've had a couple for the RV park portion from the hipcamp website but  not for my Hipcamp area.  Glad I didn't spend a lot of money on that, I'm still going to install the outlets since I have the wire.  In fact, I have no overnighters booked on any site until the 20th. It's an 8 day stay, but still, I need more overnights coming in. If you do a search on Hipcamp for my town, I did this on incognito window,  my park is the first thing that shows up.  

I don't know what else I can do.  This may be the lack of motivation going on right now. The shed is fully functional for a toilet, a shower and coin op laundry and so far, the only thing that really gets used is the laundry.  Well, one of the grumpy folks like to use the toilet.  I don't  know why, don't care either, he can use it all he wants.  They mow their lawn like every 4 to 5 days.  This is what they want me doing with the entire park.  No thank you.  I'm going to get a calendar and start scheduling the mow dates. 2 to 3 times per month.  Not, 7 or 8 times per month, that's ridiculous. 

It is still necessary to mow in between the trailers with push mower, btw, that won't change anytime soon.  Rocks are the reason and the push mower has a bag to catch all of that stuff instead of it being hurled at windows and sides of trailers.  We can't be having that.  

A person of interest has sent me some money.  Note that the only thing I"ve said about money in recent times is trying to get a large loan to expand the park.  This amount wasn't anything near that but it is definitely a start.  I might be hinting at anyone that has the resources for a loan, yes, but that's mostly in groups that are designed for that purpose.  People need loans - other people have money.  Or companies that have money to loan. I've had a couple of people contact me about it but so far, nothing has materialized.  I don't want investors having partial ownership of the park, I want a collateral loan that will give me full control over the finances and decision making. 

Could I actually fill up 14 more spots? At the right price, probably.  I'm not currently advertising that price, I got the idea of high electric bills and decided I would raise the price to what's the norm for this area and see what happens. I've had several come in on the higher price, but if push comes to shove, I will lower it back down if I have to.  It will get people in there. That's because it's a smoking deal.  

I'm facing fully 5 lots being emptied out here sooner or later - not too long from now in other words - and I am going to be needing those filled up.  I do have one person allegedly coming in on Saturday for long term.  He said he drove through the park in his car and liked what he saw.  Well, I hope that turns to be a new check in the "lot 7 is full" column.  But I need more.  I have lot 7 open until Saturday morning for any stragglers that need a place to stay overnight.  Lot 12 is the one that has some longer reservations.  I only actually have 2 empty lots right now, I just know that several people are leaving in the near future and I will need those filled back up quickly.

Hmmm. That lady that is the truck driver trainer apparently extended her stay.  It went out like another month and the reservation system is showing her owing more money now. It was originally 33 days. Well, I'll deal with that after she's been there 33 days, lol.  She can stay as long as she wants.  I didn't know they could do that.  I looked at that thing numerous times, I know she paid for 33 days, just took me by surprise that the thing is showing her staying until near the end of June now.  They must not be anticipating anyone coming in to take her place anytime soon.  She also says she likes it out here.

So, I was going to spray more grass killer today, but I'm not doing that with rain coming. That stuff isn't cheap and having it wash away into grass that I don't want killed isn't too appealing either. And then there's this little tidbit about summer grass.  I suppose I could use a portion of that money I was given to purchase enough sod to do the entire park. A truckload, delivered, 16 pallets worth is $2,320.  I have been dreading this.  It doesn't matter how I do it, it's going to cost money. And planting seed just doesn't seem the way to go.  

There is one thing about sod that would be great: there would be no more rocks to deal with.  I could use the riding mower everywhere.  I just shudder at the thought of spending that much more money on this project. Really would like to have this done and over with.  The truckload is the cheapest way to do it. But then, I have a full truckload of sod I need to install myself? Lol that's a lot of work.  Not to mention I would have to try to time it when there is plenty of rain in the forecast - having to water that many lots would be a bit ridiculous.   I can see weeks worth of moving hoses and sprinklers around. 

If only Bermuda seed would grow as easily as rye grass seed! Just throw it out there right before several days rain and a week and half later, you have grass!  You don't even have to put down mulch or fertilizer.  See, that's where putting down grass seed becomes untenable.  You aren't just spending over a thousand dollars on grass seed, you are also having to do a lot of prep work.  Sod? Much easier. 

Honestly, I don't want to do any of it.  Mostly because of the money.  

I think when I get to the point I have no choice, I'm just going to buy a couple of pallets worth at a time so I am not rushed trying to install an entire truckload of it and also, I can  water it if need be without having to move hoses all over the park every day.  A bit wishy washy on this subject, the savings of simply getting an entire truckload delivered are substantial. $1,680 cheaper than buying a few pallets here and there....I am not going to decide this yet.  It's just another headache to have to deal with.  The winter grass is still alive.  

Well whatever.  Now that I have the money to get an appraisal done, I may - or may not - try to approach another bank about a loan.  Is anyone even lending in this nightmare we are calling an economy with the Fed raising the interest rates even more and the newest numbers out showing even more inflation hitting Americans hard? It may not be the best time for this.  I guess it doesn't hurt to try, but I don't want to drop thousands of dollars on an appraisal and get nothing in return out of it.  I'd need a bank to do everything else on my credit first and find that if the appraisal is good, they will give me the loan. Otherwise, I've spent that much money on nothing, basically. 

I may just go through the nightmare of applying for an SBA loan and see what happens.  I don't know if they need an appraisal, but when I originally talked to the agent that helps you prepare the documents, he said I wouldn't need a down payment.  It's just going through all of that again.....

BTW, what do you think of McCarthy's stance with the White House and Republican demands to force decreased spending with a new debt ceiling?  I am watching this pretty closely now that things are starting to get heated up. The left all came out at once and demanded to take default off the table. If McCarthy takes that off the table, there is no bargaining chip because the left refuse to negotiate. They don't say that, of course, but that's what it really boils down to: Our way or the highway.  That's what they have always done. Pelosi set the standard for doing backdoor deals without any Republican input and ramming bills through.

I wonder why they are so outraged now that Republicans are using the lefty playbook? Well, because they see no need to limit spending and they want to continue their march towards a completely centralized federal government that has total power over the states.   This is also why they are targeting conservative SCOTUS justices.  They want to impeach one of them for "extravagant vacations on a billionaire's dime".  Blah blah blah. I've heard all the rhetoric and I have dismissed it. They claim Clarence Thomas is in cohoots with whoever the billionaire is and has made rulings favorable to that individual's desires because of it. 

It's endless the parade of nonsense they pump out against Republicans, the whole lot of them are nothing more than hypocrites that engage in the same s***. Just look at all the new revelations about the Biden family having received "millions of dollars from foreign entities" revelation that says they attempted to hide the sources. Politicians are, in my view, mostly corrupt regardless of which side of the aisle they are on.  They are in it for the power, the fame but mostly the money.  

Ok, off the pedestal, I was going to apply at this company that haul cryogenics but found out they have inward facing cameras with microphones. Nope, no, no and no.  I'm not going to subject myself to being spied on. That company - Groendyke - is desperate for drivers and has been for quite a while.  Sorry folks, you aren't going to sit there and be able to watch me while I'm driving. You can have a forward facing camera, I'm all for that, but a microphone? I remember now a few of their drivers at the scale house at Eastman. They complained about it but said if they cover up the camera, they would get fired. I didn't care with my company, I covered it up anyway.  

I literally don't care what anyone thinks about my desire to keep my personal life - personal - inside of a truck. It doesn't matter to me who owns the damn thing, I'm not going to subject myself to that kind of scrutiny. I might change my mind if I get into a financial bind and that's the only way out. But they expect you to be robotic in your driving demeanor. Artificial Intelligence is a part of these cameras now, identifying if you are sleepy, if you are taking a drink of water, if your seatbelt is on or off, a host of things.  I know myself entirely too well, having someone jumping down my throat because of some report an AI controlled software system generates would make me angry.  I would just give it straight back at them and quit before they could fire me. It isn't even worth going there to begin with.

There are plenty of jobs out there without AI controlled, inward facing cameras with microphones listening to everything you are saying.  

Enough of that. This entry waxes long. I'm out of here.  Go get something done over there, probably just try to use all 4 cans of that insulation up and see how it goes.  Maybe try to adjust the mower.  I've got one dude that came for a month that either needs to pay up or leave.  Not that I would put it that way, but that's where he's at.  The month is up as of today, I don't give away free spaces.  He has a girlfriend that lives there with him - he didn't tell me about that when he moved in.  She's a real gem, too, putting that sarcastically.  

G'day